Chapter Forty-One: The Treasury Silver Is Stolen

Meng Xiaoli gazed at Wuyu, who had been beaten until blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, her entire body covered in bruises. Curled up on the ground and breathing faintly, she endured the blows and curses without offering any resistance. Ji Hongluan asked softly, "Sect Leader, should we go and stop them?"

Meng Xiaoli waved a hand dismissively and said, "Tell Wuyu to come to my room tonight."

Ji Hongluan acknowledged the order with a nod, and the two of them turned and walked away.

That night, Meng Xiaoli lay on the bed feigning sleep until military strategist Ji Hongluan announced from outside the door, "Sect Leader, Wuyu has been brought here."

Meng Xiaoli rolled over, stood up, put on an outer garment, and said, "Come in."

Ji Hongluan pushed the door open, ushered Wuyu into the room, and then turned and retreated outside.

Seeing that Wuyu's face was battered and swollen, her entire body bruised, her hands clutching her lapels tightly, her gaze defiant, and her lips pressed firmly together as she stood near the doorway refusing to enter, Meng Xiaoli could not help but be amused. "How did you get yourself into this state?" she asked, then instructed, "Come over here and sit." With that, she took a seat at the table first.

Only then did Wuyu shuffle across the floor, taking small steps until she reached the table. Instead of sitting, however, she raised her hands in a bow and asked, "I do not know why the Sect Leader has summoned this disciple. What are your instructions?"

Meng Xiaoli poured a cup of tea, handed it to Wuyu, and smiled. "I asked how you ended up like this. Why didn't you answer me?"

Startled and flattered by the tea handed to her by Meng Xiaoli, Wuyu hurriedly took it and replied, "Gu Youyou beat me." She did not drink the tea, however.

Meng Xiaoli motioned for Wuyu to sit nearby, looked closely at the bruises on her face, and asked, "Why did she beat you?"

Sitting up straight in her chair without looking at Meng Xiaoli, Wuyu answered, "Because I killed a male slave who was farming on Forget-Sorrow Mountain."

Perplexed, Meng Xiaoli asked, "And how did that male slave offend you?"

Righteously, Wuyu replied, "That male slave was having an illicit affair with a female disciple of our sect. I caught them in the act; I beat the female disciple and killed the male slave."

Curious, Meng Xiaoli looked at Wuyu and asked, "Then do you think you were in the right, or was Gu Youyou in the right?"

Wuyu responded, "If the Sect Leader wants to kill me, then kill me. I, Wuyu, will have no complaints whatsoever."

Meng Xiaoli smiled and asked, "Being here with me, don't you want to lodge a complaint against Gu Youyou?"

Lowering her head, Wuyu mumbled hesitantly, "Sect Leader, would you even care?"

Hearing this question, Meng Xiaoli was greatly taken aback and pressed further, "Why ask that?"

Clenching her fists, Wuyu answered, "That Gu Youyou is a favorite in your presence; her word is law. What grievances can nameless disciples like us suffer other than swallowing them down into our bellies? Otherwise, the moment I step out this door, I will only face even greater retaliation."

Upon hearing these words, Meng Xiaoli could not help but burst into hearty laughter. She shook her head and asked, "Who said she, Gu Youyou, is a favorite in my presence?"

"Everyone says so," Wuyu muttered with puffed-up cheeks. "Not only did she commit a fault without being punished, but she was suddenly elevated to Left Protector. With a bit of power, she has only become more oppressive and relentless, treating us not as human beings."

Meng Xiaoli looked earnestly at Wuyu and explained, "That is because she indeed possesses certain abilities that others lack. Her having ability does not mean I like her. Conversely, if you possess that ability, you can replace her."

Failing to grasp the hidden meaning in Meng Xiaoli's words, Wuyu continued to complain, "If a person has ability, does that mean they are employed regardless of their moral character, even if it causes widespread public resentment?"

Patiently, Meng Xiaoli replied, "One day, when you stand from my perspective, you will understand. Even though such a person is hated by everyone, she is extremely useful to me—and that is the reason for keeping her. Among these disciples, there are those even more savage than she is, and brute force is indeed the most effective management method. Her existence benefits me, sparing me from the annoyance of many trivial matters. Yet should a problem arise, I can pinpoint her and resolve the issue. As for her attitude toward those beneath her, it is of no consequence to me."

