He changed Tiwat

Things can be done, but not said; mistakes can be made, but they must not be discovered.

Most importantly, you can't admit your mistake even if you're caught.

Just like the outstanding theses that the College of the Church of Christ deposited in the Palace of Wisdom, once they pass the Academic Review Committee, it means that the thesis has the authoritative endorsement of the College of the Church of Christ. Even if more than a hundred errors are found in it, and it is in fact "full of mistakes", it does not affect the fact that it is an excellent thesis, nor does it affect the degree certificate issued by the College of the Church of Christ.

The door to admitting mistakes must not be opened. Once it is, people will begin to question the value of all the scholars and degrees at the Academy.

The same applies to the authority of the government.

Before a decree is issued, it may be discussed internally or public opinions may be solicited. However, once a resolution is formed and it is officially issued, it becomes an unquestionable and unchangeable order—this is authority, this is a “decree”.

A government can hold press conferences and policy seminars, but it absolutely cannot hold "debates".

As a representative of the Liyue government and possessing the memories of a transmigrator, Han Fulai was very clear about one thing: a certain superpower in Earth's history began its collapse from a "kitchen debate".

If the Sumeru Cult system eventually collapses, history will surely record his "stage debate" with Hazard.

Hazard realized he had made a huge mistake, an irreversible mistake.

...He actually agreed to a public debate with Han Fulai, despite being a great sage of the Academy of Teachings.

Debate means that authority can be questioned, which is the first step in the collapse of authority.

Of course, Hazard cannot be entirely blamed.

The teachings of the Tree King’s “admonitions” fostered a culture in the Church that “truth becomes clearer through debate.” For five hundred years, the scholars of the Church have never lost a debate with the common people. How could scholars who hold the “right to interpret scriptures” possibly lose to outsiders in a debate?

As for procedures like "administrative review," they're just a formality. The judges are all from the Religious Council, so how could they possibly rule against the Religious Council? It's merely a way to showcase the Religious Council's magnanimous image.

Therefore, Hazard was used to maintaining the high-mindedness of a scholar, and his reason for refusing to debate with Nel was "Your knowledge is not worthy of debating with me", rather than "The decrees of the Faith Council are not open to debate".

This gesture was intended to demonstrate the "approachability" of the great sage—the great sage Azhar could come to the Grand Bazaar to personally announce his decrees, and was even willing to condescend to communicate with an ignorant dancer, only because the other party was too shallow in knowledge to have an equal dialogue with the learned sage.

Let his assistant, Setare, write a journal article about the Great Sage's visit to the Grand Bazaar; the wording would probably be something like:

"Lord Azar had a constructive conversation with the theater manager, frankly exchanging opinions, ultimately deepening mutual understanding and reaching a basic consensus. Lord Azar's magnanimity deeply inspired the people of the Grand Bazaar, and under the correct leadership of the Council of the Church, the people of Sumeru are becoming more inclined towards reason and wisdom..."

In addition, Hazard made ample preparations before coming to the Grand Bazaar.

He first bribed the Gilded Brigade to kidnap Dina Zede and create trouble at the "Flora Festival" to gain the righteous pretext of stopping the festival; then he ordered the Instructor to arrest and imprison Mondstadt's "Knights of Honor" and others, removing obstacles to the greatest extent possible; finally, he swiftly led the "Thirty-Man Group" to take control of the Grand Bazaar, creating a fait accompli.

It can be said that Hazard's entire plan was meticulously crafted, leaving no loopholes, and the implementation of the "art ban" should have been smooth sailing... He was certain of his victory before he personally went to the scene to enjoy the glory of the victor and proclaim the "birth of a new god".

If there is any flaw, it is that Han Fulai concealed his identity and even used some method to deceive the data comparison in the "Void" database, making everyone in the Order Academy mistakenly believe that there really is a "Hunjianglong" Han Jiangxue.

Originally, there wasn't a single person in the entire bazaar who could debate with the great sage, so Hazar was naturally in an unassailable position and could fully display his "scholarly demeanor" and "sage's majesty"... But who would have thought that this "river dragon" was actually a real dragon mixed among the small fish and shrimp!

In fact, even if someone had told Azar beforehand that Han Fulai was here, he wouldn't have believed it. The dignified "successor of the Emperor" of Liyue, would he associate with these lowly dancers and entertainers? Wouldn't he be ashamed of lowering his status?

Aside from "Han Jiangxue's identity," Hazard made no mistakes. However, it was this small "misjudgment" that ultimately led to the current outcome.

In order to protect the image and authority of the Papal House and himself, Hazard's most important task now is to cut his losses quickly and end this "debate".

