Chapter 76: Integrity Shattered

Chapter Title: Section 076 - A Shattered Integrity

Daylight flooded the sky, and at last, the sun leapt fully over the horizon. Amid radiant, dazzling beams, the citizens of Pingcheng sprawled haphazardly across the ground, gradually regaining consciousness.

"Third Aunt, what's going on? When did I end up lying here?"

"Sixth Granny, why am I here too? And what was that thunderous sound just now, shaking the ground?"

"Fourth Uncle, weren't we following Mother Mu to join the campaign against Magistrate Sun? Why do I only remember reaching the gate, and nothing at all after that?"

"Seventh Grandpa, look quickly—the walls of the government compound have collapsed! When did that happen? And when did so many soldiers and Daoists arrive?"

The townsfolk, dusting themselves off and rising to their feet, finally saw the scene before their eyes clearly. Yet, in seeing so clearly, their minds only grew more muddled.

Little Ten stood high above, declaring, "People of Pingcheng, the ones inside this courtyard are the very group who, half a month ago, murdered, burned, and pillaged in Shengjing. After receiving reports, the authorities pursued them relentlessly, but each of them proved as cunning as foxes—breaking through and fleeing, they journeyed a thousand miles to Pingcheng. The Zhao family, wealthy and prominent, caught their greedy gaze, and, crazed for gold, they eradicated the entire Zhao household!"

The crowd exchanged glances. Could it be that the string of deaths in the Zhao family recently were all their doing?

Little Ten wore a look of heartbroken grief. "Magistrate Sun, loyal and diligent, received a secret imperial order to lure them all into the compound for a decisive strike. Yet, he was outmaneuvered, and fell victim to their vicious schemes."

A gasp swept through the crowd, their eyes drawn instinctively to Sun Chi, lying face-down with an arrow in his back. Dead?

Little Eleven held up a token. "I, Daoist Shi Changzi, have come by order of the Crown Prince, pursuing them to this place. The Crown Prince decrees: these criminals’ evil deeds are proven beyond doubt. Therefore, permission is granted to execute first and report later, with the people as witnesses!"

The palm-sized golden token gleamed in the newborn sunlight, radiant and dazzling. The townsfolk, unable to distinguish its authenticity, nevertheless saw its glaring, resplendent yellow and felt certain this was no fabrication.

As one, they knelt and saluted. "Long live the Crown Prince!"

Little Ten appeared thoroughly satisfied. "It is said the people of Pingcheng are wise and righteous—today, I see that reputation is well-earned. When I return to the capital, I shall report all to the Crown Prince, and petition for three years’ exemption from taxes, as reward for your noble actions today."

"May the Crown Prince live long and prosper!" The chorus rose in fervor.

Zhu Xishi could no longer endure it. Waving her butcher’s knife, she pointed at Little Ten and shouted to the crowd, "Don't believe him! He is the true culprit behind the murders, arson, and theft!"

Little Eleven shook his whisk, white horsehair radiating a righteous aura. "Bold Zhu the Widow! First you murdered your mother-in-law for the estate, then conspired with an evil monk to bring about the deaths of the pursuing officers. Now the truth stands revealed, yet you dare spread confusion and seek to clear your name! Do you think the world is as blind as your mother-in-law?"

"You—you’re lying!" Zhu Xishi hopped in fury. "Shit-belly, the heavens see all! You twist truth and falsehood—beware the thunderbolt that’ll strike you down!"

"Zhu Widow, out of pity for you as a mere widow and not the main instigator, I offer you a chance at redemption. Surrender your knife, follow me to Shengjing, and testify against the evil monks. If you turn from darkness to light, I shall plead with the Crown Prince to spare your life. What say you?"

"What say I?" Zhu Xishi, one hand on her waist, the other brandishing the butcher’s knife, jabbed it at Little Ten. "Come down here! Come down and I’ll tell you exactly what’ll happen!"

Little Ten remained unmoved atop the only intact gatehouse. "No need for trouble. Just step outside the collapsed walls, and I’ll count you as one of us."

