Chapter 518

"Good, Guan Yu, how are your injuries?" Cao Cao asked with concern.

Guan Yu, pale-faced, replied: "I'm fine; the priority is saving you first."

"Rest and recover, we're unharmed," Lin Yu comforted.

"Big Brother Liu, what are your chances of success?" Zhao Yun pressed.

"Relax, don't you trust my judgment?" Lin Yu said confidently; Zhao Yun's heart eased slightly.

Several days later, the execution ground of the Eastern Han Academy was packed with people; Dong Zhuo sat elevated, flanked by Xiao Alliance inspectors overseeing the Heavenly Judgment ritual, academy defense squads armed with fluctuation rifles on guard, and the Five Tiger Generals alongside students standing below.

On the high platform, an incense altar was draped in yellow silk, and within a golden censer atop it, three thick incense sticks smoked steadily.

Li Ru and Mei Niang stood behind the altar, presiding over the solemn ceremony, while Cao Cao and Lin Yu stood on either side, awaiting the heavenly verdict.

Li Ru turned to look at Dong Zhuo, who gave a slight nod. With his approval, Li Ru faced the crowd below and spoke in a calm tone.

"Several days ago, our respected principal Dong Zhuo was ambushed, and suspicion points to Cao Cao and Lin Yu on the left. Today's heavenly ritual seeks divine judgment on their guilt."

The Five Tiger Generals' faces darkened as they listened to Li Ru's words; Zhang Fei whispered urgently to Zhao Yun.

"Old Zhao, how can we stand by and let Big Brother be punished? I'm storming the execution ground!"

"Yes, Dong Zhuo is framing them—we rescue them now!"

Sun Shangxiang quickly intervened.

"If you act rashly like this, you'll only delay things by three days. I said I have a plan to save one—why are you so impulsive?"

Zhang Fei resisted.

"Saving just one isn't enough! We must save both!"

Sun Shangxiang sighed:

"Don't demand the impossible—save one if you can, then find another way."

Li Ru announced the ritual's commencement.

"We shall conduct the Heavenly Ritual according to the 'Heaven's Mandate Clause,' with Xiao Alliance inspectors on the side to ensure fairness. Drawing lots—begin."

As the bronze gong rang, the master of ceremonies presented a tray with a lot-drawing cylinder. Mei Niang picked up a paper slip and displayed it back and forth.

"These are life-and-death lots—one grants life, one brings death. Draw the life lot and you're released immediately; draw the death lot and you're executed. Academy rules are mountains—no one can defy them."

Li Ru continued.

"It begins with an on-campus weapon incident."

"Defense Squad!"

"Present!"

"Bring the prisoner!"

A terrified student was dragged before Li Ru, who spoke coldly.

"Afraid? You did something wrong and now fear the draw? Draw quickly."

The student's hand trembled, sweat pouring down; he was forced to draw a slip. Li Ru examined it and laughed.

"Death, hahaha… Take him out and execute."

After a scream, the air grew heavier. Li Ru glanced smugly at the two.

"Continue."

Mei Niang skillfully swapped the lot positions, secretly sneering—all appeared fair, but manipulation was hidden.

Dong Zhuo watched everything with satisfaction; Li Ru urged on.

"Gentlemen, choose."

Lin Yu urged Cao Cao to go first, but Cao Cao refused—he wouldn't save himself alone. Dong Zhuo, above, lost patience.

"Stop dawdling—it's death either way. Hurry up, Cao Cao, you go first."

Seeing Cao Cao still motionless, Dong Zhuo frowned.

"What are you hesitating for? Not drawing means admitting guilt—execution immediately."

Cao Cao reluctantly stepped forward; Li Ru whispered a warning.

"Don't try tricks—if you guess wrong and disrupt the ritual, both of you die."

【344】 Cao Cao escaped death; Lin Yu was trapped.

Cao Cao had intended to expose the fraud, but hearing those words, he abandoned the idea. He reached for the right slip, glimpsed its corner, then swallowed it whole.

The crowd gasped; Dong Zhuo roared.

"Madman! Spit it out!"

Cao Cao replied calmly:

"The lot I drew is mine to control. Open the other slip—life means I die, death means I live."

The others had no reply; Cao Cao spoke calmly.

"Bring it out, Li Ru."

Li Ru angrily unrolled the death lot; Cao Cao smiled.

"See? I drew the life lot—I should be released."

"Release him!"

"Release him!"

Cheers erupted; Dong Zhuo waved to silence them and declared:

"By Heaven's Mandate, Cao Cao—innocent."

Cheers rose again; Dong Zhuo sat down, grim-faced. Cao Cao embraced the Five Tiger Generals with a smile; Dong Zhuo summoned Li Ru and Mei Niang, leaning close to whisper.

"Lin Yu is mine—I'll have him torn apart limb by limb."

Dong Zhuo's gaze was like a blade; Li Ru bowed in fear and withdrew, Mei Niang trembled as she accepted the order and sternly warned Lin Yu.

"Although Cao Cao has not broken the law, he has already violated the regulations. Lin Yu, do not repeat the same mistake, or you will be executed on the spot."

Lin Yu was unconvinced, responding with a faint smile.

"Draw lots again!" Li Ru shouted. The new lots were placed back inside; he deliberately set them on the table and winked at Dong Zhuo. Meiniang leaned in and whispered.

"This time it's foolproof, right?"

"Two death lots, made by my own hands. Whichever he picks, it's the same." Li Ru answered confidently.

"Lin Yu, it's your turn." Li Ru urged.

Lin Yu walked forward yawning, casting a careless glance at the two lots.

"Wait a moment."

Sun Shangxiang stepped forward boldly; Li Ru questioned her sharply.

"Who are you, and why are you interfering with the ceremony?"

Sun Shangxiang calmly announced her identity.

"I am Sun Shangxiang of Jiangdong Academy, representing Jiangdong Xiao Alliance Headmaster Sun Jian, to oversee this ceremony."

Dong Zhuo reminded Li Ru and Meiniang.

"She is extremely clever; handle it carefully."

Li Ru accepted the order, very wary of Sun Shangxiang.

"In view of your father's tremendous contributions to the Alliance, we will not pursue this, but what is your purpose this time?"

Sun Shangxiang pointed at the lots on the table, her words sharp.

"These lots can no longer be like the previous two rounds—one life, one death—to fool our eyes and ears. If you're cheating and both are death lots, we won't swallow our losses in silence."

The students below echoed in agreement, their emotions running high.

"That's right, reveal the lots! Reveal the lots..."

Li Ru maintained his smile and patiently explained: "Dear students, please remember, according to the Campus Self-Governance Regulations, the one who reveals the lots in the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony must sign a life-and-death contract. If the process is correct, the lot-revealer will carry out the punishment immediately."

Zhang Fei boldly cut in: "I'm not afraid, come on, I'll sign the life-and-death contract!"

Hearing Guan Yu hurriedly stopped Zhang Fei: "Third Brother, be careful—there may be a trick. They might be trying to use the life-and-death contract to eliminate us one by one."

"Then we can't just watch Big Brother die!" Zhang Fei seemed somewhat anxious.

"We won't accept it... reveal the lots..."

The cries rose again, their source unclear. Li Ru raised his voice: "If you don't quiet down, we will, according to the Campus Emergency Ordinance, dispatch the security team to arrest the troublemakers!"

"We won't accept it... reveal the lots..." The students turned a deaf ear and continued shouting.

At this moment, Sun Shangxiang took advantage of the chaos to pull out an MP3 player from her pocket; the sound went through the broadcast directly into Li Ru and the others' earpieces.

"Liu Bei, can you hear me?"