Film & TV: Public Enemy of Justice

Lin Yaoxie smirked and put his arm around Huang Rong, saying, "Your father was right. That's right, if we don't act, we don't act; but if we do, we'll crush everything in our path!"

Chapter 114: The People's Hearts Turn to the Demon [Fourth Update]

The establishment of a nation requires a long period of time and hard work, while the collapse of a nation often happens in an instant.

From the time Zhao Song was granted the imperial robe in the Northern Song Dynasty to the Southern Song Dynasty, which was confined to a corner of the country, the entire Zhao Song Dynasty lasted for several hundred years.

But who could have imagined that when the northern enemy lay in wait inside the city, afraid to send troops out?

The Southern Song regime actually collapsed from within.

Moreover, the main reason for the collapse was actually the work of the evil King Wu, who had driven back the Mongol army.

As the Demon Alliance advanced rapidly, local militias across the country began to stir. Using Lin Yaoxie's name, they started rebellions in various places.

These people are neither kind nor foolish.

After conquering several cities, these imposters did not burn, kill, or plunder the residents.

Is it that they don't want to?

Of course not! If these wild elements had truly reached a state of being without desires, why would they need to launch a large-scale rebellion?

Since they have greedy hearts but do not act greedily, there is only one reason: they lack the courage to be greedy.

Almost all the imposter leaders received a warning from a knight in jet-black armor, riding a large wolf exuding a sinister aura of death, just before they were about to capture the city.

"You can pretend to be my master if you want, but if you dare to ruin my grand plan, hmph..."

Two 'humphs' were more terrifying than any threat. Everyone knew that Lin Yaoxie had only killed Möngke during the Battle of Xiangyang. As for the 50,000 trapped Mongol soldiers, over 90% died at the hands of thirteen black-armored knights riding large wolves.

They acted in an orderly manner, and although the leaders of most armed forces may never have met, they moved as if they were a unified whole.

Those corrupt officials who were not particularly capable could only think of one thing when faced with such terrifying armed forces: flee to Lin'an as quickly as possible.

There, righteous heroes have gathered together.

That is the last hope for a just world.

Lin Yaoxie has been in the world of Condor Heroes for some time now, but he has never properly appreciated the magnificent landscape of China more than a thousand years ago.

Ever since I transmigrated to the Martial King's Mansion, I've been busy with missions. Even when I traveled north recently, I flew high in the sky aboard the Divine Eagle.

Now, amidst the chaos of war, he appears before famous historical sites with a group of beauties.

For a whole month, Lin Yaoxie and his women lingered amidst the beautiful landscapes. Time was the least valuable thing to him.

Moreover, the Zhao Song Dynasty, already aging and in decline, was on the verge of collapse at any moment.

This month, however, was an extremely long time for the imperial power and justice in Lin'an.

The emperor had never been so terrified. Ignoring the officials' attempts to stop him, he personally paid homage to Guo Jing and the others—note that it was a homage, not a summons. For the sake of survival, he had abandoned his imperial dignity.

Although Guo Jing had lost his martial arts skills, his prestige remained. Moreover, Yideng, the Old Urchin, and Hong Qigong, who had arrived, were still supporting him, and righteous people throughout the land still looked to him for guidance.

Martial arts practitioners broke free from a thousand-year-old constraint and entered the imperial palace together.

Although the imperial power and martial arts practitioners appeared to be working closely together, in reality, they were still very weak.

Although the servants of the Wu King's Mansion had been dismissed when Lin Yaoxie rescued Xiangyang from its crisis, the empty and enormous mansion still stood in the most prominent position in Lin'an City, facing the imperial palace not far away.

Even though everyone knows that Lin Yaoxie is the real mastermind behind the Demon Alliance, no one dares to touch his mansion.

Even Guo Jing, who hated Lin Yaoxie to the core, deliberately avoided the matter.

The alliance's offensive was massive; within a month—no, to be precise, within twenty-five days—they managed to capture all the cities within the Southern Song territory.

When forces from all directions, both legitimate and those posing as armed forces, surrounded Lin'an City, the alliance's military strength had grown to a terrifying one million men.

It's important to know that at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, the total population was only around ten million.

