151 Clowns and Monkeys Are the Circus's Heroes

"Bring that atrocious child here!How dare she kill one of my good men and don't own up to it!?"

"Zhi Rui! you caused too many troubles, the capital has had enough of you!"

The Cheng Feng's soldiers stood firmly in front of the manor, in their mind the general had very possibly just given his life to defend their land yet the nobles, like sharks who smelled blood gathered to attain power. They were enraged and ready to pounce.

"Steady." Zhi Rui stern command resounded. It has some sort with the strength to it as the onlookers enemy soldiers and even the nobles causing rucks grew silent.

They followed her word and stood in a defensive formation. But the soldiers became concerned, she might be cultivator but she was still a girl and hadn't faced the struggles between nobles.

Zhi Rui went up on to her own gates met eye to eyes with the mounted nobles. She identified the manleading the others

"Noble Zhao Lin, what are the troubles you claim I caused?"She asked

Shaken by her mannerism, he frowned and spoke in a polite but firm tone, there wasn't anything left of the rowdy posture of earlier.

"You've might've fooled the people with your community center and talent in cultivation, but WE ARE NOT FOOLS! After that catastrophe with the drug that killed more than half of the slums, stores and markets were ransacked clean! then suddenly a couple of days later, they were all bought in the name of the general! Your surname Cheng has taken possession of half of the business in the capital!"

Zhi Rui's eyes grew cold. "Pay attention to what you're going to accuse me of, if it'snonsense, I'll be off with your head."

Her voice rang clearly without a single attempt to mask the threatening tone.

Silence reigned again.

Zhao Lin looked over the other five nobles and their soldiers, he knew Zhi Rui was stronger than them but they were in the empire! rules existed!

"We're accusing you of taking advantage of the tragedy to take over the capital! And even though you gave back to the people we'll not tolerate such things! Give up the manor, give up possession of half of the stores you took over and we'll be settled!"

Zhi Rui sighed

"Greedy things, you're all forgetting something. My father, the general. was at the fourth level he didn't act wantonly because he was bound by the empire. But I am Zhi Rui, the leader of the disciplinary division of the light sect, if somebody in the sect is allowed to intervene in mortal matters, that's me.And if you don't show me proof of what you accuse me of, I'll execute you for slander. You have ten seconds."

"W-What?" He stammered he didn't expect that He thought she would be civil, he didn't demand much, only half.

"10"

Her voice resounded. the nobles behind pulled their horses back a little and he panicked more

"9"

"T-The fact that half of the stores became yours is already proof enough!" He yelled

"Most of the stores were ransacked, we bought the spot of the store and whatever they had left of goods, we refilled their inventory and allowed them to keep their store as long as fifty percent of the profit goes to my Cheng family.If I had, in fact, strong-armed any of them. you would've already brought them here to testify! 8!" Zhi Rui yelled firmly.

"7"

"I have witnesses! come forth, people!" He yelled but no one stepped forward, in fact, Zhi Rui felt some people going away from the crow as soon as she mentioned testimonies.

She sighed "You know what? I don't have time to waste with you OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"

*thwuck*

With a thud his head fell and blood gushed out of his neck the horse went mad with the headless body on top, the soldiers beside him were too stunned to grab a hold of the animal.

Nobody knew where the attack came from.

Domineeringly strong! an order equaled a death!

The people were gasping.

Zhi Rui looked at the nobles left.

"Since you knew where to stop,I'll let you keep your heads, but whenever I need you to do something you'll be at my back and call. Now leave."

The nobles bowed deeply and turned around on their horses.

The people cheered, calling Zhi Rui merciful, and patient. they were practically worshipping her since hse came to the city again.

HEr settling the war once and for all was a miracle for them the misery that was brought for the poor was horrible. The number of widows and fatherless children was through the roof.

Zhi Rui jumped on a horse and trotted away with a straight back.

The people followed and cheered. Outside the city, Zhi Rui smiled.

"And now, your status a the empire's tyrant is known and uncontested."

Zhi Rui could feel Hilda standing on the horse's rear.

"There's still the emperor,even if he's not making a move now it doesn't mean he can't. he's a level five, I can only move him when I take over the light sect."

A wheezing wind came from above and landed betweenZhi Rui and Hilda.

"Are you prepared for your arrival at the sect?you offended that level six from outside and a couple of elders when you left.Besides, that Xunhue must've won over a lot of admirers since you left."

Zhi Rui looked at her with one eyebrow raised. They both laughed.

----

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Right at the entrance of the light sect here was a crowd of disciples. waiting.

