Chapter Three: They Couldn't Save Her

As time ticked by without Master Chang waking up, the tension in the room rose. Everyone wore a terrified look on their faces as they anticipated the trouble they would be in when their visitor woke up. 

The father of the house would not stop glaring at his second son, his angry eyes blaming him for their new predicament. The boy surely took after his mother with his hot head, and not him, he thinks, while tapping his foot restlessly on the ground. 

" I have an idea, " Junfeng suddenly blurts out, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

The eyes that turned to him don't look hopeful, as the young man speaking has never come up with anything reasonable in his life. Knowing his son and not expecting much from him, their father doesn't bother looking. Only Meilin wears a hopeful look on her face. Maybe her brother might surprise him. 

Seeing the disinterested look on his father's face, Junfeng frowns. "Father, do you not want to hear my idea?" He hates how his father looks down on him. He acts as if his twin brother is the only one with brains in the house. 

"Why should I bother when I know it is going to be stupid?"

Junfeng scowls. "But you haven't even heard it, how do you know it is stupid?"

Their father rolls his eyes at his son whining, and then, with a resigned look, demands that he speak his brilliant idea.

His sarcastic tone flies over Junfeng, who looks giddy to share his wonderful idea. He looks at everyone in the room, his brown eyes glowing with dark excitement. They all wait with their breath held for him to speak, and he does.  

" LET'S KILL HIM. "

His family stares blankly at him, too dumbfounded by the young man's suggestion to react. 

While they gawked at Junfeng, the wheels began to spin in their head as they turned his words around in their head.

Their father reacts first.

"How do we dispose of the body? "

Meilin gasps in shock at her father's words. She never believed he would entertain Junfeng's ridiculous idea. She looks at her eldest brother, the sane one in the family. Surely, he would see the idea for what it is- a stupid idea.

Qianfan had a sinister look in his eyes that terrified Meilin. He looks very much on board with the crazy idea. Surely, her family doesn't believe they would get away with murder?

As Meilin was beginning to believe that her family was going to make a mess of things, her mother spoke. Her mother has been so silent since this morning that Meilin forgot her presence. 

"TIAN!" their mother snaps, shocking the room. Goose bumps erupted all over their skin at her raised voice. They are used to her meekness and mild manner, so they are surprised by her harsh tone and command. 

The older woman glares at her husband, who looks away with a sheepish expression, before she turns on her son. They blush and look down at the scolding gaze. "We are not killing anyone, understood?"

Everyone nods. 

"What do we do then?" Their father questions, looking at his wife. 

"We wait till he wakes up, and Junfeng apologizes." She glares at her son. 

The young man scratches his head as he averts his eyes from his mother, his face flushed red. His mother has never scolded him before, and it makes him uncomfortable. 

Master Chang wakes up to hear the tail of their conversation. " Who are you killing? " He asks, sitting up. 

"Oh shit!" Yufei exclaims in shock, falling back.

While their mother glares at her son for his foul language, their father goes to attend to their visitor. 

"Master Chang, how do you feel?"

"How do you think I feel?!" Master Chang glares at the father. " Your son hit me! " he spat out, raising his fat finger to his lips, which he cleans and brings to the focus of his eyes. He looks disappointed when no blood stains on his fingers.

Their father looks to the floor, his expression ashamed of his son's behavior. At his silence, their mother speaks up. 

" Master Chang, we are sorry."

Master Chang's eyes look in the older blonde's direction, her beauty melting his heart. His hard expression softens, and he looks ready to forgive until his eyes fall on the boy who struck him. His arrogant, unremorseful stance annoys him, and his features harden again. 

Following his eyes, their mother sees where he is looking and smacks her son to apologize.

"Ah!" Junfeng holds his side with a frown, his expression clueless.

"Apologize to Master Chang," their mother snaps, with a strong glare. 

Grudgingly, the young man turns to the visitor, his expression stubborn. " I am sorry for hitting you," he utters without sincerity. 

Master Chang glares at him one more time before getting to his feet.

" Well, I am ready to get out of this gutter, so where is my doll? " he says, looking around.

