Chapter 15

In the council hall, Shen Tang sat elevated at the center, while Miss Qingli stood quietly behind her, hand on her sword.

Shen Tang's beautiful eyes swept the room; a few faces wore sullen expressions, while the vast majority of elders and managers beamed with joy.

They had never imagined that the trinkets they could barely sell five or six copies of, even when half-dead, would be completely sold out in the same time under the Shao Sect's master's hands.

With little preparation time, they had only managed to produce ten thousand talismans—cheap goods, yielding little profit.

But the long-term contract had already been signed; this was now a stable source of income. Even if the product was cheap, its volume ensured it—sufficient to guarantee their survival in Xiazhou from now on, far surpassing their original plan of alchemy and pill-making.

Everyone knew they had official connections, but they had never imagined business could be done this way.

After all, they were swordsmen—their mindset simply didn't run along such lines.

And this method alone was Shen Tang's own idea, not taught by anyone. Just this one thing made it clear who had the ability to lead them to stability.

The loyal uncle who had hung the plaque sneered at Sun, the most outspoken elder: "Sun Zhanglao, do you still have anything to say about our agreement?"

Sun Zhanglao's face was expressionless: "This is merely leveraging the power of Lord Xu—nothing of her own ability."

"Then you don't know Lord Xu?"

"..."

"Lord Xu had already graduated when the Sect Master entered Ru Sect—you're the one who knows him better, so why didn't you go to him?"

"I..." Sun Zhanglao had no reply, though inwardly he seethed with resentment.

Such ideas always seem obvious once you see someone else use them—"Damn, it's that simple? I should've thought of it myself!"—but before you see it, you'd never consider it in a lifetime.

People rarely think it's their own inadequacy; they only blame the other's luck—or convince themselves they never intended to do it properly anyway, so why bother thinking deeply?

After struggling for a long while, Sun Zhanglao burst out: "This is mere commerce—sufficient for a Hall Master to handle! Is this what the Sect Master should be doing?!"

The loyal uncle sneered: "Why didn't you say that when we signed the agreement? Once a contract is made, even four horses can't pull it back. Now it's you who should step down and yield your position!"

Immediately, someone nearby urged: "Um, Sect Master, Sun Zhanglao only meant well for the sect—why force him so harshly?"

Shen Tang finally spoke: "Who said I'm asking Sun Zhanglao to step down?"

A sigh of relief swept through the hall: "We knew the Sect Master was magnanimous..."

"I said this: you, you, you..." Shen Tang raised her finger, pointing one by one until eight people were singled out: "All eight of you, relinquish your positions immediately."

The eight pointed at turned pale; even the loyal uncle glanced nervously at Shen Tang and whispered: "Sect Master, we can't withstand such upheaval..."

"No destruction, no renewal." Shen Tang remained unmoved: "Our sect has just endured great calamity—we should unite and overcome hardship together. Yet here are some who scheme for power, leak alchemist information, obstruct the sword-talisman project... Can our sect, trembling in the storm, endure such corruption? Seize them all!"

"Clang!" A chorus of swords drew. Sun Zhanglao laughed bitterly: "Shen Tang! You don't actually believe this small matter has granted you supreme authority, do you? How laughable! Let your master teach you a lesson: now that you've secured your footing, even without you, our sect can still sell sword talismans—no one will be bound by you."

"Hmph..." Shen Tang's beautiful eyes flickered; she leaned back, elbow resting on the armrest, cheek propped in her palm, her expression radiating a languid, seductive charm Lu Xingzhou had never seen on her before: "Do you really think I care about you—or fear you—enough to play these games with you all this time?"

Sun Zhanglao froze, his expression grave as he stared at her, silent.

Shen Tang continued coolly: "That was merely because I was using these events to observe and judge exactly who deserved to die—I didn't want to kill the wrong person. Now that I've confirmed it, you may as well die."

As her words ended, the entire hall was filled with cold light.

Sun Zhanglao and the others were stunned; they raised their swords to resist—but their throats were already cool, a trickle of blood oozing out, instantly freezing into frost.

Du Gu Qingli stood in the hall, sword in hand, blood dripping from the tip—turning into blue frost midair, shattering like dust upon the ground.

Eight corpses crashed to the floor.

Sun Zhanglao, even in death, could not believe Shen Tang had truly killed them without a word. He never imagined a group of senior elders could not even block a single sword from a white-haired girl.

They had been waiting for outside allies to coordinate with them... but they were instantly slain—those outside likely hadn't even received word...

Even the loyal uncle and others stared wide-eyed at Du Gu Qingli in the hall; many neutral members trembled like leaves.

With such a terrifying swordsman at the Sect Master's side, how could she possibly care about anyone else's strength?

Watching Shen Tang's languid, reclining posture, the blood in the hall seemed merely a dance performed before her—her eyes still held a smile, utterly unmoved.

