To Kill Or Not To Kill

*Things like sexism and racism are purely for worldbuilding and to make it more realistic. Thank you for your understanding.*

Jiang led Chu Hua through the mess of broken walls and strewn bodies, squelching mud and excrement underfoot. The place stank like hell, and the screams of the dead were in the walls and seemed to be haunting Chu Hua.

Jiang seemed to understand Chu Hua's frailty, but that didn't stop him from looking down upon it. The girl thought she had the strength to kill, and she did kill, but the weight on her mind was something she couldn't bear.

It seemed she simply wasn't hateful enough to kill someone and then spit on the corpse without a second thought.

"Now remember my words, Junior Chu." Jiang said from in front of Chu Hua without even looking back.

He continued. "If you do not steel yourself to kill, it is an insult to your former determination. We are cultivators, we are immortals. Thousands of years wait before us and they will change us. But remember, the less you change, the truer you are. Forgive my grave words that may seem irrelevant or even cruel, but you must weed out weakness while you are aware of it, otherwise, it will be the hated reason for your demise.

Remember, the forgiving is faced by enemies in front and enemies behind, while the unforgiving have only corpses behind them."

Chu Hua did not answer but had a complex expression on her face. Of course, many people had an idea of what they thought the profundities of ideology and life were, yet this Jiang seemed to be so resolved. It made her submissive towards him as a result of no self-confidence.

"You don't have to listen to me and I would prefer for you to decide for yourself. However, if, with all the power we immortals have, can't do whatever we want; whether it is aversion, ideology or even weakness that is stopping us, doesn't that make us false gods? Even if you don't want to, you must have the power to, because only you will suffer if you can't.

Can you predict the future? What if, to save yourself or those close to you, you had to kill another? The only one stopping you is yourself. The only one making you regret is yourself. Do you understand me, Junior Chu?"

Chu Hua just looked distraught and unsure of herself. At this moment, only after all that Jiang had said, she realised that her mere aversion to killing could spell out disasters in the future. It was as he said: no one could predict the future. And yet, she couldn't see herself overcoming that darkness in her mind. Didn't that mean she was doomed to fall?

Her thoughts were crazy and bad omens were conjured in her mind. She was overthinking and introspective, yet she only gained misery from it.

Finally, a light emerged from the darkness encasing the two and a narrow doorway led to a spread of light. Within it, bustling noise and boisterous movements were all around. It was the courtyard in the centre of the complex, the place which they had seen before.

As she saw Jiang approaching the jovially laughing men with full intention to cleave them in half, yet there were completely oblivious to it, Chu Hua felt uncomfortably sick.

They looked so happy, and death was so far away from them. However, there was a gruesome god of death looming above. What were their sins? Did they deserve to die? What makes a person worthy of death? Is anything worthy of death, after all, it is the most precious thing; and to take it is simply audacious. Who is worthy of taking life? The gods?

Chu Hua's mind was full of sorrow and unease. She wanted to reach out and grab the orange robes before her, to tell Jiang of her thoughts. Killing was so cruel after all, and if gods were real, wasn't it heresy to take a life granted so kindly?

However, before she could reach out and snatch the cotton and velvet, they slipped away. Like everything she thought she resolved herself to be, it all slipped away due to inadequacy.

Chu Hua watched Jiang stride forward into the light, thrusting himself into the position of power instantly as she watched on with almost dread. Was it a sin to be kind? Kindness wasn't self-serving, true, but wasn't it the path of contentment? Of all that is granted in equal exchange, to be a servant of existence and give back what was taken?

The path of fairness.

"You are?" A rather jolly bear-like man looked over to Jiang as he saw him emerge. He asked with a kind smile on his face as if he was too happy to be perturbed by anything. He spoke with a deep, soothing voice.

Jiang didn't stop approaching and looked determined, yet had a smile of anticipation which unnerved the man. However, he thought nothing of it as he didn't have the time to.

"Your death."

At the same instant, those words were spoken, not half a second after, before the man even had a change in expression to Jiang's words, a flame was lit.

Hundreds of fist-sized explosions riddled the jolly man's body and instant cast him ablaze. Like a child of fire, his silhouette was darkened within the raging flames that burned a bright orange.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!" An ear-piercing screech that was so high-pitched it made the skin crawl and the ears twitch instantly came from within the flame. The soft, soothing voice had transformed into something malformed by deathly pain, and Chu Hua cringed as she shed tears from the sheer uncomfortable horror.

