Disregard for Human Life

Rain mixed with the stench of blood clung to her face. Margaret stared at the cries and wails echoing from within the wooden walls, and suddenly drew the longsword at her waist.

A flash of cold steel ---
Clang! The iron lock on the wooden wall snapped cleanly in two.

“Open all the gates!”

Her voice cut through the curtain of rain, firm and commanding. “Divide the quarantine zone --- move the healthy to the open grounds on the east side, and isolate the infected in the western huts. Move, quickly!”

At the same time, three golden rays shot from Dustin’s fingertips, precisely striking the sharpened bamboo spikes atop the wall. They clattered down one by one, preventing the civilians from injuring themselves while climbing.

Medical workers rushed into the crowd through the mud, lighting bundles of mugwort they had brought. The pungent green smoke twisted and rose through the rain, suppressing the stench of rot just slightly.

“This is… medicine?!”

A gaunt man held a clay jar in his hands, a faint glimmer lighting up his clouded eyes.

Next to him, a feverish child with cracked lips was fed two spoonfuls of herbal liquid. Soon, the child’s convulsing body began to settle.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the west.

Over thirty soldiers in gas masks stormed in aggressively.

Leading them was a general in black armor, a tiger-headed saber hanging at his waist --- none other than Zhao Hu, commander of the Tiger Guards under Li Wenxing’s command.

“Who dares trespass in the quarantine zone?!”

Zhao Hu drew his steel blade and barged into the slum with a squad of elite soldiers, moving with arrogant force.

Wherever they went, they shoved civilians aside, some pushed over, others kicked down without hesitation --- brutal and heartless.

Hearing the disturbance, Margaret slowly turned around, rain trailing down her pale cheeks.

“You serve Li Wenxing?” she asked coldly.

“How dare you speak the Crown Prince’s name so casually?! You must be tired of living!” Zhao Hu barked.

“You're the one who dares! Show some respect to Princess An'yang!” Su Lan snapped.

“Hah! Princess An'yang? Don’t be ridiculous! How could a proper princess show up in a filthy place like this?” Zhao Hu clearly didn’t believe it.

“You --- !”

Su Lan was about to explode, but Margaret raised her hand to stop her. Calmly, she looked at Zhao Hu and said coldly, “Your Excellency, my identity doesn’t matter right now. The people here are in danger. As a military officer of the Dragonmarsh, it is your duty to save them. We’re in desperate need of medicine. We need your help.”

“I’m only responsible for guarding the quarantine zone and preventing the plague from spreading. Anything else is not my concern,” Zhao Hu said coldly. “Since you’ve entered the zone, you’ll all be treated as plague victims. Stay here and behave --- try to leave, and don’t blame my blade for being blind.”

Just as they were speaking, a terrified civilian tried to take the opportunity to slip past the blockade and escape.

“Defying orders? Kill him!” Zhao Hu ordered without hesitation.

Two soldiers rushed forward without a second thought. They kicked the man to the ground and raised their blades to strike.

Boom!

A sudden gust of wind blasted the two soldiers off their feet, sending them flying several meters away.

Dustin appeared in front of Margaret in a flash, his voice ice-cold. “Who dares show such disrespect before Princess An'yang? Death awaits.”

Zhao Hu’s pupils shrank. He was shaken.

He hadn’t even seen Dustin’s movement --- clearly, this man was no ordinary opponent.

“As a general of the Dragonmarsh, you slaughter civilians at will. Do you even recognize the law?!” Margaret shouted in fury.

“The law?” Zhao Hu suddenly burst into wild laughter, the brass studs on his black armor gleaming in the rain. “In Wugang City, the Crown Prince’s word is the law! Who do you think you are, to lecture me?!”

He waved his hand, and the thirty soldiers behind him locked shields and advanced in formation.

Inside the wooden walls, the civilians shrieked in terror. The flicker of hope that had just been ignited now seemed on the verge of being extinguished.

Dustin didn’t waste words. With a flick of his hand, a spray of golden light burst forth, slamming into the soldiers’ shield wall.

The elite squad was blown apart like fallen leaves in a storm --- sent flying in every direction, crashing to the ground in a tangled heap. None could even withstand a single blow.

“What?!”

Zhao Hu’s expression twisted --- he finally realized the man before him was no ordinary figure.

Seeing his men fall instantly, Zhao Hu’s face twitched with fury. He swung his tiger-head blade at Dustin with all his might.

The blade sliced through the rain in a cold arc ---

But Dustin sidestepped smoothly and flicked another golden ray at the back of the blade.

CLANG!

With a deafening crash, the saber was knocked from Zhao Hu’s hands, embedding itself deep into the muddy ground.

Zhao Hu’s arm went numb. Staring at the icy glint in Dustin’s eyes, he finally felt real fear.

“Wh-who are you?!” His voice trembled, and he instinctively began backing away.

“You’re not worthy to know my name,” Dustin replied coldly.

“You mistreat the people and slaughter them without remorse. Guards --- seize him!” Margaret commanded without hesitation.

Zhao Hu’s expression darkened. He tried to resist, but Dustin was already beside him in an instant, placing a hand firmly on his shoulder.

Golden energy surged into Zhao Hu’s body, instantly shattering his inner energy. He collapsed to the ground, powerless.

Margaret’s personal guards stepped forward and bound Zhao Hu tightly on the spot. - Ton

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