Chapter 499: Falsely Accusing the Innocent?

"You stole my stuff!"

"Nonsense! How could I possibly steal anything! Don't slander me, falsely accusing a good person!"

Just after Feili had finished buying the Passover supplies with Yuese and was shouldering a bulging bundle on his back heading home, a tall, skinny youth suddenly burst out at a nearby alley entrance near the inn and blocked his path.

The youth wore an angry expression, his finger nearly poking Feili's nose tip as he shouted loudly.

Feili was first stunned, then quickly recovered, his face flushing red with anger.

He flung away the youth's hand that tried to grab his collar, his chest heaving violently:

"I am Feili! Even if I starve to death, three days and three nights without food, dying of hunger out there, I would never stoop to petty theft or dishonoring my ancestors! Who are you? On what grounds do you baselessly slander me here?!"

Seeing his fierce reaction, the youth did not retreat; instead he sneered, a mixed look of triumph and cunning on his face, raised his voice even louder, deliberately shouting toward the gathering onlookers:

"Everyone, come see! Look at this seemingly upright fellow! He stole my stuff, caught red‑handed, and still tries to deny it!"

He pointed at the coarse cloth bundle on Feili's back that held food and simple supplies, speaking with conviction:

"My Silver Bracelet is hidden inside his bundle right now! Dare you open it in public and let everyone see?!"

"Open it then! I'm upright, not afraid of a crooked shadow! I want to see what tricks you can pull!"

The youth seemed prepared, immediately describing loudly: "My Silver Bracelet is pure silver, a bit worn, but it bears my mother's initials and a tiny olive‑branch pattern."

"That is the only memory my father left me, more precious than anything! You want money? I can give you money! But this item that carries familial affection must be returned to me!"

His words sounded sincere and heartfelt, painting a filial son who cherishes family ties and has lost his father's relic, instantly earning the sympathy of many uninformed passersby.

"Open it and see!"

"Right, open the bundle, and it'll be clear at a glance!"

"If it truly belongs to someone, it must be returned to them quickly!"

The crowd began to roar, their accusations subtly pointing at Feili.

Under the urging of the crowd and the youth's provocation, Feili, still fuming, took off the bundle from his back, placed it on the ground, and in a few swift pulls untied the cloth rope.

Inside the bundle were freshly bought flatbreads, several pieces of cured meat, some fruits and vegetables, and a few tiny clay toys for children.

However, in the seam between a few flatbreads, a dim silver glint suddenly emerged!

Feili's pupils contracted; incredulously, he reached out and pulled the object out—a slightly aged but unmistakably silver bracelet, engraved with fuzzy letters and delicate olive‑branch motifs!

"This... how could this be possible?!" Feili felt as if struck by lightning, his mind blank.

"Look! Everyone look! That's it! My Silver Bracelet!" the youth shrieked immediately, pointing at the bracelet, his face showing a vindicated, angry expression:

"Caught red‑handed! What else do you have to say?! You despicable little thief!"

The surrounding crowd erupted in a sudden uproar!

"It really exists!"

"Oh dear, he looks so honest, how could he do such a thing?"

"Stealing even someone's heirloom, that's so immoral!"

"Grab him!"

Accusations, contempt, and chatter surged toward Feili like a tide.

Yuese and Mary were horrified, hurriedly pushing their way to Feili's side.

Yuese shouted urgently: "Everyone stay calm! This must be a misunderstanding! I know Brother Felix best; he could never steal!"

Mary anxiously added: "Yes! Brother Felix isn't that kind of person! There must be something hidden here!"

Feier, even more enraged, his eyes reddened, rushed to his father's side, spreading his arms to block the hostile gazes:

"My father is not a thief! Stop spreading rumors! He is being wronged!"

However, faced with 'ironclad evidence,' their defense appeared so pale and feeble.

People preferred to believe the 'facts' before their eyes.

"The facts are right there, yet you stay stubborn!"

"Exactly! Caught in the act, what else is there to say!"

"I think they're in cahoots!"

The crowd swelled, nearly blocking the alley entrance completely.

The clamor attracted a nearby patrol squad of soldiers.

"What's happening?! Everyone disperse! Why gather here?!"

