Chapter 536 272: The Human Heart

Time flies, and now it's another month.

Turbulent times arise, with undercurrents surging everywhere.

The case of Song Yu is finally settled, the verdict reached, and the punishment decided.

Murder, destruction of evidence, sheer madness, unforgivable crimes, sentenced to capital punishment, to be executed after the autumn.

Capital punishment means the death penalty!

This is the matter of executing the True Dragon with orthodox justice.

The news, once released, shook the world, causing rumors to spread and unrest to follow.

However, the turmoil did not stop there; more shocking news emerged in the court.

Grand General of the Imperial Guard Song Que, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Li Feng, Minister of the Ministry of Rites Ye Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Lu Ping, and other Cabinet ministers proposed in the court to abolish the title of Emperor, as well as the noble ranks of Duke and Marquis, on the grounds that the Celestial Dao is impartial, national laws are just, and all people are equal, so that all under heaven are citizens, equal before the law, without Emperors or commoners, only the Just Dao of Heaven and Earth and the Orthodox Technique in the human realm!

With Song Yu captured and set to be lawfully executed, the court underwent a purge as well. The Emperor's supporters, like Wang An and Wang Shi, were either dead or imprisoned, making this proposal uncontested. Even the surviving nobles from the northern expeditions remained silent, allowing the proposal to pass smoothly.

The announcement of this decision shocked the world, causing further upheaval in the lands troubled by the Emperor's lawful trial, sparking an unprecedented storm.

For an Emperor to be tried and executed is already a sensational event through the ages, and now to abolish the titles of Emperor and the ancient system of nobility, promoting the doctrine of lawful citizens, equating the status of meritorious nobles...

Such actions are unprecedented, akin to a thunderbolt shaking the Nine States.

The Three Religions and Hundred Schools, Daoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Legalism, all converged towards the Northern Capital, gathering the tumultuous forces of the world.

In this manner, time passed quickly, finally reaching after the autumn.

The autumn winds were bleak, the chill cutting to the bone.

The execution ground in the Northern Capital was a focus of attention for all.

Around the execution ground, soldiers were strictly on guard, with squads of Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers, clad in golden armor and donned with yellow turbans, holding the area secure.

Beyond the soldiers, thousands of citizens gathered, eager to witness this unprecedented historical moment.

Indeed, never before seen in history!

Throughout the ages, after the decline of dynasties, there were always those who rebelled, deposing Emperors, and some extremists even committed regicide openly, but nothing more than that.

The law does not apply to the Monarch, punishment doesn't reach the ministers; this is an ancient system ingrained in hearts, whether Duke or commoner, none found it inappropriate.

In past dynasties, even with treacherous ministers usurping power and deposing Monarchs, they only deposed the end dynasty True Dragon, puppet Monarchs, not the title of Emperor itself, and even then, a replacement was sought.

Like now, to have a founding Monarch, a True Dragon Emperor, undergo trial and punishment, their authority stripped, is truly unprecedented.

The shock to people's hearts and the impact on law and ritual are also unprecedented.

"How absurd, how absurd!"

"A True Dragon Emperor, the Venerable Emperor, how can the law be applied to him?"

"You are insane, to mistreat the Emperor this way, you will certainly face heavenly retribution!"

"Oh heavens, open your eyes!"

"His Majesty has great merit for the state, not only unifying the nation and resetting the Nine Cauldrons but also creating an unprecedented prosperous era, bringing the northern and southern lands, the Nine States, countless people out of suffering, now for a mere maidservant, you want to bring His Majesty to ruin?"

"Traitors, traitors!"

"You who collaborate with the tiger, you will surely meet a bad end!"

"There is still time to atone for your sins, quickly release the Emperor to console the people!"

A group of Confucian scholars gathered around the execution ground, some even holding the rails, bitterly reprimanding the Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers, shouting angrily.

To this behavior, the Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers merely looked on coldly, unless someone crossed the rails to disrupt order, they ignored it completely.

Fortunately, the crowd's voice was not one-sided.

"Damn you!"

"What nonsense are you speaking?"

"What do you mean by a mere maidservant?"

"Emperor, my foot!"

"We are all born of parents, why should you be superior?"

"A life for a life, that is the way of heaven, so what if it's the Emperor?"

