The aftermath of the day of the greetings ceremony is a bit of an anticlimax. No one wants to admit to or address the fact that Wen Ruohan now has his own personal bodyguard, a shadow that lurks just behind him wherever he goes, ominous and silent, and yet deadly to all. Wen Zhuliu watches everyone with a keen eye, ever ready to do the bidding of his new master.

No cultivator is safe.

Each person is totally aware that they could meet the same unfortunate end as the Yao Sect disciple who had his core crushed on the first day, for no more reason than to have looked at the Chief Cultivator wrong. There's an air of fear present where there had not been before, and everyone's on their best behaviour.

But their best behaviour means the two days of meetings addressing the problems of the Cultivation world are very boring indeed. Wei Ying makes the most of it by catching up on his sleep, and Lan Zhan indulges him by letting him rest his head in his lap as he rests, wishing the interminable meetings could end that much faster.

He doesn't really mind though, because he gets the chance to watch Wei Ying sleep, and that to him is a priceless gift indeed. They both are twenty years old on the inside, but their bodies are only five and six respectively, and he's never seen Wei Ying look so cute before.

The best thing about it is how safe Wei Ying must feel to fall asleep so readily, trusting himself fully to Lan Zhan's care. He often smiles in his sleep, and Lan Zhan knows that he will treasure these memories long into the future.

In the evenings, there are the compulsory banquets that must be attended by everyone, and the main children from all the sects are forced to eat together. This is both a good thing because Wei Ying and Lan Zhan can catch up with the progress of Wen Qing's poison-making schedule, and report anything that seems strange, and a bad thing because it allows others to behave badly.

Wen Xu and Wen Chao have already made up their minds about the rest of them; no one is important enough to them so they don't bother interacting, only saying the odd insult here and there, hoping to provoke a fight.

Jin ZiXuan seems to follow this same line of thinking except when it comes to Jiang YanLi, then he turns into a blubbering mess of wrong words and red-faced embarrassment while his cousin shoots his mouth off about the other Sect Leaders and any scandals they might have had in their lives.

When this happens, Wei Ying looks around, bored out of his skull, and there have been moments when he's thought he's seen a familiar face among the people serving food to Wen Ruohan's guests, and he wonders if Xue Yang has been busy on the sidelines. Using Wen Qing's method of communication, he asks her about their ongoing progress.

Wen Qing assures them that the poisons are being dried and will be ready to grind and add to the wine that Wen Ruohan drinks every night in a days, ensuring his death. She's not taking any chances either, with the dosage.

"Enough to take down an elephant," she guarantees.

At least that is one less thing to worry about.

Tomorrow is the last day of the actual meetings between the sects, and then there will certainly be more in the way of entertainment.

But in the end, no one is ready for what happens.

***************

On the third day of the meetings, each hour passes by much the same as the previous days have gone; someone puts forth an idea and everyone else shoots it down. The ideas are not themselves the problem. Some of them are good, some are even great, but the real issue is to do with everyone's egos. Each person loves the sound of their own voices and so nobody can agree to anything not proposed by themselves.

It is during one of these "helpful" speeches that the golden doors of the hall are thrown open, and new guests arrive.

There is a lady of questionable repute coming to stand in front of Wen Ruohan, holding her son by the hand. They both bow deeply, causing Wen Ruohan to stop drinking for about three seconds.

He looks them over, noting the black hat on the child and his two sweet dimples as he smiles innocently at everyone, trusting his mother to take care of him.

This is the hardest thing Meng Shi has ever done in her life.

Next to opening her legs for the first time and welcoming a stranger into her bed, this is by far, the worst. She thought it was bad enough, walking through the gates of Nightless City, feeling awed and smaller than ever, but that was nothing in comparison to walking into a huge hall surrounded by not a single friend. All the eyes that are immediately aimed at her feel like the pinpricks of a thousand hungry barbs, each one biting into her soft flesh with every step she takes forward.

She can feel their curiosity, the naked revulsion from the women who have never had to work for a living, and the unwanted hostile interest from most of the men, instinctively knowing what she is. It shouldn't come as such a shock to her, how nowadays, she can never be mistaken for a genteel lady out for a walk with her son.

The world can be cruel, IS cruel and unforgiving towards those who have taken a stand against poverty, who will do anything to survive, even if that means selling their dignity for a bowl of cold noodles. But when has pride ever filled an empty stomach? When has it ever provided the clothes on her back? Her own choices, her own strength of mind did that, and she's proud of it and her will to survive.

Meng Shi has two things that most of the well-brought up people contained in this room don't have: she wears her own self-respect like an armour on her body, and she has her beautiful little boy, A-Yao.

