Chapter 136 The Most Primitive Tenet

The night passed, and as the light of dawn once again illuminated the sky, the cold wind gradually subsided.

Outside Li Tianran's farm sat hundreds of windproof tents, large and small, resembling a military camp at first glance, filled with a sense of grimness!

These were sent by the military and police late last night.

Although Yuan Zhenghong was somewhat troubled by the people's behavior, he wouldn't just stand by and watch them withstand the cold wind all night with nothing but righteousness.

If word got out, the military and police, already at the center of controversy, would face even greater pressure from public opinion.

A police car arrived once more.

Faint figures appeared in the tents, and soon the people emerged again, watching the police car with wary eyes.

Yuan Zhenghong got out of the car, a wry smile on his face as he saw this scene.

They were supposed to protect the people's property, yet they were now viewed as thieves and robbers; while Li Tianran, a suspected criminal, was revered by the people as a god.

Yuan Zhenghong didn't know whether what he was doing was right or wrong.

"What are you here for again?"

A middle-aged man, draped in a thick windproof coat, glared fiercely at Yuan Zhenghong.

Yuan Zhenghong recognized him as the father of a victim in the cult case.

To his family, Li Tianran was undoubtedly a god!

This man had failed to protect his daughter in the past, but today, he was doing everything he could to protect the person who had saved her life.

Even in the face of the military and police, even at the risk of breaking the law, he wouldn't back down.

Yuan Zhenghong was silent.

This was the most basic and purest form of human nature.

Before laws and civilization existed, the people of ancient times adhered to only one principle: "Repay debts of hatred and debts of gratitude!"

As civilization gradually progressed into a new era, this somewhat savage and primitive principle was gradually eliminated, and people turned to the law to resolve both gratitude and grievances.

But now, with the world changing and civilization, the world system, and laws showing signs of collapse, this most primitive principle of human nature was resurfacing.

Throughout world history, countless powerful dynasties and kingdoms rose and fell, dominating eras and establishing countless laws.

But these kingdoms and dynasties, along with their proud laws, disappeared into the long river of history.

No nation or law is eternal.

For millennia, the most enduring standard guiding the behavior of the human race has been that most primitive and savage principle: "Repay all debts of gratitude and vengeance!"

And now, in the current situation, this savage principle had ignited a spark in the hearts of these people.

It was about to reappear in the world.

Yuan Zhenghong understood this. He knew that he could temporarily crush these people with force, but he could never extinguish this fire.

Because this was the trend.

This was the very nature of the human race, something that neither he, a military police inspector, nor the military police department, nor even a dynasty could change!

Thinking this through, a gentle smile appeared on Yuan Zhenghong's face: "I'm not here to arrest Li Tianran today. Look, I didn't even bring anyone!"

Yuan Zhenghong had indeed come alone and lightly armed. The police car contained no one but him.

Moreover, Yuan Zhenghong wasn't carrying a gun, handcuffs, or any other weapons, fully displaying his goodwill to the people.

"..." The people's wariness of Yuan Zhenghong immediately lessened.

"What exactly do you want?" The middle-aged man frowned and asked, "I have to say, your military and police department really has nothing better to do. You leave so many bad people and mutated beasts uncaptured, and instead focus on a righteous warrior? Give up that idea! As long as we're here, you won't be able to take Li Tianran away!"

"That's right!"

"Heroes shouldn't be judged!"

"If Li Tianran is imprisoned, it will be a disgrace to all of Yan Huang!"

The people were stirred up, raising their arms and shouting.

Yuan Zhenghong said, "I'm not here to arrest Li Tianran, but to ensure he receives the fairest judgment."

"What do you mean?" The middle-aged man stepped forward, blocking Yuan Zhenghong's path, and asked with a frown, "Are you still trying to deceive us with sweet words and sneak into the farm?"

"I'll talk to Li Tianran directly." Yuan Zhenghong didn't say anything more, but took out his phone and waved it in front of the middle-aged man, saying, "Why not listen to what he has to say?"

Soon, the call connected.

"This is Yuan Zhenghong. I'm standing right outside your door," Yuan Zhenghong said directly.

"..." Li Tianran's voice was very calm: "What's up?"

