Different Year, Same Thing (Part 5)

Ling Qingshu broke the short silence: "Hahaha, here's a tip for you: next time you malign someone, think about who you're maligning first. Is this one someone you can malign just because you're in the mood?"

"… And why are you not?"

"This one may not be worth a second glance, but do you think you can just deride Mount Lu Sword Sanctuary's reputation built up over the millenniums? He cannot just let you tarnish his good father's name. Her Majesty, this one's aunt, is also not someone you can insult, you bum." Ling Qingshu aimed his sword at Chao Ha and stared the latter down with a piercing gaze, warning, "If you don't provide evidence for your claim, do not blame this one for defending his clan's honour."

Six of Hangzhou's Seven Heroes backed off, literally, yet Cha Hao showed a hand and instructed, "Show Master Ming the evidence."

Cha Hao's three companions set down their big backpacks and untied them. Had it not been for the special material they used to make their makeshift backpacks, the smell of blood from the three corpses would've been bursting at the seams the entire time.

Hong Jiu yelled, "Who are they? Is he a robber, bandit, military snitch or traitor to the nation? Who are the two women, cheaters, spies or merciless villains?"

"None of the above," answered Cha Hao. Pointing to the corpses one by one, he expanded, "This gentleman, who has more lacerations than a soldier who has been in a hundred battles, is Jiu Shaozhang, a man who operates a pancake store in Hangzhou for a living. According to this one's knowledge, he has never committed any crimes all his life.

"The two women with their lips torn, bodies bruised and reeking of filth from male scum are his beloved daughter and wife. Miss Zhang was praised as a gentle maiden with a heart of gold. The greatest sin in her life is embodying beauty that had miscreants drooling over her.

"Mrs Zhang was always a dedicated wife and mother. Not one soul in the eight surrounding villages has one bad thing to comment about her. The only sin she ever committed was calling her husband a block of wood whenever he was dense, only to then joke over it with her husband."

"I see. I see.