Haoyu seemingly forgot about the shooting star incident. He carried on with his duties like nothing ever happened. However, things were no longer the same as before.
Haoyu noticed he was full of energy, usually he struggled to complete his daily tasks but for some reason he was able to zip through them faster than ever before.
Haoyu wondered what could be the reason for this. He then noticed whenever he went to sleep and wake up, he would feel revitalized.
He didn't have a clue why this was until one cold night he shut the wooden hatch on the side of his shack. When he woke up that morning he didn't have the same feeling anymore, instead he felt lethargic and hollow.
Haoyu put two and two together and the next night instead of sleeping inside his shack he decided to lay down on the grass under the stars.
That night Haoyu felt the gentle light of the stars bathe him in it's refreshing glow.
It was starlight that gave him that wonderous feeling. When he closed the wooden hatch that night starlight couldn't shine on his body which was why Haoyu felt lethargic.
"This is lovely." Haoyu smiled as he basked in the starlight. It was a serene sensation that lulld him to sleep. The young man couldn't remember the last time he slept so peacefully.
The next day Haoyu felt even more energetic than ever. It took him only two hours to accomplish what would normally take him ten hours. It didn't take a scholar to make the connection, after that Haoyu would sleep every night outside under the stars.
Soon his miserable life became enjoyable once more. He would finish work in no time at all and got to have as much rest as he wanted. Before he knew it, a month went by.
...
During that time nothing of note happened. Haoyu worked as usual but he was confused as to why elder Wei hadn't shown up in so long. Typically he would check on his horses every week or so, but he hadn't stopped by in over a month.
Haoyu figured he was just too busy. He didn't try to think about it too much. He was honestly glad the elder hadn't visited yet. The sadistic old man would always find some reason to reprimand or punish him when he did come by.
Haoyu hoped whatever was keeping him busy would continue to do so, unfortunately, that very day elder Wei did show up.
The elder swooped down from above, the wind russling his orange robe's. He swung open the barn doors and looked around trying to spot something out of place.
The elder was disappointed that everything looked to be in order. The stables were clean, his horses neatly groomed, not a spec of dust to be seen anywhere. There wasn't anything he could complain about which irritated him. That's when he realized Haoyu wasn't anywhere to be seen.
'Is that little neophyte lazy around somewhere?' The elder thought to himself. He figured that it be a good enough reason to punish him.
"Slave, in front of me, now!" He shouted.
Haoyu had finished his work a while ago and was taking a nap under a tree when he heard the loud voice of elder Wei. He quickly wiped away his drool and ran over to the barn.
He opened the back door to the barn and saw the elder glaring at him. Immediately he bowed his head not daring to look him in the eye.
"W-What is it you r-require my presence for great elder?" Haoyu stuttered in fear.
Elder Wei smirked, the terror in the young man's voice music to his ears. "Where were you just now?" The elder asked his voice laced with malicious intent.
Haoyu froze unsure how to answer. He knew if he admitted to sleeping he would be punished. Even if he told him he accomplished all his duties elder Wei wouldn't be merciful. If anything it'll only enrage him if he tried to defend himself.
The elder grew impatient when Haoyu didn't respond. "Answer me now or you'll be lashed thirty times!" He screamed.
Haoyu trembled, tears built up in his eyes, but still mustered up the courage to say. "I-I was taking a nap."
Elder Wei struck Haoyu with the back of his right hand sending him skidding across the floor and into a pile of hay.
His vision was blurry and his mind fuzzy from the force of the blow. Haoyu coughed blood onto the floor along with two of his back mollars.
"On your feet!" Elder Wei ordered.
Haoyu was concussed but could still register his order. Wobbling to his feet Haoyu limped back over to the elder.
Elder Wei waited patiently until Haoyu was in front of him again. "Listen well, for sleeping during the day you will receive ten lashes and your rations will be cut in half," said the elder.
Haoyu was still reeling from the elders earlier blow and couldn't react properly to his verdict.
The elder didn't care whether or not he understood. He dragged him outside before taking out a whip and striking him ten times across his back. Haoyu screamed in agony his cries turning into whimpers by the time the elder finished.
"Don't ever let me catch you not working ever again slave." Elder Wei said coldly. He then vanished from his spot, taking into the air.
Haoyu looked with half-lidded eyes watching the elder soar through the sky and wishing he could do the same.
...
It wasn't until nightfall that Haoyu picked himself off the ground. The starlight giving him the strength to move despite the intense pain he was in.
Haoyu went to his shack to sleep that night. He needed a place where no one would see him cry. He went to his straw bed and laid down on his stomach, his back to sore to sleep on and sobbed all night long.
The carefree past couple of days had made him forget about his position in the world. The crushing reality of his grim existence came back to haunt him. Elder Wei's face appeared in Haoyu's dreams that night reminding him over and over again that he was nothing but a worthless slave.