"This can't go on... I've brought the latest news from the Ministry of State Security and the Political Department regarding you. Let's meet and talk," Yuan Zhenghong said, "Just the two of us, no one else."

"Okay," Li Tianran said straightforwardly.

"..." Yuan Zhenghong was silent for a moment, then chuckled and said, "So... are you coming out, or am I going in?"

Yuan Zhenghong felt helpless for the first time.

In the past, he had entered the villas of drug lords and the official residences of provincial and ministerial leaders without such difficulty. Now, he was completely blocked outside the door.

A few minutes later, Li Tianran appeared at the farm gate.

When the people saw him, their eyes revealed excitement and reverence.

Li Tianran smiled at them and said, "Everyone, you don't have to do this for me. I'm just an ordinary person who did some things that aren't worth praising! If I cause you any physical or mental harm, that's something I absolutely cannot accept!"

The people looked at Li Tianran, their eyes bright.

Listening to Li Tianran's words, Yuan Zhenghong couldn't help but sigh at how hypocritical and cunning Li Tianran was.

Using these people as pawns, and still able to say such sanctimonious words...

How had he not realized before that this kid was so dark-hearted?

"We are willing to protect you!"

"You don't have to say such things, this is the respect and love you deserve!"

The people guarding the gate responded like a tide.

Yuan Zhenghong remained expressionless, watching this theatrical scene.

"Inspector Yuan, please come in." Li Tianran opened the farm's iron gate, making a gesture of invitation.

Seeing this, the people quickly parted, making a path for Yuan Zhenghong to pass.

...

"My judgment of people is usually accurate, but this time, I misjudged." Yuan Zhenghong sat at the dining table in the small building, watching Li Tianran eat steamed buns and rice porridge, and said with a self-deprecating smile, "I always thought you were pure and kind, but I didn't expect you to be more formidable than some schemers! Don't you think the things you said just now were hypocritical?"

Li Tianran lowered his head and took a sip of porridge, then suddenly smiled: "Inspector Yuan, I actually have the same thought."

Yuan Zhenghong raised his eyebrows.

"I always thought you were a good person, at least a good police officer... but judging from the Welles case and this cult case, I've also changed my opinion of you."

Yuan Zhenghong narrowed his eyes at Li Tianran, signaling him to continue.

"In the Welles case, I killed more people and created more chaos... but you erased all my faults with a few casual words."

"I always thought you did it out of justice."

"But now it seems that everything was just to achieve your goals... recruiting me, using me!"

Li Tianran picked up a piece of fried egg, sprinkled it with a layer of seasoned salt, put it in his mouth, tasted the smooth egg white and the fragrance of the seasoned salt, and smiled: "So in this cult case, after you found that you couldn't get me to join your team, you decisively abandoned me and wanted to seize my faults to send me to hell."

"If you can't have it, destroy it..."

Li Tianran stared at Yuan Zhenghong and asked, word by word, "Inspector Yuan, is that what you were thinking?"

"What qualifications do you have to call me hypocritical when you can do such things? I'm probably not even a tenth as capable as you... I have a lot to learn from you!"

Faced with Li Tianran's sharp words, Yuan Zhenghong's Adam's apple bobbed.

He was silent for a moment, then said expressionlessly: "I am a military policeman, and my actions must first consider the interests of the Federation... An uncontrollable knife must be locked up! From a personal perspective, I may be wrong! But from the perspective of the military police and the Federation, I still believe I am completely right!"

"Besides... it's completely meaningless to discuss these issues now." Yuan Zhenghong seemed to be deliberately avoiding the topic.

"I agree." Li Tianran nodded: "So... what do you plan to do with me?"

"An eleven-person trial." Yuan Zhenghong said: "Let the outcome of the trial determine your fate."

"Okay, I agree." Li Tianran had already anticipated this result, so he wasn't surprised. He nodded directly.

Yuan Zhenghong stared into Li Tianran's eyes, saw his calm reaction, and said: "In an eleven-person trial, the chances of you being found guilty are very high. The military police department will be represented by me, the parliament department will be represented by Wang Dongchuan, and there will be some other officials, occupying more than half the seats."