Vindicator’s Wrath - Chapter 13

The next day Hong Wu was interrupted by a knock coming from outside. Opening the door, Hong Wu was confronted with two grave faced men in blue robes. Hong Wu shuddered at their icy gazes, but maintained her composure. “My I ask what I can do for you esteemed senior brothers?”

One of the cold men ordered, “Elder Zhao demands your presence, come.”

Hong Wu was not given time to process this as the two men grabbed her by the arms and dragged her out of the building. Hong Wu was panic-stricken. Judging by the man’s tone, this was not a friendly request to get an update on her progress in cultivation. ‘It has to be that damned Cang Rong. What else could be the reason for wanting to see me? Couldn’t handle me yourself so you go and complain to someone bigger? Pathetic!’

Hong Wu lamented her situation as the men led her up the mountain. Many a passersby watched the scene by keeping a wide berth. Hushed conversations were held between various parties while others ran off to inform their friends of the new developments. It was rare that the sect would have such excitement, so it was natural that a disciple being carried away caused quite a stir. A few disciples followed closely behind, eager to watch events as they developed.

When the procession reached a certain point up the mountain, a screen of light materialized behind Hong Wu and the two men inhibiting further progress of curious spectators. The disgruntled group was only able to watch at a distance helplessly as the three disappeared from sight.

Hong Wu eventually arrived at an imposing building made of stone. Above the threshold hung a sign reading ‘Disciplinary Hall.’ Hong Wu was roughly shoved forward as one of the men who had brought her scowled, “In.”

Cautiously moving forward, Hong Wu made her way into the hall where she first caught sight of Elder Zhao seated in the center position of authority. To his right stood Cang Rong. Her eyes were seething coals of hatred as she tried to burn Hong Wu to death with her gaze alone. It appeared that her injury had already been healed. To Hong Wu’s surprise, on Elder Zhao’s left stood Lan Cixi, her expression unreadable. ‘Is she here to drag me down too? Was Yan right?’

Elder Zhao slowly opened his eyes locking his sight on Hong Wu. Circulating his cultivation base, the pressure he gave out was of a whole other league in comparison to Old Sun. With a mere glance, Hong Wu was shoved down to her knees, unable to even look up at the three across the hall. Elder Zhao’s flat voice filled the room, “You have been accused by disciple Cang Rong of attacking her by surprise in a no-combat zone. How do you plead?”

“Not guilty,” Hong Wu asserted.

“You lying bitch you stabbed me in the back!” Cang Rong spat.

“It was you who insisted on attacking me first, I merely defended myself.”

“Lies!”

“Enough!” Elder Zhao roared, “whether this is true or not is irrelevant. The fact remains that you injured one of your fellow disciples, and one of Junior Patriarch Gu Fei’s servants at that. The punishment will be thirty lashes and six months of secluded cultivation.”

Cang Rong had a conqueror’s smile, gloating over Hong Wu. ‘Am I not one of Gu Fei’s servants too?’

Hong Wu wanted to say something, but Elder Zhao’s cultivation base pressed down on her again making it impossible to even breathe. It was then that Lan Cixi voiced her opinion on the matter. “Elder Zhao, while it is true that what Hong Wu did was wrong, taking away her cultivation resources and freedom for six months is practically taking away any chance of Hong Wu reaching a level suited to support Junior Patriarch.”

Hong Wu cast a grateful look in Lan Cixi’s direction, only to have her hopes quickly dashed. “That is immaterial, you are all the Junior Patriarch’s possessions. The only one allowed to hurt you is the Junior Patriarch. This lesson must be taught thoroughly.”

All three girls shuddered at those unfeeling words. “This is natural Elder Zhao, but I only wished to point out that the more chances we are given to obtain power, the safer Junior Patriarch will be come time for the trial by fire. This punishment would serve as a detriment to Junior Patriarch’s goals in his upcoming struggles.”

Elder Zhao slowly mulled over this before finally saying, “This is true. Very well the sentence shall be reduced to thirty lashes and one month of secluded cultivation.”

With that said, Hong Wu was once again dragged out by the two men in blue robes. This time she was stripped bare and tied to a post. Before Hong Wu could lament over the humiliation, the men brutally scourged her, digging deep into the flesh of her back. Hong Wu couldn’t help but scream with each strike, the pain of her tearing skin unbearable for the young teenager. With each lash, her body spasmed until she could no longer stand with her own strength. The leather of the whip was soon slick with Hong Wu’s blood, her back a mangled mess of deep red lines crossing over one another. Towards the end, Hong Wu started to blackout due to the pain, only to be jolted awake with each flail.

When the whipping was done, her robe was carelessly draped over her. Unable to walk, Hong Wu was literally dragged over to a cave with a large stone door rolled to the side. Hong Wu was roughly tossed in along with a single Fasting Pill. The door slid closed and a semiconscious Hong Wu was left in darkness, her mind barely alert. ‘I was merely defending myself. Is this how the Black Mountain Sect deals justice? How is this justice!? Am I alive only so that I can suffer? Is that why the heavens took you from me mother?’

Hong Wu’s choked back her tears and sorrow. As a replacement of those emotions, anger boiled up in Hong Wu in a way that it never had before. ‘I am going to cut that smug face right off and feed your fat carcass to the wolves! I swear this Cang Rong!’

With that promise to herself, Hong Wu fell unconscious into a deep sleep.

One of those chapters that may make others uncomfortable. This kind of abusive stuff won’t be common, but I would not be honest if I didn’t also say that this isn’t as bad as it gets. It will get worse. Much worse.

As always thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments.