Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The thought of a rescue immediately occupied Bai Yao’s mind.
Fear and weighing the gains and losses lasted for less than a second.
She thought of Madame Callista’s care and affection for her, and the bits and pieces of their lives and playtime together.
She couldn’t possibly scurry away like a coward with her tail between her legs.
If she did, she would never be able to hold her head up again, living in guilt and regret.
…
So, when night fell, Bai Yao rushed towards the orphanage without hesitation.
She didn’t have many grand plans; she just wanted to rescue her friends and Madame Callista under the cover of darkness.
Little did she know that the scarred man had already set a trap within the orphanage.
None of the thugs were sleeping. The scarred man had spared no expense.
He first spent money to buy a batch of energy potions. After drinking them, each thug was as energetic as in the daytime, full of vigor and their eyes shining.
Then he bought several large beast-catching nets and silken ropes that were almost invisible to the naked eye.
These ropes were particularly inconspicuous at night and had excellent tensile strength. They were usually used to make armor and were not cheap.
During the day, he had used these ropes to create many traps throughout the orphanage.
He then used the demi-humans as bait.
He was just waiting for Bai Yao to fall into his trap!
The moment he heard the sound of wings flapping.
He knew the prey had taken the bait.
All the thugs hiding in the dark corners, waiting for their chance, perked up and reacted.
They waited silently.
As long as the prey fell into the trap, they would immediately swarm them, giving them no chance to escape.
Bai Yao wasn’t a fool and had guessed that the scarred man might have set traps in the orphanage. Therefore, after entering, she took every step with extreme caution. She saw the beast-catching nets set up in hidden spots and the caltrop traps laid across the road or in dark corners, but she bypassed them all and headed towards the rooms where the demi-humans might be held.
Despite her precautions, she unfortunately tripped on a silken rope.
The sudden jolt on her foot startled Bai Yao.
As she tried to turn and escape, a large net descended from above, entangling her firmly. Immediately, seven or eight burly men rushed out from the corners and pinned her to the ground.
The scarred man, seeing Bai Yao captured, walked out nonchalantly and sneered.
“Little brat, you’re quite fast, aren’t you? Huh? You can fly quite well, can’t you? Show me how you fly again!”
He took out a knife, looked at the stubborn girl, squatted down, and leaned in until he was less than half a fist away from Bai Yao’s face. His voice was chilling as he said.
“Little brat, remember? I told you before that if I ever caught you, I would make you pay.”
With that, he grabbed one of Bai Yao’s wings through the net and stabbed it with his knife.
The sharp pain from her wing made Bai Yao let out a muffled groan.
“Know pain now?”
The scarred man manipulated the dagger downwards, almost slicing the wing in half. Amidst the girl’s wails, mixed with his perverse laughter.
“Keke!”
“You said you could fly. Now I’ll cut off both your wings. Let’s see how you fly?!”
Bai Yao fainted from the pain.
Just as she thought her fate was sealed.
Her consciousness flickered, and when she opened her eyes again, she was in a grand palace.
Furious lightning elements swirled around her.
A goddess stood at the center of the palace.
She wore a simple white gown with golden trim, her stature majestic.
In her hand, she held a double-edged sword, half a palm wide, and at her waist hung a blue eye orb encircled by lightning.
Her golden eyes watched coldly.
Bai Yao’s memories had fully merged and awakened. She had a vague premonition about the deity before her: the God of Thunder and Punishment, and she was this god’s vessel.
“Your trial has failed!”
The God of Thunder and Punishment looked down upon Bai Yao and said coldly.
“You have talent but lack patience; you are short-sighted!”
“You had a chance to escape but didn’t; you are reckless!”
“You rushed into the trap knowing the enemy had one; you are foolish!”
Each word pierced Bai Yao’s mind like a knife, causing her head to throb.
“Such as you are, you are not worthy of being my successor.”
The God of Thunder and Punishment’s tone softened slightly as she continued, “However, I am willing to give you another chance. You can make a choice again. Of course, your memories will still be sealed, and you will only receive limited hints.”
Bai Yao stared blankly at the goddess.
Her mind replayed bits and pieces of the past. Finally, she smiled sadly and shook her head. “Your Excellency Goddess, there’s no need. As long as I am still me, no matter how many times I repeat this, I will choose to save everyone. I cannot accept running away shamefully alone…”
Tears welled up in Bai Yao’s eyes, and she said with a sorrowful tone, “I can’t just stand by and do nothing, even if it’s reckless, short-sighted, or foolish…”
“Even though I’m willing to give you a chance, your choice is still stubborn?”
The goddess’s voice sounded again.
It was filled with disappointment and anger.
But Bai Yao still nodded firmly.
“If that is the case, then…”
*Tread, tread—*
The goddess, holding her divine artifact, walked towards Bai Yao step by step.
The girl, oppressed by the endless lightning, could clearly feel the increasing cold killing intent.
She silently bid farewell to the people of Winter Fort and their gentle King in her heart.
“I’m sorry…”
“Bai Yao can’t go with you anymore…”
*Step—*
*Step—*
Bai Yao could feel the goddess standing before her.
A cold aura descended from above her head.
It seemed the sword was already hovering overhead.
Let it end like this…
Bai Yao thought sadly, with infinite longing in her heart, but there was no way to salvage the situation.
“Then, let’s proceed with the fourth trial.”
The goddess’s voice, devoid of emotion, came.
“Huh?”
Bai Yao’s eyes snapped open in astonishment.
She saw the Goddess of Thunder and Punishment looking at her calmly.
“Why… I’m not…”
Bai Yao couldn’t believe it, her words stuttering.
The sword hadn’t fallen; it was piercingly stuck right before her eyes.
“This time, you still chose to return without gaining the power of thunder, but you were very rash. You shouldn’t be allowed to pass, but… after all, you are not alone. You cannot be judged by the standards of an individual, nor is it sufficient grounds to determine if you can inherit the divine position.”
The goddess said slowly, “…So, a fourth trial will be conducted separately.”
“Oh.”
Bai Yao nodded, her body tensing involuntarily. It was said that the difficulty of the trials increased with each one.
The first three trials had already been fraught with danger; wouldn’t the fourth be even more so…?
“There’s no need to be nervous. The fourth trial is merely asking you some questions.”
Before Bai Yao could reply, the goddess directly asked, “Question one: When law and morality conflict, do you punish morality, or do you punish the law?”
Bai Yao thought for a moment, wondering what the correct answer would be. She recalled what Xi Wei had said when establishing the laws of Winter City, and blurted out: “Law is the minimum moral requirement for people, not the maximum ethical demand. Therefore… law should adapt to morality and serve true morality.”
After saying this, she nervously looked at the goddess.
She didn’t know if her answer would satisfy the goddess.
“Not bad.”
The God of Thunder and Punishment smiled gently.
It was hard to imagine such a warm smile appearing on such a stern face.
“Your philosophy aligns with mine. I hope you will always uphold it.”
“Strength is the means to defend justice, the sharp sword to expel evil.”
She opened her hands, her godhead detached, and divine power flowed towards Bai Yao like starlight. Her divine body began to disintegrate bit by bit.
Yet, the smile on her lips remained gentle, her gaze towards Bai Yao like that of a mother looking at her child.
“Do not disappoint me…”
“Drive Them…”
“Out!”
