(15) Trouble

There was a look of disbelief on Wu LiJing's face, "You expect me to believe your excuse? Tell me now why you entered Master's room!" Her voice left no room for argument.

Wu QiaoHua bit her lips and, at first, didn't want to say anything. But intimidated by her cousin's presence, she could only confess with a shaking voice. Wu LiJing's eyes turned darker and darker as she listened.

"To the main hall!" she ordered in a cold voice and flew towards the inner disciple bed quarters.

The disciples who were involved, or were near-by and heard but didn't stop it from happening, were currently kneeling in the main hall, with sweat dripping down their faces from the long silence that stretched throughout. It felt like winter inside the hall, with everyone currently shivering from what seems like the stillness of a cold night, that had not a speck of snow because of how dry it was.

Wu LiJing threw a cup that was sitting silently on a table next to her to the ground and it shattered into a thousand pieces. The disciples flinched as though they were the ones who were thrown on the floor.

Wu QiaoHua was currently trying to hold in her tears as she was on her knees with the other disciples.

"Just because Master has been busy lately… you dare to think you can do whatever you want in the Moon Sect now?" Her oddly tranquil voice finally resonated within the large hall and the rage in those words merged with the chill in the air, causing everyone to feel a shiver down their spines.

They all kowtowed and hit their heads on the floor, hoping it would make their Eldest Senior Sister have some sympathy.

"No, Eldest Senior Sister! It was our mistake, please forgive us!"

However, their bodies only trembled harder in dread when they felt the pressure released from Wu LiJing's body increase further. Everyone could feel the coldness in the room drop until freezing point.

"Eldest Senior Sister! We may have provoked Wu QiaoHua but… we didn't think she would actually do it… I-it was just a joke!" Meng Shu tried to plead for herself and her friends, refusing to admit her wrongs. Then she glared at Wu QiaoHua. (a/n: In case y'all forgot, this was the gal who started it all)

"Sister LiJing… I know it's my fault, but I-I really didn't mean to do it..." Wu QiaoHua begged as tears fell, bowing until her forehead touched the floor. "It was an accident, please forgive me this once!"

Wu LiJing clenched her hands tightly. After a long stretch of more silence, she spoke again in a slightly milder tone, "Do you think just apologizing and hitting your head on the floor will erase the things you've done?"

"I- It was just an old wooden…"

"Do you even know what you just broke?!" Wu LiJing hit the table that was next to her - even if it took a million years, she wouldn't be able to find a box like that! Everyone flinched from the sudden roaring voice.

Wu QiaoHua raised her head timidly with pitiful eyes as she opened her pretty lips, "It's only a small old box! Please, Sister LiJing… if you don't tell the Sect Master, I'm sure he won't notice that a box is missing. I saw a few boxes that looked just like it on the shelf. I can even go out and find a similar one myself!" She thought it wasn't important, that was why she dared to take it out in order to prove to them she really did enter the sect master's room! But she dropped it when she tripped as she tried to hurry out…

The intimidating figure in front of the kneeling disciples suddenly expressed a disappointed face, and Wu QiaoHua stared at her cousin as tears fell, feeling appalled, and not understanding why her cold cousin was displaying such an expression.

Why was she angry? She swore she didn't do it on purpose! Or… did she hear about the rumors? Wu QiaoHua felt her heart drop and she gripped her skirt tightly.

"It's in Master's room, even if it doesn't look important, it is to Master! Not only that, but you have broken a rule of the sect, yet still ask me, Master's direct disciple, to hide it for you?" Wu LiJing chuckled. Honesty was highly valued in the sect; telling her to lie to her master about something so huge was the same as telling her to go against a major belief of the Moon Sect.

"Wu QiaoHua… it seems I've indulged you too much," LiJing's voice dropped just a bit, and went unnoticed by the disciples, including Wu QiaoHua.

