WoH: 17 Years Ago

In the Valley

Kexing was in a lot of pain.

Gu Xiang had cried in front of the Ghosts again. The girl couldn't seem to simply understand that in the Ghost Valley, tears had to be held in. Or maybe that was because she was about 18 months old- she'd learn with time.

In any case, Kexing had spoken up for her and been punished for it. It seemed he had caught the Ghost Chief on a bad day, because it wasn't only the whips or only being locked in the dark room for the next few days. It was both at the same time.

...well.

At least Kexing had gotten pretty good at catching rats. He wouldn't starve, nor would he let-

"Master...!!"

Kexing had been lying on the ground on his stomach, so he looked up to see Gu Xiang staring at him with wide eyes. The girl's eyes were watery again- probably because Kexing was bleeding and looking weak as hell again- and her tiny hand clenched his sleeve like it was a lifeline.

Every damn time he was thrown in here, Gu Xiang would follow. Kexing had begged Luo Fumeng to simply take her for the next few days, she was too young to suffer through the dark room with him...

...but Gu Xiang never let him. She'd yell and scream and cling to Kexing for dear life whenever he tried to hand her off, even for a moment. Even if he said he was only going for a little while, he'd be back in the blink of an eye, she still clung on.

So here she was. Being punished with him, condemned to eating only rats for the next few days.

Kexing smiled, forcing himself to sit up even though his muscles ached. "Silly girl," he murmured. "I'm okay."

"Master..." Gu Xiang mumbled. She hugged Kexing tightly and wailed, "Master...!!"

Kexing patted her head gentky and scolded, "We'll see if this is enough to scare you into never crying again."

Gu Xiang shook her head. She buried her face in Kexing's arms and sobbed frantically, "No hurt Master... no hurt Master!!"

Kexing sighed and smoothed the little girl's back reassuringly, ignoring how badly his injuries hurt.

The door opened.

Kexing looked up to see 2 Ghost soldiers standing at the door.

He was immediately confused- how old were these soldiers?? Why were they so short?? Why did their robes look 3 sizes too big?? And why were they just standing there, weren't they here because the Ghost Chief wanted something with him??

The taller of the pair ran forward and bowed Kexing over.

"Ow- what the fuck?!"

"Shixiong!!"

"MASTER!!"

Gu Xiang began hitting the Ghost soldier with her tiny fists. She wailed, "Master- Master!! No hurting Master, no-"

"A-Xiang," Kexing interrupted. "Calm down. He's... not hurting me."

"Hurting Master!!"

"No, he's not attacking me, this... this is called a hug."

"...hug?"

Kexing didn't reply. He was really really confused. He hadn't been hugged in a really long time... no wonder Gu Xiang thought this guy was attacking him. This person seemed to care about him but-

Reality hit him like a bucket of ice.

He was the prisoner of the Ghost Valley. He was supposed to have died the day his parents had died, these Ghosts were only keeping him alive because of Luo Fumeng and the key he always kept in his hair. No one cared about him aside from the little A-Xiang he had saved, no one cared how many whips he had suffered.