Chapter 151: Chapter One Hundred Forty-Nine: Demanding Justice
The questioning was very harsh. Ji Ma looked at the speaker, a man in a black suit with a square face and prominent cheekbones, which gave his face a slightly harsh appearance. He was gripping a woman’s hand tightly, and she looked at George with fear, as if afraid that George would lose his temper and kill the square-faced man.
Ji Ma found the man familiar and quickly remembered that they were the couple she had encountered not long ago in the carriage. The people George had started to save were the two of them.
George was at a loss for words, and after a moment of silence, he said:
“Because he is a slave, I believe that in this massacre and chaos, I cannot judge everyone. All I can do is protect defenseless ordinary people and ensure basic justice.”
“Is killing infants not a violation of basic justice?” the square-faced man said. “He has admitted it; even a person with the most basic sense of justice would act against that bastard.”
His words received acknowledgment from many in the crowd. After all, just moments ago they had been chased through the streets by a group wielding mining picks and pitchforks, wishing for all those free slaves to meet a miserable end. Yet, out of fear of George, they didn’t dare speak too loudly, instead lowering their voices to murmur amongst themselves.
“They actually let the baby killer go; he could have dealt with him with just a stretch of his hand.”
“That makes him an accomplice, an accomplice to the baby killer.”
“He didn’t even kill anyone in that earlier fight; there wasn’t a drop of blood on his sword…”
George paused for a moment and said, “You have a point, but I stand by my judgment. I do not have the ability to judge everyone in this chaos.”
The square-faced man turned and walked away, saying, “Heh, the infants of Shalin City don’t violate basic justice, but their deaths do.”
The crowd’s discussions gradually quieted down, casting sidelong glances at George. They didn’t dare express their dissatisfaction openly, so they intentionally stepped back a few paces, creating an empty circle around George and Ji Ma.
Ji Ma felt a surge of anger.
Incompetent weaklings unable to demand their own justice, still wanting to pick and choose after being given a handout. If I were George, I would have already called a group to take the two of you and chop off your limbs and throw you into the water.
She looked at George, clenched her fists, and said softly, “George, think of a way to fight back; it would be fine to cut him down.”
Those around her flinched back as if startled birds, taking several steps back and hurriedly whispering to others.
George replied quietly, “That would only scare everyone.”
“Whether or not they’re afraid of me, I don’t know, but I do know they’re all becoming ingrate wolves.” Ji Ma said, “Look at them, as if you owe them something, and the beggars still complain that the food is too soft. George, you’re too kind; sometimes you need to be a bit ruthless. For instance, break his legs or something.”
To make her point get through to George, Ji Ma softened her words about punishment.
George shook his head firmly and said, “No, I am here to protect them.”
After saying this, he took a few steps onto a pile of debris and planted the flag of the cathedral back atop the pile.
Ji Ma pouted, her face full of displeasure.
George said, “I’m fine. With your support and concern, I’m okay.”
“Are you trying to win me over?”
“A little bit.” George said, “Setting an example is an important part of education.”
That will only make me want to be a bad person even less.
Ji Ma complained quietly, “It should be gradual. From my perspective, I’ve managed to ensure their safety. Speaking of which, isn’t it okay to use all your possessions as protection money? I do good deeds without expecting anything in return, but end up being criticized. That’s just a big stupidity.”
“No one is criticizing you; everyone likes you.”
“But I’m just not happy.” Ji Ma said, kicking a small stone aside as she looked toward the citizens gathered at the bridgehead, who were discussing and exchanging opinions on George’s identity. Their gazes toward George were not very friendly.
What’s the worth of liking someone? I worked hard to do a good deed. You bunch of losers, not realizing you need to offer your beautiful girl and all your possessions to this devil, truly don’t know what’s good for you.
Ji Ma felt that she was at a great loss.
At that moment, a joyful voice came through.
“The great benefactor’s army has arrived.”
“Where? Where?”
“Over there, it’s the great benefactor’s flag.”
The crowd stirred, standing up and gazing into the distance. Ji Ma also turned to see a little distance away, over twenty soldiers holding the Shalin City flag, chasing down slaves.
Ji Ma said, “The great benefactor’s dogs are coming. Look how thrilled they are.”
The square-faced man also stood up and climbed onto the debris of ships and carriages piled high, where the cathedral flag was sticking out, reaching for the flag.
George called out, “What are you doing?”
The square-faced man turned his head and said:
“What if the soldiers think we are spies for the cathedral? We are only temporarily staying here.”
The crowd immediately panicked, all feeling that made a lot of sense.
“I’ll explain it to them.”
“Who would believe that?” said the square-faced man. “I’d say you’re here to save people, right? Why would a savior plant a flag?”
“To clarify my identity and my beliefs.”
However, George’s statement was drowned out by the crowd’s discussion, with everyone chattering at once.
“We’re grateful for your help, but can you please take down the flag?”
“That will provoke a rift between us and the great benefactor; we’re all good citizens here.”
“What if the soldiers misunderstand and think we’re rebels?”
The voices ultimately converged into one sentiment: “Take down the flag first.”
“Take it down, take it down.”
Ji Ma, unhappy, put her hands on her hips and said:
“What’s wrong? You’ve eaten from the cathedral’s bowl but don’t want others to know it’s the cathedral providing the food? If you have the capability, go defend yourselves with your own weapons; do not come begging here, especially you two.”
