Chapter 734: The Judgment Transformed

The glow of the Red Moon seemed to multiply severalfold in an instant.

Above Qinggang Satellite City No. 2, shimmering ripples of light, like fish scales, suddenly appeared in the air. They stretched out until they reached the spot by the door of Red Moon Elementary School where a palm touched the field, igniting a revolutionary transformation on a mental level.

Inside the third-floor office, Teacher Xiao Lu’s body suddenly twitched violently, and bloodshot threads surged in her vacant eyes.

But just as quickly as they had appeared, the crimson streaks began to dissipate.

The overwhelming guilt on her face, as dense as receding thin ice, started to melt away. The fatigue in her eyes dissolved swiftly, and her pale, desperate expression gradually softened—as if she had finally shed an unbearable weight.

At her side, Number Eight, who had been standing guard, gasped in shock and lunged toward the window.

He shouted down, “Number Nine, what… what are you doing?”

“I’ll bypass you, Number Eight,” came the reply.

Lu Xin didn’t turn to look back; he answered softly, ensuring Number Eight could clearly hear him.

“I plan to cut off the Midnight Tribunal’s judgment, though I won’t allow this world to remain a sham forever.”

“In fact, even now, I don’t think what you’re doing is entirely meaningless…”

“You just need to learn more, further your studies.”

“Maybe enroll in a law program at a university, get a degree or something…”

“…”

While answering, Lu Xin continued to extend his mental power.

“A degree?”

Number Eight remained on scene, only then realizing that Lu Xin had never really answered his question.

But in that moment, he suddenly understood what Lu Xin was up to.

He could clearly feel Teacher Xiao Lu’s taut body, her convulsive spasms in unconsciousness, and the palpable guilt vanishing in an instant. Then, struck by an idea, he dashed to his silver suitcase and retrieved a file.

Inside was Teacher Xiao Lu’s indictment, detailing her “crimes.”

Because of these so-called crimes, the Midnight Tribunal had clutched Teacher Xiao Lu relentlessly through repeated clashes, never relenting.

In truth, this was a confession that even he, as an executor, could not change—since it was originally forged from Teacher Xiao Lu’s own mental power. He had once left Qinggang for a long time just to try altering its contents.

But when he returned in despair, he discovered that he simply couldn’t change it.

Yet now, that despair-inducing confession was rapidly fading away.

This nearly shook Number Eight to his very core.

For he knew it meant that her inner guilt was disappearing—her memories, emotions, desires, instincts, and even recollections were changing rapidly under an unseen force, as though a sorrowful film was being forcefully erased and reedited before everyone’s eyes…

In a blink, Teacher Xiao Lu’s struggle vanished, and the guilt within her dissipated.

Moreover, this disappearance was only the beginning.

A colossal field of guilt, emanating from Teacher Xiao Lu, spread across the entire Second Satellite City. Within it, countless residents were oppressed by a haunting atmosphere of despair, yet as Teacher Xiao Lu began to change, the domain itself transformed swiftly, erasing scenes of pain and misery with formidable force…

“Number Nine, has your power reached this level?”

At that moment, Number Eight was deeply moved; his face turned pale as he murmured to himself.

……

……

“Pollution can only be countered by more pollution…”

At that moment, Lu Xin seemed to catch Number Eight’s murmurs, so he bypassed him.

But toward the others, he chose to unleash even greater power.

Centered on Red Moon Elementary School, an enormous force field began to spread rapidly, gradually covering the entire Second Satellite City.

Thus, everything in the city was undergoing change.

Residents, who once repented for their past sins, saw their memories and conditions transform in a strange way.

They hadn’t shed blood on the wasteland; instead, they cheerfully discussed reason. They hadn’t accepted red packets; rather, they strictly and justly vetoed the other’s goods. They hadn’t overcharged that motorcyclist for groceries… even her stall kept a record.

In everyone’s recollection, all sins among them were suddenly forgotten, replaced by a sense of peace and camaraderie.

……

……

“If you cast judgment on any sin, I will hide all sins away.”

This was precisely Lu Xin’s method to counter the Midnight Tribunal—a logic so simple yet effective.

Using Teacher Xiao Lu’s field as leverage, he cast a vision upon the city.

