A Paladin’s Mercy and a Maid’s Initiative

Upon hearing Yang Tianyi utter the words ‘Paladin’, the sales assistant’s legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor.

It’s over, everything is over.

‘A Paladin Lord… he’s actually a Paladin Lord…’ the sales assistant repeated in disbelief.

Why would a Paladin, of all people, waste their time with a nobody like her?

Why did they dress like paupers, merely to amuse themselves?

Had they simply revealed their true [worth], she would have obeyed them like a dog.

She couldn’t fathom it, not at all! Was this truly amusing to them?

The sales assistant found it incomprehensible; she longed to furiously question the youth before her, who was dressed like a security guard, yet she dared not.

For in this world, once one ascended to the rank of Paladin and obtained their inherent authority, they became worlds apart from ordinary people.

Such was the chasm between mortals and extraordinaries.

As the bulwark protecting the human world from the encroaching Death Wasteland, the Paladins’ status within human society was unshakeable.

While the various district investigation bureaus held enforcement power over commoners, they could only obediently comply when encountering a Paladin, a testament to the latter’s immense authority.

Indeed, even certain moral constraints previously mentioned became less stringent for Paladins—for instance, a Paladin could possess multiple wives or lovers, and many who failed to marry women of equal standing would often compensate for the quality of blessings by increasing their quantity.

Countless ordinary girls, without exception, dreamed of marrying a Paladin, thereby transcending class barriers in a single stroke.

Fortunately, the number of Paladins was exceedingly small relative to the total population; otherwise, most ordinary men would find themselves unable to marry.

‘Xiao Li…’ Yang Tianyi gazed at the sales assistant with concern, his mind already formulating strategies to extricate her from this predicament.

Under the Church’s law, even if a Paladin killed an ordinary person, they would merely be recalled to the Holy Temple for a period of confinement.

Should this young Paladin be in a foul mood, virtually no one present could hope to quell his wrath.

The atmosphere gradually grew silent, broken only by the robust bronze aura emanating from Li Chunsheng, which occasionally warped the air with strange noises.

Everyone speculated on how Li Chunsheng would ultimately deal with the man and woman who had offended him.

In truth, Li Chunsheng was pondering the very same question.

‘Uh… what am I supposed to do next? With so many eyes on me, asking my senior brother here doesn’t seem quite right…’

Ever since he had so ostentatiously struck the mall’s security supervisor to his knees with a single palm, Li Chunsheng had found himself at a loss as to how to proceed.

This revealed his immaturity; while his actions were entirely motivated by concern for his senior brother, he had given no thought whatsoever to how to handle the aftermath.

Coincidentally, Li Chunsheng’s silence only further accentuated his mystique and power, making him seem like a terrifying, dormant volcano on the verge of eruption.

However, as time wore on, expressions of doubt began to surface on some faces.

A look of tension also crossed Liuxia’s face as she wondered if she should discreetly prompt Li Chunsheng to find an excuse and slip away.

Just then, a portly middle-aged man in a black suit scurried over, his face glistening with sweat.

‘Greetings, Paladin Lord!!’ The man, who was none other than the mall manager, promptly prostrated himself on the ground.

Li Chunsheng’s eyes lit up; he now knew how to proceed.

With a remarkably calm tone, he stated, ‘…You’ve arrived too slowly.’

‘Yes, yes, yes… it is this humble one’s lack of swiftness.’ The mall manager kowtowed repeatedly.

Only then did those around them realize with dawning clarity: this Paladin Lord believed ordinary people were unworthy of addressing him directly?

Truly a Paladin, arrogant indeed.

Everyone was utterly convinced.

‘Then… tell me, how do you intend to compensate me and my little maid?’ Li Chunsheng drawled, his gaze, however, sharply fixed on the mall manager prostrate before him.

‘This humble one dares to propose… for the Paladin Lord’s current visit to our mall, a fifty percent discount on all purchases!’ The manager, sweating profusely, extended five fingers.

‘Hmm?’ Li Chunsheng furrowed his brow.

‘Even with fifty percent off, what could I possibly afford?’

That single sound sent a shiver down the mall manager’s spine.

Seeing Li Chunsheng’s continued dissatisfaction, he retracted four of his fingers, his voice trembling as he stammered, ‘Then… would ten percent off suffice?’

This was the greatest concession he could make within his authority.

Yet, Li Chunsheng still felt a flicker of discontent.

‘Only ten percent off?’ he thought. ‘Even that’s too expensive! Why can’t you just give it to me for free?’

Liuxia, standing nearby, could no longer bear to watch.

