Story chose to watch as Meng Yao went about his life. She had been watching him for some time now. No one was aware of her presence so it was unfiltered and raw her observations of the man.

Murder wasn't an issue he struggled with but a tool to be used. And it was a tool Meng Yao was most skilled in.
His first murder was when he was 12 and killed a boy who was bullying him.

 Somehow in the middle of being  beaten Meng Yao had managed to knock the other boy off his feet, without thinking Yao straddled the other then grabbing a nearby rock begin hitting him with it. Young A-Yao had enjoyed beating that boys face into a pulp.
 
However the boy was a second son to a wealthy patron of his Mother, he quickly rolled the body down a steep embankment that had many large and sharp looking boulders lining the bottom.

Later watching the townspeople look for, then find the mutilated body was almost as fun as killing him had been.

Watching as the fat bastard wail and howl for his dead son was just as thrilling.

But what really gave Meng Yao a lasting sense of euphoria was when he shamelessly gave condolence to the grieving family he was thanked by them.

That feeling was almost better then the killing had been.

Meng Yao spent many months reliving that day and he came to the decision that anyone who dares bully him will end up like that second son.

He began finding ways to hurt others, albeit mostly through words and using the hands of others.  He knew he didn't have the strength to fight most straight on.

He learned how to manipulate people by watching the madames and skilled prostitutes. How to dangle just enough bait to keep his enemies where he wanted them.

Be the age of 14 he had killed three more men and no one in the town ever suspected him. Once he had been questioned by an man sent from the family of one of his victims.

Meng Yao answered everything willing with a smile
"Gongzi, this one is lowly and is far beneath young Gongzi Wang so he did not speak with me. I only saw him leaving the Falling Petal Pavilion that day."

  The man had left soon after a few more questions and Meng Yao happily pocketed the silver he left behind. Unaware that his Mother Meng Shi was listening.

Meng Shi had began to suspect her son some time around his second murder. Shi had found  A-Yao tormenting the younger children and small animals.

Oh, nothing severe really or truly damning, but enough to worry her Mothers heart. When she found his small box of the "treasures" he kept from each victim, she knew something was very, very wrong.

When Meng Shi heard her A-Yao lie about not speaking with the latest victim she knew she needed to stop him. Shi knew she couldn't send her son to his father now after failing to raise him right. Shi needed to fix A-Yao first.

Meng Yao became enraged at his Mothers questions and inference of his actions. She even went so far as to seek doctors for treatments.

Something the madame of the brothel keenly objected to. Claiming that Meng Shi owed so much money and that Meng Shi was getting too old to bring in much coin. If anyone caught wind that she was seeking healers for her bastard sons unknown disease the Falling Petal Pavilion would become a laughingstock and patrons would leave in droves.

Meng Shi was thrown out with nothing to her name or, even on her back, days later when she asked a visting rogue cultivater to look at her son.

Two weeks later Meng Yao convinced his Mother to return to the brothel to and apologize to the Madame so that they might survive the winter months.

Story watched as Meng Yao escorted his Mother to the Madames rooms, then quickly searched through the rooms he knew the Madame kept her treasures. Finding the token his Father gave his Mother. Yao then quickly and efficiently went about pouring, splashing and pooling lamp oil around every walkway, staircase, support pillars and exits in the pavilion.

Soon his Mother and everyone else who was in the building died screaming in the blaze.

Not one soul was spared.

It took Meng Yao nearly a year (and four more kills) to reach Jinlingtia as he walked up those golden stairs, feeling jubilant that finally he would take his rightful place next to his father. That today his 15th birthday would mark a new beginning in the Jin sect as a worthy son took his rightful place as first born.

Only to be denied entry.

Gritting his teeth at the guards who only laughed when he insisted that the Jin sect leader be given the token.

"Our sect leader has given orders that anyone who shows this token is to be sent away! Did you truly think you are the first  bastard of a whore to show up here!"

