"You can’t let them! When something happened to me, you could hear about it because my father’s name is known throughout the world, and because I’m a somewhat famous Fate Master. If something happens to your families, the Ministry of Justice will only gag you! They’ll suppress all news about you! They’ll slaughter your entire households!"
"Do you truly not know how many utterly depraved and heinous scandals the Demon Sect and the Ministry of Justice have suppressed over the years? Or do you not know that across Daqi Country and the surrounding nations, three hundred and thirty-six Dead Demon Lands have been established! And right here, within the Divine Capital’s Baili Ping’an, one stands openly for all to see!"
At the mention of the Dead Demon Lands, some people clenched their fists tightly.
Li Qingxian let out a long sigh. "You might think I’m angry, that I’m furious, that I’m venting, or even that I’m preaching about justice. No. I’m scared. I’m terrified. Because a Ministry of Justice like this could drive me to my death at any moment, just as they’ve driven countless people of Qii Country to theirs. This time, someone stood up for me. This time, with your help, I have the right to question the Ministry of Justice. But next time? Perhaps after tonight, at the crack of dawn tomorrow, I’ll be lying on the street like a sack of broken rags, so repulsive even the stray dogs won’t dare approach. When the wind blows, you might hear the sound of my hair scraping against the stone-paved road."
The crowd watched Li Qingxian in silence, feeling a sense of powerlessness wash over them.
"I don’t want to die." Lava seemed to churn in Li Qingxian’s throat.
That lava roared, flowing through the ears of the crowd and into their chests, searing their hearts with pain.
"Now, I have a question for all of you. If we could get one step ahead—if, today, tonight, at this very hour, we could make the Demon Sect feel the pain, make them understand that certain actions will result in a terrible price—would you be willing?"
"We are!"
Many of the Night Guards shouted along, but the others remained silent.
"Right now, I’m going to the Ministry of Justice to continue the assault. Today, I will destroy three of the Ministry’s halls and demand an explanation from them! Even if I don’t get that explanation, I believe someone standing here today will. And even if no one here gets it, as long as future generations know that on one night, a group of people attacked the Ministry of Justice to demand an explanation... then one day, someone *will* get that explanation!"
After speaking, Li Qingxian cupped his hands to the crowd, then turned and walked toward the Ministry of Justice.
"Night Guard brothers, grab your gear and attack the Ministry of Justice!" Hex Lei shouted.
"Attack the Ministry of Justice!" Yur Ping shouted.
"Attack the Ministry of Justice!" Zheng Gaojue shouted.
The entire Night Guard was shouting.
"Demon Hunting Bureau, all units assemble! We march on the Ministry of Justice!" Songg Yanxue’s icy voice echoed above Night Guard Street.
Zhou Chunfeng, not expecting to be preempted by Songg Yanxue, yelled, "Patrol Bureau, all members! We march on the Ministry of Justice!"
"Disciples of the Celestial Cloud Sect, by order of the Saintess, attack the Ministry of Justice!"
"Disciples of the Nine Talisman Sect, attack the Ministry of Justice!"
Liu Muwa announced in a clear voice, "The Ministry of Works will not get involved, but if individuals wish to participate in the assault, the Ministry will not interfere. I, Liu Muwa, will act in my personal capacity today to aid these righteous heroes and attack the Ministry of Justice!"
"Everyone, we’ll meet at the Ministry of Justice’s West Street!"
Squad after squad of people followed the path Li Qingxian had walked, heading toward the Ministry of Justice.
Watching the figures and torches melt into the darkness, more and more people joined the procession.
Viewed from high above, torches, lanterns, and Magical Artifacts formed a continuous, unbroken line in the dark night, stretching from the Night Guard Office all the way to the Ministry of Justice Office.
At the same time, some people broke away from the column, running off in all directions to call their friends and allies.
When Li Qingxian returned to the Ministry of Justice’s West Street, the Magic and Battle Poems had become sparse. Both sides had nearly exhausted their Magical Power and Literary Qi and were mostly resting.
Songg Baige had thought the assault was about to end, but he suddenly heard someone shout, "Someone’s coming!"
"So many!"
