My chat group is full of female losers

Chapter 365 The Heroine of a Tragic Novel Must Be Strong (Part 5)
While Chu Lu patiently awaited the day of the rendezvous with Tian Shu, on the other side, in Hua Honglian's world...

In the courtyard behind the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters, Hua Honglian stared intently at the chat group interface, her delicate eyebrows furrowed into a knot, her face clearly saying, "I'm so annoyed."

The people in the group had also run out of patience.

Xu Liniang: "Hua Honglian! My great leader! Have you made up your mind yet? It's been several days! If you keep dragging this out, other people's children will be old enough to run errands!"

Luo Qingdie: "Yeah, yeah, we've been talking until our lips are practically worn out. The ideas we could come up with, and the terrible ones we couldn't come up with, are piled up higher than a mountain. You must have heard at least eighty or a hundred of them, right?"

Zhu Shanlin: "You say this is too soft, and that is too harsh. We finally came up with something that seemed okay, but you're still hesitant and indecisive. What exactly do you want to do? Do you even want to solve this problem?"

Liu Ruyue: "So fussy and nagging."

A barrage of complaints rained down on her, and Hua Honglian couldn't help but guiltily look away.

She knew that her fear and hesitation these past few days were really annoying, but there was nothing she could do. Firstly, the matter was really important, and secondly, that was just her personality. Otherwise, she wouldn't have tried to ask Chu Lu for help several times but ultimately failed to do so.

She thought about it for a while and said, "I just feel that doing this is a bit...too insensitive?"

Xu Liniang: "My God! What time is it now and you're still talking about sentimentality? Do you want to wait until they can't take it anymore and start fighting amongst themselves, until blood flows like rivers and corpses litter the ground before you're happy?"

Upon seeing these words, Hua Honglian was stunned, and the tragic scenes from her past life flashed through her mind.

She shuddered suddenly and instantly realized what was happening.

Yes, what other way could she possibly come up with? These past few days, she's been thinking so hard she's almost lost all her hair, but she still can't come up with a perfect ending that will make everyone laugh.

Do we really have to wait until it's too late before we regret it?
Hua Honglian stopped thinking about it and said in the chat group, "Okay! Let's do it this way! I'll listen to you guys! I won't hesitate!"

As soon as the message was sent, the group chat instantly became as lively as if it were Chinese New Year.

Luo Qingdie: "That's great! You've finally come to your senses!"

Xu Liniang: "It should have been done a long time ago! Dragging things out is the worst thing ever!"

Liu Ruyue: "Waiting for the next installment!"

Seeing her friends' encouragement, Hua Honglian clenched her fist and said, "I won't say any more, I'll go make the arrangements now!"

She then closed the chat group and stood up.

In the days that followed, letters bearing Hua Honglian's personal seal were scattered throughout the martial arts world like snowflakes. The letters made it clear that she had made her decision and invited the leaders of various forces to the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters in three days for a martial arts conference, where she would give a final answer in front of everyone.

This news naturally caused a huge uproar.

Whether it was Xie Mingxuan, representing the Xie family and the so-called righteous alliance, or the old and young members of the Heavenly Demon Sect, or even the emperor on the dragon throne in the capital, they were all already impatient.

Three days later, the main gate of the Heavenly Demon Sect was bustling with noise.

Those righteous and otherworldly figures and the evil-looking members of the demonic sect huddled together on the mountain path, exchanging deadly glances, wishing they could poke holes in each other, but because of Hua Honglian's reputation, no one dared to make the first move.

The imperial guard paraded through the city and drove directly into this infamous, centuries-old den of iniquity.

Following Hua Honglian's orders, the members of the Heavenly Demon Sect arranged rooms for these people to stay in.

Inside Xie Mingxuan's room, he stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the misty, cloud-shrouded scenery outside, his heart filled with sweet anticipation.

