Corruption Within the Ranks, Bai Fan Led by Example

"Since then, Goudan had become afraid of pain. I could understand him, but only understand him. I could never forget how those people trampled on life."

Bai Fan crouched down and embraced Goudan, whose body was trembling. "Don't worry, Goudan. I will never let you suffer again."

Only after experiencing it firsthand could one understand the despair of ordinary people. It was something those imperial nobles had never considered.

"Overthrow 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 beacon, Boss! You gave us a bright future. We will 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, the news 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 send an imperial army to suppress them and use the opportunity to frighten the other petty troublemakers."

"That's right, Your Majesty. Such rebels must never be tolerated!"

Emperor Xue Ye nodded slightly before issuing his order. "From this day onward, Xue Jingyuan will have full authority over the handling of the rebels. All traitors must be eliminated."

Xue Jingyuan, carrying the regal bearing of the imperial family, knelt on the ground to accept the command.

Meanwhile, Qian Xunji of Spirit Hall also received the news. His expression darkened.

"Just a minor band of rebels. I trust that bunch of good-for-nothings from the Heaven Dou Empire can handle them."

After speaking, Qian Xunji summoned a Soul Master clad in armor.

"Still haven't found the one causing trouble?"

The Soul Master below kept his head lowered, his voice trembling as he reported.

"Re... Reporting to the Pope, we still haven't found him."

"Trash, all of you are trash!" Qian Xunji's soul power burst outward, shattering the Pope's 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 grown increasingly violent.

That day, a major incident occurred within the Republic Empire.

A young man in Bai Fan's ranks got drunk and abducted a respectable young woman right off the street.

His lackeys behind him kept trying to dissuade him. "Brother Huang, maybe don't do this. Boss said we serve the people. If you do this, Boss will punish you."

The lackey's words did not make the man surnamed Huang come to his senses. Riding on his drunken courage, he revealed his true thoughts. "Heh, what bullshit slogans. They're nothing more than a means of winning 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 civilians stood off to the side, trembling in fear. No one dared plead for mercy. Only the girl's family knelt and begged.

"My lord, she is our only daughter. Please, spare us!" The girl's father knelt on the ground and clutched the man surnamed Huang's calf.

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 even spare that old woman."

All the civilians were furious but dared not speak. They had grown accustomed to such scenes. They had never hoped for a happy life, because they understood that war merely meant replacing one ruler who oppressed and exploited them with 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 oppressive aura cleared his drunken mind, and he hurriedly fell to his knees to beg for mercy.

"Boss, everything I said just now was drunken nonsense. Please spare me this once!"

Bai Fan merely stood there in silence.

Da Niu spoke angrily at his side. "Huang Gang, you have truly disappointed me. Before entering the city, I repeatedly emphasized that we were not to bully the people. You didn't take a single word to heart! Your fate has now been decided. Go in peace!"

The moment Huang Gang heard that he had been sentenced to death, his mind descended into panic. He blurted out, "No! I'm a Great Soul Master. You can't kill me! It is their honor that these lowly commoners have caught the eye of a noble Soul Master like me."

"Shut up!" Da Niu cut Huang Gang off. "By your logic, are all the people in our ranks without soul power worthless? Most of us come from poor families in remote regions. Should we bow down and submit to you as well?"

"Put away your Soul Master arrogance! The principle of our Republic Empire is that all people are equal."

Huang Gang was rendered speechless by Da Niu's words. Knowing that he would definitely be punished today, he hurriedly kowtowed and confessed. "I was wrong, Boss. Brother Da Niu, please spare my life!"

Within moments, quite a few civilians and Soul Masters had gathered around them. The other warriors in the ranks also gathered behind Bai Fan and watched silently.

After remaining silent for a long time, Bai Fan finally spoke. "Huang Gang, do you know? I truly regarded everyone as my own brothers. 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 need for a parasite like you in our ranks. Your status as a Soul Master is not a shield that can save your life. In your next life, put away your arrogance and become a decent person."

After speaking, the Faith Red Lotus condensed in Bai Fan's hand and flew toward the kneeling Huang Gang.

There was no earth-shattering explosion. The brilliant crimson radiance surrounding the lotus utterly erased every trace that Huang Gang had ever existed.

The crimson lotus returned to Bai Fan's hand and vanished into his body.

In an instant, Bai Fan dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed to the civilians. "Fellow villagers, what happened today is entirely my fault. I failed to restrain my own subordinates. I am guilty, and I ask you all to punish me!"

Bai Fan's actions left the warriors behind him staring with their mouths agape. Da Niu stood beside him, tugging desperately at Bai Fan and nearly crying from anxiety.

"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 grasping arm. "Da Niu, you need not blame yourself. I built 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 civilians. "Fellow villagers, I, Bai Fan, will kneel here for an entire day. Huang Gang is now dead. Whatever resentment you have, you may vent it upon me. I am willing to accept punishment."

Bai Fan's attitude was exceedingly sincere. The civilians before him were somewhat at a loss, unable to understand what Bai Fan was trying to do, and gradually dispersed.

Seeing that he could not pull Bai Fan up, Da Niu simply knelt down beside him.

Goudan and Monkey behind them did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately followed suit.

At last, a neat chorus of thuds rang out as the thousands of warriors behind them all fell to their knees.

The warriors of the Republic Empire followed Bai Fan's example and sought the civilians' forgiveness.