Wu QiaoHua's eyes turned red. She bit her lips and her voice trembled as she suddenly yelled, "Eldest Senior Sister… you don't spoil me! You always make sure I am cultivating, that I am training, always being so strict with me! I also want room to breathe! I regret coming here to live with you! Everyone is always comparing me with you! And that was just an old box! You're just purposely making a big deal out of it because you're angry about Sir Mo, right?!"

The days of pressure QiaoHua felt as people stared and gossiped about her erupted, and words she didn't want to say spilled out of her mouth, "I don't even like him! H-he just came onto me! If you like him so much, you can go tell him! It's not my fault he doesn't like you! It's because of your personality!" Now, she was crying harder as Wu LiJing stared at her with slightly widened eyes.

The disciples trembled and closed their lids, feeling the tension in the room drop further. They cursed the three who started this and cursed Wu QiaoHua for making the situation worse. If they survived this, they swore never to be birds who were hungry for gossip ever again!

Wu LiJing stared at Wu QiaoHua with deep eyes, feeling a stabbing pain in her chest. She tried to take in a breath, but the air surrounding her felt too dry. She was quiet for a moment and lowered her lashes. Then she turned her back towards them and closed her lids. Her voice returned to sounding cold and unfeeling.

"Wu QiaoHua, as an inner disciple, you have broken an important rule of the sect by committing immoral acts of theft and breakage of property. Not only that, you don't see the fault in your actions, and the target of your theft is our revered Sect Master. You will be punished to… forty hits with the plank and be confined within your room for a whole year to repent. Afterwards… you will be demoted to an outer disciple and must prove that you can be trusted again before being able to return as an inner disciple," her voice was clear as she spoke words that sounded like tough whispers.

"No! Sister LiJing, please! It was only a small box! I-I know I was wrong; I'll take anything else! Just not this punishment! Fifty, no even one-hundred planks!" Wu QiaoHua cried and sobbed as she hit her head on the floor over and over again. Being demoted to an outer disciple was a great disgrace. Everyone in the sect would look down on her from now on! She wasn't willing to do it!

With clenched teeth and without turning around, Wu LiJing ordered in a thundering voice, "Someone! Come and take disciple Wu QiaoHua to receive her punishment!"

QiaoHua felt the strength in her legs leave her, and she fell to her bottom, staring at her older cousin's cold back with red eyes and a sobbing face. It was final. The anguish she felt in her chest erupted and she whispered, "Why?"

The disciples looking in from outside flinched and one courageously entered the hall to drag Wu QiaoHua out.

After releasing a light breath, Wu LiJing finally turned back to look at the disciples kneeling with their heads lowered. Her voice was extremely sharp as she gave out their punishment, "The three who started this are to be punished with sixty planks and kicked out of the sect. The others who stood by and watched, thirty planks."

Then she walked away, and the disciples kept their heads touching the ground with shivering bodies until her footsteps could no longer be heard. Since she dared to punish her blood-cousin, then it wouldn't matter if they pleaded for a lighter punishment.

Some disciples were crying and had tears running down their faces, while some tried to hide their fears, knowing just one hit to their backs would feel like a tree falling on top of them.

The three who started this could only cry silently in regret. Why did they not think things through properly first? How could they be so dumb in the first place? Now they could only return back to their families in shame and hope they can enter a new sect.

The figure in dark purple slowed down her steps when she neared the main punishment hall and halted. There were loud cries that vibrated and even reached the outside as the sound of the plank hitting flesh could be heard.

Wu LiJing's eyes lowered and she stood there for a long time, even until after the cries faded, and Wu QiaoHua collapsed and was brought back to her room. Her lowered eyes darkened, and a small sparkle could be seen on the edge of her lashes – but once she blinked, it went away like an illusion. Her attention then went to the red liquid that dripped to the ground below her hands.

She lifted her arms and opened her palms, seeing a bloody mess made from her nails digging into her bandages... It seems she would have to wait longer to hold her sword.

When Wu LiJing returned to her room, she stared at the broken box on her table that could easily fit into the palms of her hand. She saw a red symbol on the inside of the box and walked towards it. She touched it with her bloody hands and closed her eyes.