Unable to understand, Wuyu kept her head lowered and said despondently, "So honest and cowardly people like us have to be sacrificed."

Meng Xiaoli took a sip of her calming tea and asked with a light smile, "Why are you cowardly?"

Staring down at the floor, Wuyu answered, "Back at the brothel, Gu Youyou targeted me at every turn, scheming against me and bullying me in all sorts of ways. They had numbers on their side, and my resistance would only bring even greater beatings. I truly did not dare to resist; I could only endure the beatings and curses, then sneak off to a corner to cry because no one could help me. The scholar I met at the brothel said he would love me for all eternity—he was my sole emotional sustenance. Every day I hoped he would rescue me from the sea of suffering, but when I finally gained my freedom, he despised my origins and refused to marry me. My world had nothing left. Aside from joining the Crimson Robe Sect, I had no other choice. Entering the Crimson Robe Sect meant that I would still have to face Gu Youyou. Her personality always attracts many followers, and I am still the one who gets bullied. I truly do not know what to do. After learning martial arts, I also wanted to kill—to kill those heartless men who abandon women, to kill those haughty, despicable bitches. Killing is truly exhilarating; it can purge the grievances churning within my heart."

Sympathetically gazing at the frail young girl, Meng Xiaoli slid a small porcelain bottle over from the table and consoled her, "This is healing ointment. Apply it daily when you return, and your bruises will heal faster."

Wuyu accepted the medicine bottle and thanked Meng Xiaoli. Meng Xiaoli continued to comfort her: "If others cannot help you with certain matters, you must learn to grow strong on your own. But before that, when you are too insignificant to resist, someone must always stand up to assist in your growth."

Not understanding the implication, Wuyu raised her head to look at Meng Xiaoli. Meeting Wuyu's gaze sincerely, Meng Xiaoli said softly, "The team I am giving you is meant to grant you courage, not for you to lead them in shared cowardice. Go forth and act boldly; this is a fair arena where no one possesses more privilege than anyone else. You must concentrate wholeheartedly on studying martial arts. Personal ability is always the most important thing. Why shouldn't you be able to sit in the position that Gu Youyou sits in?"

Hearing these words from Meng Xiaoli, Wuyu seemed to understand a Sect Leader's choices regarding her disciples. Suddenly enlightened, she stood up, cupped her fists, and bowed, "Thank you, Sect Leader, for your clear instruction. From this day forward, this disciple will undoubtedly redouble her efforts in practicing martial arts and will not disappoint the Sect Leader's expectations."

Nodding in satisfaction, Meng Xiaoli said, "Return to your quarters and rest."

Finally, Wuyu raised her head, smiled at Meng Xiaoli, and retreated from the room.

Meng Xiaoli prepared to get up and return to bed for some rest. Having taken only a few steps, however, she suddenly felt pain wracking her entire body. Clutching the corner of the bed frame, cold sweat oozed from her forehead. "The time has come," she muttered to herself.

Quickly crossing her legs on the bed, she channeled her internal energy to suppress the affliction. It turned out that the malevolent Qi within Meng Xiaoli—who had suffered a deviation in her vital energy through her martial arts practice—had not been entirely cleared. Compounded by the continuous bloodshed involved in founding her sect, the malevolent Qi had grown increasingly potent. While her internal energy had surged dramatically, she was simultaneously enduring the backlash of her cultivation deviation. Whenever she utilized her internal energy, the midnight hour would unfailingly bring an erratic, needle-like stabbing pain coursing haphazardly through her extraordinary meridians.

The cultivation deviation had disrupted Meng Xiaoli's defensive Qi, causing her blood to flow backward whenever she employed internal energy. From the chaotic *Nine Solitary Sword Scripture*, Meng Xiaoli had discovered that the essence of her master's martial arts style lay in improvisation and acting in accordance with her nature—flowing wherever it felt smooth. Forms were dead while people were alive; practicing the *Nine Solitary Sword Scripture* in reverse rendered it even more unpredictable and difficult for opponents to anticipate.

