(32) Argument

Once Wu LiJing returned to her bedroom, she took out a paper and quickly wrote on it. She had to inform her master. The people they were after had infiltrated the Moon Sect. She doubts there were more intruders since The Lightless Crows were an inconspicuous group. Even her master could not pinpoint their goals and actions. The risk of getting caught was high so she doubted they would risk sending more than one person. But just in case, she had Master Lu and the other masters perform a truth test on everyone.

"Why did Xin Mei suddenly get summoned?" Wei SuSu asked worriedly the next day.

Wu QiaoHua shook her head. "I hope there is nothing wrong…"

"Did you hear about last night?"

Nearing a group of inner disciples, Wu QiaoHua turned her head slightly to the side when she suddenly overheard their conversation.

"I heard there was a bloodbath. Some of the blood could still be seen earlier this morning, tainting the ground. I heard she committed suicide because she was wronged by Eldest Senior Sister."

"No way!"

"Wait, but didn't you hear she was an intruder? She was doing something suspicious, that's why Eldest Senior Sister killed her."

"But was she sure before she killed her?"

"I mean… it's highly likely Eldest Senior Sister poisoned Wu QiaoHua… what else can she not do?"

"I heard Cai Qiu claim she found out it was Eldest Senior Sister who poisoned Wu QiaoHua! It has to be true! Why else would she kill herself? Once your life ends, it's over!"

Wu QiaoHua stiffened and walked over, asking in a loud voice, "What did you say?!"

"Uh…" One of them glanced at Wu QiaoHua and whispered, "These are just rumors I heard…"

A girl interrupted, "I was there last night! And it's true! Cai Qiu said she found out Eldest Senior Sister was the culprit, that's why she committed suicide to prove her innocence!"

Wei SuSu frowned. "But didn't the masters say she was an intruder?" That was why all disciples had to take a truth test.

One of them shrugged. "I don't know. But what if this is just an excuse to hide what Eldest Senior Sister did?"

"If there is no other intruder, then it is likely true, wouldn't you say?"

"But then why would there be two intruders?" Wei SuSu asked. "If there was another one, wouldn't they have already fled anyway?"

The disciples looked at each other, shrugged and left, uncaring of what Wei SuSu was saying.

After, Wu QiaoHua's gaze was on the ground, lost in thought as she stood still.

Wei SuSu glanced at her friend and sighed. She walked closer to QiaoHua and gently patted her on the shoulder.

"QiaoHua… you don't actually believe them, do you? You should know Eldest Senior Sister best. No matter what, she wouldn't stoop that low."

Wu QiaoHua smiled sadly. "I don't know anymore…" Then she walked away.

Unknown to the inner disciples, a handsome male cultivator was leisurely laying on top of a tree and had overheard their conversation. The scar on his left eyebrow bent slightly as he frowned in displeasure. Lai RongYi had just returned and had to hear such things, clearly feeling the heavy atmosphere within the sect.

"Tsk, tsk. So things have gotten his bad." His mysterious eyes looked into the distance where Wu QiaoHua disappeared.

Muttering, "What a stupid girl. Why does 'she' even care about her anyway? Someone like that will only bring you down. Tch!" He jumped and flew towards Wu LiJing's manor.

When Wu LiJing felt a sudden presence in her room, she summoned her sword.

Cling!

"Don't be so hasty. It's only me." Lai RongYi grinned arrogantly, his mysterious eyes on her, his dark purple robes flowing back to place after shifting from him having to block that attack from her.

Wu LiJing frowned and put her sword on her table as Lai RongYi put his dagger away. "What does Senior Brother want?"

"Not even a greeting?" He raised an eyebrow. With her indifferent eyes being uncaring, he sighed.

"I don't want to be in here either since it will only taint my shoes. However, Master has told me to come and deal with the aftermath." In a lazy manner, he walked towards the main table placed in the middle of the room. "In case there is another intruder, I have the power to do whatever I want with them."

She nodded.

Lai RongYi drew a formation and sealed her room as he spoke. "Are you sure that dead girl is of the Lightless Crows?" He sat down and poured himself some tea as if this was his own room.

She ignored him and went back to reading her book. "Yes. She mentioned their name herself."

He chuckled. "I bet she didn't think we would recognize that name. Heh, what a great parting gift for us. Now, we have a better idea of what they are doing. They think they can easily infiltrate the major sects and get away with it?" His eyes darkened. "I really hope another one is among our disciples… or even our doctors or servants. Either way, I really want to capture one without them killing themselves first."

He sighed. "I think their leader is a masochist. No wait, a sadist. And the followers are all masochists. They like to poison themselves." He scoffed as he leisurely sipped the tea.

"I still haven't washed that cup," Wu LiJing said suddenly, going back to her book.

Lai RongYi spit out the tea and wiped his lips with a frown as he looked at her in displeasure. Then he glanced at the book in Wu LiJing's hands and raised an eyebrow.

"You're still trying to find the cure for your cousin?"

Wu LiJing ignored him and turned the page.