At his words, Meilin's heart sinks to the bottom of her stomach, and tears begin to stream down her face. Her family looks defeated and dejected as they can't stop what is about to happen.

The youngest, Six-year-old Ping, stares at everyone, wondering why they look sad.

" Mother, why is everyone looking sad and Salsa crying? " 

" Because she is going away stupid, " Yuze snaps at him.

" What! No!!! " Ping screams, running to Meilin with tears running down his face." Please don't go, " he begs, clutching her tightly.

With her brother clinging desperately to her, Meilin couldn't control her emotions and began to sob loudly. 

" Let's go, doll, " Master Chang snaps, looking irritated at all the emotions going on around him.

Meilin stands rooted to the ground, hoping for a last-minute miracle.

Junfeng, who couldn't bear to see his sister leave, stood to his feet and walked out with an angry look on his face.

" Come here, " Qianfan said, walking to her.

Meilin walks into his arms, her head resting against his broad shoulders, while her shoulders shake with her tears. 

Qianfan tightened his grip around her, and even though she couldn't breathe, Meilin didn't mind at all as she drew comfort from her brother. 

Impatient to leave, Master Chang matches to Meilin and tries to pull her away from her brother. 

No!!! Meilin cries, clinging to her brother. 

Qianfan's eyes grew wet as he tried to pry his sister loose. 

" It's alright, Mei, " he whispers calmly into her ear.

" No, is not!" Meilin protests tearfully, wrapping her hand tightly around Qianfan's neck.

" Don't be scared, I will find you," Qianfan reassures her, his tone determined.

Meilin shakes her head at her brother's words. She doesn't want to go. 

Losing the last thread of his patience, Master Chang forcefully pulls Meilin away from Qianfan's arms, pulling her towards the door. 

" Noooooo!!!!!!! " Meilin screams. She was not ready. " Qianfan!!!! Dad!!!!! Mum!!!! " she cries out for them, staring back for her family to do something, but they all stood with a helpless look on their faces, watching with despair as their sister slash daughter is pulled out the door.

Meilin continues to fight and resist Master Chang's hold on her as he drags her to his waiting carriage. When they get there, he drops his hand and faces a tearful Meilin with a furious expression.

" Now will you please stop with the tears unless you want to start your training early enough, " Master Chang glared at his newly acquired doll. 

Meilin stiffens at the mention of training, her eyes going wide with fear. 

The sight of her fear pleases Master Chang, and he smirks sly at her before entering his carriage, expecting the girl to follow. 

Meilin cast a backward glance toward her humble home, the temptation to run gripping her heart tightly. She pushes it away and joins Master Chang inside, her face full of sadness. 

Inside the carriage, Meilin finds a corner to squeeze herself in, clutching her small duffel for dear life. The carriage starts to move, rocking gently as the horses race through the grassy path, toward the Central City. 

Master Chang leers at his young doll and reaches out to touch her thighs. 

Meilin evades his grabby hands, moving out of reach, her expression uncomfortable and terrified. The carriage chooses that moment to stumble over a rock, throwing Meilin into Master Chang's lap.

Master Chang laughs lecherously at his good fortune. With a mischievous look in his eyes he wraps his hand around Meilin, while he tries to sniff and kiss her neck. 

Meilin tries to wiggle free, but the amorous Merchant won't let her, but continues to tease the young blonde to her disgust and annoyance. 

He tries to cup a feel, but Meilin reinforces her fight, denying him access, but instead of annoying her master, it amuses him. Her struggle excited him and rekindled his desire. 

Meilin jumps when she feels something poking her from Master Chang's robe, but before she could figure it out, the carriage stumbles again, which sends her flying off Master Chang's grip. 

She exhales in relief, while Master Chang wiggles his brow at her, with a lewd smile on his lips. 

" Don't worry, sweet thing, soon you will be begging me for it, " he says, licking his lips.

A cold shudder ran through Meilin's body, leaving her with goosebumps.

" Sir, are we going home? " the servant driving the carriage asked out loud, pulling Master Chang's attention from Meilin.

" No, we will be going to the palace, the king is getting married to his new queen today. "