You Won't Listen When I Reason

Although he had driven away those annoying flies, Lu Chongwei was in no rush to head into the mountains.

He cast a glance at Lisanna.

The little girl's clothes were thin and tattered, worn through in many places to reveal skin covered in bruises and scrapes. Her lips were chapped, and her complexion was deathly pale from long-term malnutrition and the shock she had just endured.

More importantly, the medicine pouch she had been clutching tightly had been crushed during the earlier shoving, and the bottles inside were likely shattered.

"We're going back to town first."

Lu Chongwei said.

"Ah?" Lisanna blinked, stunned. "But my sister..."

"Your sister needs medicine, and you need to eat something." Lu Chongwei pointed to the ruined pouch in her arms. "Taking that back won't save your sister."

Lisanna looked down at the bundle, which was still leaking medicine, her eyes reddening again. She nodded obediently.

The two returned to the town.

Although it was late at night, the town's only grocery store and pharmacy were still lit due to the earlier commotion.

Lu Chongwei led Lisanna into the grocery store.

The shopkeeper had been one of the onlookers earlier; seeing Lu Chongwei enter, he was so terrified he nearly dove under the counter.

"Bring out the best wound medicine you have, along with clean bandages and antiseptic."

Lu Chongwei tapped the counter, the sound echoing with a sharp "clack-clack."

"Also, get some bread, milk, and a few sets of warm clothes for a child."

The shopkeeper tremblingly poked his head out, but just as he moved to grab the items, he caught sight of Lisanna behind Lu Chongwei.

His movements froze.

"This... Master Mage..."

The shopkeeper swallowed hard, his face twisted with hesitation and fear.

"I have no problem selling to you... but... if this is for that cursed family..."

"I won't sell!"

The shopkeeper suddenly shouted, as if trying to bolster his own courage.

"The mayor said so! Anyone who dares to help them is a sinner against the whole town! What if that demon recovers her strength and comes back to take revenge on us?"

As soon as he said this, several villagers who hadn't dispersed yet gathered around, chiming in with a cacophony of voices.

"That's right! Don't sell to them!"

"It's better if they just starve to death in the mountains!"

"Master Mage, you mustn't aid the wicked!"

Lisanna stood behind Lu Chongwei, gripping the hem of his clothes tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

She looked up at the aunts and uncles she had once known, now wearing hideous, man-eating expressions.

Tears blurred her vision once more.

Why?

My sister saved everyone... we haven't done anything wrong...

Lu Chongwei watched the scene, and a surge of fury ignited within him.

He had originally thought that if he explained things clearly, these people might show at least a shred of compassion.

But he was wrong.

In the face of ignorance and fear, reason held no sway.

Some people had knelt for so long that they had lost the courage to stand up as human beings, choosing only to wield their blades against those weaker than themselves.

"Haa..."

Lu Chongwei exhaled a long, heavy breath.

"I intended to be a civilized man and reason with you."

Lu Chongwei's voice was soft, yet it carried a chilling, heart-stopping coldness.

"Since you won't listen to reason, then we shall try a method you can understand."

Before the words had even faded.

Clang—!!!

A clear, resonant ring of steel pierced the night sky.

The Ryujin Jakka in Lu Chongwei's hand unsheathed by half an inch!

BOOM!

Even without a Shikai, the mere sliver of spiritual pressure leaking out, combined with the terrifying heat of the Zanpakuto itself, caused the temperature of the entire shop to skyrocket instantly!

The surrounding air seemed to ignite, rippling with visible, distorted waves.

The glass bottles on the counter shattered with a series of pops, and the wooden shelves began to smoke, emitting a charred, acrid stench.

"Ah! It's so hot!"

"Fire! There's a fire!"

The villagers screamed in terror, feeling as though they were ants tossed into an oven; sweat soaked through their clothes in an instant, and even the air they inhaled felt like molten lava.

Lu Chongwei gripped the hilt of his blade, his cold gaze fixed on the shopkeeper who had collapsed to the floor.

"I am giving you two choices now."

"First, bring the items out, and I will pay the full price."

"Second, I will burn this place to ash and take them myself."

Lu Chongwei lowered his body slightly, and within his pitch-black eyes, flames seemed to dance.

