Chapter 1119: Aftermath
This matter could be considered temporarily resolved.
At its core, this was an issue of moral principle. Setting aside mystical abilities and firearms, even the most primitive army would overwhelm unarmed civilians with absolute ease. But the problem could not be handled that way.
That was why the Daoist army exercised restraint in Fenglin. Using brute force felt satisfying in the moment, but the hidden consequences were never pleasant. If the Daoists crushed everything indiscriminately, they would only be sowing the seeds of even greater disasters.
Thus, Qi Xuansu’s strategy was broken into stages. First, he lowered his stance and reason with the crowd so that they would disperse from Tianfu Palace. Second, he issued a curfew order so that the masses would return home or leave Lion City within two hours.
These two steps acted like a filter, separating the coerced and misled civilians from the true agitators, after which force could be applied to the remaining threats.
Most people understood this principle. This was also why they hesitated. Take Qin Hengjun, for example. Issuing a suppression order was not difficult for a Deputy Protector. After all, they were not going against the Sonno-joi faction on the Fenglin battlefield. In this case, defeat was impossible, and he did not even need the army. He alone could kill these rioters without difficulty.
The issue was that he could not predict the aftermath. If ordinary civilians were accidentally hurt in the fight, the conflict would escalate, and future consequences would be like hidden landmines. He never knew when one might blow up and ruin him. Since it involved his own survival, he could not bring himself to make a decision.
That was why Qin Hengjun only arrived after Qi Xuansu successfully dispersed the crowd surrounding Tianfu Palace. Since Lion City was his jurisdiction, he would also bear responsibility if the city fell into chaos. He had simply been observing how the situation would escalate because he did not know how he should help. After all, he was fundamentally a military man and not adept at softer methods.
Only when Qi Xuansu created an opening did Qin Hengjun see a path to resolution, prompting him to come forward and follow Qi Xuansu’s command.
Though the Daoists could use the Bewitching Technique, there were simply too many people to use such a delicate technique. Otherwise, Ancient Immortals would never have needed to preach. They could have simply bewitched the masses all at once.
Furthermore, even if the Daoist Order could bewitch the masses, they would never use it recklessly. Doing so would severely damage their credibility and destroy public trust. Every incident thereafter would spark suspicion of manipulation, causing disastrous long-term consequences.
Though the chaos had subsided, it did not mean the matter was over.