Chapter 45: Internal Troubles and External Threats (Part 4)

Overnight, Play-Immortal Mountain turned into a river of blood. Not a single soul from the Exorcism Squad escaped alive down the mountain. The dawn light poured slantingly, blanketing countless crisscrossing corpses. The female disciples of the Crimson Robe Cult were tidying up the bodies of their fallen sect members and dragging away the remaining limbs of the Exorcism Squad. Meng Xiaoli gazed at the defiled earth, filled with a whirl of emotions.

Surveying all the disciples who had fought so valiantly in the crimson-stained field, Meng Xiaoli felt a great sense of relief. When her gaze landed on Wu Yu's face, however, her heart skipped a beat. Having experienced it herself once before, Meng Xiaoli could tell at a glance that Wu Yu's condition had likely followed in her own footsteps. Just as she was about to call Wu Yu over, a female disciple hurried up to her, cupped her fists, and bowed before saying, "Cult Leader, this is bad! Those male slaves on Carefree Mountain have revolted. Fan Nu is currently leading a team to suppress them and sent me to ask the Cult Leader to decide."

Meng Xiaoli knew in her heart that those male slaves on Carefree Mountain had most likely heard that someone had forcefully broken into Isolated Island and assumed Meng Xiaoli was spread too thin, hoping to use the chaos to break out of the mountain. It was just a pity that this mob of rabble-rousers had been completely wiped out before they even managed to leave. Meng Xiaoli turned and ordered the strategist Ji Hongluan, "Call Luo Yunsu, let's go to Carefree Mountain and watch the show."

Leaving Gu Youyou and Wu Yu to clear the battlefield, Meng Xiaoli led Luo Yunsu and a squad of female disciples toward Carefree Mountain. When they arrived, from afar they saw a group of crimson-robed female disciples surrounding a crowd of men. It appeared that Fan Nu had already brought people to suppress the rebelling male slaves. The male slaves were gathered together in the middle, each holding farm tools and glaring hostilely at the surrounding Crimson Robe Cult disciples.

Though surrounded, the male slaves refused to submit. They clamored to see the Ghost Empress of Demonic Yama and shouted that they must be allowed to leave Isolated Island.

These farming male slaves had all been abducted by the Crimson Robe Cult disciples from various places: some snatched from brothels, some escorted from bandit gangs, some captured while provoking trouble on Isolated Island, some tied up for bullying commoners, and some for brutally abusing women. In short, they were a mixed bag no less chaotic than the female disciples of the Crimson Robe Cult. While the female disciples were utterly devoted to Meng Xiaoli, these men were hardly willing to remain slaves on Isolated Island. Hearing from the female disciples that someone had broken into Play-Immortal Mountain, the bolder ones had incited all the male slaves, hoping to use the opportunity to rebel against Meng Xiaoli and escape the island.

Seeing Meng Xiaoli approach, the ringleader raised his hoe and shouted, "Ghost Empress of Demonic Yama, let us leave Isolated Island! Otherwise, even if we cannot fight our way out of the Crimson Robe Cult, we would rather die a heroic death than suffer this kind of humiliation!" At these words, all the male slaves behind him raised their farming tools and shouted in agreement.

The female disciples cleared a path for Meng Xiaoli and her group. Seeing this, Fan Nu cupped her fists in salute and was just about to speak when she saw Meng Xiaoli stride past without stopping, heading straight toward the group of male slaves.

The ringleader continued to shout, "You female fiend, let us go at once! A scholar may be killed, but not humiliated—" Before he could finish, everyone saw Meng Xiaoli draw a sword from the scabbard at the waist of a nearby female disciple without a word, sweeping it across in one fluid motion. The ringleader's voice cut off abruptly. With both hands clutching his spurting throat, he continued to utter incoherent, gurgling sounds before collapsing to the ground, twitching for a moment before drawing his last breath.

The death of the ringleader left everyone present staring in stunned silence. The other male slaves forgot to resist, and the female disciples were also utterly taken aback. It was a rare sight for Meng Xiaoli, who was usually lenient with her disciples time and again, to kill someone without asking questions.

