"We merged with filth and became filth ourselves... is this the legacy we wish to pass on to the next generation?" She questioned them with a tone of deep rooted morality.
The Bai elders hesitated and then one of them stepped forward and bowed toward the crowd.
It wasn't a deep bow but was enough.
"The Bai no longer stand with the Qin," Bai Yao stated.
"We are done," Bai Xin added with a clear voice, "being chained to your deeds! We annexed out of desperation—not to enslave our people or destroy this town!"
Another Bai elder—Bai Peng—stepped beside her. "We stand with Lingyun Town."
The temple of politics that had chewed this town fell in on itself with a groan.
Qin Han tried to rally. "Treason—"
"Treason," Bai Xue said softly, "was selling our people for coin."
The Qin disciples who had followed orders out of habit took one look at the crowd and re-evaluated the wages of loyalty. Swords lowered. A few clattered to the stone.
