NOVEL NEXT 0050: Twisted Court
Before the two clans could worsen their conflict, the judge clasped his hands.
"Respected leaders of the Ironheart Eagle and Thousand Winds clan, I understand this dispute is quite the undertaking. But to lessen the flames, I suggest we step aside for a moment and discuss another pressing problem. This session of court has multiple issues to address, which is quite the rarity." the judge said. "And I say this not to offend, but we have larger problems at hand. In this time of crisis, the clans of the WanLing should unite, not clash!"
His words echoed through the hall, halting the argument.
The Wind Patriarch harrumphed.
"So be it. I've had enough of that bastard's nonsense already."
Beside him, the Matriarch sat down as well.
The judge turned to Ying Guang, who stared back with cold eyes before nodding.
"Good!" the judge nodded. "Now that the conflict has been put on pause, let us address the next important matter, the sudden appearance of the Spring Delusion Mantis!"
There was hardly a crowd, but scant voices still echoed as elders talked into their communication jades. A few illusionary projections of other elders appeared from artefacts and took their seats.
Rather than the melodrama between two clans, this was the actual concern, a danger that could possibly threaten the very sect itself! Perhaps the clans were beginning to regret sending such few representatives.
Baiyun wondered why the court couldn't have notified the clans of the importance of the case, instead of presumably focusing on the case of Jingfeng's death. Perhaps it was a show of respect to the Wind clan, treating their case as the forefront of the case. Or it was just how figures of authority always seemed to communicate poorly for whatever reason.
"The guard from the Ironheart Eagle clan has given a good recount. But as we all are painfully aware, second-hand information is often unreliable." the judge continued. "Fortunately, the youths brought along a servant to witness the events. With a simple Soulsearch, we can obtain perfect detail!"
...
It was so sudden, Baiyun had to do a double take in the midst of his other thoughts. No... he heard it correctly! His pupils constricted and his body stiffened.
He hoped that the lacking soul arts of this world meant the absence of such a technique, but his fears had come true!
The fact that soul arts were so undeveloped only made it worse.
Perhaps as an example, one did not need to fear surgery from professional cultivators trained in healing arts and anatomy, backed by centuries of practice. But if a savage caveman garbed in beast skins who could barely talk wanted to do surgery, what he probably meant was smashing a hole in your skull with a sharp rock to "let the demons out".
Much less how soulsearching was not for the benefit of the target, unlike surgery.
The more he thought of the matter, the more anxious Baiyun became. He did not like how vivid his thought of the caveman with a bloody rock was.
There had to be some way out of this... his mind raced as he thought of ways to survive, only to arrive at dead end after dead end.
But a shrill scream echoed through the hall from a young boy, interrupting his panicked thoughts. It was just in the nick of time, as Baiyun's eyes might have begun to bleed again from the strain if not for that.
"Don't! I object!" Mohei screamed. "Father, stop him! He's my friend, you can't let the judge kill him!"
The middle-aged man with red-tinged hair tried to stop Mohei, but he began to shout even more incoherently as he jumped up and down.
Sanguang seemed to be jolted by the shrill echoing voice and he hurriedly stood up as well.
"I object as well!" he shouted. "Baiyun saved my life in the expedition, so I'll save him this time!"
The youthful man and woman beside Sanguang looked at him with looks of genuine surprise.
These kids... Baiyun suddenly felt a strange feeling in his heart.
But it did not end there. A loud slam echoed from a distant wall, the banner of the Myriad Herbs Clan shaking and Laohe yelled.
"Judge! You cannot execute him. That kid is not any ordinary servant, he likely has the Unparalleled Insight constitution! Killing him merely for information is a terrible trade-off!"
Baiyun jolted from the words. Tsk... why did he have to say that? That stupid old man didn't even realise how terrible those words were!
Martial Elder Guan Qiang laughed heartily.
"I support the boy as well! I have already witnessed his talent for combat and strong physical constitution. He would make for an excellent Combat Servant!"
Baiyun's vision suddenly flicked as Yue shook with rage.
"Bastard, bastard, bastard! He's not even hiding his intentions!" she cursed with soulsense. "Why can't these elders just leave you alone to live peacefully? You've already gotten this hurt..."
He wasn't sure what to say as he heard her voice weaken as she spoke.
Close by, Ying Shi and Yingtao snapped out of their stupor.
"Executing someone merely because they are disposable as a servant. Is that how the WanLing court that claims to embody righteousness should act?" Ying Shi spoke boldly. "Baiyun is a member of my hunting party, and I will not stand for this."
It seemed he had regained his courage and former facade, no longer staring at the ground with gritted teeth like before.