Luo Yunsu, who was also a male slave, nearly pissed his pants at the sight. He stared in terror at Meng Xiaoli's back, feeling as though he were seeing a ghost in broad daylight. When he first met Meng Xiaoli, he thought her ruthless and wildly ambitious; after spending a few days with her, he had thought her pure at heart, fierce in appearance yet kind within. Looking at her now, however, she was still the same ruthless, cold-blooded person, caring even less about emotional ties than he, Luo Yunsu, did.

Meng Xiaoli sheathed her sword, her burning gaze sweeping over the male slaves as she said, "Only my disciples are qualified to bargain with me. You are not worthy." Then her eyes swept across them one by one, asking individually, "Who else is unconvinced? Step forward if you dare!"

An audacious man stepped out and yelled, "I am un—" Before the word could finish, Meng Xiaoli's hand rose and fell with the sword, killing him on the spot. Then, with a faint smile, Meng Xiaoli asked again, "Well then, who else is unconvinced?"

Every male slave knew that stepping forward meant courting death. Even those who felt resentful hesitated and dared not make a sound. Another man tentatively spoke up, "Killing the innocent like this and relying on brute force to bully people, what kind of ability is—" Before he could finish, Meng Xiaoli had no desire to listen further. With a flick of her sword, she ran through and killed another.

Then, gazing at the blood-drenched blade in her hand, Meng Xiaoli leisurely continued, "Though you all deserved to die long ago, I've kept you alive until now not only to make you do hard labor, but also because killing disobedient ones for sport is quite a bit of fun. Even if you all died today, it would have zero impact on me. What? Do you need to discuss who goes first and who goes next? Anyway, I have plenty of time today."

Another male slave stepped forward and shouted, "I'd rather die than yield to you, female fiend—" Accompanied by a jet of spurting blood, this male slave collapsed instantly. Resting the bloody sword on her shoulder, Meng Xiaoli looked at the remaining male slaves with keen interest and smiled, "You certainly have a bit of spine, but unfortunately, it's quite useless."

At this, not a single male slave dared to make another sound. It seemed even breathing might offend this woman. Even Luo Yunsu behind her held his breath, terrified that the slightest mistake would cause Meng Xiaoli to turn around and end his miserable life with a single sword stroke. Only now did he realize that, let alone farming male slaves, someone like himself who served her closely had never once been regarded as anything by Meng Xiaoli.

The threat of death enveloped every man present, and all of them fell silent. Seeing that no one uttered a sound, Meng Xiaoli returned the sword to the female disciple and said to everyone present, "It seems it was a mistake to respect you. I spared your lives and let you work for me with monthly wages, yet you still gave in to greed."

At this point, a swarthy, robust man stepped forward and said, "We're content. Having a life and earning silver is much easier than being a sedan-chair bearer outside. It's just that my stinking old woman at home is probably missing me to death; I really hope she can come to Isolated Island too and find a job, so our family can be reunited."

Meng Xiaoli's gaze fell upon this male slave, and she smiled faintly. "I remember you. You beat your woman half to death whenever you drink, and though your family is dirt poor, you always have plenty of excuses. As for you, just work in peace here. I'll have someone deliver the silver you earn straight to your wife's hands. That would truly be perfection." The male slave was stunned for a long moment, daring not say anything more, and could only nod in agreement, "Fine, fine, I suppose that really lets that stinking old woman off easy."

Meng Xiaoli turned, walked up to Fan Nu, and instructed her in a low voice, "No need to be polite with them. Whoever dares to make trouble again, kill them directly without reporting to me." Fan Nu cupped her fists and acknowledged the order, "This disciple understands." Meng Xiaoli turned, cast a final glance at all the male slaves in the field, and then led Luo Yunsu and the others back to Carefree Mountain.

