23: Chapter 23 Sir! You're mistaken!

"Of course they deserve to die!"

Lei Lie stiffened his neck, his voice as hard as iron.

Zhou Yun did not answer immediately.

He raised his hand and summoned a few City Guards, speaking slowly, yet each sentence clearer than the last:

"Send people to East Street 1 and East Alley 2 first to put out the fires and protect the residential houses. If you see refugees, surround them first; do not kill indiscriminately."

"If anyone is hurting others, take them down."

"If anyone is looting grain, separate them and keep them under guard."

"If there are elderly or children caught in the crowd, bring them out first."

The City Guards were stunned for a moment, then clasped their fists in salute, turned, and rushed into the wind and snow.

Not until their backs disappeared toward the city gate did Zhou Yun look back at Lei Lie:

"What about those refugees?"

Lei Lie frowned.

Zhou Yun asked: "Those refugees who are pushed and shoved, who will starve to death if they don't grab grain, and might be trampled or hacked to death if they do—do they deserve to die too?"

Lei Lie's Adam's apple bobbed: "They broke into the city first."

"Mm."

Zhou Yun nodded, not denying it, "Breaking into the city is punishable. Hurting people is punishable. Arson and murder are even more punishable."

Upon hearing this, Lei Lie was taken aback.

Zhou Yun's voice remained steady:

"Being punishable and letting them die in the chaos are two different things."

The wind and snow swirled between the two.

In the distance, another plume of black smoke rose from the East District.

That smoke did not rise from the direction of the Chamber of Commerce, but from a street further north, hanging low and, when blown by the wind, looking like a patch of filthy clouds.

Zhou Yun looked over there and asked another question:

"Besides that, what about the ordinary citizens in the city?"

Lei Lie's expression finally changed.

Just a moment ago, his mind was full of Minister Wang Fugui, full of the image of those bloodsucking vampires from the Chamber of Commerce crying for their parents under the blades and clubs of the rioters.

But the East District was not just the Chamber of Commerce.

There were old men selling firewood, widows mending clothes, young men who had just received new jobs last night and were waiting to report to the construction site the next morning, and a group of ordinary people who didn't even know which way the Chamber of Commerce's front door opened.

When a fire breaks out, it doesn't pick and choose to burn only the eaves of Minister Wang Fugui's house.

When people go mad, they don't ask first whether you are an unscrupulous merchant.

Lei Lie's hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightened, his knuckles turning white.

Zhou Yun stepped closer and reached out to press his shoulder.

The force was not heavy, but it made Lei Lie tremble all over.

"I know you hate them, everyone hates them."

Zhou Yun said, "And I don't intend to let the debts owed by the Chamber of Commerce just slide like this."

The people around who had just been shouting "Let them die" slowly quieted down.

They heard the word "debt."

They also heard that Zhou Yun was not making excuses for the Chamber of Commerce.

Zhou Yun looked at Lei Lie, and also at everyone behind him:

"But debts must be settled while alive."

"If people die in the chaos, what remains is not justice, just a pile of mess."

Lei Lie's lips moved, wanting to say something, but not a single word came out.

Zhou Yun's gaze passed over him and fell upon the fire in the East District.

"Flower City has just abolished the execution line."

"If today, because the Chamber of Commerce is hateful, I watch them be beaten to death; tomorrow, others can watch refugees freeze to death because they are dirty and chaotic; the day after, someone else might feel that patients are a burden to the city, or the elderly waste food, and they too can righteously push people out."

When he said this, his voice softened a little:

"Then what we abolished, was it the execution line, or did we just replace it with a new group of people to draw the line?"

Lei Lie suddenly looked up.

The wind and snow landed on his brow bone, melted into water, and ran down his cheeks.

He suddenly remembered that not long ago, he too had stood beside that line, telling others with a cold face that those who were sick, useless, or a burden to the city should all be driven out.

At that time, he felt he was defending the city.

Now he realized that some things, once let go, easily grow back from other places.

Not the name of the execution line.

It was the habit of casually crossing others' lives off the list.

The anger on Lei Lie's face receded bit by bit.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse:

"City Lord, this subordinate was wrong."

Zhou Yun showed a gentle smile:

"You weren't wrong."

"You just hate them too much."

Lei Lie's chest heaved, then he clasped his fists, bowing low:

"This subordinate requests to enter the city to quell the chaos."

"Go."

Zhou Yun finally showed a small smile, "Remember, save people, control the fires, and take those who are leading the violence. The Chamber of Commerce's debts can be settled after they survive."

Lei Lie's eyes sharpened.

"Yes!"

He turned abruptly and drew his sword.

A cold light flashed in the wind and snow.

"City Guard, follow me into the city!"

"East Street 1, put out the fires! East Alley 2, protect the people! The rest of the teams, flank them from different routes; anyone who dares to kill in the chaos, take them down!"

The Professionals, who had previously been indignant, looked at each other.

Some still looked reluctant, but no one shouted "Let them die" again.

