Chapter 274: Beyond Reproach

Chapter 274: Beyond Reproach

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When the day of his hearing arrives, Liu Jin waits in the Apothecary for his escort. Since Elder Xue will be accompanying him, there is really no need for the Eternal Flame Clan to provide any additional security. Nevertheless, certain formalities must be kept. Anything else would reflect poorly on the host.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

Still, Liu Jin is surprised when Elder Chang arrives at their doorstep. There are two Core Disciples with him, but they are utterly superfluous next to the Elder.

“I greet the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire,” Elder Chang says, his hands folded behind his back. “It heartens me to see you in good health.”

Liu Jin would be reassured by those words had they been said with even a hint of warmth. Alas, Elder Chang’s face is an impenetrable wall, and his Qi is as transparent as a slab of granite.

“I am conflicted,” Liu Jin says. “I am pleased to see you, Elder Chang. But what does it say that the Warden of the Punishment House was chosen to escort me?”

Elder Chang stares at him. Unamused.

“It says that my adherence to the law is known by all,” Elder Chang says. “It also says that, as I cannot be bought or bribed and lack power on par with Elder Xun, my time is not particularly respected by my colleagues.”

Liu Jin blinks.

“Oh,” he says, suddenly feeling awkward. He had just made Elder Chang admit he got stuck with the job because he was weaker than the other Elders. “I apologize.”

“Let’s just go,” Elder Chang says, turning on his heels. Elder Xue chuckles softly as she and Liu Jin follow after him.

For people like them, it would not even take seconds to arrive at the hearing. There is no need to use a carriage to travel across the Eternal Flame Clan, yet they do.

“There is no need for you to feel awkward, Emperor Qing,” Elder Xue tells him once they are seated. The carriage begins moving at a sedate pace. “This man is simply impatient. He cannot wait to go to Pyre’s End.”

Liu Jin’s eyebrows rise in surprise. Pyre’s End is where the Renegades of the Eternal Flame Clan go to cultivate.

“Is that true, Elder Chang?” He asks.

Elder Chang nods stiffly. “It is as I told you once before. The issues surrounding the succession made it unwise for me to enter seclusion. That matter is now settled. Once this hearing is over, all remaining obstacles will have been removed.”

“Congratulations, Elder Chang,” Liu Jin says. “I wish you success in your endeavor.”

“Wishes are unneeded, but they are appreciated,” Elder Chang says, lightly inclining his head toward Liu Jin.

“Yes, we are all quite happy for you. Why don’t you regale us with your plans for after your ascension?” Elder Xue asks.

Elder Chang gives Elder Xue a long look, which she meets with impenetrable smugness. Liu Jin is nearly certain there is something he is missing between them but decides he’d rather not know.

Sometimes, ignorance is the best policy.

“I,” Elder Chang says, glaring at Elder Xue, “intend to hunt down the traitor Xun Huwen. His release is a stain on the Punishment House and the Eternal Flame Clan. It must be rectified.”

“Xun Huwen has gone to the other side of the Dead Plains. He is either dead or dying.” Elder Xue points out.

“We both know the world is nowhere near that kind,” Elder Chang says, and Liu Jin starts to get the sense that this is not the first time they have had this conversation. “He cannot be allowed to roam free.”

“If that is what Elder Chang wishes...” Liu Jin speaks up, surprising both Elders. “It might not be much, but the Storm Dragon Empire is willing to offer its support.”

Elder Xue shakes her head. “Of course you would.”

Elder Chang ignores her. His eyes focused on Liu Jin.