"Merit is merit, crime is crime, merits should be rewarded, crimes should be punished, how can merit offset crime?"

"He contributed to the northern expedition, but he received his due rewards, from King Wu to Emperor of Zhou, all that was owed to him was given, now he still wants merit to offset crime, based on what?"

"You corrupt Confucians, using the people's name for your own gain, deserve to die, deserve to die!"

"What Emperor, now in the Great Zhou, there is no Emperor, no duke or marquis, before the law everyone is equal, you spineless dogs dare bark wildly here, only because of the Great Zhou's law that words are blameless, without such laws, you would be the first to die!"

"You are the real traitors, thieves feigning loyalty!"

The old system Confucians angrily rebuked, while the spectators, though mostly silent and not daring to oppose this ancient ritual law, some expressed indignation, responding angrily, especially new law students from the Southern Lands.

Immediately, the new and old factions clashed with words.

But clash as they might, it remained verbal, with no real actions taken.

The deterrent power of the law was evident.

Amidst this verbal scuffle between the new and old factions.

A squad of Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers escorted a prisoner onto the execution ground.

It was…

"Your Majesty!!!"

A wretched cry, filled with bitterness, came from an elderly in high hats and wide robes, who was clinging to the fence of the execution ground, staring at the escorted Song Yu, tears streaming down his face, crying out in grief.

Not only him, but the surrounding Confucian scholars and old system individuals were also agitated upon seeing this.

"We are incompetent, failing the Emperor's grace!"

"Unable to kill the traitors, remove the treacheries, leading to His Majesty's imprisonment, it is our failure!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

"How can you do this, dare to do this!"

"Release His Majesty at once!?"

"Your Majesty, Wang Can is here!"

The crowd agitated, chaos ensued, even a Confucian scholar jumped over the fence, rushing towards Song Yu in the center of the execution ground.

Then…

"Thud!!!"

A muffled sound, blood splattered, a head flew off.

All around the execution ground, the Divine Soldiers acted with their weapons against the charging Confucian scholar, spilling his blood on the spot.

The gruesome sight immediately acted as a deterrent, calming the crowd that was on the verge of losing control.

In the execution ground, Song Yu was pale, his martial arts had been abolished, acupoints sealed, like fish on a chopping board, unable to move or speak.

Even so, seeing the agitation from all sides, hoping to save him from the execution ground, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.

"Save me, save me!"

"King of Zhaoren, King of Zhaoren!"

The plea for help echoed as a wail in their hearts.

Looking around again...

Seeing blood splattering on the spot, the gathered Confucian scholars slightly calmed themselves.

But only slightly calmed down.

Soon, they shifted their gaze to the leaders among the Confucians, the prominent Confucian scholars and heads of various academies.

The Emperor suffers legal constraint, the rites and institutions are about to collapse. The prestigious Confucian teachings cannot prevail, as the great scholars from various academies had already arrived, awaiting the opportunity to rescue the Emperor.

A high-crowned, wide-belted elder was seen, surrounded by a crowd of Confucian scholars, facing Song Yu at the center of the execution ground. He lifted his sleeve to wipe away the traces on his face, then straightened his attire meticulously, knelt down, and bowed thrice from a distance before finally speaking.

"We Confucian scholars must protect the Emperor, sacrificing ourselves for justice!"

With that, he stood up, looked at the Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers guarding the execution ground, and with aged body charged forward.

Indeed, it's sacrificing one's life for justice to fulfill the fame and merit of the Confucian name!

This is the world of ghosts and gods; death is not the end but the beginning of supernatural existence. Therefore, people of the Three Religions and Hundred Schools cherish fame and merit over life and death. As long as they can achieve great merit and fame, death does not deter them, and everyone can calmly face self-sacrifice.

This is why, back in the day, appeasement was necessary during the Northern Campaign.

Death is not the end; one can cultivate as a ghost god or enter reincarnation. This causes the people to take life and death lightly and value loyalty and fame. Without appeasement, the people of the Northern Lands would indeed fight to the last soldier, causing significant casualties for the Zhou Army.

If even soldiers are like this, needless to say these Confucian scholars who are ready for heroic self-sacrifice now.

"We scholars of Confucianism protect the Emperor and the state, what fear does death hold?"

