The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

Chapter 398 Heaven's Wrath and the People's Anger, Finally Exonerated

Eight o'clock in the morning, Shijiagou Village.

As dawn broke, the thin mist lingered. But the scene at the village entrance and in the surrounding area already surpassed all the crowds and noise of yesterday.

Crowds surged in from all directions, like rivers flowing into the sea, filling every inch of land where they could stand.

The hillsides, the edges of the fields, and even the distant mountaintops were densely packed with people.

They remained silent, their eyes filled with a mixture of pity, anger, expectation, and a solemnity akin to that of a pilgrim.

They came here for two things:

First, to witness firsthand a public trial that is destined to be recorded in local history.

Secondly, to personally bid farewell to the man who awakened the world in the most tragic way—Shi Qinglie—and to participate in this sorrowful and solemn funeral of the century that was initiated because of him.

The sheer size of the crowd at the scene significantly increased the pressure on security.

With a stern expression, Old Liu picked up the communicator without hesitation and issued an order.

Soon, the sound of orderly footsteps echoed across the land again—another full-strength battalion of soldiers marched to the scene and quickly established an even tighter and more robust perimeter of security around the perimeter and various high points.

The second and third battalions, with nearly a thousand soldiers, formed three iron walls, firmly protecting the core area.

Above the village entrance, a hundred large drones had already taken off and were hovering at a constant height of two hundred meters, arranged in a neat and solemn square formation.

Below each drone hung a pure white banner 150 meters long, like a giant teardrop hanging from the sky.

Above the banner, large words of mourning were written in bold ink:

"The injustice has been redressed, and righteousness will endure forever."

"Father's love is as steadfast as a mountain; his soul returns to his homeland."

"The deepest sorrow in the world is the justice of Heaven."

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

"May Shi Gongqinglie rest in peace."

A morning breeze swept by, and a hundred white banners fluttered slowly in the hazy sky, silent yet more powerful than a thousand words.

It was a powerful combination of modern technology and traditional mourning, the most solemn tribute to the heavens.

On the ground, Shi Qinglie's coffin has been moved to the most central and open area at the entrance of the village. The coffin was made overnight from precious wood, heavy and solemn.

Guarding the coffin were seven members of the "Dragon Return" team.

They were still dressed in futuristic desert camouflage and full-face helmets, standing at attention with their guns at the ready, their backs to the coffins and their faces to the four directions.

The seven were like seven statues cast from the hardest alloy, silent and cold, yet exuding an unshakable will to protect and ultimate solemnity.

With them by its side, the coffin seemed no longer just the dwelling place of the deceased, but some kind of sacred object that could not be violated.

Outside the coffin was a formation of soldiers from the Second Battalion.

The outermost roads and hillsides were the cordoned off by the newly transferred Third Battalion.

The entire scene was enveloped in an extremely oppressive solemnity and tranquility, like the calm before a storm.

Thousands of people focused their attention on the coffin. No one made a sound, no one moved, and even their breathing was deliberately kept quiet.

This is the highest respect and reverence for the deceased and for the solemn event that is about to take place here.

"Waaaaa—waaaaa—waaaaaa—"

The urgent and shrill sound of sirens, growing louder as they approached, shattered the heavy silence.

Several escort vehicles, police cars, and armed police troop carriers with flashing red and blue lights sped into the passageway cleared by soldiers, and finally braked sharply at the edge of the cleared land that had been leveled overnight.

The car door swung open with a bang.

The first to get off the bus were members of the special task force and trial team, whose expressions grew increasingly serious and whose numbers had noticeably increased.

Among them were many unfamiliar faces wearing badges from the Northland Provincial High Court and even the Supreme Court, exuding an aura of unassailable legal authority.

Closely following behind were elite officers from the local provincial and municipal armed police detachments. Armed with rifles, they moved swiftly, two to a time, escorting one handcuffed and shackled, dejected prisoner after another from the vehicle.