“Then it seems we have much to talk about later.”

~~~

Once again, the Sparring Hall has been modified so that the whole of the Eternal Flame Clan can gather. Thousands are seated, and even more are forced to stand. The building and its surroundings teem with activity. Nearly all have come to watch, from the lowliest Outer Disciples to the esteemed Elders.

The last time something like this happened was during the trial of Elder Cheung, who had performed abominable experiments on the disciples of the Medical Pavilion.

This time, it is Liu Jin’s actions that will be discussed.

As his carriage approaches, the crowd surrounding the Sparring Hall parts to make way for him. The whispers and murmurs of the disciples almost sound like rain as they enter the building. Elder Chang goes to the high seats with the other Elders, while Liu Jin and Elder Xue stand in the center of the room.

“It pleases me to welcome Emperor Qing Jin of the Storm Dragon Empire,” Lord Feng Gui says. As soon as he speaks, the entire hall quiets down. “I hope you have enjoyed your stay so far.”

Liu Jin looks at those assembled before him. Lord Feng Gui’s seat is placed perfectly in the middle, with an equal number of people to his right and left. Meanwhile, Lord Feng Shang has been seated to the far right.

“It has been most enjoyable, Lord Feng Gui. If anything, I should apologize,” Liu Jin says, looking at the large gathering, “I seem to have caused some controversy.”

“Nonsense, Emperor Qing Jin,” Lord Feng Gui replies. “Any opportunity to come together like this is a good one. The Eternal Flame Clan is built on the bonds between us all.”

Lord Feng Gui’s confidence is such that the nervous energy in the room has almost completely dissipated. He uses Liu Jin’s title openly and without suspicion, enforcing the image that there is nothing inappropriate happening here. Liu Jin is the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire, and that is okay.

“Now then,” Lord Feng Gui says, bringing his hands together, “Since we are all here, would you like to begin, your Majesty? The people here are eager to hear your story.”

“Naturally,” Liu Jin says, feeling every single eye and more than a few long-range spying devices focused on him. He takes a deep breath and allows his Qi to reach every corner of the room and beyond. “Lord Feng Gui, Elders, fellow disciples, I am grateful that you have gathered for me to speak.”

There is a balance he has to keep. Respectful, but not submissive. Though he has been preparing his words and practicing with Lu Mei, he cannot help but feel some nervousness.

“I was born a member of the Qing bloodline, but my father had no wish for the throne. He wished to live away from it all, and for a time, his wish was granted. He took the surname Liu and lived in Eastern Port City. That was where I spent the first years of my life,” Liu Jin says. He had already decided to keep his father’s identity vague. Let them assume his father was a royal bastard if they want. It matters not. “However, that relative peace was broken when General Murong Bang, an Emperor Realm cultivator, attacked my hometown. The attack was swift and brutal. We received no warning and were given no mercy.”

It is almost funny how the whole room seems to shiver, as if Murong Bang’s name had power from beyond the grave. Most of the people here have never even heard of him, yet there is no person alive who wants to contemplate the thought of an Emperor attacking their hometown. Few fates are more unfortunate.

“I survived. My father did not,” Liu Jin says. “I knew then that Murong Bang could not be allowed to live. However, I was young, powerless, and without allies.”

This time, Elder Fa’s Qi does flare up, and all of it is focused on the weaker Elder. Elder Chang bears the sudden onslaught without faltering, but the same cannot be said for many of the disciples around them. The weaker ones start fainting one after another.

“That’s too much,” Elder Dang says, elevating his Qi to counter Elder Fa’s influence. “You will hurt our disciples if you keep doing that.”

Elder Fa glares at him. “Even you will stand with them?”

“That’s quite an interesting way of phrasing it.”

Lord Feng Gui speaks, and the Elders immediately silence themselves. There is not a trace of their Qi left in the air.

“Elder Fa, you speak in a way that implies there are sides to stand with,” Lord Feng says with a warm, understanding smile. “That could not be further from the truth. We are all members of the Eternal Flame Clan. We are all family, and you, my brethren, were asked a question. Incompetent or treacherous? Which one are you?”

The silence is deafening. Elder Fa’s eyes burn with suppressed rage, yet he cannot possibly stand up to Lord Feng Gui. He tries to seek Lord Feng Shang’s eyes, but there is nothing for him here. The seconds pass. The pressure mounts.

Something has to give.

“...incompetent,” Elder Fa whispers.

“What was that?” Lord Feng Gui asks him, leaning closer. “I don’t think I quite heard you.”

“I said I was incompetent!” Elder Fa shouts, his face red and his chest heaving. Three more seconds pass before he adds, “My lord.”

“I see,” Lord Feng Gui says. “That would explain quite a bit of it. Does everyone agree?”

“No, my lord,” Elder Chang says. “I don’t think I agree. I don’t think Elder Fa is merely incompetent. I think he is incompetent and treacherous.”

