The Little Mudfish

Purple Thunder Duke hovered above the crowd, looking down as he swept his gaze over them. "There are still no orders from above! And you already want to leave? That's desertion in the face of battle!"

At the words "desertion in the face of battle," everyone shuddered, instinctively lowering their heads, not daring to meet Purple Thunder Duke's eyes.

They realized it as well—under Celestial Court law, desertion in the face of battle was a grave crime.

The Celestial Court had always punished "fleeing for one's life" and "traitors" with utmost severity.

Not only would it implicate them, it would also drag down their families in the mortal realm of Great Liang.

Seeing this, Gong Huaqing no longer hesitated.

He knew that if he hesitated any longer, if he dragged things out any further, these people would scatter and return to the shackles of the Celestial Court, continuing to serve as chess pieces for those lofty figures above.

"Everyone! You all saw what just happened! The Celestial Court treated us as discarded pawns! Surely I need not say what we should do!"

"Once something like this happens once, it will happen a second time! A third time—countless times! Today, they can sacrifice us to hold back the enemy; tomorrow, they can sacrifice us for even greater gains! In the eyes of the Celestial Court, we have never been people. We are merely tools!"

The crowd stirred, their pent-up dissatisfaction clearly roused by his words.

"Gong Huaqing!" Purple Thunder Duke's voice grew even more furious, the lightning around his body churning restlessly.

"How dare you spread demonic lies and bewitch the masses! Seize him at once! Otherwise, all of you will be charged with treason!"

His voice brimmed with threat and Killing Intent.

At those words, everyone looked at one another.