"Do you want the money, or do you want your life?"

"The money! The money! I want the money!"

The shopkeeper was scared out of his wits, snot and tears streaming down his face as he scrambled toward the shelves.

"I'll give it to you! I'll give you everything! Please, I beg you, don't kill me!"

The other villagers fled in a panic, wishing they had extra legs, terrified that the terrifying mage might let his hand slip and set the entire town ablaze.

This was the deterrence brought by absolute power.

In the face of life and death, curses and the mayor's orders were all complete nonsense.

Five minutes later.

Lu Chongwei walked out of the grocery store, carrying two large bags of supplies and leading Lisanna by the hand.

The shopkeeper clutched the handful of gold coins Lu Chongwei had tossed down, cowering in the corner and trembling, not even daring to glance at him.

"Let's go."

Lu Chongwei shoved a bottle of warm milk into Lisanna's hands.

"Drink something to warm yourself up."

Lisanna cradled the milk, feeling the warmth radiating into her palms, and as she looked at Lu Chongwei's tall back, tears fell once more.

But this time, it was not out of fear, but out of gratitude.

The two headed back into the mountains.

This time, with supplies in hand, Lisanna's mood was noticeably better. She led Lu Chongwei through the dense forest, around the cliffs, and finally arrived before a hidden cave.

Before they could even get close.

"Who's there?!"

A sharp, vigilant shout came from the cave entrance.

Immediately after, two figures lunged out of the darkness, blocking the way.

On the left was a girl wearing a deep red cloak; her hood was pulled low, obscuring most of her face, revealing only a few strands of silver-white hair. Her right hand was tightly hidden beneath the cloak, her body coiled like a leopard ready to pounce.

On the right was a sturdily built but somewhat timid-looking boy, holding a thick wooden club. Although his legs were shaking, he stood firmly by the girl's side.

It was Mirajane and Elfman.

"Don't come any closer!"

Mirajane stared intensely at Lu Chongwei, her voice raspy and filled with hostility.

"Who are you? Why are you holding onto Lisanna? Let her go!"

"Big Sister! Brother Elfman!"

Lisanna broke free from Lu Chongwei's hand and ran toward them.

"Lisanna! Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"

Elfman hurriedly dropped his club and hugged his sister, checking her over.

"I'm fine, Brother."

Lisanna wiped her tears, turned to point at Lu Chongwei, and explained eagerly:

"This big brother is a good person! He's a mage from Fairy Tail, and he saved me!"

"Look! He even bought us lots of food and medicine!"

Lisanna held up the bags, showing them to her brother and sister as if they were treasures.

"A mage?"

Upon hearing the word, Mirajane's body shuddered violently; the vigilance in her eyes did not diminish, but instead grew even heavier.

"What is a mage doing here? Have you come to hunt down the 'demon'?"

Mirajane instinctively took a step back, pulling her right hand deeper into her cloak.

"Don't be nervous."

Lu Chongwei raised his hands to signal that he meant no harm.

He was not angered by Mirajane's attitude. On the contrary, a flicker of admiration crossed his eyes as he looked at this girl, who was guarding her family with the wariness of a hedgehog.

"I did indeed accept a quest to subjugate a demon."

Lu Chongwei said candidly.

"However, I do not believe there is a demon here, only three children in need of help."

Lu Chongwei gently placed the remaining large bag of supplies on the ground and took a few steps back to demonstrate his sincerity.

"There is medicine here, as well as food. Whether you believe me or not, you should treat your wounds first."

"Lisanna said you were injured; if you don't treat it in time, an infection could become quite troublesome."

Mirajane looked at the supplies on the ground, then at Lu Chongwei's calm and open gaze, and finally at Lisanna, who was looking on with anticipation.

Her stomach let out a timely, protesting growl.

Beside her, Elfman also swallowed hard.

They hadn't eaten in two days.

Mirajane bit her lip, and the hostility in her eyes finally softened a fraction.

Regardless of anything else, she could not let her younger siblings starve.

"...Come in."

Mirajane stepped aside, clearing the entrance to the cave, though she remained on high alert.

"If you dare to try anything, I... even if I die, I will tear a piece of flesh from you!"

Lu Chongwei smiled without a word and carried the supplies into the cave.