Song He Guo’s words, like thunder from the heavens, struck every ear with resounding force.
Everyone was astonished.
No one had expected that this commander of the military region, with his youthful countenance despite his white hair and his lofty position, would intervene at such a moment.
But the situation was critical. Besides this military region commander whose strength was unfathomable, who else could have possessed the ability to save Han Lang in such circumstances?
Instantly, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd once more!
This applause was entirely for the upright and just military region commander, Song He Guo.
Some bolder members of the crowd even shouted loudly.
“Sima Tuo, get out of the Special Forces!”
Like a stone cast into a thousand waves, everyone began to echo the sentiment.
“The Special Forces doesn’t like geniuses who can’t handle defeat!”
“So what if he’s in the Golden Core stage? A petty person like him is still unacceptable to us!”
“Integrity and talent are what our cultivator world needs most! We won’t accept those who only have strength but no virtue!”
“Sneaking an attack from behind is unbecoming of a gentleman! Sima Tuo should have his cultivation crippled!”
…
Listening to the cheers of the crowd, even though Sima Tuo was in unbearable pain, he realized the gravity of the situation.
With the military region commander speaking out and having incurred the wrath of the masses, even if the punishment he faced wasn’t as severe as the crowd demanded, he would no longer be able to establish himself within the Special Forces.
Seeing the surging crowd, Han Lang’s brow furrowed with worry.
He certainly disliked Sima Tuo’s act of sneak attacking from behind.
In fact, if they were elsewhere, he would not hesitate to kill such an opponent.
However, this was the Special Forces!
They were soldiers who maintained national security and protected the people.
Although Sima Tuo’s actions were detestable, the Special Forces desperately needed such talent!
Compared to the nation, Han Lang, who had always been patriotic, could not bear to see the country lose such a talent!
After a long period of internal struggle, Han Lang finally made his decision.
He said nothing, but silently circulated his Golden Needles and slowly walked towards Sima Tuo.
The crowd below was stunned.
“What’s happening? Is Han Lang going to deliver a killing blow?”
“Judging by the posture, it looks like it!”
“So what if he delivers a killing blow? Shouldn’t a villain like Sima Tuo be eliminated?”
“Exactly! If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to swallow this insult either!”
Han Lang actively blocked out the murmurs of the crowd.
Without further hesitation, with a few “swish” sounds, the Golden Needles penetrated the severed limb of Sima Tuo.
Then, with a solemn expression, he suddenly crouched down, supported Sima Tuo’s severed limb, and gently pulled and pushed.
The severed limb instantly healed!
Han Lang calmly withdrew his Golden Needles and said to Sima Tuo with a poker face,
“I am a doctor! Doctors cannot bear to see suffering in the world. If Brother Sima can feel the goodwill of me as a doctor, I hope you will spare no effort in serving the country from now on!”
Hearing these words, Sima Tuo’s eyes were filled with disbelief.
He had, just moments ago, genuinely harbored murderous intent towards Han Lang!
How could he have imagined that Han Lang not only didn’t hate him but even took the initiative to treat him?
What kind of magnanimity was this?
Compared to this, wasn’t he utterly defeated in this regard?
Thinking of this, Sima Tuo couldn’t help but cry out.
The crowd below also did not understand why Han Lang had acted this way.
The bottom line and principles of the cultivator world had always been to never let one’s opponents go!
Why was Han Lang, such a powerful young prodigy, acting so saintly?
Only Liu Xiao Xiao, however, was not focused on Han Lang’s repaying of evil with kindness, but rather on his method of healing Sima Tuo.
“Could it be that he really is a doctor? Did he really see my problem that day?”
Just as Liu Xiao Xiao was in doubt, Han Lang moved with neither subservience nor arrogance to a spot near the high platform.
He first saluted Song He Guo, who was watching everything with a stoic gaze, and then spoke.
“Thank you for your assistance just now, Commander Song! However, this junior has a bold request to make of you!”
Song He Guo clearly had not expected Han Lang to address him in such a manner. Out of curiosity, he smiled slightly.
“Heh heh… Young people certainly have courage! Tell me, what is your request?”
Han Lang first offered a slight bow of thanks, then said.