But, yet again, merely a second after the screech resounded, a large explosion lit from within the flame and exploded with dark smoke that extinguished the previously burning flame. Part of the earth disappeared and there was simply nothing there but a strand of whisping smoke that lingered. And yet, that strand was so small it was inconsequential.

Vanished. Killed to nothingness.

"Fuckin' 'ell, what was that?"

"My god, scared the shit outta me!"

"Cut that shit out!"

Shouts came from all over the courtyard as they looked over at Jiang and the small spot of scorched earth that was close by.

"They don't know..." A small whisper escaped from Chu Hua as her eyes widened with strange pity.

After merely sending Jiang a glance, and looking at the tiny hole in the earth that was unremarkable, the bustling continued. However, that didn't stop some people from laughing about how the sudden "bang" scared them.

Jiang had the same smile on his face, yet his eyes had curled into crescent moons, making his expression somewhat unreadable. It was the sort of face that would prompt someone to ask if he was alright, yet if he told them he was, they wouldn't think twice and believe him.

"Funny." Jiang said in a plain voice before he suddenly vanished.

Reappearing behind two men and sending a hand through the chests of both of them, skewering them on a single arm and holding it outstretched to the side, so as to let their killed bodies dangle there, shouts finally escaped all around.

However, would Jiang react to mere words when he had already decided that everyone here was dead? Whether it was pleas, begs of mercy, a promise of riches, talks of children and wives, cries of anger, curses of damnation, or even terrified wailings and tears; Jiang was unresponsive.

If one talked to him, it would be as if he was deaf. And the unreasonable slaughter made one petrified as there was simply no way to avoid death.

Chu Hua's eyes glimmered with tears at first, however, the tears eventually dried. And in those eyes, there was sadness but no tears. In her body, there was strength but no will. She watched the slaughter with no sadness, only hate.

Chu Hua tried to make herself hate those that were killed, trying to soothe her aching chest and shaking hands. However, she couldn't, not now.

And so, she justified the slaughter. She bargained with it. Death was a punishment, and it could be given. People are cruel, people are worthy of death. Everybody sins, hell is waiting for everybody. No one is truly pure, hearts are led astray, thoughts wander, and people are not true to their words.

In an instant, Chu Hua's mind did a flip. Everything seemed to make so much sense, no matter which side of the argument she cast her mind to.

Death was sacred. Was it?

Death was deserved. Was it?

Who cares, what matters is before my eyes. Is it?

So many thoughts ran through her mind, yet she found herself coping with death. Maybe ideology is just an excuse for the truth that a reason is not needed to do anything. People just do what they want to. As for how she was to feel about it, she wasn't sure yet.

'Steps..?'

However, Chu Hua was cast from her thoughts as she was surprised to realise there were footsteps.

Behind her.

Jiang was still slaughtering in the courtyard and the wails were ever-present in her ears, yet Chu Hua was scared as she realised. She didn't dare to turn around to the footsteps, and instead clenched her fists.

However, as soon as she did that, and her posture made a slight incline as she felt the danger from behind, the footsteps became louder and faster, rushing towards her! So close, she could feel the wind!

Chu Hua didn't dare to fight as she rushed forward at the fastest speed of her life. She ran forwards and her body was shaking as she thought of the hand reaching out to grab her! She ran towards Jiang who turned towards her strangely, as he didn't expect her to come running towards him.

The first thought that ran through his mind was that she had found her resolve and wanted to join in? Other than that, maybe she wanted a hug? How strange.

However, when his Stage 5 eyes pierced through her and into the darkness of the building that Chu Hua had just run from, his eyes became strangely nervous.

'What are they doing here?' Jiang thought as he crushed a spine in two. His solemnity was reflected in the fact that he didn't put on a show for Chu Hua any longer and simply caused all the low-level cultivators to explode from the inside in an instant.

After a moment, the only sound was the pattering of fallen flesh and the heavy steps Chu Hua took as she ran towards the solemn Jiang. No more bodied stood other than the two, and the ground was washed with wet flesh.

"Cousin Jiang, there is someone there! I didn't notice them approach until the last moment; they are likely extremely powerful, not someone we can fight!" Chu Hua frantically said hushedly as she reached Jiang and stood by him as she, too, stared at the building with caution.

"Kill the boy, and leave her alive and uninjured. She is coming back to the Hidden City with us."