After a long time, she opened her eyes and smiled sadly.

"It can't be fixed…" she whispered.

The news of Wu QiaoHua's punishment and of what occurred quickly spread throughout the whole sect.

"Disciple LiJing, was it really necessary to punish everyone so heavily?" Master Lu asked as he sighed, sitting beside her in her main courtyard in the morning. His usual stern face expressed worry and hesitation.

Wu LiJing looked straight at Lu HongHou with emotionless eyes. "Master Lu, Master's room was entered without permission, and an important item was destroyed. I'm afraid if Master was here, he would give heavier punishments."

Sect Master Wang's manor had a barrier that only prevented strangers from entering, since disciples would have to enter the manor multiple times to get him if they needed him for anything. Since he trusted his disciples and his sect, he didn't care to set up a barrier against them.

After all, the most important things he had there were his paintings and pottery. If one went missing, he could just buy a better one. This time, there was an exception.

Also, honesty was a core value within the sect, so things like betrayal and theft was a big crime depending on the situation. Wang WeiYue had a feeling no one would be dumb enough to break into his room and risk being heavily punished or kicked out of the sect.

"It was that important?" Master Lu was taken aback.

Wu LiJing stood up. "If that is all, then I shall leave first. Feel free to enjoy the rest of the tea before you go."

Lu HongHou stared at Wu LiJing's desolate back and sighed, rubbing his temple.

Their sect was in an uproar but everyone was afraid to do something that would anger their direct disciple further and decided to live quietly.

After a few days, Wu LiJing wanted to go out for some fresh air, knowing her master was returning soon. She felt suffocated even within her own manor, especially when she glanced towards the room Wu QiaoHua was currently recuperating in. But just as she exited the sect door, she met with her ex-fiance, who seemed out of breath and was speaking heatedly with the disciples guarding the entrance.

She frowned. Oh right, she hasn't informed him yet that he no longer has a free pass. Why didn't they just inform her so she could deal with him?

Wu LiJing walked towards them and said, "What's the matter here?"

"Wu LiJing!" Mo ShiLan hurried towards her as she exited the gate. He smiled in relief. "They won't let me enter."

"Did you send a notice ahead of time of your visit?"

"What?" He seemed taken aback for a moment. "No…"

Wu LiJing nodded indifferently. "Mm. I told them not to if you didn't follow protocols."

"What?" He looked shocked.

Wu LiJing raised an eyebrow. "We are no longer engaged and have no connection with each other, Sir Mo. If you have any business with the Moon Sect in the future, please let us know ahead of time. We can't just let anyone in randomly."

He blinked and muttered, "Sir Mo?"

Wu LiJing nodded once more and said indifferently, "Please remember to address me properly from now on, Sir Mo, or others will misunderstand and think we are still close."

Mo ShiLan furrowed his brows slightly and after a moment, nodded. "LiJi… Miss LiJing, I heard of what happened to Wu QiaoHua… What did she do wrong? Did you have to give her such a heavy punishment? She doesn't deserve to be demoted to an outer disciple. If it's because of me, then I can do something about our engagement! Just don't take it out on her!" he looked desperate as he spoke the words he wanted to convey, with his voice slightly louder than usual as he reached his last sentences.

It was silent for a moment as LiJing allowed him to take a few breaths.

"So you already heard of it?" Wu LiJing glanced at the two disciples watching and they lowered their heads nervously, taking a few steps back and pretending they hadn't heard a thing.

She stared at him and showed a polite smile. "Sir Mo, you have misunderstood. I didn't punish QiaoHua because of you. I punished her for breaking a sect rule and not knowing her wrongs."

"What rule did she break? Can't you overlook it for her?" he immediately pleaded. "Didn't you say that she was all you have?" That was why he had been feeling guilty all this time. Were they all lies?

