Sun Moon National Assembly

Yang Shuiyun's smile faded. Peng Yunze's brows knitted, and Long Xiuyuan lowered his arm from Situ Xuan's shoulder.

"Speak."

Situ Xuan drew in a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

"I'm going to set things right and purge every last parasite in the Sun Moon Federation. While the Sun Moon Federation Council Assembly is being held, I will enter the palace and remonstrate to the death. Whoever disagrees dies. After that, I will use the momentum to flatten Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and the Spirit Pagoda in one fell swoop."

The classroom went quiet. Yang Shuiyun frowned. Peng Yunze's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop. Long Xiuyuan pressed his lips into a thin line. They were not as young as Wang Dongchen, not as fanatical as those Crows, and not like those followers who worshiped Situ Xuan as if he were a god. They had families, brothers, subordinates, academies—far too many ties and worries.

Situ Xuan looked at them without urging, without explaining, without persuading. He simply stood there in silence, waiting for their answer.

Long Xiuyuan was the first to speak. His voice was hoarse and low, carrying an excitement he could not suppress.

"You little bastard, do you know what you're saying?"

"I do."

"Do you know how dangerous this is?"

"I do."

"Do you know that if you fail, you'll die, your people will die, and we'll die too?"

"I do."

Long Xiuyuan stared into Situ Xuan's eyes for a long time. There was no fear in those eyes, no hesitation, not the slightest wavering. There was only a calm that made one's heart tremble, the kind of calm that came only after someone had decided their own fate.

Long Xiuyuan drew in a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

"What do you want