Chapter 297: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey
Getting onto the Ferris wheel, Ding Ning and Jiang Che sat side by side, gazing together at the glow of the sunset on the horizon.
The two had come very early; while it wasn’t the best time to watch the sunrise, the scenery was unique in its own way.
The sunset glow was like a magnificent painting, spreading recklessly across the sky.
It wasn’t until the Ferris wheel rose to its highest point that Ding Ning finally saw the full panorama of Jiang Che’s territory.
She widened her eyes, filled with awe and curiosity.
She saw gigantic stones sculpted by nature, saw waterfalls cascading through the mountains, saw massive cracks in the earth with sunlight shining through.
These were sights Ding Ning had never seen before. She pressed her hands against the Ferris wheel’s transparent glass.
"This world is so beautiful." She pressed her face to the glass.
Light and shadows kept flooding into her eyes, the splendor of the sunset unfolding vividly within her pupils.
"Later, let’s go down and take a closer look." Jiang Che grinned; this was his first time riding a Ferris wheel too.
The first time he’d taken in the landscape of his own territory from above like this.
Everyone’s efficiency was high—whether it was diverting streams or other things, all had long since been taken care of.
Those meticulously crafted landscapes and facilities embodied everyone’s dedication and effort.
But Jiang Che had never gone to see them, because he felt, since neither he nor Ding Ning had seen them yet—
There was no need for him to act like a tour guide, seeing them first and then introducing her to the scenery.
In his heart, some things are best seen together, just the two of them.
What they share is the heartbeat in the moment they see the sights, not the view itself.
His blushing wasn’t because of the subtropical climate, but because today’s dawn betrayed the first stirring of his heart.
The Ferris wheel moved slowly, rising gently, then descending gently.
During the time the two of them enjoyed the view, chaos was erupting outside. Xiong Jie had sent people to escort those fifty or so individuals away, along with their families—a group totaling more than a hundred. He happened to be free and decided to personally send them off.
A bus could carry two hundred people; besides them, there were others on board heading out to retrieve their own parents and relatives.
"Why?" someone shouted angrily, their voice brimming with confusion and accusation.
"Aren’t you afraid?" another person’s voice trembled, their face etched with fear.
"That’s not just any evil spirit, that’s a Lord! Living here is far more dangerous than outside!" someone else shrieked hysterically, trying to find a reasonable explanation for their expulsion.
Inside the bus, the faces of those being sent off were all full of panic and resentment. Despair and anger flashed in their eyes.
More than a hundred were sent away; the bus also carried some who would be picking up relatives, so the return journey would be full as well.
The bus left full, and it would return full.
Yet their hearts were heavy with loss and resentment, as if abandoned by the world itself, their future clouded with confusion and dread.
The others in the bus glanced at them but didn’t speak.
Their expressions were cold and calm, as if long used to such outbursts.
The yelling continued the whole way.
Hearing those words, people looked out the window.
The Dark Forest was deep and terrifying, like an endless abyss of darkness ready to swallow souls.
But hearing they were being sent away, their fear vanished suddenly.
Looking at those agonized and chilling ghost faces in the forest, their terror grew less and less.
The time spent in the territory wasn’t long, but life here had been the easiest for them.
No endless torment found in other dungeons, no endurance of bizarre horrors.
In those other dungeons, they always faced threats to life, nerves stretched to the absolute limit. Here, everything was different.
Here, it felt like a return to that original peaceful life.
Work, meals, living, studying.
The routine days brimmed with warmth and tranquility—no sudden dangers, no harrowing challenges.
At night after work, they could even come out and enjoy the views and constructions.
This environment was better than any neighborhood they’d ever lived in.
It made them feel comfortable and deeply satisfied.
It’s always said—a slap, then a sweet date as comfort.
But this time, Jiang Che really threw them into a honey jar first, and then slapped them.
The honey jar was too deep, too rich; they never wanted to climb out. Compared to that, the slap hardly stung at all.
"Aren’t you afraid they’ll kill you?" a voice roared hoarsely in the bus, sharp enough to pierce the entire cabin.
The voice was full of desperation and fear, carrying a last, futile struggle.
Xiong Jie sat in the passenger seat, expression calm, paying no mind to the commotion behind him.
He used to dislike noise—it made him irritable and anxious.
But now, hearing the chaos in his ears, he found it oddly pleasing.
"If you’re so scared of leaving, then just shut up. What are you whining for?" a voice snapped, thick with annoyance.
"Don’t make a fuss and distract the driver. I just want to hurry and fetch my mom," another voice chimed in, rife with urgency.
"So what, you won’t die outside? At least make your last meal a decent one," this voice was laced with indifference and mockery.
...
Finally, someone inside the bus couldn’t help speaking up.
Several voices followed in succession, instantly silencing the people who’d been making a scene.
The forceful words shut up the noisy ones in an instant.
The exiled families accompanying them were even more confused—why had they just been brought over, and now had to leave?
"Son, can’t you talk to the Lord? Tell him you’re sorry, tell him you don’t want to leave..." someone grabbed their child’s hand, eyes full of pleading.
"Yeah, child, it’s so dangerous outside. At least here you can eat your fill and feel safe." Another parent chimed in, their voice quivering on the edge of tears.
"Did you do something wrong? What Evil Spirit Lord? Why are you being forced out?" Yet another family member wore a bewildered look, anxiously asking questions.
...
Several relatives spoke up one after another—they still didn’t understand why their children were being forced to leave.
Those anxious and bewildered faces were full of fear for the unknown and yearning for a stable life.
"Uncle, don’t bother thinking about it, it’s useless." Seeing the middle-aged speakers, someone in the back, waiting to pick up their family, couldn’t help but interject.
His tone was low and resigned, as if he’d already seen through everything.
"If it were another Lord, we might’ve had a shot at staying, but this is Jiang Che." There was a hint of reverence and helplessness in his voice. "Jiang Che’s decisions are never easy to change."
"Guess it’s just bad luck. Honestly, Brother Che is pretty decent—he’s sending you guys to other territory residences anyway, so life won’t be unbearably hard." Someone tried to comfort the families, but the reassurance seemed so pale and powerless.
...