Wuji: A Promise Kept

48 ⚠️

⚠️Sensitive Content in this chapter. Content includes topics of abuse and abuse of power, as well as strong language.⚠️
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Wangji, Xichen, Wuxian, and Lan Qiren invited Lan Huizhong for a special meeting. They were keeping their intentions hidden from Huizhong at the moment just to see what he would say. They began by asking Huizhong how Jingyi has been doing since he started helping him.

"Though these youngsters tend to make mistakes, he messes up occasionally and he does well with correcting them. He is a bright young disciple," Huizhong said.

"That he is," Wuxian said, "he happens if he makes a mistake deemed worthy of a punishment?"

"I'd have him fix his mess and then either kneel or write," Huizhong said.

"Huizhong, we were hoping you'd stick close to our sect principles and tell the truth. Even Healer Lingyun has confirmed that this was a lie as there is evidence of some of Jingyi's 'punishments' on his back. Floggings and the discipline whip are punishments that only I or the sect leader can hand out. If you need to use the method, you have to run it through us first but you did not do so. Why is that?" Lan Qiren asked.

"Why would you assume it was me? I would never hurt a child," Huizhong told him.

Little did he and the others know, that his daughter was actually standing just outside the door listening in. Jingyi and Sizhui were both with her. Biyu knows her father's lies as she grew up with his strict teachings. She endured his beatings any time she came home from school with assignments though were passed, some were just a couple points from a perfect score. She'd be told she had to do better. She did something her father disapproved of, she'd have to deal with it.

Lan Huizhong has been this way since he lost his wife a few years ago. He has a vendetta against some of the Jin Sect and even some Wen sect people. He lost his first born during the ambush all those years ago, and his wife died in retaliation of Jin Guangshan and Jin Guangyao. He blames the head of the family for a lot of his family issues but he shouldn't be. The head of the Lan family also had their fair share of burdens to deal with all the while trying to run and manage this sect.

Biyu couldn't just stand there and let her father lie like that, so she took whatever courage she has and used it to speak up for the first time, "Father, you know that you would do exactly that if you didn't like what they were doing," she said as she entered the room, "I take in your abuse as I felt it was to assume you wanted what was best for me, but when you take it out on other students, you know it's wrong."

"It is also wrong to punish your child in such a way, especially in our sect," Lan Xichen said, "Lan Jingyi has been changed to work with Hanguang Jun for the remainder of his punishment. As for you, Huizhong, you will be punished with fifty floggings, ten discipline whips, and you can recover in the dungeons. We will have people looking over you, and once you fully recover, we will see about what will happen then."

"You treat me in such a way? I am an elder of this sect, and what about my daughter?" Huizhong said.

"She can stay with Wei Ying and I if she wants or since she is sixteen, she can live on her own where she is now. She is a responsible young woman and I think she knows what she wants," Wangji said.

"Father, I will be just fine," Biyu said, "You need to focus on yourself and think about your actions that put you in your current situation."

Lan Qiren called for the guards and had Huizhong take his punishments. Once he was flogged and whipped, a healer did give him some help but as told, he was to recover in the dungeons. Back at the Yashi, Wangji, Xichen, and Wuxian were with the three juniors, "Are you sure you will be okay, Biyu?"

"Yes," Biyu said and turned to Jingyi, "I am sorry for what my father did to you."

"It is not your fault," Jingyi said, "are you really going to stay by yourself?"

Biyu turned to Wangji and Wuxian, "Are you really okay with me staying with you?"

"Yes," Wuxian replied, "you will be eighteen in a couple years so you have the opportunity then to decide what you really want. If you wish to stay at your current house, it is still an option."

"I think it's best that she stays with someone," Xichen said, "but if you are uncomfortable being in a house with two men, then you can stay where you are."

"It is only temporary," Biyu said.

Jingyi leaned in and whispered, "You might want to think about that, they are married now, and I heard from Sizhui that they are very proactive."

Biyu blushed and cleared her throat, "I trust Hanguang Jun and Master Wei."

Wangji smiled and looked at Jingyi, "though we do not have classes tomorrow, I will see you tomorrow morning after breakfast for your punishment."

"Yes Hanguang Jun," Jingyi said and bowed, "I will try to do my best."

"I know you will," Wangji said, "I trust you."

"Thank You, Hanguang Jun," Jingyi said.

"Lan Zhan, we should go clear out Sizhui's old room for Biyu," Wuxian said before turning to Biyu, "Go get whatever you need and come to the Jingshi when you have everything."

"Okay," Biyu said and left. Sizhui and Jingyi left too.

"It is nice of you to let her stay with you," Xichen said.

"Though you and I had our own place by the time we were sixteen, she may not like that idea," Wangji said, "I also figured Wei Ying would not mind."

"I do not...but you have to be careful about our...nightly activities," Wuxian told him.

"Oh, we will be fine, and so will she. She will not be disturbed by it," Wangji said with a determined voice.

Wuxian sighed, "I figured that you would say something like that."

"Because you know we keep to our promise," Wangji said.

Wuxian shook his head, "you are lucky that I love you."

"I know, and I love you too," Wangji said taking his hand.