Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Ning Chan stood on the high platform, his expression obscured from the crowd below. Yet, the weight in his voice left no doubt about his feelings—disgust for that beast of a father, sorrow for the young man’s suffering, and lament for the villagers’ inaction.

The listeners couldn’t help but put themselves in the young man’s shoes, wondering if they, too, would have grown so twisted under such circumstances.

"Your Holiness, rest assured, if anyone in our village dares to beat their wife or children, we’ll all step in. We won’t just stand there and let it happen," declared an elderly man with graying hair, leaning on his cane as fellow villagers supported him. He raised his walking stick high, as if ready to strike down any such offender on sight.

"Exactly! If it were one of our women from North Street, anyone who dared lay a hand on her or her child would be reported straight to the magistrate and sent to the coal mines. Hmph! With you and the King watching our backs, who needs to depend on such scoundrels to survive nowadays?" A woman with an apron tied around her waist waved her sturdy arms, her voice booming.

"With hard work and two hands, anyone can make a living. A woman can raise her kids fine without some no-good man," said another woman, her hair neatly tied up, casting a cold glance at her husband, who held their child.

The husband, who handed over all his wages and had recently been scolded by his wife for not working hard enough, held the child tighter. He thought to himself—shouldn’t men be protected too?

Listening to their voices, Ning Chan nodded in approval. "You’re all good people. With people like you, our nation will surely grow stronger and more harmonious. Centuries from now, our descendants will praise us for turning away from barbarism and ushering in a new era of civilization.

"But let me remind you—if there’s trouble, take it to the authorities. If you see wrongdoing and can help, do so. If it’s too dangerous, don’t act recklessly—seek help instead.

"No matter the outcome, as long as you’ve done your best, that’s enough. The gods see everything you do. May they bless you, keeping your souls pure and free from the torment of hellfire."

Hearing Ning Chan’s words, many in the crowd turned red with excitement. They weren’t as noble as he made them sound. The Pope was way too good to them, always thinking of their well-being, even worrying about their safety when they intervened.

"We’ll do our best! But—what happened to the young man in the end? Did those old folks die?" A boy who couldn’t stand not hearing the end of the story, blurted out the question, scratching his head impatiently.

The boy’s father, who had hoisted him onto his shoulders, nearly yanked him down to give him a beating. Didn’t the kid know this wasn’t the time? Now was not the time for stories! He fretted, wondering if His Holiness would be angered.

Ning Chan’s face relaxed a little as he looked at the boy, who stood taller than the rest and was now waving at him.

"After the old men confessed and apologized, the young man seemed to regain some clarity. I wanted to examine his condition, but he took his own life. His last words to me were: ‘Too late.’ As for the old men, I didn’t continue treating them. I’d already stopped the bleeding and bandaged them up, so I buried the young man’s body and left."

Ning Chan didn’t elaborate on the old men’s fate, but the crowd could guess—elderly, severely injured, they likely didn’t last long.

It was a sad ending, but who could blame Ning Chan for not saving them? Of course not.

For one, this was their Pope. If he acted this way, he surely had his reasons. Their Pope was wise and kind—how could he be wrong?

Besides, hadn’t he already stopped their bleeding? Was that not enough? Did they think he’d waste holy medicine on them? Why should he? Even upstanding citizens had to pay silver and earn merit for a chance at his aid. What had those old men done to deserve such grace?

And let’s not forget—weren’t they the ones who brought this upon themselves? If they wouldn’t intervene, fine, but to gossip and provoke behind the young man’s back? Words could cut just as deep. The law itself stated that the mentally ill couldn’t be punished for murder. They pushed him over the edge—this was on them, no one else’s fault.

Ning Chan barely noticed their reactions. He acted as he pleased, unconcerned with others’ opinions. As he often said, why bother with folks who’d gone bad when there were others worth saving?

Still, sensing the somber mood below, Ning Chan decided it was time to lighten the atmosphere after his warning. "Well, I trust none of you will let things reach such a point. Like how the moon and stars light up the night sky, if no light shines upon our path, we’ll create our own!"

With a wave of his hand, a series of sharp sounds erupted from the platform.

A spark shot into the sky like lightning before bursting apart in the night.

*Crackle—pop—whoosh!*

From that central point, countless streaks of light scattered like flower petals, each tip exploding anew into radiant fireworks. In an instant, the whole sky lit up with color—gold, green, pink—illuminating the darkened heavens.

"Wooooah!"

The crowd just stared, amazed, their voices reduced to wordless exclamations at the spectacle above.

As the fireworks painted the sky, Kane made his way to the top of the altar. He didn’t approach Ning Chan at the center, staying at the edge, just watching him.

Ning Chan saw him approach and glanced at the crowd below before walking lightly over to Kane, smiling at him. "So, how do you like this surprise?"

Kane seemed stunned, nodding stiffly. "I love it. Is this another one of your superpowers?"

Seeing his reaction, Ning Chan chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not a god—I can't do everything. Of course, it's just a little trick."

He showed Kane the firework launchers tucked in his sleeves. "Want to try? They're really fun. We can find a place to set them off in private, though they're not as impressive as the ones just now."

Apart from the initial few launched from the tubes in his hands, the bigger fireworks were set off from boxes placed behind the platform. Using his fire superpowers, he could light whichever box he wanted.

"Or, try this first." Considering they were still on the stage, Ning Chan didn't want to give Kane anything too big. Instead, he lit two sparklers and waved them at him.

The bright, star-like bursts made Ning Chan's smile even warmer.

Kane gazed at him as if beholding a deity. As the last spark faded, he blinked away the tears in his eyes and, with trembling hands, pulled Ning Chan into an embrace. "My god, allow me to kiss you."

Ning Chan froze, his ears burning instantly. He wanted to say there were so many people watching below, but when he met Kane's eyes—like stars falling into the ocean—his heart softened, and he nodded almost imperceptibly.

Kane lowered his head, placing reverent kisses to Ning Chan's forehead, brows, nose, and finally his flushed lips.

As their tongues intertwined and breaths mingled, Ning Chan slowly closed his eyes, no longer daring to see how enchanting the night was.

"Shall we go back?" The breeze did little to ease the heat. With his tongue slightly sore from the kiss, Ning Chan gazed at Kane—his neck flushed crimson, panting heavily—and swallowed secretly.

Perhaps some things wouldn’t hurt if they happened a little sooner.

"W-what do you mean?!" Feeling the hand sliding past his waist, Kane felt as if his entire body was burning. Was it what he thought?

Ning Chan was the type to act on his impulses. Once resolved, he wouldn’t back down easily. Rising on his toes, he nibbled Kane’s reddened ear and whispered his desire softly, "I want to devour you."