Lai RongYi sighed and leaned his head against one hand. "I don't know why you do so much for someone who doesn't know how to appreciate your efforts. Tch, I dislike stupid people like you the most." He rolled his eyes when his junior sister didn't reply and then his attention was brought to the short black dagger sitting alone on the table, right across from him.

"This is?" He reached for it. Turning the dagger around a few times, a smile appeared on his face. "It's been poisoned." He looked at her. "Who are you going to poison?"

Wu LiJing glanced at the dagger and went back to reading. "It's not mine. It came from that girl. You can take it and investigate the poison. Find out where they are getting all of these poisons from." They were even able to get the rare Pinpoint Powder to poison QiaoHua. Someone must be supplying them with the poison. If she had to guess though, this poison on the dagger was probably a simple one and wouldn't lead them anywhere. Why would the Lightless Crows waste two rare poisons on one sect? They were probably aiming for the world.

"No need to order me around." He gave her the side-eye but took the dagger anyway before he vanished from her room.

After dinner, Wu LiJing's manor was once again intruded by someone else. But this time, it was her cousin, who didn't seem to be in a good mood. Wu LiJing was suddenly wondering if she ever wronged Wu QiaoHua greatly. She thought they had a good relationship, but lately, all Wu QiaoHua has been doing towards her was get upset. She didn't quite know what to do.

"What did Mei do?" Wu QiaoHua asked. "For her to receive such a harsh punishment!"

Oh, so she was here for this. Wu LiJing felt a little disappointed and her eyes dimmed - it's been five years after all. But as a master of being indifferent, she easily masked her emotions and replied calmly, "She committed an unforgivable act."

Wu QiaoHua bit her lips. "What did she do? C-can you please forgive her?" Wu QiaoHua still asked even if she knew Wu LiJing would probably say no.

"I already went easy on her," Wu LiJing answered, her eyes turning cold. "I didn't kick her out of the sect or end her life, which is already the most I can do."

"Then what did she do?!" Wu QiaoHua's eyes became moist from having to face her cousin's cold tone once more.

"I cannot tell you that."

"Eldest Senior Sister, Xin Mei has been with me all this time. She was the only one who stayed by my side when others belittled and looked down on me. Can you please lessen her punishment due to our past relationship?" QiaoHua's voice was soft, but also unwavering. She knew she needed to stand strong if she wanted her cousin to grant her favor. In the past, when she asked for something, LiJing never refused.

Wu LiJing felt a little dispirited. "Past relationship? What do you mean, Wu QiaoHua? Are we still not family?" She suddenly found that it was ridiculous. Was it only her who felt they were still cousins? She felt an ache in her chest and let out a small breath as Wu QiaoHua stayed silent.

"We are still family… but I cannot do anything for Xin Mei."

"Eldest Senior Sister!"

"I wonder, why have you stopped calling me sister, but instead call me Eldest Senior Sister like all the others since we arrived at the Moon Sect. I've always wanted to ask, Wu QiaoHua - why?" (a/n: 'sister' in chinese is also a way to call an older female in a close relationship, like cousins or friends)

Wu QiaoHua did not speak as she stared at the floor.

Wu LiJing rubbed her temple as she felt an incoming headache. So she wasn't going to answer her…

Her voice was stern as she spoke, "Even if she was there for you all along, I cannot lessen her punishment. If you want to rid her of her punishments, I will have to kick her out of the sect."

"Sister LiJing!" Wu QiaoHua looked up.

Wu LiJing smiled but her eyes were not smiling. "What? Now you go back to calling me sister?"

Wu QiaoHua bit her lips and clenched her hands as tears fell. "Eldest Senior Sister," her voice shook, "Please…" She suddenly knelt on her knees and Wu LiJing stood up abruptly. "Xin Mei is a good friend of mine. She's seen me at my worst and has been there for me. If I can't even do anything for her, then what use am I? I don't want to feel even more useless than I am now."

Wu LiJing's eyebrows dropped slightly. After a moment of silence, she said softly, "I… QiaoHua… I'm sorry. I cannot do anything for her." The matter Xin Mei was involved with is too big and the cause of Wu QiaoHua's poisoning was also partly her fault.

"But why?" Her voice breaking, Wu QiaoHua stared at her cousin with drops of tears running down her face like two unending streams. Then the sparkles in her eyes died when Wu LiJing chose silence and she stood up. "Okay," she whispered. "I'm sorry to have taken your precious time." A sudden thought flashed inside of Wu QiaoHua: her cousin really is heartless as others say.

Wu LiJing hesitated and then let out a small sigh. "ChunHua… send her off," Wu LiJing gave an order to her servant quietly as she looked away, a suffocating pressure sitting on her chest.

Cheng ChunHua stared at Wu QiaoHua's desolate back with a frown and played with her hands as she walked behind her towards the entrance of LiJing's manor. She hesitated but said, "Miss QiaoHua. Please don't resent Master. If Master said she can't do it, then there must be a reason."

Wu QiaoHua nodded slightly and then exited the manor, taking slow steps.

Cheng ChunHua sighed and lightly rubbed her hands.