章 17: Savior? Never has there been a savior.
The cold wind swirled through the untidy streets, gently slipping through the crevices of the dilapidated wooden door, and slightly infiltrating the uninviting interior of the lowly abode. Yet, more chilling than the icy breeze was the man's frigid tone.
"Do you wish for me to intervene?"
Under the man's icy gaze, the little fox instinctively recoiled, letting out a soft whimper, "Wuu... wuuji..."
"Ah, I recognize that the little girl is quite pitiable, but there are countless unfortunate souls in this world. Even if you were to assist every single one you encountered, your efforts would be but a drop in the ocean. Therefore," his indifferent tone delivered a callous verdict, "it would be best to stow away that cheap sympathy. Valoran does not require compassion; one must rely solely on oneself for salvation."
Clearly, the man's words failed to sway the little creature, who continued to gaze up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
"…"
(Ha ha ha ha ha... human boy, it seems your attempts at persuasion are entirely futile. So, what will it be? Will you ultimately take action? Hurry, hurry! I can hardly wait to witness the beautiful spectacle of those wretched humans' blood cascading through the air, their organs shattering within their bodies, ha ha ha... Go on! Burst forth and slay that group of miscreants outside!!! Ha ha ha...)
Indifferently rubbing his brow, Xiao Mu Yu chose to ignore the demon's raucous taunts. He merely continued to observe the little creature with cold detachment, speaking once more, "Allow me to rephrase: how can you be certain that I am capable of overcoming those thugs outside? Look at them; they are so robust, resembling little giants compared to my frail form. Perhaps the moment I charge out, I would be torn to shreds."
"Wuu... wuuji..." The little creature paused, bewildered as it glanced between Xiao Mu Yu's seemingly fragile figure beneath the cloak and the brawny men outside, who loomed like mountains.
"Even if those thugs were not my match, seizing the prey from that middle-aged nobleman would undoubtedly incite his wrath. Can you truly guarantee that he lacks the power to easily dispatch my subordinates?" His voice remained devoid of emotion, and Xiao Mu Yu's gaze caused the little creature's head to droop gradually.
"Even assuming, hypothetically, that fortune favors us and none of that nobleman's underlings possess greater strength than I, can you assure me that he does not know individuals far more powerful?" he inquired coldly, causing the little fox's once-perky ears to droop in disheartenment.
"One must understand that the world of nobility is intricately intertwined; perhaps even an inconspicuous minor noble is connected to influential figures of great power. Can you truly assert that the forces behind that middle-aged nobleman do not include those capable of easily ending my life? It is possible that by intervening to rescue that unfortunate girl, I may inadvertently attract formidable adversaries, leading to my own demise." His expression remained unchanged as he posed the question, "Even under these circumstances, do you still wish for me to act?"
"Wuu... wuuji... wuuji..." The little creature was utterly lost, its pitiful gaze flitting between its frail master and the girl being forcibly taken away like a lifeless puppet. Confusion clouded its small eyes.
(Ha ha ha... human boy, what a splendid debate!!! Ha ha ha... if you were to become a lawyer one day, I am certain you would achieve great fame, ha ha ha... It has been ages since I have witnessed such an exquisite display—cold, selfish, and brimming with self-serving rhetoric, ha ha ha... If you were to become a demon, you would undoubtedly be the most persuasive of them all, ha ha ha...)
Ignoring the loud jeering within his consciousness, Xiao Mu Yu turned away with indifference, the tattered cloak billowing slightly as he refrained from casting even a glance at the girl being led away.
As for the fate of the girl to come?
Ha, who knows?
However, a voice pierced the frigid winter wind, halting the man's indifferent stride.
"Yaya! My daughter! What has happened to you? Let her go! Let her go!!!"
It was a heart-wrenching cry, as if the caller had expended every ounce of strength. The sorrow echoed like the lament of a frail beast returning home only to discover its offspring ensnared within the jaws of a predator. Even the most hardened executioner would shed tears upon hearing such a sound.
Yet, the cold statue of indifference remained unmoved by the sorrows of the mortal realm.
The man merely turned back, once more absorbing the unfolding scene with icy detachment, his gaze as frigid as frozen steel.
In the now raging snowstorm, a pitiful middle-aged woman, frail as a withered twig, lunged desperately toward her daughter, frantically clawing at the robust thugs. Her frantic, desperate struggle was a sight so heart-wrenching it was unbearable to witness, evoking tears from even the most stoic onlooker.
However, how much strength could be contained within her emaciated body, ravaged by years of illness? Despite her best efforts to grasp and tear at the filthy hands of her captors, she remained powerless against their formidable grip.
Ultimately, in a moment of utter desperation, the deranged woman summoned every ounce of her strength and bit down hard on one of the muscular arms, eliciting a pained scream.
"Ugh!!!"
The bitten thug swung his arm violently, and in an instant, the frail woman was hurled through the air like a tattered sack, her helpless form tracing an arc through the biting wind and snow. Ultimately, with a dull thud, she crashed onto the filthy cobblestone street.
Crimson blood trickled down her gaunt, hollowed cheeks, reminiscent of a skull, yet it could not obscure the glimmer of madness in her eyes.
"Let her go! Release her at once!!! Let her go!!!"
In a state of delirium, the woman struggled to crawl toward the thugs, her emaciated body leaving a shocking crimson trail upon the dirty ground. The middle-aged woman reached desperately for her daughter, as if pleading for mercy, or perhaps silently indicting this cruel world.
"You... you... let her go! Yaya... my daughter... my poor Yaya... come back... please come back..."
Spitting disdainfully at the frail figure of the middle-aged woman as she crawled, the bitten thug cursed irritably, "Damn it! You worthless hag, your daughter has already been sold to our casino by your husband! She is no longer your daughter, so get your facts straight! She now belongs to our lord the Count! Bah! Wretched woman! Wretched woman!"
Rubbing his wrist, which bore the marks of red teeth, the thug continued to rant, his irritation palpable. Were it not for the multitude of onlookers surrounding them, he would have relished the opportunity to stomp on the head of this contemptible old woman, eager to see if her skull was as hard as her teeth!
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