A young man who had recently gone through Awakening wiped his face and cursed in a low voice: "Letting those unscrupulous merchants off easy."

An old craftsman next to him hoisted his pickaxe onto his shoulder and said in a muffled voice: "City Lord is right, debts must be settled while alive."

Soon, the sound of dense footsteps swept into the wind and snow.

Teams split off from outside the West Gate, like several streams of iron, rushing toward the East District.

...

Chamber of Commerce meeting hall.

Boom!!!

Another loud noise came, this time closer than before, as if even the beams of the hall were trembling.

Vaguely, the shouts of the refugees could already be heard!

"They... they are coming!!"

A fat merchant was so scared he sat down on the floor, his fat trembling, when suddenly, as if grabbing onto the last straw, he crawled toward Minister Wang Fugui,

"Chairman! Quick! Send someone to invite Zhou Yun!"

"Only he can save us now! Almost all of Flower City's power is in his hands! As long as he is willing to act, these refugees are nothing to fear!"

The others also reacted, like drowning people seeing driftwood,

"Yes, yes, yes! Go find Zhou Yun!"

"He is the City Lord, he has the duty to defend the land, he cannot ignore us!"

"Go quickly and call him to save our lives!"

...

Looking at the chaotic crowd, Minister Wang Fugui let out a shrill, cold laugh.

"Heh heh... Invite him? Save lives?"

He raised his head abruptly, his bloodshot eyes full of mockery,

"Are you all brain-damaged?"

"Who are we? We are the enemies who have undermined him, made things difficult for him, and seized his land!"

"Why would he save us?"

"If it were you, would you save an enemy who wishes you dead?"

The crowd paused, looking at each other.

Minister Wang Fugui took a deep breath, his tone extremely certain, "He must be hiding outside the West Gate right now, laughing!"

"He can't wait to use the hands of these refugees to rob us of all our family property! Even kill us all! Once we are all dead, he will come out to clean up the mess, gaining both reputation and profit!"

"This is called—borrowing! A knife! To kill! People!"

Once these four words were spoken, everyone despaired.

Judging others by themselves, if they were in Zhou Yun's position, they would definitely do this.

This was the choice that maximized benefits, and also the most satisfying choice.

"No... I don't believe it!"

Just then, General Zhang Tie, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly roared and stood up, "Zhou Yun is not that kind of person!"

"He gives steamed buns to beggars, spirit rice to sick little girls, and even gives Demonic Beast meat to us when we went to cause trouble!"

"How could such a good person watch us die?"

"I'm going to find him!"

He turned and rushed out, "As long as he knows the situation here, he will definitely come!"

"Stop! You idiot!"

Minister Wang Fugui roared in exasperation, "Come back! Don't go and humiliate yourself! You are losing face for your master, me!!"

General Zhang Tie had always listened to Minister Wang Fugui.

In his heart, it was the master who gave him food, and the master who gave him a job.

Therefore, his life belonged to the master!

However, this servant, who was usually timid and obedient to Minister Wang Fugui, was now as stubborn as a mule.

He shook off the servant who tried to stop him and rushed into the sky full of wind and snow without looking back.

"Crazy... all crazy..."

Minister Wang Fugui collapsed into his chair, closed his eyes, "Wait for death, all wait for death..."

...

The wind and snow howled.

General Zhang Tie ran wildly in the snow, lost one shoe, and his feet were frozen numb, but he dared not stop.

Behind him were the ever-closer shouts of killing, and ahead was the vast wind and snow.

"Wait for me... Master!"

"As long as City Lord knows the situation in the city, he will definitely go to save you!"

He prayed silently in his heart.

Just as he ran past a street corner and was about to turn onto the main road leading to the West Gate, the ground suddenly trembled slightly.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The uniform sound of footsteps was clearly audible even in the howling wind.

General Zhang Tie looked up abruptly.

In the next second, he froze on the spot, hot tears instantly gushing out, melting the frost on his face.

At the end of the wind and snow, a vast, mighty team was walking toward him.

There was no cold light of blades or spears, nor any murderous roars.

Walking at the very front was that young figure in thin casual clothes, with a calm expression, Zhou Yun!

And behind Zhou Yun were Lei Lie, Iron Mountain... and a huge, dark mass of people!

"City... City Lord!!"

General Zhang Tie could no longer control himself, his legs went soft, and he knelt heavily in the snow.

He scrambled to Zhou Yun, not even daring to grab the corner of his clothes, only able to slam his head hard against the ground, fresh blood staining the snow red:

"Wuwuwu... City Lord!! Save us!"

"Master... Minister Wang Fugui and the others are about to fall!"

"The Chamber of Commerce will not be able to hold out much longer! I beg you... although the master is narrow-minded, although he offended you before... but his crimes do not warrant death!"

"I beg you to have mercy, save him this..."

General Zhang Tie cried and shouted while kowtowing desperately.

He was terrified that Zhou Yun would say the word "No."

He was terrified of seeing a trace of "revenge achieved" satisfaction on this powerful person's face.

