"I... have never betrayed Great Xia."
At Zhao Yingtian’s words, the entire place erupted into an uproar.
Jeers and curses bood, filling the air, including the barrage of abuse that exploded online.
"How is this not betrayal?"
"If it weren’t for your past contributions to Our Great Xia, we’d cuss you to death right here and now."
"While the Divine Child and others are desperately fending off foreign enemies, you, a traitor and a running dog for the Han Jian, claim you haven’t betrayed Our Great Xia?"
"Damn it, this is just too detestable."
"How on earth do you have the face to utter such words?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Yu did not frown but neither did he say much.
However, Zhao Yingtian’s betrayal of Great Xia was a fact.
First, he inford the Foreign Forces about his position as the fake Divine Child, and then he stabbed Luo Tiance in the back, almost resulting in his grandfather’s death.
If he hadn’t arrived in ti, Luo Tiance would have undoubtedly been beyond saving.
Without a doubt.
If this isn’t called betrayal, then what is?
Zhao Yunliu and others from the Zhao Family were all prostrated there, naturally implicated since their Patriarch had committed treason.
Even if they weren’t apprehended on the spot, they had already been branded as enemies of the state, completely unable to raise their heads before the nation’s people.
Eternally pinned to Great Xia’s pillar of sha.
They were in extre anguish, still unable to understand why their family head had committed treason, and even less able to comprehend why, in the face of incontrovertible evidence, he was still making excuses.
Isn’t that even more disgraceful?
Zhu Wushi shouted angrily:
"Zhao Yingtian, just confess everything you have to confess honestly. In consideration of our many years of acquaintanceship, I can still allow you to die with so dignity."
Liu Shengji and others had complicated expressions on their faces.
As heads of their respective families, they had withstood the most perilous tis when Great Xia was on the verge of collapse, and the bond between them was profound.
To their disbelief, there was indeed a traitor among them.
Patriarch Cao said with a pained heart:
"Old Zhao, back in the day, you were the most devout and passionate among us towards Our Great Xia. How could you commit such folly in your old age?"
"Is your heart so afraid of death, so desirous to prolong your family’s lineage?"
Bounded by chains in the center of the square, Zhao Yingtian, with white hair dancing in the wind, accepted the pointing of thousands without any change in his expression.
He accepted it calmly.
As Luo Tiance listened to the clamor around him, he commanded with authority:
"Enough, silence!"
The tens of thousands of people inside and outside the square quieted down at once.
But the murderous loathing, the disdainful gazes, sharp as knives, continued to slice towards Zhao Yingtian, filled with deep-seated hatred.
Foreign enemies weren’t the most hated.
It was the traitors within.
If it weren’t for the Divine Child, their most revered and beloved Director Luo, they would have died at the hands of Zhao Yingtian. Such a man must die.
Moreover, he must die the most painful death to quell the hatred in the people’s hearts.
Luo Tiance’s gaze t Zhao Yingtian’s, and after a few monts of silence, he said:
"Zhao Yingtian!"
"Do you have anything to say?"
Zhao Yingtian spoke, "I wonder if the contributions I’ve made to Great Xia in this lifeti could earn one last unbinding before I die."
"Impossible!"
"Credit is credit, and faults are faults!!"
"One must acknowledge their mistakes."
Voices of opposition imdiately rose from around the square, and people were anxious that Zhao Yingtian might go berserk after being unbound and take them down with him, so they were naturally agitated.
Of course, there were so agreeable responses as well; after all, there were people who rembered and were grateful for the things Zhao Yingtian had done in the past.
Luo Tiance remained silent.
From his waist, the State-Defending Divine Sword humd and vibrated, as strands of golden light flew out.
"Clang clang clang!"
The chains binding Zhao Yingtian were shattered.
Freed from his chains, Zhao Yingtian extended his arms towards Luo Tiance in a formal bow, "Luo Tiance, in my life I’ve never admired anyone, but you are the first."
Luo Tiance shook his head, "Spare the nonsense."
"From the mont you betrayed Great Xia, when you pointed your gun at , we ceased to be comrades on the sa path."
