No Repeats

Go, start a new life

"Magistrate Chen, what do you mean? I am the victim here," stammered Ma Bu, his face clearly showing signs of confusion and shock at the turn of events. He thought that at least when the pair came back, he would be offered some compensation and sweet talked to agree to let Wu Miao and Tu Tu off the hook, but the magistrate's words were completely unexpected.

"You clearly lied to this court. You are impotent and had not consummated this so-called marriage with Wu Miao, how can she be charged as an adulterer? You bought so much trouble to this court and wasted half my day, you dare not plead guilty? Guards push him down and award him ten rods immediately," shouted Chen Ke.

"No, what has he offered you? Don't ruin our partnership, magistrate Chen, I beg you, I will not survive ten rods!" begged Ma Bu, his face ashen and his skinny body trembling from fear.

"Now, do not delay!" shouted Chen Ke animatedly and disregarding Ma Bu's begging.

Wu Miao had her hands clasped over her mouth, clearly afraid and stunned at the events unfolding. She looked at Lu Bai's handsome profile with starry eyes full of worship and adoration, it seemed that she had trusted the right person to save her.

The guards pulled Ma Bu forward and held him down when another slammed down a rod onto his buttocks without mercy. To call it a rod really belies the true size and deadliness of the instrument. The 'rod' is as tall as a man and made from solid timber the size of a man's forearm. It is heavy and hard and has the reputation to kill an average man within twenty rods.

Chen Ke had planned that he would torture Ma Bu to get the secret recipe of the deadly but inconspicuous poison, so he cannot let the man die too easily, but the ten rods should cripple him with enough pain.

As the rods rained down on Ma Bu's body, he cried in great pain and after five rods his pants were soaked in blood. The previously arrogant man is already a bloody mess and weak to the point of collapse.

"Guards, pull him into the prison chamber and get a doctor to treat his wounds. I will come to see him later. Now, young master Lu Bai, I have gotten justice for you all, are you happy?" asked Chen Ke.

"Happy enough, thank you magistrate Chen," said Shu Mei without much expression.

"Wu Miao and Tu Tu, you both are dismissed. Clearly you cannot continue to live with Ma Bu, so now your life is your own. I give you tonight to pack your belongings, by tomorrow you must be gone from there," said Chen Ke.

Wu Miao looked at Lu Bai with teary eyes and bowed down to thank the magistrate. Tu Tu gave a curt bow, stood up and walked easily out of the courtroom without turning back.

Bai Ye watched on in amusement, liking Shu Mei's heroic profile and personality even more than he thought possible. He leaned down a little and put his arm around her shoulders, taking advantage of every opportunity to get closer to her. Shu Mei gave him an annoyed look and shrugged his arm off her shoulders, but he was too comfortable and refused to budge. She proceeded to elbow him hard in the ribs before stepping forward to speak.

"Magistrate Chen, this one will return tomorrow, and we can sort out the details then. However, for our talks to be successful I will need you to show evidence and assurance that you have the people you say you do. Please consider this seriously, even though I am influential in the sect, but rules are rules. Goodbye," said Shu Mei as closed her fan and walked out of the courtroom, followed by Bai Ye and Wu Miao.

"Young master Lu Bai, please wait for me," said Wu Miao once they got outside.

"Yes, but I don't have much time," said Shu Mei.

Bai Ye frowned, he does not like Shu Mei talking to anyone but himself. Now, this woman with a poor track record of schemes and lustiness is taking up his woman's precious time and attention, he just wants to snap her neck and get rid of her immediately. But Bai Ye knew that was unacceptable to the kind-hearted Shu Mei so he controlled his impulse and stepped sideward to let them talk.

"I have wronged you, please forgive me," said Wu Miao sadly.

"I have forgiven you, otherwise I would have left you for dead. What will you do now?" asked Shu Mei.

"All my life, I have lived according to the whims of men. First my gambling addict father who sold me to Ma Bu without any hesitation, only three days after my mother died. I thought my only way to escape the situation and his sadistic tendencies was through a man. So, I...I am so ashamed of myself to admit this. But I have been promiscuous, always hoping to find the right man who would save me...but...I have been let down time after time. I...am...I feel dirty, maybe it would have been good for me to die," said Wu Miao, tears running down her face, head bowed down low and her hands pulling at the hem of her cloak.

"I didn't save you so that you would die," said Shu Mei gently.

Wu Miao looked up at her, eyes brimming with tears and face full of sadness.

"I am to dirty to offer to be your maid. I just want to give my life to repay your kindness," sobbed Wu Miao.

"He does not need you to give your life, just go live your own life," interject Bai Ye coldly.

"He is right. I do not need a woman around me. This is your opportunity to live for yourself. You do not need a man to do that. Go home and pack, take whatever money that the old man has laying around and leave this town. If I were you, I will start a business and make my own way, I will never rely on man to give me security and happiness. They will always let you down, it is the nature of men, only you can love yourself the most," said Shu Mei.

Bai Ye observed Shu Mei's face closely as she said those words. His heart raged as memories of the ten years he spent with her resurface and flooded emotions, so much that he just wanted to weep. It is true, in her experience the men cannot be trusted. But he is different. He will stand by her and love her forever. At that moment, he wanted to cut out his heart to show his sincerity and heal her heart from the pains of the past.

"I will try to live my best life. This beauty has brought me nothing but troubles and pain. I will redeem myself and hope this act will let me live a renewed life," said Wu Miao. As she spoke she lifted up a small dagger she had hidden in her sleeve and quickly slashed her right cheek before Shu Mei could stop her.

Blood flowed from the large and deep cut as it trickled down her cheek and mixing with her tears and sweat. The beautiful Wu Miao had deliberately destroyed her beauty in the hopes to keep lusty men away and start her new life. She covered her wound as blood continued to seep past her fingers and bowed deeply towards Shu Mei and Bai Ye before quietly walking into the distance. 

Shu Mei and Bai Ye stayed quiet, unable to say a word that is fitting to this sad end and hopeful beginning for the unfortunate Wu Miao.