Songg Baige quickly climbed to a high vantage point to look. In the distance, he saw points of light forming a line, with dark figures moving among them.
"Is it the Demon Sect?"
"It’s reinforcements!"
"It’s Li Qingxian! He’s brought reinforcements!"
"Today, we’ll break through three of the Ministry’s halls!"
The members of the Literature Cultivation assault team gazed at the endless stream of figures. They felt a fire slowly rise from within, bursting from their chests and engulfing their entire bodies.
Arriving once more at the West Gate, Li Qingxian announced in a clear voice, "The righteous heroes of the Human Race, together with Li Qingxian, assault the Ministry of Justice!"
"Attack the Ministry of Justice!"
"Attack the Ministry of Justice!"
The crowd roared, then their voices died down. It wasn’t out of fear; they were conserving their strength.
When the shouting ceased, sheets of Developing Paper were distributed to the Squad Commanders of each team.
The Literature Cultivator reserve teams, who had been lying in ambush, also revealed themselves.
The number of people on the Ministry of Justice’s West Street grew, soon exceeding four thousand and continuing to increase steadily.
"Attack!" a clear voice rang out.
A new round of the assault began.
Over two thousand Grade-Entering Cultivators charged into the Ministry of Justice.
When thousands of Lower-Grade magic spells rained down continuously on the Demon Cultivators’ formation, they broke in an instant.
"Run..."
One after another, the Demon Cultivators ignored military law and turned to flee.
Spells and Battle Poems descended, exploding with thunderous force.
Flashes of light, deafening blasts, and clouds of dust. One after another, Demon Cultivators who couldn’t dodge in time fell to the ground.
A dozen or so breaths later, the inner gate of the West Courtyard was breached.
"Tear down the walls!"
Martial Cultivators and Puppet Cultivators moved out. With a continuous series of great booms, all four walls of the Ministry of Justice’s West Courtyard successively collapsed.
Directly ahead, rows of buildings were revealed.
In the very back stood a large gate. A plaque hung above it, inscribed with "Silver Storage Room" in large script.
In the courtyard formed by the buildings, the Demon Cultivators retreated step by step.
"Destroy the buildings!"
At the command, the crowd surged forward as if they couldn’t even see the Demon Cultivators. Some leaped onto the houses to stomp on the beams, while others bombarded the walls.
Amidst the flying dust and debris, the buildings in front of the Silver Storage Room collapsed one by one.
The Demon Cultivators kept retreating, not daring to make a move even after they had fallen back into the main courtyard of the Silver Storage Room.
"Take down the plaque!"
A Martial Cultivator shot up into the air, tore down the "Silver Storage Room" plaque, and threw it onto the steps. He raised his right leg high and stomped down hard.
CRACK!
"The first hall has been broken in today’s assault!"
After the announcement from the clear voice, the entire force cheered loudly.
"Today, we press our advantage! Next target: Tongyu Hall to the left! Today, we will smash our way through three halls and strike a heavy blow to the Demon Sect!"
"Smash through three halls, strike a heavy blow to the Demon Sect!"
Everyone’s blood was boiling with excitement.
Team after team left the central Silver Storage Room, turned left, and charged along the road into the almost completely undefended Tongyu Hall.
Without needing orders, they broke down the gate, tore down the walls, destroyed the buildings, and took the plaque—all in one smooth motion.
Walls toppled and houses collapsed.
The West Courtyard, the Silver Storage Room, and Tongyu Hall—aside from their main halls, every other structure was razed to the ground, leaving a clear, unobstructed view.
The Demon Cultivators could only watch helplessly as the overwhelming assault teams advanced relentlessly, yet no one dared to intervene.
The assault force grew larger and larger.
Scholars staying at the Imperial College, the academies, and the inns received the news and rushed over one after another. Many didn’t even bother to mask their faces.
"Forward! Break the three halls and make the Ministry of Justice give us an explanation!"
"Today, we demand an explanation!"
Seeing that a group of people was about to rush ahead, the commander with the clear voice had no choice but to hastily shout, "Break the third hall!"
The crowd swarmed past Tongyu Hall from both sides.
Beyond Tongyu Hall was the side gate of the Prison Department. The crowd broke through the gate and tore down the walls with tremendous momentum.