The leading Soldier Captain frowned, pushed through the crowd and entered.

Seeing this, the youth immediately stepped forward, embellishing the 'sequence of events,' pointing at Feili's Silver Bracelet and the scattered bundle on the ground as evidence.

The Soldier Captain, impatient after listening, glanced at the 'physical evidence,' then at Feili's ashen, speechless face, and the anxiously distressed Yuese family, and waved his hand:

"Enough! Caught red‑handed, nothing more to say. Take him away and interrogate him back there!"

Two soldiers responded, stepping forward to seize Feili.

"No! Don't seize my father!" a sobbing scream came from above.

The crowd looked up, seeing a second‑floor inn window pushed open, Liliya half‑leaning out, her small face brimming with tears.

She clutched tightly to Jesus's arm beside her, as if it were her only lifeline, pleading with a sobbing voice:

"Jesus! Jesus, you're so clever, you must have a way, right?! Please... please save my father! He's being wronged!"

Jesus stood by the window, looking down at the chaotic scene, his gaze sweeping over the smug youth, over the angry and helpless Feili family, over the indifferent onlookers, finally resting on the soldiers ready to carry out orders.

He gently patted Liliya's small hand:

"I'll go take a look."

Having said that, under Liliya's and the other second‑floor guests' astonished gazes, he braced one hand on the windowsill and, like a light feather, flipped and leapt down from the second‑floor window!

"Ah, this guy has no regard for his life—!"

The crowd below let out a gasp, instinctively clearing a small space.

Jesus, however, landed lightly, stood upright; this jump of his instantly drew everyone's attention, even the soldiers preparing to seize someone halted their movements, staring in astonishment at the strange child who had suddenly fallen from the sky.

Jesus ignored the varied gazes of the crowd, walked straight to the center, and stood between Feili and the young man.

He first glanced at Feili, whose face was ashen and body trembling, gave him a reassuring look, then turned to the wary young man.

The Torah says: "You shall not bear false witness against another."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd, then finally rested on the young man:

"The dispute cannot be resolved, the truth is unclear. Then, the simplest method—"

"Whoever dares to swear an oath to God that their words are true shall be in the right."

"If their words are true, God will bear witness to their sincerity; if they are deceitful, God will not forgive their sin, and retribution will surely come upon them."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent for a moment, then a low murmur rose.

In the devout Jewish community that believes in God, swearing an oath to God is an extremely solemn matter.

Ordinary people would never dare to lie lightly in God's name.

Upon hearing this, the young man's complexion shifted slightly, a flicker of barely perceptible panic flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by a feigned calm and arrogance.

He snorted, trying to conceal his guilt with contempt:

"What are you even? A brat who's not yet weaned—do you think you deserve to speak for God here? The facts are right before your eyes: the wristband is in his bag, stolen goods in hand, so what right do you have to play god here? Get out of the way!"

Saying this, he impatiently reached out, wanting to shove the Jesus blocking his front roughly aside.

However, his hand had only extended halfway—

A hand had already seized his wrist first.

It was Jesus.

The young man felt an irresistible force emanating from his wrist.

He lifted his head and met Jesus' eyes.

At the very moment his wrist was seized, the young man saw in Jesus' eyes the benevolent, impartial kindness he normally showed to all people—like a tide, it swiftly receded, vanishing without a trace.

What replaced it was a scrutinizing… and indifference!

It was no longer the gaze toward a "lost soul in need of kindness," but rather… the look at an "object" whose truth must be discerned and whose fate decided.

"Please," Jesus said, his voice still steady:

"Swear an oath to God."

His wrist gripped fast, his eyes locked on those that seemed to see through everything, and the young man's uneasy premonition surged to its peak!

He felt an invisible pressure weigh down, and a sheen of cold sweat instantly appeared on his back.

He opened his mouth, intending to continue scolding or break free, but found his throat dry, as if a thousand‑kilogram stone pressed on his tongue.

For a moment, the atmosphere fell into silence.

Everyone was waiting.

And all of this unfolded before the eyes of Yu Lin, who was observing secretly together with Jupiter.

Gazing at Jesus' expression at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in his mind.

That Jesus who bore all sins.