Revenge Break, is a very special mark of the Glorious legal system, and a huge concession from the law to the 'strong'; it allows the strong to possess a certain right of revenge.
It is perfectly normal for criminals to be punished; even powerful Awakeners have no immunity in the eyes of the law. If they deserve death, they die; if they deserve imprisonment, they are imprisoned. But there is another situation: the offenders' family and friends are strong.
Different humanistic societies naturally nurture different social mores and public opinions. On Earth, the relatives of criminals rarely engage in extreme acts of revenge, because individual power is far inferior to that of the collective, and there is not much difference between individuals.
But Glory is different; strong Awakeners can crush ordinary people, and their survival capabilities are extremely outstanding. Historically, there have been wrongful convictions, leading the relatives of the offender, in a fit of rage, to assassinate all involved, including the nobles who framed and the officials who judged, and they remained at large. It was only when the Imperial Court rehabilitated the wrongful conviction that this strong individual stopped—whether it was truly a wrongful conviction, no one knows.
While the strong absolutely cannot confront the regular army head-on, if they wage guerrilla warfare in the city, killing one person across a thousand miles without a trace, it's difficult for the Imperial Court to deal with it.
Moreover, such unparalleled strong individuals are not the main problem, as there are not many strong people, and most are incorporated into the court. The real trouble lies with the many ordinary Awakeners who cultivate Combat Techniques; their warrior spirit is thick, and most of them are unyielding. Avenging their loved ones, even at personal risk, is quite natural to them.
Indeed, my father/uncle/grandfather/best friend did wrong, but he is dead, and I cannot accept that; I must kill you!
This mindset can obtain public recognition. After all, even the Glorious Imperial Court cannot guarantee its own fairness and clarity. For ordinary people, supporting these 'righteous avengers' reduces the court's chance of manufacturing wrongful convictions. Everyone stands firm, and the atmosphere of 'revenge' naturally grows more intense.
However, continually losing court officials to acts of vengeance is no solution, so the court compromised, or perhaps went along with the tide and employed an open strategy: the Revenge Break Law.
According to Revenge Break Law, a criminal's relative can request a public duel with their 'enemy', only once, and targeting only one person. The 'enemy' can surrender but must compensate or apologize. Life and death are not accounted for during the duel, and hatred is written off afterwards. Those who defy this order will be pursued and hunted by the court.
It sounds incredible—how can the court encourage revenge against its officials?
But legal benefits are the basis of criminalization, and ethics are the basis of exoneration. In a society with strong individuals, ethics and legal benefits are naturally altered.
Revenge Break Law's introduction greatly reduced the harmful impact of civilian acts of revenge. Since revenge can only be directed at one 'enemy' and not involve others, it can gain public approval. The previous trend of retaliatory murder against entire families no longer receives admiration but public disdain.
Moreover, the Revenge Break Law mandates that Revenge Break must occur in a public setting, thus transforming covert 'revenge' into an open 'Revenge Break'. No matter what happens, the authorities can quickly grasp the situation, preventing scenarios where an entire family is wiped out without knowing who they offended.
Most importantly, Revenge Break Law shifts the conflict from between the public and the court to between the Avenger and their enemy.
Whether the enemy is killed by the Avenger or surrenders and compensates, it's none of the court's business. It's just the enemy's own disgrace, unrelated to the court's reputation.
Facts prove that the Revenge Break Law has completely transformed social trends. After all, if the court supports your pursuit of righteous revenge, secretly committing murder won't earn any praise.
The court often promotes 'positive examples', such as an Avenger in that region overcoming their enemy, leading to the case's rehabilitation; or an Avenger in this county unable to beat their enemy, yet the enemy kneels to admit wrongdoing, while the Avenger realizes their loved one's mistakes, resulting in reconciliation...
In summary, openly seeking revenge not only gains public recognition but is even encouraged by the court!
"Is someone performing a Revenge Break there?"
"That person is from the Statistical Department!"
"What, someone finally decided to carry out a Revenge Break against someone from the Statistical Department?"
The lecture square was bustling on the morning, filled with merchants setting up stalls and children waiting for lessons. As the news of the Revenge Break broke out, it spread rapidly and caused a clamor throughout the square.