Zhao Yingtian fell silent for a mont, then suddenly burst into laughter, "Ha ha ha."
Everyone laughed, baffled by the display.
Many wanted to curse outright, wondering how a traitor could have the audacity to laugh; it was utterly disgusting.
The laughter gradually subsided, and Zhao Yingtian said, "Luo Tiance, may I borrow your State-Defending Divine Sword?"
"Don’t push your luck, traitor," Zhu Wushi scolded with a frown, his temper always short, especially when it ca to Zhao Yingtian.
Luo Tiance furrowed his brow: "This sword, you cannot wield."
How could a traitor harness the power of the State-Defending Divine Sword, the Divine Artifact that suppressed the nation’s fate of Our Great Xia?
Zhao Yingtian’s eyes filled with reminiscence: "My greatest wish in life was to, just like you, wield the State-Defending Divine Sword in my hand and protect my own country."
Cao Xiong said, "But you forgot your original aspiration."
Zhao Yingtian gave him a glance, then his gaze beca sharp and purposeful as he looked at Luo Tiance—or more precisely, at the State-Defending Divine Sword, filled with endless longing.
"If I could just hold this sword in my hand for a mont, my life would be without regrets."
In an instant, nobody could fathom what Zhao Yingtian intended to do.
Nor did Luo Yu understand.
Did he want to destroy the State-Defending Divine Sword, to ruin the fortunes of Great Xia?
But with the strength Zhao Yingtian currently possessed, which had been sealed, it was impossible for him to destroy it.
Could it really just be to fulfill a wish?
"Go."
Luo Tiance uttered sharply, and the State-Defending Divine Sword flew up on its own, hovering in front of Zhao Yingtian.
At that mont, everyone was stunned by Luo Tiance’s magnanimity.
After all, this was the man whose life he sought to end—the traitor. Yet he was still willing to fulfill the other’s wish. The spirit of Our Great Xia’s Director Luo was admirable and commanded respect.
Zhao Yingtian grasped the State-Defending Divine Sword firmly in his hand.
Unsheathing the blade,
His wrinkled, aged face conveyed a deep, prolonged sigh that seed to carry endless vicissitudes and emotion: "A good sword indeed, truly a fine blade."
"Alas, I am not worthy of wielding you."
"Pfft!"
Under the vigilant and wary eyes of all, Zhao Yingtian moved swiftly, plunging the State-Defending Divine Sword into his heart, then twisted it cruelly, shattering his heart.
Blood spurted and trickled down, soaking his clothes.
Everyone was shocked by Zhao Yingtian’s sudden suicide.
"Grandfather!"
Zhao Yunliu cried out in horror, staring with wide eyes.
Including Luo Yu, no high-level official from Great Xia had expected Zhao Yingtian to thrust a sword into himself; such a person, with imnse pride, would never take his own life.
"How cunning."
"Afraid of the severe punishnt after trial, he chose to end his life early."
"Yes, it must be this reason."
The populace held no sympathy for his actions; their hearts filled with disdain for the traitor.
Blood trickled from the corners of Zhao Yingtian’s mouth.
His powerful cultivation level prevented his imdiate death.
As life quickly ebbed away and he lingered on the brink, he began to speak slowly:
"I, Zhao Yingtian, have betrayed my family, the God’s Child, and you, Luo Tiance."
"But I have never betrayed Great Xia."
In the midst of incomprehension, Zhao Yingtian continued:
"We, the high echelons of Great Xia, have always known that there are no gods in Great Xia while there are gods beyond our borders."
"How can a mortal triumph over gods? The stronger my cultivation level beca, the greater the despair I felt."
"I realized, long ago, that one day Great Xia would inevitably fall."
"Because we old ones, even if we fought to our deaths, could not withstand those gods."
"But if everyone in Great Xia fights to the death, who will be left to seek revenge?"
"Death is not bravery."
"Finding a way to survive, awaiting the opportunity for revenge, that is the true path."
"Thus, I devised my own plan."
————
I know many brothers are eagerly following the updates, so I can’t bear to leave them hanging.
There are roughly a hundred Chapters left until the grand conclusion—ti to start tying up the loose ends.
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