Calamity Messenger-Chapter 89 - 71: Encirclement and Slaughter (Fourth Update)

"She’s gone mad."

"What a pity, such a prodigy."

"Lu Wangji was loyal to the state all his life, never thought he’d end up like this."

No one responded to Jiang Shi’s words at all. Lu Wangji’s death did not gain Jiang Shi any respect; instead, it made others lose the desire to deal with her. After all, communication is something done with people, but in their eyes, Jiang Shi was no longer considered human, just a mad dog without bounds.

What a mad dog deserves isn’t communication, but sticks and butcher’s knives.

"Jie Zilong, Shang Yue, are your families going to continue protecting this lunatic?" Chen Linchuan’s voice was full of mockery. "If you two want to help her escape, there’s really nothing we can do."

Jie Zilong shot Chen Linchuan a cold glance. When Jiang Shi was chasing Lu Wangji, only he, Shang Yue, and Zhou Ye truly exerted effort. Qunyu Book pretended to be half a step slow and did nothing, while Chen Linchuan deliberately meddled, rushing ahead to block their attacks, giving Jiang Shi enough time to strike.

He had to admit, he had underestimated Chen Linchuan, this seemingly reckless and impulsive soldier in the Chen Family’s messenger rank, who actually had deep cunning. The moment Jiang Shi assassinated Lu Wangji, he immediately recognized it as a rare opportunity. While others were intercepting Jiang Shi, only he was sincerely ’helping’ her.

Not all malice is a blatant knife; it can also be packaged as encouragement when you are headed for doom.

From the moment Jiang Shi killed Lu Wangji, she was no longer an individual worth investing in.

"Old Lu was my friend," Zhou Ye discarded his usual kindly smile, expressionless as he took out a wine gourd, pouring wine on his long saber, as if commemorating a dead friend, "Even if you don’t intend to intervene, I hope you won’t stop me, unless..."

With a strong swing, the long saber ignited like a fire stick, transforming into a blazing Flame Long Saber!

"Do you also want to taste the wrath of the Fire Saber?" His voice was icy, the anger fierce as flames!

The Flame Long Saber, though it seemed ordinary at first, made everyone around Zhou Ye involuntarily step back. The scorching heat of the blade even wilted the wild grass on the ground, leaving them in shock at how Zhou Ye controlled such a violent flame.

"The third rule of the Twelve Jade Laws: anyone who murders a court official is deemed a rebel. Rebellion is one of the ten heinous crimes, unforgivable," Shang Yue said calmly. "The eleventh rule states that anyone who witnesses such crimes and does not punish them will be demoted to Ninth Grade continuously; those who harbor the ten evils are also deemed as committing one of the ten evils!"

"As one of the few who hold the highest status and strength in the camp, I cannot avoid this. Especially when things have reached this point, I cannot escape responsibility either." He coughed, took a plain flask from his waist, and poured water on the grass. "I, Shang Yue, will capture Jiang Shi and plead guilty to the Court!"

Jie Zilong removed his outer robe, revealing the Heart-Protecting Mirror and Vajra Arm Guard inside. He glanced at Jie Yuan Shao not far away, shaking his head slowly.

"Jiang Shi, to think I once considered you a talent, but now it appears you can’t understand human words." Jie Zilong said calmly, "The Liang Kingdom is vast, accommodating geniuses, talents, even mediocrities, but has no place for fools. It’s clear you still think you’re right, even feel qualified to be arrogant, which is ludicrous. The only thing I am thankful for is that you didn’t join the Jie Family, for surely you would have brought disaster upon us."

"The Forbidden Army Spear Instructor of the North River Military Town, Jie Zilong, pledges to capture Jiang Shi and plead guilty to the Court!"

Chen Linchuan sneered, twisting his fingers to conjure a giant sword out of thin air: "Lu Xiaoqi was assassinated in public, I, Chen, cannot escape blame, pledges to capture Jiang Shi and plead guilty to the Court!"