The Patrol Execution Guard squeezed through the crowd and upon seeing Leyu, their expressions changed. Though Qian Yu Liu wasn't wearing a disguise, his steel-soled boots were unmistakable, and besides, they recognized Leyu—the Statistical Department recently had a captain who liked playing Battle Cards, all while capturing people, which they had heard about.
"What are you gathering here for? Disperse, disperse!" the Patrol Execution Guard scolded, "Are you trying to cause a public disturbance!?"
Causing a public disturbance is a serious crime; escalating further would lead to 'public rebellion'. But Lin Xue was not deterred, her voice amplified with Spiritual Power, resounding clearly across the square: "We wish to perform a Revenge Break with Qian Yu Liu, and request the Patrol Execution Guard to witness."
"We request the Patrol Execution Guard to witness!" people around responded in unison, their voices booming like thunder.
The Patrol Execution Guard looked troubled and glanced at Leyu as if to say 'we've done our best'.
Leyu looked up at the Yao Bell Tower and said, "There's 17 minutes left."
He paused, "There are 17 minutes until the Statistical Department's work hours begin, and I need 3 minutes to walk there. I eat the emperor's bread, and do the emperor's work; I neither wish for others to break agreements, nor do I want to break agreements with others, so let's end this all in the next 14 minutes."
"Let me see what Mr. Lin's distinguished apprentice can do," Leyu said calmly, "Are you all coming at once or taking turns?"
The Revenge Break Law has a tricky clause; while it limits the Avenger to only challenge one person in a Revenge Break, it does not specify the number of Avengers—indeed, gang-ups are allowed under Revenge Break Law!
However, if the enemy sees they cannot win, they can decisively surrender, at most apologizing and compensating, whereas the Avenger loses their one opportunity for righteous revenge.
Therefore, the Revenge Break Law is essentially a gentleman's law. If both sides are gentlemen who value their dignity, the Revenge Break Law holds significance, and everyone can settle their hatred with one battle.
But if neither side preserves their dignity, the Revenge Break Law becomes meaningless—you dare to gang up on me, I dare to kneel and plead for mercy.
Though I lost face, you lost your father/grandfather/friends!
"I very much hope to avenge my father's disgrace myself," Lin Xue took a deep breath and said, "But Qian Yu Liu, you are indeed talented yet moral-less; I dare not say I can defeat you alone. Therefore, please allow me, Gao Jin, and Xia Lingguo to take turns in this duel, to cut off all ties of enmity with you!"
Saying this, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance appeared on Lin Xue's face; she felt ashamed for suggesting a take-turns battle and also harbored hatred toward Qian Yu Liu, but more than anything, she despised her own incompetence!
If she could defeat Qian Yu Liu alone, why would she need to propose a three-person rotation? But to fulfill her father's last wish, she could only resort to this shameless act!
As for the consequences Qian Yu Liu faces after their victory, Lin Xue didn't mention—it would be easy to reprimand Qian Yu Liu if they won; otherwise, the harsher the claim now, the more embarrassing it would be to eat their words later.
Leyu glanced at the three before him.
Lin Xue needs no introduction, the only daughter of Lin Jinyao, she once regarded Qian Yu Liu as a brother during her school days, and it turned out that every 'sister' Qian Yu Liu regarded eventually turned against him.
Gao Jin, another old acquaintance, notorious for his foul mouth and loud voice, yet outwardly appearing as a hot-blooded and sunny youth; he seemed to be the student body president at the military academy, and Lin Jinyao frequently praised this disciple to Qian Yu Liu.
Xia Lingguo, Leyu only noticed him now. He was also in the courtyard the night Lin Jinyao died, taken away along with others by the Statistical Department, although he always remained silent and reserved, and even now looking at Leyu with intent to duel, he didn't speak a word, merely gazed at Leyu; his appearance was a well-behaved and cute boyish face, but Leyu could faintly sense his threat.
Lin Xue, Gao Jin, Xia Lingguo...
They indeed came to confront me.
This means the traitor within White Night is among the three of them!