She tugged at Li Chunsheng’s sleeve and whispered, ‘Master~ that’s enough… these high-end malls have powerful backing too; it’s best to be magnanimous when possible…’

Seeing his senior brother’s earnest counsel, Li Chunsheng reluctantly abandoned his line of thought and turned his attention to the other two.

Both the sales assistant and Yang Tianyi tensed instantly.

The mall manager, ever perceptive, didn’t wait for Li Chunsheng to speak before thumping his chest and declaring, ‘Paladin Lord, rest assured, these two have offended you, and our mall will absolutely not retain such tactless individuals… We will dismiss them both immediately.’

‘Ah…!’ The sales assistant gasped, her face turning an alarming shade of purplish-blue.

‘My job, my job… Where else could I find work that allowed me to interact with so many wealthy individuals?’

All hope vanished for the sales assistant, her dream of marrying a rich man turning to ashes in that very moment.

‘Xiao Li!’ Yang Tianyi cried out in anguish at her reaction, yearning to go to her side, yet his shattered knees rendered him utterly immobile.

Observing this scene, Li Chunsheng’s brow arched, and a sense of familiarity welled within him.

His initial intention to simply nod shifted in an instant.

He stated calmly, ‘The one who offended me… was that woman.

As for this male security guard, he was merely summoned by her…’

‘I perceive a certain competence in him, and I am moved by a desire to nurture talent.

Since he caused no harm to me or my maid, I have decided to forgive him.’

His words were light as a breeze, granting Yang Tianyi clemency, simply because he saw a faint shadow of his past senior brother in him.

‘A woman, even if she fails, can still marry.

But if this security guard loses his job and has no subsequent income… his fate might be even more tragic than my senior brother’s.’

‘I see… Yang Tianyi, why are you not thanking the Paladin Lord for his benevolence!’ The mall manager nodded, then reprimanded him.

‘Yes… Thank you, Paladin Lord!’ Yang Tianyi prostrated himself, though in his heart, he was already contemplating how to comfort Xiao Li later.

Li Chunsheng observed the pair, thinking, ‘This security guard seems deeply devoted to that sales assistant.

Now that she’s lost her job, shouldn’t he have an easier time winning her over?’

With that thought, Li Chunsheng’s heart lightened considerably, as if he had somehow aided his past senior brother.

Just then, Liuxia suddenly spoke, ‘Mr. Manager, this security guard just now attempted to attack me using a Black Iron artifact…’

‘Eh? Senior brother, what are you doing? I was just about to let him go.’ Li Chunsheng vigorously signaled to the girl. ‘Didn’t you say to be magnanimous when possible?’

Yang Tianyi’s expression also grew tense.

The girl, however, seemed utterly oblivious, continuing, ‘According to Church law, if a military permit holder illegally uses an authorized weapon, the Paladin present is obligated to assist the Holy Temple in its retrieval.’

‘Therefore… please hand over that security guard’s Black Iron artifact to my Master.’

As it turned out, Liuxia had attended university and was quite familiar with the laws pertaining to Paladins; seeing an opportunity to bolster Li Chunsheng, she naturally seized upon it immediately.

‘Chunsheng has embarked on a perilous path to protect me; I must find a way to help him, or at the very least, not become a burden!’ the girl mused.

‘Moreover, Chunsheng’s use of a Bronze artifact must be quite expensive, whereas a Black Iron artifact would be more appropriate for his current level…’

‘As for unauthorized possession of a Black Iron artifact, could it truly be more sinful than harboring a goblin?’

Thus, Liuxia took it upon herself to demand the Black Iron artifact for Li Chunsheng, and realizing the girl’s intent, Li Chunsheng remained silent.

Yang Tianyi’s expression relaxed, and he chuckled ingratiatingly, ‘Yes, yes, of course, of course!’

With that, he deactivated his transformation and presented the black cube in his hands with both palms.

Liuxia extended a delicate hand, took the black cube, and smiled faintly at Li Chunsheng, a hint of triumph gracing her features.

‘See, Chunsheng, I helped you, didn’t I! Your senior brother isn’t just good at housework, you know?’

Her adorable demeanor made Li Chunsheng unable to suppress a chuckle, and he instinctively reached out to pat the girl’s small head.

‘Wait, I’m your senior brother!’ A surge of exasperation flared within Liuxia.

Yet, before everyone, she remained Li Chunsheng’s little maid, and thus could only meekly endure his head pat.

‘Mmm… why does it feel somewhat nice…?’ Unbeknownst to her, Liuxia’s inner resistance was slowly fading.

‘Why does my face feel warm when he touches me… So warm… Ah!’ The girl’s blush spoke volumes beyond any words.