Wu LiJing's smile became frigid. "Mo ShiLan, what happens inside our sect has nothing to do with you. If that is all, please leave." She gestured towards the road and walked past him.

As he stared at her straight back, he suddenly voiced, "Wu LiJing, are we no longer considered friends?" He sounded a little lonely.

Wu LiJing paused, then turned around. "Sir Mo, we were only friends when we were engaged. If you are to actively pursue my cousin, it is not proper for you to have a relationship with me.

"I didn't think you were this heartless, Wu LiJing…" he whispered after a moment.

Wu LiJing was quiet and replied indifferently, "I am always like this, Sir Mo." Then she jumped and flew off into the sky with the suffocating feeling in her chest growing a bit more.

With feelings of not wanting to return to the sect, Wu LiJing stayed in a private room in an inn. She went to get her hands treated by a doctor, hoping it would heal faster, but the doctor informed her it would take at least one more week because of her new wounds.

She stared at her hands and sighed. All she could do now was focus on other things besides her sword fighting.

As she lived in the Blue Twilight Village, a small village that was a good distance from the Moon Sect, she mainly stayed inside her private room - with times when she would take a walk and pass a sweets shop, then pause in her steps unknowingly, staring at it for a moment before walking off again.

Then on the fourth day she was out, Jin RuiYing sent a letter.

Why did you break off your engagement?

She scowled and burned the paper without writing back. He had too much free time in his hands.

On the fifth day, she took a break from learning the new spell she was researching and went out to the market during the night-time. It was still lively, with lights shining in each stall and building, and with the stars above the skies that were barely visible… She passed by a sweetshop called Beautiful Sweets and paused.

Suddenly, a small ball bumped into her and she frowned, looking down. Who was playing ball in the middle of the evening?

She quickly realized it wasn't a ball…but a human boy.

"Ah! I'm so sorry miss!" The boy bowed and looked up with wide eyes. He then pointed at her. "Oh! It's you! Pretty lady!"

Wu LiJing's eyebrow twitched. Was this a bad habit of his? He tripped and bumped into others so easily. Why was he always in a hurry? "Pointing at others is rude," she said and the pretty boy quickly retracted his finger with a grin.

"Pretty lady! I bumped into you again!" He laughed and seemed excited rather than apologetic.

"It's fine," she said. He looked a little taller than before but his round face was still just as adorable.

The boy looked at the sweetshop and then looked at her, having to seem to come to an understanding. "Wait here!" He ran as fast as he could towards the sweetshop and handed the clerk money with his stubby hands and then ran even faster over once he received the cakes.

"I love cakes!" he exclaimed. "Here, to repay you!" He handed it to her with a serious face that was flushed in red. "I-I heard these are also very popular and came here straight for it! I'll give it to you first! They are thousand layer cakes!" He had another package in his arms.

She suddenly felt the imaginary force on her shoulders lift a little and couldn't help but show a small smile as she tried to hold in a laugh. She cleared her throat and took the nicely wrapped cakes from him. How did he run here so fast with his small body when he carried two packages? He was only in the mid-stage of the First Tier. He looked a little out of breath as well… Perhaps he was too excited.

"Thank you," she said in a gentler tone which she didn't notice. "But… I don't think I can eat these snacks."

"Hm?" He looked up with his big eyes. "Why?" He tilted his head confusedly. Didn't she stand here to buy the cakes? It looked like she was looking at the shop.

"I usually only buy them for my younger cousin…" she said in a quiet tone. Then she would buy some for herself along with those.

"Why?" The boy then noticed that her hands were wrapped up with white bandages. "What happened to your hands?! Is it because you were punished from doing something bad?" He was able to quickly change the topic as a child and frowned. "Were your hands whipped like mine when I sneaked out or cheated on a test? But this looks a little too harsh!" He grabbed her hand gently with his small hands and blew on it worriedly.

Wu LiJing froze a bit and sighed. Why was she saying this to a child who hasn't even reached the age of ten yet? Perhaps it was because she wasn't her usual self.

