Underneath A Thousand Skies ✔️

86 Foster Son, Don't Be So Crazy (23)

After being cajoled and threatened, Nian Shou finally agreed to go through the trial.

Song Jia made him apply the fire retardant gel twice all over his body, just to make sure that nothing untoward would happen. She was certain about the effectiveness of the 23rd century's medicine that she brought, but after seeing Nian Shou's nervousness, she couldn't help but feel nervous too.

Between the three of them, it was only Xiang Feng who remained calm.

At last, the Magistrate called them back into the courtroom. Since the trial by ordeal couldn't be held there, they followed her outside. The priest had already been called and stood next to the Magistrate, while the rest of them had to observe a short distance away.

The merchant madam put on a smug expression. She couldn't help but shoot Song Jia a gloating look.

If this young lady hadn't suggested a trial by ordeal for her husband, he would only be sentenced to spend ten years in prison. But because of her intervention, even the life of her husband wouldn't be spared.

She lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot. Ai, how pitiful.

Song Jia ignored the provocative gaze that was directed at her. She was fully focused on what was happening out front.

Under the priest's orders, Nian Shou began to solemnly swear an oath that offered his own life as insurance, expecting divine retribution if he did not tell the truth. Then, the priest began reciting prayers that pleaded God to watch over the trial and righteously judge the guilty.

After he was done, the trial of ordeal by fire finally began.

Blazing olive branches that were piled together were placed on either side of Nian Shou, who kept swallowing dry saliva in terror. He looked up and met Song Jia's gaze.

Song Jia silently nodded at him.

Nian Shou's courage came back at the sight of her small encouragement. Closing his eyes, he began to walk neither slowly nor quickly into the path of fire.

Under his breath, he was cursing himself for having fallen into Xiang Feng's trap.

When the small boy was smiling at him before, Nian Shou interpreted it almost like a challenge. It was as if Xiang Feng was silently telling him, his feelings towards Song Jia only amounted to this much. He couldn't even walk through a path of fire for her.

He knew about Xiang Feng's less than familial love towards Song Jia. But Nian Shou did not take it seriously. Except for the obvious fact that Song Jia did not look at Xiang Feng that way, there was also the overwhelming age difference between them.

No matter how you think about it, there was no way that the two of them would end up together.

In between thinking about various things, Nian Shou did not realize that he already came out of the path filled with flames. And just like what Song Jia promised, he was completely unscathed. Not even a single burn mark was found on his body.

"Impossible!"

The merchant madam's shriek rang in the air. She stumbled backwards, her face pale with disbelief. She pointed a shaking finger at Nian Shou.

"How could he be...impossible..."

A coat was thrown to Nian Shou by one of the court attendants to cover the holes in his clothes. They, too, couldn't close their gaping mouths. It was the first time they saw a suspect having survived the trial by ordeal of walking through fire. All of the past suspects had been burned alive, without exception. In fact, they had secretly prepared a wagon cart to haul this man's corpse away.