To others, ending the "debate" would be tantamount to "admitting defeat," but Hazard doesn't need to fight for a temporary victory or defeat. Even if he were to admit defeat, what would it matter? The most important thing in a paper is always the "conclusion."

But there's one thing he needs to figure out here.

Azar stared at Han Fulai's face and slowly said, "The actions of the Church are all in accordance with the will left behind by the Great Tree King. The various considerations involved are difficult to explain in a short time. If Vice Minister Han is interested in understanding, he can come with me back to the Church to discuss it with the wise men. The Church tolerates criticism and welcomes your criticism."

"However, the administrative affairs of the Order of the Monarchy are all internal affairs of Sumeru. Vice Minister Han, do you represent yourself today, or... Liyue?"

Han Fulai understood what Azar meant: this "debate" could only represent him, Han Fulai, personally; it was an "academic discussion" between "scholar Han Fulai" and "scholar Azar," not "the Liyue government interfering with the Sumeru government."

If it's an "academic discussion," then it should "stop at the point."

Hazard is showing him weakness, but it's also a threat on another level—if he doesn't know when to stop, the next step will be a problem between nations.

Unfortunately, Han Fulai was not from Xiamen University.

Han Fulai smiled slightly and replied to Hazard with three words: "Neither."

“I stand here representing neither myself, Han Fulai, nor the Liyue government…”

He turned around and faced the crowd of people in the Grand Bazaar who were eagerly waiting below the stage.

"I represent the people here."

"Just as my 'contract' in Liyue belongs to the people, so too does Mondstadt's 'freedom,' Inazuma's 'eternity,' and Sumeru's 'wisdom.' Although I am a Liyue citizen, I now stand here as a member of the Grand Bazaar, a member of the Zubair Theater, and a supporter of the 'Flora Festival.'"

"If scholars from Sumeru can collaborate with scholars from Liyue to discuss knowledge and spread wisdom, then people from Liyue can certainly speak out for the public good of Sumeru."

As the Rock King Emperor said: 'When the Great Way prevails, the world belongs to all!'

"When the Great Way prevails, the world belongs to all!"—These nine words, like the resounding tones of a great bell, echoed in the hearts of everyone.

Well, Zhongli never said that. This "Emperor's Sayings" is a "scripture" that Han Fulai just compiled.

But this sentence resonated with everyone.

Nilu, Zubair, Anaye… everyone understood what she meant.

"We are the true masters of Mount Sumeru!"

Han Fulai gazed at the crowd below the stage, slowly clenching his fist. Every word he spoke resonated powerfully in the ears of everyone present:

"Please recall, everyone, that you never questioned the 'decrees' of the Church. As a result, you lost your traditions, your rights and status, and you will also lose your festivals, your art... and your faith."

“A single decree of the Great Sage could strip you of everything, and you have never even tried to resist it.”

"But today, you have gathered here at the Zubair Theater to protest against the Church. Miss Nilu, and Ying... they bravely stood on this stage and voiced their opinions to the Great Sage—and as a result, the Church suddenly became 'kind,' and the Great Sage actually remembered to give the people of the Great Bazaar a chance to enter the Church!"

"Why have they suddenly become 'kind' and 'compassionate'? It's because you've stopped being submissive and because you've united and rebelled against them, so they have to offer something to appease you."

"But you've been taken so much away, are you satisfied with just this little bit back?"

Hazard felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if a spear had pierced through it—his previous clever "enticement" had been used by Han Fulai as a javelin aimed at his heart!

At that moment, someone in the audience shouted "No!"

Then more and more voices joined in, eventually merging into a roaring wave.

People roared at the Church.

they said:

"No!"

Han Fulai smiled with satisfaction.

The first step was to dismantle the authority of the Theological Seminary; the second step was to instill in the people of the Grand Bazaar the belief in resistance; and the next step was the final one.

Lead the people to resist with concrete actions!

Just shouting slogans like "Guns in hand, follow me" might not bring people, but rather a flock of geese.

Only when people see tangible victories and real benefits will they truly begin to resist. Every beginning is difficult, but once that start is made, it will create a powerful momentum that will eventually become overwhelming and unstoppable.

He raised his right fist high, and the trefoil knot on the back of his fist shone with a golden light:

"Yes, everyone, we can say 'no,' the people of Sumeru can say 'no' to the Council of the Church."

"Why is it that only what they approve of is 'wisdom,' while what we like is not? Why should the people in the Council of the Church have the right to define 'wisdom'? Are they really qualified to speak for the god of wisdom?"

"No, they are not qualified."

"As Miss Nel said before: 'The gods have never rejected art, just as Flora once danced for our gods.'"

"The god of wisdom has never forbidden 'art'; it is the council that forbids 'art', and it is Hazard who usurped the position of sage!"

