"If only a few die, they’d say you mishandled your duties, but if all are dead, no one is left to hold you accountable. With their interference gone, killing me would be even easier, and perhaps it would even allow you to atone for your crimes..."
Tirelessly Ruinous’s skills silently activated.
Evil thoughts in Ding Chang’s mind were suddenly stirred.
Yes!
So many nobles dead, he could no longer escape the blame for failing to protect them.
If he let the Evil Demons escape, once the owner of Dragon Willow Villa assigned blame, he feared he would be the first to be pushed out to take the fall...
Kill them!
Killing that Evil Demon also could allow him to atone for his crimes!
Kill!
Atone for crimes!
Rage arose from his heart, evil born alongside his gall, and once the evil thoughts took hold, they couldn’t be suppressed any longer.
Thud!
Ding Chang hacked an old man who clumsily got in his way to death and roared, "Get out of my way, don’t block me from killing the traitor!"
"Good job, killing one is the same as killing two. Kill them all, and there will be no more nuisances." Duge sneered, continuing to incite.
"Ding Chang, have you gone mad?" The Director of the arena, upon witnessing this scene, felt the world spin and couldn’t help but furiously scold.
The nobles were killed by the Evil Demons; even if a few more died, Dragon Willow Villa could explain it away afterward. But Ding Chang’s killing, once leaked, would bring blame down upon even him.
How could this fool be so easily provoked by a few words?
With Ding Chang joining in, the situation instantly became more chaotic.
The nobles, along with their entourages, were cut down like vegetables, and soon a swath of them fell.
Within moments.
The crowd in the arena began to look sparse.
Those witnessing Ding Chang’s frenzy, utterly furious, exclaimed, "Ding Chang, have you lost your mind, do you know who you are killing?"
Ding Chang, with bloodshot eyes and set on killing Duge, turned a deaf ear to them, and seeing them prattle on, he felled one with a slash.
Watching Ding Chang draw nearer, Duge suddenly laughed. He turned to the stunned Protectors behind Ding Chang, "Brothers of the Protector, Ding Chang has killed the guests of Dragon Willow Villa. If the guests die by my hand, there’s no issue, but if they die by his, it’s a grave sin.
When the Villa searches for someone to blame, it could inevitably lead to you all.
The more people Ding Chang kills, the greater your culpability. Aren’t you going to stop him?
Are you willing to be dragged down by him? Killing him could at least clear your names! My martial arts aren’t that strong; you could kill me too after killing Ding Chang, and thus atone for your crimes!"
"..." Ding Chang suddenly froze, then came to Enlightenment, trembling with rage, "Scoundrel."
The other Protectors hesitated for a moment. They looked between Duge and Ding Chang, unsure of whom to attack. Duge was a definite enemy, but Ding Chang’s actions were dragging them down too!
"A bunch of idiots, kill the Evil Demons first, then deal with Ding Chang," said the Director in a terribly corrupt manner.
Duge, who excelled at exploiting loopholes, chuckled upon hearing this, "Ding Chang, he even wants to deal with you, are you still willing to die for him? Why not join forces with me? Kill them all, set this damned villa ablaze, and from then on live a life of freedom. Wouldn’t that be joyous?"
The Director’s face changed drastically, "Ding Chang, don’t listen to his provocation, kill him and I guarantee you’ll be fine!"
"Do you believe that?" Duge countered softly, blocking the Director’s words completely.
"Scoundrel, scoundrel!" Ding Chang finally understood his predicament. His knife pointed at Duge, his eyes wide with fury, his body shaking uncontrollably.
"Let’s join hands. Right now, we are both grasshoppers on the same rope; you can’t run, nor can I," Duge said with a wicked laugh, then suddenly darted forward. Before the noble son who had exposed his identity could react, Duge slashed him, gave a push, and sent him towards Ding Chang.
Ding Chang, taking the opportunity, finished him with a strike.
"Look, you’ve killed another," Duge said with a light laugh. The beguiling voice began again, "His status must have been high, right? Ding Chang, to kill one is a crime, but to slaughter thousands makes you a hero. Massacring everyone at Dragon Willow Villa means no one will know who the killer was!"
Ding Chang shuddered, his eyes flickering.
"Ding Chang, don’t listen to him," the Director yelled in horror, watching Ding Chang be persuaded.
"Not listening to me, would you listen to him instead?!" Duge laughed, "Mate, with so many dead, you can’t escape your own blame! Rebel, and at least there’s a chance of a way out."
"You..." The Director shook, looking around at the carnage. Suddenly, he found himself unable to speak.
"Those living guards, your masters are dead, are you really still set on hunting me down?" Duge’s voice sounded like a demon’s, tempting everyone present, "Kill everyone here, and you’ll be without sin. You can live anonymously from now on, your families might even be treated well. If word of this spreads, think about it – none of you will end well!"
The guards, whose masters had been killed and who had been desperately chasing Duge, hadn’t thought it through; all they wanted was to kill Duge to exonerate themselves.
But now Duge had made the grim reality clear, and each one slowed their movements.
Tirelessly Ruinous bred evil thoughts in their minds, and those with evil thoughts often first consider their own interests.
"Continue defending these scum, and either I or Ding Chang will kill you and throw your lives away. Failing to protect will get you punished when you return. Your only option is to kill them all, to be as free as birds in the sky, as fish in the ocean..."
Duge’s voice continued, unrelenting. With his skill’s enhancement, each word, each phrase struck their souls like the sound of a morning bell or an evening drum.