And so, in that moment, the residents of Qinggang Satellite City No. 2 transformed into the ideal image he longed for.

Everyone became responsible, every soul kindhearted, with each placing others before themselves. Naturally, the city shed its sins and wickedness, blossoming into a beautiful paradise.

……

……

Clatter, clatter…

The shift in the mental realm delivered a devastating blow to another kind of spiritual force.

Under the guidance of the Sword Bearer’s Judgment Sword, executors surged toward the Second Satellite City like an incoming tide.

Numerous execution frames also surrounded the city, their black ropes dangling high, nearly binding every resident’s neck, as if ready to hoist them into mid-air.

Yet when the entire Second Satellite City fell under Lu Xin’s “indirect illusion,” everything changed.

“Snap snap snap snap…”

It was the sound of ropes snapping one after another.

All the nooses from the execution frames were simultaneously broken by the friendly, kind, diligent, and just residents of the Second Satellite City, their ropes collapsing helplessly mid-air.

That wasn’t all—even many execution frames, burdened by binding so many good souls, were torn apart under immense force.

Clatter, clatter…

They collapsed one by one, turning into a pile of broken wood.

“This isn’t good…”

At the same time, every executor in the city suddenly felt overwhelming panic.

Some snapped into action, retreating in haste.

Others, powerless to resist, bowed their heads as their bodies began to melt like ice.

The once orderly formation devolved into subtle chaos.

Executors—spiritual entities that had once been judged—could only exist in environments steeped in guilt.

When a city becomes completely free of sin, it turns into an ocean utterly incompatible with their nature.

The longer they linger, the more their spiritual power is diluted.

Thus, if they didn’t exit the Second Satellite City promptly, they would vanish like thin ice melting over an ocean. With too many executors flooding in at once, this “morally perfect” city emerged so abruptly that most were already too late.

They collapsed in groups, melting away, with expressions mixing reluctant defiance and relief.

……

……

“Is the judgment over now?”

After all that, Lu Xin gently lowered his palm and exhaled slowly.

It was evident that the field of guilt originating from Teacher Xiao Lu had vanished.

She was free from guilt.

For in her and everyone else’s memories, she had never committed those childhood misdeeds that once filled her with regret.

No matter the facts, on a mental level, she was merely an ordinary girl who couldn’t stand to see orphaned children suffer and resolved to help them escape that place. She had done everything in her power.

At the very least, she had saved one child.

That had been the fact as Lu Xin once believed.

Using this power of illusion, he transformed that fact into what everyone now believed.

Of course, it wasn’t the truth—but it worked.

Lu Xin let Number Eight go, leaving his memories untouched, and didn’t intend for this “truth” to be permanent.

But at least in that moment, it was a powerful counter to the Tribunal’s pollution.

The unstoppable Midnight Tribunal had been held at bay, kept outside the Second Satellite City.

The judgment against Teacher Xiao Lu ended there.

But it was not over…

……

……

Gazing at the enormous statue outside the city, Lu Xin took a deep breath, trying to steady his exhilarated heart.

As the saying goes, “The mountain may seem near, but reaching it is another matter…”

Deep in thought, Lu Xin’s gaze swiftly fell upon the big truck parked by the orphanage wall.

After a pause, Lu Xin reversed, turned, reversed again, and turned once more, finally maneuvering the big truck out.

Driving out of the elementary school, his resolve strengthened. Mom appeared in the passenger seat, Father stood atop the truck, and even the timid little Sister had followed—she hung upside down in the truck compartment, intently watching ahead.

The skinless dog, the bloodshot mask, and the mental monster formed from the Memory Hourglass obediently clutched its legs as it sat in the truck bed.

Everyone’s gaze was resolute as they looked beyond the city.

Wailing…

As the truck started its engine, a squad of Armed Soldiers charged from afar. Leading them, clad in a black protective suit and wielding a long gun, was Gecko. With a stern expression, he rushed forward, hanging from a utility pole, and shouted at Lu Xin:

“Captain, need any help?”

“…”

Lu Xin looked up at him and shook his head. “No thanks.”

“Alright then.”

Gecko waved to the others, “Withdraw.”

……

……

When Gecko said withdraw, they did so—moving even faster than when they arrived.

Lu Xin couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned before he smiled, floored the accelerator, and surged forward.