32 A Sword of Justice

Ying was not ready, and the bandit's sword slashed her waist. Luckily the blade didn't penetrate deeply on her waist. Ying shouted as she was shocked. Blood spurted from her waist.

She felt unbearable pain, but she knew that she wouldn't die because she's immortal. "I died once because of bandits! Today, if I can't kill a bandit, then I will not rest in peace!" Ying growled.

Although she felt pain because of her wound, Ying didn't give up. Ying fought bravely, although she didn't know any martial art or swordsmanship. After a while, she managed to make the bandit fall to the ground. Immediately she used her bow to hit the bandit's head repeatedly. With her rage, she struck very hard, and with repeated blows on his head, the bandit died with quite a terrible head wound.

Ying still didn't stop. She took the sword from the bandit's hand and stabbed it into the bandit's heart, shouting, "Now you know what death tastes like!"

Time seemed to stop for Ying. In the past, Ying, Xi Shi, and Zheng Dan pushed the bandit who was stealing their chariot until he fell off and died. She didn't feel guilty because it wasn't her own hands that killed the bandits. Nor when she shot the other bandit with an arrow on his head – as he instantly died and she didn't have to see his dying face.

But this time, Ying with her own hands beat the bandit's head to death. She saw how the bandit was in pain and dying. She was also the one who stabbed the sword into the bandit's heart to finish him.

Ying did not understand her feelings. She didn't know how to describe it.

It was as if she was not on earth, and only returned to the world in the village when she heard the sound of a baby crying.

Ying turned and saw the woman she saw earlier, carrying her baby earlier. Her compassion arose toward the woman and her baby.

She approached the woman and asked, "Madame, is he okay?"

The woman cried and said, "My baby fell, but he seems fine and only startled. But my husband and my parents-in-law..... I hope they are safe!"

"Come, we have to find a place to hide!" Ying said.

"Where should we go? Is there any safe place here?" the woman asked.

Ying knew that she was right. They could only stay there, wait and see. If there's any bandit were coming in their direction, then they just run.

Ying looked around and saw the devastation. She heard people crying and shouting everything.

Then she saw two bandits who just came out of a house. One of the bandits was still pulling up his pants with laughter on his face. Then a girl around twelve-thirteen years old, with torn clothes crying, came out of the house. The girl had a lot of blood in between her legs. A bandit just raped her and killed her parents. When she saw her parent's dead body, she started to weep.

"Father, mother," the girl wept for her parents.

Ying was shocked by what she saw. Her anger incited, and she took her bow and arrow to shot one of the bandits who were walking away to leave the place. The bandit immediately fell on the ground, dead!

The other bandit saw his friend got shot by an arrow, and he used his sword to dodge arrows aimed at him.

Ying had run out of arrow. She ran toward the bandit and used her bow to hit the bandit's head. The bandit used his sword to evade and dodge her attack. He had never expected a girl could have such strength.

The bandit managed to slit her hand, but Ying didn't bother it. She took one of the arrows that fell on the ground and use it to stab the bandit's left eye.

The bandit screamed in pain while spontaneously covered his eyes with his left hand. Ying didn't miss the chance to strike him on his head with her bow. The bandit fell on the ground, and Ying took his sword and stabbed the bandit's heart.

Blood spurted on her face. Ying didn't care, and in her rage, she didn't stop. She pulled out the sword and stabbed the bandit many times until there's no more blood spurted from his wound.

Ying wiped the bloodstain from her face with her sleeve, and she walked toward the girl and felt a big lump on her throat. The girl was still weeping and didn't care for anything else. Just in a short time, the bandits had ruined her whole life.

The woman with the baby recognized the girl as the daughter of her neighbour. She walked and started to hug the girl said, "Don't cry! If we still can live, we have to continue to live!"

Ying felt like she wanted to throw up. She was shocked and devastated. Ying knew that life was cruel, but she had never expected that life was ruthless and miserable for some people. She felt her legs had no power to walk. She kneeled near the girl who was weeping and the woman. She didn't know what to say to comfort the two women in front of her.

With the help of Mister Yao and Madame Ling, the bandits could be kicked out from the village. Many of the bandits lost their lives under the swords of those two immortals.

Yet, the devastation was too great. There were so many villagers killed, and many buildings were burned, including a granary.

Madame Ling knew a little on medicine. She helped treated those who were wounded.

Mister Yao saw her and asked, "Ling, where's Ying?"

Madame Ling just realized that she had left Ying alone with the cart for hours. She immediately went to the place where she left the carriage. Ying was not there.

Madame Ling became panicked. Ying didn't know any martial art. She could use her bow and arrows, but what if she ran out of arrows?

Just as she was confused, she saw Ying who was carrying a girl on her back. Ying saw Madame Ling, and she shouted, "Madame Ling, please help!"

Madame Ling checked the unconscious girl. She could guess what happened to her.

