8-Tribulations

Wu Yong hissed as he was prodded into the towering Zhengyi pavilion, the meeting place of the Righteous Council. It is said about fifty evil people are executed in the pavilion courtyard each day. Wu Yong saw a group of Demons kneeling in the courtyard as he came in and he knew when he steps back out, they will be gone. "Can you be more gentle? My wounds barely healed so if they rip Xue Qing Chu would be furious."

"He would not have to be furious if you do not leave here today," A female soldier clad in yellow armor retorts. She had been assigned to escort the newest suspect into the pavilion where the council members are waiting. The trial being held for the man seems important as she saw the two largest families of Jirong arrive with their followers. "An evildoer does not deserve to be treated lightly."

Wu Yong sneezed in her face. He would have never guessed he is threatening enough to be tried by the Righteous Council. As soon as Xue Qing Chu declared him ready to leave the infirmary the Xue household urged the lunatic to be tried by the Righteous Council. The Sacred Stones would be used as evidence against him but Wu Yong knew that the evidence needed are testimonies from the Xue family.

Wu Yong read the plaque hanging from behind the council members. They were seated on golden chairs with smug faces as she walked in. The young man muttered, "Defend the weak, destroy the evil? I say you destroy the weak as long as you think they are evil. Looks like this is where I meet the portal to the Netherworld."

"Shut your mouth and walk!" The impatient soldier pushed him until he was stumbling over his feet. She rolled her eyes when he made a pouting face directed at her. She knew the Righteous Council is busy with other matters besides this stupid man which made her even more anxious. The woman stopped in front of the raised platform and bowed.

Wu Yong felt hundreds of eyes piercing his body from each direction and he wondered which belonged to the council members. To his right is the Xue Sect and to his left is the Li Sect. Presently, he is maintaining eye contact with the council member seated on the largest chair in the center. It is so hot that Wu Yong felt like he would pass out quickly. Trying to keep his composure, he dipped his head.

"Preposterous! Did you see that disgraceful bow?" A man says from the stage. Two women were standing at his sides and his clothes matched his lavish life. The loud man withdrew one of his many swords and aimed at the person being tried. The women urged him to keep his head but he pushed them off of him, "This boy deserves a slap. The trial barely started but he is so arrogant!"

"Sit down first, Re Ao Man! You are the arrogant one for speaking so loudly in the hall. We tried six Demons today and you sat through it well. Why would you give this boy such importance?" The old man in the middle spoke firmly but everyone knows his goal is not putting Re Ao Man in his place. The old man is the oldest council member, Ming Zhe Di, also the wisest of the bunch.

With a loud humph the steaming man sat back down in his chair. He looked like he had more to say but nodded to begin the trial. After that nod he would sit with a bored expression throughout the hearing. He beckoned one woman to bring him a bowl of fruits and although the other members glanced at him, they would not say anything.

"Young man, do you understand the reason the Xue Sect have pushed for your trial?" Ming Zhe Di asked carefully. The day before the trial, Xue Xian Tou and Xue Weifeng had visited his house to discuss the crimes Wu Yong had created while in their house. The wise man did not believe all their words and he hoped Wu Yong could prove himself. He and the other spectators are waiting for his reply.

"No," Wu Yong said candidly. The room gasped and he put up a hand to explain himself. Many would be trembling in fear but he is a true lunatic. He stood straight and tall in the spotlight, giving each person in the room a look. The leader of the council allowed him to talk after the room settled. "They accused me of impossible things. Among those things is that I cultivate dishonestly. I can wield dark arts? I am not guilty!"

"You! How dare you say you are not guilty in front of so many people!" Xue Liang stepped out of his spot to stand in front of the platform. He stood in front of Wu Yong and bowed respectfully towards the golden stage. "Forgive me for being daring but my parents and I would like to take this chance to warn you of his mental state. Take this into consideration as the trial progresses."

Ming Zhe Di nodded but Wu Yong had to comment before Xue Liang stepped away. "Young Master Xue, must I tell the cultivators here how I became a lunatic with no mind? Fine, if you wish to use that card against me, use it! I was locked inside the Forbidden House for years, hidden from the world. I barely ate and I was bored to death. Who would not lose his mind in such conditions? It is a wonder I still remember my name as Wu Yong and not Lunatic of Xue House."

"Silence! You two must quarrel a lot at the Xue house but today we are looking at a specific problem. As Wu Yong mentioned, he was accused of using evil magic in the house which threatened the safety of the entire sect. Xue Liang, return to your spot and stay there!" Ming Zhe Di pointed to the empty spot beside Xue Weifeng. He waited for the man to return to his assigned place before speaking. He called for the evidence with his hand.

