Li sighed. He could have killed the man, and by not killing him, maybe he had saved his life. It was a responsibility he didn't really want.<br/>The only thing he wanted even less were bodies on the ground, not if he could avoid it. So he stayed his hand..for now. It also gave him time to think, and Li was known for thinking really, really fast.<br/>The men sure looked like soldiers. Discipline always gives them up, Li thought. Ordinary robbers would have broken and fled at the ghost trick. Being outmatched by three skilled fighters would have broken even hardened robbers, they knew there is always another day. Who did they serve?<br/>"Why are you faithful to him?", he shouted behind them. It was a knife thrown in the dark, but it was still better than nothing.<br/>Then he turned, eyeing the lady who has been assaulted, and the rest of her defenders. They all looked mildly familiar, but it was hard to recognize them in the dark.<br/>Instead, Li got closer to the woman.<br/>"I don't know who you are, lady, but you are safe now! You should really file a complaint, though. These men should be captured, before they hurt someone else, bringing shame to their own venerable ancestors!"<br/>Also, he thought, I am now responsible for what one of them does. I will have to take are that he doesn't bring shame to his ancestors. And I'd rather have the state of Wei punish him and give him a second chance, because he would be hard to persuade...<br/><em>And if I fail to persuade him, I'd have to kill him. If I am responsible for his deeds, part of the blame for them would fall on me, too. And as much as I hate killing, I'd rather kill him than let him dishonour my family name.</em>