Chapter 15

The Demonic Woman

Inside the council hall, Shen Tang sat high in the center, with Qingli quietly standing behind her, hand on her sword.

Shen Tang’s beautiful eyes surveyed her surroundings. A few individuals looked chagrined, but the vast majority of elders and deacons were visibly overjoyed.

They had never imagined that something they had struggled to sell, only managing three or five copies, would, in the hands of the Young Master, sell out completely in the same amount of time.

The preparation time wasn’t long, and they had ultimately only produced over ten thousand sword talismans. The item was cheap, so they didn’t earn much money from it.

But long-term agreements had been signed, making this a stable source of income for the future. Even if the item was cheap, its large volume meant they could at least survive well in Xiazhou from now on, far more effectively than their original plan of refining elixirs.

Everyone knew they had official connections, but they had never thought business could be conducted this way.

After all, they were just swordsmen; their way of thinking simply wasn’t aligned with this.

And this method, in particular, was Shen Tang’s own idea, not something taught by anyone. This single event clearly established who had the ability to lead them to a foothold.

Uncle Zhong, who had hung the plaque, squinted at Elder Sun, who had been the most vocal earlier, and sneered, “Regarding the agreement that day, does Elder Sun have anything more to say?”

Elder Sun was expressionless. “This was merely leveraging City Lord Xu’s influence, not her own ability.”

“Then do you not know City Lord Xu?”

“…”

“City Lord Xu had already graduated from the sect when the Sect Master joined. You should be more familiar with him, shouldn’t you? Why didn’t you seek his help?”

“I…” Elder Sun had no words to retort, truly feeling aggrieved in his heart.

This kind of idea often makes people think, “Holy cow, it’s so simple, I should have used it long ago!” when they see others use it. However, before others use it, they themselves would never think of it.

People often don’t think it’s because they are incompetent. They only think the other party got lucky, or perhaps it’s because they weren’t planning to do a good job in the first place, and naturally wouldn’t bother to think deeply.

Elder Sun fumed for a long time, then angrily said, “Mere business affairs! A Hall Master is sufficient for this. Is this something the Sect Master should be doing?!”

Uncle Zhong sneered, “Why didn’t you say that when the agreement was made? The agreement is set, what’s said cannot be unsaid (驷马难追). Now, you are the ones who should abdicate and yield your positions!”

Immediately, someone else tried to persuade them, “Um… Sect Master, Elder Sun also means well for the sect. Why be so coercive?”

Shen Tang finally spoke. “Who said I was asking Elder Sun to abdicate and yield his position?”

A collective sigh of relief filled the hall. “We knew the Sect Master was magnanimous…”

“What this Master means is, you, you, you…” Shen Tang raised her finger, pointing one by one, picking out exactly eight people. “All eight of you, hand over your duties.”

The eight individuals she pointed at instantly changed color. Even Uncle Zhong looked at Shen Tang with a hint of trepidation, whispering via voice transmission, “Sect Master, we cannot endure such a massive upheaval…”

“No destruction, no construction,” Shen Tang said, unmoved. “Our sect has just suffered a great calamity; we should be united, overcoming difficulties together. Yet there is this group of people, acting like flies, secretly scheming for power, leaking alchemist information, obstructing the sword talisman affairs… Our sect is already precarious; how can it endure such corruption from you? Seize them all!”

Clang! The sound of swords being drawn filled the hall. Elder Sun sneered. “Shen Tang! You wouldn’t possibly think that this single matter has established your supreme authority, would you? How ridiculous! Let this Senior Uncle teach you a lesson. Now that our foundation is set, even without you, this sect can continue the sword talisman business. No one will be constrained by you because of this.”

“Heh…” Shen Tang’s beautiful eyes flickered. She rested an elbow on the armrest of her chair, leaning back with her chin in her hand, her expression bearing a lazy, alluring charm that Lu Xingzhou had never seen on her before. “Do you think this Master truly cares so much about you, or was so wary, that I spent all this time playing games with you?”

Elder Sun paused, staring at her with a grave expression, saying nothing.

Shen Tang continued calmly, “That was only because I was using these matters to observe and judge exactly who should be killed. I didn’t want to kill the wrong people, that’s all. Now that it’s confirmed, you can die.”

As her words fell, the hall filled with a chilling light.

Elder Sun and the others were horrified. Just as they were about to raise their swords in resistance, their throats felt a slight coolness. A trace of fresh blood oozed from their throats, instantly turning to frost.

Dugu Qingli stood in the center of the hall, her sword tip dripping blood. The blood drops turned into blue frost in mid-air, falling to the ground and shattering like dust.

Eight corpses thudded to the ground.

Elder Sun, even in death, couldn’t believe it. Shen Tang had truly, without a second word, directly struck to kill. Nor could they have imagined that a group of high-ranking elders like themselves couldn’t even withstand a single strike from a white-haired girl.

They were still waiting to coordinate from the inside with people outside… But they were instantly annihilated. The people outside probably hadn’t even received the message…

Even Uncle Zhong and the others stared wide-eyed at Dugu Qingli in the hall. Many neutral parties trembled like sieves.

With such a terrifying swordswoman by the Sect Master’s side, how could she possibly value the meager martial strength of others?

Watching Shen Tang lean back in her lazy, alluring posture, the blood in the hall seemed to be merely a performance of song and dance before her. Her eyes still held a smile, completely undisturbed.

