My chat group is full of female losers

Chapter 339 The Heroine of a Tragic Novel Must Be Strong (Part 4)
Meanwhile, in Hua Honglian's world...

Since the last time, when faced with the stubborn Xie Mingxuan, Hua Honglian, at the suggestion of the chat group, gave up on communication and instead chose to subdue him with swift and decisive measures. Then she took him back to the Xie family, where witnesses and evidence presented the bloody truth to him.

After Xie Mingxuan's worldview completely collapsed, and he knelt on the ground weeping uncontrollably, filled with remorse, Hua Honglian suddenly realized that the deadly predicament that had plagued her for two lifetimes could be solved so easily.

So she immediately decided to use the same method to persuade others.

She first sought out her old friend who had been most enthusiastic in attacking the Heavenly Demon Sect, a rising star of the righteous path renowned throughout the martial world. Upon seeing her, he naturally denounced her for falling into demonic ways and being stubbornly unrepentant.

Without wasting words, Hua Honglian knocked the opponent's longsword to the ground within three moves, and then slapped the Xie family's letter as evidence in his face.

After reading it, the old friend's face went from flushed to deathly pale, and he finally slumped to the ground, muttering to himself, regretting that he had helped the wicked.

Immediately afterwards, she went to the palace. First, she used a flick of her finger to shatter the glass brush washer on the emperor's desk into powder, and then she talked with the emperor all night long.

The emperor immediately expressed that he fully understood Hua Honglian's predicament and promised that he would never allow anyone to use this as an excuse to criticize her again.

Having cleared up all the external misunderstandings, Hua Honglian returned to the Heavenly Demon Sect. But then another problem arose.

Her high-profile visits to various righteous forces aroused suspicion within the sect. The sect leader and several elders summoned her to the main hall and questioned her about whether she was colluding with the righteous forces and intending to betray the sect.

Hearing this question, Hua Honglian felt a strange sensation. She thought to herself that the plot was still quite stuck in place. The storyline had been completely overturned, but the part where the demonic sect suspected her of betrayal was still stubbornly retained.

Hua Honglian first patiently explained a few things to them. But she quickly realized it was useless; these people were determined to believe she was going to betray them. There was no other way but to fight.

Anyone who didn't believe her, she would beat them up until they did. Even the cult leader wasn't spared; his face was covered in bruises and discoloration, looking like a used palette.

After dealing with the evil cult, the matter was finally over. All those who had misunderstood, were hostile to, or doubted her were convinced of her folly in the face of her unreasonable fists and irrefutable evidence.

Of course, although it was not her original intention, while clearing her name, Hua Honglian also effectively unified the martial arts world and became the undisputed overlord of the Jianghu.

However, just when she thought all the problems had been solved, an unexpected new trouble arose.

That is the complex and intertwined contradictions between various forces.

The righteous path and the demonic sect are inherently hostile to each other. And the emperor on the dragon throne cannot tolerate a unified martial arts world ruled by Hua Honglian. What would he use to stop Hua Honglian if she wanted to rebel?

Since Hua Honglian created this mess, the solution naturally lies with her.

They secretly prepared for a month, and then there was a knock on the door. Xie Mingxuan was the first to make a move.

At that time, Hua Honglian was comfortably enjoying a month of lazy bliss, so lazy that she didn't take this seriously at all and casually let people in.

Xie Mingxuan was thus invited into the courtyard. He looked at Hua Honglian, his eyes no longer filled with the hatred of the past, but with a mixture of emotions, guilt mixed with tension, and tension tinged with longing.

“Honglian,” he began, his voice low and humble, “I’ve come… to take you home.”

"Huh?" Hua Honglian was stunned.

Xie Mingxuan continued, "Third Uncle's crimes have been announced to the entire clan. He has been stripped of his martial arts and expelled from the family. Now that the misunderstandings of the past have been cleared up, it is only right that you return. I know that you have done a favor for the Demonic Sect. But the Demonic Sect is ultimately the Demonic Sect; its actions are eccentric and unacceptable to the world."

As long as you remain in the Heavenly Demon Sect, the world will continue to associate you with the label of "demoness"! But our Xie family is different. Apart from a few who know the truth, everyone in the Xie family regards you as the future head of the family. Once you return, you will be the head of the Xie family!

Hua Honglian listened blankly, and it took her a long time to process Xie Mingxuan's words. Then she shook her head and said, "No need. I never had any interest in the position of Xie family head, and now there's even less to say. After everything we've been through, even if we no longer resent each other, I would only feel uncomfortable staying in the Xie family. The current distance is the best."