The unnamed guard only laughed harder at Meng Yao's continued insistence to be allowed to speak with the Sect leader.

 Meng Yao watched as others in extravagant robes began walking up the golden stairway, each carrying lavish gifts. He witnessed as they all were given entrance to the party being held to HONOR  the birthday of the Jin Heir. 

Meng Yaos rage felt like liquid fire in his veins.

   When he heard a man in purple robes offer his greetings and well wishes to Jin Guangshan,  Meng Yao quickly put himself in front of his Father, quickly offering a bow he asked to speak with  him while clearly showing the token in his hand.

  Jin Guangshan swiftly gave excuses and sent the Jaing Sect leader inside to be announced. He looked at his bastard and felt annoyance at his daring to interrupt his betters! He looked at the youth and sneered.

  "You are nothing but a bastard of whore! How dare you come here on this day claiming to be my son!  Guards kick him off my tower !!"

   With these words he watched as Meng Yao went flying and then tumbled down every step. The Jin sect leader watched as the boy picked himself up and dusted himself off. The smile and low bow the boy gave before limping off sent chills down his spine. Swishing his sleeves in annoyance at being so disturbed by the whoreson and went back to the party.

Story watched the next few years as Meng Yao went about finding a others to use. Use as both protectors and for scapegoats keeping his hands as clean as possible.

  By the time he was 18 he had gained the attention of the Nie sect leader by acting pitiful and wronged by others. Story watched as Nie Mingjue gave him a position within a year of meeting Meng Yao.

  Mingjue hated doing paperwork and by giving Meng Yao the position of his personal  secretary it would give Yao some protections. Protections that Meng Yao used well.

He embezzled funds when he could and whenever possible used his borrowed authority to punish or kill those who crossed him. For three years Meng Yao quietly went about gaining enough power to obtain his goal. 

Till he miscalculated and was found red handed by Nie Mingjue.

Meng Yao begged for mercy claiming self defense first, when MingJue scoffed and kicked him away, he claimed to be crazed from his victims torment.  Again Nie Mingjue shredded that defense and only agreed to defer the death sentence when his younger brother Huissang begged  mercy for his only friend. Sect Leader Nie Mingjue sent down an order that Meng Yao was to be exiled as a criminal from all Nie territories and could only return with proof his father's recognition. Without such proof Meng Yao could be killed by anyone in Nie territories.

Meng Yaos rage was incandescent and fueled him on his way to Nightless City.

Story watched as Meng Yao entered the ranks of the Wen clan and soon gained the notice of Wen Xu.

Wen Xu enjoyed torture and after watching Meng Yao torture a young rogue cultivater in an inventive way. Meng Yaos method kept the youth awake and in agony without using much effort or personal Qi.  Wen Xu brought Meng Yao into his service and soon presented him to his Father, Wen Rouhan.

Story watched as Meng Yao climbed quickly in rank and soon was the right hand of Wen Xu. Meng Yao had found a haven to flourish within the halls of Flame Palace.

Story watched as Meng Yao and Wen Xu marched to Gusu and attack Cloud Recess. She watched as Meng Yao drugged and hide the captured Lan Xichen from Wen Xu.

Story watched as Meng Yao drugged Lan Xichen and through hypnosis plant false memories of friendship, trust and "brotherhood".  After two months he weaned Lan Xichen off the drugs and agrees to "spy" for the Lan clan.

  "If this lowly one can help you Sect leader, this one is willing to die if asked." Meng Yao smiled sadly and blinked moist eyes at Lan leader before stiffly coming out of a very low bow.

Story watched as Meng Yao played with Wen families minds setting each one of them against each other.

 
Watched as Meng Yao skated a thin line as he played with the allied forces against the Wens. Giving just enough to keep the Wen clan half a step ahead, and the allied forces just behind to continue the war longer.

