"What is THIS?" Elder Tian shouted, "is this the way you barge into the Judgment Hall?"
Chen Wu immediately bowed deeply. "Forgive me, Elder Tian, I was just— I heard that my friends were involved here and I was in a hurry, I apologize for my behaviour."
Right behind him another figure appeared in the doorway — Mei, the young girl from Greenbrook Village who also bowed quickly, following Chen Wu's example.
Elder Tian's jaw tightened and I could see him controlling his anger. "Do not interrupt again."
"Yes, Elder."
Chen Wu and Mei entered the hall, their eyes scanning the room as if looking for something or someone — and then they found me, sitting in the corner and watching.
His expression shifted—relief or concern, I couldn't tell—they walked over and sat down next to me. I didn't acknowledge them or look at Chen Wu, just kept my eyes forward and focused on the proceedings, like I didn't want to talk to anyone— I didn't care about anything right now.
Chen Wu turned towards me and I felt his gaze settle, heavy and troubled, moving over my frame and taking in what was left… tracing the thin skeletal body of mine.
Noticing the eyes that had sunk so deep that light had given up on them. Seeing the skin that had lost its warmth and that no longer felt like it belonged to the living
His mouth opened slightly like he wanted to say something — "I..." he hesitated, leaving the word hanging incomplete.
"Ahem." Elder Tian's voice interrupted as he turned his attention back to Su Ling. "Right... Now answer the next question… why do you want to harm Fu Yang so much? And this is not me who is asking, but Fu Yang himself…"
Su Ling's head jerked up with eyes wide yet she had no words, just staring in shock that this question had come from me.
And only THEN did I turn my head slowly toward Chen Wu, my expression blank and empty, as if saying that HEAR what she is going to say, HEAR what your trusted friend… your beloved senior sister has to say — and Chen Wu also looked at me, tried to meet my eyes.
….
But he couldn't.
His gaze dropped after a moment as he was unable to maintain it.
"LOOK at him while you answer, look at Fu Yang and tell us, why are you so desperate to try killing him?"
Su Ling turned toward me yet my gaze was still fixed on Chen Wu, watching his reaction and his head drop even lower. Su Ling's voice broke, tears streaming down her face, "please… please forgive me...Chen Wu, Chen Wu tell him, you know I'm not, I didn't mean..." — and Chen Wu seemed to snap out of something, like he'd been in a daze.
And then suddenly in a soft and almost cheerful tone, Mei said — "Brother Fu, please forgive her...she accepts she did wrong..."
I turned my eyes to Mei and she looked back at me hopefully and smiling slightly yet I said nothing, just looked at her and then away, completely ignoring what she had asked.
Elder Tian opened his mouth ready to continue questioning and dig deeper into Su Ling's crimes but — "please, stop." Chen Wu's voice cut through
SILENCE.
Everyone turned to look at him and Chen Wu turned to me. "Brother, let's stop it now."
... Mmm?
"I know, I know she did wrong and I'm sorry, I'm sorry for what she did, can you just..." he couldn't even finish it.
Right then Elder Ming burst out — "what are you saying, this disciple orchestrated false imprisonment and tried to kill him and you want to—"
"Ok." My voice was quiet but it carried across the hall, leaving everyone staring at me in disbelief.
The shock was visible on every face.
Then another elder I didn't recognize spoke up. "What are you saying?"
I smiled, but it also gave a hint of sadness, and I stood up from my seat. "Elder Tian... I want to take back all the charges."
"Hah?" He looked at me like I'd lost my MIND....maybe I already had.
"But..." I paused. "I have one condition."
Chen Wu immediately stood up like a spring released, ready to listen.
"Haah, I have just one request. And it's... it's just... I want to hear the truth from someone else."
Chen Wu froze for a second but nodded with his head.
I paused, and let confusion cross my face.
"No... it's not Su Ling. Or anyone else you think is involved in this."
I looked around the hall, at the assembled disciples, the elders. Everyone was confused now, waiting to see who I would pick. Then I turned, and my eyes landed on Mei.
At that, she froze like a small kitten caught stealing and all innocence shattered in an instant.
"I want to ask some questions...to you, Mei."
She stood up as if ready to spout some bullshit.
But before she could—
"Very well," Elder Tian said finally. "Mei, come forward."
On hearing this, Mei's face immediately turned pale white and she paused there for a moment, biting her lip, before walking toward the oath stone on unsteady legs.
In the eyes of others, she must be one of the earlier children of the village, a fifteen-year-old girl that Chen Wu brought into the sect, but to me, she was more than that. This matter was just so deep, even I had to move with the tide.
She walked to the stone and after a moment of hesitation, she slowly placed both of her hands on it and made an oath first with elder tian who stood beside her. His expression was stern but not unkind. She was young, and not one of the main conspirators, but I'd called her out specifically, and that meant something.
"Mei," Elder Tian asked. "Answer truthfully. Did you know about the accusations against Fu Yang? About his imprisonment?"
Mei's voice was small and shaky, but she tried to maintain that friendly tone she always used.
"I... I heard rumors, like everyone else. People were talking about it, about Brother Fu being arrested."
The stone remained still.
"And when you heard these rumors, did you believe them? Did you believe Fu Yang had actually harassed someone?"
Mei looked down at the stone, her hands trembling slightly. " I just heard what people were saying. But... Brother Fu has always been good to us. He never... he was always kind. So I…"
She trailed off but again the stone remained still.
Elder Tian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmph, If you didn't believe the accusations... if you thought Fu Yang was a good person who'd been kind to you... then why didn't you report this to the elders? Why didn't you inform anyone in authority that an innocent person was being imprisoned?"
Caught by a simple logic.
Mei's face went even paler.
"I..." Her voice was barely audible. "I thought... I thought the guards might have already reported it to the elders. So I... I wanted to wait for the true decision, for the proper investigation to happen before…"
Now the oath Stone began to glow.
Elder Tian's expression hardened. "Try again. The truth this time."
Mei's hands were shaking violently now, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"I... I..."
"Why didn't you report it?" Elder Tian's voice was firmer now as if pressing harder. "You thought he was innocent. So why did you stay silent?"
"I..." Her voice cracked. "I just "
But before she could finish, I stood up abruptly, drawing everyone's attention.
"Elder Tian."
"Go ahead," he nodded.
I looked at her directly, meeting her tear-filled eyes. "Were you the one who encouraged Su Ling and the others to do this? And helped organise this?"
Mei's eyes widened. "What? No! I would never—"
"Answer with your hands ON THE STONE" Elder Tian thundered.