Daily life of a cultivation judge

"B..B.. but Judge I am not ready!" Chen Zholan hurriedly said in protest.

He was only at the eighth stage of the core formation realm while Chen Zian was at the peak stage of the core formation realm. Even though such a gap in cultivation base didn't equate to an insurmountable gap in the core formation stage unlike in the palace realm where a difference in every minor stage came with a monumental leap in strength, he still had grounds to be worried.

Chen Zian wasn't just any peak-stage core formation expert, as someone who regularly sparred with him, Chen Zholan knew intimately how great his abilities were coming second only to the three supreme elders who were in the quasi-palace stage, though Chen Zholan had this nagging feeling, that Chen Zian was likely on par with those supreme elders as he had likely achieved a fully formed sword intent.

Outwardly, both within and outside the clan, Chen Zian was known to have not reached that stage yet, but as the cunning old fox he knew him to be, Chen Zholan felt Chen Zian would definitely hide he had achieved sword intent even from his people so as to have a card in reserve.

Chen Zholan felt strongly that he had likely achieved sword intent because of Chen Xue. Other than Chen Zian, the person he had sparred with the most was Chen Xue, which started when he was small going all the way through to when he had birthed his sword intent.

They must have sparred about a million times to the point that Chen Xue's sword intent was ingrained in Chen Zholan's entire being. That inadvertently made him extremely sensitive to the hidden qualities of sword intent. He didn't know how it happened, but he could feel a certain quality from the three supreme elders that gave him the same sensation as Chen Xue did.

At first, he had chalked up that feeling to intimidation, but later through experimentation, he felt it was likely tied to sword intent, especially when thirty years ago Chen Zian started exhibiting that quality when prior he had not.

If his guess was true, his fight against Chen Zian, if it could be called that, the victor was already decided.

There was a difference between fighting a peak stage core formation expert with no sword intent, and fighting one that has, fighting the former was like fighting a lion, but fighting the latter was like fighting a lion that had the teeth, scales, and claws of a dragon.

Knowing Chen Zian's vicious nature, there was no doubt he would take his time with those claws causing maximum amount of pain, drawing it out to torment him as he broke him piece by piece until finally delivering the finishing blow.

Chen Zian was the last person he wanted to face.

"As the perpetrator, you have no say in this. The battle shall commence immediately.." Yang Qing calmly said, extinguishing whatever hopes Chen Zholan had of delaying the thing.

Chen Zholan wanted to make another go at it but Yang Qing's gaze dissuaded him from it.

An instant later just as Chen Zholan was wallowing in fear and worry someone spoke, drawing the attention of the entire courtroom.

"Chen Zian let me do this.."

The voice was low, raspy, and lacking in vigor but even in its weakness there was an unyielding resolve.

All the eyes centered on the originator of that voice.

"Uncle..." Chen Zian was just about to dissuade his uncle from taking the mantle of vengeance and let him handle it, but he swallowed his words when he saw the gaze Chen Gutian gave him.

He seemed to have aged even more so in the short amount of time they had been in the courtroom and that was saying a lot for someone close to the end of his lifespan. His frame seemed to have shrunk as he seemed shorter and bonier than he had been, with his skin hugging his bones, and his robes swallowing his entire, while his hair was as white as he could get.

He looked no different than a living fossil, but that living fossil had a spirited look in his eyes that managed to affect Chen Zian.

"Fine.." Chen Zian solemnly said.

"Thank you for accommodating me and I am sorry for betraying the clan.." Chen Gutian said with an honest smile coloring his face.

After that he turned to face Yang Qing, bowing at the waist as he did so.

"I did something deplorable and shamed my son and the clan in the process. There is no excuse for what I did. I would like to undergo the sentence as my fellow elders. No more, no less.."

"You're sure?" asked Yang Qing.

Chen Gutian's circumstances were special which gave him no small amount of headache on how to deliberate. His grief had been preyed on, and of all those present, he was the only one to have the least amount of human cauldrons and pill slaves with the former standing at one, and the latter being only two, and none of them were dead.

Also from the interviews conducted on them, those children had said Chen Gutian had treated them well.

Ignoring their roles, the treatment they received from him was no different than what the clansmen would receive, and when it came to the child chosen to be the human cauldron, the inspection done on his body revealed that he had been regularly fed natural treasures that boosted one's vitality. His lifespan wasn't completely damaged as a result of those efforts, same to the pill slaves.

Yang Qing had decided for his sentence, he would have sentenced him to a trial of the hearts by the heavenly inquisition sword which also could judge remorse as much as guilt while weighing the crimes. The sentence would be him getting stabbed by the sword and having their guilt and conscience tested by the sword. The process was brutal, to say the least, but provided one was truly sincere, wholeheartedly at that, they would survive the test, and once they did, their sentence could be considered served and paid in full.

However, for those who failed, only an agonizing death awaited them. Based on what he had seen, Yang Qing felt Chen Gutian would likely have survived the test, and if he still felt guilty after, Yang Qing would have suggested he use his remaining life to take care of the children he had on his farm, once they were fully restored by the Order.

From what he had seen of those children, they would likely accept, and also the fact that they had no one else to rely on was also another factor. The Order as large as it was, was limited in its ability to help especially when it came to resources. It had to maximize every bit it had to groom more gifted personnel to deal with the growing workload. They didn't have much leftover to support others. Healing them and giving them a shot at a new life by referring them to other places like Yang Qing had planned to do was the best they could do.

But now seeing Chen Gutian and the choice he made, he had to reevaluate the plan.

"I am sure, Judge. It is the only way I can face my son.." answered Chen Gutian with a peaceful smile.

Ever since he came to, he seemed different. He had a sense of tranquilness about him that was completely different than the erratic demeanor he had before, or the lost look that he had after. Now he had a sense of clarity and assuredness about him.

Yang Qing could already tell why and based on the look Chen Zian was giving Chen Gutian, he was likely aware too.

"Fine. Should you end as the victor of the duel, you will receive the sentence as the other elders.."

"Thank you for accommodating this old man.." Chen Gutian said as he performed another bow before he turned to face Chen Zholan who seemed bewildered at Chen Gutian's transformation, especially when he saw the clarity in Chen Gutian's eyes, which were devoid of anger, hatred, or bloodlust which he would have expected to see in them when Chen Gutian turned to face, but all he could see was a sense of peace, and a gentleness that a father would give to their son.

"Zholan.." Chen Gutian said as his eyes flashed with regret.

"What?" Chen Zholan warily asked.

"What do you think Xue'er is thinking right now? Seeing all these? The father he admired and respected went and did something so shameful as harm other children all for the sake of vengeance.. his best friend, whom he thought of as a brother was so afraid of him that he had him killed..

and now the two most important people in his life were about to fight each other to the death.

Would he scold us? Would he beat us up and tell us to stop acting foolishly or would he be at a complete loss on what to do with us?

All my life, I have lived unafraid of anything except one, no two, disappointing my son, and disappointing the clan, and I have managed to do both.

It's why, now, I can't seem to hate you, I can see the same fear in you. Our reasons may be different, but we have lived our whole lives under the weight of fear.

You may have betrayed my son and had him murdered, but I have to thank you for being his friend. Having you around made him happy as holding a sword did, and for that I am thankful and to repay that debt, I will help you exorcise that fear that has long plagued your life."

"How?" Chen Zholan coldly asked.

"In death, all burdens of the heart and mind are removed. I will grant you a good death.." Chen Gutian said with a gentle and peaceful smile, his demeanor evoking the sense that it was a grandfather showing care for his grandson.