Madame Ling saw Ying's clothes were torn on the waist, and there's blood on it. "Ying, are you alright?"

Ying sighed and said, "I saw a bandit who was about to harass a young mother. Then I shot my arrow to kill the bandit. Another bandit saw me killed that man and he wanted to kill me. He slit my waist with his sword, but I kill him with my bow! I still kill two more bandits!"

Madame Ling saw Ying's eyes were red and swollen. She caressed her head and said, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't leave you alone! You must be scared!"

Ying nodded and said, "Safe this girl. Also,that baby! That baby fell on the ground and doesn't stop crying!" Ying pointed the woman who was carrying her baby.

Madame Ling nodded and started to treat the girl, woman and her baby.

Mister Yao and Madame Ling had originally intended to buy some food supplies and wine from the village. Who would have thought that the village was plundered and many people were killed that day? That day, Mister Yao and Madame Ling helped the villagers with everything they could do to help.

Ying assisted Madame Ling, who was busy treating the wound of those who were wounded. Mister Yao helped the men to bury the dead, and extinguished the fire from the burning building. It was a hectic day for everyone.

They didn't return to their own house but decided to stay in the village as the next day they still had many things to do. They stayed at the village chief's house.

That night Ying saw Mister Yao and Madame Ling were alone. She came to talk to them privately.

Ying said, "I come from a poor family. Often, I didn't have enough food. And in winter, I could not afford warm shoes and my feet often freeze. I only have one friend, and she's a good girl. But her husband abused her, and now her leg becomes crippled because of him. I want to help and support people like her! I also saw, how rich people lend out of money to the poor people then take away poor children and girls to be sold to market slaves and brothels. That's why I want to be an official like Minister Fan." She looked at Madame Ling. "I want to make poor people have enough food to eat, and warm clothing and shoes in winter!"

She paused a moment and continued, "I know I can't be an official who makes the people live in better condition. Therefore, I want to be a swordsman!"

"You can't help people by being a swordsman!" Mister Yao said.

"Today, when I killed those four bandits, I could not control myself. I was angry and enraged! Those villagers are innocent. Those bandits just came and killed, plundered and burned! How I wish that I could kill all of those bandits, stab their hearts with sword and chop off their heads!" Ying said with a trembled voice. Her body was shaken in her anger as she recalled what she had seen that day.

Madame Ling hugged Ying and caressed her hair, said, "Child, do not resort to violence or endeavour! Once you let the flames of your temper escape your control, then you will subsequently be filled with anxiety at the dire results!"

"Those civilians are innocent, yet they got calamity! I'm not afraid of calamity! I'm an immortal anyway! I won't die even if those bandits try to kill me. I will hunt and kill those evil people!" Ying cried in Madame Ling's embrace as she was outraged.

Mister Yao said, "Although you are an immortal, but you should not go overboard and avoid adversity. When you can concede to people, you should make a concession!"

"I can't concede to those evil people! I want to eliminate them all!" Ying said in a firm voice and released herself from Madame Ling's embrace.

"Then perhaps you have to kill at least….one out of twenty people!" Mister Yao said and looked at her straight to her eyes.

"Mister Yao, Madame Ling, please teach me swordsmanship! Let me be a sword of justice who fights for righteousness, redress wrongs, remove oppressors, and bring justice to the oppressed!" With her last word, Ying made a kowtow in front of the couple.

Mister Yao and Madame Ling looked at each other, disbelieved what they had just heard. They didn't expect to hear such a statement from a beautiful, gentle young girl like her. Although she's the first female disciple they had, they had met a lot of young women in their lives.

Many young women dreamed and wanted to build their families and enjoyed peace or wealth in their lives. Yet this young girl wanted to be a swordsman to upholds justice for the oppressed people.

Madame Ling touched her shoulder and raised her. The coupled stared at Ying and said nothing. They still disbelieved what they just heard.

"Did I say something wrong?" Ying asked.

Mister Yao smiled and shook his head.

"Ying, if that's your aspiration in life," Mister Yao paused, and then he made a salute with his fists and continued, "Then it is an honour for us to be your teachers!"

Ying was a bit confused at first. Then she knew that Mister Yao and Madame Ling were pleased with her answer.

She returned the salute with a kowtow and said, "Mister Yao, Madame Ling. Your student will work hard and won't let you down!"

"Ying, to be able to master swordsmanship, is one thing. But to be able to control your heart and emotion is another thing! You have to learn to control yourself, then you would be a sword of justice!" Mister Yao said. "Otherwise, you would be a sword in the hand of a human butcher!"

Ying nodded, "I understand, Mister Yao, Madame Ling! Teach me, and make me a sword of justice!" She made another kowtow in front of her two teachers.

Mister Yao and Madame Ling were delighted. The girl in front of them was indeed an unpolished jade. And it is their duty to help this girl to achieve her aspiration – to be a sword of justice!