Don't Count on Peace for Happiness
Zhi Rui ran out of the sect with the disciple's cheerings. And since she got permission directly from the tower maiden, nobody would question her for going alone.
'That old dog must be enraged.' Zhi Rui mused.
He was ignored. and had no power of opinion the person who disturbed him for the first time just diminished his authority in public. Now that'll influence disciples to seek out the tower maiden. And besides that, the person who caused that turned out to be a strong talented disciple. and he cannot disturb said disciple's cultivation path.
Zhi Rui pictured the hate eating inside him and passed the entrance of the sect with a malicious smile.
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In front of the General's manor, Zhi Rui saw the maids running about. She smiled at the familiar sight. She waited at the guest entrance as the guards announced her presence to the maids. Zhin Zhin came rushing. Zhi Rui smiled at the woman's distressed state. Zhin Zhin gave a warm smile and bowed "It's good to see Young miss again!"
Seeing Zhin Zhin's genuine cheerful gaze warmed Zhi Rui's chest.
"It's barely been a week Zhin Zhin." Zhi Rui replied and gently embraced the maid.
"Young miss is so loving, did you found a husband?" Zhin Zhin said.
Laughing Zhi Rui embraced her tightly. "Please, Zhin zhin, never change."
Zhin Zhin blushed. "Yes, young miss."
'Did young lady held me in such high regard?' She thought to herself.
Zhi Rui released her and stared at the maid's eyes. When she entered the manor, she could still smell the stench and sound of the flies surrounding the spikes with two heads in it, even though they are not there anymore.
she cannot allow Zhin Zhin to have the same destiny.
'What's mine should live and die by my hands only.' Zhi Rui told herself.
She smiled gently, looking at where the main quarter is her eyes gleaming with vicious intent.
"I did not see any soldier on the training camp. What happened?" Zhi Rui asked.
Zhin Zhin spoke "The general had a shortage of supply, the carriage from the empire disappeared and the soldiers supposed to be sent to help could not go due to issues here. So the general called for all his troops."
Zhin Zhin looked around spoke Hesitantly"Rumor has it that the general, was neglecting his duty on the front lines and things turned out this way."
Zhi Rui smiled 'The emperor certainly heard the whole story from the prince. and Since he cannot punish me, as I just became a hero for sending people to clean and reform the city. He is now punishing the General.'
Zhin Zhin lightly elbowed Zhi Rui calling her attention.
Zhi Rui gazed at her askance
"Young lady grinned just now." Zhin Zhin whispered.
Zhi Rui froze, hearing bad news about her own house and smiling. what a blunder, but then a sudden thought came to her and she looked at Zhin Zhin. She swiftly embraced the maid and spun her wildly "Who'd thought a blockhead like you, would grow such awareness?" they laughed
She put the maid in the ground a both went to the kitchen to eat, they talked about nonsense and giggled away. Then Zhin Zhin noticed some noise in the entrance. Zhi Rui got up and they both went to see it.
In the guest Hall, Zheng Li was walking to his room when Zhi Rui on her disciple robe appeared.
He looked dazed. her green eyes and dark hair mesmerizing him. it was his sister but such details vanished from his head each moment he looked at her.
"Brother, looks like you calmed down." Grinning Zhi Rui walked to him.
His face scrunched, remembering their issue. he snorted.
Zhi Rui eyes went cold and she stopped. "So you were a momma's boy all along. You only followed me, because of some religious belief huh?" Zhi Rui spoke coldly, it was a question, but she spoke as if it was a statement.
"You follow father into battle because you were ordered to, you only cared for me because it was what your cult demanded of you." Zhi Rui walked slowly and stopped by his side. She whispered. "Everything you did was merely our mothers wish."
"I wanted to be your guardian" Zheng Li retorted.
Zhi Rui saw he was trembling."I don't doubt that." Zhi Rui said. "Only, I don't know for whose interest, Mine, yours, or Bianca's?"
