Chapter 93: A choice that cannot wait
The room was too quiet. Not the peaceful kind that often blanketed the house at midnight. This one was translated to the storm that came after something irreversible had been uncovered.
Ru Yi stood near the window, her fingers still faintly trembling despite how tightly she clasped them together.
All three sisters were gathered, Yexue making sure to sit at a far distance from the two. She was still sulking, but Ru Yi would reserve her feelings for later.
Now they needed to work together. More children would be taken if they wasted even a day after uncovering all they did.
Ru Yi leaned against the pillar, her face pale from the exhaustion of having many thoughts race through her mind.
Yexue started to pace restlessly, arms crossed over her chest, but her gaze was sharp as ever.
Qingyue had called for the meeting immediately after everyone else went to bed. But upon seeing the crease between Ru Yi’s brows and the way she bit down on her bottom lip, she decided to give her a chance to speak her mind first.
"I think we should break into Elder Zhou Wen’s house," Ru Yi finally said. "Tomorrow. Madam Lin’s husband must know we’ve escaped by now. They won’t just cross their hands and wait for us to act first."
Lieyin nodded. "We can go this instant. They won’t see us coming, that’ll give us an added advantage." She stood up, already reaching for her sword.
"Sit down," Qingyue said flatly.
Yexue spoke for the first time since storming out of the room. "What is there to think about? There could be other children locked up there right now."
"What there is," Qingyue replied, her voice cool, "is the fact that walking in blindly gets people killed."
Yexue’s jaw tightened with pent up anger. "So we wait? And another child disappears tomorrow?"
The tension snapped tight between them.
Ru Yi exhaled quietly. "Can we not fight?" She stepped forward. "If we wait then we’re choosing to let it happen again."
Qingyue’s gaze shifted to her, studying, measuring.
Ru Yi held their gazes, one at a time. "I know I’m not strong like you," she continued, "and I don’t understand everything about sword fight, or cultivation, or strategy. But I do understand this—"
She took a deep breath to steady herself.
"If they’ve been doing this for long without anyone stopping them, it means no one has cared enough to investigate the matter closely. They’re abusing the power and trust the people have given them."
Qingyue raised a brow at that. "I didn’t think you cared much about others."
Ru Yi knew she was being baited. "I care a lot about children. They should never have to go through something so terrible. No child deserves to be snatched from the safety of their home and treated like animals."
All three of them nodded, Yexue especially...something about how Ru Yi was passionate about helping others always made her insides melt.
"If the village head is involved," she continued, "then he can’t be the only one. I’m sure there are more men like Lin Guowei giving their support because it benefits them."
"Men like him don’t act alone," Ru Yi added. "He’s being protected by someone more powerful than him.
Her words settled in the room like a curse.
No one spoke because they all knew she was right. Her words made so much sense it was hard to plead otherwise.
Yexue let out a sharp breath, running a hand through her hair. "Then all the more reason to go now and drag them out."
"And expose ourselves? Without proof? Without knowing how deep it goes?"
Yexue snapped, "We already have proof."
"No," Qingyue cut in. "What we have is suspicion. That is not the same thing and you know it. Think of how we always handled things in court."
She gestured to the space around her. "And don’t forget that we’re the outcasts here. The entire village can decide to throw us out this very minute. The odds could easily turn in Zhou Wen’s favor."
Ru Yi’s gaze flickered between them. "They must keep records of the children they’re taking."
The room quieted again.
Qingyue looked at her. "What?"
"If it’s this organized," Ru Yi said, thinking through her words carefully, "then there has to be a system. Payments, record of names to keep track of every child. There has to be something."
Her voice steadied as she spoke. "They won’t rely solely on memory for something this important."
Qingyue didn’t respond immediately, but she could see the shift in her demeanor. How she’d gone from doubting Ru Yi to being confident in the solution she was laying out for them.
"And where do you think these records might be?" Qingyue asked.
"The village head’s house," Ru Yi answered without hesitation.
Yexue let out a humorless laugh. "Of course."
Qingyue’s expression remained stoic. "Are you certain?"
Ru Yi shook her head. "No." She was being honest. "But if I were him, I’d keep everything close. Somewhere no one would dare question."
A long pause settled in around them.
Qingyue turned away slightly, thinking. "We can go tonight to his house."
Lieyin’s grin was immediate, the anticipation of a fight already gearing her up. "Finally."
"But," Qingyue added sharply, "we do this my way."
Yexue rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. "Stealth first. No unnecessary confrontation."
Qingyue’s gaze shifted back to Ru Yi. "You’ll stay behind and look after the others." The words were firm and final, leaving no room for any argument.
Ru Yi felt a strange sensation similar to anger burn her fingertips. "No."
Everyone froze. No one ever contested a direct order from Qingyue herself.
"I’m going," Ru Yi said.
Qingyue’s expression hardened. "You’ll slow us down."
"Then I’ll learn to keep up."
"You can’t fight."
"I don’t need to."
Qingyue stood up, and took slow steps towards her. "And if something goes wrong? Will you take responsibility for that?"
Ru Yi stood her ground. "I’ll show you I’m not as useless as everyone thinks I am."
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