The next day, Li Yuan didn't return to the common folk level as he had on previous days. Instead, he remained at the inn, sitting in his room overlooking a small garden, waiting with cold serenity. Through the small radius of his Wenjing Realm, he could sense intense activity on the city's upper levels—urgent meetings, heated discussions, and increasingly polarized intentions.
The conversation with Inspector Chen has reached the right ears, Li Yuan thought. Now it's time to see whether the kingdom's leadership will choose wisdom or pride.
Around midday, the answer came in a form that Li Yuan hadn't expected.
Trumpet sounds from the city's upper levels announced something significant. Through his window, Li Yuan could see a herald in a royal uniform moving through different levels, making a proclamation at every major gathering point.
Li Yuan went down to the common area of the inn to hear the announcement being read on the merchant level:
"By decree of His Majesty, King Tianlong, effective immediately, all unauthorized gatherings within the kingdom's territory are forbidden. Educational activities without proper licensing will result in severe penalties. Resource sharing or trade arrangements that circumvent established commercial protocols are declared illegal."
The herald paused, then continued in a more ominous tone:
"Furthermore, individuals suspected of inciting unrest or undermining social stability will be subject to enhanced interrogation procedures. Rewards are offered for information leading to the arrest of agitators and troublemakers."
Li Yuan listened with an expression that remained perfectly calm, but there was something cold and final that settled in his gray eyes.
Pride, he concluded with profound disappointment. They've chosen to double down on oppression rather than address the underlying problems.
The herald's final announcement made Li Yuan's jaw tighten almost imperceptibly:
"Special attention will be paid to identifying and neutralizing foreign influences that seek to destabilize our traditional way of life. All residents are reminded that cooperation with authorities in maintaining order is a civic duty."
Foreign influences, Li Yuan mentally repeated with growing coldness. They're framing community cooperation as an external threat rather than an organic response to systemic injustice.
After the herald moved on, Li Yuan remained in the inn's common area, observing the reactions of other guests. Through his Wenjing Realm, he heard a mixture of fear, anger, and in some cases, grim satisfaction from those who preferred predictable oppression over uncertain change.
The innkeeper—a middle-aged man named Master Qiu—approached Li Yuan with a nervous expression.
"Mister Li," he said in a deliberately casual voice, "perhaps now is a good time to... continue your journey? The mountain passes are still open for a few more weeks before winter weather makes travel dangerous."
Through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan heard genuine concern in Master Qiu's intentions—not hostility, but fear that Li Yuan's continued presence might bring unwanted attention to the inn.
"Master Qiu," Li Yuan said with an understanding tone, "do you want me to leave?"
Master Qiu looked uncomfortable. "Not exactly want, sir. But... the situation is becoming complicated. And this inn is the livelihood for my family. I cannot afford to... to have problems with the authorities."
Li Yuan nodded with complete understanding. "Of course. Family safety must be a priority. I don't want to create difficulties for you."
But, Li Yuan mentally added with a deepening coldness, the authorities are creating difficulties for themselves by choosing a path of increased oppression.
Li Yuan returned to his room to consider his options. He could indeed leave the kingdom now, allowing the consequences of the royal decree to unfold naturally. The people who had tasted community cooperation might continue covertly, or they might return to their previous isolation out of fear.
Alternatively, he could stay and escalate the resistance, but that would almost certainly result in a violent confrontation that could harm innocent people.
Or there was a third option—one that would send a clear message to the kingdom's leadership about the consequences of choosing cruelty over wisdom.
Li Yuan's decision was interrupted by a commotion outside. Through the window, he could see a group of royal guards—more numerous and better armed than previous encounters—moving systematically through the merchant level, checking documentation and searching for "suspicious activities."
Leading the group was a Captain whom Li Yuan didn't recognize, but through his Wenjing Realm he could hear familiar and disturbing intentions: a zealous commitment to enforcement, satisfaction in wielding power, an eagerness to use force.
They're not just enforcing new regulations, Li Yuan realized with alarm. They're looking for an excuse to escalate violence.
Li Yuan's suspicions were confirmed when the guards approached the inn and the Captain demanded to speak with "the foreign guest staying in room 7."
