Daily life of a cultivation judge

Once he was done, Yang Qing went for the jade slips that were lined on his podium. They contained the testimonies of those who had witnessed what the eight Zhang clansmen before him had done.

Unsurprisingly, those witnesses were all fellow soldiers, some even being their fellow clansmen. It was thanks to the efforts and close relation that some of the inquisitors of the Yellow Plains Branch had with those soldiers that they were willing to divulge such information.

If it wasn't that relation, they would have likely taken what they knew to the grave. However, their cooperation only went as far as written statements on the events they witnessed. Real-live testimonies were out of the equation for them. They still hoped to continue their duties at the border, and if it got out they reported their colleagues or clansmen for some, to the Order, they would never be trusted.

In extreme cases, if word of it got out, with a place as chaotic as a battlefield, arranging their early demise would not be a difficult thing, and in the best-case scenario, they would get banished and shunned for life. They could forget life as they knew it.

The Order had no choice but to accept the written testimonies as enough but uckily for them, they had the two ascendant-grade treasures meant for sniffing out blood fiend cultivators. They didn't need those testimonies that much to verify that fact, the ascendant grade treasures were enough by themselves, the testimonies were just formality and courtesy. The testimonies were just there to establish cause for suspicion and the test that would follow after.

Just as Yang Qing was about to start to replay the contents of the jade slips, Zhang Guiren interrupted politely.

"Pardon my interruption again, Judge Yang Qing, If I may speak?"

Yang Qing curious about what Zhang Guiren had to say, answered,

"You may."

"Our clan has many shortcomings, we are far from perfect, even though they're most within the empire who would dub us heroes. We know ourselves, we are not that, if current circumstances are any indicator.

However, for all our flaws, there's one thing we are not, and that is cowards who shirk away from their responsibility.." Zhang Guiren said with a firmness in his tone.

"None of them is here to refute the charges against them. They are willing to plead their guilt and accept the charges against them. There's no need to present the testimonies or verify whether they cultivated blood fiend arts or not. They know what they did and are willing to confess and accept the consequences of their actions.

There's no need to waste the court's valuable time. They accept the charges and whatever punishment the court deems befitting of their actions, they will accept that too, and on behalf of the Zhang family, we will accept it too.." Zhang Guiren added with a solemn expression.

"Is that what you want?" asked Yang Qing, his question addressed to the eight clan members.

The eight who remained indifferent the entire time exchanged looks with one another as they nodded toward the clan member that had the highest cultivation base amongst them. He was at the sixth stage of the core formation realm. Their eyes seemed to communicate something as they addressed that clan member, who nodded before he stepped forward.

"Our vice clan leader is right, as Zhang clan members we will not shirk our responsibility. We willingly admit our guilt in the matter, but before you sentence us, could I say a few words.." said that sixth stage core formation expert whose tone was completely unlike one would expect from someone who had lived their lives on the battlefield reaping the lives of others. His tone had a graceful peacefulness to it and contained a hidden strength that made others feel a sense of reassurance.

"If it wasn't for him turning to blood fiend arts, just based on the strength of his soul alone, he would have walked far on the path of slaughter without fear of having his mind go berserk.." thought Yang Qing as his gaze fell on that sixth stage core formation expert.

He looked to be in his late twenties, with long flowing black hair and matching eyes, that contained strength, and tranquility within them. Of the eight, he had the least taint to the baleful slaughter qi around his body, and in terms of aura, his was the one that was closest to Zhang Guiren, with how concealed his slaughter qi was, even with the irascible nature of the tainted blood qi added to his slaughter qi, he managed to contain the volatile nature of both, well. No doubt, thanks to his powerful soul.

Yang Qing saw a look of pity followed by anger flash in Zhang Guiren's eyes, just before he spoke up.

"Zhang Su! Haven't you shamed the clan enough? Do you still intend to drag us through the mud and squabble? Cultivating those fiend arts not only muddled your head but also your spirit.

Be silent and calmly accept your punishment. Do not disgrace yourself, your men, and your clan any further..."

Zhang Guiren's tone was even-tempered, not showing the anger that was boiling within, but hearing him speak, was no different than a blade of slaughter gaining the ability to talk. The intent within was capable of causing an early-stage core formation expert to immediately start bleeding from every orifice, but Zhang Su, the sixth-stage core formation expert, who was the target of it, seemed entirely unaffected, even taking the time to peacefully maintain eye contact with Zhang Guiren.

"Every action I have ever taken vice clan leader, has always been with the clan in mind. I am not afraid of death, nor do I have the intention of avoiding it either, if that's what must happen.

I am not pleading my case but rather speaking up for my men, as their leader, it is what I should do as my final act..."

Zhang Su paused briefly before finally saying.

"I love the clan, vice clan leader, we all do.."

Zhang Guiren looked at him briefly, his eyes flashing with the same look of pity he had before. He sighed as he said.

"Fine, do as you will.."

"Thank you, vice clan leader.."