In recent days, the incident at Sacred Heart Institute has completely exploded public outrage.
As soon as the news hit the papers, it provoked the masses to curse vehently, and even the noble ladies of Imperial City, usually aloof from worldly matters, couldn't help but mutter "sinful."
The Imperial Court, Ministers of nes, and the Church all played dead, leaving the populace with no choice but to follow the matter through the newspapers.
By the third day, suddenly two explosive pieces of news were published.
First was the statent from the Jiade Minister in Jinn:
[The Church is founded on compassion and has no intention to harm others. The Sacred Heart Institute is innocent, and the matter must be fishy. We urge Shun Country to imdiately punish the murderer severely and compensate the Church for all losses.]
Such a shaless statent caused an imdiate uproar.
The newspapers at the ti carried pictures. The deep pit full of skeletons, the tiny corpses with their arms bound behind them, everyone saw them clear as day.
Even those who were skeptical understood once they visited the site themselves.
And yet so still had the audacity to blatantly spout lies!
Moreover, the missionaries inside Shun Dynasty were indeed not doing human things.
They repeatedly condoned parishioners oppressing the commoners, were themselves full of sin, and so missionaries were even Demon Beasts!
Consequently, the nes consulate in Jinn was surrounded by nearly 20,000 enraged civilians that very day.
There were no fewer than ten churches around Jinn, and the people had long suffered persecution.
Now, recalling their own experiences, their anger ignited spontaneously without anyone's instigation, and they organized themselves.
In the end, it was Yuan Kaisheng who personally took action, using the prestige of a Great Grandmaster to disperse the crowd.
~~~~~~~~~
As for the "severe punishnt of the murderer" demanded by the powers, the Imperial Court put up a rare display of backbone for once.
Lu Yao had acted several tis, driven rely by righteous indignation, but it had preserved so vitality for the Imperial Court.
Moreover, the foreigners were engaged in internal strife and were preoccupied with the at grinder-like trench warfare, lacking much energy to focus on Shun Dynasty.
The recently self-governing Emperor Yong'an, young and vigorous, was actively promoting Westernization ministers with the intention of restoring the nation's strength and thus ignored nes' demands.
When Emperor Yong'an heard of the public fury, he was even invigorated, "When the public rises in a tumult, there is a reason behind it, an outrage born from righteousness, incomparable to the chaos of rabble. It is right to sharpen their edge and hone our spears and shields!"
In the eyes of the rulers, the public's anger towards the churches and even the foreigners was a force to be relied on.
~~~~~~~~~~
What attracted the attention of Martial Artists and ordinary people the most, however, was a special supplent in today's newspaper—
Young Master Lu offered a bounty on the Linjiang Gang! From top to bottom, including the gang leader and the ordinary mbers, all were subjected to the bounty.
And the newspaper prominently featured verification from Jiade Comrcial Bank—
Lu Yao had deposited ten thousand taels of silver as a deposit in a public account!
So people in the streets, upon getting their hands on the newspaper, exclaid on the spot, "He's putting a bounty on an entire gang!"
"It seems Young Master Lu really wants to eradicate the Linjiang Gang."
"Who wouldn't want to do that, I want to as well! Those mother-fed beasts!"
~~~~~~~~~~
The Linjiang Gang received the news imdiately but treated it as a joke.
[There are three Blood-Exchange experts in the gang, and the boss himself is at the Innate Realm. This Lu fellow must be out of his mind.]
[I would like to see who dares to co.]
These were people capable of loading a ship full of young girls and shipping them overseas for Demon Beasts to enjoy, completely devoid of humanity; naturally, they wouldn't be scared.
Even the leader of the Linjiang Gang—Hou Lin—didn't take it to heart.
At the mont, he was just angry, "That kid nad Lu really doesn't know whether he's coming or going! Damn it, offering just 8000 taels! Does he think I'm old and frail?"
"Dad, calm down, don't stoop to his level."
Hou Bo was carefully attending to him. His family's fortune and honor all depended on his father, who couldn't afford any mishap.
But the elderly man in front of him had withered hair and a stinking body, showing the signs of the five decays of heaven and man, clearly not long for this world.
No wonder they were only offering eight thousand taels.
Honestly, that was already a high price... but it also touched a nerve for the boss Hou Lin.
When he was young, he encountered complications while advancing into the Innate Realm. Although the advancent was successful, his lifespan significantly decreased.
He had originally counted on the initial embrace of a Western demon beast to extend his life, but now it had all been disrupted by Lu Yao!
Thinking that his hope for survival was gone, Hou Lin clenched his fists so hard that he crushed the armrests of his Taishi Chair and growled, "This little beast has ruined my grand plans!"
