"Everyone, there's something you need to know."
After a moment, Ji Yuan's main body suddenly spoke, his voice echoing in the side hall.
Simultaneously, a restriction quietly spread throughout the entire side hall. Seeing this, Jiang Yunzhou also employed his methods to further secure the area.
gazes then turned towards him. Sensing the confusion in their eyes, he remained silent for a long while before slowly revealing to those before him some of the truth he had previously learned.
Should they choose to prioritize the so-called greater good, preventing turmoil from engulfing the entire Lingyang Prefecture, or should they seek justice for the innocent lives already lost, ensuring no one else suffers such a fate in the future?
This was not a decision that could be easily made. Regardless of the choice, countless people would lose their lives and livelihoods.
When his words fell silent, those in the side hall fell into a collective silence, their expressions becoming complex.
There was bewilderment, uncontainable anger, and surging killing intent…
But in the end, all of them lowered their gazes, facing the same dilemma as Ji Yuan.
How to choose?
No matter which path they took, too many people would perish. It was even unclear which choice would have the least impact.
Suddenly, Ji Yuan's heart stirred. He might have guessed why the higher-ups of the Nine Profound Sect had not offered any hints or warnings when they learned of their investigation.
The Sect Master's intention was likely to observe how the disciples within the sect would ultimately make their decision…
Allowing the disciples to investigate this matter was a test of their abilities, and withholding any warnings was also to observe their final choices.
Thinking this, he felt as if he had finally seen through the clouds to the clear sky.
Scanning forward, Ji Yuan then saw sparks of realization flash in the eyes of Jiang Yunzhou and Lin Yubai. They then simultaneously looked towards him.
Clearly, both of them had already made up their minds.
As their gazes met, he immediately understood their thoughts. The three of them slowly nodded their heads.
However, they did not speak, but quietly waited for the other disciples' decisions.
"I say… no matter how we choose, countless innocent people will suffer and die."
"But is the cause of all this truly our choice right now?"
"Instead, for those who have already perished, who will seek justice for them?"
What most people were considering now was how to maintain the current status quo, giving themselves enough time to increase their chances.
But who knew how long that would take?
What about those who had suffered?
Even if the hidden forces were eradicated, would justice that came late still be justice?
Even taking a step back, if they chose the former and withdrew from Linfu County, pretending as if nothing had happened, would the number of people who would suffer in the future truly be less than exposing everything now?
The cause of the suffering of countless people was not their current choice, but the hidden forces that had committed various crimes and the important figures who had not acted in time to resolve everything.
They, at most, had merely disrupted the balance between the two sides at a crucial moment.
"If you want to leave, then leave. I choose to stay."
A disciple from Great Evolution Peak spoke, his tone firm.
As soon as he finished speaking, several other disciples expressed their agreement. Even if the sect ordered them to retreat, they would stay here, persisting in their decision even if they achieved nothing in the end.
"Even I, a mere woman, have decided to stay. What are you men hesitating for?"
A female disciple from Flowing Clouds Peak spoke, her gaze sweeping over the last three disciples who appeared hesitant.
Upon hearing this, the three men's eyes widened. Their hesitation earlier stemmed from concerns about whether their actions would bring trouble to their sect. Now, they all declared their stance.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan and his two companions broke into smiles. The eight inner disciples exchanged glances and then couldn't help but burst into laughter.
In their laughter, there was no fear, but rather a sense of exhilaration.
By the River God Temple beside the Linfu River, Ji Yuan's divine incarnation suddenly smiled and then turned to bow slightly towards the young man before him.
Regardless of the young man's true intentions, it was undeniable that without him, they would have been unable to understand many things and uncover some of the truth.
"It seems you have made your decision."
The True God of Fuyuan River said.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan nodded slightly, a smile on his face. "I am not one of those high-and-mighty important figures, nor can I understand the so-called 'greater good'."
"But I know one thing: those who commit crimes must be judged, and the wronged are also waiting for justice to arrive."
"I don't know if this action is right or wrong, but I will do my utmost to bring justice to the deceased while ensuring that fewer people are implicated."
As for those hidden in the shadows, who committed such heinous crimes, not a single one of them would escape judgment. They must pay the price for their actions!
Perhaps their strength was weak, at least not posing a threat to those powers.
But at least their beliefs were firm. What they could not achieve now, they could strive to accomplish their entire lives.
The young man nodded and said nothing more, turning to walk into the River God Temple.
However, before entering the main hall, he suddenly stopped, and without looking back, said, "My clone is still here. If things become unmanageable, return to this place."
At the very least, no matter how dire the situation, with the title of the True God of Fuyuan River, some people could be protected.
With that, the young man entered the main hall of the River God Temple and slowly sat down on the cushion in the center of the hall. A hint of remembrance seemed to flicker in his eyes, which were filled with the vicissitudes of life.
Ji Yuan took a deep breath, then bowed and cupped his hands. Regardless of anything else, his words were enough to earn his respect.
Slowly straightening up, he turned and came to the Linfu River. With a thought, a colossal creature rapidly approached from beneath the river.
Before long, a dragon's roar echoed across the river, followed by divine might and draconic power that swept out.
The essence of this river was quietly mobilized, and the calm river surface began to ripple. Waves, one more fierce than the last, surged.
As the night deepened, a bright moon hung high in the sky, and dark clouds suddenly gathered over Linfu County.
The pure moonlight was obscured by thick clouds and mist. The soldiers around the City God's Pavilion quietly withdrew, and the patrolling constables and yamen runners also disappeared.
An eerie atmosphere had somehow permeated the entire City God's Pavilion, both inside and out. Only the main hall shone with golden light, where the City God was gradually awakening.