"Death is certain for everyone, either as light as a feather or as heavy as Mount Tai!"

"We die with clear understanding, hoping to awaken the world..."

"An evil law wreaks havoc, heavenly and earthly nemesis!"

"Alas!"

One by one, the high-crowned and wide-belted great Confucian scholars, with their elderly and frail bodies, stepped forward to face the menacing blades of the Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers. They were indeed sacrificing for justice, using their lives to defend the Confucian Dao, inspiring the people of the world, to assist the True Dragon in breaking free.

The sacrifice of great Confucians, their heroic self-sacrifice, who wouldn't be moved by such a scene?

Many spectators, especially the people of the Northern Lands, were shaken and even questioned this.

"This..."

"Such sacrifice?"

"Not afraid of even death?"

"A law this stern, isn't it too much?"

"The Emperor... perhaps does not deserve death?"

"The great Confucians are willing to sacrifice themselves to save the Emperor, showing the Emperor's benevolence."

"For merely a maid, they sentence a virtuous Monarch to death, implicating so many meritorious ministers and soldiers."

"Is this... worth it!?"

A wavering thought, and doubt began to rise.

However...

"Splurt!!!"

The sound of blood splattering was like a thunderclap.

Faced with the great Confucian scholars approaching heroically and ready for sacrifice, the Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers remained expressionless, coldly facing them, drawing their swords and weapons, any who touched the forbidden line were met with blood splattering on the spot.

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Heads flew, bodies fell.

Blood spattered all around, staining the execution ground red.

This scene shocked and awakened the shaken crowd, causing the new scholars of the Southern Lands to raise their arms and shout.

"What of the Emperor?"

"Today we must use Orthodox Technique to slay the True Dragon!"

"Even if it means slaughtering millions, rivers of blood flowing across the world, the law of our Great Zhou must be upheld!"

"One person's public is public, a multitude's private is private!"

"This is not just about one person's life, one person's justice, but tens of millions of lives, tens of millions of justice!"

"This world belongs to millions, not to the tyrannical Monarch alone!"

"The law cannot be broken!"

"Helping tyrants oppress, breaking the law with crowds, even millions should be killed!"

"Kill kill kill!!!"

The new scholars raised their arms and shouted, like thunderbolts, shaking the surroundings.

Hearts, hearts!

Ideals, ideals!

Some are deeply rooted, some just beginning to sprout.

Finally...

"Kill!!!"

"Protect the Emperor, save the Monarch!"

"Eliminate treachery, vanquish demons!"

"Evil demons outside the realm, wreaking havoc among humanity, we must eliminate demons and protect the Dao!"

"Amitabha Buddha!!!"

The sacrifice of great Confucians stirred the wave of human hearts. After the momentum struck, Confucian scholars and martial artists emerged from the crowd, joined by Daoists, Buddhists, and other outsiders, fiercely charging towards the execution ground, aiming to rescue the True Dragon.

Daoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Legalism, the Three Religions and Hundred Schools, revealed their full essence, striving with all their might.

Though after the previous battle, facing the Yellow Turban Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers, all forces suffered heavy casualties, the Three Religions and Hundred Schools, with their long-standing heritage, deep foundations, revealed at this moment, was still astonishing.

In an instant, from all directions, many Confucian Martial Sect members rushed out, along with Daoists and monks, their cultivation all at the Three Sects level, some even breaking into the Fourth Realm, achieved through sect secret techniques, generally not to be used, but now sacrificing to rescue the True Dragon.

In a moment, the sound of killing rose, surging like tides, directly rushing towards the execution platform.

However...

"Defend!!!"

The Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers stood with shields like walls, raised spears like a forest, guarding the execution ground on all sides, resisting assaults from all directions. Upon collision, dust rolled, and blood waves surged.

Those rescuing the Dragon have the resolve to sacrifice, but the Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers, with firm beliefs, equally fearlessly embraced death!

The two sides clashed, the sound of slaughter shook the heavens, blood and gore rose.

In the execution ground, on the observation platform, Li Feng remained calm, indifferent to the surrounding chaos, only observing the changes in the weather.

Finally...

"The hour has arrived!"

Li Feng stood up, lifted the Command Arrow, and in Song Yu's gaze of utter terror, heavily threw it.

"Execute!!!"