He firmly believed that Hua Honglian still cared for him and the Xie family. How could their over twenty years of childhood friendship be fake? She would definitely return to the right path and, together with him, restore the Xie family's glory.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect was whispering among himself and several trusted elders. He also appeared confident of victory. In his view, Hua Honglian's life had been saved by the Demon Sect, a debt of gratitude heavier than a mountain. Hua Honglian was not an ungrateful person and would definitely stand on their side.

The imperial envoy from the palace was, ironically, the most relaxed of them all. In his eyes, these martial arts practitioners, no matter how skilled they were, were just brutes; how could they possibly defy the imperial court?
Hua Honglian was a smart girl; she certainly knew which path was the most advantageous. The position of Grand Marshal of the Nation was far more lucrative than any martial arts alliance leader or demonic sect leader.

Each of the three parties had its own ulterior motives, and each believed that it was the one who would have the last laugh.

On the day of the conference, the largest council hall of the Heavenly Demon Sect's headquarters was packed with people. The air was eerily quiet, yet it was also like boiling water with turbulent undercurrents beneath.

With a clang of the bell, Hua Honglian, dressed in a sleek black outfit, walked out from behind the hall and ascended the highest seat under everyone's gaze.

She slowly scanned the three clearly defined camps below. Those faces that used to give her a headache at first glance were now reflected in her pupils, but they could no longer stir up any ripples.

"I am grateful for your kindness." Her voice, amplified by her inner strength, resonated throughout the hall. "I have invited you all here today for no other reason than to thoroughly sort out the affairs of this martial world."

As soon as he finished speaking, some people below couldn't sit still anymore.

Xie Mingxuan was the first to stand up. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Hua Honglian and said in a loud voice, "Honglian, we all believe in you. You will definitely make the fairest choice! After more than 20 years of living and working together, we naturally know your character!"

He had barely finished speaking when the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect snorted and stepped forward as well: "Red Lotus, the day I abdicate, you will be the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect. We believe you will never let your own people down!"

The imperial envoy then spoke with a smile: "Heroine Hua, His Majesty has decreed that the safety of the people rests entirely on your decision. I urge you, for the sake of the world and for your own sake, to reconsider."

Everyone was speaking with veiled meaning, putting pressure on Hua Honglian.

Hua Honglian saw it all, but didn't care at all.

After all, she had made up her mind and was prepared to face the consequences.

"Alright, I know what you're all thinking." She said calmly, "Enough with the small talk, now, everyone listen to me."

The hall fell silent instantly, and hundreds of eyes were fixed on her alone, filled with anticipation, nervousness, and greed.

Hua Honglian's gaze first fell on the group from the Heavenly Demon Sect. "The first thing is about the Heavenly Demon Sect," she began. "Why is the Heavenly Demon Sect a demon sect? Why does everyone hate it? It's not because there's the word 'demon' in its name, but because of what you've done. You've committed rape, plunder, and all sorts of evil deeds, and you are intolerable to heaven and earth."

From this day forward, I will personally conduct a thorough investigation! Those with serious crimes will have their martial arts skills crippled and be imprisoned in the dungeon. Those with minor offenses will be forced to retire from the martial arts world and leave.

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the Heavenly Demon Sect leader and a group of elders turned as white as corpses, their eyes filled with shock as if they had seen a ghost.

Meanwhile, on the righteous side, a burst of cheers erupted, unable to contain their excitement.

However, before their smiles could fully spread across their faces, Hua Honglian turned her gaze away.

"The second matter concerns you, the so-called righteous sects and aristocratic families." Her voice was devoid of any humanity. "You don't even respect the Emperor, and you routinely prey on the people. You're hardly any good people. Your cultivation will be crippled, and you'll have to distribute the wealth you've plundered from the people to the common folk!"
Of course, I will also investigate thoroughly. If there is any sect or family that is truly clean and chivalrous, I will naturally not harm them in the slightest.

