Zhang Wei’s Proposal

"Wait," Zhang Wei said, stepping forward. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him. "We cannot afford to waste this opportunity. Scarlet Shadow holds valuable knowledge about the Black Moon Sect. We should extract every bit of information from her before considering any final decision."

"She is extremely uncooperative. Hostile to us. It would be better to be rid of her than let her sow discord among us," the Sect Leader protested.

Zhang Wei's heart tightened. He knew her words were meant to provoke, to test the resolve of the elders. He also knew that any misstep could lead to her immediate execution. He had to find a way to convince the elders to spare her, to see the value in keeping her alive.

Grand Elder Qiu eyed Zhang Wei, seeming to consider his words. "And what do you propose, Elder Zhang?"

Zhang Wei walked towards Mei Lin, but his eyes were on Liang Wen, who stood as her guard. His voice was firm. "The disciples have worked hard capturing the Scarlet Shadow. Not only did they capture her, but they also brought her here alive. I will not let their hard work go to waste."

"Elder…" Liang Wen's small voice trembled. The Elder Zhang he knew was harsh, both on himself and on others. He never expected such words from him; they almost sounded like praise.

Mei Lin looked at him and snorted. "Considering how weak I was then, even a five-year-old could have captured me, let alone the robust disciples of your damned se-" 

Her words cut off abruptly as Zhang Wei in one swift motion knocked her out, letting her body fall on his outstretched hand. 

Everyone in the hall watched in silence as the Scarlet Shadow was so effortlessly shut up. The woman who had troubled them so much lay limp in the arms of Elder Zhang, like a half filled sack of grain. 

"We need her alive," Zhang Wei reiterated, his voice steady. "The value of a dead captive differs from a living one. She has information that could be crucial in our fight against the Black Moon Sect. Killing her now would be a waste of a valuable resource."

The Sect Leader shook his head. "She's dangerous, Zhang Wei. Keeping her alive is a risk we cannot afford."

Zhang Wei took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "I will take full responsibility for her. Let me interrogate her. If she refuses to cooperate, then you can do as you see fit. But give me a chance to extract the information we need."

The elders exchanged glances, weighing his words. "And how do you propose we ensure she cooperates?" An elder asked skeptically.

Zhang Wei looked at the pitiful figure of Mei Lin in his arms. "We can offer her fair treatment in exchange for her cooperation. She is a strategist. She understands the value of negotiation."

The Sect Leader looked aghast at Zhang Wei. "Do you even know what you are saying?"

Zhang Wei stared back at his Shixiong. "I know. It isn't a hard decision. The Black Moon Sect isn't something we can deal with our current personnel. Our intel is pitiful. Honestly, it is a miracle that the disciples who were sent returned without a casualty."

"I know you were against sending the disciples," Zhang Pei said, "but as the sect leader, I believe it was a necessary decision, one that turned out in our favor greatly as you can see. We will get back the honor our sect lost with her death."

"What has happened has happened. I don't want to undermine their contribution. Liang Wen, Zhi Chen, and the others did well in capturing her and bringing her here, no doubt. It is an unexpected gain. But you cannot deny that the disciples were lucky. If she had her cultivation intact, I dread to think how things would have turned out." Zhang Wei's voice was tinged with both worry and helplessness. The disciples who had captured her shuddered at the very thought.

Zhang Wei continued, "Sect Leader Shixiong, if we wanted her dead, we should have just left her be. Why go through all the trouble of bringing her here? She would have died anyway." Zhang Wei waved his hand at her, as if saying, look, there isn't much life left in her.

"But still, cooperating with the evil sects is too much to suggest, even for you!" The Sect Leader slammed the table.

"Scarlet Shadow is not feared for her cultivation; it's her brain that the world is afraid of. Jiang Hei might have been the glue that held the Black Moon Sect together, but the person who made it run smoothly is her. Look at the state of the evil sect after her absence. It's a mess there. Even the new sect leader of the Black Moon Sect is searching for her. Her knowledge about the inner workings of the evil sect is unparalleled. She isn't someone who would fall for tricks or false promises."

In other words, what Zhang Wei meant was the knowledge Scarlet Shadow held about the inner workings of the evil sect was even more than that of the deceased evil tyrant himself. Dead, she was just another body. Alive, she was of far more use. Knowledge was power. And with the inner discord among the evil sect members, it was the perfect time to strike. The room fell silent as the elders considered Zhang Wei's proposal.

Grand Elder Qiu looked at Zhang Wei, surprised by his resolve, posing a question that everyone had in their minds. "Can we trust her?"

Zhang Wei's heart pounded as he held Mei Lin's limp form, her body still warm but lifeless in his arms. He looked up at Grand Elder Qiu, feeling the weight of the question. "Trust is a complex issue, Grand Elder. We don't need to trust her completely, just enough to gain the information we need."

The Sect Leader's eyes narrowed. "And what makes you think she will cooperate? She has been nothing but defiant."

"Desperation can be a powerful motivator," Zhang Wei replied, his voice steady. "The Scarlet Shadow is a strategist. She knows that staying alive and potentially bargaining for her freedom, or at least better treatment, is more advantageous than stubbornly clinging to silence."

Elder Liang, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "Zhang Wei, you speak of treating her fairly, but do you truly believe she deserves such leniency? She has committed countless atrocities under the banner of the Black Moon Sect."

Zhang Wei's jaw tightened. "I am not suggesting we pardon her for her crimes. I am suggesting we use her knowledge to our advantage. Once we have what we need, then we can decide her fate."

Zhang Wei took a deep breath. "The Azure Cloud Sect cannot afford more casualties in this war. If there is a way out for the young generation to live and grow in this messy world of Jianghu, I don't believe the price is too heavy to pay. It's for the future after all."

The Sect Leader, still unconvinced, turned to the other elders. "What say, you all? Do we take this risk?"

The elders murmured among themselves, the room filled with a tense atmosphere. Some nodded in agreement with Zhang Wei's logic, while others remained hesitant, their faces etched with doubt and concern.

The elders conferred in hushed tones, their deliberation stretching the tension in the room to its breaking point. Zhang Wei's mind was a storm of conflicting emotions—duty to his sect, loyalty to his fallen comrades, and the unresolved feelings for the woman who lay limp in his arms. 

As the elders argued, Zhang Wei's mind drifted back to the past.