Chapter 68: He Who Kills Yet Is Righteous

As Chen Wuji stood up expressionlessly, the air instantly grew colder than the wind in a harsh winter.

The cold made everyone shiver, and a thin stream of chill rose from their tailbones.

He really killed Yuan Chen.

An unhesitant slash!

Yuan Jintang's complexion instantly turned pale; looking at his son, whose face still bore a pleading expression, his legs shook violently, nearly losing his balance.

"Son…"

His Adam's apple moved, and he lunged at Yuan Chen.

He tried to cover the huge wound on his son's neck with his hand, but blood still seeped through his fingers, flowing down his wrist and staining a large area of crimson beneath him.

"Chen Wuji, you're so ruthless, such a ruthless heart…"

Chen Wuji's gaze was indifferent. "Stop shouting nonsense. Your son was killed by you, it has nothing to do with me. I only cut off his arm; I admit that."

Yuan Jintang's body jolted sharply; he looked down at his lifeless son, then leapt up, snarling ferociously, "Kill him, kill him for me, kill this murderer!"

But no one moved.

The formerly arrogant Yuan family, meeting Chen Wuji's indifferent stare, all averted their eyes and quietly stepped back.

"Kill him! Kill!" Yuan Jintang turned his head toward his kin and roared hoarsely.

The clan members again averted their gaze.

Someone was studying the fire‑burned clouds on the horizon, wondering why they were so red.

Someone else watched the ants on the ground; a stray ant was fighting, its claws waving like an old bully.

Another person stared at his own exposed toes, thinking that when he got home he'd have to beat his wife, and wondering what cheap shoes these were—worn less than half a year and already broken.

Yuan Jintang resembled a locust abandoned in the wind.

Even if his wings flapped harder, all he received in return was the sound of wind.

His raised arm drooped helplessly, his eyes filled with anger and pain.

He and his brother had plotted many times to kill Chen Wuji, yet he never imagined that the fool he regarded as a mere ant would one day kill his son.

This was absolutely impossible.

This is a fool!

How could a fool…

How dare he!

Chen Wuji was pleased with the Yuan family's and the villagers' reactions. Calmly wiping the blood from his Knife, he said to Yuan Jintang, "Refugees may raid the village; I won't shirk my part in defending it, I'll be there later. But tomorrow I must receive sixteen taels of Silver, otherwise I'll take your dog's life."

"Oh, right, and those two donkeys of yours."

"Y‑you…" Yuan Jintang trembled, pointed at Chen Wuji, then suddenly went black and collapsed to the ground.

The Village Chief, unable to command the clan and too afraid to take personal revenge for his son, was knocked unconscious by anger.

Of course, it could also be from fright.

The murder‑committing Chen Wuji had already made the villagers too afraid to look him in the eye.

The Village Chief's cowardice was actually understandable to everyone.

Chen Wuji hoisted the Millet that lay on the ground and, without looking back, headed toward his home.

Although he still hadn't gotten used to the killing, his throat still churned from time to time, his qi had steadied considerably, and his thoughts were largely clear.

Next, he would wait for Inspector Zhang's news.

Chen Luozi caught up from behind, placed his hand on Chen Wuji's left shoulder, and whispered, "Kid, you were reckless today, killing so stealthily. Now there are so many witnesses; even if we think of a way, it'll be hard."

Chen Wuji shook his head. "They tried to steal my grain, my Knife, and threatened me. I can't tolerate any of it! I think this counts as self‑defense, right? There's a law that says, 'He who kills in righteousness shall not be pursued for vengeance!'"

"You're right; the law does have that clause, but the victim was the Village Chief." Chen Luozi said helplessly.

"Killing the Village Chief's son is different from ordinary folk getting into fights that cause injuries. Even if the Village Chief isn't known to any officials in the Xianya, the county magistrate will still protect him and punish you heavily. The officials in the Xianya all have sons; they won't allow such a thing."

Chen Wuji nodded, "This Knife just came from the Xianya."

"You're copying that dog‑thing Chen Bushi? This Knife looks familiar. You kid, I… damn, I'm impressed; how did your courage suddenly grow so big?" Chen Luozi burst out, his face twisting in frustration.

After a while he exhaled, muttering, "Wuji, run quickly, you're beyond saving! Stealing the Clerk's side‑knife and killing the Village Chief's son—no immortal can save you."

"You misunderstood; this Knife wasn't stolen, it was awarded by the Xianya." Chen Wuji corrected, "On my way back I ran into Refugees robbing the road, cut a few down, then met Provincial Troops; the Xianya rewarded me with this Knife and a few taels of Silver."

"Hmm?"

"I haven't even warmed this Knife yet, and Yuan Chen is about to kill me and snatch it away. If I bring this reason to the Xianya, I should be able to explain, right?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Luozi stared blankly at Chen Wuji, "I told you, kid, when you entered the village your aura was bristling like you'd just come off a battlefield—turns out you'd killed someone."

He laughed, gave Chen Wuji a hearty pat on the shoulder, "Don't worry, as long as this incident stands, Yuan Chen will die a deserved death. When the time comes, many of us will testify for you; you'll have no trouble at all."

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "Jiu Shu, I am indeed angry, but not that reckless. If I didn't consider the consequences, I would have already chopped Yuan Jintang and Yuan Jinbao into mince."

"Not bad, not bad, you're showing some Chen family traits." Chen Luozi grinned happily.

"You kid have more courage than Wu Wei; picking up a Knife is easy, but killing isn't. When you encounter Refugees robbing the road, you dared to take the Knife, no matter how many you cut, that's quite something."

Chen Wuwei is Chen Wuji's clan junior, an even more honest man.

The kid had planted two mu of soybeans, but when he woke up, the Yuan family had seized them.

Chen Wuwei was half‑fuming, going door‑to‑door daily with his Knife demanding compensation, only to be beaten each time.

After being beaten for half a month, he beat the Yuan family's wife, smashed a big door, and then it all fizzled out.

"Why did you return so quickly this time?" Chen Wuji asked softly.

Chen Luozi laughed, "It's just a trip into the mountains; how much time could it take? It's simple, a couple of quick jobs and I'll be home by noon."

"Who suffered this time?" Chen Wuji asked softly.

He suddenly realized that the Chen family really seemed to have a bandit gene.

It's in their bones.

He was such a good person, yet as a result, today he unintentionally killed over ten people.

This really isn't what he wanted.

Chen Luozi chuckled, "Don't pry into this matter—what good does knowing so much do? It's not good for a child to know too much, you get it?"

Chen Wuji rolled his eyes, "Go to hell, your grandpa!"