CHAPTER 3

The Empress closed the doors and walked a few steps but suddenly halted when she heard a voice ," Where's your bastard son? The ever-smiling Wang Jin".

"He's not a bastard. He's also a Prince of the Country". The Empress defended and Wang Lei burst into a maniacal laughter which slightly irritated her.

She asked," You don't stand a chance in any of this, nor your boastful brothers. I'll make sure Wang Jin inherits the throne".

"How dare you spit that to my face?!". Wang Lei asked as he wrapped his hand on her slender neck while she struggled to breathe. He slowly let go of his hand and smoothened his hair," I know what you're doing and the next time I see you in my father's room again, I'll present your head to him".

The Empress chuckled and said," Beggers can only wish. You won't tell me how to take care of my husband ".

"Watch and see then. If you still value your life, you'd better do as I say, lowly Concubine".

"You...." She huffed and walked away proudly. Wang Lei called out after her," Don't think I don't know you killed my mother just to climb the throne."

The Empress stopped right in her tracks and Wang Lei, seeing her behavior, smirked and walked slowly towards her.

"What? You thought nobody knew about how you thrusted the sword into her heart?"

The Empress denied," What nonsense are you talking about? I don't know what you're saying."

"I'm sure you know very well what I mean." He said with a frown and walked away," Enjoy while it lasts. I might start my first death record this year with you or your son.....or even the Emperor. Who knows?"

He laughed carelessly while the Empress looked at him with eyes blazing with hatred.

.....

"Move down the mountains? No way. I admit my mistake but Father, don't send me down the mountains." Zhang Li pleaded as tears began to form around her eyes. Mu Ziyi had a smug smile on her face as she stared at the pleading girl on the floor. The other disciples were silent,each just watching the unfolding drama.

" This cannot be debated and avoided. We should play fair to the rules. Offenders cease to become members of the Ming sect and are forced to leave Martial arts and cultivation." Elder Mu reminded just as Elder Wei was about to say something. The latter reserved his words and with one last look at Zhang Li, he walked away with what seemed like heavy footsteps.

Zhu Ling knelt down before the other Elders and Zhu Xīn followed suit. Zhu Ling raised his hands in courtesy and said," Li Jie has nowhere to go if you were to send her out. She has admitted her faults already. Would the Elders not spare her?"

"Spare her? Are you deaf? Didn't you hear the rules still stand? She really did take the Sacred Sword Ming Baixing herself forged. Who would dare disregard the founder of our Sect? Wouldn't that be bringing misfortune to one's self?" Mu Ziyi asked the two other disciples on the ground. Zhang Li turned to her and said," If there's anything I've done to offend you, please forgive me. Tell the Elders it's not what it looks like."

"Oh? What does it look like then?" Mu Ziyi asked and looked at the Elders before bowing slightly to leave. And one after the other, the disciples left the scene admist low voices and murmurs. One of the women said," You brought this to yourself,child. The first rule of the Sect is to be obedient." Then, she walked away too.

The other woman held her Sword tightly and walked away without a single word. Elder Mu was the last Elder standing and as he turned to leave, Zhang Li stopped him with her words," Do you hate me so much? Do I really have to go down the mountain to a place I don't know?"

"You should have thought about that before misbehaving." He said nonchalantly and continued his way.

She laughed bitterly. Zhu Xīn hugged her and sobbed loudly while her brother just remained on the ground motionless on the ground.

Zhu Ling proposed," We should go to Elder Wei again. He's your father afterall." Just as they were talking, Elder Wei appeared and walked closer to them, raising Zhang Li to her feet. Her face was already puffy from all the crying and he gently wiped the tears while she sobbed," Don't let me go".

Elder Wei sighed and spoke," This is also an opportunity for you to see the world better." He paused and continued,"A-Li, you're my daughter and I've raised you to this point". Zhang Li kept on shaking her head sideways as she held his legs with her tear-stained face while the other two sympathized beside her.

Elder Wei pulled her to her feet and continued in a calm voice ladden with sadness,"Nothing can be done at this point. Others before you had the same punishment and it will continue to stand". Zhang Li sniffed and he continued," Down the mountain, there's a little house with a well beside it and a garden as well. Live a good life. I'll go down once in a while to see your condition." He handed her a porch containing some money while she whined in her already hoarse voice which resulted from her cries," I don't want to leave you".

"I'll go with you. You can't be off by yourself ".Zhu Ling offered but Zhang Li smiled and nodded in disagreement," No need for that."

She turned to her father and smiled,"Elder Wei, you found me and brought me to the clan,shaping me and bringing me up like a father would." She lowered her head and said softly with tears blinding her eyes,"I'm sorry for letting you down and for all my past misbehaviors ".

Elder Wei, moved greatly by the sight,held her by both shoulders and spoke,"Child, i don't blame you for any of these at all". He wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled,"One last fatherly hug?"

......

He walked nonchalantly through the palace corridors nodding at the greetings from the Palace guards who bowed out of respect.

"Crown Prince."

"Crown Prince." They all went while he just walked past them. Wang Lei finally got to the vast pavement, preparing to leave the Palace when he met another Prince coming in. They both stared at each other before the other burst into laughter while he just folded his hands silently.

" Wang Lei? How unnatural to see you within these walls." The other Prince said while walking in circles around Wang Lei, checking his hair and attire. Wang Lei said in a cold voice," Wang Ming! How rude of you, little brat. You haven't seen your brother in years and is this how you welcome me?"

Wang Ming laughed till he began to cough which slightly irritated his brother," Lei-ge,so you do remember that I'm your brother . Now tell me, why haven't you been in the Palace all these years? Where did you run off to?" He broke down in a feigned weeping voice," Why did you abandon me when I needed you the most? You're my love and -"

Before he could finish his sentence, he composed himself when he saw that a sword has been raised to his neck. Laughing nervously,he said"Lei-ge, would you mind putting the sword down? We are family. You don't plan on hurting me immediately you set your eyes on me,right?"

Wang Lei slowly let down his sword but before he knew it, a sword was also placed against his neck. Wang Ming laughed mischievously,"What? You think you're the only one with a sword? Now tell me why you left the Palace?"

"Take your Sword down." Wang Lei chided and added,"Where has your respect gone? I'll need to behead your teacher for raising a failure."

Wang Ming slowly brought down his sword and asked with a slight frown,"Failure? If there's any failure here, that person is you. If you hadn't been a runaway Prince then maybe, I'd have been brought up well."

Wang Lei arranged the headband on his forehead and moved ahead,"I have no time to waste here."

"Eh? Running off for another 100 years again?! Lei-ge? Lei-ge? Wang Lei!!!!"

But his brother just kept on walking away. Out of the damned place to find his peace of mind.

A young man dressed in the same attire walked towards Wang Ming who was still gazing at the road ahead,"What are you looking at now?"

"Brother, Wang Lei just left now."

"Lei-ge?!" Came the surprised voice.