“Since childhood, my dream has been to defend the peace of Xia Guo with my own body. Now, as my dream begins, I have seen many comrades with similar aspirations within the Special Forces. My heart is greatly comforted, and I also realize that protecting the country is not a task that one person can accomplish alone. Although Sima Tuo has made a mistake, his strength is indeed rare in the cultivator world. With a little cultivation, he will surely be able to defend peace in the future. Therefore, this junior boldly implores the Commander to quell his anger! Give Brother Sima another chance to correct his mistakes and serve the country! I beg the Commander to grant this!”
Upon hearing this, the entire venue was shocked.
“Holy cow! Has Han Lang lost his mind? He’s actually pleading for his enemy?”
“Exactly! It’s hard to change one’s nature. If Sima Tuo continues to remain in the Special Forces, and his strength advances, won’t he become a menace?”
“You can’t say that either. I think Brother Han Lang has a great heart, and in time, he will surely become a formidable figure!”
It wasn’t just the onlookers who were surprised; Song He Guo also looked perplexed.
“Young man! Are you sure? The future of a cultivator in the Golden Core stage is limitless. The Special Forces has deep resources and strong capabilities. It doesn’t matter if we indulge a potential threat, but if he were to target you again in the future, would you still have such good luck as today?”
Han Lang chuckled upon hearing this.
“Commander, you worry too much! Although Sima Tuo has high talent, I am confident that I am not inferior. If I could suppress him today, I can surpass him even more in the future. Commander, there is no need to worry!”
Hearing Han Lang’s bold declaration, Song He Guo was even more impressed.
If it were anyone else, he would have dismissed it as boasting!
But Han Lang himself had already advanced to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Although he couldn’t ascertain the level of Han Lang’s needle manipulation technique, it was certainly not below the mid-tier Immortal grade.
Fighting against opponents a level higher was not an issue.
Therefore, he did not have many doubts about Han Lang’s words.
For some reason, however, these words made Song He Guo feel a surge of excitement.
Perhaps this was the charm of youth!
“Alright! Since you, the party involved, have said so, I will pretend today’s events never happened. The rookie arena competition will proceed as planned. However, I am very much looking forward to seeing how you and he will develop in the future!”
Hearing that Song He Guo would no longer pursue the matter, Han Lang also breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Commander!”
As these words fell, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd once more!
This applause was naturally for Han Lang, who repaid evil with kindness and possessed a broad mind!
Hearing this applause, Sima Tuo, lying on the ground, was overwhelmed with shame, his face flushed red.
He was vain, competitive, and his formidable strength had led him astray.
But everything that happened today had profoundly shaken his soul.
Under repeated self-reproach, he made up his mind. Scrambling to his feet, he knelt before Han Lang and said firmly,
“Thank you!”
Then, he shifted his body, faced the high platform, and loudly said to Song He Guo.
“Commander, I also have a humble request!”
Song He Guo was immediately puzzled.
It was understandable for Han Lang, the victor, the victim, and the one who repaid evil with kindness, to make a request of him.
But why would Sima Tuo, the instigator, also want to make a request?
Driven by curiosity, he looked at Sima Tuo with interest and asked.
“Feel free to speak!”
Sima Tuo immediately replied.
“Brother Han Lang’s act of repaying evil with kindness, and his actions just now, have deeply shaken me. Every word resonated in my ears like a deafening gong. Sima Tuo realizes his mistakes. To show my sincerity in admitting my errors, Sima Tuo is willing to forfeit his second-place achievement in the rookie arena competition, demoting himself to the last place. At the same time, I implore the Commander to order that Sima Tuo be willing to serve the Special Forces for life, without promotion or pay, and to always be stationed on the front lines guarding the country, as a demonstration of my sincere resolve to admit my mistakes!”
Upon hearing this, everyone was moved once again.
Sima Tuo’s intention was that he would give up everything and only serve as a vanguard for the Special Forces for the rest of his life, dedicating himself to the country!
Song He Guo thought for a moment, then slammed the table fiercely.
“Good! If you have such determination, this Commander will grant your request. However, to demonstrate the humanity of the Special Forces, I will not ask for your lifetime. We will set a limit of fifty years. If you can do as you say, all of us present will forgive you. If you fail, I will personally cripple your cultivation, break your limbs, and render you useless for the rest of your life! What do you say?”