"I spit in your face! 'One of us?' Is Sun Chi your 'one of us'? You two nearly drew blades over a dagger in less than half an hour. You want me as 'one of us'? How long would I last?" Zhu Xishi simply couldn’t stand how obviously beastly he looked, yet no one seemed to see it. She feared neither confrontation nor death in battle, but she refused to fight under the banner of villainy. If she must fight, she would fight for justice.

Pointing at Sun Chi’s corpse, Zhu Xishi yelled to the townsfolk, "Look carefully! His corpse faces us, so the arrow in his back must have come from behind. We were in front of him; behind him were his allies! Even so, can you not tell who killed Sun Chi?"

A few clever townsfolk quickly realized the possibility, but glancing at the stern-faced Daoists behind them, they joined the bewildered majority in feigning confusion. Neither side seemed safe, and they had only come for the spectacle—they certainly didn’t want to risk their lives over it. The prime rule for self-preservation: play dumb.

"Third Aunt, did you finish that embroidery for me yesterday? Could I have it now?"

"Sixth Granny, I’m craving the braised pork at Lin’s Restaurant—shall we eat now?"

"Fourth Uncle, it’s been ages since we gathered. How about a drink today?"

"Seventh Grandpa, shall we join Fourth Uncle’s table for some merriment?"

When death looms, even the most dull-witted can suddenly become survival geniuses, with their wits and social skills peaking. Regretful for coming to watch, the crowd strained to say seemingly ordinary words that actually signaled their desire to slip away, and began edging backwards.

Yet, as they moved left, the Daoists moved left; as they moved right, the Daoists moved right.

Escape? Impossible!

Suddenly, Zhu Xishi slapped her thigh and burst out laughing. "Ha! Now you can’t possibly believe that bullshit-spouting Daoist anymore, can you? Hmph, only when death stares them in the face do they believe me. Let’s see how quickly they remove their villain’s badge."

Alas, her laughter barely carried past the courtyard walls before she choked it back.

The would-be escapees quickly turned back.

"Third Aunt, on second thought, my embroidery can wait—bearing witness to the Crown Prince’s benevolence matters more!"

"Sixth Granny, we’ll have braised pork later, but witnessing the Crown Prince's righteousness cannot be delayed."

"Fourth Uncle, let’s not leave yet. After these villains are brought to justice, we can drink in celebration."

"Seventh Grandpa, do you have pen and ink? This is a historic moment—we must record it!"

Those who had just invented excuses to flee now turned, declaring their loyalty and willingness to witness the Crown Prince’s righteous acts.

If feigning ignorance is the first rule of self-preservation, then opportunism is its central principle. It is those living at the bottom of society’s food chain who most master these survival arts.

Fang Rulai was not surprised, even when she received a mocking look from Guan Shiyin behind Little Ten, one that clearly said, "This is all-too-familiar, shattered integrity everywhere." She merely swept her gaze calmly, then firmly restrained Zhu Xishi, who was about to leap up and curse again.

"Why are you pulling me back? I want to wake these fools who can’t tell good from evil!" Zhu Xishi was seething; her straightforward nature simply couldn’t comprehend how anyone could betray their conscience so easily.

Fang Rulai pulled her behind, not answering, but addressed Little Ten instead. "Shit Daoist, you’ve reached new heights."

"Since ancient times, evil never triumphs over good," Little Ten replied meaningfully. He pointed at Fang Rulai, "When the devil rises a foot," then back at himself, "the Dao must rise a yard, isn’t that so?"

Fang Rulai was not Zhu Xishi. She would not explode at Little Ten’s provocation; she acted only in her own interest, and spoke only words that served her.

Her gaze swept over the fawning townsfolk. "Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. These are just ordinary people, timid and valuing their lives. Today, under your threat, they stand with you; tomorrow, under a greater power, they’ll turn against you. You claim to want them as witnesses, but in truth you’re using force. Such base conduct—do you think silence means ignorance?"

The townsfolk’s smiles faded, and they lowered their heads.