"Bring in the Xue Sacred Stone!" The old man shouted. A woman in gold robes entered the room carrying the golden stone in her arms. All heads turned to the entrance of Zhengyi Pavilion, curious to see the magnificent stone. Ming Zhe Di held out a hand toward the stone, "This stone is the main piece of evidence. Sacred Stones are known to be indestructible but after one touch from the suspect, it cracked. This led the Xue Sect to believe demonic methods were used to make the stone react. Can the head of Xue Sect elaborate?"

Xue Xian Tou left his post to stand in front of the stage. The male phoenix bowed gracefully, more than ready to pin accusations and evidence on the lunatic living in his home. The Righteous Council motions him to speak and he does without hesitation. Speaking in front of hundreds of eyes gave him more confidence.

"This stone," Xue Xian Tou took the Sacred Stone from the woman and held it up for all to see. He breathed out solemnly and in came the waterworks. "It has been in my family for generations, guiding young cultivators and inspiring many. This legendary object was beautiful and majestic until we made a mistake. My wife wanted to get Wu Yong tested when he showed strange behavior so I allowed the process to happen. Alas, his evil essence caused the stone to react oddly."

"You said that the stone did not produce light but a flame?" A woman clothed in violet robes asked the Xue Sect leader. She used a dainty hand to touch her pink hair, blinking slowly. She nodded thoughtfully when Xue Xian Tou nodded in response. She pursed her lips but allowed him to continue speaking against Wu Yong.

"The stone also broke and stopped working properly which made us speculate he used demonic methods to cultivate. The stone had been corrupted by his hands and I fear we will not be able to replace this precious stone even if he pays with his life!" Xue Xian Tou shook his head and pretended to blink away tears. His last words invited a loud whisper into the pavilion. The Li Sect nodded solemnly and were already pointing fingers at Wu Yong. This gave the Xue family assurance.

Xue Weifeng stepped in beside her husband upon seeing his signal. She carefully bowed and the female phoenix faced Wu Yong unlike her husband. She points at the man in disdain, "I came to realize how far he went in his evil practices. I punished him for his wrongdoings but he was so wicked that he could not feel pain. If he is not practicing demonic arts, what is he doing?"

"Wu Yong, would you like to rebuke their comments? You will have many chances but once these topics pass, you cannot say anything afterwards." The woman with pink hair asks gently. Her gold jewellery clinked as she moved her hands around. She is Yu Yande, the Priestess of the Heavens. She grinned during this moment as if she knew something everyone in the room cannot fathom.

Wu Yong noticed her look and trusted it. He shook his head and the trial continues. He stood silently as more witnesses from the Xue Sect provided different testimonies. Some were favorable for both sides while the rest were in favor of the prosecution side. The Xue family stood with smug smiles as the verdict seems so clear.

"Let me say one thing," Yu Yande rises from her seat and stepped down from the stage. She walked as graceful as a crane, coming to a stop in front of the Xue family. "I know you all think this man should be killed but you are all too quick to put him down. Have you tried proving he dies not possess demonic powers? The stone is solid evidence of a phenomenal moment but it does not prove his evil powers. I suggest we try proving the opposite to get the best result from this hearing."

Wu Yong jumped in amazement, although skeptical. He could hear each person speak of his imminent death but Yu Yande shut them up with her advice. Even Wu Yong could not understand her words or intentions. Prove that the Demon King dies not have demonic powers? Surely, he would die faster this way than a normal trial full of slander and speculations. He was close to turning down her suggestion and admitting his guilt.

The priestess pulled a silver flute from her long sleeves. The instrument made out of metal shone brightly against her dark clothing. The woman smiled and sunlight poured in from all the windows to illuminate the dark pavilion. Yu Yande looked like an immortal. She held out the instrument to Wu Yong, "Be quiet and listen to me. We all want the trial to finish quickly and it will. We just have to listen to him play this flute."

"She must be like him," Xue Xian Tou murmured under his breath. His fists were clenched at his sides when he realized the table had been slightly tipped. Many eyes shot him glares but be continued insulting the Righteous Council member. "A lunatic! I am certain the stone proved he is evil. No one in my sect dares to practice the evil arts which never gave the stone a chance to react in such a way. She is dismissing the evidence and she says a flute can solve it all? Bah!"

"Wu Yong," Yu Yande ignored the Xue Sect leader and his nasty remarks. She left her seat to prove one thing and she will not return until her thoughts are proven right or wrong. She witnessed the hatred directed at Wu Yong and thought he did not deserve to be attacked by so many tongues. "I have heard you used to play a variety of instruments and your favorite was the guqin? I can't carry such a long instrument but this would prove your innocence or guilt."