Finished, Zhi Rui walked away, she turned and smilingly waved goodbye at Zhin Zhin.
Zhi Rui glanced at Zheng Li for a second, he was in the same place, conflicted. Zhi Rui sighed, on the day they talked with Bianca, she understood well his interest in her. But she has to be clear of how much his faith in Bianca and the cult messed with him. Before even thinking of accepting him. By her own experience, she knows what religious belief will do to a person, and she can't have a variable like that. she'll push, and squeeze him, until he shows a clear stance.
'Besides' Zhi Rui grinned 'What is this about following two different women? if you're mine then you cannot follow anybody else, the mother is not an exception.'
Smiling hideously Zhi Rui mounted blackie and went over to the community center.
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"Man, two pharmacies, two vegetable stores, and one law manor. All spread around the slums, and we finished it in a week." a Young man spoke cheerfully.
"It's good, but you forgot the best part. The best five scores ranked in math and social studies will get to manage and take care of these places with military protection. Imagine the money." a taller thin man spoke.
Zhi Rui heard these conversations in teahouses and taverns.
Near the community center. She smiled
'A person will feel the greatest relief, after facing the greatest distress.'
her energy has been blood red since the day after the tragedy. Izaya Hilda and Izumy took drastic action to take over the city, then spread jobs and using a scrap of destroyed property to raise new stores around the slums. creating a better living condition.
Blackie slowly strolled past the entrance of the community center with Zhi Rui on top. It was around ten in the morning, the canteen hall was full of people eating breakfast.
Some saw Zhi Rui mounted on the tall black panther's back.
a few men jumped in fright while others pointed finger yelling her name.
Zhi Rui smiled and stood up on the back of Blackie. She raised her left hand. The people stopped talking. Their gazes, full of expectation surrounded her.
Zhi Rui breathed and opened her mouth. But she stopped she squinted her eyes a the entrance's direction. soon people started to look in the same direction, the sound of steps resounded, Izaya, Azula and Izumy who was behind the people, were on alert.
Wang Lei gu the princess who was just forgiven of her crimes, entered with the same disciple robe as Zhi Rui and ten more disciples behind her, all old at level two. The people on the bottom of the sect's hierarchy.
Wang Lei gu saw Zhi Rui in front of the people and understood what was happening. She grinned, feeling relish to disturb Zhi Rui on her moment.
Lei Gu spoke loudly. "Sister Zhi Rui, good news! Sect leader sent me with some resources and capital to help you with the healing of the country."
Zhi Rui smiled widely "What a relief Lei Gu, I'm assuming he also sent the six of you to stay and help me?"She asked. The pleasant morning light strangely started to bother her.
Wang Lei Gu nodded.
"Yes, in fact, we'll stay here for a while to understand the plans sister Zhi Rui have, then with the blessing of the emperor, we'll have another plot of land an built another community center. This way the country will heal two times faster."
The people around had astounded faces, they felt the benefit of one of these centers. Now with one more, both with the backing of the light sect. The slums will have a radical change. they cheered loudly, some even cried at the news.
Wang Lei Gu got up on a table herself, an looked at the people. "Soon we'll have two communities center," She pointed at them " But only with your help, will this country get up to its feet again!"
Resounding cries, whistling, loud cheering, crying people.
Lei Gu felt for the first time this feeling. even as a princess, this is her first time being worshipped like this. she was ecstatic.
Izaya looked at his daughter's watery eyes. He took hold of her hand.
She looked up at him, with trembling voice she asked.
"They won't be able to take it from us, right?"
Izaya embraced her and whispered that everything will be alright.
But he thought about a whole sect's resources, and weighed it against their gains with the brothel, he tried to be optimistic but he couldn't. He looked at Zhi Rui.
She was standing on blackie, she wasn't trembling or showing displeasure, the only thing on her face was a wide smile. As if Wang Lei gu was Heaven-sent Angel.
He held his daughter tighter. He thought about these three to four days they spend in peace. He sighed.
'The times of struggle came way too fast.'