Chapter 34: Extermination Due to Excessive Bluntness

For the next hour, Uchiha Lvcha rattled off the "crimes of Uchiha Yin" in a steady stream.

From the trivial—dining and dashing, peeping on widows bathing, stealing snacks from children—

To the heinous—dragging girls walking alone at night into groves, "exercising" in front of their boyfriends, then killing both to silence them.

The victims' parents appealed to the clan, only to be detained by him in turn and sent off for a "family reunion." He even had the audacity to proclaim, "A family should be whole and together."

Countless similar cases circulated by word of mouth among the clansmen, eventually becoming common knowledge.

Ordinary clansmen feared him like a tiger, their faces paling at the mere mention of his name. The powerful ones hated him to the bone; were it not for his status, they would have long since acted on behalf of heaven to rid the people of this scourge.

"???"

How come none of these crimes appeared in the original host's memories?

The original host had a reclusive personality, especially after the massacre, and had even less contact with clansmen.

He handled daily life himself. The few provocations that occurred were only because the other party brought up the topic of the massacre survivor, which led to conflict.

[There is no 'Bro' in the Jianghu, but legends of 'Bro' are everywhere in the Jianghu.]

"Did you witness all these with your own eyes?"

Uchiha Yin couldn't help but interrupt Lvcha, who was still listing offenses.

"Uh, well, no."

Pausing to think, Lvcha scratched the back of his head uncertainly.

"Then why do you speak as if they're real?"

"Who knows who started it first. Then everyone just started saying it: 'Uchiha Yin, you've done all these things.'"

Lvcha, looking a bit bewildered himself, suddenly began to doubt exactly when he had constructed such a character profile for Uchiha Yin in his mind.

Things that clearly never happened—everyone believed them true. Was someone deliberately spreading rumors, or...?

Uchiha Yin suddenly harbored many doubts about the original host's plight. Why was he framed with groundless charges?

Who was the mastermind behind ruining the original host's reputation and isolating him? And to what end?

These questions tangled in Uchiha Yin's mind, leaving him restless. Why target such a weakling, the original host?

Could it be merely resentment that he was the sole survivor?

[Survivor Guilt / Survivor's Guilt Theory]

This famous theory flashed through Uchiha Yin's mind.

Survivor Guilt Theory refers to how, in a disaster or crime, the survivors who barely escaped with their lives face harsher public condemnation and endure immense socio-moral pressure.

The reason the original host became reclusive and ignored these baseless rumors was likely the so-called "Survivor Bias."

Having survived that catastrophe, the original host often felt a sense of sin or guilt toward his clansmen. This emotion compelled him to choose silence when faced with rumors detrimental to himself.

But silence equals admission.

Thus, the original host's "character profile" was established among all clansmen who didn't know the truth.

From then on, rumors blurred with reality, becoming indistinguishable. People could only parrot what others said.

"Lord Yin, that's all I know."

Lost in thought, Uchiha Yin hadn't really listened to the latter half of Lvcha's narration, but he knew the gist was still more negative news about the original host.

"Alright, thanks, Brother Lvcha. I prefer the truth."

With a clear conscience, since Uchiha Yin knew the original host hadn't committed those heinous acts, he held no grudge against Lvcha's words.

"Then I'll get back to work."

Lvcha's mouth was parched from talking. Seeing the other party wasn't angry yet, he prepared to slip away.

"Mm, let's have tea sometime when you're free."

Uchiha Yin nodded absently, his mind already elsewhere, dismissing him.

After leaving, Lvcha leaned against the wall, legs weak, his whole body drenched as if soaked through.

"I said all that, and he didn't even get angry. Not a bit like the legends."

Shaking his head, he decided these weren't matters for a lowly jailer like him to ponder.

Today Uchiha Tiedan went to submit a transfer request; now he needed to rest. He had night watch duty alone tonight.

Setting the original host's "grievance" aside for the moment, Uchiha Yin decided to go see that so-called old jailer first, to test if he could get more accurate information.

Dungeon No. 3 held petty thieves and minor offenders.

Sentences were short—ten days to half a month—or long, basically up to a year before release.

Some were Uchiha clansmen, some were rogue ninjas. Their common trait: weak strength, timid nature.

The guards of Dungeon No. 3 were two young Uchiha clansmen, about ten years old. Their childish faces wore a gravity unbefitting their age, looking distinctly out of place.

Seeing Uchiha Yin approach, one thin boy spoke up.

"Restricted area. Unauthorized personnel keep out."

"You don't know who I am?"

Seeing the boy didn't seem to recognize him, Uchiha Yin asked.

"Regardless of who you are, without the Commander's order, no one takes a step further."

The boy wore a strictly business expression, blocking the entrance.

The "Commander" he referred to was the previous Uchiha Liushen. As the acting administrator, he was effectively the uncrowned king of this dungeon.

"I am the newly appointed Archives Officer. I need to enter Dungeon No. 3 to verify prisoner records."

Uchiha Yin didn't want to waste time arguing and stated his identity directly.

"Since you're the Archives Officer, go on in."

Upon hearing he was the Archives Officer here to verify records, the boy immediately stepped aside.

"Idiot Huohe, how can you trust a stranger so easily!"

The other Uchiha boy saw his partner let a stranger in so easily and hurriedly tried to stop him.

"But he said he's the Archives Officer!"

The boy named Uchiha Huohe scratched his head in confusion, looking conflicted at his teammate.

"I, Uchiha Erlang, won't be fooled by the likes of you!"

The other boy had a honest, square face. Clear eyes revealed a familiar sort of stupidity.

"You're Uchiha Erlang. Is your older brother Uchiha Dalang?"

Finding the boy increasingly familiar, Uchiha Yin spoke up.

"How do you know?"

The other party mentioned his long-unseen brother, and Uchiha Erlang asked instinctively.

"I was your brother's teammate on missions. Just got back a few days ago."

Uchiha Yin played the connection card, curious how the kid would handle it.

"Ah, why didn't you say you're Brother's friend? Come on in!"

Uchiha kids really are straightforward. No wonder they got schemed into clan annihilation.

"Then thanks, Little Brother Erlang."

Seeing his plan succeed, Uchiha Yin smiled benevolently at the still-grinning Erlang, then turned to the sulking thin boy.

"Thanks to you too, Little Brother Huohe, right?"

The previously huffy boy turned his head in doubt.

"How do you know my name?"

Bidding farewell to the two Uchiha boys, he walked deeper into the cells.

Dungeon No. 3 clearly held more prisoners than the other two, but most looked calm, some even chatting and boasting.

Seems their crimes weren't severe, so they lacked strong rebellious intent—his "Heart of Steel" treasure chests weren't triggering.

He searched the whole way with no results, almost suspecting Uchiha Lvcha had made up an old jailer to fool him. Just as he thought this, he suddenly noticed an open cell.

Walking over, a hunched figure was mopping the cell floor.

Seeing the figure wore the high-collared combat uniform common to the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Yin called out.

"Hello, may I ask—"

He'd only spoken half a sentence when the hunched figure turned around.

In the dim corridor light, a wizened face appeared before Uchiha Yin.

The old man's face was lined with wrinkles, as if time had carved clear marks upon it.

Most striking were his pupils—both a grayish-white. The hand gripping the mop resembled a withered chicken claw, utterly bloodless.

Startled by the apparition, Uchiha Yin swallowed the rest of his words.

He saw a wisp of black qi flash in the old man's gray-white eyes. A harsh, eerie laugh like a crow's caw came from his dry mouth, and the words spoken tightened Uchiha Yin's heart.

"Hee hee hee... You've finally come."

(End of Chapter)