Volume 1: This Heart's Inclination Chapter 43: Blood Boiling with Rage

  A suffocating silence.

  Yuan Zheng scratched his chin, looking hesitant, while the deputy's face was gloomy and grinding his teeth. The others had different expressions, except for Hua Xunhuan who exclaimed loudly: "Good!"

  "Yuan Zhengdao is a good person." Wan Shitong Shen Meihua started whispering in Tai Shi's ear again, "He's just an old antique, only knows how to do things by the book, such a big thing, he doesn't dare make a decision."

  "You're quite familiar with the rules of Guangwu Camp." After a pause, the deputy commander spoke in a gloomy tone, "Since we're talking about rules, let's follow them to the letter. According to the rules, when the Grandmaster is not present, all camp affairs are decided by the Deputy Master and all instructors through discussion. If you want to appeal, we'll put it to a vote. The Deputy Master and I each count as three votes, while everyone else counts as one. Let's begin - I oppose."

  One man is equal to three votes, equivalent to three people opposing at once.

  "I agree!" Huaxuan exclaimed loudly.

  "I object!" a man who looked somewhat similar to Zheng Yu said coldly.

  "I object!"

  "I agree." An old man with a mouthful of snot muttered in a low tone, as if he was dozing off while standing. This drew the bewildered gazes of the crowd.

  "Opposed!" A young and handsome man with piercing eyes immediately stood up.

  The instructors expressed their views one after another, and as the differences in opinions emerged, a clear divide gradually appeared, with the opposing and supporting sides glaring at each other.

  Tai Shi Lan's eyes were calm - wherever there are levels, there are contradictions, and the high-level camp is no exception. It seems that today's events will also bury some seeds of change in the upper echelons of the 25th Camp.

  However, it is clear that any interest group was mostly controlled by nobles or opposed by them.

  The students anxiously watched the instructors vote, waiting for their fate to be decided. This was also the only time in the history of the 25th Regiment that students had rebelled against the forced voting by the instructors, and whether it succeeded or not, it would go down in regimental history.

  Ten votes against, seven in favor, three abstentions. Everyone's expression was tense, and their eyes were all focused on the chief judge who had not yet expressed his opinion.

  "Please let the adults decide!" The deputy camp commander said in a low voice, his eyes gloomy.

  As the highest-ranking official present, the red face of the court judge was even redder, shining with oil, he stroked his smooth chin, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said in a low voice under the gaze of everyone's expectation: "… Waive the right!"

  Everyone's tense body relaxed, and they all let out a long sigh of relief, some with joy, others with disappointment.

  "The result of the vote is out," said the vice-captain with a smug smile, staring at Tai Shi Lan, "Not... allowed!"

  Tai Shi Lan clapped her hands and picked up the blue glaze.

  Lost is lost, she doesn't want to stay in this broken place anymore, and be with these people who are so calculating and manipulative, it makes her sick.

  "Want to leave?" The vice-camp's voice was cold and menacing behind her, "So easily?"

  "Oh?" Ta Shilian hugged the blue and white porcelain and turned around.

  "What just happened is over, but your matter has not ended yet. Er Wu Ying's 500th student, Tai Shi Lan." The deputy camp commander said coldly, "Trespassing into the affairs department, insulting Affairs Director Zheng Yu, inciting students to cause trouble, disrespecting teachers, and deliberately provoking the camp rules. According to the military law of Er Wu Ying, you will be punished with 50 military sticks, and expelled from Er Wu Ying. The rest of your followers will all be punished with 20 military sticks and 10 days of hard labor. Enforcement team——"

  A group of men in black soft armor quickly walked out from behind him.

  "Prepare the punishment bench!" The deputy commander gave an order. Those people dragged out a large pile of wide benches, along with ropes and boards, from one side of the office, and arranged them in a row on the empty ground.

  The poor young men all changed color, the wealthy young men cheered and jumped for joy, the masters voluntarily helped to pull the sedan chair, and Zheng Si Shao even asked to replace the hemp rope with a cow tendon rope soaked in water.

  "I don't want to, I don't want to——" Shen Meihua trembled with sobs, her hands grasping at Tai Shilan's sleeve, "Want to take off pants and hit! Lost face! Last time a girl student was beaten and hanged herself! I don't want to, I don't want to... Ah, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

  The last batch of people who were forced to take the order retreated in disarray, glaring at Tai Shi Lan with anger. Su Ya remained silent and stepped forward to stand beside Tai Shi Lan. Hua Xun shouted, "This is outrageous! This is outrageous! Fifty military lashes can be fatal! How can it be so severe?"