He is the reason why she has come here today.

Meng Shi wants her son to understand what kind of a person his father is, and she wants to give him a chance to succeed, a chance that will never be given to him as long as he remains with her in the brothel. She knows what a cunning bastard Jin GuangShan is, and she knows that if she doesn't make this a public spectacle then the chances of getting that slimy toad to accept her son into his sect are zero to none.

She knows too, that Koi tower is a nest of vipers and probably the last place she should choose to send her precious child, but beggars can't be choosers, and that is the bottom line. Her gaze as it sweeps around the room, catches on a pair of dark eyes, shrewdly assessing her as she and A-Yao walk past.

That's the current Madam Jin, furen to the piece of dogshit she's married to.

For one second, Meng Shi falters, feeling sorry for her. Her actions today will affect many, but her most of all, and she wishes she had a moment to apologise to her. But she gives herself a mental slap.

Meng Shi never asked Jin GuangShan to enter her street, her brothel, or her room. She never wanted him in her bed, but she had to choose between that and being beaten without a meal for the night, because if you couldn't earn your keep in a place like that, you were next to worthless to the Madam of the House.

So she carries on walking, straight to the front of the hall with her head held high.

So far, Jin GuangShan hasn't tried to stop her once. Meng Shi doubts he even remembers her, it was so long ago. He stopped coming to see her in her ninth month, when she was just days away from giving birth to her treasure. It had been a fight to keep A-Yao, and if there's anything Meng Shi regrets, it's not that.

Wen Ruohan has been watching her, discreetly at first, but definitely since her left foot passed the threshold of this vast hall. Now, he stares at her openly, and it's the lack of lust in his hooded eyes that gives her the strength to open her mouth.

Meng Shi bows low, whispering to her clever son that he should do the same.

"Who are you?" Wen Ruohan asks her, with none of the flowery words befitting a Sect Leader.

Something else to be grateful for. Meng Shi can get straight to the point.

"My name is Meng Shi and this is my son, Meng Yao. I work in a brothel." The words come out in a jumble of nerves, and she has to fight to breathe, to remain calm and to not hurl the accusations like the stones they should be, at a certain yellow-robed Jin Cultivator. "I come seeking justice from the Esteemed Chief Cultivator."

"What justice can I give you?" He's not scoffing at her. It's an open question.

"This child is the son of Jin GuangShan. I have a signed letter from my Madam where I work, attesting to this." She pulls out a scroll with writing that she hands over to the servant who passed it onto Wen Ruohan.

He unrolls it and glances through.

Meanwhile, Jin GuangShan has finally figured out who she is. He stands up and comes to stand next to her.

"Wen-Zhongzhu," he appeals, his desperation leaking through his words like a greasy aftertaste. "How can we trust the words of someone like her? How-"

"Silence." Wen Ruohan says, enough strength behind his tone to shut the man up. "Do you have any other proof?"

"Yes, Sir," Meng Shi replies. She tells herself again, she has nothing to hide. "I have this golden pearl. Jin GuangShan told me it came from the necklace of his great-grandmother, and if I ever needed anything at all, I was to show it at the doors of Koi tower and I would be admitted inside." She pulls out a lacquered cherry wood box.

Wen Ruohan gestures to a servant to bring it closer to him. Picking it up from where it is nestled on top of a yellow silk cushion, he holds it up so everyone can see it.

Gasps of outrage ring out across the hall.

Then, Wen Ruohan squeezes his first finger and his thumb, and with a crack, the pearl is pulverised into dust. He makes a face as the servant hastily cleans up the mess.

"I take it you already tried?" Wen Ruohan wipes his hands on his clothes with distaste clear in his expression.

There's a noise next to her, almost animalistic in nature. But Jin GuangShan takes one look at Wen Zhuliu and stops himself from opening his mouth.

"Yes." Meng Shi makes sure she doesn't look anywhere except at the Chief Cultivator.

"He gave me a pearl like that, too!" A single voice rings out from behind her.

"Me, too! He said it was a priceless treasure!"

"That lying pig told me the same thing!"

"And me!"

"Me, as well!"

"I too, was fooled by that disgusting piece of shit!"

More voices ring out behind them and the Chief Cultivator beckons them closer.

In the end, there are at least twenty slighted women standing behind Meng Shi.

Wen Ruohan scratches his chin, turning to Jin GuangShan, who has steadily been turning a different shade of red as the accusations increased. Now, he's closer to purple than anything healthy or normal.

"I must say, you work fast," Wen Ruohan says.

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment. Madam Jin." Wen Ruohan abruptly calls out to her. "I believe you are the most wronged here. You had to marry him," he smirks. "Since so many are upset with your husband, I think you should have full responsibility for his punishment."