A heavy voice suddenly resounded from the sky and encompassed the entire place as Chu Hua jumped in fright, while Jiang remained the same.

As soon as that voice spoke, a dozen white-robed figures appeared from nothingness. Dark corners, alleys, rooftops; everywhere. They were hidden in plain sight and seeing them all appear, terror struck Chu Hua.

The figures all had large hoods that completely covered their faces and there was gold woven into their white robes, making them look like holy angels passing judgment. However, there was one glaring feature.

A huge golden star is weaved on the backs of every single one of them.

"T-they're from the Temple!!" Chu Hua subconscious cried out in fright.

Others wore the bright-white and silver armour of a holy Templar that was visible beneath the robes, and a helmet covered their faces. However, there was still a metal golden star branded into the breast piece all the same.

Just over a dozen figures and every single one of them incited a feeling of terror in Chu Hua. Their strengths couldn't be seen, and the resentment in their gazes petrified her to the spot. She was shaking as she stood beside Jiang, yet he still did nothing and stood there with an expression of annoyance and solemnity.

Suddenly, however, Jiang moved. But not towards any of the white figures, but to right beside him. A swift hand descended that landed upon the Chu Hua's neck and struck with a harmless force that instantly sent her unconscious.

The figures halted for a moment before they reassessed Jiang and continued to slowly move toward him. Their strengths were revealed and the heavy weight of their powerful bodies struck the floor like a hammer from all sides. It was like a drum of war.

And then, the first to move vanished.

A white-caped knight of white and gold flashed before Jiang, his feet cracking the ground with tremendous strength!

"Die."

The templar struck out harshly with a straight sword that appeared in his hand from nothing, and aimed right for Jiang's heart! The force of the blade made the air crack and rings of pressure burst out from the glimmering blade as it aimed to pierce Jiang's heart!

The other white figures seemed to slowly approach boredly, as if the brat would surely die from the templar's attack. He simply didn't stand a chance to even sustain a complete corpse, let alone survive.

However, right as the blade was about to pierce Jiang's body, his entire image flashed and a hooded shirt appeared on his body in place of the fashionable robes he was wearing. The hood covered his head and made his eyes cast in shadow. However, two blaring irises of orange spread out with fury aimed at the templar that had his blade aimed at Jiang's heart.

Jiang didn't take any further action and only changed what he was wearing and covered his face, however, the templar shuddered visibly as he saw that. He tried to slow his blade, but it was too late and the sword struck a centimetre into Jiang before the templar stilled the blade, and a tiny stain of blood appeared on the shirt Jiang wore.

The other figures that were disdainfully approaching recoiled harshly before smashing the ground with force as they all kneeled towards Jiang!

The templar hurriedly backed away before going further and kowtowing to Jiang, even going so far as to offer up his blade above his head to Jiang, for him to punish however he liked.

"My sincerest apologies, Lord Captain Jiang... I-i didn't know..."

A crestfallen voice came from beneath the helmet and had extremely piteous remorse and he begged Jiang for forgiveness!

"Get out of my sight." Jiang merely snorted and harshly remarked as he disdainfully sneered at the soldier.

"Yes, Lord Captain!" The templar did not delay a second as he hurriedly retreated away from the scene.

However, Jiang did not even acknowledge his presence after that and only cast his gaze on a rooftop that was empty before. However, now, there stood a domineering figure. He wore white plated armour that looked like an ancient relic and looked extremely war-torn.

However, the most noticeable thing about him was that he wore a white mask. The mask was engraved with the face of a weeping man on the left side, but had an engraving of bloodshot anger on the other side. The mask was detailed and a work of art, and even glimmered with faint light, showing that the mask was extraordinary. However, that glint was overcast by a grey light that shone extremely brightly from the eyes of the mask.

There stood two people on either side of him that appeared from nowhere also. However, they wore the clothes of an Archduke belonging to the Temple, something equivalent to an Elder in the Freedom Alliance or a Baron in the City Administration.

"What are you doing here?" Jiang asked bluntly and fiercely.

The masked individual did not move nor speak, but instead jumped down and approached Jiang with the Archdukes in tow.

Seeing the masked figure descend, the other figures kneeled deeper and more reverently.

The masked figure walked past Jiang who was looking at him eerily after being ignored, and stood over the unconscious Chu Hua. So close now, his stature was an enormous seven feet tall and his armour now seemed like an iron fortress as he stood over Chu Hua.

And then, he finally spoke.