The prisoners were taken to the foot of a newly erected, two-meter-high wooden court bench and forced to sit on the ground.

The list is shocking:

Wang Guangtou's uncle—the county's "protective umbrella" secretary.

Old Zhang from the county public security bureau.

Li, the police chief of Shibai Town Police Station.

Other "protective umbrella" personnel at various levels who are related to Wang Guangtou's chain of interests.

Finally, there were dozens of local gang leaders, many of whom still bore the marks of the training camp's elite members they had been "treated" by the previous day.

Wang Guangtou, Daoba Liu, and Hei Pi were also brought from the front of the mourning hall and escorted to the very front. They were already pale as ghosts and limp as mud, only able to kneel with the support of the armed police.

On the judge's bench, the tables and chairs had already been arranged, divided into three sections:

One side is the jury seat, composed of senior legal experts and representatives of the parliament.

On one side is the prosecutor's (public prosecutor's) seat, responsible for bringing charges.

At the very center is the seat of the presiding judge and the panel of judges, representing the final discretionary power.

To the side and rear, there was a supervisor's seat, where Old Liu sat with an iron face and piercing eyes.

Such a lineup, which almost exhausts the local and highest judicial elites, represents the will of the state apparatus and the ultimate dignity of the law.

Its intimidating power made all the sinners in the audience lose even the courage to look up and face it.

The trial began.

The prosecution representative stood up, holding a thick file, and faced the microphone.

His voice, amplified by high-powered loudspeakers, was clear, cold, and clear, uttering each word precisely, reaching every corner of the mountain village and into everyone's ears.

"The defendant, Wang XX, nicknamed 'Bald Wang'..."

"An investigation revealed that he is suspected of orchestrating and participating in seven intentional homicide cases, resulting in the deaths of seven people..."

"He organized and led a mafia-style organization for a long period of time, using violence and threats to systematically commit illegal and criminal activities such as intentional injury, illegal detention, extortion, forced trading, operating casinos, organizing prostitution, and drug trafficking, reaping huge illegal profits and seriously disrupting the local economic and social order..."

"In order to seek illegal protection, he bribed government officials, and the amount was particularly large..."

One case after another, the time, place, method, victim's name, chain of evidence... like the coldest scalpel, peeling away the layers of human skin and painted mask worn by this group of people, revealing the pus, blood and evil flowing inside.

Next came the crimes of "Scarface Liu," "Blackie," and other key members.

With each charge read aloud, the emotions of the tens of thousands of people in the audience surged like waves being thrown into a deep pool with boulders constantly being thrown in!

Some people covered their faces and wept upon hearing familiar names and stories.

Some people were trembling with anger, their teeth chattering.

Someone couldn't help but shout angrily, "Beast! Bastard!"

When the prosecutor read out some of the most appalling details—such as forcing minors into prostitution, maiming entire families to seize property, and drowning whistleblowers in the river—the crowd erupted in fury! Roars and cries of anguish filled the air!

Just then.

From the front of the crowd, in the area for victims and their families, who were already sobbing uncontrollably, one, two, ten, a hundred...

They stood up silently.

Then, without any organization or slogans, they knelt down slowly and in unison, facing the judge's bench.

"Thump..."

The sound of knees hitting the ground was not rhythmic, but it was so heavy that it seemed to strike everyone's heart.

Among those kneeling were octogenarians with white hair and wrinkles etched with suffering, middle-aged people whose lives had been ruined and whose eyes were empty, and young children who were innocent and unaware, yet were being pulled down to kneel by adults...

They did not cry out for justice, nor did they plead their case.

They simply knelt there quietly, raising their heads, their eyes filled with blood and tears, intertwined with endless anger, humble pleading, and deep-seated hatred, staring straight at the judge's bench, at the national emblem on the bench, and at those who held the power of life and death.

This silent, collective kneeling, before the solemn and dignified funeral hall and trial ground, created a scene more poignant, tragic, and soul-stirring than any tearful accusation!