"Wen-Zhongzu! Please!" Jin GuangShan says, now fearfully desperate because his wife is livid, marching towards him like a deadly spear aiming for his chest. "How is this my fault if these lovely ladies cannot resist my charms? If they cannot control themselves around my Xiao-Gege, how can I be blamed for that?" He sweeps his outer robes aside, revealing the bulge in his trousers with a slimy smile.

Madam Jin storms straight in front of him, her face a mask of furious embarrassment, and she draws back her fist, aiming to punch him. Jin GuangShan throws up his hands to protect his face and screams, an inhuman noise from the depths of his soul, because she was never aiming for his face.

She punches him straight on his prized possession, and Jin GuangShan crumples like a paper fan, a heap on the floor like a pile of poop.

Jin-Furen is on fire, and she turns, her head held high as she bows towards the Chief Cultivator.

"Thank you," she murmurs.

"Um...he's not moving-" one of the servants says, bringing everyone's attention back towards Jin GuangShan.

"Call the healers," Wen Ruohan replies as if he could not care less. This afternoon has been quite entertaining, until now.

The healers arrive quickly and sit down next to him, but in just a second, they turn their frightened eyes towards the Chief Cultivator.

"Sir...he's dead!"

More gasps ring out across the hall, and Wen Ruohan lets out an exhausted sigh. "Examine him."

"Um...here?" One of them asks, looking around pointedly.

"Yes, here. So everyone can see and we don't have stupid rumours flying around. Go ahead," he encourages them.

They carefully undo the ties that hold Jin GuangShan's robes together, and apparently, they were connected to his trousers because all of his clothes fall away, revealing a strange sight.

"Sir...?"

Wen Ruohan is busy draining his cup of wine, and he sighs to himself, bracing himself for more idiocy. "What is it?"

"It appears Jin-Zhongzu has died from a blood clot."

"A blood clot? How can you tell?"

"He tied a sausage to his appendage, in an attempt I can only assume to make it appear larger than it was. It was tied too tightly and caused a blood clot to travel up into his brain, and that is what killed him," the senior healer reveals, red-faced.

Wen Ruohan looks up towards everyone, all the Sect Leaders assembled there and addresses them.

"Are we satisfied that Jin-Zhongzu has died of his own misfortune and not from any nefarious plot to kill him?"

There are rumbles of agreement, with everyone politely looking away now.

"Then we will assume the matter is closed. Take him away." Wen Ruohan watches as a stretcher is brought in and the former Jin GuangShan is taken away, thankfully covered up now.

Jin-Furen bows and is just about to turn around to leave when Wen Ruohan stops her.

"Although Madam Jin and the Jin sect are officially in mourning, the Jin Sect is welcome to stay here until the end of the conference. The Jin seat must not remain empty and so I trust, after a suitable period of time has passed, that Madam Jin will assume responsibility of the Sect until her child is ready to accept the mantle of power."

"As you wish," she murmurs.

"Hmm. No doubt you would prefer to be alone, right now. You and whoever else would like to mourn in private may go."

Madam Jin is the only one to leave, with her attendants.

"What about my son?" Meng Shi asks him, turning Wen Ruohan's attention back towards her. "I only came here with the sole intention of finding him a place in Koi tower, to secure the rest of his life somewhere safe."

"And you think Koi tower is that place? Think again, Madam. Why don't you both stay here as guests of the Wen Sect? On the last day, there will be an event that will allow young possible cultivators to decide the best Sect for them to join. Your son, if he shows potential, should have his choice of where he wants to go. It is an open invitation, one rarely offered." Wen Ruohan scrutinises the little boy standing behind her robes now, terrified of what is happening around him.

"The Chief Cultivator is too kind. Then, we shall stay." Meng Shi bows, a broad smile on her face.

"Find rooms for Madam Meng," Wen Ruohan barks at more servants waiting on the sidelines. "Ensure they have everything they need."

Everyone bows and Meng Shi is led away with her son.

*************

A/N

Dear Beautiful Readers,

I couldn't resist the "I'm Spartacus" moment. Also, I've been researching dumb ways to die, and there's a video on YouTube made by Transport for London (TFL), because people are constantly standing on the wrong side of the yellow lines (they're thick and yellow and impossible to miss), and getting hurt accidentally on the train platforms. (I meant the lines are thick, people!!) (The comma stays!!)

Reddit is an invaluable source of comments though the accuracy is questionable ...🤔 😇😂

Thank you so much for reading!

So far on Wattpad, we have reached 14.7 K readership, and on Ao3, it's 25.8 K. I started publishing this book on the 21st of June 2024.

All my love,
Charlie

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