  "Refuse to accept punishment," Deputy Camp Commander Ta Shi Lan glared at him, "Add ten more lashes!"

  "Are you going to beat her to death?" Huaxun shouted loudly.

  "Violating camp rules, you deserved to be beaten to death!"

  "Fart! Fart fart fart fart!"

  Camp Deputy took a deep breath, ignored Hua Xixi, stared at Tai Shi Lan, and waved his hand, "Take him down!"

  The law enforcement team rushed over.

  Everyone held their breath.

  Tai Shi Lan barely had time to hand the blue porcelain to Su Ya, when she was held by two men who grasped her arms. She didn't resist and allowed herself to be dragged in front of the executioner's platform.

  "Take off her pants!" The deputy camp commander smiled with a hint of cruelty.

  Tai Shi Lan suddenly turned her head, staring at the camp deputy, with a slightly disheveled black hair and narrow, sharp eyes that shone like a knife blade.

  The other side was also startled by this cold and stern gaze, then burst out laughing. Zheng Si Shao swaggered over, his hands slapping the cowhide whip loudly, "Strip! Quick strip! Today's gonna be great, we get to see the backsides of the women from Er Wu Camp!"

  The sons of the poor family stood still, but their eyes seemed to have a spark, their clenched fists shook their sleeves, and a trembling wave rippled out. In the silence, there was a faint, eerie sound, which, when listened carefully, was the sound of many people gritting their teeth and biting their lips.

  Silent grief and indignation, as if a murderous aura was approaching with a chill.

  "Off with it, off with it..." Zheng Si Shao burst out laughing wildly and walked to Tai Shi Lan's side, pushing aside the two law enforcement teams, reaching out to pull at Tai Shi Lan's waistband.

  "Pfft."

  A faint cry, a burst of blood!

  Zheng Sishao seemed to be stunned for a moment, too unexpected to forget the pain, and immediately let out a loud cry, spinning around and falling backwards, with fresh blood spraying from his waist!

  Tai Shi Lan pulled out a blood-stained small knife, grabbed Zheng Si Shao with one hand, and strangled his neck with the other. The cold light flashed, and the knife was pressed against his throat.

  Her series of actions was swift and ruthless and unexpected, and the law enforcement team nearby didn't even have time to react.

  A small knife at her throat, Taishi Lan raised her head, the exaggerated motion of her black hair covering her eyes, the narrow and long pupils shone with a cold and calm light, slightly bloodthirsty, like a beast.

  "Whoever moves me, I will kill him!"

  She was suffocated on all sides as if dead, her icy tone remained flat and unchanged.

  "Cowards, are you still waiting for your pants to be pulled down?"

  One sword appears, like a thunderbolt rising across the sky; one voice emerges, like cold water pouring into hot oil. The young scholars were stirred by Zheng Sishu's blood to redden their eyes, and then pierced in the heart by Taishi Lan's words!

  Their blood was boiling, and they could no longer restrain themselves! Over a hundred people took a step forward in unison.

  "Whoever insults me, I'll fight to the death!"

  The cry was like thunder, shaking the low houses of the government offices, and the high-ranking officials took a step back, their faces changing color.

  What came forth was no longer the usual timid and reserved student, but a torrent of raging fire, an iron wall, a heavy arsenal stained with blood, a soul that had been oppressed and ignored for far too long. The grief and fervor ignited by Taishi Lan's resolute decision surged like a tidal wave, thundering forward to shatter all the barriers and strongholds that had long blocked their path.

  "You're going against us!" The deputy commander bellowed, waving his hand, and the law enforcement team raised their long guns and moved forward against the bare-handed students.

  The iron spearhead shone with a cold light like sharp eyes, the students didn't stop in their tracks, they stood up straight, chest out, and met the gaze with an icy stare like metal.

  Whose chest is burning with hot blood, burning away the wild grass that has swept across the heart.

  The students moved forward step by step, the iron spear trembling and about to retreat, but was blocked by the shouting deputy camp.

  "Rebel! Rebel! No retreat allowed! Who goes up? Who dies!"

  "Halt! Halt! Halt!" The students stood at attention, their feet together and chests out.

  The gun tip gleams with cold light.

  Blood and flesh can build a city.

  Confrontation, one touch sparks.

  Suddenly, someone smiled warmly behind the crowd.

  "Hey, what's the hurry? The votes haven't been fully cast yet."