Xie Mingxuan immediately became anxious upon hearing this and said, "It's precisely because there's a rift that we should try to bridge it. Honglian, do you think our friendship of over twenty years is worthless?"

Hua Honglian frowned and said, "Of course not, otherwise why would I go to so much trouble to clear up your misunderstandings? But to eliminate the isolation, there's no need for me to become the head of the Xie family. Isn't it good enough for us to visit each other from time to time as things are now?"

Seeing that Hua Honglian refused to agree no matter what, Xie Mingxuan gritted his teeth and said, "Alright! Honglian, I'll tell you the truth! I asked you to be the head of the family not just for these reasons, but also to ask you to save the Xie family."

He said with a sincere expression, "The Xie family is now leaderless and has been disgraced by this scandal. The future of the family's decline and ruin is just around the corner. Only your return to the family can wash away the shame suffered by the Xie family, and only you can lead us to greatness again!"

He stepped forward, his eyes earnest and fervent: "Honglian, come back, lead us, and make the Xie family famous throughout the world again!"

Hua Honglian stared at Xie Mingxuan in astonishment, finally understanding his intentions. She turned her head away, her gaze falling on the koi swimming in the courtyard pond, remaining silent for a long time. Finally, she said wearily, "This matter... let me think about it first."

Seeing Hua Honglian's state, Xie Mingxuan said no more and took his leave.

After seeing Xie Mingxuan off, Hua Honglian became depressed again, pondering what to do next. But after thinking for several days, before she could come up with a solution, the sect leader took the initiative to visit her again.

“Honglian,” the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect looked at Hua Honglian, his tone filled with pride, “you have done very well. You have successfully conquered the righteous path and fulfilled the long-cherished wish of our Demonic Sect for hundreds of years.”

"You flatter me, Master," Hua Honglian said, a little embarrassed. After all, she hadn't even considered this possibility; she simply wanted to avoid a tragic future.

"However..." At this moment, the leader's tone changed, becoming ruthless: "You must also understand that the righteous path is despicable and hypocritical. The more respectful they are to you today, the more ruthless they will be tomorrow. Keeping these righteous people around is only a scourge; you should eliminate them all as soon as possible!"

Hua Honglian was stunned upon hearing this, and exclaimed, "Eliminate them? You want me to kill them all?"

“That’s right!” the cult leader said sternly. “Moreover, Honglian is doing this not only for you, but also for our Demonic Cult. Righteousness and evil cannot coexist, and the righteous path wants to eliminate us at all times. Isn’t that why we’re hiding here?”

“But…” Hua Honglian stammered.

"Red Lotus, don't say 'but'!" The cult leader closed in on her in a few steps, his voice filled with barely suppressed fervor. "We've had enough of living in hiding! Being treated as heretics by those hypocrites, killed and tortured at will—that's all going to end! Just give the order! We are willing to be your blades, to slice those so-called righteous sects to pieces. Only then can my Heavenly Demon Sect live openly under the sun!"
"Red Lotus, these thousands of people in the sect are all counting on you. You mustn't let us down!" The sect leader's words were as heavy as a mountain, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. Her mouth tasted bitter, and it took her a long time to squeeze out a sentence: "Sect Leader... allow this disciple to think about it."

Before she finished speaking, she turned around, staggered, and left as if fleeing a disaster.

But trouble never lets you go just because you try to avoid it.

They had only been hiding for a few days when another group of people came up the mountain. Although the number of people was small, their manners were quite impressive, surrounding a black lacquered official sedan chair. The golden dragon patterns on the flags fluttering in the wind were so fierce that they were almost blinding—they were people from the imperial court.

This was unprecedented. Back in the day, the imperial court only sent wanted posters and imperial edicts for suppression; when had there ever been such a courteous visit? The news spread like wildfire throughout the headquarters, causing an uproar among everyone.

In the elegant reception room at the main altar, Hua Honglian met the person in the sedan chair. It was a middle-aged civil official dressed in a magnificent brocade robe.

"Heroine Hua, I have long admired your name. Even in the capital, I've heard so much about you that I'm practically sick of it." The envoy spoke with practiced official jargon. "You alone have brought an end to decades of fighting and killing in the martial world. Such skill and such achievements are truly unprecedented. His Majesty speaks highly of you."

After experiencing this twice, Hua Honglian learned her lesson and realized that the other party was up to no good, so she got straight to the point and said, "Sir, please speak frankly."

