Chapter 225

Great Song, Lin'an, Imperial Academy.

Once Li Zhangsheng's words were spoken, the two masters Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao, along with all the scholars of the Imperial Academy, were as if awakened from a dream, suddenly enlightened.

That's right!

They had forgotten about this point!

Li Zhangsheng had not come here for friendly exchanges, but to carry out... a reckoning!

"Li... True Person! Can you spare the lives of the two masters?! The two masters... already know they were wrong!"

"That's right! Master Zhu Xi was unable to refuse because of the Song Huang's order; and the two masters Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao were also wanting to avenge their good friend... that can be considered understandable!"

"..."

Seeing this, the scholars of the Imperial Academy could not help but speak up, pleading for mercy for the two masters Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao.

Li Zhangsheng saw the scholars pleading for the two masters Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao and nodded inwardly, but nodding was one thing; wanting him to let Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao off so easily was definitely impossible.

"Can a single sentence of 'knowing I was wrong' allow me to ignore their intention to take action against me?!"

"Although they hadn't taken action yet, this was because I killed the three Zhao emperors and wiped out all the Heavenly Masters of Mount Long Hu, making them fearful in their hearts, knowing they were no match for me, so... they didn't take action against me!"

"I won't speak of other things! Just take a moment ago, right before I comprehended the Haoran Righteous Qi... if they really could have killed me, can you guarantee that the two masters Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao wouldn't have taken action against me?!"

To show respect to the scholars, Li Zhangsheng directly stated his reasons for wanting to settle accounts with the two masters Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao.

Once these words were spoken, seeing Li Zhangsheng so direct and so sincere, the scholars of the Imperial Academy fell silent one after another.

Just a moment ago, they had indeed heard the two masters Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao's disdain for Li Zhangsheng, even though it was because Li Zhangsheng had slaughtered thousands of monks at the Great Xiangguo Temple.

But this was indeed the truth; it would not allow them to spout nonsense.

After all, from the scene that had just occurred and their contact with him, they discovered: Li Zhangsheng had always been a very straightforward person; if you reason with me, then I will reason with you; if you don't reason with me, then fine, I won't reason with you either.

It was very much in line with the Confucian teaching: How to repay kindness? Repay resentment with uprightness, and repay kindness with kindness!

From this level, it seemed not at all strange that Li Zhangsheng could comprehend the Haoran Righteous Qi; it was a very normal thing.

But unfortunately, there were just too many people who saw Li Zhangsheng's slaughter and did not see the merit beneath Li Zhangsheng's slaughter!

"Enough!"

"You don't need to say any more!"

Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao took a deep breath, interrupting the scholars' pleas, and then bowed to Li Zhangsheng.

"True Person Li, this matter was indeed our mistake!"

"We should not have lightly believed the Song Huang's words; nor should we have ignored the truth of the facts to avenge a friend! And we should not have misunderstood that you had slaughtered countless people without knowing the cause of the matter!"

"True Person Li! Cheng Yi knows he was wrong!"

Master Cheng Hao followed closely behind, also bowing to Li Zhangsheng, and said earnestly and sincerely, "True Person Li! Cheng Hao knows he was wrong!"

"Alright! Alright!"

"You don't think that just because you admit your mistake, I will spare your lives, do you?!"

Li Zhangsheng waved his hand and said playfully.

"We dare not!"

"The so-called 'correcting mistakes once known, and preventing future ones'! After knowing one's mistake, there must be punishment so that it will not happen again!"

Cheng Yi said sternly. After regaining his reason, he thoroughly displayed the character of a Neo-Confucian master: "This old man is willing to stretch out his neck for the execution! But I ask True Person Li to spare my younger brother Cheng Hao's life, considering that we ultimately did not take action!"

"Big Brother!"

Cheng Hao's expression changed, and he looked directly at Li Zhangsheng, saying, "I am willing to stretch out my neck for the execution; I ask True Person Li to spare my elder brother Cheng Yi's life!"

Seeing this, Li Zhangsheng's expression was moved, but as if thinking of something, he could not help but frown slightly and said, "Commit suicide! Whoever survives, I will spare that one's life!"