Realizing none of them wanted to die in vain, the male slaves had no choice but to return and continue working. Meanwhile, Luo Yunsu's mind remained unsettled; like a frightened bird, he served Meng Xiaoli with trembling anxiety. Sensing what was on his mind, Meng Xiaoli comforted him, "You needn't be afraid. I only kill those who betray me. Aside from betrayal, no other mistake warrants death. Rest assured and stay here." Hearing this, Luo Yunsu's heart finally settled.

Meng Xiaoli's thoughts drifted back to Wu Yu. Could this disciple, in whom she had placed such high hopes, have grown impatient for success and walked the wrong path just as she had? She immediately instructed the guarding disciple, "Go, call Wu Yu here." The female disciple acknowledged the order and departed.

Upon receiving the summons, Wu Yu hurried over to the Phantom Dream Tower. Passing through the first-floor reception hall and climbing the stairs hidden behind the wooden partition up to the second floor, she was announced by the guards and entered Meng Xiaoli's room. There, she saw Meng Xiaoli gazing out the window at the scenery, with the male slave Luo Yunsu standing behind her.

Unaware of the purpose, Wu Yu cautiously poked her head into the room, cupped her fists, and asked in a soft, timid voice, "Cult Leader, for what reason did you summon this disciple?" Meng Xiaoli turned to look at Wu Yu, reached out to pull her over to the window, and pressed her fingers against Wu Yu's wrist to check her pulse. Through the chaotic and erratic palpitations of the pulse, Meng Xiaoli knew that Wu Yu had indeed followed in her footsteps. With profound meaning, she said, "When I taught you internal martial arts, I told you to take it step by step and strictly avoid undue haste for quick results. Why didn't you listen?"

Unaware of where she had gone wrong, Wu Yu anxiously pulled back her hand, made a揖 (obeisance), and said, "Cult Leader, this disciple practiced diligently and never dared to slack off in the slightest. This disciple does not know what mistake she has made."

Meng Xiaoli turned to face Wu Yu, pressed down her cupped hands, and waved for Luo Yunsu to leave. Looking at Meng Xiaoli with a baffled expression, Wu Yu heard her calmly advise, "You have already suffered a deviation in your vital energy. Ahead of you lie only two paths: either abandon your martial arts, or wait to die a sudden death."

Wu Yu stared at Meng Xiaoli in shock, incredulously feeling her own inner force, and then anxiously retorted, "A deviation in my vital energy? When did this disciple suffer a deviation? How is it that I didn't even know?"

Meng Xiaoli replied, "When a person single-mindedly persists in one thing, they sometimes lose their sense of direction. An onlooker sees clearly, but I can understand your hard work. However, things have reached this point; you must make your own plans."

Wu Yu lowered her head, pondering her recent state of practice. In order to quickly surpass others, she indeed had been practicing recklessly and blindly, driven almost to madness. Dejectedly, Wu Yu said, "Cult Leader does not know, this disciple has no great talent for martial arts and is of mediocre aptitude. I am very slow at learning anything. Though I make daily progress, the results are negligible. Compared to Li Yaoyao, who joined the cult later, she is a true martial arts genius who surged ahead and surpassed all of us. This disciple was a bit impatient, perhaps harboring improper intentions and straying onto an evil path."

With her lips pursed in a sad expression, Wu Yu raised her eyes to gaze pleadingly at Meng Xiaoli, asking, "Cult Leader, this disciple doesn't want to give up, after all, I've worked hard for so long. But if I don't give up, how much longer do I have to live?"

Meng Xiaoli, who didn't even know how much longer she herself—having suffered an energy deviation—could live, could only sigh and say, "In your youthful vigor, you can temporarily suppress the evil qi assaulting your heart, but as for how long you can actually live... perhaps a severe illness, a heavy injury, or excessive indulgence could cost you your life at any moment."

Wu Yu shook her head, leaned against the window to look out at the distant mountains, and with the corners of her mouth turning downward, tears finally fell. Weeping, she cried, "Cult Leader, what should this disciple do?" With that, Wu Yu turned and grabbed Meng Xiaoli's hands, pleading with tearful eyes, "Cult Leader, you must find a way to save this disciple. I don't want to become a cripple just like this."