"I think everyone has had a similar experience—shouting work songs while working makes you stronger; tapping your feet a few times when you're in a good mood makes you feel lighter... Songs and dances are born from labor."

"Art is a beautiful thing born from human life. People dance whenever there is joy or something to celebrate."

"In other words, art does not come from heaven, nor is it a gift from the gods. It has always belonged to the people, to each and every one of you!"

"To defend art is to defend your lives and your happiness. The quality of a work of art should be judged by the working people, not by these parasites in the clergy who seek personal gain!"

Manager Zubair was the first to raise his fist and shout, "Defend our art! Defend our lives!"

The dozens of people behind him also raised their fists.

Then came hundreds of people.

Thousands of people.

Countless fists were raised high toward the stage.

The "group of thirty" maintaining order below the stage pointed their knives and guns at the surging crowd, but their steps were slowly retreating.

Han Fulai turned to look at Hazard, whose face was flushed, and asked a question with disdain:

"If the people like it, and you don't, who do you think you are?"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the great sage who had ruled over Mount Sumeru for decades suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood and collapsed backward.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: A Familiar Feeling (7/10)

When Hazard suddenly vomited blood and collapsed to the ground, Setare was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground and shouted "Guards!" However, the mercenaries, who were too busy taking care of themselves, had no time to care about the two high-ranking scholars on the stage.

No matter how Seitare called out, Hazard no longer responded.

His lifeless eyes finally settled on the flower basket hanging from the ceiling of the Zubair Theater, where the crimson Patissa flowers were in full bloom.

Meanwhile, high up on the sacred tree, in the office of the Great Sage at the top of the Church, several screens flickered simultaneously before finally going completely black.

"Di-"

A sharp buzzing sound rang out.

Setare held the "Void Terminal" in her hands and bowed deeply towards the desk opposite her: "All connections have been secured, and the most stable architecture has been built. The 'plan' has entered its most critical phase, and the power extraction from the 'Void' will begin."

"...A slight decrease in cognitive output was detected, but it is still within the normal threshold range."

The elderly man, wearing a monocle, took the "void terminal" from his assistant with a playful smile.

"Continue to monitor the numerical changes and find out the cause as soon as possible."

He said.

"Tuk-tuk-"

Han Fulai heard a knock on the door.

“It’s Dina Zede…” He walked quickly to the door, raised his hand to open it for Dina Zede, but his hand stopped halfway.

Wait, how did he know it was Dina Zede knocking on the door?

Fragments of memory flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

He saw Dinazede, Luminous and Paimon, Desia, the ambushing mercenaries, the expressionless disciplinary officer, and... the Great Sage Azar.

Is this... a dream?

"Hoo...who's knocking?" came Paimon's yawn from behind.

Han Fulai opened the door and saw Dina Zedai, dressed in her finest attire, bowing with a shy smile. She wore a pale purple Patissa flower wreath on her head, as radiant and dazzling as she was today.

Good morning, Mr. Jiang Xue.

Han Fulai subconsciously raised his hand and touched his face—rough skin and a prickly beard; without a doubt, this was "Han Jiangxue's" face.

"Good morning, Dina Zede! Wow, you look so beautiful!" Seeing Dina Zede's outfit, Yingmei's sleepiness vanished. Then, remembering something, she quickly put her hands together in a gesture of apology to Dina Zede: "Sorry! Did we get up too late?"

Little Paimon next to me muttered under his breath, "--It's all because you stayed in bed too long!"

Dina Zede waved her hand with a smile: "No, no, I just arrived too early. I was so excited about today's 'Flower Goddess's Birthday Festival' that I couldn't sleep well all night..."

After exchanging pleasantries, they realized that Han Fulai, who was usually quite talkative, had remained silent the entire time.

"Mr. Jiang Xue, is something wrong? Did I... disturb your rest?" Dina Zedai asked cautiously.

Han Fulai then came to his senses and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing."

"By the way, where's Dixia?" Ying felt something was missing when she didn't see the bodyguard.

Almost at the same time she asked the question, Han Fulai's gaze drifted toward the large tree in the distance.

Their black eyes met their icy blue pupils.

Dixia shrank behind a tree like a startled cat—strange, he still found her from so far away, could it be that her stealth skills, which she had honed in the desert, had deteriorated?

Ying looked at Han Fulai with some surprise—if Dina Zedai hadn't said anything, even she wouldn't have noticed Dixia's "secret protection".

She knew Han Fulai was very skilled in martial arts, but she didn't expect him to be this skilled, able to sense Dixia's gaze from a distance of over a hundred feet.

This seems to be much... a little bit better than her, hmm.

As Dina Zede's "guardian knight," Ying felt a little discouraged.