Zhi Rui was walking slowly atop the horse with Zhun Xuying and Hilda on the back. they were near enough to see the entrance but the disciples couldn't see clearly them.

Zhi Rui turned around to Hilda who was about to get up and leaves, she caressed her thighs and smiled.

"You did immensely good work. take a day to rest, then you keep on training with the slaves, remind them that in four months, we'll go to the underworld and the weak won't last."

Hilda emotionlessly nodded and disappeared.

Zhi Rui smiled and watched her go, for a second she could fell Hilda becoming flustered.

"Do you need me to go in first to see the situation?" Zhun XUying asked.

"No need." Zhi Rui said with a smile.

They went in slowly the surrounding disciples cheered and rowdiness, Zh Rui smiled at them and occasionally answered some questions of her journey, her smile was entrancing, coupled with hun XUying's mature elegance, they were like two suns passing through a sky of disciples.

"Saintly sister you've came!" There was only one person who called her like that. THe boy who pretended to be a girl.

"Xunleehow did you fare while I was out?" Zhi Rui asked.

Xunlee smiled and jumped into a hug. "I missed you so much~" She spoke and that's what everybody heard, then a whisper entered Zhi Rui's ear "Thank you like you said the old sect leader lost too much reputation and my sister the Tower Maiden has more authority and freedom."

She kissed Zhi Rui on the cheeks and laughed like a mischievous child.

Zhi Rui smiled "How good" she whispered back.

'Now that the tower maiden is free of danger, Xunlee's only motivation to follow me is her hate for the sect leader and the oath we made...'

A distinguished footstep sound echoed, and the crowd grew silent.

Zhi Rui smiled and looked ahead.

"Elder Aurelio, It's been some time since we saw each other."

"It has, but I'm afraid, this won't be a pleasant meeting.."He answered.

It was sunset, Aurelio extended a scroll in front of him and read it out loud like a eunuch.

"Zheng Wei, temporary sect leader summons you for the following accusations against you:Medling with mortal affairs,non-authorized outing from the sect, acceptance of a disciple of ill-nature,Using the sect's reputation to achieve personal selfish goals, and lastly; The sharing of the sect's resources with outsiders."

The disciples suddenly widened their eyes with horror.

"W-Why?"

"B-but, she only did well?"

Murmurs and whispers started to spread.

Aurelio smashed his foot on the ground calling attention to himself again.

But before he opened his mouth Zhi Rui asked.

"Who's the accuser?"

Aurelio covered his mouth and coughed.

"TheDao protectors Of the great geniuses that's soon to come has issues with the way you're wont-"

"The main, formal accuser. the whole name is written on the scroll, Not those who nod along."

Her voice firm, her eyes full of mockery.

He politely coughed again, his eyes became cold, "You're not letting me read the total sentence for those crimes. Even if you're afraid of it, you shouldn't run from responsibility."

Zhi Rui laughed, "It's either death, or crippling of cultivation and exile, if it's neither, then it's not worth attention, but you, why are you dodging the question!? If it's you, own up to it! tell to my face! why fake pleasantries!?

Aurelio's face became red with anger,

'SLUT! SLUT! SLUT!' He Cursed unceasingly on his mind, 'I was going to tell it now! I'd say how I didn't want to sour our relationship and how these accusations were only a form of reproach.Everything would be settled with one apology! then you'd be the disciple and I'de be the sensible elder. I wouldn't be seen as I'm being now! damn it, you ruined it, WHORE!"

His scrunched up face was horrible to look at, Zhi Rui's face was stern but the mockery was thick in her eyes.

'Trying to diminish me public? Humpft'

She scoffed

"I don't have time to fake generosity, if you, old man, have a problem with my doings, meet me the main hall and let's settle it!"

Zhi Rui said and jumped her first landing was right beside him.

Ah, chuckle reached his ears.

"You and that girl, both narrow-minded dumb people, blinded by their own prejudice and greed." with a last laughed she jumped away.

He stood in place doing everything to not show signs of the terrifying storm on his mind.

The disciples decided to follow Zhi Rui. and Jumped after her.

Once he was alone. the veins in his face and arms bulged grotesquely

"SLUT! WHORE! I WAS NOTHING BUT GOOD TO YOU AT THE BEGINNING! I ESCORTED YOU FROM THAT MEASLY EMPIRE AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME!?!?" He cursed under his breath.

Suddenly his eyes caught the sight of Xunhue staring at him from afar.

He breathed in deeply

"She blew things out of proportion but it's a solid case, good reputation can't contest solid offense," He said and jumped away.

Xunhue stood in place pensive...