The rebellion had begun with an accident, but its subsequent development had exceeded most people's expectations. It was as though the White Lotus Sect had merely raised a cry from on high, and countless followers had answered at once—even court officials and generals were no exception.
Had the White Lotus Sect ultimately succeeded, overthrown Great Rui, and established its own dynasty, then in the history books of later generations, those who had followed the rebellion would have become meritorious servants who followed the dragon. From another angle, it would have painted Great Rui as a land where the people could not live, so that once the righteous army rose, followers gathered like clouds.
As time passed and such matters became fixed in the annals of history, those involved would have benefited even in death, so long as their form and spirit had not both been destroyed. Some might even have been enshrined as gods, while others might have been reborn to enjoy blessings.
Yet because of Qiu Yan's appearance, none of that came to pass. Instead, the White Lotus Sect suffered defeat after defeat before finally collapsing completely. Those officials and generals who had turned their backs on the court thus became rebels, destined to leave a mark in the chronicles of history—
Though the court had learned of the Mind-Confounding Talisman from many memorials and understood that these people could not truly be blamed, it still had to make some formal gesture. A rebel was a rebel; reality was cruel. Even if there had been reasons behind it, what they had done could not be erased. The court might not pursue their crimes, but it would certainly strip them of office, put on a show of investigation, and ultimately dismiss them all. Those who had been rescued understood this