Master Qiu, clearly terrified, led the guards to Li Yuan's room.
"Li Yuan," the Captain called through the door, "by the authority of His Majesty, you are required to submit to enhanced questioning."
Li Yuan opened the door and faced the Captain with an expression that was perfectly controlled but somehow made the experienced military officer take an unconscious step backward.
"Enhanced questioning about what?"
"Activities that undermine social stability. Unauthorized gathering. Incitement to resist lawful authority."
The Captain gestured for his men to surround Li Yuan. "You will come with us for official interrogation."
Through his Wenjing Realm, Li Yuan heard the Captain's true intentions: not interrogation for information, but intimidation through pain, an example for others, a demonstration of royal power.
Enhanced interrogation, Li Yuan mentally translated. Torture.
Li Yuan looked at the Captain, then at the guards surrounding him, then at Master Qiu who was watching with a face pale from terror.
The moment of truth, he realized. They're forcing a confrontation, probably expecting either submission or a resistance they can use to justify extreme measures against the community.
Li Yuan made a decision that would change the trajectory of this kingdom forever.
"Captain," Li Yuan said in a voice that was calm but carried an undertone of authority that made everyone present feel suddenly uncertain, "I think there's a misunderstanding about the situation."
"No misunderstanding. You're under arrest for—"
"I am not under arrest," Li Yuan stated with a finality that filled the room.
The Captain's face flushed with anger. "You dare to—"
"Captain," Li Yuan interrupted, and his presence expanded outward in an unmistakable way, "before you continue with this course of action, I suggest you consider carefully whether the consequences will be what you expect."
The atmosphere in the room became heavy with a sense of power that far exceeded anything a normal confrontation could generate. The guards found themselves unable to move forward, though not because of a physical barrier—simply an overwhelming sense that they were approaching something dangerous beyond their comprehension.
"What... what are you?" whispered one of the younger guards.
Li Yuan ignored the question, keeping his focus on the Captain.
"The system you serve just made a choice to respond to calls for basic human dignity with increased oppression. The leadership decided that rather than address legitimate grievances, they will silence the voices that speak for justice."
Li Yuan stepped forward, and the guards involuntarily parted, creating a path.
"I gave this kingdom an opportunity for peaceful reform. I offered a chance for evolution rather than revolution. But the leadership chose a path of escalated violence."
Li Yuan's expression remained calm, but there was something in his gray eyes that made the Captain realize that the situation had moved far beyond anything he was prepared to handle.
"So now," Li Yuan said in a voice that somehow reached everyone in the inn despite speaking normally, "leadership will learn what happens when a system based on organized cruelty encounters someone who is not willing to tolerate the continued suffering of innocent people."
Li Yuan walked past the guards, who seemed frozen in place, and headed toward the inn's exit.
"Where... where are you going?" the Captain managed.
Li Yuan paused in the doorway and turned back.
"I'm going to visit King Tianlong," he said with a simplicity that was somehow more terrifying than any threat. "We need to have a conversation about immediate changes to kingdom policies."
"You cannot just... the palace is—"
"Captain," Li Yuan said with a finality that brooked no argument, "there are no barriers in this kingdom that can prevent the conversation I intend to have."
Li Yuan stepped outside the inn, leaving behind a room full of people in stunned silence.
Time for a direct approach, he thought with a coldness that had crystallized into something harder than ice. The kingdom's leadership wants to show power through force? Let them discover what real power looks like when wielded in the service of justice.
King Tianlong is about to learn that some conversations cannot be avoided, regardless of palace walls, guards, or the delusions of absolute authority.
And after that conversation, either the kingdom's policies change immediately, or the kingdom itself changes in ways that the leadership never anticipated.
Li Yuan began walking toward the city's upper levels, each step carrying the weight of inevitability. Behind him, he could sense chaos beginning—guards trying to decide whether to follow, officials trying to contact superiors, people beginning to realize that the confrontation everyone feared was about to happen.
Let them watch, Li Yuan thought with a cold and profound satisfaction. Let everyone in the kingdom see what happens when justice finally loses patience with cruelty.