Chapter 581: Public Outrage
The seven clan heads were all grim-faced, but after a long while, not a single one stepped forward, and not a single one spoke... Driven to this point by Yun Che, if they were to kneel and apologize publicly to Yun Canghai, it would undoubtedly mean bowing their heads to the entire Yun Clan. But if they refused, they would fall right into the huge stinking pot Yun Che had placed over their heads, possibly even dragging their families into infamy across the entire Huan Yao Realm. Trapped between advancing and retreating, they each waited for someone else to take the lead. But after holding out for so long, no one stepped up, leaving the scene so awkward and uncomfortable that even their intestines were cramping.
"Heh heh heh..." Yun Che looked at them and sneered with contempt. "Just as I thought. My words have been straightforward enough, and I believe I have listed the rights and wrongs of this matter clearly enough. Yet even so, these seven Guardian Clan heads remain so unmoved! All of you present here are lords, overlords, powerhouses, and rising stars from all corners of the Huan Yao Realm—the pillars of the Huan Yao Realm in the past, present, and future. And the Yaohuang City is the most vital core of the entire Huan Yao Realm. This Demon Empress Ceremony is well worth your attendance, because I believe that by now, each and every one of you should have completely seen what kind of problems exist in this core place called Yaohuang City! You should have fully seen who is right and who is wrong, who is loyal and who is treacherous, and who is worthy of the title 'Guardian Clan,' and who are the malignant tumors that should be cut out!"
Within the great hall, Yun Che’s voice echoed with shaking force. His words were blunt to the extreme, thousands of times sharper than a blade. Even the Little Demon Empress would never speak so bluntly, because the target was seven powers that stood at the very peak of the Huan Yao Realm—touching any one of them would shake the entire realm, let alone targeting all seven clans.
In any other setting, Yun Che would never have shouted such words, as this was ultimately an extremely unwise move. But here and now, he roared without hesitation, his voice thunderous, as if he wished everyone in the entire Yaohuang City could hear him clearly.
Yun Che’s words made many people tremble in fear. Indeed, by now, people could see everything clearly. Yet even so, how many dared to voluntarily confess before the remains of the Demon King... But once Qin Zheng stepped forward first, the situation instantly changed. More and more people followed suit. Later, those who had not stepped forward to confess became the odd ones out, feeling utterly uncomfortable just sitting there, as if surrounded by contemptuous and belittling gazes... In the end, it wasn’t just city lords, domain lords, and leaders, but even overlords of major powers, who knelt one by one before Yun Canghai’s remains, bowing their heads in repentance.
The scene had completely spiraled out of control. Huai Wang stood there, his face as stiff as a corpse, while his body trembled uncontrollably. Before the Demon Empress Ceremony, he had believed everything was within his control. But because of Yun Che, every step had completely slipped from his grasp. Everything had developed in the direction most unfavorable to him, even beyond his wildest nightmares... As overlords of their regions, they could make the entire Huan Yao Realm condemn the Demon King and the Yun Clan, but they could also make the entire Huan Yao Realm praise them! Moreover, due to a century of guilt and regret, whether it was Yun Canghai’s or the Yun Clan’s reputation and prestige, they would not only recover quickly but also likely rebound several times over. At that point, the mere support of the people for the Yun Clan would be enough to keep them standing tall.
The Yun Clan members were already brimming with tears. Yun Qinghong stood up and cupped his hands slowly: "Yun Qinghong... thanks you all."
Qin Zheng raised his head and said melancholically, "We are merely confessing and repenting for the grave mistakes we have committed. Even if Yun Clan Master blames and scolds us, it is only natural and just. There is no need for thanks. Rather..."
Qin Zheng suddenly turned and looked at the seven clan heads standing there, his gaze turning icy: "Helian Kuang, back then, it was you who personally sought me out, asking me to lead the Tianyao Domain in pressuring the Little Demon Empress! Your Helian Clan was also the one that stirred up large-scale public opinion in the Tianyao Domain! At that time, I naively believed that your Helian Clan was punishing the Yun Clan to balance public sentiment, acting for the greater good of the Huan Yao Realm. But from what I have seen and heard today, your Helian Clan acted purely out of selfishness, deliberately slandering the Yun Clan and the Demon King!"
"Now that the truth has been laid bare and the Demon King’s remains are here, your Helian Clan should be the first to bow your head and confess to the Demon King... Why are you still standing there, unmoved!"
"And you... all seven of you clan heads have already admitted with your own mouths that a hundred years ago you jointly spread the Demon King’s supposed crimes throughout the Huan Yao Realm, causing the entire world to curse him. You are the chief culprits who caused a generation of martyrs to be slandered for a century. In the face of the Demon King’s remains, why do you refuse even to confess and repent! We, though guilty of great wrongs, still know to repent once we recognize our mistakes. Could it be that you, the dignified Guardian Clans, lack even this much integrity!"
"Your Guardian Clans are as powerful as the heavens, untouchable by anyone. But if you do not apologize to the Demon King today, I, for one, will not only look down on you from now on, but will also make the entire Tianyao Domain aware of your deeds! I am already half-buried in the grave, and I do not fear your retaliation!"
Qin Zheng’s every word was like thunder, every syllable fierce and indignant, hammering directly at Helian Kuang and the other six clan heads. The moment his voice faded, an elder beside him also shouted loudly, "I second Domain Lord Qin’s words! If you do not apologize to the Demon King today, you will bring shame upon the ten-thousand-year prestige of your clans!!"