Was this really the gentle, aloof Shao Sect Master they had known?

This is no witch!

Shen Tang's beautiful eyes swept the room, taking in every expression, then smiled faintly: "Sun Jingci and the other eight colluded with outsiders, plotted treason—they have been executed. The Sword Blade Hall and External Affairs Hall shall be filled immediately by their deputy masters. Tang Yunzhong shall concurrently lead the Sword Seeking Hall and oversee new recruitments. And..."

She paused, her voice turning icy: "I have now ascended as Sect Master. Some still call me 'Shao Sect Master'—don't think I don't know what you mean. From now on, I will not tolerate such slips. Meeting dismissed."

The entire sect fell silent, awestruck.

Looking at her seated in the wheelchair, still frail and broken, no one dared underestimate this crippled Shao Sect Master... no, Sect Master.

At the foot of Danxia Mountain, Liu Qingcang led a group of elite Danxia Gang members straight toward their old compound. As they neared the mansion gate, they were blocked by a squad of fierce officers from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Sheng Yuanyao stepped forward, wrapped in a large cloak: "Lord Liu, out at night to admire the scenery? How's the view?"

Liu Qingcang's face turned ashen.

He had been arranged by the city lord to coordinate with elders from the Shen Trading House—yet he hadn't even reached the location before the Demon Suppression Bureau intercepted him. What the hell was going on?!

Was the Demon Suppression Bureau even still under Xiazhoucheng's authority?

But he couldn't say that aloud. Liu Qingcang could only mutter: "Fine, fine... Commander Sheng, you're out for a stroll too? How is the city lord?"

"The Demon Suppression Bureau answers directly to the imperial court—not to local government office runners. We don't need to report to the city lord." Sheng Yuanyao smiled sweetly as she brushed nonexistent dust from his shoulder: "The night is dark and windy, Lord Liu—better return home to rest. We wouldn't want any accidents to befall you."

Liu Qingcang cursed inwardly, forcing a smile: "Commander Sheng, you rest early too."

Sheng Yuanyao turned and walked back into her ranks without looking back: "Medic merchants should stick to being medic merchants. Don't distract yourself too much... or you'll mess up your own trade—and regret it too late."

Liu Qingcang swallowed a fly, helplessly led his men back.

In truth, Sheng Yuanyao's face looked just as sour.

She walked into the Shen Trading House, gazed at the corpses still unattended in the council hall, and said coldly: "Sect Master Shen abuses private justice, kills at will—is she completely disregarding the state's law?"

These days, the Demon Suppression Bureau was hard to serve. Theoretically, their duty was to handle demonic affairs, distinct from local government office functions. But they also handled major cases—like her investigation into the Huo family murders.

But how could they possibly handle this? Such private sect executions were countless; murders occurred constantly. The world was this way—they simply couldn't manage it. Sect conflicts were even harder to control; as long as there was no open large-scale clash, martial sects fought everywhere, people died daily—who could possibly care?

Though she had just prevented a sect bloodbath—a merit to add to her record—her mood remained sour.

She knew blaming Shen Tang was pointless; this was the world's nature, not Shen Tang's fault. If Shen Tang hadn't been ruthless, she'd be dead now—who would she complain to? But she still couldn't help a cold jab: no matter Shen Tang's mysterious background, heaven and earth were vast, but breast-milk drainage mattered most.

Shen Tang, however, shed her witch-like demeanor and replied softly: "I'm sorry—I never meant to trouble you."

Sheng Yuanyao paused, startled. What was with that tone? Do you know me?

She thought it over: Danxia Gang had dug out Bai Chi, gravely offending Shen Tang, yet Shen Tang had not followed the sect's custom of executing traitors to take revenge... She had previously thought it was because they lacked the strength. Now, seeing the level of Miss Qingli, she feared they could make Bai Chi die without even knowing how, yet they had not done so.

Could it really be that they simply did not want to cause themselves trouble?

Sheng Yuanyao felt a strange unease in her gut, but the words that came out of her mouth were: "State law supersedes family rules. I hope Sect Master Shen will think thrice before acting in the future."

Shen Tang was very gentle: "Understood. Thank you, Commander Sheng, for your assistance this time."

Sheng Yuanyao had indeed been helping Shen Tang, but she could only say: "Eliminating conflict and disputes is our duty. Instead of thanking me, you might as well thank Lu Xingzhou. He knew this would happen three days ago, saying he was sending me merit, though I don't know for whose sake."

Speaking of this, Sheng Yuanyao also took care to scrutinize Shen Tang a few times.

She was clearly beautiful, gentle, dignified, and poised, yet somehow, a single phrase sprang to mind: "a calamity to the nation and its people."

Recommended: New work by Hama, "Sword Roar at the Spirit Sky." A rare traditional wuxia novel with excellent results; those who enjoy the wuxia flavor must not miss it~

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(End of this chapter)