Chapter 80
These people, shielded by their refugee status, believed the authorities couldn’t distinguish the culprits and thus acted with impunity. Breaking into homes, committing robbery and murder, sparing neither the elderly nor women and children. Some even resorted to exceptionally cruel methods. Having carried out such vicious and ruthless acts, these people were no longer ordinary people.
Wei Yunzhao was right. Even if these people hadn’t come to their doorstep today, they would have rooted out these murderers and handed them over to the authorities for severe punishment.
Wei Yunzhao’s opening move showcased his brutality, throwing someone directly into the fire, to send a clear message to the refugees: he would kill, and he could easily take their lives.
The refugees recoiled in terror, some even attempting to flee. But Chu Ba stood guard outside the gate with his sword. Anyone who tried to run would have to answer to his blade.
When they first arrived, emboldened by their numbers and their past successes in robbery and murder, they had thought the Wei family would be easy prey, a single rush would be enough to slaughter everyone. But now, faced with true martial prowess, they cowered in fear, terrified that Chu Ba might run them through with his sword.
Not a single one dared to challenge him.
Xun Qi dragged the burning man back and pinned him underfoot, sweeping his gaze over the refugees. "Those who’ve killed before, step forward now. If I have to drag you out myself, you’ll be thrown straight into the fire."
Surrounded by flames on one side and the Wei family's menacing servants on the other, panic took hold. Whispers of desperation spread through the crowd: "What do we do?"
But no one came forward to confess to the crime. However, some people even convinced of their innocence, blended into the crowd and wailed, "What did we do wrong? We just wanted a bite to eat!"
Once one spoke up, others followed with their excuses:
"It’s the people of Shengjing who are stingy, they wouldn’t even spare us food. Why wouldn’t we kill them?"
"If we didn’t kill them, we’d be the ones dying. We didn’t want to die!"
"Heaven is unjust! Why must we suffer disasters? Why must we die? Why?!"
"If the heavens won’t give us a way out, we’ll make our own! We just wanted to survive, what’s wrong with that?"
Amid the chorus of grievances, not a single voice admitted wrongdoing. They only lamented their misfortune, insisting they had no choice.
Before they could finish voicing their grievances, Jiang Lin turned to the Wei family's servants and declared, "Listen to that? These people are murderers, showing no regret or remorse."
"If they can commit such heinous acts over something as trivial as food today, what's to stop them from taking someone's life over a simple dispute tomorrow? If they're not held accountable, they'll become ruthless and merciless, killing without a second thought."
"Ah, no, they forfeited their humanity the moment they chose to break into other people's homes, steal, and take lives. Now, they're nothing more than living, breathing creatures driven by instinct."
Jiang Lin didn’t lower his voice, so the refugees heard him clearly. Naturally, some protested: "How dare you say that about us? If we weren’t desperate, why would we kill and rob? You pampered rich brats understand nothing!"
"Because you’re here tonight!"
Jiang Lin’s voice turned sharp. "Before coming, you must’ve heard plenty about how wealthy the Wei family is, right? That if you rushed in and killed everyone, all their gold, silver, jewels, and grain would be yours? With that wealth, you’d never have to worry about food or clothing again, no more backbreaking labor in the fields, no more ruined harvests from disasters, right?"
"And with your numbers, you thought a single charge would be enough to trample the Wei family to death. You also believed the authorities couldn’t possibly arrest and execute all of you, just like with the people you’ve killed before. As long as no one could pinpoint the killers, you’d remain free. Did someone even tell you the Emperor dislikes the Wei family, so even if they all died, the court wouldn’t lift a finger?"
Jiang Lin paused, then asked softly, "Am I right?"
The crowd fell silent for a long moment before someone finally muttered, "So what if you are? The Wei family has so much money, what’s wrong with sharing some? If you’d just handed over the money and grain, we might not have killed you."
Jiang Lin smiled. "But I will kill you."
He stepped around the fire and walked up to the refugees, singling out the one who had spoken. "You’re not a refugee. And you’ve killed many people, haven’t you?"
The man, who had been bold in the crowd, cowered now that Jiang Lin had singled him out. He eyed Jiang Lin warily, saying, "What do you want? I'm warning you, if you dare harm me, you'll pay the price. There are many of us here, and we're all witnesses!"
"Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. I’ll just teach you a small lesson." Jiang Lin grabbed the man by the waist and hurled him into the air. As the man fell, Jiang Lin swung his leg down like an axe, striking the man’s spine with a brutal crack. By the time he hit the ground, all he could do was scream about his broken back.
Jiang Lin continued, dislocating the man's arms and shattering his legs. The man's agonized wails filled the air as he lay there, crippled and immobile.
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