"You can't! You can hear about it when something happens to me because I have a father renowned throughout the land, because I am a somewhat famous Fate Arts Master. But when something happens to your families, the Ministry of Justice will only silence you! Block all news of you! Wipe out your entire families!"
"Do you truly not know how many utterly conscience-less, frenzied atrocities the Devil Sect and the Ministry of Justice have suppressed over the years? Or do you not know that Great Qi and the neighboring nations have established three hundred and thirty-six Dead Devil Lands? There is one standing openly within Baili Ping'an of the Divine Capital!"
At the mention of the Dead Devil Lands, some people clenched their fists tightly.
Li Qingxian let out a long sigh. "You may think I am angry, that I am enraged, that I am venting, perhaps even that I am preaching justice. No. I am afraid. I am terrified. Because a Ministry of Justice like this could force me to my death in the next moment, just as it has forced countless people of Qi Kingdom to their deaths. This time, someone stood up to speak for me. This time, with all of you, I have the right to question the Ministry of Justice. But next time, perhaps after tonight, perhaps at dawn tomorrow, I may be lying in the street like a torn sack, with even wild dogs afraid to come near. When the wind blows, perhaps people will hear my hair scraping against the stone-paved road."
Everyone silently watched Li Qingxian, feeling as though all strength had drained from their bodies.
"I do not want to die." It was as though lava rolled through Li Qingxian's throat.
That lava roared, flowing through everyone's ears and into