Compared to tens of millions, one in ten residents of the Southern Song Dynasty joined the Demon Alliance.

This is a terrifying number. Because even if there are many people engaging in wicked and unethical practices, it's impossible for them to reach one-tenth of the total population.

In other words, a large portion of righteous or neutral individuals who were not originally part of a cult have come to endorse the alliance.

This only includes those who directly joined the army; the number of people who supported them among the common people is even more difficult to quantify. The Demon Alliance has a large following among the people of the Song Dynasty.

All of this is directly attributable to Lin Yaoxie's personal charisma and intimidating presence.

No matter who is the emperor, the people are content as long as they have land to cultivate and food to eat.

Although the people were silent, they all had hearts and spirits. Having been bullied by the nomadic tribes of the north for hundreds of years, the officials in the court had long since become numb and indifferent, but the flame of resistance in the hearts of the people had never been extinguished.

Lin Yaoxie's repeated defeats of the arrogant Mongol army have shown the people that this is the true spirit of a Chinese man.

Therefore, when Lin Yaoxie raised the banner of the demon race and openly opposed justice, the people's concept of justice underwent a change.

"We do not want weak and retreating justice; we want evil that can protect our homes and country!" The sentiments of everyone gradually converged into this sentence.

Especially when armed forces from all over the country swept through cities with unstoppable momentum, yet did not commit any offenses against the people, the people became even more determined to follow Lin Yaoxie's evil ways and overthrow the useless justice.

Lin Yaoxie may appear to be strolling leisurely and lazy, but what he actually wants is precisely this kind of public opinion effect.

Just as he said, with so many people in the world, if he can kill one, ten, or even a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand rebels, how can he kill everyone?

Lin Yaoxie didn't want to do that because it was too troublesome.

Since he couldn't kill them all, he would make them worship him wholeheartedly. Lin Yaoxie was either perfect or he would go to extremes. He wanted to conquer everyone, not just physically, but also spiritually. That was just how willful he was.

Chapter 115: Heaven Saves Those Who Help Themselves [First Update]

The demon alliance besieged the city, but only surrounded it without attacking, just like Möngke's army besieged Xiangyang.

Unlike Möngke's army, the Allied forces did not attack Lin'an because they were waiting for Lin Yaoxie to arrive.

In reality, the Allied forces knew that their mission was complete, as the city was filled with the most outstanding figures in the righteous path of martial arts.

These people are no longer people that their group of henchmen can bully.

However, the five-day siege was effective. It not only made the important figures in the city panic, but also made the people in the city suffer.

They rushed toward the city gate, trying to open it.

The soldiers guarding the city were at a loss and immediately reported to the palace.

The emperor turned to look at Guo Jing and the others beside him.

"Master Guo, look." For an emperor to use the word "you" to address a mere warrior shows that the emperor is no longer an emperor.

Before Guo Jing could speak, Master Yideng, who was sitting next to him, slowly said, "Buddhism is based on compassion. In my humble opinion, we should suppress it with all our might, but we should not take the life of the layperson."

Standing behind Yideng, Ci'en, with a fierce expression, said dismissively: "The people in the city are restless and have already stormed the city gates. If we don't use ruthless methods, how can we suppress them?"

Yideng never expected that Ci'en, who had been silent all day, would speak so bluntly to him, but upon careful consideration, he found Ci'en's words to be quite reasonable.

The old rascal clapped his hands repeatedly and exclaimed how amusing it was. Hong Qigong, however, lowered his head and shook his head inwardly.

When the emperor saw that his patrons were all like this, he was both angry and anxious, but he dared not vent his anger, so he had no choice but to beg Guo Jing for help.

"Master Guo, please make the decision." Polite phrases kept popping out.

Guo Jing did not stand up, but looked intently at the emperor: "Does what I say really count?"

"Yes, whatever Master Guo says, I will give the order."

"Good!" Guo Jing slapped the armrest of his chair and stood up, cupping his fists towards Ci'en: "What Senior Brother Ci'en said makes sense. A great man does not concern himself with trifles. As the art of war says, to repel external enemies, one must first secure the internal situation. Now that the demon army is at the city gates, and the wicked Lin Yaoxie will arrive soon, what we need to do now is to maintain internal harmony and peace within the city, and there can be no mistakes."