"I...am here for this girl."

He spoke slowly and with pause. His voice was a deep whisper, yet loud as if he was unable of speaking normally. It made one wonder what was beneath the mask.

"The girl?" Jiang frowned and looked at the dainty face of the unconscious Chu Hua.

"She is wanting to be silenced by the Temple, and thus, us; the Hidden City. The King has decreed it so to be as covert as possible. This girl is a loose end." The masked figure monologued as he just creepily stared at Chu Hua. He was so strange he didn't even seem human.

Jiang's face flashed with a lot of doubt as thoughts ran through his mind as he stared at Chu Hua.

"You must be confused, Jiang. I see that you were toying with the girl, not knowing who she was. That can be forgiven." The masked figure strangely turned his neck to look at Jiang.

"The Hidden City has seized the Temple, this you know. The girl here is a remnant of the monarch family of the Temple, its last daughter. She was missed and escaped with information that cannot be known." The mask was forever unchanging, yet the voice came still.

"The Qing family?" Jiang muttered.

"Qing Chu Hua is her true name, that she must have kept from you." The mask replied.

Jiang suddenly smiled as usual after the confusion and spoke. "But what warrants General Baise's coming here. You could have notified me and I would have silenced the girl for good."

"I prefer to be present. I hate mistakes. Alas, you killing the girl would compromise your infiltration. Thus, I was sent forth by men. However, I did not anticipate a connection between you two. Though not impossible, unlikely." General Baise replied with a scary whisper.

The two Archdukes beside him were Stage 5 and Captains just like Jiang. However, they were subservient to the masked Baise, as he was a General. Generals were only one rung higher than Captain, yet the difference was immeasurable, be it strength or authority.

There were only three Generals within the entirety of the Hidden City, and General Baise Mianju was the oldest, strongest and most trusted by the King himself. Despite being the son of the King, Jiang could not compare.

But even so, Jiang turned towards Baise Mianju and spoke.

"General Baise, does the girl truly have to die?"

The expressionless mask was completely silent as it just stared at Jiang. After half a minute, the whispering voice came once again.

"Now, this...is unexpected. Does the child grow attached to his toy? You make me laugh, boy." However, the voice was as cold as ice despite the words.

"Haha, General, don't be quick to assume." Jiang laughed merrily despite the insult; Baise Mianju was just that domineering. "The girl has come to play an important part of my mission, in which I seek the status of Elder." Jiang did not elaborate further and waited for the reaction of the General.

"Isn't that what the pawn surnamed Wang is for, no?"

Jiang frowned. He had not been reporting the activities of his infiltration to anyone, meaning that someone was keeping tabs on him from the shadows. Maybe the other infiltrators that he didn't even know the identity of.

"I have plans in motion. The identity of the girl has become clear to me, yes, but her importance to the Alliance has yet to be shown. My slave surnamed Wang, is inquiring to an Elder as we speak. If it comes to be that even he has no inklings, what does that suggest?" Jiang spoke with confidence.

General Baise was once again silent, seemingly in thought behind his mask.

"That does not mean the girl must stay untouched. I advise you to lay a Slave Formation upon her, otherwise, my doubts will be told to any willing ears." Baise Mianju threatened.

Jiang had a slight shake in his eyes, yet he did not let his true feelings show as he nodded smilingly.

He reached into his sleeves and pulled out a jade slip which contained a Good Tier 2 Slave Branding Formation, which could subdue even Stage 4 cultivators.

The slip cracked between his fingers and turned to glittering green dust that swept towards Qing Chu Hua's unconscious body. It was about to bind with her and burn itself onto her skin, however, that's when something unforeseen happened.

As soon as the dust was about to fuse with her body, an extremely blinding light shone from her breast! It was a deep blue light that seemed to contain unimaginable power that the two of them could not react to.

In an instant, the blue light defensively reacted to the provocation and struck out. Instantly, light encompassed the entire place. Everyone else but the two Archdukes, Jiang and General Baise turned to ash!

Jiang and the Archdukes were thrown several thousands of meters into the distance!

General Baise, however, merely slid several meters back as his body forcefully bore the brunt of the terrifying force!

After a few moments, the light returned to Qing Chu Hua's breast and directly into a seemingly ordinary necklace that was worn around her neck.

Baise Mianju silently stared at the necklace around her neck for a long while before any words formed. And it was but a single one.

"Interesting."

*3,698/3,000 words*