Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 269 - 258: Isn’t it Very Normal to Sacrifice Everyone to Save Me?

Chapter 269: Chapter 258: Isn’t it Very Normal to Sacrifice Everyone to Save Me?

Zhang San saw that ghosts and monsters had already started climbing up and knew that Shang Bufa’s technique was unreliable.

Zhang San looked around and spotted a particularly tall restaurant nearby, about four stories high, probably the largest in Fengdu County City. He immediately used a Wood Series Spell to make the surrounding trees begin to twist and grow.

In a moment, the continuously growing treetops formed a sloped pathway that bypassed two rows of residential houses and reached the restaurant.

"Everyone, hurry to that restaurant!"

As Zhang San shouted from behind, he began to rush forward to confront the ghosts and monsters emerging from the ravine.

Shang Bufa took out some Pills to restore his Qi, swallowed two, and rushed forward as well.

The few Martial Artists from the Ministry of Punishment actually did not want to continue fighting; after all, their original job was to assist in escorting, not fighting—there were soldiers from the Town Martial Office for that, so there was no need for them to take action.

But now that Shang Bufa had rushed forward, they reluctantly had to follow.

At this moment, the Deputy General learned of the situation at the back of the troop and immediately ordered, shouting, "Protect the canopy pathway, let the civilians go first!"

The soldiers around immediately began fighting the nearby ghosts and monsters with their weapons to clear a path for the civilians.

Once the civilians had mostly run into the restaurant across the way, the soldiers gradually followed through the canopy pathway.

The last ones to cover the rear were some Martial Artists from the Ministry of Punishment, looking bitterly exhausted, and Martial Artists from the Town Martial Office who were still fiercely battling the surrounding ghosts and monsters.

Zhang San was responsible for covering the rear at the very end.

As he ensured everyone retreated near the restaurant, Zhang San noticed that many ghosts and monsters were already approaching the entrance on the first floor.

"Those on the first floor, barricade the door with planks; don’t let the ghosts and monsters get in. Those still outside, follow me!"

As Zhang San shouted, he manipulated some branches of the canopy using a Wood Series Spell to twist toward the windows on the second floor, and then led the people in through the windows.

It was then that Zhang San noticed Shang Bufa continuously drawing a series of runes in the air with one hand, while holding onto an official with the other.

In the midst of the fierce battle, Zhang San had thought all these officials had died.

But, unexpectedly, Shang Bufa had managed to save one.

Soon, everyone retreated through the second-floor windows, and Zhang San looked at Governor Shi beside Shang Bufa and then back at Shang Bufa.

Governor Shi seemed to understand something and immediately bowed to Shang Bufa and Zhang San, saying, "I will never forget the favor of saving my life."

Shang Bufa smiled and waved his hand with a modest expression, "Our mission this time was to escort you to the Capital safely; it’s what we were supposed to do."

Zhang San, with a cold face, watched Shang Bufa finish displaying his ingratiating personality, then finally spoke.

"Earlier I encountered a ghost who posed me a multiple-choice question..."

Zhang San then roughly explained what had happened when he met Fang Xiang.

Hearing that Zhang San had to choose between saving the officials or the civilians, Shang Bufa was taken aback.

At this moment, Governor Shi Bubao, trembling all over, and even the layers of fat on his body were quivering.

At this time, the expressions on the faces of the surrounding civilians were also very tense.

After all, no one could ignore their own life.

"Zhang San, what did you choose?" At this moment, seeing Zhang San’s expression, Shang Bufa already had an ominous guess.

Zhang San smiled and countered, "Shang Bufa, if it was you, what would you choose?"

Shang Bufa was about to blurt out "Save the officials," since his mission for this trip was to assist the Town Martial Office in escorting these officials back to the Capital.

However, when he noticed the plain yet eager faces of the Fengdu County townspeople around him, he opened his mouth several times but failed to emit any sound.

Zhang San smiled and turned to look at Shi Bubao, who was standing nearby.

"Governor Shi, tell us, if now we need to sacrifice you alone, to save us all, would you be willing?"

Shi Bubao shook his head repeatedly, answering in a panic, "Not willing, of course, I am not willing; my life is also a life!"

Zhang San smiled and continued, "Then what if we sacrifice all the townspeople here? I just looked, and there must be at least five or six hundred townspeople here. Would you be willing to sacrifice them to save yourself?"

Shi Bubao nodded calmly and asked with a tone as if it were self-evident, "What else then?"

Zhang San couldn’t help but laugh, and then he turned to look at the townspeople on the second floor and asked, "If one of you becomes this official and then dies, and it could save the five or six hundred townspeople here, who would be willing?"

Hearing Zhang San’s question, Shi Bubao exhaled.

In his view, Zhang San should be trying to find a way to save him.

After all, he was a prominent Governor; there was no reason not to save him!

At this moment, among the townspeople, a man with dark and rough skin stood up.

"I am willing, as long as after my death, you take good care of my mother and the children at home."

Then, a beggar stood up and said with a smile, "He has too many worries; I am alone; dead is dead. Being an official for a moment before dying is worth it!"

Next, a woman stood up. Though she seemed timid, she still said very firmly, "My child is gone, and so is my husband; dying would mean joining them. Don’t think only you men are not afraid of death; we women are no less brave than men!"

At that moment, several Martial Artists from the Ministry of Punishment bowed their heads in shame.

Previously in the battle against ghosts and monsters, they were not as brave as the Town Martial Office’s Martial Artists, but they could still say they were unfamiliar with such ghosts and monsters.

But now, seeing this scene, they realized they did not even have the courage to sacrifice their self-interest.

Even Shang Bufa was somewhat shocked.

Because in Shang Bufa’s impression, the common people, living at the very bottom of the entire governance structure, should be ignorant, unenlightened, greedy, and selfish.

But why, what I’m seeing now and what I had previously thought, are completely different.

Inside the second floor, silence lingered for a long time.

Only Shi Bubao was smiling contentedly.

He knew he was safe.

Just then, a ghostly shadow suddenly reached a hand through the window, grabbed Governor Shi’s coat collar from behind.

Shi Bubao screamed in fright and, while running to the side, pushed a woman next to him outward.

The woman collided with the ghost trying to climb in, was immediately choked by the ghost, and was dragged away.

While Shi Bubao fell to the ground, unsettled and terrified.

Shang Bufa watched the scene unfold, his face filled with disbelief.

"Shi Bubao, aren’t you an official? Shouldn’t you love your people like your children? As a Governor, should you not protect your people? What exactly ... were you doing just now?"

Amidst the roaring, Shang Bufa felt the worldview he had built over eighteen years beginning to collapse.