Was this still the gentle, melancholic Young Master they had once known?

Isn’t this a demonic woman (妖妇)?!

Shen Tang’s beautiful eyes swept over them, taking in everyone’s expressions. She smiled faintly. “Sun Jingci and the other eight conspired with outsiders and plotted treason. They have now been executed. Sword Edge Hall, Foreign Affairs Hall, etc., their Deputy Hall Masters will immediately fill their positions. Tang Yunzhong will also serve as the Master of the Sword Seeking Hall, responsible for recruiting new members. And…”

She paused, her voice turning cold. “This Master has already succeeded to the position; I am now the Sect Master. Some of you have still been calling me ‘Young Master’ before, don’t think I don’t know what that means. From now on, I do not wish to hear such ‘slips of the tongue’ again. Meeting adjourned!”

The entire sect shuddered.

Looking at her sitting in her wheelchair, still appearing weak and fragile, no one dared to underestimate this crippled Young Master… no, Sect Master, anymore.

At the foot of Danxia Mountain, Liu Qingtian led a group of Danxia Gang elites, rushing skillfully towards their old headquarters. From a distance, they barely spotted the manor gate before they were blocked by a group of fierce Demon Suppressing Bureau officers.

Sheng Yuanyao, wrapped in her large cloak, emerged from the ranks. “Gang Leader Liu, out for a midnight stroll, are we? How’s the view?”

Liu Qingtian’s face looked like he had “eaten sh*t.”

He had been introduced by the City Lord, coordinating with the elders inside Shen’s Business Alliance, yet he was intercepted by the Demon Suppressing Bureau before even getting close to the place. What the hell was going on?!

Was the Demon Suppressing Bureau still under the jurisdiction of Xiazhou City?

But he couldn’t say that openly. Liu Qingtian could only force a smile. “Not bad, not bad… Commander Sheng, you’re out for a stroll too. Is the City Lord well?”

“The Demon Suppressing Bureau is directly administered by the imperial court, not a local yamen. We don’t need to pay respects to the City Lord,” Sheng Yuanyao said with a smile, patting his shoulder as if brushing off non-existent dust. “The night is dark and windy, Gang Leader Liu. You’d best return early to rest, lest some accident occurs. The Demon Suppressing Bureau would hate to see it.”

Liu Qingtian cursed his bad luck inwardly and could only force a smile. “Commander Sheng, you should also rest early.”

Sheng Yuanyao turned and rejoined her ranks, not looking back. “A herb dealer should just focus on being a herb dealer. Don’t get too distracted… Lest you make a critical mistake in your main business and regret it too late.”

Liu Qingtian felt like he had swallowed a fly, and could only lead his group back in resignation.

In truth, Sheng Yuanyao’s face also looked like she had swallowed a fly at this moment.

She slowly entered Shen’s Business Alliance, looking down at the corpses in the council hall that hadn’t yet been dealt with. She said coldly, “Sect Master Shen, you abuse private power and kill indiscriminately. Are you completely disregarding the laws of the land?”

The Demon Suppressing Bureau was difficult to manage these days. Theoretically, they were primarily responsible for demonic affairs, differing in function from local government yamen. But they also handled various major cases, just like her investigation into the Huo family murder.

But how could they handle this? Private executions within gangs and sects were rampant, murders happened constantly. Such was the way of the world; they simply couldn’t manage it. Conflicts between sects were even harder to control. As long as it wasn’t a major public conflict, struggles within the martial arts world were everywhere, and people died every day. Who could manage it…?

Although she had just prevented a bloody gang conflict, which counted as a merit for stabilizing the area and added another line to her “gilding” resume, her mood wasn’t good.

She knew it was pointless to blame Shen Tang; such was the way of the world, not Shen Tang’s fault. If Shen Tang wasn’t decisive enough, perhaps Shen Tang herself would have died. Who would she complain to then? But she still couldn’t help but say a cold, sarcastic remark. No matter Shen Tang’s mysterious background, the world was vast, and her own peace of mind was paramount.

Shen Tang, however, shed her earlier “demonic woman” demeanor and responded softly, “My apologies, I truly… didn’t want to cause you trouble.”

Sheng Yuanyao froze for a moment. What was with that tone? Do you know me?

She then considered: the Danxia Gang poaching Bai Chi had severely offended Shen Tang, yet Shen Tang hadn’t retaliated by killing him as per the usual sect custom for traitors… Previously, she thought they lacked the power, but now, seeing Dugu Qingli’s skill, they could probably kill Bai Chi without him even knowing how he died. Yet they hadn’t done so.

Could it really be that they didn’t want to cause her trouble?

Sheng Yuanyao felt a strange mix of emotions. What came out of her mouth, however, was: “State law is greater than family rules. I hope Sect Master Shen will think twice before acting in the future.”

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

Sheng Yuanyao was indeed helping Shen Tang, but she could only say, “Suppressing conflicts and disputes is our duty. Rather than thanking me, you should thank Lu Xingzhou. Three days ago, he already knew this would happen. He said it was to give me merit, but who knows who it was really for.”

As she spoke, Sheng Yuanyao also observed Shen Tang closely.

She was clearly beautiful, gentle, dignified, and graceful, yet somehow, a phrase popped into her mind: “a vixen who brings disaster to the nation and its people” (祸国殃民 – huò guó yāng mín).

– Mochinuna.