The morning sun cast long shadows across the stone pathways of Zephyr Gate, illuminating the figures that moved through the sect’s outer courtyard. Cultivators in various states of training paused to bow their heads as a familiar presence approached, though none dared look directly at him.
Xuan Fa walked with measured steps, his black training robes flowing around his tall frame. His face remained an unreadable mask of cold indifference, dark eyes scanning the surroundings as if assessing everything and finding it all wanting. In his left hand, he held three leather leashes that branched from a single ring at his fist, each one connected to a black slave collar.
Behind him, three women crawled on hands and knees.
Lin Qiaoxin moved on Xuan Fa’s left, her black twin-tails bouncing with each crawling step she took. Her naked body gleamed with a light sheen of sweat from the morning’s exertions, her breasts swaying beneath her as she kept her head low and her movements precise. Despite the dirt and stone pressing into her palms and knees, a small smile played at the corners of her lips.
Li Que crawled on the right, her fiery red hair tied in a high ponytail that trailed down her back. Her athletic body moved with controlled strength, each placement of hand and knee deliberate and practiced. Her eyes, sharp and focused, watched the ground ahead of her with the vigilance of a predator who had long since accepted her place in the pack.
Between them, Shen Mengyue moved with elegant grace, her long black hair pooling on the ground around her as she crawled. Her mature figure, a blend of maidenly softness and womanly curves, drew the eyes of every disciple they passed. But her expression remained serene, accepting, even grateful.
The three of them moved in perfect synchrony, their crawling so practiced that it seemed as natural as walking. The leather leashes hung slack, none of them pulling against the restraint. They had long since learned that obedience was not just expected—it was desired.
Xuan Fa stopped at the edge of a training platform where several dozen naked female disciples were practicing sword forms under the watchful eye of an outer disciple instructor. The disciples immediately dropped to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground.
“Rise and continue,” Xuan Fa said, his voice flat and commanding. The disciples scrambled back to their feet, resuming their practice with renewed vigor.
Xuan Fa turned his head slightly, addressing the three women behind him without looking at them. “You have all broken through to the mid-stage of Divine Transformation, correct?”
Lin Qiaoxin immediately pressed her forehead to the ground. “Yes, Master. This humble slave has been blessed by your discipline.”
Li Que did the same. “Your beatings have tempered this slave’s body and spirit.”
Shen Mengyue’s voice followed, soft and reverent. “This slave owes everything to Master’s firm hand and the Xuantian Realm’s abundant qi.”
Xuan Fa allowed a thin smile to cross his lips. “Three hundred years to reach mid-stage Divine Transformation. That is acceptable.”
“We are unworthy of Master’s praise,” Shen Mengyue said quickly, her voice earnest. “It is only because Master beats our bottoms and provides us with the Xuantian Realm’s spiritual energy that we could advance so quickly.”
Xuan Fa tugged lightly on the leashes, and the three women crawled forward to circle around him, forming a semi-circle at his feet. He looked down at them, his cold eyes narrowing.
“Since you have all reached mid-stage Divine Transformation, I have a task for you.”
Lin Qiaoxin’s ears perked up, though she kept her head down. “This slave lives to serve Master’s will.”
“The Sword Sect Master, Bai Zhenshuang,” Xuan Fa began, his voice carrying a trace of irritation, “has spoken disrespectfully of Zephyr Gate. The Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley, Hua Qianyu, allowed her disciples to occupy our medicinal gardens. And the Demon Saintess, Su Qianyao, has used her charm techniques to ensnare the minds of our disciples.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. “You three will go to each of them. Deliver my message: they are to strip themselves naked, crawl to the mountain entrance of Zephyr Gate, present their buttocks, and receive one hundred strokes of the Celestial Wood Board every day for ten years. This is a minor punishment for their transgressions.”
Lin Qiaoxin felt a thrill run through her at the words. Ten years of daily discipline. She knew what that would do to a woman’s spirit.
“If they resist,” Xuan Fa continued, reaching into his robe and producing three sets of golden chains that gleamed with faint runic light, “subdue them and bind them with these Immortal Binding Locks. Bring them back here, and I will personally ensure their compliance.”
He tossed the chains onto the ground before them. Lin Qiaoxin reached forward and gathered her set, pressing it to her forehead. “This slave will not fail Master.”
Li Que took her chains with equal reverence. “If they resist, they will learn why this slave is called the Sparrow Slave.”
Shen Mengyue picked up her set and tucked it beside her as she crawled. “This humble slave will ensure your will is done, Master.”
Xuan Fa nodded slowly. “Go after today’s discipline. Prepare yourselves.”
Lin Qiaoxin hesitated for a moment, then pressed her forehead to the ground again. “Master… this humble slave has a request.”
Xuan Fa raised an eyebrow. “Speak.”
“We have all broken through to mid-stage Divine Transformation,” Lin Qiaoxin said, her voice careful but eager. “This slave humbly requests that Master increase our daily discipline from two hundred strokes to four hundred.”
Li Que nodded beside her. “This slave agrees with Heart Slave. Our bodies have grown accustomed to the current punishment. We require more… refinement.”
Shen Mengyue added softly, “This slave also makes the same request, Master. Your discipline is what strengthens us.”