Little Ten waved his whisk indifferently. "What does it matter if they know? Must I care? In this world, the winner makes the rules. If I win, they need only worry whether I’ll kill them once I’ve no use for them. Frankly, I offer them a chance—under the guise of ‘witnesses,’ they survive; if I don’t, they’re fugitives like you, and their deaths are justified by the authorities!"

The crowd clenched their fists in silence.

Little Ten either didn’t notice, or pretended not to. He’d seen plenty of bottom-tier folk who dared not show any emotion before him.

Fang Rulai’s eyes flashed with triumph. She reached up and ripped off her wig.

Her bald head gleamed in the sunlight. Someone sharp-eyed noticed first, nudging others until all turned their gaze. They’d heard the Daoist’s accusations of “evil monk,” but hadn’t expected the so-called “evil monk” to be a girl, looking much like a courtesan from Hundred Flowers Pavilion. And, after removing the wig—wasn’t she familiar? She was the monk they’d once sought to expel from Pingcheng! Yet, what about that prominent chest?

Fang Rulai tore off her wig and wiped her face, revealing a look of grievance and indignation.

"I am a woman, powerless and weak, unable to commit murder, arson, or robbery. Shit Daoist, in Shengjing you ruined my reputation and even shaved my head, forcing me to marry you. My cousin Xishi pitied me and led me to Pingcheng to escape, but you sent killers after us. The Zhaos, who took me in, were massacred by your men. Magistrate Sun, who tried to defend me, was murdered by your order. I am merely one of the powerless people you claim you can discard at will, but I will never submit to a hypocrite like you!"

She finished her statement in one breath, and, not waiting for Little Ten’s reaction, spun toward Zhu Xishi’s butcher knife. "Cousin, let me die! Born beautiful, I’ve brought disaster—my cousin’s husband lies unconscious, and now all Pingcheng may perish for my beauty. It’s my face that caused it! Don’t hold me back, let me die!"

Of course, Zhu Xishi held her back with all her strength—not for fear of failing, but for fear she’d burst out laughing. She’d never imagined Fang Rulai could play the chaste heroine so perfectly. "Born beautiful?" She had to exert more effort, lest her suppressed laughter ruin the act.

"Cousin, don’t say that! Beauty is our Zhu family tradition. Are we not allowed to be beautiful just because we’re ordinary? If those in power desire us, must it always be our fault? No matter how low our status, they shouldn’t decide our fate! What a world!"

Zhu Xishi’s straight nature didn’t mean stupidity; Fang Rulai’s speech about officials seizing women gave her the crux. They wanted to kill them, and use the people’s presence to sanctify their deeds? Dream on!

Fang Rulai cried, "We’re powerless, our lives as fragile as paper," and Zhu Xishi echoed, "Are we mere helpless livestock in the eyes of the powerful?"

The two embraced and wept, their voices rising ever louder. The courtesans from Hundred Flowers Pavilion caught on instantly and joined the chorus of lamentation.

"My poor young master—nearly lost his life protecting cousin before she was even married!"

"Beloved Magistrate Sun—rescued my young master, sought justice, only to be slain by a Shengjing official’s arrow. Magistrate Sun, how unjust your death was!"

The mounting tide of uninterrupted weeping swept through the walls and into the ears of Pingcheng’s people. Straining to parse meaning, they had no energy left to judge the logic. Especially now, they felt it keenly.

They had done nothing, yet were surrounded by Daoists. Clearly, they wouldn’t be allowed to leave before their aims were accomplished, and even after, survival depended on the Daoists’ mood.

Now, seeing the bald young woman, her plight seemed all too familiar. Not to mention, Magistrate Sun’s eldest son was notorious for abducting women in broad daylight.

Could it be—the Daoists were the true villains?

As their mindset shifted, so did their gaze; as their gaze shifted, so did the atmosphere.

Little Ten’s expression darkened. In argument, he could not best the monk.

No matter. In combat, he would never lose.

Channeling power into his palm, Little Ten leapt from the gatehouse and charged straight at Fang Rulai. "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

Thanks to Mie’er (2568751845) for the silver reward! Qingye bows in gratitude—Happy New Year!

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