The corpses had sallow, jaundiced complexions, bulging eyes, and their bodies were rotting, presenting a gruesome sight.
While these symptoms were severe, they were clearly not caused by a plague.
"These people died overnight after taking the antidote from your medical hall. I demand justice!" the long-faced man roared, and the scoundrels behind him raised their crude clubs and shouted in unison, "Justice for us!"
"Wait," Ye Ziling remained calm, waving her hand to interrupt him. She scanned the bodies on the ground and asked, "So many people took the antidote made by our medical hall and were cured, yet only these ten people died after taking it?"
"Furthermore, these deceased individuals include men, women, old, and young, and clearly have no relation to you. How did you discover they were dead?"
Ye Ziling circled the corpses, finding numerous suspicious points.
These individuals were clearly here to cause trouble.
With monsters rampant, they chose to stir up trouble. This was the only free medical hall in the capital. Why would they target them of all people?
They were truly ungrateful, a waste of food just by being alive.
The long-faced man's eyes darted with panic for a moment, and the scoundrels behind him exchanged glances, nervously rubbing their hands and looking down in silence.
Ye Jinghuai stepped forward, his expression still calm and composed. He explained in a gentle voice, "That's right. I personally tried it as well. The antidote is absolutely fine."
"These people of yours died quite suspiciously, but it has absolutely nothing to do with our medical hall."
His gaze was sharp, and his handsome face showed unwavering determination as he stood calmly before the crowd.
The long-faced man gritted his teeth, refusing to listen. He raised his hand and delivered a heavy punch, nearly sending Ye Jinghuai to the ground.
"Valley Master..." several medicine boys stepped forward to help, but the long-faced man let out a stern shout. The dozen or so scoundrels behind him immediately stepped forward, surrounding them and raising their clubs as if to attack.
Seeing her brother knocked to the ground, Ye Ziling could no longer tolerate it. A white light flashed from her sleeve, and just as she was about to charge forward, Ye Jinghuai grabbed her hand to stop her.
One side of his face was swollen, and blood trickled from his lips. He still held onto her sleeve tightly, "Sister, the Sacred Physician Tribe has a rule: we can only save people, not harm them..."
Ye Ziling watched as the scoundrels with their clubs advanced on Shuanzi and the other medicine boys. She let out a cold laugh, tightening her grip on the long sword in her hand.
Let alone harming people, she had killed countless individuals already.
What kind of absurd rule was this? She would break it today!
Disregarding his obstruction, Ye Ziling held her long sword. With a flash of its blade, the dozen scoundrels were instantly silenced, their throats slit, and they collapsed to the ground.
Only the leading long-faced brute, his eyes wide with horror, stared at her and retreated step by step.
The silver sword gleamed, yet it was unstained by any blood.
A cold killing intent flickered in Ye Ziling's eyes as she advanced on the long-faced brute.
Her elder brother always led by virtue, but she was not like him.
Matters that could be resolved with a knife would not be wasted on words.
Ye Jinghuai watched the fallen bodies from the side, his pupils contracting, and he involuntarily took a few steps back.
Her second brother, however, leaned casually by the doorway, watching the fallen bodies and chuckling with amusement.
This was his good sister, all about showing off her might!
"No... don't, I was wrong, it was my fault, please, spare me..." The long-faced man was already terrified out of his wits. He stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
Ye Ziling condensed her power in her palm, her steps lifting slightly. She struck out with her palm, and the man fell into a pool of blood, his life extinguished.
Several crows perched on the branches of the trees by the house, their caws occasionally reaching their ears, unsettling everyone.
At this moment, Ye Jinghuai's face turned ashen, his wrists trembling, and he was utterly petrified.
His good sister had cruelly killed so many people in front of these children!
If a Saintess were this ruthless, wouldn't it tarnish the reputation of the Sacred Physician Tribe?
He had expected the children to cry their eyes out in fear, but to his surprise, they cheered happily instead, their smiles exceptionally bright.
"Hooray, the bad guys are dead!"
"Sister Saintess is mighty!"
...
"Sister... these people hadn't even made a move yet, and you killed them all?" Ye Jinghuai's eyes widened, and he pointed at Ye Ziling tremblingly, too enraged to speak.
Ye Ziling sheathed her sword, raising her eyebrows slightly. She said nonchalantly, "Oh? Brother, do you mean I should have waited for them to kill us before acting?"
"Either we die under their clubs, or they die under my sword. There are only these two outcomes."
Ye Ziling walked past the corpses, saying earnestly, "This dead rule, it should be broken."
She looked at the bodies on the ground with blackened throats, her eyebrows raised high, and said, "Moreover, these poisoned citizens were clearly forced to drink the poisoned water. It's likely that those who stirred up trouble killed them and then framed our medical hall. They deserved to die."
After speaking, she instructed Shuanzi, "Shuanzi, take some silver and hire a few people to carry the bodies away. Don't let them dirty our medical hall's facade."
Shuanzi's eyes lit up, and he ran off with a smile, responding, "Yes!"
Ye Jinghuai sighed, his face etched with displeasure. He pursed his lips, seemingly restraining his anger.
At this moment, Ye Jingxian let out a casual laugh and added, "Ye Jinghuai, just go along with Ling'er. I also think this rule should be abolished. If you don't kill others, will you wait for them to kill you?"
"These people's lives are indeed lives, but are our lives not lives?"
"Second Brother speaks sense." Ye Ziling smiled, nodding with satisfaction.
In the afternoon, the corpses had been cleared away. Unexpectedly, a troop of celestial soldiers arrived at the entrance of the medical hall.
The government had long been terrified by the monsters and was too overwhelmed to manage earthly affairs. For this period, celestial soldiers had to take charge.
Someone had recently struck the celestial bell, reporting the discovery of dozens of freshly buried corpses in the suburbs, prompting them to investigate the case.
Soon, the celestial soldiers dug up the recently buried bodies and displayed them in front of the medical hall.
"The necks of these dozen corpses show signs of being slashed by a long sword, indicating intentional harm. We request a reasonable explanation from your esteemed establishment." The leading celestial soldier scanned the surroundings of the medical hall sternly, his gaze falling on Ye Ziling's casual face.
"I killed them." She walked out calmly, looking at the exhumed corpses. The corners of her mouth curled into a mocking smile.
The celestial soldiers' gazes fell upon her, and after a moment of stunned silence, the leader extended his hand and commanded sternly, "Guards, seize her!"
"Wait!" Just then, another group of disciples dressed in white robes arrived at the entrance, walking orderly towards the crowd.
Holding long swords and bearing tokens on their waists, they strode forward and went directly to Ye Ziling, cupping their hands respectfully and saying, "Disciples are late, we await the Palace Mistress's punishment."
The celestial soldiers stood frozen on the spot, momentarily unsure of what to do.
Palace Mistress?
"Rise." A faint coldness lingered in Ye Ziling's eyes. She looked left and right and asked, "Why hasn't Commander Mu arrived yet?"
The disciple looked up respectfully and replied, "The Commander has a stomachache and went to relieve himself..."
"..."