As she spoke, Ji Ma pointed at the square-faced man’s face, saying, “Previously, when you two were in the cart, if it weren’t for me and George meeting you, you would have been robbed long ago. If it weren’t for George being a good person, with this upheaval in Shalin City, wouldn’t you both be dead by now?”
“A little upheaval? Shalin City is just a bit chaotic. The great benefactor will quickly take control of Shalin City; don’t be ridiculous.” said the square-faced man. “Moreover, this disturbance is partly the fault of your brave self; if you hadn’t barged into the auction and disturbed the normal market order…”
“Do you want to die?”
Ji Ma narrowed her eyes, directly pulling out the “Oath-Breaker Sword” and walking toward the square-faced man, her pure face radiating a killing intent. The square-faced man was momentarily stunned and dared not speak.
“Stop! Ji Ma, calm down.” George grabbed Ji Ma, then looked at the square-faced man and coldly said: “Get down from there. I will heed my master’s teachings, do good openly, and I will not pull the flag down. And you must apologize to Ji Ma.”
“Can’t win the argument, so you threaten me?”
George tightened his grip on the sword and said: “Apologize!”
“I’m sorry.” The square-faced man hurriedly mumbled and climbed down from the debris.
Not far away, the Shalin City flag drew nearer, and everyone looked at the cathedral flag atop the debris, murmurs growing louder.
George took up his sword and approached the soldiers to negotiate, emphasizing that these citizens were just here for shelter.
The soldiers sensibly pretended not to notice Ji Ma right next to George and also pretended not to see George’s wanted poster sticking on the nearby wall. They said that Commander Chamberlain had established a shelter near the noble district, and they were here to look for citizens needing refuge.
An old soldier with a graying mustache shouted, “Anyone who is willing, come over here.”
The crowd stood up, voluntarily moving aside the blockade, and a dark wave surged over from the other side of the bridge. The tide of people flowed past George and Ji Ma, with no one offering thanks or even looking at George, as if he were just a weed by the roadside. They no longer whispered but spoke openly to each other.
“There’s a chance the cathedral colluded with the slaves to create chaos in Shalin City, only to appear as saviors…”
“Spreading a plague, then providing the cure to preach; do they really think others are fools…”
Some even raised their voices deliberately to express their dissatisfaction.
Ji Ma turned her head to glance at George, unable to see his expression behind the barrel helmet. She noticed that the silver armor on George had become quite dirty after dozens of skirmishes. His cloak was caked with dust, dirt and grime obscured the sun painted on his breastplate, and there were spatters of drool on his steel boots.
The old soldier was startled and said, “Why are there so many? There might be danger on the road.”
In the end, the soldiers led away nearly four hundred people, leaving the bridgehead nearly half empty. Ji Ma watched the crowd disperse, yawned, and did not feel much.
But thinking that George might be sad, this was the time to comfort this fool, to deceive him emotionally. Ji Ma took his hand and walked toward a less crowded area, speaking as they walked:
“George, don’t be sad; at least I’m here to thank you. There’s no need to care about those ingrate wolves.”
George said, “My intention in saving people is not for the thanks of others; it’s for my beliefs.”
“So, you’re just doing this out of interest, then.”
“Interest? Let’s be a bit more serious than that.”
Impressive, as expected of you; not a hint of frustration.
Ji Ma couldn’t think of anything to say either.
George’s inner strength matched his outer strength; a small blow clearly didn’t mean much to him.
After moving to a less crowded area, George turned his back to the crowd and removed his barrel helmet, his blue eyes glistening, the corners slightly red.
Ji Ma was a bit surprised, momentarily doubting if George had changed.
She focused on George’s youthful face and realized that he was still just a boy; no matter how talented he was or how strong, he had only lived for a little over a decade. Even though he acted out of a desire not for thanks, having good deeds misunderstood in malice was a significant blow to him. He must be holding on with pride.
“Ji Ma, do I have something on my face?”
“Nothing.” Ji Ma said, rarely smiling gently, “Come, this servant will wipe your knightly armor for you; it was quite dirty after the earlier fight.”
Ji Ma took a towel from George’s space bag, walked to the waterway, dampened it, and George sat on the steps. Ji Ma worked hard, cleaning the dust off his armor. The two were quiet as George stared at the water’s surface reflecting the distant flames, while Ji Ma diligently polished his armor.
When Ji Ma finished wiping the spit off his steel boots, George suddenly said:
“Thank you.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one to say thank you?” Ji Ma replied. “Meeting you has been a significant fortune in my life; a couple of thanks could make you go through fire; that’s quite a gain.”
A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of George’s mouth, thinking Ji Ma was being humorous.
Ji Ma suddenly had a spark of inspiration, her eyes lifted, looking toward the military camp near the noble district. The old soldier had said that was the safe zone established by Chamberlain. In that direction, she sensed an incredibly familiar extraordinary power, a power she had known when she was still the demon king. She could also smell the emotion known as fear, recalling her own experience of the ascension ritual.
It seems tonight I’m going to meet a fellow practitioner.
While Ji Ma thought, she quietly and slowly helped George clean his armor.
——————
This is an additional update; one more is owed.