Xuan Fa let out a quiet laugh. It was a rare sound, and the three women felt a warmth spread through them at hearing it. “You have fallen in love with the feeling of being beaten, haven’t you?”
“Yes, Master,” the three of them said in unison, their voices carrying no shame.
“Very well,” Xuan Fa said. “Complete this task successfully, and I will increase your daily strokes to four hundred.”
“This slave thanks Master!” they chorused, pressing their foreheads to the ground.
“But first,” Xuan Fa said, turning his gaze toward the inner courtyard, “we must complete today’s punishment.”
He raised his free hand and snapped his fingers. The sound echoed through the training ground, and moments later, three figures emerged from a nearby pavilion.
They walked with the confidence of those who had been raised in absolute obedience, their naked bodies glistening in the morning light. Lin Yuxin moved first, her youthful face bearing an eightfold resemblance to Lin Qiaoxin, her hair arranged in a servant’s bun at the top of her head. She was followed by Li Yunling, whose athletic frame and calm expression mirrored Li Que’s, and Shen Xingmian, whose gentle features and flowing black hair could have been Shen Mengyue’s reflection in a younger mirror.
All three wore black slave collars around their necks.
They approached Xuan Fa and knelt in unison, pressing their foreheads to the ground. “This slave greets Master.”
Xuan Fa looked down at them, his cold expression softening almost imperceptibly. “Rise, my children.”
The three daughters rose to their feet, their eyes downcast but attentive.
“Your mothers have requested an increase in their daily discipline,” Xuan Fa said, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. “Their bottoms are feeling neglected. You will take the Celestial Wood Boards and give each of them two hundred strokes.”
Lin Yuxin’s lips twitched into a small smile. “This slave understands, Master.”
“After that,” Xuan Fa continued, “you will take the whip and strike each of them one hundred times in the cleft between their legs. Cover their flowers and their tight rings thoroughly.”
“Yes, Master,” Li Yunling said, her voice cool and professional.
“Then,” Xuan Fa said, turning to the three mothers who were still kneeling, “it will be your turn, children. One hundred strokes of the Profound Wood Board each, delivered by the floating boards.”
“We are honored to receive Master’s discipline,” Shen Xingmian said softly.
Xuan Fa gestured toward the punishment platform at the center of the training ground. The stone surface was elevated, with wooden frames at each corner designed to hold a woman in position. “Proceed.”
The three mothers crawled toward the platform without hesitation, their bodies moving with practiced ease. They positioned themselves at the center, then lowered their upper bodies until their chests pressed against the cool stone, their buttocks raised high in the air.
Lin Qiaoxin turned her head to look back at her daughter, a knowing smile on her face. “Yuxin, remember—use the full arc of your swing. Don’t just let the board drop. Put your shoulder into it. The louder the crack, the deeper the lesson.”
“I remember, Mother,” Lin Yuxin said, picking up a Celestial Wood Board from the rack beside the platform. The board was dark, almost black, and hummed with faint spiritual energy. She traced her fingers along its surface, testing its weight.
Li Que positioned herself beside Lin Qiaoxin, her buttocks raised and spread slightly. “Yunling,” she said, her voice carrying a note of pride, “aim for the fullest part of my cheeks. That’s where the impact will spread the most. And don’t be gentle. I have endured far worse than anything you can deliver.”
“This slave will do her best, Mother,” Li Yunling said, selecting her own board.
Shen Mengyue settled into position last, her body graceful even in submission. “Xingmian,” she said softly, “remember to breathe with each stroke. It will help you maintain your rhythm. And when you reach the cleft, use the tip of the whip. Let it bite deeply.”
“This slave will honor your teachings, Mother,” Shen Xingmian said, her voice warm.
Xuan Fa stood at the edge of the platform, arms crossed, watching with keen interest. “Begin.”
Lin Yuxin was the first to swing. She raised the Celestial Wood Board high above her head, then brought it down in a smooth, powerful arc. The board connected with Lin Qiaoxin’s right buttock with a sharp crack that echoed across the training ground.
Lin Qiaoxin let out a soft gasp, but her body remained steady. “Good,” she said, her voice slightly strained. “But you can hit harder. Put your weight into the follow-through.”
Lin Yuxin adjusted her stance, bent her knees slightly, and swung again. This time, the crack was deeper, more resonant. A red mark bloomed across Lin Qiaoxin’s skin.
“Better,” Lin Qiaoxin breathed.
Li Yunling took her turn, raising her board and bringing it down across Li Que’s left cheek with brutal efficiency. The sound was like a thunderclap, and Li Que’s body jerked forward, but she held her position.
“Harder,” Li Que commanded, her voice steady. “You’re holding back. Don’t treat me like glass. Treat me like stone that needs breaking.”
Li Yunling’s jaw tightened, and she swung again, putting all her strength into the stroke. The board connected with a sound that made several nearby disciples wince.
“That’s more like it,” Li Que said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.
Shen Xingmian approached her mother with quiet reverence. She raised the board, hesitated for just a moment, then brought it down in a precise, controlled arc. The impact was solid, but not as forceful as the others.
Shen Mengyue let out a soft sigh, then said gently, “Xingmian, you strike like you’re afraid of hurting me. Don’t be. This is discipline. This is love. Strike me as if you mean to teach me a lesson I will never forget.”
Tears welled in Shen Xingmian’s eyes, but she nodded and raised the board again.
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