When Dao Xuan Tianzun said that, it truly startled Yizhangqing. She turned her head to glance at Flat Rabbit.
Flat Rabbit grinned widely.
"Yeah, this Lord Rabbit is vicious! I've killed dozens—no, hundreds of people—and not even blinked! Especially women and children. One slash each, clean and neat... one... after... another…"
Gao Yiye tilted her head curiously.
"Okay, just to be clear, what I'm about to say is my own opinion, not the Tianzun's. Flat Rabbit, when did you ever kill women and children? And since when did you switch to using a knife? You always fight with a sword, right?"
Flat Rabbit groaned.
"Hey hey, Saintess, don't roast me at a critical moment like this!"
Everyone: "…"
Yizhangqing: "Huh?"
She had been trembling with fear just moments ago. But hearing these two bicker like comedians threw her completely off balance. Her face stiffened.
"You tied me up, said all that nonsense just to scare me—what do you really want?"
Dao Xuan Tianzun smiled faintly.
"Nothing complicated. You represent a certain kind of prisoner—a typical one, really. Your brother died at the hands of the militia from Gaojia Village. Many here share your story. I'd say at least half the labor camp inmates have lost family to that same fight. It's a festering wound we need to clean. That's why I called you here—to talk, and to make your case an example."
Yizhangqing bit her lip.
"You're right, there are many like me. Sooner or later, we'll all take up arms and kill every one of you to avenge our men."
Dao Xuan Tianzun:
"Don't fool yourself. Do you think Gaojia Village will apologize for your brother's death? You know very well why he died—probably better than anyone. You just don't want to admit it."
Yizhangqing fell silent.
Dao Xuan Tianzun continued, his tone calm but sharp:
"Tell me, did your brother rob, burn, and kill? Did he ever aim his weapon at helpless civilians? When he did those things, as a sister—what were you feeling? Did you ever try to stop him? Were you ever ashamed? Or did you eat the food he stole, feel your stomach fill, and think to yourself, 'Ah, this tastes like victory'?"
Her face froze.
Because… those words were true.
As a woman, she'd had no power to stop her brother. In their world, a man's word was law. Her brother joined bandits, plundering villages. She couldn't change it. She could only watch him do evil—and eat the food he brought home, pretending not to notice the blood that bought it.
Dao Xuan Tianzun said softly:
"When your brother killed those people, what if their families came now, knife in hand, to kill you instead? Would that be fair?"
Yizhangqing said nothing.
Dao Xuan Tianzun:
"You see the hypocrisy, don't you? Your brother can kill, but when others kill your brother—it's unforgivable? Because he happened to feed you? Is that it?"
Sweat dripped down Yizhangqing's temples. Her expression wavered between guilt and confusion.
Dao Xuan Tianzun studied her closely—his divine sense observing every twitch, every flicker of emotion. Had he sensed even a spark of cruelty or apathy, he would have ordered her immediate execution.
But what he saw instead was remorse. A painful, dawning self-awareness.
Yizhangqing stammered, her voice trembling:
"I… I know my brother did terrible things. I tried to stop him—he wouldn't listen! I never felt happy eating his stolen food, I swear. I felt sick every time. I had nightmares. I knew Heaven wouldn't forgive us. I knew it!"
Dao Xuan Tianzun smirked.
"Oh? So you do know. Then tell me—if Heaven punishes evildoers, what does that make me?"
Yizhangqing froze.
"You… you're Heaven's will…"
Dao Xuan Tianzun nodded slowly.
"Now it's clear. Evil always meets its reckoning. Heaven has many tools: a rival bandit, a government executioner, a stray stone, a bad meal… or perhaps, a militia from Gaojia Village. Your brother didn't die by chance. That was Heaven's judgment. Good men find peace. Evil men find ruin."
Yizhangqing's breathing quickened. She understood. Deep down, she'd always known—but hatred had blinded her. And now, Heaven itself was talking to her face to face.
How utterly humiliating.
Dao Xuan Tianzun raised his hand—the air shimmered as his golden gauntlet emerged, vast as a mountain.
"The militia of Gaojia Village acted under my orders. Your brother was mine to punish. If you want revenge, don't kill villagers. Kill me instead. Come on—try."
He stretched the massive hand toward her. The golden fingers, glowing with power, were bigger than her entire body.
"Flat Rabbit, untie her. Let her have her chance."
Flat Rabbit obeyed immediately, hopping over to undo her bindings—and thoughtfully handed her a knife before retreating behind Gao Yiye.
He shielded her like a nervous bodyguard. Dao Xuan Tianzun gave him a silent thumbs-up.
Yizhangqing held the knife with shaking hands.
Her mind screamed, Are you kidding me? That hand could crush mountains!
Dao Xuan Tianzun's tone was almost teasing:
"Well? Not going to strike me down?"
She burst into tears.
"How could I possibly kill Heaven itself? I'm not that foolish."
Flat Rabbit chuckled.
"Exactly. Defying Heaven never ends well."
Gao Yiye sighed softly.
"This is my own thought, not Tianzun's—Yizhangqing, your brother perished because he defied Heaven's order. You, on the other hand, were captured with the women and children—you didn't commit the murders. Your only sin was living off his crimes. Why burden yourself further by dying for him?"
Yizhangqing's tears dripped to the ground.
"You're right. I shared his spoils. My hands aren't clean… I can't undo that."
Dao Xuan Tianzun shook his head.
"Wrong again. In my realm, as long as one's crime is not mortal, there's always a path back. I don't punish families for a man's sins. No nine-family executions. No inherited guilt."
Yizhangqing blinked, startled.
Dao Xuan Tianzun raised his voice, solemn and commanding:
"Yizhangqing—attempted murder of Warden Zhong Gaoliang, though unsuccessful, constitutes attempted homicide. The sentence: not less than three years, not more than ten. But since the target was one dear to me, the punishment will be at its maximum—your sentence is extended ten years."
Yizhangqing gaped. She had expected torture or death. Instead—an extension of her labor sentence.
Dao Xuan Tianzun turned away.
"Go back. Reflect on what I've said. Think about what kind of person you want to be. Work hard in reform, and you may yet earn your freedom. Your brother's fate is sealed, but yours is still in your hands. Continue down his path, and I'll show no mercy next time."