"Were it not for Baiyun, I would not have made it out alive from the centipede den!" Yingtao shouted. "He resisted the mantis's illusion attack with pure willpower and got so badly injured, just so he could try to save me and Jingfeng! Its not fair to kill him just because he failed to save someone!"
Baiyun stared around in stunned silence from all the support. The strange feeling suddenly felt warm... this was something he had not accounted for. Perhaps not all hope was lost...
But at he looked around at the elders from the other clans musing to themselves, he paled as he thought of their perspective.
A servant walking around with an absurd alchemy constitution, talent for combat and also enough willpower to resist the spring delusion of the infamous mantis? It sounded beyond suspicious.
From how frenzied Laohe was in yelling about "Unparalleled Insight", Baiyun could tell it was no ordinary constitution. It was enough for Laohe to accept him as a disciple immediately despite being a crippled servant, as well as planning to fork up absurd amounts of money to fix him with surgery.
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Of course, Baiyun had no such constitution, but it didn't matter if he actually had it at this point. With his centuries of alchemy experience from a higher world, he was probably better than the real deal.
What Guan Qiang said about combat talent could merely be dismissed, but Laohe should have kept quiet about his supposed constitution!
Once an inconspicuous servant waddling in mud, yet now, the eyes of every clan were on him...
Baiyun was no expert in clan politics, but even he knew this was a terrible thing. He silently cursed Laohe again. Keeping the talents of subordinates secret was supposed to be common sense!
Astute elders could immediately tell something was up. After all, servants did not even have meridians, the most basic requirement for an alchemist.
Yet, one of the best alchemists in the sect considered him a talent? The only possibility was that he was contributing to the theoretical side!
This talent was useless unless the clan had actual trained alchemists, so he was an asset to the Myriad Herbs Clan alone, and next to useless for any other clan, so there was no merit in kidnapping him.
In the worst case... Core Shaping assassins would be sent to dispose of him. The very thought made him shudder.
Baiyun could only hope the Myriad Herbs Clan was on good terms with other clans. Pills and elixirs were the pillar of alchemy, and any allied clans would likely welcome the introduction of a new talent.
The judge froze in shock. How could a single servant rally the support of so many clans?
Above Baiyun's eyes however, Yue was musing something anxiously as she shook.
The sight seemed to attract someone's attention, and the long exasperated sigh of a woman echoed through the court.
"I support the servant as well." a disinterested voice spoke.
It was the woman with dark blue hair from the Tranquil Oceans Clan, Ren Hai! Contempt was etched into her face as she stared at the podium in disdain.
Yue suddenly began to get excited.
But his vision suddenly shook as Yue shot up and down in excitement.
"Oh... I was so worried because she was quiet for so long. I had to beg her all day and night to convince her to help you!" Yue mumbled. "I even had to agree to help her with all sorts of unreasonable tasks!"
Unreasonable tasks? Baiyun nodded in gratitude, but he grew slightly worried. If his guess that Ren Hai governed spirits of the sect was true, she was in a position of absolute power over Yue. He didn't like how unkindly and contemptuous that woman seemed; he hoped Yue wouldn't be forced to do anything too terrible.
A suddenly piercing pain shot through Baiyun's eyes as he winced. He had subconsciously hastened his thoughts to think again!
His ability was already somewhat recovering despite his scrambled eyes? That realisation gave him some joy, but it was followed by a glum thought. If he didn't manage to break his habit of hastening his thoughts over the most mundane things, he would only continue to injure his eyes over and over. It was a habit he absolutely had to break!
Habits built over centuries made even steel appear as flimsy as paper... this would not be an easy endeavour.
With the passage of time returning to normal, the uproar finally shook the court in full!
The murmurs of the elders mirrored that of the judge. How could a puny servant beneath even insects gather the support of so many clans? This was absurdity!
A loud laugh rang through the court as the representative of the Meteor Forge Clan leaned his head back and slapped his knees.
The smile of the young man from the Trade and Treasury Association morphed into a look of seriousness, as he and the middle aged man scribbled in their notes hastily.
Baiyun felt like his emotions were in turmoil, from all the things happening at once, on top of the hastened window to think he had.
At last, the judge struck the podium, the gong-like sound silencing the court once more.
"To think 6 clans of the 10 clans present would oppose the soulsearch!" the judge said, disbelief in his voice. "The Thousand Winds Clan, as the victim of this case counts as 2 votes, but even it did not tip the scales!"
They had the power of 2 votes? Baiyun frowned slightly, thinking this was quite a weird legal implementation.
Sighs of relief came from Mohei and Baiyun's other supporters.
But the head of the Inferno Clan stood up.
"Judge. You take the vote of my son as yours, words that are merely the whims of a child. Some of us have taken our children or descendants to spectate, but do not mistake them as representatives." he clicked his tongue. "A rather unprofessional performance on your part."
