For the first time, Ming Jing felt death so close to him. When he turned his head and saw the dark blue venom coating that short blade, he inexplicably felt that it possessed a certain kind of "beauty."
"Indestructible Golden Body!" At the critical moment, a golden arm blocked the blade before Ming Jing. That crisp clang! sounded wonderfully beautiful.
"What?!" Shoko flared up and suddenly released the short blade. After it dropped slightly, she fiercely slapped the hilt with her palm. She was using the short blade like a kunai!
"Hah!" Qing Yan's other hand reached over and grabbed the short blade. Its sharp edge could not cut through his skin. Then he swung both fists sideways, forcing Shoko away from Ming Jing. Shoko performed a backflip to evade Qing Yan's pair of iron arms, then swept both hands across her waist and flung dozens of senbon at Ming Jing. Qing Yan stepped forward, and every single senbon struck his body. Aside from a series of crisp clangs, they achieved nothing.
"Whew... That really scared the piss out of me!" Only then did Ming Jing realize he had been saved. He let out a long breath and discovered that his clothes were already drenched.
"Damn it, what kind of monster is this guy?!" Shoko glared viciously at the golden man before her. In those few brief seconds, she had stabbed Qing Yan's joints and vital points all over with senbon. Even after the needles had gone blunt, she had gained nothing. Qing Yan, meanwhile, seized every opportunity to throw a punch. The tremendous force left Shoko with no choice but to dodge.
After widening the distance once more, Shoko saw Hizashi Hyuga rushing over. She gritted her teeth, glared at Ming Jing, and shouted, "Dog official, you got lucky today!" With that, she kicked off the ground and hopped away like a rabbit. Qing Yan retreated to Ming Jing's side and left the Indestructible Golden Body state after Hizashi Hyuga returned.
"Ming Jing, are you all right?" Hizashi Hyuga rushed over. Rather than pursue Shoko, he looked at Ming Jing and asked. Down below, he had fought four people alone while still saving some of the disaster victims. Hizashi Hyuga truly was an expert of the Hyuga Clan—he was indeed formidable.
"I almost wasn't." Ming Jing sighed. Hizashi Hyuga's expression stiffened in embarrassment. He too realized that he had acted somewhat impulsively just now.
"Sorry, Ming Jing. I acted impulsively just now." Hizashi Hyuga lowered his head, speaking with some guilt.
"Sigh... To be honest, I really want to blame you, Mr. Hizashi, but let's put this matter aside for now. We should deal with the situation before us first." Ming Jing walked to the mountaintop and looked down at the disaster victims, who were still lost and bewildered.
"Yes!" Hizashi Hyuga nodded and stood behind Ming Jing.
"My name is Akira Kurama, Prime Minister of the Land of Fire. The Daimyo appointed me to take full charge of disaster relief and prevention! Yet when I painstakingly brought dozens of tons of grain here, the first thing I heard was that you had besieged the government office. And the moment I arrived, I was assassinated by unidentified individuals! I now have two questions. The answers will determine your future, and the decision lies in your hands. If you refuse to cooperate, I would rather burn all that grain!" Standing at the highest point, Ming Jing shouted loudly. His voice was amplified through Chakra and reached everyone present. No one had expected the Daimyo to send the Prime Minister himself to provide disaster relief, and they were initially delighted. But after hearing the Prime Minister's words, their hearts rose into their throats again.
"Everyone who took part in besieging the government office, step forward yourselves!" Ming Jing's cold gaze swept across everyone.
After a while, several men stepped out from the crowd and knelt on the ground. Gradually, more and more people knelt, until eventually all the male disaster victims were on their knees. They were so forthright partly because of Ming Jing's status, and partly because of what Hizashi Hyuga had done earlier. They were not blind; they could tell who had been protecting them.
Seeing this, Ming Jing could not help but feel a headache coming on. These people were far too honest! He had originally planned to seize a few ringleaders as a warning. Now that so many had stepped forward, he could not possibly hold them accountable one by one. He could only smooth things over with vague words. Otherwise, a civilian uprising really might break out.
