The soldiers moved with lightning speed.
In an instant, the grand stage where Bai Zihe stood, and the entire Star Tower, were surrounded, leaving no room to move. Many spectators had already wet themselves and attempted to flee.
But with a series of shots fired into the air, everyone dared not move.
The soldiers parted to the sides.
A middle-aged man with a square, stern face, exuding authority, walked in.
It was Zhao Qingtian, the provincial military governor of Jiangdong!
Behind him.
Was Fulong, whose palm had been nailed to the wall by Bai Zihe with chopsticks. His right hand was bandaged, but bloodstains were still visible.
Chen Zhennan and Hong Tianyin.
As the top civil and military officials of Suhang City, they had been on the grand stage to watch and congratulate during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Upon seeing Zhao Qingtian.
Their heads immediately shrank, like mice seeing a cat, and their hearts pounded.
But at this point, they could only hope that Bai Zihe's backing was strong enough; there was no room for retreat.
Zhao Qingtian strode forward with a group of guards and ascended the grand stage.
"Bai Zihe!"
Zhao Qingtian, his face grim, roared, his voice echoing throughout the venue, "You forced Suhang Governor Chen Zhennan and Suhang Military Commander Hong Tianyin to acknowledge you as their master, defying the military order. Are you attempting rebellion?"
"This is the first crime!"
"You massacred the three major families of Suhang, annihilated the Luo family of the provincial capital, and then dealt a fatal blow to the Wang family, causing several families to be destroyed and leading to a severe economic depression in Suhang!"
"This is the second crime!"
"You slaughtered the Japanese warriors, causing severe damage to Dragon Country's reputation internationally!"
"This is the third crime!"
He listed the charges one by one. The people below were so terrified their faces turned ashen.
These accusations...
Any one of them was enough to cost a life.
All three combined...
It was unthinkable!
"You are guilty of heinous crimes, disregarding law and discipline..."
"Today, I, Zhao Qingtian, Governor of the Jiangdong Provincial Military, acting under the military order of War Department Minister Qian Yuanshan, hereby issue a warrant for your arrest."
"If you resist, you will be killed without mercy!"
Zhao Qingtian publicly read Bai Zihe's crimes, then looked around and shouted coldly, "Soldiers, where are you?"
"Here!"
"Take him down!"
At the instant his order was given, all the soldiers raised their guns, pulled back the bolts, and aimed at Bai Zihe.
Several other people rushed towards Bai Zihe with menacing intent.
"Hold on!"
Bai Zihe sneered and stepped forward, looking directly at Zhao Qingtian.
He spoke volubly:
"The fact that Chen Zhennan and Hong Tianyin acknowledged me as their master was because they were forced by you, and thus sought my help."
"How is it that in your words, it becomes I who am attempting rebellion?"
"This is truly a preposterous jest!"
"Regarding the Luo and Wang families of the provincial capital, when I sought revenge, they attempted to bully me with their influence. I merely returned their own actions upon them. What crime is there in that?"
Bai Zihe paused slightly, then continued, "As for the three major families..."
"Four years ago, the three major families caused my Bai family's ruin, and my mother even died as a result!"
"Everyone in Suhang knows this matter!"
"A life for a life is natural justice, as it has always been!"
"If I do not kill them, how can I face my mother in the netherworld?"
Saying this, Bai Zihe turned around in anger, facing the crowd:
"I ask everyone present."
"If someone oppressed your family and killed your mother, what would you do?"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
The crowd shouted, their emotions stirred!
Bai Zihe continued, "Those Japanese warriors, they first harassed my sister, then insulted my compatriots, wanting my Dragon Country's men and women to be tools for their lust..."
"My rage led me to kill them; I acted on behalf of heaven, eliminating evil and promoting good!"
At this point, Bai Zihe looked at the crowd below again.
"I ask everyone present."
"If you encountered Japanese warriors who harassed your wives and daughters, what would you do?"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
The crowd shouted, their spirits soaring!
Bai Zihe stared coldly at Zhao Qingtian and said, under the clear blue sky, his words resounding with force: "Zhao Qingtian, look!"
"Everything I have done is reasonable and justifiable, the natural course of human actions!"
"I, Bai Zihe..."
"Have no shame towards heaven above, nor towards earth below. What crime have I committed?"