"You are a straightforward woman, and I like talking to straightforward people." The envoy clapped his hands, his smile vanished, and his face immediately changed to a compassionate expression. "You are also a wise woman. As the saying goes, a hero uses his martial arts to break the law. In this martial world, there are countless sects. Martial artists rely on their strong fists. Today you hit me, tomorrow I kill you, causing chaos all over the world."

They got their revenge, but the pitiful ones are the unarmed civilians, whose homes were destroyed, and who were forced to flee their homes. His Majesty is kind-hearted, and the thought of this keeps him awake at night; he thinks day and night, longing for true peace in the land.

He stared intently into Hua Honglian's eyes: "His Majesty believes that the key to peace and stability lies in your hands, heroine. Therefore, His Majesty requests that you, for the sake of the people, do the court this favor—abolish all martial arts and disband all sects. Only in this way can we achieve a permanent solution and truly bring about lasting peace and stability."

Seeing that Hua Honglian frowned immediately after hearing this, he changed his tone and began to tempt her: "Of course, the court will never mistreat a meritorious official. After this is accomplished, you will be the only Grand Marshal Protector of the Nation since the founding of our dynasty! At that time, under heaven, besides His Majesty, you will be the greatest!"

After hearing this, Hua Honglian felt a wave of exhaustion, both amused and exasperated, and sighed softly to herself: I knew it.

“Your Majesty is absolutely right.” Hua Honglian took a deep breath, preparing to decline as before, “but eradicating the entire martial arts world is a huge matter. I need a few days to think about it.”

The messenger had been instructed by the emperor not to upset Hua Honglian, so he immediately smiled gently, indicating that it was alright and that Hua Honglian could think about it slowly. Then he got up to take his leave.

After the envoy left, Hua Honglian sighed deeply in the reception room, feeling utterly overwhelmed.

The Emperor is right; the conflicts in the martial world are indeed very harmful. The Xie family is also right; after all, she was raised by them, and Xie Mingxuan and the others have genuinely repented. The Heavenly Demon Sect is even more right; they saved her, and all they asked for was the right to live.

However, agreeing to either side would mean causing immense harm to the other two. Dissolving the sect would be tantamount to destroying everyone's foundation; eradicating the demonic sect would be repaying kindness with enmity; and protecting the demonic sect would make one an enemy of the entire righteous path.

How to choose? How exactly should I choose?
She thought that once Chen Qing cleared her name, her life would get better. But the outcome seemed to be quite different from what she had imagined.

Hua Honglian was plunged into unprecedented confusion.

Late at night, in her own courtyard, Hua Honglian, having exhausted all other options, wearily opened the chat group.

Hua Honglian: "Everyone... I think I'm in trouble again."

Everyone immediately asked what the trouble was.

Hua Honglian explained her current predicament in detail, hoping they could offer some advice.

Luo Qingdie: "Wow! This...this seems really hard to choose."

Xu Liniang: "How about we draw lots?"

Zhu Shanlin: "Isn't drawing lots a bit too childish? I think your prestige isn't enough. Why don't you just beat them up again? And the emperor's position, why don't you just seize it? Make them so afraid of you that they won't dare to fight amongst themselves, wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Liu Ruyue: "A change of dynasty!"

Hua Honglian: "Don't joke around! How could that be? Everything has been explained clearly, and they know I won't really kill them. Even if I beat them into pig heads, they won't be that scared."

The group argued and argued for a long time, racking their brains, but they couldn't come up with a solution that everyone would agree on. No matter who offered a suggestion, Hua Honglian would always frown and shake her head.

While Hua Honglian and her friends were racking their brains in the chat group, unable to find a solution, she was unaware of what was going on.

On the mountain peak opposite the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters, Shen Miaomiao was watching her.

"We've finally reached this point," she said with anticipation.

This scene before her eyes was something she had long anticipated, and something she had been waiting for.

All the contradictions, all the stances, and all the fates of everyone were like thousands of threads manipulated by an invisible hand, ultimately converging, entangled, and tightly bound to Hua Honglian alone, forming an unsolvable deadlock. No matter what choice she made, she would have to cut off her own arm; no matter which path she took, she would bleed.

Only by pushing someone to such a desperate situation can you see the truest things in their heart.

In angst-filled novels, the female protagonist gains love through self-torture; in strong female protagonists, love is gained through torturing others and deception; and in male-oriented novels, the protagonist craves superiority.

As a former tragic heroine, Hua Honglian, after breaking free from the original script, faces a completely new story branch. Which direction will she choose to take?

She was very curious about this.

(End of this chapter)