Liu Jin’s eyes widen. Elder Chang would have never made that accusation in public without Lord Feng Gui’s permission. Liu Jin’s eyes sweep over the assembled Elders. None other than Elder Fa looks surprised. They had all agreed to this. Patriarch Feng Zhang’s policy had been to allow Elder Fa to exist as a traitor as it is easier to deal with one visible traitor than to invite the Death Fashioning Scripture to grow subtle.

Lord Feng Gui seems to want to do things differently.

“That’s quite a serious accusation,” Lord Feng Gui says. “Can you prove it?”

“I would not have made the accusation if I couldn’t,” Elder Chang says. “In fact, it is due to the subject at hand that I deem it prudent to speak of this. Elder Fa tried to cast doubt on Emperor Qing’s actions, but that’s simply because the Emperor has been hindering him from the start. When Elder Cheung’s wickedness was uncovered, we assumed he acted independently, but the truth was otherwise.”

“Oh?” Elder Ju leans forward, suddenly interested. “Care to elaborate?”

“Elder Xue approached me with her suspicions after Elder Cheung’s trial,” Elder Chang says. “She believed it was unlikely that Elder Cheung could have gone unnoticed for as long as he did had he been acting on his own. We confirmed this after interrogating Elder Cheung. However, there is no need for you to take my word for it. You can hear it from Elder Cheung.”

Elder Chang makes a fist, and black chains of Qi appear in the center of the room. Energy cracks the air and breaks through dimensions as the bound form of Elder Cheung is transported from his cell.

Such is the power bestowed to the Warden of the Punishment House.

Elder Cheung is bound from head to toe. Talismans of all types hang from his body, limiting him in various ways. If he stands, it is simply because the black chains pull his body in all directions. Looking at his wretched state, it is hard to believe this person was ever an Elder of the Eternal Flame Clan.

Elder Chang opens his fist, and the restraints around Elder Cheung’s face come loose, allowing him to speak.

“It was Elder Fa!” The old Elder yells. “Elder Fa approached me with the idea of using disciples as test subjects! Once the transformation was complete, all I had to do was send a few of them over to the Division of External Relations! He helped disguise the disappearances by falsifying their transfer to other branches! Please, you have to belie-”

“That is more than enough,” Elder Chang says, silencing Elder Cheung with a wave. The black chains tighten around him and drag him back into the ground.

Only the echoes of his screams are left as he’s taken back to the Punishment House.

“What am I meant to say to this?” Elder Fa says. To his credit, the Elder does not look worried. “You had Elder Cheung in chains for more than a year. He could have come out claiming he is the Wandering Wind if you wished him to.”

“You require more proof?” Elder Xue asks with a smile that is sharper than any blade. “Shall we talk about the actions of the Internal Force, then?”

“That was not my doing,” Elder Fa replies immediately.

“No, but it was you who suggested it to me,” Elder Dang says. “At the time, I thought it prudent. Rule-breaking in the Eternal Flame Clan had increased. A way to keep order among disciples was necessary.”

“However, that was not all your Internal Force did, was it?” Elder Xue asks. “When a disciple joins, they are given a bracelet that allows us to keep track of their points as well as any rule-breaking on their part as long as they are inside the barrier that surrounds the Eternal Flame Clan. However, as soon as the Internal Force came into action, cases where the bracelets failed to act increased.”

Elder Dang sighs deeply.

“Like I said, Elder Fa came to me with the idea. He offered me a way to temporarily disable the bracelets, and I distributed it among the members of the Internal Force.”

“Quite dangerous. However, we can all understand why you thought you were acting prudently. Sometimes, those tasked with enforcing the law need the freedom to act,” Elder Xue says, smoothing over Elder Dang’s wrongdoing, likely the price for his testimony. “Unfortunately, you failed to understand the magnitude of what Elder Fa was doing. You were not just temporarily disabling the bracelets. You were temporarily disabling the barrier’s ability to recognize those inside it. The more you used it, the easier it became to disguise things such as, for example, an intruder entering the Eternal Flame Clan.”

“Enough!” Elder Fa’s power up. His eyes and flames burn gold as he brings his arm forward in a display of pure fulminating fury that-

Never materializes.

“I believe I should be the one saying that,” Lord Feng Gui says, his hand on Elder Fa’s shoulder. “Elder Fa, we gave you the opportunity to willingly confess your treachery. You are the one that forced us to shame you. Now, you seek to fight us? Don’t make me laugh at you. I hate having to laugh at my elders.”

Elder Fa tries to stand, but Lord Feng Gui holds him with more than mere strength.

“You can try to fight, lose pathetically, and die,” Lord Feng Gui says. “Or, you can confess and be sentenced to the Punishment House. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll reevaluate your sentence in a thousand years. Does that not sound better than death?”

“I... I wish to confess.”

Lord Feng Gui smiles.

“I knew you would.”

~~~