Wu Yong sighed and snatched the thin flute to familiarize himself with the wind instrument. The flute felt cool and light, very similar to the bamboo flute he used to play. The only difference is that the metal flute feels much more smoother and to the untrained hand it would quickly slip out. He nodded, "It is a well made flute. I did not think a priestess would carry such a trivial object in her sleeves. All I have to do is play a tune?"

"Not just any tune." Yu Yande stopped him before he could try creating sounds. She held back a laugh when she sees his confused face, flute held horizontally against his chin. She would not tell anyone that she had a long fate with the man but she would try to help him. "This flute is special because you must play a song that includes at least one celestial being, one mythical beast and one legendary hero. Once you find a song that fulfills those requirements, you can start playing."

Wu Yong racked his memory for a song, grinning when he found at least six to pick from. One told the tale of a tragic hero, two told of vicious wars, the rest told of mystical love stories. Now all he had to do was choose the song he wanted to play. Closing his eyes, he waited until an image surfaces in his mind.

"This is taking too long. I doubt playing the dumb flute would prove anything. Yu Yande must be pulling our legs." Bu Xin whispered from his spot near Wu Yong. "I do not understand why a Righteous Council member would guide a suspect accused of practicing diabolic methods."

Wu Yong chose a song and his eyelids flicked open. The whispers in the pavilion died and the vast room plunged into silence. All eyes were on him and even the arrogant Re Ao Man sat properly in his chair. Wu Yong dramatically stepped backwards and let himself fly to another world through his moving fingers. He wanted to tell the tale of tragic hero.

The golden hero of the gods

Was known throughout the lands for being just and true

He fought against the seven evils

And won

He fought the urge to kill his enemies

He offered his strong body to help the weak

The golden hero was loved

The hero also loved

His first love was his mount

The Lake Dragon was his only companion

Together they flew over towering mountains

Sparkling lakes

Lively valleys

And dry deserts

The hero loved his dragon and people dearly

His love was so great any betrayal would hurt him so much

He had as many rivals as admirers

They were after his fame and mount

The valiant hero fell under slanderous words

He became a villain to the people he protected with his life

The hero feared for his life

Moving quickly like a rogue

His loyal admirers hunted him and his mount

The hero found an immortal

This immortal made him believe he had hope

The celestial being pushed the hero

War erupted

Two against many nations

The Lake Dragon fell from the sky

The majestic beast died in the hands of his rider

The hero discovered the immortal was his rival

The people who loved him followed the evil immortal

They believed his beautiful mask

And gave the hero an ugly face

The hero persisted

He did not give into his enemies

But he did not harm them either

He ran and ran

Of course he came to a dead end

He was also exhausted

He wanted to avenge his mount

He wanted to prove his innocence

He wanted

His enemies closed in on him

He closed his eyes

The golden hero willingly destroyed his spirit and he perished

The evil immortal continued his charade

The only person who could defeat the evil

Was defeated by his own people

The hero who defeated evil before his death

Became the first Demon King*

Wu Yong felt a tear roll down his cheeks, shocking himself and others. It had been years since his last year fell but as he continued telling the story of the wronged hero, the sadness overflowed. Now that he is the Demon King this song held more meaning and he hoped no one could read his thoughts.

Wu Yong did not have to fear because the cultivators gathered in the pavilion had fallen into a trance. Only Yu Yande stayed unaffected by the spellbinding music. He could see her watch him closely and he knew she was paying close attention. Her intense gaze irked him so he turned away from the priestess. He was too focused in creating the correct notes and melody. He wondered when would be the next time he picks up a flute. He would give his all into this performance anyway.

The flute player squeezed his eyes shut to keep uninvited tears at bay. He does not understand why playing the song made him feel so stressed. It felt like his life was hanging onto each note he creates. Could this be his last performance? No, he would not think this! Wu Yong forced himself to keep playing even when his legs gave beneath him.

***

First Demon King: The fallen hero did not rule the people who became Demons but he gained this posthumous title through the effects of his death. When the people realized their mistake, their inner evils came out and they tried to kill the evil immortal. This led to many calamities over the years just because the people felt guilty towards the first Demon King. The Demon Kings to follow him are not chosen through bloodline but they are men who understands that Demons are humans that need protection. When one Demon King falls, another surfaces. Wu Yong became the first Demon King to be appointed by his predecessor. -Twisted Mind of Author (I love the story of fallen heroes. It brings warmth to my heart when I write about them too.)