There was a small whiff on her hands and her heart softened slightly. She bent down and talked to him on eye-level, replying honestly, "No… but I have let a few people down…"

The boy pouted. "I think you're punished enough… doesn't it hurt?" Suddenly there were small tears in his eyes. "Eat the sweets, okay?" Sweets were a great way to make the pain go away. He suddenly felt very bad for this pretty lady when he remembered how painful it was to have his hands whipped. His palms would turn slightly pink but never had to be wrapped like this. Even if it was, that person may not be alive since he knew his father would deal with them like an adult.

Hearing those words, LiJing stared at his innocent face in silence.

"Ah'Ming!"

The boy turned his head at the call and grinned widely with his perfect white teeth showing. He waved his hands. "First Older Brother!"

Wu LiJing looked over and saw a man with bright eyes, looking to be around his late twenties, dressed in blue and carrying a white fan, while walking over with a relieved smile. Her brows narrowed slightly. He looked somewhat familiar.

Wu LiJing stood from her bent position and said in a soft tone, "I'll go now. Thank you for the cakes." Then she was about to leave until she felt a tug on her sleeve. She felt a twitch on her eyebrows and she turned around to meet this little boy's big brother who already reached them. Their gazes met and she slightly bowed her head as he did to her.

"Is something the matter, young boy?" she asked the little boy who was holding her sleeve.

"You must eat the cakes," he urged.

"Mm." She nodded after a moment of silence.

But the boy did not let go and kept his hold.

"I'm sorry for my little brother's inconvenience…" the handsome lad said with an awkward smile, understanding the situation with one glance. He turned to the boy and said in a strict but doting tone, "Bai XiaoMing, let go now. Don't be rude." This hasn't been the first time his younger brother wanted to stick to an attractive young lady.

Bai XiaoMing stared at Wu LiJing's indifferent expression and tears fell from his big eyes, stunning both adults. He knew she wouldn't eat those cakes! She made the same face as his second big brother when he was trying to lie to him. "Can we eat the cakes together, pretty lady?" he asked with a quivering voice.

Wu LiJing was speechless and stared at Bai XiaoMing awkwardly. She looked up at the man who also seemed troubled.

"Ah'Ming… don't trouble the lady," he coaxed. (a/n: using Ah' is an endearing way of calling someone, like a sweet nickname)

The boy shook his head vigorously. "No! Please~!" He stared at Wu LiJing, his grip on her sleeve getting tighter.

Wu LiJing looked at the box of cakes and at the boy who seemed like he was going to cry at the moment she refused…

"Alright then… but only a few bites." LiJing noticed his brightened eyes and suddenly felt a little regret. Why did she agree?

They entered the sweets shop and sat down. Bai XiaoMing smiled widely and continued to hold her sleeve. He made sure she sat next to him as his brother sat across from them with a weird smile.

"You can let go now. I won't run away," she said.

Bai XiaoMing's expression turned serious and he complained, "That's what you say, but last time, you just left like that! Luckily, I found you again - this has to be fate!" He hit his small knee with his small hands like an adult and she suddenly wondered who he copied his actions from.

Coming to a sudden realization, she asked, "… You came here just to try out the sweets in this shop?"

"Huh? How did you know?" He tilted his head. "My friend kept bragging about it so I made First Older Brother take me." When it came to food, he obviously had nothing to be ashamed of.

Wu LiJing turned her attention to his big brother, who had many ladies in the shop glancing over with interest. He had arched eyebrows and honest-looking bright round eyes.

He saluted with a warm smile. "I am Bai ChengAn. XiaoMing is my youngest brother. May I know the miss's name?"

She saluted back. "Wu LiJing. Greetings, Sir Bai."

"Ah, so it is Miss Wu." He nodded.

"You can call me Ah'Ming!" Bai XiaoMing quickly suggested.

Wu LiJing raised an eyebrow. "It might not be proper…" She didn't even know him.