"Your Majesty." Although he addressed him as "Your Majesty," Guo Jing's voice was anything but respectful: "Right now, order the garrison to use the most forceful means to suppress this rebellion. Anyone else who dares to cause trouble, kill them without mercy!"

Hong Qigong and Yideng stared at Guo Jing in surprise, and even the usually jovial Old Urchin was stunned.

Only Ci'en wore a profound and unfathomable smile, clasped his hands together, and chanted "Goodness."

Wu Santong asked in a low voice, "Master Guo, are you serious?"

Guo Jing glanced at Wu Santong, then extended two fingers, subtly pointing at the two Wu brothers: "Have you forgotten the hatred between your family and your country?"

Wu Santong was not particularly quick-witted to begin with, and was also exceptionally reckless. When Guo Jing reopened his wounds, he immediately shouted, "That's right, now is not the time to be soft-hearted."

After saying that, he turned and ran towards the prince, grabbing the messenger along the way: "Stop dawdling, I'll go with you to suppress them."

The other three—the fisherman, the woodcutter, the farmer, and the scholar—shouted to stop him, but Yideng stopped them, saying, "Let him go. In the midst of a great calamity, sacrifices are inevitable. The three of you should go together as well, hoping to reduce casualties."

Once the emperor saw that the decision had been made, he quickly issued an imperial edict to suppress it.

In an instant, the four city gates of Lin'an City became a battlefield. The guards drew their swords and began slaughtering the unarmed civilians.

The four individuals—a fisherman, a woodcutter, a farmer, and a scholar—were scattered around the four city gates, helping to suppress the killings.

Children cried and women screamed in Lin'an City. Everyone knelt down in panic and fear, praying that the allied army would quickly attack the city and stop the fighting.

Just when the people were in despair and helplessness, a pitiful cry pierced the sky above Lin'an City.

The massacre site inside the city and the allied forces surrounding the city simultaneously looked up and finally saw the long-awaited Lin Yaoxie sitting on the divine eagle.

"The savior has come! Save us! Save us!"

A chorus of pleas rose throughout Lin'an City, and the city walls seemed about to be shattered by the people's cries for help.

"Heaven is ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs!" The demonic Lin on the divine eagle spoke, instantly silencing all other voices: "However, with me, Lin the Demon, here, even if Heaven is ruthless, my demon race still has its mercy. You people have been suffering for so long because the Song Dynasty court did not know how to resist. If you want Heaven to help you, you must first learn to save yourselves."

"Save ourselves, save ourselves! That's right, we must save ourselves and fight them!" The civilians who had been suppressed by the government troops and were on the run suddenly turned around and fought with their flesh and blood against the blades and swords.

"Brothers, hold on! As long as we open the city gates, let the allied forces in, and overthrow the useless Song Dynasty, the blood of our Chinese sons will not have been shed in vain!" Once the long-suppressed rebellious sentiments of the people were stirred up, they were like a flood that had been released, flowing uncontrollably.

"Yes, since you have saved yourselves, I, Lin Yaoxie, will naturally help you as well."

Behind Lin Yaoxie, four rapidly spinning flying swords materialized. These swords flew in the four directions—east, west, south, and north—each aimed at the hearts of the four killers: fisherman, woodcutter, farmer, and scholar.

Lin Yaoxie didn't check whether his attack hit or not; there was no need to. Once he unleashed his killing move, who could escape?

"All members of the alliance, listen to my command! Launch a general offensive, quickly breach the city, and rescue the people inside from the bullying of the Zhao Song dynasty, which is only good at bullying its own people."

"We will obey the imperial decree!" A deafening roar echoed from all sides of Lin'an City, followed by the deafening sound of charging.

Lin Yaoxie smiled slightly and patted the head of the Divine Condor: "Let's go, Brother Condor, let's head straight for Huanglong and settle accounts with Guo Jing."

...

Inside the main hall, the emperor lay limply at Guo Jing's feet, trembling as if having an epileptic seizure.

He was terrified. Even though he was hiding deep inside the palace, he could still hear the deafening sounds of the siege outside, as well as Lin Yaoxie's words.