We don't start trouble, but we aren't afraid of it

Zhu Yuanzheng's ability to take command in a crisis spoke volumes about his authority and competence.

Over the past year, Zhu Yuanzheng had been fully aware of the secret maneuvers many people had been making.

But without Su Chen, he truly would not have dared move against them.

Everything was interconnected; uprooting one person would drag a whole web of others into the open.

If those people lashed out in their final moments, chaos would inevitably follow.

Now, however, he had Su Chen, an inheritor, and three hundred million descendants of Dayu behind him.

What the hell did he have to worry about?

Arrest whoever needed arresting, kill whoever needed killing!

All of this, however, was kept strictly confidential. Ordinary people knew nothing about it.

And at that moment, the public clearly had no interest in such matters anyway.

Haidong Country's statement had long since spread throughout the Nine Provinces online.

The entire nation was in an uproar.

Su Chen, who had been hailed as a hero just days earlier, had suddenly become the target of widespread condemnation.

Some people kept stirring up outrage online, demanding that Su Chen immediately go to Haidong Country and kowtow before Kim Chunchu's symbol to confess his wrongdoing.

"I seriously don't know what Su Chen was thinking. If he doesn't have the strength to back it up, he should keep his mouth shut! Now he's screwed us all!"

"If Haidong Country declares war, what are we supposed to fight back with? One inheritor?"

"What are those officials thinking? It's bad enough that Su Chen is acting recklessly. Why are they joining him?"

"Su Chen needs to apologize right away, before Haidong declares war!"

"Exactly! Hand Su Chen over to Haidong Country. Peace is what matters most!"

"I was planning to study over there! How am I supposed to go now? Damn Su Chen!"

"Fuck! We're finished. Anyone who can leave should get out now!"

"Heh... good thing I planned ahead. I'm already out here admiring the cherry blossoms."

Countless complaints, curses, and sneers flooded the internet.

But an opposing chorus soon rose to meet them.

"My country is in danger. This is when it needs me. I'll never leave!"

"If it weren't for Su Chen, which of you could have activated an Ancestor Symbol?"

"If it weren't for him, which of you would know about Dayu? Who would know about the Xia Dynasty?"

"Everyone has seen what he's done for us! What have you paid traitors ever done for this country? What gives you the right to smear Su Chen?"

"Exactly! Even if Su Chen hadn't published those articles, do you really think Haidong Country would have left us alone?"

"That's right! Those bastards have been eyeing us for ages! They even tried to steal our Ancestor Symbol back then. Have you all forgotten?"

"Su Chen represents our ancestor now. There's no way he can bow to Haidong Country!"

"If they want war, we'll give them war! So what if it costs us our lives? Even dying on the battlefield would bring honor to our ancestors!"

"I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Let's fight those Haidong dogs!"

"If war comes, I'll answer the call! On behalf of our veterans, I volunteer to fight for our country!"

"I may be eighty-seven this year, but if my country gives the order, I'll crawl to the battlefield if I have to!"

"Three generations of my family have served in the military. We're always ready to answer our country's call!"

"Our country has never failed Sichuan, and Sichuan will never fail our country! The Sichuan Army volunteers to fight for the nation!"

"..."

They knew the gap in strength was immense. They knew the road ahead led to certain death.

Yet when faced with the choice between enduring humiliation and rising up to resist,

the vast majority chose the latter without hesitation.

Countless calls to fight for the country surged forth, instantly drowning out the snide remarks.

Like countless streams joining together, those voices became a raging torrent that flooded every major chat group and forum.

One point four billion people.

Some stood resolute, while others trembled in fear.

Some dragged their aging bodies forward, hoping to do one more thing for their country.

Some hurriedly moved their assets, wanting only to flee the coming trouble.

But none of them knew.

Every reaction they made,

every word they spoke,

was already flowing through various channels into the vast building complex on the outskirts of Yanjing.

The Galaxy Computer Cluster, spanning thousands of square meters, tirelessly sifted through the incoming information at a rate of over a hundred million operations per second.

Outside the server room, an old man and a young man sat before a screen.

Under their gaze, a list of names scrolled rapidly, growing longer by the moment.

"Mr. Su, everyone on this list can awaken their bloodline, correct?"

Li Shuhua stared at the densely packed names, his face glowing with excitement.

Su Chen did not answer. Instead, he slowly drew a deep breath.

When he had first mentioned the figure of three hundred million, he had felt nothing particularly special.

But now, seeing each name on the screen with his own eyes, Su Chen felt something stir deep within him.

These names represented more than a number. Each belonged to a living, breathing person.

It was these people who made the Nine Provinces what it was today.

A person's words and actions in a single moment might not reflect everything they thought.

But when their country was in danger, these people were willing to step forward.

Even with a bottomless abyss ahead, they pressed on without hesitation.

For that alone,

they had already done justice to the hot blood surging through their hearts.

They had proven themselves worthy of being called Dayu's descendants.

"Mr. Li..."

Su Chen shook his head, reined in his emotions, and his gaze turned sharp.

"Inform General Zhu that we can begin."

"If Haidong Country stays away this time, so be it. But if they dare come, none of them will return!"

A day later, the uproar within the country had yet to subside.

Then a statement issued by Zhu Yuanzheng drove everyone's emotions to another peak.

The statement was brief, with just two main points.

1. As Dayu's inheritor, Su Chen would never go to Haidong, much less apologize to Kim Chunchu's symbol!

2. We don't start trouble, but we aren't afraid of it either. Whatever Haidong wants to do, bring it on!

At the sight of this statement, not just the country but the entire world erupted once again!

They were determined to confront Haidong to the bitter end!

But where on earth did their confidence come from?

This was now the age of inheritors and the Awakened.

Did they really think a single inheritor could stop Haidong Country's army of well over a hundred thousand?

A tough stance backed by strength was resolve.

Empty bluster, however, was a joke.

Haidong Country was already itching to act.

Refusing to back down was one thing, but openly preparing to fight? Wasn't that asking to die?

Plenty of countries had experienced Jin Dachang's temper firsthand.

Once he saw this statement, he would undoubtedly launch a thunderous offensive.

Putting themselves in mortal danger just for a moment's satisfaction.

To everyone watching, it was utterly foolish!

Zhu Yuanzheng had a well-established reputation. He should not have been so impulsive.

Most likely, Dayu's inheritor had directed this from behind the scenes.

In many people's eyes, Su Chen had undoubtedly made a terrible move.

He would not only get himself killed, but drag countless others to their deaths with him!