"Ever since then, Goudan had become afraid of pain. I could understand him, but only understand. I could never forget how those people trampled on life."
Bai Fan crouched down and held the trembling Goudan. "Don't worry, Goudan. I'll never let you suffer again."
Only those who had experienced it firsthand could understand the despair of ordinary people. It was something those imperial nobles had never even considered.
"Down with the Heaven Dou Empire! We want to live like human beings!"
The slogan spread through the ranks like a virus.
"Thank you, Boss! You are our guiding light! You gave us a bright future, Boss! We swear to follow you to the death for the rest of our lives!"
Countless red specks of light flowed into Bai Fan's body, eventually transforming into pure energy that entered the lotus at his heart.
"Thank you all for your unconditional support and trust. The future belongs to all of us!"
A few days later, word reached Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire.
The ministers and nobles at court paid it no mind.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should directly dispatch an imperial army to suppress them and use the opportunity to intimidate the other rabble."
"Yes, Your Majesty. We absolutely cannot be lenient with such rebels!"
Xue Ye nodded slightly before issuing an order. "From today onward, leave the matter of dealing with the rebels entirely to Xue Jingyuan. Make sure every last traitor is eliminated."
Xue Jingyuan, carrying the regal bearing of the imperial family, knelt and accepted the decree.
Meanwhile, Qian Xunji of Spirit Hall also received the news. His expression darkened.
"They're only a handful of rebels. I trust those useless fools in the Heaven Dou Empire can handle them."
After saying that, Qian Xunji summoned a Soul Master clad in armor.
"Have you still not found the person behind this?"
The Soul Master below kept his head lowered, his voice trembling as he reported.
"Re... reporting to the Pope, we still haven't found them."
"Trash, all of you are trash!" Qian Xunji's Soul Power burst outward, shattering the papal throne behind him.
"Get out. All of you, get out!"
The Soul Master below hurried out of Spirit Hall.
Ever since Qian Xunji had been frightened into impotence last time, his temper had become increasingly irritable.
That day, a major incident occurred within the Republic Empire.
A young man from Bai Fan's ranks got drunk and abducted a respectable woman right off the street.
His underlings kept trying to persuade him. "Brother Huang, maybe don't do this. Boss said we're here to serve the people. If you do this, Boss will punish you."
The underling's words did not bring the man surnamed Huang to his senses. Riding on his drunken courage, he revealed what he truly thought. "Heh, what bullshit slogans. They're nothing more than a way to win people over. Why shouldn't I enjoy the fruits of my labor after using my abilities to earn them? I followed him to conquer the world for this very moment."
The surrounding citizens stood to the side, trembling with fear. No one dared plead for mercy. Only the girl's family knelt and begged.
"My lord, she's our only daughter. Please, spare us!" The girl's father knelt and clutched the man surnamed Huang's leg.
The man surnamed Huang impatiently kicked him away. "Get lost. Don't touch me with your filthy hands. If you piss me off, I won't spare that old hag either."
The citizens were furious but dared not speak. They had already grown accustomed to such scenes. They had never hoped for a happy life, because they understood that war merely meant exchanging one ruler who oppressed and exploited them for another.
Just as the man surnamed Huang was about to make his move, Bai Fan's voice rang out from afar.
"You seem rather arrogant. It appears you didn't take my words to heart."
The man surnamed Huang froze. Bai Fan's pressure sobered him up, and he quickly dropped to his knees to beg for mercy.
"Boss, those were just drunken words. Please spare me this once!"
Bai Fan simply stood there in silence.
Da Niu spoke angrily beside him. "Huang Gang, you've truly disappointed me. Before we entered the city, I repeatedly stressed that we must not bully the people. You didn't take a single word to heart! Your fate is already decided. Go in peace!"
The moment Huang Gang heard that he had been sentenced to death, his mind fell into chaos. He blurted out, "No! I'm a Soul Grandmaster! You can't kill me! It's an honor for these lowly commoners to be noticed by a noble Soul Master like me!"
"Shut up!" Da Niu cut Huang Gang off. "By your logic, does that make all the people in our ranks without Soul Power worthless? Most of us come from impoverished families in remote regions. Should we bow down and serve you too?"
"Put away your arrogance as a Soul Master! The Republic Empire stands for equality for all!"
Huang Gang was left speechless by Da Niu's rebuke. Knowing he would definitely be punished today, he hurriedly kowtowed and confessed. "I was wrong, Boss, Brother Da Niu. Please, spare my life!"
In only a short while, many citizens and Soul Masters had gathered around them. The other warriors in the ranks also assembled behind Bai Fan, watching quietly.
After remaining silent for a long time, Bai Fan finally spoke. "Huang Gang, do you know? I truly considered everyone my own brother. To this day, I have never killed a single brother."
"I can tolerate minor mistakes. But what you did this time was truly unforgivable. There is no place in the ranks for a parasite like you. Being a Soul Master is not your shield from death. In your next life, put away your arrogance and learn to be a decent person."
With that, Faith Red Lotus condensed in Bai Fan's hand and flew toward the kneeling Huang Gang.
There was no earth-shattering explosion. The vivid red radiance surrounding Faith Red Lotus completely erased every trace that Huang Gang had ever existed.
Hong Lian returned to Bai Fan's hand and disappeared into his body.
In an instant, Bai Fan dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed to the citizens. "Fellow townspeople, today's matter is entirely my fault. I failed to discipline my own men. I am guilty. Please punish me as you see fit!"
Bai Fan's actions left the warriors behind him staring with their mouths agape. Da Niu stood to the side, tugging desperately at Bai Fan, so anxious that he was nearly in tears.
"Boss, this isn't your fault. You've already done very well. It's all because I failed to keep them under control."
Bai Fan pushed away Da Niu's arm. "Da Niu, you don't need to blame yourself. I established this force. Corruption appeared within it, so the primary responsibility lies with me. I must accept criticism."
Bai Fan paused, then called out loudly to the citizens. "Fellow townspeople, I, Bai Fan, will kneel here for an entire day. Now that Huang Gang is dead, you may vent any resentment you have on me. I am willing to accept punishment."
Bai Fan's attitude was utterly sincere. The citizens before him were at a loss, unsure what Bai Fan was trying to do, and gradually dispersed.
Seeing that he could not pull Bai Fan up, Da Niu simply knelt beside him.
Goudan and Monkey behind them did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately followed suit.
Finally, a neat series of thuds rang out as the thousands of warriors behind them all dropped to their knees.
The warriors of the Republic Empire followed Bai Fan's example and sought the people's forgiveness.
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