After all, the Chamber of Commerce had acted too ruthlessly before; anyone else would have a reason to stand by and watch.

However.

The expected mockery did not appear.

A pair of warm hands firmly supported his arms, forcibly stopping his kowtowing motion.

General Zhang Tie raised his head with teary eyes, meeting those eyes that were as gentle as water, as if they could encompass everything.

Zhou Yun was not surprised by his crying, nor did he feel any schadenfreude.

He just patted the snow off General Zhang Tie's body in a tone that couldn't be more ordinary, his voice not loud, yet it carried a power that put people at ease.

"Get up quickly, the ground is cold."

"Rest assured."

Zhou Yun passed by him, his gaze looking toward the direction of the Chamber of Commerce, where flames were soaring into the sky, "Your master is also a citizen under my rule, I will not sit idly by."

In this instant, General Zhang Tie felt as if his heart had been hit hard by something.

My... citizens?

Even a person like my master is your citizen?

Looking at that back, which was not tall, yet at this moment seemed to stand tall between heaven and earth, General Zhang Tie suddenly collapsed onto the snow and wailed.

Master!

You were wrong!

You were truly wrong!!

Meanwhile, the East District was already in chaos.

Hunger can turn people into beasts.

When the first door plank was kicked open, and the first handful of rice bran was snatched, the red light in the refugees' eyes could no longer be contained.

"Rob! There is grain! The whole city is full of grain!"

"Why do we eat grass roots and tree bark outside, while they eat rice bran inside?!"

"Smash! Smash their dog kennels for me!"

At first, they were just looking for food.

But soon, this looting for survival, under extreme jealousy and hatred for the rich, mutated into pure destruction and venting.

"Bang!!"

The door of a wealthy household was rammed open.

The refugees swarmed in, like black locusts.

Not only did they rob grain, but they also smashed exquisite porcelain to pieces, tore expensive calligraphy and paintings into shreds, and even pushed those rich people who couldn't escape to the ground, kicking and punching them.

At this moment, the suppressed baser instincts of human nature exploded completely.

Watching those masters who were usually high and mighty begging for mercy at their feet, this twisted pleasure was actually more addictive than having a full stomach.

"Go to the big houses! Find the biggest house!"

"Find the location of this city's Chamber of Commerce! Inside, there is not only grain, but also gold and silver!"

I don't know who shouted, but the originally scattered refugees, like sharks smelling blood, gathered into an unstoppable torrent, rushing madly toward the direction of the Chamber of Commerce hall.

...

Inside the Chamber of Commerce hall.

The merchants who had just been clamoring to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys were now huddled under tables or hiding behind cabinets, their whole bodies trembling like sieves.

Outside the door, the tsunami-like sound of ramming and roaring, every time it sounded, made their hearts stop.

"We can't hold it... the door is about to give way!"

The fat merchant held his head, his face covered in snot and tears: "My money... my shop... wuwuwu..."

Not far away, Minister Wang Fugui tightly gripped a table leg he was using for self-defense.

He didn't want to die.

But what made him despair was that no one would come to save him!

He could only wait for death!

Even General Zhang Tie, whom he had saved years ago and whom he considered his most loyal servant, had left him under the pretext of finding reinforcements!

Looking at that City Lord, he must be standing on high ground right now, coldly watching this scene, right?

"Retribution... is it really retribution..."

Minister Wang Fugui felt extremely sorrowful.

Just then.

"Boom!!!"

That vermilion-lacquered door, symbolizing the dignity of the Chamber of Commerce, finally collapsed with a tooth-aching crashing sound.

The wind and snow, mixed with countless blood-red eyes, instantly filled the entrance of the hall.

"Here they are!!"

"So many fat guys! They look like unscrupulous merchants!"

"Rob them!!"

...

The refugees let out howls of extreme excitement, like hungry wolves pouncing into a sheepfold.

"Ah! Don't hit me! I have money! I'll give you money!"

"I'll give it all to you! Let me go!"

"Spare my life, heroes!"

...

Several merchants who were accidentally caught were instantly submerged in the crowd, their screams immediately drowned out by the noise of smashing and beating.

At this time, a refugee who was so thin he was unrecognizable, holding a blood-stained wooden club, noticed Minister Wang Fugui hiding behind a screen.

He circled around from a tricky angle and appeared behind Minister Wang Fugui.

"Hehe... old thing, you're dressed quite warmly, huh?"

Minister Wang Fugui was scared out of his wits!

He hurriedly turned around and saw a refugee grinning and approaching step by step, "Strip off that skin of yours and let your grandpa wear it! And the gold ring on your hand, give it all to me!"

"You... don't come over!"

Minister Wang Fugui waved the table leg in his hand, but his voice became sharp and off-key due to fear: "I am the Chamber of Commerce Chairman! I am a noble of Flower City! Do you dare touch me?"

"Noble?"

The burly man sneered, a flash of brutality in his eyes: "I'm hitting a noble, that's who!"