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Chapter 153: Earth Wasteland Arc (Conclusion)
Chapter 153: Earth Wasteland Arc (Conclusion)
"Hmph... Utopian paradise?" Feng Bu Jue smirked. "Perhaps for you, yes." He cracked his neck twice, tilting his head up lazily. "Their faith stems from deception. Their obedience comes from ignorance. No dissatisfaction... only fear."
His icy gaze pierced York Kouben. "You corral them like livestock - dictating where they live, what clothes they wear, what tasks they perform. Most horrifying of all, you control their thoughts and strip away their... freedom." He stepped forward. "Don't try dressing your family's tyranny up as service to villagers. No matter how you whitewash it... this system exists solely to maintain your dynasty's rule and eternal interests."
York's jowls quivered. "Even if you're right, what would you do in my position? Would you really abandon this power if it were handed to you?" His face contorted as he glared at Hank. "My offer still stands. You can say what you want, but... would you truly refuse? Could you?" He chuckled bitterly. "Stop pretending to be above it. Join me and you'll never work again - only indulge. Imagine - absolute authority! At eighty, you'll still bed eighteen-year-olds who throw themselves at you. You'll wield life-and-death power over these peasants. Your descendants will inherit this paradise..."
Kuangzong Jianying scoffed. "May I ask... your ancestors' foreign companions surely accepted these terms, right?"
"Of course. Who would refuse such generosity?" York retorted.
"Where are their descendants now?" Kuangzong pressed.
"Uh..." York faltered.
"How long did your ancestors let them live in the Temple before striking? A month? Half a year? A full year?" Kuangzong's laughter carried steel.
York ground his teeth, wordless.
"Such imperial authority isn't shared freely - even family members kill for it. Why expect outsiders to fare better?" Kuangzong's eyes narrowed. "Considering how you treat your own brother and son, only a fool would trust your promises."
"What do you want then?" York snarled, his composure cracking. "What can you possibly do? The only communication device has been destroyed. It'll take time to fix. Kill me and the entire village will tear you apart!"
Feng Bu Jue raised his right hand, extending one finger. "First, I have direct communication capability from this room. That's not something you need to concern yourself with." His middle finger joined the first. "Second..." His grin chilled the air, "Let's just say... death finds you today."
Rising, Feng revealed the control panel behind him. He hadn't been studying the damaged components York destroyed - those could be temporarily repaired with 【Hasty Repair】. His real purpose was concealing the adjacent console, its indicator lights glowing steadily.
"I searched for this control station the moment I entered. Bless whoever designed these devices - their interface is as intuitive as a point-and-shoot camera." His tone turned theatrical. "Our entire conversation has been broadcasting live. So... it's you the villagers will tear apart, not us."
York's eyes bulged like they might pop from their sockets. His terror was palpable, his blood running cold when he noticed the village-wide communication light blazing.
"This village has no secrets anymore", Feng declared to the panel. "Divine Protection Village's people, you've heard everything. Your so-called Chosen of God and their family have twisted history, hoarded knowledge, buried truth, and kept you in ignorance's chains. They made you live like beasts while demanding gratitude.
And those 'foreigners'? Just humans who migrated to other planets centuries ago. Kouben called them heretics and demons to keep you from learning the truth. Even if you doubt my words, you know York Kouben's voice well enough by now. Judge for yourselves."
He paused. "I'll contact outside humanity and transmit this village's coordinates. Hope you can communicate rationally with the 'foreigners' now. Your future is yours to decide - no more false prophets using divine mandates to enslave you." His gaze shifted to York. "As for him..." He glanced at the Chosen of God. "I leave him to your judgment. He's in the Divine Edict Chamber - feel free to visit."
Shutting off the channel, Feng turned back with a grin. "Seeing your face now... truly brings me satisfaction."
"You... why? Why destroy this!" York raged, on the verge of collapse. "Are you insane? You turned down eternal luxury! You and your companions could've replaced me! Why?!"
"Jian Shao, you explain this one", Feng chuckled.
Blades flashed. Kuangzong Jianying materialized beside York. In the same instant, all four of York's biomechanical limbs were severed. His massive torso hit the floor, leaking blood, motor oil, and nutrient fluid. Shock contorted his face.
"There's an old saying - when roads aren't flat, idle hands level them. When matters aren't just, higher hands fix them." Kuangzong sheathed his sword with flourish. Compared to Feng's fight against Hawez, these moves showed superior mastery - his weapon lacked anti-mechanical enchantments, yet he'd dismantled York purely through skill.
"In my world, I might've compromised", Kuangzong mused. "But here? We're not staying. And you... well." His nose wrinkled. "Deserved it."
York's last hope died. The Kouben family's adult males all underwent biomechanical enhancements for survival on Old Earth - reinforced lungs for toxic air, mechanical bodies for hunting mutated organisms. Their ancestors planned meticulously, instituting ironclad rules about history, secrecy, and bodily modifications. Generations of heirs maintained these laws, securing their dynasty.
Without these two players' intervention, only the family's genetic decay could've ended their rule. Waiting for outsiders to discover this place would've taken forever.
"Almost forgot", Feng knelt beside York, pressing a blade into his mouth. "To prevent you using your family's unshakable authority to rally support..." The knife pressed against York's cheek. "Better smile for safety's sake."
Agonized screams echoed as Feng carved both cheeks, his tongue mutilated. An inexplicable paralysis seized York's throat.
...
Ten minutes later, Temple steps.
Hank emerged slowly. Crowds gathered - every district represented. Priests were bound by villagers, guilty and innocent alike. Their deceptions died with them.
From the crowd, guards who'd fought the "invaders" shouted: "There! He was with those foreigners!"
All eyes fixed on Hank. Mo Li stood among them. His mother. His friends. Never before had he commanded such attention.
Silence stretched.
"The foreigners... no, the two travelers from beyond have departed. They won't return or seek remembrance", Hank's voice steadied. "That madman repaired York's sabotage. He contacted the Sun System Research Station. Coordinates and frequencies were transmitted. Our isolation ends."
His tone strengthened. "Saviors will come. They'll take us all to Second Earth - humanity's new home. Clean air and water. Blue oceans. Forests and cities. No more kneeling to disease or weather's whims. Every child has right to education. No dictates on belief, clothing, or occupation. Women won't be sent to men's beds. Men won't risk death scavenging."
His voice rose, or perhaps the crowd leaned closer.
"I understand your fear - I share it. But I can promise..." His eyes glistened. "We are free."
(End of Chapter)
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