Chapter 541: Would Rather Die Standing Up
Translator: Panda_Penn Editor: Chrissy
Lu Li and Jiang Qiling were not the ones doing wrong regarding the matter at the small battlefield.
After all, it was not them that were being deliberately provocative. Lu Suan, Ji Mengtian and the others were plotting against Lu Li and Jiang Qiling. If Jiang Qiling hadn't given Lu Li her divine energy and part of her soul energy, both of them would have died.
Lu Li didn't even cross the line concerning what happened later.
Lu Suan and the gang built the Demon Trapping Formation to set Lu Li up and kill him after the previous failed attempt. Even then, Lu Li didn't kill Ji Mengtian or the others. He did kill more than a dozen attendants of theirs but it was nothing compared to what Ji Mengtian and the others had done.
Lu Li also was not the one in the wrong with what happened with Ji Nu and Yang Qi.
Ji Nu and Yang Qi attempted to murder Jiang Qiling and they did kill more than 40 of her warriors. In the heat of revenge, Lu Li slaughtered 200 warriors, which was not over the line too much.
After being set up for two times, Lu Li trapped Ji Mengtian, Lu Suan and the others in the Ding of Barbarian God and tortured them for over a month. Technically, this was not very wrong.
The thing mattered in the entire incident was the uneven status between the two sides. If Lu Li had been a young master of the Samsara Palace while Ji Mengtian, Lu Suan and the others were some minor characters, Lu Li could kill those for dozens of times, let alone torturing them, without being considered having crossed the line...
Ji Mengtian, Yang Xuan and Lu Suan and the other two were the most reputable young masters and young ladies of the four forces. Their lives were valuable and they represented the dignity of the four forces as well.
It was a world that valued no reason!
The four forces were standing at the peak of the Central Plains. They were powerful enough and their words were the reasons.
How could a minor warrior ask for justice when he had humiliated the four forces? How could he be allowed to live on in comfort? Either this warrior was crazy or barking at the moon.
Lu Li understood it now. When he realized that the supporter behind the four forces was Deputy Master, he felt whatever he said or did were feeble.
He was a puny insect and the four forces were towering trees with trunks and leaves and intricate system of roots buried underground.
What Deputy Master said quieted the entire hall down. His words had exposed himself and displayed his position. Who would go against the Deputy Master just for Lu Li?
The Master was the most powerful among the humans. Of course, the Deputy Master was second in power. Behind him was not one single person, but a strong force.
It could be said that if Deputy Master was dead set on exterminating a family, even the Pavilion of Delicacy could be destroyed.
Hence, Jiang TIanshun conceded and Ye Luo was brought back to the Ye Family.
"Is this Deputy Master from the Samsara Palace or the Hades Society?" Lu Li thought of an idea. After a while, he put on a bitter smile. He stopped making an effort. He extended his hands and said, "If the Law Enforcement Patriarch is not the one searching their souls, then I don't think anyone else doing it has any points. Deputy Master, pronounce your judgment. It's up to you whether you want to kill me or cut me into pieces."
Lu Li's words spoke volumes. Many powerful warriors in the hall could tell what was going on but nobody spoke. Anyone dared to come forward would be opposing Deputy Master.
Ji Mengtian put on a cold smile. Lu Li was right. Deputy Master was surnamed Ji. He was her ancestor. Actually, the ending had been determined the moment Deputy Master took over the matter.
Deputy Master put back his poker face. He didn't say anything right away. He looked at everyone and stopped his glances at Law Enforcement Patriarch.
Deputy Master could take no regard of what others think but he had to consider Law Enforcement Patriarch's ideas. After all, Lu Li was his great-grandson.
Instead of looking at Deputy Master, Law Enforcement Patriarch glanced at Lu Li and then turned to an old man with brown eyebrows.
This old man with brown eyebrows was surnamed Pang, ranking No.6 among the 10 patriarchs of the Demon-slaying Hall. He occupied a decisive position at the Demon-slaying Hall. Sensing the looks from Law Enforcement Patriarch, he put on a bitter expression.
Later, he made up his mind and stood up. Looking at Lu Li, he said, "Lu Li, you are wrong when you are wrong. Just make an apology to Deputy Master and to the kids from the Ji Family and the Yang Family. You have made great contributions at the small battlefield and we can counterbalance your wrongs and your rights. If you are polite and have good manners, I think Deputy Master can show mercy and be lenient with you."
It was the brown-haired old man who said this but clever people could see the truth.
Many people knew that this patriarch Pang had always following the lead of Law Enforcement Patriarch who had indirectly stated his attitude—let Lu Li yield and apologize so the term of sentence could be reduced. Deputy Master would have to consider Law Enforcement Patriarch's feelings. At least, Lu Li could escape death sentence.
"Say sorry? Ha, ha, ha!"
Raising his head up high, Lu Li laughed out loud. His fierce looks and the silver glare in his eyes were intimidating.
Albeit he was laughing, the glares in his eyes were cold as ice as he glanced to all. Finally, he stared at Patriarch Pang and said, "Why? Why do you say it is my fault? Why do I have to yield?"
To yield and admit wrongdoings could spare his life but Lu Li would be exiled to a dangerous place just as what had happened to him at the Lu Family. He could live and have hope that way but it would require him to forgo his dignity and yield to Ji Mengtian, Lu Suan and Deputy Master!
"Yield?"
Lu Li murmured. The ridicule on his face was deeper. He pointed to Lu Suan and said, "This person is my cousin but he has set me up several times. In the small battlefield alone, he has trapped me twice. You want me to yield to him?"
He moved his finger to the sides to Ji Mengtian and continued, "The most reputable young lady of the Samsara Palace has such dashing looks and yet such a cruel heart. We regarded her as a friend but she betrayed us without any signs. She lured us to the ambush of the four alien races and you want me to yield to this kind of person?"
"Young Master Yang and Lady Die Feiyu!"
Lu Li looked at them and went on coldly, "Before we came to the small battlefield, we don't even know each other. Just because Jiang Qiling will become the future chosen warrior, they have joined hands with them to trap and kill us? They are so heartless and so sinister and now you want me to yield to them?"
Yang Xuan showed no emotions. Die Feiyu, even though wearing a veil, turned her head over in shame, not daring to look into Lu Li's eyes.
Last but not least, Lu Li turned to Deputy Master, pointed to his face and said, "This is the Deputy Master of the Demon-slaying Hall and the second most powerful human warrior. He is regarded as a god by many Central Plain civilians. If he were a real god, I would bow to him without you having to say so. But…he confused the right with the wrong, called black white and held the candle to the devil. You want me to yield to him? You wish!"
"I am young but I am a man of indomitable spirit. I would rather die standing up than live on my knees!"
Sonorous and forceful!
The moment Lu Li began to speak, many could tell that it was going down south. But the Law Enforcement Patriarch didn't say anything and neither did the Deputy Master. Nobody else felt it right to interrupt Lu Li.
Lu Li finished his words. Many people felt the hope for him had lost. He had forced himself into a dead end and not even the Law Enforcement Patriarch could beg for leniency now.
But many people sighed with mixed feelings. They were all advanced in ages and they had lived in the Demon-slaying City for a long time. Their dash had disappeared with the passage of time. But Lu Li's words had rekindled their passions that they had been burying deep in their hearts.
Some elders even showed shame. They considered themselves inferior to a teenager in lofty characters and they had lived a less free or dignified life than Lu Li…
Still, Deputy Master showed no emotional changes. He just waved his hand coldly and said, "Since it is death that you aspires, I will grant your wish. Patriarch Yang, take Lu Li out. Kill him in public as a warning to others!"