It was silent, yet deafening!

It is still, yet it contains boundless grief and power!

On the supervisor's platform, Old Liu clenched his fists tightly. This veteran general, who had spent his life in the military and had seen countless deaths, looked at the sea of kneeling people below the stage, at those eyes filled with both despair and hope, and his eyes slowly and uncontrollably welled up with tears.

He took a deep breath, but felt a tightness in his chest.

Just then—

A light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

The icy rain fell on the cold earth and on people's faces, mingling with tears.

"Heaven is angry... people are resentful..." Old Liu looked up, letting the raindrops hit his face, and murmured in a hoarse voice.

He stood up abruptly, no longer waiting, turned to face the judge's bench, and spoke in a voice that, though not loud, carried a resolute determination that cut off all hesitation:

"Sentenced!"

"Sentence me to the maximum penalty allowed by law!!!"

The presiding judge, with a solemn expression, rose and unfolded the final verdict.

His voice, amplified through the loudspeaker, resounded like a great bell in the drizzle and silence:

"Everyone stand up!"

Ten thousand people were below the stage, and everyone on the stage, except for the prisoners being forced to kneel, stood at attention.

"The verdict will now be read!"

"The defendant, Wang XX, nicknamed 'Wang the Bald'... The facts of the crime are clear, and the evidence is conclusive and sufficient. His actions constitute more than ten crimes, including organizing and leading a mafia-style organization, intentional homicide, drug trafficking, forced prostitution, and bribery."

"The defendant is guilty of multiple crimes, which are extremely serious, pose a great threat to society, and have an extremely negative impact. According to the law, there is no reason to grant leniency."

"The defendant, Wang XX, is sentenced to..."

"death penalty!"

"Deprivation of political rights for life!"

"And all of his personal property will be confiscated!"

"This judgment is final and will be submitted to the Supreme People's Court for approval in accordance with the law—"

"Execute immediately!"

"Defendant Liu X (Scarface Liu)... is sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately!"

"Defendant Yang XX (Hei Pi)... is sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately!"

"The defendant..."

One name after another, one heavy sentence after another.

Imprisonment, life imprisonment, death penalty... the iron fist of the law strikes down on the head of every criminal without reservation, with precision and ruthlessness!

"good--!!!"

"Well done!!!"

"Heaven has eyes—!!!"

The moment the verdict was read, the pent-up public opinion erupted completely! Applause, cheers, cries, and shouts of approval merged into a boiling ocean, the sound waves soaring into the sky, as if even the rain curtain in the sky would be dispersed!

The applause lasted for several minutes and was the most direct and enthusiastic response from the people to justice!

Below the stage, the group of victims who had been kneeling in silence all knelt down, and after hearing all the verdicts, they all kowtowed deeply and heavily to the rain-soaked earth in front of them!

Then, they raised their heads and, with all their might, let out a heart-wrenching yet perfectly synchronized cry:

"Thank you, country!!!"

"Thank God!!!"

Before the shouts had even faded, they all turned to Shi Qinglie's coffin and knelt down again in deep worship!

This bow was to Shi Qinglie. Because everyone understood that without this man's tragic death, without the return of his mysterious and powerful son, this darkness that had accumulated over many years would have shrouded them for who knows how long!

Shi Qinglie, with his life, rang the morning bell!

At this moment when everyone kneels in worship and heaven and earth grieve—

Tie Zhu, who had been guarding the coffin, suddenly trembled.

As if sensing something, he slowly and with great difficulty turned his head to look into the coffin.

Through the gap in the not-yet-fully-closed coffin lid, he saw—

The ashen face of his father, Shi Qinglie, frozen with endless pain and despair, his eyes wide open for days, unable to close in death…

Amidst the light rain and deafening cheers of justice...

Amidst the poignant scene of countless people kneeling in worship for him…

At the moment when the son finally witnessed his enemy being sentenced to death...

at last……

Slowly...

Safely...