Xie Mingxuan immediately collapsed as if he had lost all strength, and sat down with a thud, staring at Hua Honglian in horror.

Finally, she looked at the smiling imperial envoy, who thought he had the last laugh.

"Finally, there's the imperial court," Hua Honglian said slowly. "I'm a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world), and I have no interest in entering the imperial court. Don't mention that idea of ​​abolishing all martial arts and disbanding all sects again."

"The affairs of the martial world should be settled within the martial world. If one day the imperial court, without distinguishing right from wrong, decides to slaughter my fellow martial artists, I, Hua Honglian, will personally go to their doorstep and demand justice!"

After these words were spoken, the entire hall became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned, staring blankly at Hua Honglian on the main seat.

Hua Honglian's expression was resolute.

This is the answer she finally came up with after arguing with her group of girlfriends in the chat group for countless nights.

Since choosing either option is a betrayal, and since no matter what I do, people will criticize me, I might as well flip the table.

I won't talk about personal feelings or dwell on past grievances; I'll only talk about reason and seek a decision that will allow me to sleep soundly.

Kill all those who deserve to die, and let all those who deserve to live live.

After a brief, suffocating silence, the crowd in the hall erupted like a thunderbolt.

"Honglian! How could you be so heartless!" Xie Mingxuan was the first to come to his senses, his face filled with disbelief. "Our more than twenty years of friendship, is it all worthless in your eyes?!"

"You ingrate! You traitor, you who repay kindness with enmity!" The leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect trembled with rage, pointing at Hua Honglian's nose and cursing, "Our sect saved your life and raised you as our young master, and this is how you repay us?!"

The imperial envoy said with a forced smile, "Heh heh, Miss Hua, you certainly have quite the airs of an official, quite the menacing aura! Are you planning to be above the law and become the emperor emeritus? I will convey your decision to His Majesty word for word. I hope you will... behave yourself in the future!"

Hua Honglian simply sat quietly as they listened to their accusations, curses, and threats.

In the end, everyone gave her one last, fierce look with a complex mix of anger, disappointment, and resentment, before turning away and walking away.

In the blink of an eye, the once crowded hall was now empty except for her, who sat alone in the main seat.

Hua Honglian stared blankly at the empty hall, about to let out a long sigh.

Just then, a notification came from the chat group.

When she opened it, she found that her friends in the group were asking about the situation.

Luo Qingdie: "Honglian, Honglian! Is everything settled? Is the conference over? Did it go smoothly?"

Following closely behind, Xu Liniang, Zhu Shanlin, and the others also appeared, bombarding her with questions.

Looking at the concerned messages from her friends on the screen, Hua Honglian felt a complex mix of emotions. She replied, "Yes, it's finished. It went very smoothly."

The crowd immediately cheered.

Xu Liniang: "The problem is finally solved! I told you this method would work!"

Luo Qingdie: "Congratulations, Honglian! You've finally gotten rid of this huge burden! You're completely free now."

Looking at the jubilation in the group chat, Hua Honglian glanced at the empty hall before her, feeling utterly lost.

“Yes. I’m free,” she replied.

At this moment, everyone in the group also noticed that Hua Honglian seemed to be in a bad mood.

Luo Qingdie: "Huh? Honglian, what's wrong? You don't seem very happy."

Xu Liniang: "Yes, is there some other trouble?"

Seeing their persistent questioning, Hua Honglian hesitated for a moment before saying, "The problem has indeed been solved. But..."

She looked up at the main hall, but ultimately didn't say it aloud in the group chat. She sighed softly, saying it only to herself: "It's just that no one likes me anymore."

Just then, footsteps sounded ahead, and a figure appeared at the entrance of the main hall.

Hua Honglian glanced over instinctively, then was surprised to find that the person who came was someone she knew.

That was the woman she had met once at the inn, and the reason she changed her mind and sought help from Luo Qingdie and the others.

Shen Miaomiao stood at the door with a smile on her face.

(End of this chapter)