Excessive ferocity due to caution

This time, perhaps due to Zhao Yi's interference, Ke Laibin did not personally cut open his wife's belly, pick out his son with a pitchfork, and throw him into the fire.

The Silver Knights' anger has been successfully transferred to Zhao Yi.

The commander, clad in silver armor, stared intently at Zhao Yi.

He didn't understand.

He saw no fear in Zhao Yi's eyes, nor did he see the misery that followed his persecution.

In the other person's eyes, there was only a calm as deep as an abyss.

Holding a torch, Krebin approached Zhao Yi. He stared at Zhao Yi, a sinister smile playing on his lips, and said:

"On the fiery execution ground outside the church, I have seen many sinners like you who thought themselves brave, but without exception, they all let out mournful howls in the flames. I wonder how long you can keep up your bravado?"

Faced with Ke Laibin's mockery, Zhao Yi smiled calmly:

"You should be glad that I'm just an observer right now. If you really met me, you would be in big trouble."

Klein didn't understand the deeper meaning in Zhao Yi's words, but he felt that the pores on his body were emitting an extremely uncomfortable chill.

He knew he was afraid.

Now a marquis, Clyburn found it hard to accept his fear in front of a sinner bound to a rack; a nameless fire surged in his mind.

He forcefully threw the torch in his hand into the firewood at Zhao Yi's feet, and the flames immediately spread!

The flames climbed upwards along the wooden pillar and soon engulfed Zhao Yi.

The witch followed closely behind.

The firewood and the wooden pillars behind them had been soaked in fuel oil beforehand, and the fire burned ever brighter.

Terrifying pain spread to every corner of my body.

But what struck everyone present as odd was that neither of the two people being burned alive made a sound.

Hush

As dusk fell, a sudden gust of wind blew past Claybin's ear.

He shuddered and instinctively looked around.

The Silver Knights were all around.

He exhaled, feeling much more at ease.

"No need to be suspicious, Mr. Ke Laibin..."

"Even if there really are ghosts coming for revenge, the Silver Knights will definitely be able to handle them safely!"

"Think of happy things... After this poor, unkempt woman dies, you can immediately marry a beautiful young woman and own a luxurious estate and a prestigious status!"

As Clapham said this to himself, the fear on his face gradually disappeared, turning into madness.

The fire continued to burn.

This process lasted for an hour.

However, the fire did not diminish in the slightest.

Everyone realized something was wrong. The militiamen, who already harbored ulterior motives, were now even more uneasy, with some even whispering that Mesa's vengeful spirit was lingering...

Another quarter of an hour passed, but the fire still hadn't gone out, and a cold, howling wind gradually rose from all around.

Finally, some militiamen became frightened, dropped their weapons, and ran away screaming into the distance...

"She's back for revenge!"

"The evil witch has returned for revenge!!"

Once the first person did it, the others couldn't hold back any longer and followed suit, fleeing in disarray like a swarm of headless flies!

Watching the people scatter and run, Krebin felt a little flustered. He glanced at the Silver Knights commander sitting beside him and said in a fawning tone:

"Commander Lauren, look at this fire... doesn't something seem a bit off?"

Lauren did not answer him.

He just stared blankly at the raging fire, as if he were dead.

The same applies to the other members of the Silver Knights.

The strange feeling in Clapin's heart grew stronger. He tried waving his hand in front of the Knights Commander Lauren, but the latter did not react.

As if suddenly understanding something, Clapin's hands trembled as he slowly removed the helmet of the Knight Commander Lauren. The scene before him made him scream and fall to the ground!

The face in front of me was a blackened, charred mess!

It was still emitting hot white smoke, and its facial features were burned so badly that it was completely unrecognizable.

"How...how could this happen?"

Krebin panicked.

He quickly ran to the other Silver Knights and ripped off their armor and masks.

However, all the Silver Knights had now turned into a pile of charred, dried-up corpses!

"No...impossible!"

"It must be a hallucination, it must be!!"

Klein slapped himself twice!

But it was completely useless.

A cold wind blew, and the flames burning in the square suddenly went out.

Clayton turned around abruptly and saw that the cross on which Mesa was bound was... empty.

He was terrified and looked around, but seeing no ghost, he suddenly remembered to run away. As soon as he turned around, he saw a pair of vengeful, crimson eyes!

"You heartless man, prepare to die!"

Krebin was grabbed by the female ghost and lifted into the air.

"Mesa, let me explain!"

"Krabin cried out in terror."

He was terrified.

Why did nothing happen when Mesa killed so many witches before?

"explain?"

"Go explain it from my stomach!"

The female ghost looked at Clapham with unparalleled disgust in her eyes. With Clapham's mournful roar, she opened her blood-red maw and swallowed him whole.

After a series of crunching sounds, Clapham was completely chewed up and eaten by the female ghost.

"You still can't face what happened back then..."

Zhao Yi's weak voice came from another wooden pillar.

"You keep returning to that time in your dreams, killing Clapham in all sorts of cruel ways to vent your resentment..."

A gust of wind swept by, and the female ghost appeared before Zhao Yi, her face filled with anger and gloom.

"Shouldn't he have died?!"

Even though Zhao Yi was practically a charred corpse, he still spoke in the calmest tone:

"If I'm not mistaken, he also gouged out your eyes."

The female ghost remained silent.

Zhao Yi asked:

"Can you tell me why?"

The female ghost reached out and gently touched him, and Zhao Yi's injuries were instantly healed.

"Those eyes are the source of my strength."

"I possess the blood of the Witch King, and the church seeks to find her whereabouts through my eyes."

After a pause, the female ghost looked at Zhao Yi:

"My husband, Clapham, secretly reported to the church that I was a witch in exchange for land, power, and status."

"At that time, my child was about to be born, and my strength was severely weakened. I was unable to resist, and I didn't even have the strength to run away..."

"I was blind to begin with, so even if he gouged out my eyes, it was my own fault."

Zhao glanced to the side:

"Do you regret it?"

The female ghost's gaze was eerie:

"Yes."

"The moment the flames burned on me and my child, I regretted it."

Zhao Yi:

"You really don't want to let yourself go?"

Female ghost:

"I hate it!"

Zhao stared intently into the female ghost's eyes:

How can I get rid of my resentment?

Blood trickled from the corner of the female ghost's eye:

"Unless I kill him with my own hands!"

Where is he?

"church."

"I'll take you there."

After staring at each other for a long time, the female ghost's gaze gradually sharpened:

"Why are you helping me?"

Zhao has been outspoken:

"Once your resentment dissipates, I will be able to obtain this painting."

The female ghost's eyes were chilling, and her words were already filled with murderous intent:

"So you helped me not because of the torment and injustice I suffered, but because of that painting?"

Zhao Yidao:

"I am definitely not a good person."

"But I am a sincere person."

"If I said I was going to kill your whole family, then I really would kill your whole family."

"And if I say I want to help you, then I really will help you."

The female ghost was slightly dazed and speechless.

Zhao Yi gently stroked her cold cheek.

"Mesa".

"You don't love me, and I don't love you either."

"We just met the right person at the right time and in the right place."

"You are trapped in the painting, unable to move, and constantly thinking about revenge."

"And I... am the one who will help you get revenge."

P.S.: The first short story is basically over.

I've written 2400 words in this chapter. I'll take a few minutes' break and then continue writing the next chapter.