But imdiately after, sothing even more infuriating happened—
"Report~~~" A close attendant ca in to report, "Boss, the Third Master has been killed! Along with him, two hall masters have also fallen..."
"What!?" Hou Lin, agitated, his face turning blue, quickly channeled his energy to suppress his reaction.
The attendant continued his report: "The Third Master was conducting business in Mingzhou with the two hall masters when they were ambushed and all killed. Even their heads were taken. And..."
The attendant cautiously looked up at the gloomy-faced Boss and continued, "There are reports from our n that soone seems to be targeting our new ship!"
He was referring to the newly purchased Western-style heavy oil cargo ship, which could navigate inland rivers and coastal seas. Fast and with a high cargo capacity, it was the lifeline of the gang.
Hou Bo quickly asked, "Dad, what should we do?"
Hou Lin pondered for a mont and decisively said, "Mobilize our influence on the official side to suppress this matter. We can't let a man with the surna Lu blatantly contract killers! If that doesn't work..."
Hou Lin's eyes turned cold, "Find out the backing of that Lu kid—where Yu Yani is! I want her exact location."
Hou Bo exclaid, "Start a fight? The Moon Star Sect that Yu Yani belongs to is an extrely formidable assassin sect. We can't afford to provoke them. Wouldn't it be better to take a step back for broader skies..."
"Shut up!" Hou Lin rebuked, "Can't you see? If we don't stop this now, we will have no place to stand in the future!"
The Linjiang Gang overestimated the deterrence of their gang, even of their own boss.
Under the overwhelming publicity from all newspapers and countless martial artists called by Li Pei to personally experience the incident, the impact of the Sacred Heart Institute event was imnse.
At this mont, the Linjiang Gang was facing public outrage, like a rat crossing the street. Not to ntion, there were hefty rewards involved—Lu Yao had opened high bounties to the lower-ranking gang mbers as well.
The developnt of the situation greatly exceeded everyone's expectations.
Several ordinary Linjiang Gang mbers walked out of a restaurant, arm in arm, and before they could enjoy a mont of cool breeze, they were hacked to death on the spot by several knife-wielding tough n;
A hall master of the Organ Refining Realm had just docked his boat when he was surrounded by four individuals of the sa realm. Even jumping into the river didn't save him; he was dragged ashore from the water and beaten to death. His head was taken!
Similar events kept happening, with the killers proudly proclaiming their own nas, aiming to achieve fa.
The Linjiang Gang was like a piece of at falling into a school of piranhas, torn apart by nurous people.
~~~~~~~~~
Lu Yao spent three days quietly cultivating at ho, feeling his teeth were slightly loose.
This was good news; shedding teeth again was a sign of the "Forty Teeth Phenonon," an indication that the Blood-Exchange had reached a major milestone.
Subsequently, he could "penetrate the governor and conception vessels" and advance to the Innate Realm.
But today, Governor Wen Renliang, whom he hadn't seen for a long ti, suddenly ca to visit.
After sitting down, Lu Yao knew the purpose of his visit and took the initiative to ask, "Has Governor Wen co about the bounty matter?"
Wen Renliang admitted frankly, "Indeed. Young Master Lu, publicly contracting killers through the newspaper is ultimately not good.
Moreover, in these three days, countless Linjiang Gang mbers have been killed, including the Third Master who possessed the Blood-Exchange Mirror.
Better to bury the hatchet than perpetuate the feud. How about we both step back?"
Of course, Lu Yao knew about these matters; Zhang Jin would report to him every day. The Linjiang Gang's predicant, not gaining public support, was unexpected.
He smiled and asked, "What if I don't want to back down, Governor Wen?"
Wen Renliang smiled and changed his tone, "I am rely passing a ssage on behalf of an old friend. Young Master Lu need not take it to heart. Since you co from Yunzhou, naturally I am on your side in this matter."
"Thank you for your care, Governor Wen."
"It's what I should do."
The two exchanged pleasantries for a few monts until Su Er'ya ca over with today's newspaper and respectfully said:
"Uncle Master, the lady asked to bring you this extra edition of the 'Yunzhou Tis.'"
Lu Yao took it and smiled lightly. Then he handed the newspaper to Wen Renliang, who saw it read:
[Trading young children to feed demon beasts, no different from beasts! All levels of the Governnt Office must investigate thoroughly. We must all rember—a weak country leads to a weak populace, a strong country to a strong populace. Never forget our national humiliation; rejuvenate the Divine Land.]
It was a public article by Left Minister directly in the newspaper! With his reputation, this matter was hereby settled.
Governor Wen secretly congratulated himself for not choosing the wrong side just now.
This Linjiang Gang... was finished.
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