Chapter 68: Obstruction
Was she insane?
Countless eyes stared at Jiang Ten, from the noble disciples watching from the outer edges, to the soldiers holding Divine Crossbows, and even those at the camp center such as Lu Wangji. Everyone was stunned by Jiang Ten's sudden action. It was as if, just before the storm had settled, a lone fisherman still drifting on the sea began chanting a mad testimony, summoning a tsunami that blotted out the sky.
Everything had clearly come to an end. The murder case had been raised high and put down gently. Though she failed to join the Jie Family and the Shang Family, she could still progress further by entering the Huainan Underground Palace Secret Realm. The pressure from the other noble families had been dissolved, and she could claim sixty percent of the rewards from the Mansu Woodland—this could well be called a complete retreat.
Before this, even without the murder case, many privately believed that Jiang Ten would have to pay a heavy price to leave the woodland. The Qian Family couldn’t protect her. As a commoner, a Black Band, and more importantly, as a weakling, she had claimed the sweetest portion of the Mansu Woodland, like a child recklessly driving a gold-filled carriage down a main street.
The Liang Kingdom was a nation that valued law above all, but it was not merciful enough to allow the weak to possess power beyond their capability. Power could come from family, connections, or combat ability. Thanks to the presence of the Jie Family’s young lady and the Shang Family’s fourth young miss in Jiang Ten’s team, she had the right to a year of growth and to reclaim sixty percent of the treasure chest’s profits.
No one felt this was unfair. Even Qian Gongyu believed this to be the case. In this world, there had never been a so-called ‘fairness’ taken for granted. All resources flowed dynamically between the strong and the weak. To be precise, Jiang Ten wasn’t even qualified to claim the treasure chest: as an unregistered citizen, anything she gained on the land of the Liang Kingdom was technically illegal.
This was a result everyone could accept, even those like Shang Xinlei, who genuinely cared about Jiang Ten, believed there was no way to secure better terms. But none of them had ever considered whether Jiang Ten herself could accept this result.
Did they truly understand Jiang Ten?
Life, future, profit, freedom, emotion—just how much did these things matter in Jiang Ten’s eyes?
“Jiang Ten, calm down!”
The ones who stepped in first to stop Jiang Ten were not Lu Wangji or Chen Linchuan, but Shang Yue and Jie Zilong. If there was anyone who could stop this tsunami now, it was likely just the two of them. Thus, Lu Wangji and the others remained silent and allowed them to negotiate with Jiang Ten.
“If you have any dissatisfaction, you can tell us. Don’t ruin everything on your own!” Jie Zilong tried hard to suppress his fury. As the Spear Instructor of Jiangbei Garrison, he was far from a good-tempered man. “If you were framed, just admit it. Do you think acting like this makes you seem arrogant, sober, and above everyone else? Do you know what we call someone like you back in my hometown? A simpleton! How can someone be this foolish!”
“Jie Instructor, calm down.” Shang Yue placed a hand on Jie Zilong’s shoulder. “You were young once too. Facing injustice, it’s natural for a young person to lose control of their emotions. We may be used to backing down, compromising, and enduring—but for a spirited youth, these are unbearable humiliations.”
“Jiang Ten, anyone would be angry if they were framed. I understand.” He sighed. “But I hope you can also understand us—they premeditated this long ago. We don’t have the evidence to prove your innocence. We’ve done all we can.”
“Though we haven’t known each other long, I can see that Xinlei, the young miss of the Jie Family, and the young miss of the Qian Family all regard you as an important friend. I know you’re not afraid of death, not afraid of authority. You’re like a blade that breaks rather than bends. But for your friends’ sake, as your older brother, I beg you—can you swallow your pride, just this once?”
“Live on, become stronger, then take your revenge.” Shang Yue stepped aside, revealing those behind him to Jiang Ten. “Remember their faces, then take revenge one by one. Your friends will help you. We will help you too.”
“Jiang Ten, you don’t have to fight the whole world alone. You can trust your friends, trust us. More importantly, you must trust in your own future. Why bother with these petty villains?”
Jie Zilong’s frustration came from disappointment.
Shang Yue’s advice came from sincere concern.
Whether Jiang Ten was convinced remained unknown, but Qian Gongyu and the others had already been swayed. Jie Yuanshao stepped forward past the crowd and grabbed the arm with which Jiang Ten held her blade, her face full of pleading. “Jiang Ten, leave this to us. I swear on the name of the Jie Family, we will see justice done for you.”
“Jiang Ten.” Shang Xinlei reached out and pressed down the White Iron Straight Blade, saying, “Just as we trusted you unconditionally in the Mansu Woodland, it’s now your turn to trust us outside.”
Qian Gongyu said nothing. She had no ability to make any promises. All she could do was bite her lip and look at Jiang Ten, her eyes filled with worry and unease.
Facing everyone’s concern, Jiang Ten fell silent for a moment before slowly lowering her Long Blade, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief. Yet for some reason, Shang Xinlei felt a sense of loss in her heart.
She recalled a private conversation she had with Jiang Ten.
‘Shang Xinlei, unlike you, I have no one I can rely on, nor do I need anyone to rely on.’
Previously, Shang Xinlei had focused on the first part—‘I have no one I can rely on.’ That was why she so strongly hoped Jiang Ten would join the Shang Family. She believed that with the protection of a powerful faction, Jiang Ten wouldn’t be so reckless or self-destructive, nor be manipulated by people like Yellow Dog, and could look forward to a better future.
But… what if the real emphasis in Jiang Ten’s words was actually the latter part—‘nor do I need anyone to rely on’?
Only without attachments could one charge forward unimpeded.
If the blade had returned to its sheath, who else could it cut?
The Shang Family, the Jie Family, Jie Yuanshao, Qian Gongyu, and even herself—they had all become a network of connections binding Jiang Ten, forcing this genius who lived on the blade’s edge to consider consequences, the bigger picture, and the future. And they genuinely cared for her, with not a trace of ill intent. Even her elder brother Shang Yue and Jie Zilong had not participated in the plot to frame Jiang Ten. On the contrary, they had sacrificed the yield of a Second-Stage Secret Realm to secure her a year of respite.
If blame was to be cast, it should be upon Lu Wangji and the others who framed her, or Qun Yushu and his cohort who fanned the flames. But they represented the Court and the other noble families. Jiang Ten was now isolated and weak—should she really throw herself against a stone wall?
Such was the way of the world. One could only do what one could.
In truth, could anyone in this world truly be free of reliance? The human world was a vast net, and interests bound everyone tightly. To break free of this web—one must be either a beast, or a god.
Jiang Ten’s confidence was nothing more than the arrogance of a child.