He stepped closer before speaking. "Now for the second question: were the people who tried to assassinate me acting at your instigation?!"
"No!" The kneeling men froze for a moment, then began shouting over one another. The innocent disaster victims behind them also shook their heads. In short, those people had not been sent by them.
"Good. Then the crime of assassinating the Prime Minister has nothing to do with you." Ming Jing nodded and casually brushed the matter aside, but then added, "However, you cannot escape punishment for besieging the government office!"
The men were at a loss for a moment, unsure what to do.
Ming Jing sighed and said earnestly, "I understand everyone's hardships, but 'a family has its rules, and a nation has its laws.' If you make a mistake, you must bear the consequences. Otherwise, who will obey the laws of the land in the future?"
"Prime Minister..." The disaster victims did not know what to say. The men who had committed the offense remained kneeling with their heads lowered.
"Let me ask everyone another question!" Ming Jing waited until the atmosphere was right before asking, "You have had enough of these floods breaking out every so often, haven't you? Then... do you want to eliminate the flood threat forever?"
The disaster victims were stunned, staring blankly at Ming Jing. The Prime Minister's train of thought moved too fast for them to keep up! But it sounded as though he had a way to eliminate the problem once and for all? Never mind, agree first!
Thus, after the disaster victims fell silent for a moment, they suddenly erupted. Everyone looked at Ming Jing in delight and shouted, "We do!"
"Then stand up! Because I need your strength!" Ming Jing spread his arms, like a great roc about to spread its wings and soar. "United as one, we can build an unbreakable fortress! When it comes to controlling floods, channeling is better than blocking. Together, we will guide the rampaging floodwaters back into the riverbeds. Let us all do our part for our homeland and leave peace for our descendants. One effort, permanent safety—never again troubled by floods!"
"One effort, permanent safety—never again troubled by floods!" The disaster victims rose to their feet and shouted along with Ming Jing.
Ming Jing pressed both hands down, and the scene quickly fell silent. Everyone looked expectantly at the Prime Minister. Ming Jing nodded in satisfaction and continued, "At the same time, this is your chance to atone for your crimes through meritorious service. Therefore, you will receive no wages for digging the canal. However, we will provide three meals a day, as well as medicine and clothing. Once the canal is completed, we will organize everyone to rebuild their homes and resume production as soon as possible."
"Long live the Prime Minister!" The disaster victims cheered. Now they had nothing to worry about. Whenever floods occurred in the past, everyone would travel in groups to take refuge in the county town. After distributing a little food each day, the government office had done little else. This time, they had besieged the government office partly because they had been incited, and partly because the disaster victims needed to vent their emotions.
"Whew... It's finally under control. Qing Yan, find someone clever and tell You to move the convoy in. Distribute grain this afternoon so the disaster victims can put their minds at ease." Ming Jing looked at the delighted disaster victims, sighed softly, and then spoke to Qing Yan.
"Yes!" Qing Yan nodded.
Next, Ming Jing and the others entered the government office. Inside, everything was in utter disarray. The grain and clothing had already been carried away by the disaster victims, while furniture and other items lay scattered everywhere. The Muchuan County Magistrate and several clerks had hidden in the basement, gathering information from above through something resembling listening tubes. By the time Ming Jing and the others entered, they already knew.
"Muchuan County Magistrate Yamashita Taiji greets the Prime Minister." The Muchuan County Magistrate was an elderly man over fifty. He ran out of the basement and bowed to Ming Jing at a ninety-degree angle.
"Officer Yamashita, I have properly dealt with the disaster victims' siege of the government office. There is no need for you to pursue the matter further. What do you say?" Ming Jing nodded and spoke directly.
"Everything shall be as the Prime Minister commands." Yamashita Taiji bowed again and shouted.
"Thank you." Ming Jing nodded. With that, the matter was considered settled.
Before you continue