Chapter 393 - Three Hundred and Eighty-Nine: Innocence
“Ahhhh!!!” Along with the scholar’s scream, his broken right arm flew high up into the air and landed on the earth, transforming into countless shards of red and black.
The fallen scholar writhed in pain on the ground, clutching his right shoulder with his left hand. Blood gushed from the fracture, the gruesome display of the Mi Clan’s Thousand Greens True Power.
“Who allowed you to bellow like this in my presence!?” Mi Chu demanded, looking coldy at the one-armed scholar. The domineering nature of Xiling’s Prince Chu was on full display.
Xiao Zheng looked at Mi Bai’s severed arm and felt his heart tighten. He desperately wanted to command the powerful men behind him to save Mi Bai but he knew he couldn’t. The humiliation of wanting to act but being unable to set his fists shaking with greif, but all he could do was grit his teeth.
The cruelty of the Thousand Greens True Power lies in its special feature, which transformed the human body into a crystal, regardless of whether it was flesh blood or bone that was struck by the anomalous True Qi. Even martial artists of the same level needed to expend a considerable amount of spiritual power to rid themselves of it. The strike on Mi Bai, though it landed on his shoulder, was spreading through his blood vessels and meridians. Without help, he was certain to die.
In a short while, Mi Bai’s wound had crystallised completely, even the blood on the ground had turned into green sand.
The onlookers at Jianglin Middle School couldn’t bear to watch the imminent death of a scholar who was top of the class in studies, calligraphy, and painting. There was sorrow and regret in their eyes.
Even though Mi Bai had not practiced martial arts again, because of his youthful foundation, he had the cultivation of the peak of the Mortal Realm Feeling the overpowering alien True Qj rampaging in his body, he knew he didn’t have much time, but he couldn’t just die.
The one-armed scholar struggled to his feet, gasping for breath. His pale face was sweaty, and he endured severe pain and the tearing of his meridians.
“l! Refuse to concede!”
Not just his voice, but his entire body was trembling. The scholar again hollered at Mi Chu, who was towering over him like a god.
Mi Chu looked expressionless and condescending at the scholar, who was as insignificant as an ant, “What are the grievances of a dying man?” Considering the scholar had created the ‘Looking at Mount Yue’ masterpiece he would humor him by listening to his last words as an act of mercy. “Those children are just orphans in Xiling, not rebels. What right did you have to execute them!?” Mi Bai, suppressing his dizziness, accused Mi Chu. Before he died, all he wanted to do was to secure a glimmer of hope for those children. However, Ml Chu found his question laughable. “By what right?” The Prince thought the scholar was incredibly naive, “Because I said they should die thev will die!”??? ’
“Absurd!” Mi Bai trembled even harder, “Was Xiling not supposed to be a city of peace? By arbitrarily depriving these children of their lives, do you not feel that you’ve done something wrong?”
Before Mi Chu could answer, suppressed laughter erupted from around Jianghn. Mi Chu, atop his Ice Phoenix, found Mi Bai’s words so amusing that he broke into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha, wrong?” With one sentence, he had ripped apart the facade of Xiling as a city of peace, and sneered at Mi Bai: “At this moment, I am justice. You said the children are innocent? Turn around and ask these people of Xiling. If even one of them says the children are innocent, I’ll let them go. How about that!?” Ever since there was power, there was never justice. Who would dare to go against the collective decision of the Tang and Mi clans in Xiling?
Mi Chu curiously watched the thorny faces of the young aristocrats within Jianghn. He really hoped that some hot-blooded youth would stand up to him, just for the sake of creating more space in overcrowded Xiling.
Hearing Mi Chu’s words, Mi Bai’s eyes also flashed with hope. He didn’t believe that among the tens of thousands of spectators, there wasn’t a single person who would speak up for the children!?
Just one would be enough!
Suppressing his dizziness, Mi Bai turned to a group of elegantly dressed young noblewomen, intending to plead for their help. However, as soon as he started they averted their eyes, their intent to refuse obvious.
How could this be?
The alien True Qj within his body approached his heart vessels. Mi Bai knew he didn’t have much time left. If the noblewomen wouldn’t help, surely the noblemen would.
Never before had his gaze been avoided by everyone it fell upon, be it noblemen, noblewomen, or even servants. All evaded his eyes.
Watching the silent crowd and the increasingly desperate Mi Bai, Mi Chu couldn’t help but laugh heartily. He was very satisfied with the present scenario!
Many clansmen of the Tang family present couldn’t tolerate Mi Chu’s arrogant behavior and their faces were filled with anger. However, when faced with Mi Bai’s pleading eyes, they chose to ignore him.
According to the Tang and Mi clans, Mi Village was a nest of rebels. Refuting Mi Chu would be like refuting themselves. Hence, the proud clansmen of the Tang family chose to maintain their stony expressions in silence, despite their mounting discontent.
So, when the feeble Mi Bai turned his head to the spectators in Jianglin and loudly declared the innocence of the children, all he got was dead silence in return. Not a single person was willing to speak up for the children.
Truly, Mi Bai was desperate. Just as he was about to give up hope, he saw Xiao Zheng. Mi Bai knew that his only hope of saving the children was his close friend.
The weak scholar staggered up to Xiao Zheng and pleaded, “Cough.. Brother
Xiao…”
“These children are orphans from Xiling, and I have taken care of them. Some for as long as a year, others only for a few months. How could they be suicide soldiers? I beg you to speak up for them. They are innocent.”
Xiao Zheng clenched his fists. He wanted to tell everyone loudly that the children were innocent, but he knew he couldn’t.
Because if he did, it would mean that the Xiao family challenged the decision of the Tang and Mi clans. He knew he couldn’t bear such consequences.
So, his eyes were filled with difficulty and regret, hoping that his friend would understand him.
Zhang Bashan, a powerful fighter known as the ‘Hundred Swords’, looked at Mi Bai who refused to leave, then glanced at Mi Chu far away, who was watching the whole scene with amusement. He was furious!
Becoming friends through martial arts was something he obviously didn’t mind, but he didn’t want his friend to bear such severe consequences So he stepped forward, kicked Mi Bai in the stomach, sending him flying, and yelled “Those kids are your trained rebels. I wonder what kind of conspiracy you and’ them had planned. They were originally innocent children, but because of their involvement with you, they’ve come to this! Don’t stand here pretending to be a good person, get the hell out!”
The weak scholar was kicked away and lay on the ground unable to get up for a long time. Zhang Bashan ignored Xiao Zheng’s angry gaze and leisurely returned to his original place.
Unlike Xiao Zheng, who was a noble son, he had fought for everything he had today with his own hands. He certainly wouldn’t feud with Prince Chu over a group of children who had nothing to do with him. That would be foolish.
It’s better to cut the knot quickly and help Xiao Zheng refuse. After all, friendship is about giving a helping hand when the other is hesitating.
Since Zhang Bashan had intervened, there was no one left to speak for the scholar in Jianglin. Everyone watched the dying scholar lying on the ground their hearts filled with compassion.