Story watched as Nie Mingjue was captured using the knowledge of his attack. Watched as Meng Yao spent days torturing the Nie sect leader and then using Lan Xichen to "rescue" NieMingjue. Later pretending to be remorseful for having "no choice" to do those acts as a spy for the Lan clan he needed to keep his cover inside the Wen clan.

Story watched as Meng Yao crept around the edges of the battlefield keeping close to the shadows. Waiting to see which side was going to win this war before making his move. Killing Wen Rouhan by stabbing him in the back with the very sword that Wen Rouhan had gifted him.

Story watched as Meng Yao was hailed a hero by Lan Xichen.

Watched as Meng Yao smiled as he was recognised and given the name Jin GaunYao. Watched as he brutally killed a young girl that night. Raging that once again his Father cheated him.
By naming him GaungYao not ZiYao his father placed him in the same generation as himself,  removing  him from the line of inheritance

Watched  the next few years as Meng Yao went about finding a way to get more power doing his father's dirty work.

Watched how Meng Yao twisted white to black and used Wei Wuxain to kill his half brother and cousin while attempting to get the spiritual tool of the Yiling Patriarch for his use...his father's use of course.

How he used Su She to kill the lesser sect leaders and high ranked disciples of every sect, those who had ever looked down on him during the final battle with Wei Wuxain.

Watched at how he bowed and groveled before his father's rage and disgust for failing to get Wei Wuxain amulet. How he used Wei Wuxain scrolls and artifacts to appease the Jin sect leader. Then story watched as Meng Yao killed four prisoners to release his anger.

Story watched as Meng Yao asked Lan Xichen's help with Nie Mingjue continued mistrust of him. Watched as he spent months altering the Song of Cleansing just enough to poison instead of cleanse the Nie sect leader. Watched as Meng Yao gloated and laughed at the dying Mingjue.

Watched as Meng Yao rampaged through his rooms after learning that of many months of hard work, arm twisting and blackmail his Bride was his half sister. Watched as he slashed a serving boy to pieces to vent his bile at the thought of the infant in said sisters womb. Once again Meng Yao felt cheated out of what was rightfully his by his Father.

Story watched as Meng Yao began to actively plan his Fathers death. Watched as he married Qu Su, while planning how to use the unborn child's death to benefit himself. Watched as he went about gaining more and more power to support his raise to Sect leader when the time came.

Story watched as Meng Yao used old and ugly prostitutes to kill JinGuangshan after slowly poisoning his core for months.

Watched as Meng Yao agreed to be Sect leader until his nephew came of age. Watched as he went ahead with his plans to consolidate his power base. Watched as Meng Yao whipped the "righteous" sects into fury to avenge his sons death by rebels sects against sect leader Jins plans for observation towers.

Watched as Meng Yao used every trick to gain more and more power. For another 10 years Story watched as Meng Yao tightened the noose around cultivation world.

Watched as he began to panic at the threat given by an anonymous rival intent on exposing every foul deed.

Watched as Meng Yao killed his wife/sister and exposed and blame the returned Wei Wuxain for her death.

Watched as Meng Yao failed to find his rival or at least firmly place the blame on another.

Story watched as Meng Yao was exposed within the temple he built to hide his crime. Watched as Meng Yao at the last moment pushed Lan Xichen away from himself and died at the hands of Nie Mingjue fierce corpse.

Snapping her left hand, Story brought Meng Yao before herself.
He landed harshly on the stone floor on the side of his recently removed arm.

   "After you've spent some time here. Let's have a nice chat. Then we'll  see if you've thought it through, and now see your faults."

Story glares at the disgraced Sect leader and with a complicated hand seal calls forth from the ether, each and every victim of Meng Yao. Story leaves thru the only door, that quickly disappeared from Meng Yaos eyes.

Story choose not to watch anymore.
*Reminder to self...in a few hundred years check if there's anything left of him to even chat with...*

Published September 3, 2022