Chương 18: "A Man Can Be Killed, But Not Humiliated!”

Ch 18 "A Man Can Be Killed, But Not Humiliated!"

"You dare to kill my people! Bring your leader, before this young Master becomes impatient!" A mist of jade colored Qi started swelling around the young man. He was definitely a cultivator! Is he the demon, or are the men behind him demons? Amber wondered to herself as her palm mark burned. She knew at least the bald man with tattoos was giving her a response, but where there was one demon, there might be two. None of the guards made a move until a few parted to let Guren through to the edge of the courtyard.

"What do you want with my caravan? Don't think you can cause trouble in Golden Sea City!" The large grizzled caravan leader came to face the young impatient man in fine emerald colored robes.

"You kill my men and speak of me causing trouble! You dare!" The young man shouted as he spat on the ground in front of him. Amber flinched in disgust at the spit.

"Insulting my Jadehand family is a crime worthy of death!"

"My men don't cause trouble," Guren said unflinchingly.

"It was her!" The bald man with the dragon tattoo called out, a menacing finger pointed straight at Amber. The golden eyed girl froze as dozens of faces turned towards her. Amber was reminded of the mob of greenwood villagers that had burnt her home and saw her off as she left the village. What could she do now? She had indeed murdered his men, and she couldn't exactly provide proof that they were demons. Accusing them of being demons directly might actually make her look more guilty, she thought.

Guren didn't take his eyes off of the boy before him.

"What evidence do you have, before you accuse my caravan of murder?" The young Jadehand master in emerald robes sneered, his eyes flickering with barely contained rage.

"Evidence? Two of my subordinates lay dead in an alley not far from here, and this bald fool here witnessed your little girl fleeing the scene!" He sneered at Amber as he spoke." Mud! Come forward!" He shouted as the bald man with tattoos rushed to his side. Amber's heart hammered in her chest. A big family. An eye witness. She knew she had felt too comfortable at the caravan… almost like it didn't seem right. And now she was about to have to leave another home. Surely she would be abandoned.

It was easier to throw her to the wolves than to protect her, after all.

"A convenient witness," Guren said coldly.

"I've been running caravans through this city for fifteen years. I know the laws here. Unless you have real evidence, or a witness who isn't in your employ, then you have nothing more to say here." Huh? Amber was stunned. He didn't toss her to the wolves! The girl was amazed at Guren's composure in front of the young man who made no effort to hide his murderous intent. The caravan leader stood tall and dignified despite not being a cultivator himself." Evidence? I am the second son of the Jadehand family!

Do you dare to question my word? Grab her!" The young man pointed at Amber as if it would kill her. The men behind the boy looked anxious and whispered to each other without making a move.

"No one touches my caravan!" Guren bellowed as all the guards around wasted no time in pulling their spears into readiness. He was really protecting her! She wanted to feel happy about the first person to protect her aside from her parents, but she couldn't. The girl could only question whether or not she was worth being protected. At the same time, the situation was escalating at a pace she was not ready for. It looked like it could turn into an all-out battle. These people wanted to protect her.

Could she really let them die because of it? Her mind flashed to Misty Hollow Village.

"Hmph! How unsightly, a martial artist bothering regular hard working people." All heads turned as a wave of warm air enveloped everyone present. A girl in flowing red robes stepped out, smiling and fanning herself calmly as if there was no tension in the air. Her burst of warm Qi had stopped the actions of everyone present. The emerald robed Jadehand boy paused, a scowl spreading across his face as he looked at the girl in red.

"State your name!" he called out.

"Hmmm, a big strong man until you're not sure who you may offend? How… uninteresting." Ember's eyes dropped in disdain as she fanned herself.

"Answer me!" He growled. Her unfazed aura gave him undue pause and caused his mind to try and deduce what family she may be from. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Answer me instead, what were your men doing to be killed?" She gazed at the Jadehand youth from behind her fan.

"I assume there is a reason you haven't arrived with the city guards." Guren turned a surprised eye at Ember.

"You!" His face seemed to turn scarlet.

"My family's enterprises are not for you to question!"

"Oh, it seems you have some soiled laundry you would rather remain off the clothesline?" she smiled haughtily. The emerald robed youth's face twisted with fury at her mocking tone. The Qi around him pulsed dangerously, causing several of his own guards to take involuntary steps backward.

"You dare mock the Jadehand family?" His voice dropped to a venomous tone. Ember simply continued fanning herself, her smile unbothered by his threats.

"Mock? I merely ask questions. Unless… Would the righteous and upright Jadehand family have something to hide?" The standoff continued for several tense moments.

"Do you intend to interfere?" He asked the girl in red. The Jadehand heir had no more use for pretense.

"I am merely a passenger here. If my passage is unaffected, then I have no reason," she continued smiling.

"Good! Good!" The face of the emerald robed youth lost no anger but gained a curling grin.

"I'll make this simple," he turned his insidious gaze directly to Amber. The girl felt her blood run cold.

"Let the girl receive one strike from me. If she can receive it well, I'll consider the matter settled and leave your pathetic caravan in peace. If not, you pay me for my two men, and give the girl to me!"