"Father!" Mohei cried out in dismay.
The Inferno master spread out two fingers with a scowl, conjuring a seal onto the mouth of his son and silencing him. Mohei waved his arms around and tried to shout, but all that came out were muffled sounds. He could only puff his cheeks and gesture angrily in silence, pulling at the seal that glued his mouth shut futilely.
Baiyun was stunned. First Laohe and now this man! Why did it seem like every clan was trying to pick fights with the legal system? In his old world, even elders were meek as sheep before the might of the court.
No, more importantly, the votes were against him now. It was all because of the accursed corrupt system of this sect, giving Thousand Winds an additional vote! What previously felt like a weird system was now something he cursed.
The judge frowned at the Inferno Clan's leader but didn't pursue the matter.
"Then, your vote is retracted," he said. "Head of the Stormseeker Clan, with what he said in mind, do you stand by the vote of your grandchild?"
The youthful woman beside Sanguang smiled with faint mischief.
"I do, of course. Unlike some people, I value the thoughts of my family!"
As she spoke, she placed her hands on the shoulders of the man beside her and Sanguang.
"Be it my dear son or grandson who have graciously accompanied me to this case, I have given them both the authority of a representative." she proudly declared. "Sanguang's decision will be respected!"
What Baiyun thought to be Sanguang's parents was now revealed to be a whole section of a family tree. It didn't surprise him that much however, as this was common in a world of cultivation. Cultivators hardly aged, and allowing oneself to don an older appearance was often a deliberate way to command respect.
It was an act he was guilty of in his past life as well, but even simple appearance had great impact. When a leader looked far too young, despite it having no bearing on ability, subordinates would subconsciously see more inexperience.
Though, with the new heavenly laws, many cultivators would once again age like mortals. It would soon no longer be up to choice, but mandated.
"Hmph, rattle off all the nonsense you want. I will not be angered." Mohei's father harrumphed.
"Ah? But I did not demean you, did I?" she tilted her head as she continued to smile. "All I did was talk about how I respected my kin!"
"You should act your age, not like an adolescent." the man muttered under his breath.
His face did not shift, but he still seemed to be hiding his anger.
Baiyun sighed to himself, thinking how unlucky he was.
He already expected there to be conflicts between clans, but the amount of childish infighting they engaged in exceeded his expectations. Laohe was the type of pick fights with even the Enforcer, so what were the odds he was on good terms with most of the clans?
Catching the eye of such an unruly bunch meant he was certainly going to get entangled in their schemes. That is, if he even survived the case somehow.
Mohei's father continued to speak.
"Remember." the inferno master said. "The appearance of that mantis is a crisis, and we must obtain all the information we can! The guard said the servant witnessed its attacks firsthand, and even manage to resist them, didn't he? At the mere cost of a servant, we could find the key to surviving its attacks. Think of all the lives in the sect that could be lost if we fell into the ploys of the Beast Continent! Is that truly less valuable than a single servant?"
"Well spoken!" the patriarch of the Wind Clan boomed. "Our clan will use that information to track the beast down and slaughter it! We will avenge our descendant and put an end to this farce!"
At his side, Fei An suddenly raised her head and stared at him with wide eyes. But she slowly lowered her head, her eyes unreadable.
"Bastard! Did you not hear what I said about his talents?" Laohe yelled. "Mo Fan! I know you still hold a grudge because of that incident! You petty old bastard, it happened more than a hundred years ago and you still hold a grudge!"
"Merely a trifle from centuries ago. Only the small-minded would continue to trouble themselves over such a thing." Mohei's father harrumphed. "But that's beside the point. Merely for the benefit of your own clan, you ignore the grief of the Thousand Winds Clan, as well as the safety of the sect!"
He turned to the podium and continued.
"Judge, this matter of the beast is huge and should be filed as a separate case. As the centre of a vital sect matter, you would have the authority of 5 votes!"
But the judge shook his head.
"I'm afraid we can't do that. The unfortunate loss of young master Jingfeng classifies this case as one of death. By a technicality from clause 27, we cannot separate the matters of death cases, or the culprit might attempt to split cases to avoid responsibility."
"Bah! WanLing is in danger and you let your stupid legal red tape trip you up." Mo Fan scoffed. "This is ridiculous!"
Baiyun felt like his face was about to contort into a prune. What in the world were the legal procedures of this sect? What did it even mean for the judge to get 5 votes? Was the judge not a neutral party to finalise the case? And the current votes were already in favour of him getting soulsearched, so why were another 5 votes important enough for splitting the case to be suggested?
And that bastard Laohe somehow got him involved in the grudge of another clan head!
Baiyun felt frustrated and helpless beyond anything, as the severity of the situation crushed down upon on him.
His hands began to grow clammy as he clenched them into fists.