Yet, as her master had said before passing away, cultivation deviation could cause one's martial arts to advance by leaps and bounds in a short period, but it exacted the backlash of a shortened lifespan. Her master, Elder Dugu, had already departed this world on her account. Although Meng Xiaoli, being young, would not die suddenly at once, she could not avoid using internal energy for self-protection. Yet every time she used her internal energy, the midnight agony would torture her for a full half-hour before subsiding. To Meng Xiaoli, each second of this torment felt as drawn out as an entire lifetime. Once it passed, however, she would recover completely, becoming just like a normal person once more.

Following her nighttime conversation with Meng Xiaoli, Wuyu experienced a sudden clarity of mind. Paying no heed to anything else, she redoubled her martial arts training day and night, practicing alone in her spare time with utmost diligence.

Seeing Wuyu's drastic change in attitude, Gu Youyou developed a certain wariness toward her. At times, the two engaged in covert clashes in the shadows. Although Wuyu still frequently ended up injured, she found joy in the struggle. She no longer feared injury—what did pain matter? She would strike back. A slap was a blow, and a punch was a strike, for deep in her heart she knew that the Sect Leader was a person who distinguished right from wrong, and those who resisted would find protection.

Anxious that escalating matters might cause a major upheaval and that complaints reaching Meng Xiaoli would be no laughing matter—especially since Meng Xiaoli held her life in her hands—Gu Youyou found no advantage to be gained from Wuyu. The satisfaction of bullying her opponent began to fade, and she gradually reined in her harassment. Before long, she practically stopped provoking Wuyu or seeking out trouble with her altogether, sparing herself that bad luck.

Meng Xiaoli was deeply gratified. However, after only a few days of peace, a disciple came rushing in to report, "Sect Leader, Gu Youyou and Fannu's factions have started a brawl on Bliss Mountain."

Frowning deeply, Meng Xiaoli turned to strategist Ji Hongluan and asked, "Isn't this Fannu a female slave we rescued from human traffickers? Since coming to the Crimson Robe Sect, she has always behaved prudently. How did she end up fighting with Gu Youyou?"

Ji Hongluan replied, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, birds of a feather flock together. Gu Youyou has her clique of former courtesies, while Fannu has hers composed of those with female slave backgrounds. Recently, our treasury silver was stolen, and a bandit faction led by Lei Erniang claimed they saw the female slaves stealing it. Presumably, Gu Youyou led people over to question the female slaves, Fannu refused to swallow the insult and argued on behalf of the women, and the two factions came to blows over a disagreement."

Tossing her fan aside in annoyance, Meng Xiaoli said angrily, "Tell them all to get over here at once." With that order, she strode swiftly to the Xiaoyao Hall and sat waiting.

After a long while, the shrill sound of bickering and curses echoed from afar, stopping only right outside the Xiaoyao Hall. A female disciple stepped forward to report, "Sect Leader, they have all arrived."

"Order them all to roll in here," Meng Xiaoli said angrily as she sat with stern dignity upon the throne. Seeing the blaze of fury in Meng Xiaoli's eyes and daring to make no mistakes, the female disciple trembled as she replied, "Yes, Sect Leader."

Immediately, Gu Youyou leading her faction and Fannu leading hers walked in, each wearing a righteous expression. Reaching the hall, they cupped their fists in a bow to Meng Xiaoli and said, "Greetings, Sect Leader."

Angrily, Meng Xiaoli demanded, "Fannu, you weren't properly guarding the treasury—what were you doing on Bliss Mountain, and why has the treasury silver gone missing?"

Raising her hands in a bow, Fannu replied, "Sect Leader, recently I was reviewing the account books and discovered that many silver amounts simply did not match up, with hundreds of taels missing altogether. I began investigating everywhere. Just as I was at my wit's end, Protector Gu came rushing to Bliss Mountain to pick a fight with me, insisting that we had stolen the treasury silver. To make matters worse, she played the thief crying 'stop thief,' making baseless accusations and brutally beating the female slaves who guarded the treasury."

Gu Youyou interjected, "What baseless accusations? Lei Erniang and several others saw with their own eyes that you were secretly transporting it at night, yet you still refuse to admit it. Was I not justified in coming to question you?"

With tears welling in her eyes, Fannu retorted, "Questioning is one thing, but why resort to beating people?"

Gu Youyou raised her voice, "It was you who hurled insults at me first..."

"Enough, both of you shut your mouths!" Meng Xiaoli barked, unwilling to listen any further. She then ordered, "Someone bring Lei Erniang here."