"I said, no one is touching my caravan!" Guren slammed the end of his spear on the ground with an authoritative thud.

"Refuse, and the Golden Sea City Chamber of Commerce may begin to receive unsavory reports about the practices of this… Lucky Tiger Caravan! Let's see how you do business then!" The Jadehand boy spat. His face looked as if the name of the caravan tasted disgusting in his mouth. Guren's jaw clenched in anger as he restrained himself from the words that bubbled up.

"A peak Flowing Qi stage gentlemen such as yourself challenging a little girl?" Ember let out a musical laugh from behind her fan.

"She stopped being a mere girl the moment she murdered my men," he growled.

"I'll do it." Amber's voice was steady as she stepped forward. Her own calmness surprised her as her feet seemed to carry her forward by themselves. She was resolved to never let good people suffer for her again.

"Guard, you will stand down!" Guren yelled.

"Guren darling," Ember said mid-fan, "cultivator matters belong to cultivators."

"She is a guard of my caravan first!" The caravan leader stood resolute. Amber's heart was moved that Guren had stood up for her, and at the same time it made her feel like a burden. She refused to be one! Her mind flashed to the burning scene of Misty Hollow Village, the screams, and the price others had paid for protecting her.

"It's as she said, this is the world I'm entering. Please allow me, sir." Amber used her most respectful voice as she clasped her fist in front of her chest. Guren stared at her for a long moment with an unchanging look of intensity.

"You hired me to protect the caravan. Please allow me to do so." Amber kept her fist clasped. This was her mess and she was unwilling to see the blood of her new companions spilled over her.

"….. Very well. Don't lose."

"Hahahaha!" The Jadehand boy bellowed out.

"Time for karmic retribution, girl."

"That's the plan," Amber said as she drew herself low into a martial stance.

"Enough!" The young arrogant man lowered his center of gravity and tucked his back elbow. Amber felt the flow of Qi in the area shift. It seemed to converge on the Jadehand boy as his tucked palm began to glow an eerie green hue.

"Everybody here is extremely fortunate to witness the greatness of the Jadehand family!" The boy announced. The air shifted and the glow around his hand grew more intense. The eyes of the onlookers began to spread open.

"You lucky wench! You're not even worthy to die by this technique! Witness the Jadehand family's Jade Palm!" His yell was laced with fury and pride and he surged forward with a burst of power and speed. Amber was shocked. This arrogant guy was faster than Wing, but his strike seemed completely obvious and exposed! Was this how she looked to Wing when they sparred? The girl wondered. Amber shifted to the side and easily cleared the space where his palm fell.

The young Jadehand heir looked shocked as his strike passed where flesh was expected and he stumbled, nearly falling over. Ember smiled behind her fan.

"You dare run from a challenge!" his face grew red again as he spat on the floor. Amber's face grew dark as she remembered the villagers of Green Wood who had also spat as they cursed her.

"What challenge? I won, easily. Here, take your shit back," she threw a long fabric strip on the ground, right where he had spit.

"What?" The confused boy asked in anger and confusion, looking down at the fine length of green fabric lying on the wet saliva. It looked just like his belt sash, he thought as his pants fell from around his waist. Suddenly he felt a rush of cold air over his legs. He looked down in shock and horror. The caravan's side exploded in laughter as the chorus of dozens of guards became unbearably loud in the ears of the bare legged youth.

The men surrounding the young Jadehand master had all averted their eyes, as if it was something they were not allowed to see.

"You!" the boy quickly reached down and picked up his pants from the floor.

"Tell me your name!"

"You dare not know your mother's name?" Amber asked coldly. The guardsmen all bellowed in laughter.

"You…!" The boy looked as if he might explode.

"Surely the honorable young master of the Jadehand family wouldn't forget his word," Ember giggled behind her fan. Just as his head appeared it would burst, he turned around.

"A man can be killed, but not humiliated! Just wait for me!" He quickly took his leave with a trail of relieved looking men following him. The bald man with the dragon tattoo, or Mud as they called him, also exited with a sharp look back. Amber also felt relief as the burning sensation on her palm ceased. Guren had wanted to say she shouldn't have embarrassed him like that, but he couldn't get a single word out as cheering guards swarmed the young girl.

"No one can mess with our Lucky Tiger Caravan!" a guard yelled.

"Mess with us and leave without your pants!" another cheered. The calls came one after another as they slapped Amber on the back and praised her.

"You really did it! Just like I trained you!" Wing showed up also praising the girl, clasping a hand on her shoulder and speaking loudly so that everyone could hear his words. They all felt like it was their victory. Amber looked around at the group of smiling faces with her cheeks burning. She had never felt acceptance quite like this! She had to admit she was quite happy with the result of the duel as well.

Something about the rage on his face and having to leave in shame, really felt satisfying after he arrived to cause trouble. She felt like she could get drunk off of this feeling.

"Drinks toniiiiiiiight!" Another bellowed. The festivities only picked up as their final day in Golden Sea City wore on.