"Can I call you Big Sister LiJing?" The boy's eyes were bright as if he never heard her reply.

She blinked and after being silent for a moment, she simply decided to nod.

Bai XiaoMing smiled widely and quickly opened the wrapped boxes with his stubby fingers.

"I can do it," Bai ChengAn suggested.

"No! I'll do it!" He opened them one at a time and there were four small trays of layer cakes. A gentle and sweet smell wafted out and Bai XiaoMing grinned.

He placed one piece as carefully as he could on Wu LiJing's plate. And then he placed another one on his brother's plate. Then he placed one on his plate. He nodded, satisfied.

Then he paused and looked at the wrapped up hands of Wu LiJing.

Just as Wu LiJing was about to grab a slice with her chopsticks, Bai XiaoMing stopped her.

"Wait! Here!" He slid closer to her and used his stubby hand to grab it for her and lifted it up to her face.

What?... Wu LiJing stared at the cake in front of her mouth and then at the boy, dumbfounded.

"Your hands are hurt," he explained shyly as his ears turned red.

She blinked a few times and then showed a small smile, helpless. She quietly stared at the cake. Then she glanced at Bai XiaoMing's anticipating expression.

In the end, she took a bite. She really wasn't herself tonight. Perhaps she wanted a distraction, something that would take away the current turbulent feelings she had a hard time understanding.

Bai ChengAn gawked, wide eyed at his younger brother. He was going to reprimand his brother again, but when Wu LiJing lowered her head to bite down, he stopped. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Please forgive my brother's discourtesy… he is just trying to be helpful."

He was surprised that Ah'Ming liked this young lady so much. His brother was very innocent and quite talkative, spoiled since young. But he was only surrounded by good-looking people since he was born in a household that held good genes. Surprisingly enough, none of the servants in their home could be considered ugly as well. That's why he liked to hang around attractive faces since it would remind him of home.

There were times in the past when Ah'Ming would follow pretty ladies around for fun as well. But this was the first time he saw Bai XiaoMing try to feed someone and remember them even after a while has passed. He could already guess this was the same lady whom his younger brother mentioned before.

Wu LiJing looked up with her long lashes and nodded indifferently. "I don't mind. Children are like this when they are still innocent." The smile of a cute young girl dressed in pink robes suddenly flashed in her mind. She suddenly felt that the cake she ate was tasteless.

"First Older Brother, Miss LiJing is the one who gave me those coconut rice cakes! If she wasn't there, I wouldn't have been able to share some with you and Second Older Brother!"

"Oh?" He glanced at Wu LiJing. "I would have to thank you, then." He had been observing her for a while now and she seemed very polite even if she emitted a slightly cold aura and acted indifferently. She also went along with Ah'Ming's whims without complaining.

He smiled.

With a mild smile, "I had extras, so it didn't matter." She took another bite of the layer cakes. They were still tasteless… She took a sip of the tea next to her.

Once the sun completely set, Wu LiJing returned to her room, feeling slightly exhausted from having to keep a little boy company. She had a box of cake with her that they didn't finish. She ended up eating the cakes anyway…

'I think you're punished enough… eat the cakes okay?' She heard the words of the boy repeat in her mind and put the wrapped box on the table with light hands.

Then she went to the desk and took out a paper and pen. After writing a few words that had a few ugly strokes, she blew a whistle. She took a bath and was about to do her nightly meditation but remembered the box on her table.

She opened her door and walked out. When she spotted a servant, she called him over.

"Here. Enjoy these with the rest of the servants." She handed a prettily wrapped box to him. "They are a little sweet but delicious," she added with a small smile.

The servant was caught unprepared and stuttered, "T-thank you!"

She nodded and went back to her room as the servant stared at her, bewildered, thinking that this guest was not only beautiful, but also very kind.

Once Wu LiJing's hands were better healed, she started to create formations according to what she had learned. What she liked to learn most are useful spells along with her sword fighting.

Once more than a whole week passed, she received a letter that her master sent her.

He was returning.