Among the five great families in the camp, only Qunyu Book had yet to make a statement. Noticing everyone’s gaze, Qunyu Book shrugged helplessly: "I’m only at the second rotation; even if I don’t take action, it can’t be blamed on me... Fine, Qunyu Book, like everyone else, pledges to capture Jiang Shi and plead guilty to the Court!"

It’s over.

Jiang Shi is completely finished.

Shang Xinlei felt someone clutch her left hand tightly, turned to see Qian Gongyu’s tear-streaked, snot-smudged young face. The latter didn’t know what to say, just shook Shang Xinlei’s arm like a small tiger, the plea in her eyes unmistakable.

"There’s nothing we can do." Shang Xinlei shook her head. "Really, there’s nothing. She killed Lu Wangji in broad daylight, directly opposing the Court."

"Opposing the Court means opposing the Liang Kingdom, the Imperial Family, the great families. When Great Liang Ancestor established the Twelve Jade Laws, no one dared defy them. Do you know why? Because Great Liang Ancestor was a sixth-rotation messenger, sweeping the contemporary era, and the Shao Royal Family of Liang Kingdom has always been bolstered by Foundation Establishment, so we the seven great families swore to adhere to the Twelve Jade Laws. The law of the strong is the destiny of the weak."

"There is no place for Jiang Shi in the Liang Kingdom anymore."

Qian Gongyu trembled, suddenly rubbed her eyes dry and stood up, but just then, Jie Yuan Shao suddenly grabbed her neck and threw her to the ground, muffling her mouth with his arm before Qian Gongyu could react.

"Quick, tie her up." Jie Yuan Shao instructed.

Once Shang Xinlei tied Qian Gongyu securely, Jie Yuan Shao withdrew her arm, looking down to find it already bitten with deep holes. She gasped, "You sure have good teeth after transformation."

"Let me go!" Qian Gongyu squirmed like a caterpillar on the ground, crying, "Why are you tying me up!"

"So you don’t do anything foolish," Jie Yuan Shao said. "This is also...the only thing we can do for Jiang Shi."

"Xiaoyu, even if you don’t think for yourself, think for the Qian Family." Shang Xinlei asked solemnly, "Do you want to drag the Qian Family into hell with you?"

Qian Gongyu’s cries slowly diminished. Just as everyone thought she had calmed down, she suddenly began to struggle violently again, even attempting to transform once more! Jie Yuan Shao and Shang Xinlei had to suppress her together to prevent her from breaking free!

"Qian Gongyu, are you mad too!? Do you want to destroy the Qian Family to feel fulfilled? You’ll die!"

"I’m not mad!" Qian Gongyu sniffled hard, hoarsely saying, "Of course I don’t want to implicate the Qian Family. I dream of revitalizing the family; I’m scared to death. Just thinking the Qian Family could fall from prominence makes me so sad I wouldn’t know how to face my deceased father, so how could I be happy..."

"But..."

"Even so, it doesn’t matter!" The tiger girl shouted hoarsely, "I can’t let her fight alone, even if it’s just me. You let me go—" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Shang Xinlei stuffed a handkerchief into Qian Gongyu’s mouth to stop her from saying more unsuitable words. But looking at the tear-filled face of Qian Gongyu, she suddenly felt a bit envious. At least Qian Gongyu could reveal her true emotions without care, but she could not.

She certainly sympathized with Jiang Shi, but she had to prioritize the interests of the Shang Family. Descendants of noble families are born into wealth and have to bear corresponding responsibilities, as with her elder brother, her third brother, and especially herself.

Jiang Shi is beyond saving. Killing Lu Wangji was only unexpected, but now with four third-rotation encircling her, all messengers from noble families, with no lack of Spiritual Jade, uninterrupted, no one under Foundation Establishment in the Liang Kingdom can stop them, not to mention over thirty soldiers wielding Divine Machine Crossbows.

If there really was someone in this world who could save Jiang Shi, it would probably only be... A shadow crossed Shang Xinlei’s mind, and she let out a chuckle, thinking how that scum would never put themselves in danger.

"Ah!"

Suddenly a scream pierced the camp, making them turn and causing their pupils to contract, as if witnessing an unbelievable scene.