Chapter 28 – Conflict
Suddenly, a terrified scream rang out in the distance.
"Demonic beast! A demonic beast has entered the city!"
The crowd scattered like a receding tide. Chen Chang'an and A Li both looked up to see a blood-red wolf, its eyes glowing scarlet, rampaging through the street. Its fangs gleamed coldly, and wherever it passed, stalls collapsed and goods spilled across the ground.
Chen Chang'an frowned slightly, his fingers tapping the table out of habit.
This incarnation of his was only at the Tongxuan Realm, but dealing with such a low-level beast would be more than enough.
Glancing toward the approaching city guards in the distance, he relaxed slightly.
He had no desire to expose his identity.
Beside him, A Li also stood still. Her gaze beneath the brim of her hat swept indifferently over the beast, her brow furrowing ever so slightly, with no intention of acting.
The two tacitly chose to remain uninvolved.
Around them, mortals screamed and fled. A sugar figurine vendor stumbled back, knocked over by the panicked crowd. His rack of sugar art crashed to the ground, scattering shattered crystal figures.
The wolf gave a low growl and suddenly lunged toward a peddler who hadn't managed to escape. With a swipe of its claws—
Rip!
The peddler's back basket was torn to shreds, cloth and thread scattering into the air. He collapsed to the ground in terror as the beast's foul breath washed over his face, its gaping maw opening wide, ready to bite down.
The brim-hatted A Li stood quietly, her fingers giving the faintest flick.
A wisp of dark-red energy slipped soundlessly into the wolf's body.
Its movement suddenly froze, the blood in its eyes fading slightly as a hint of confusion appeared.
But the next instant—
Whoosh!
An arrow whistled through the air, burying itself deep in the wolf's shoulder.
The wolf roared in pain, the red in its eyes surging back as it turned toward the source of the shot. The city guards had arrived, bows drawn and aiming.
"Loose! Loose now!"
Arrows rained down like locusts, but the wolf blurred and dodged as if it were a ghost, then charged at the guards in a fury.
Boom!
It smashed through an entire row of wooden racks, splintered wood flying. One soldier was swatted by its claws and slammed against a wall, coughing blood.
Amid the chaos, a girl of about five or six fell in the middle of the street. Her candied hawthorn skewer rolled away. She looked up in confusion, meeting the wolf's crimson gaze.
"Mother…?" she called in a trembling voice, still unaware of the danger.
The wolf's nostrils flared as it caught the scent of fear. A low growl rumbled in its throat as it stalked toward her.
The girl's fear finally took hold. Tears welled and streamed down her cheeks, but terror rooted her in place.
"Roar—!"
The wolf suddenly crouched, its hind legs tensing. In the next moment, it shot forward like an arrow from a bowstring, leaping straight for the girl.
Its bloody maw yawned wide, white fangs gleaming, a stench of blood in the air—
Chen Chang'an's eyes hardened.
"Tsk, trouble."
He muttered under his breath, then suddenly rose to his feet. A short sword slid from his sleeve, and his figure flashed forward like lightning. In an instant, he was before the beast—
Slash!
The wolf let out a mournful howl as blood spurted from its neck, its body crashing heavily to the ground.
The little girl's face went pale. Chen Chang'an crouched and gently patted her head. "It's all right now. Go find your mother."
She sniffled and nodded, stumbling away.
Chen Chang'an sheathed his sword and was about to turn when he felt a gaze upon him.
He looked back to see A Li standing beside the wolf's corpse, her hat tilted up just enough to reveal a pair of cool, clear eyes.
Chen Chang'an gave her a small nod, assuming she had come to save the girl but was simply a step too late.
She lowered her head, gazing at the dead wolf, and gently stroked its head with her hand, letting out a quiet sigh. "What a pity."
Chen Chang'an was taken aback, then frowned. "A pity? This beast almost killed someone. You didn't save the person, yet you're pitying it instead?"
A Li lifted her gaze, her eyes cold. "All living things have spirits. How do you know it wasn't being controlled and forced to harm people?"
"Controlled?" Chen Chang'an let out a derisive laugh. "A beast that harms humans—are we supposed to debate right and wrong with it?"
"You killed it simply because it threatened the 'humans' you care about," A Li said evenly. "But what if it was only driven mad against its will?"
"So you mean I should just let it keep attacking people?" Chen Chang'an's eyes narrowed.
"My meaning is that if you save someone, save them. But why take a life so easily without even finding out the truth?" Her tone remained calm, yet each word was like ice. "Heaven cherishes all life. Acting this way, how are you any different from those who pass judgment without distinguishing between right and wrong?"
Her words caught Chen Chang'an off guard, leaving him momentarily unable to respond.
He stared at her, suddenly feeling she was not only cold but inexplicably unreasonable.
"Heh, such a compassionate heart," he said with a cold smile. "Next time a beast charges at you, I hope you can keep reasoning with it."
A Li ignored him, turning to leave. Her departing figure was as cold as frost.
Chen Chang'an watched her back, an inexplicable irritation stirring in his chest.
Just then, the sound of uniform marching came from the distance.
"Make way! Official business from the City Lord's manor!"
A squad of city guards in iron armor rushed over, their leader scanning the scene with a sharp gaze before heading straight toward Chen Chang'an.
"It was you who acted?"
Chen Chang'an raised a brow. "It was me. So what?"
The leader gave a cold laugh. "Take him away!"
Chen Chang'an was stunned. "What's the meaning of this?"
"In broad daylight, you released a beast to harm people!" the leader barked. "By law, you are to be thrown into prison!"
Chen Chang'an's eyes darkened.
The man before him was only at the Tongxuan Realm, and since this was merely an incarnation, he had nothing to fear—nor any interest in arguing with them.
He was about to simply abandon this body and let it disperse when A Li's words from earlier came to mind—
"You took a life so easily without even finding out the truth."
A thought flickered. His gaze swept over the city guards, noting the odd expressions on their faces. Their eagerness to frame him without discussion clearly hinted at something suspicious.
"Heh… interesting," he murmured, then looked up, feigning anger. "Absurd! A beast attacks people, I save someone, and now I'm the guilty one?"
"Enough talk! Seize him!"
The guards surged forward. Chen Chang'an offered no resistance, allowing them to restrain him and lead him away.
As they left, out of the corner of his eye he spotted A Li standing quietly at the street corner, her gaze beneath the brim of her hat thoughtful.
Their eyes met briefly before turning away.
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