Righteous vs Evil

Li Hua observed in silence as her Shixiong stripped Scarlet Shadow's upper robe without hesitation, his hands moving with practiced ease. She observed his meticulous attention to his enemy's well-being, her eyes narrowing as he dressed the unconscious woman's wounds with an almost unsettling tenderness. 

The scene before her felt surreal. She couldn't imagine anyone else witnessing this side of Elder Zhang—known for his unwavering dedication and disciplined demeanor—as he treated the notorious Scarlet Shadow as if she were a precious artifact.

As she watched Zhang Wei expertly bandage Mei Lin, Li Hua marveled at his skill. His hands moved deftly, applying just the right amount of pressure. She couldn't help but think he would have excelled in the medical hall.

Finally, her eyes shifted on the woman herself. 'What an unfortunate woman', she thought initially, only to correct herself moments later. Maybe not so unlucky, considering her Shixiong's determination to nurse the woman back to health. It made her question whether he was the same person she had known all her life. 

Zhang Wei's demeanor towards Scarlet Shadow didn't seem as if he considered the her an enemy, or even an asset, Li Hua noted. Instead, there was a furrow of concern in his brow, a gentleness in his touch, and a lingering gaze that seemed to search for hidden truths. It left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Despite the evil woman's fortune in being able to bewitch her Shixiong in her unconscious state, Li Hua couldn't fathom going through what she had. In her tenure as the Medical Hall elder, she had never encountered a patient quite like Mei Lin.

Li Hua's expression mixed curiosity with disdain. "The evil sects spare no one, not even their own," she muttered. "After their leader's death, the subordinates rebelled and tortured the his lover."

"It was not the evil sect, Shimei," Zhang Wei said, his smile tinged with sadness.

Li Hua's offhanded mention of Mei Lin as the former tyrant Jiang Hei's lover stirred a torrent of emotions within Zhang Wei. Suppressing his anger, he maintained a stoic facade, focusing on Mei Lin's wounds. He knew that any display of emotion would only deepen his Shimei's suspicions.

"If not them, then who?" Li Hua pressed. 

"It was Yang Energy, Shimei," he finally disclosed, barely containing his frustration. "The energy ravaging her body—it was Yang Energy."

"Yang Energy? That means…" Li Hua's shock was palpable. "You're kidding, right? You can't mean the Thousand Sun Sect is capable of this."

It was the only logical conclusion. Among both righteous and evil sects, the Thousand Sun Sect alone cultivated such potent Yang Energy.

"The Black Moon Sect cultivates Yin Energy," Zhang Wei added, eliminating any doubt about the involvement of the evil sects. "Considering she escaped from them, it's likely the Thousand Sun Sect is also responsible for her shattered dantian and damaged meridians."

Li Hua's eyes widened in disbelief. "The righteous sects did this?"

The inhumane treatment that Mei Lin had endured contradicted the very notion of righteousness. Even for an enemy—a sworn foe—such treatment was beyond comprehension. Zhang Wei's expression darkened.

After a lengthy silence while Li Hua processed the revelation, Zhang Wei murmured, almost helplessly, "Sometimes, Shimei, the line between righteous and evil isn't as clear as we'd like to believe."

Silence hung heavy in the room. Zhang Wei's temper was well-known, but the silent rage he directed towards the Thousand Sun Sect was unparalleled. Yet, beneath the anger, Li Hua noticed a softness in Zhang Wei's eyes, a vulnerability that she had never seen before. It confused her, challenging everything she thought she knew about him. Was it pity?Compassion? Something more personal?

As Zhang Wei finished bandaging Mei Lin, he noticed Li Hua staring at the woman's face in a daze. Raising an eyebrow, he questioned her peculiar gaze.

"I never imagined Scarlet Shadow would be so strikingly beautiful," Li Hua remarked. "Seeing her, it's no wonder the tyrant Jiang Hei was infatuated with her. She looks like the kind of beauty from legends that could topple empires."

Zhang Wei didn't reply, silently acknowledging her observation. Mei Lin's beauty was undeniable, her delicate features seeming almost ethereal, despite her disheveled appearance. Her hair, stained with blood and dirt, framed her face gently, and her lips, though colorless, still held a perfect shape, hinting at the warmth and life they once radiated.

As Zhang Wei gazed at Mei Lin, a torrent of emotions surged within him. He remembered the vibrant, spirited girl she had once been, full of life and laughter, her quick wit challenging him at every turn. The sight of her now, so broken and vulnerable, filled him with sorrow. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret for not being there to protect her from the horrors she had faced. His heart ached at the thought of the pain and suffering she must have endured at the evil Black Moon Sect and later, the even worse Thousand Sun Sect.

A pang of misplaced jealousy gnawed at him as he thought about her relationship with Jiang Hei. The idea that Mei Lin had been so intimately connected to such a malevolent figure had been a bitter pill to swallow since he had first heard rumors about their relationship. Despite having doubts that their relationship had been coerced, a part of him couldn't help but feel betrayed. Although Zhang Wei's relationship with Mei Lin had been nothing but platonic. Mostly platonic, anyway.

Yet, alongside the anger and jealousy was a deep, unyielding sense of protectiveness.  He only hoped the Azure Cloud Sect would weather this storm, no matter what. And that this woman, who he had once known and loved, would come out of it unscathed.