Chapter 855 Sentence given (32)

Chapter 855 Sentence given (32)

Song Ba hurriedly cleared his thoughts of the potential undercurrents of the Red Maple Empire. To him, if he was asked, he could only say the Empire brought that fate on themselves by choosing to maintain an ambiguous relationship with the Golden Bamboo Pavilion.

If they outright committed themselves as a true and proper subordinate, instead of an allied partner like they tried to portray then the Pavilion would likely treat them as it did them. Its subsidiaries had no shortage of shops owned by talented cultivators with the top leading ones having already reached at least the middle to the late stages of the palace realm.

The executives who were in charge of the management of the subsidiaries and the branches of the pavilion, the Pavilion had nine executives, and each one of them was a late palace stage expert, and for some, they had once been part of the subsidiaries before they were elevated in stature and provided they managed to reach the peak stage of the palace realm, their status would be elevated further into the ranks of the Golden Elders, which was the position that was just below the three founders of the pavilion.

The Pavilion had seven Golden Elders and among their ranks, four were peak stage palace realm experts, two were at the quasi-domain stage and the leader of the group was a bonafide domain expert.

When it came to its own, as long as one showed promise, the Golden Bamboo Pavilion would pour resources and support said individuals, but only if you were considered one of their own, which the Red Maple Empire wasn't considered as long as they wore the title of 'ally'.

"Is pride really that important if it stifles or risks your growth?" thought Song Ba, unable to understand why the Empire remained insistent on the relationship it had with the pavilion despite the clear disadvantages.

To him, them trying to maintain a sense of independence and freedom was a foolish decision especially when one considered the state of affairs in the Empire. The subsidiaries, with the blessing of the pavilion, constantly stirred up trouble in the Empire, by promoting discord among the noble families.

They weren't the only dagger used, the up-and-coming noble families were another. With secret support from the pavilion via some of its prominent subsidiaries, those families were quickly improving and growing in strength, and it wouldn't be long before they completely catch up to the founding families and maybe even completely replace them.

The reason those founding families were constantly feuding, other than instigation from outside forces, was because of the desperation that those families put them on with the gains they were making. It was why they didn't hesitate to tear each other apart.

When two people are chased by a bear, the one who survives is the one who runs the fastest, and if both their speeds and circumstances are the same, then one of them will try to trip the other to increase their odds of survival. It was the same thing those families were doing.

They knew most of the challenges they faced, either directly or indirectly had something to do with the Golden Bamboo Pavilion, and since they were helpless to do anything about it directly, not unless they found another backer at the level of the Pavilion, they could only tear at each other, in the hopes that one of them with slow down the bear that was after them.

It was why Song Ba always struggled to understand what the royal family and those families were thinking by desperately struggling to maintain their independence instead of giving in just like how their neighbors the Five Clovers Kingdom did. The Five Clovers Kingdom was a true subordinate of the Zou Clan.

Yes, their circumstances were different, with the Five Clovers Kingdom having been a rank three kingdom, starting down a potential takeover during the expansion reign of the Red Maple Empire, while the Red Maple Empire had a powerful empress to rely on and the inheritance of the long-lived peak palace stage Red maple spirit.

But even if the empire borrowed the name of the Red Maple Spirit, it was not the Red Maple Spirit.

Look at the two nations now, the kingdom that wasn't worth their attention was almost catching up to them, while they stagnated and rotted from within. Whatever independence they were struggling to maintain would be taken away, either by the pavilion or the Five Clover Kingdom, whichever came first.

Is it worth it for a false sense of independence?

That being said, he felt conflicted about it. He felt regret for his part in it yes, but if someone from the Chen Clan came to collect, despite what reservations he felt about the whole thing, he would fight with everything he had to preserve his life. The thought of killing another person from that clan made his heart feel heavy, especially if his father was the one who requested it.

Sneaking a glance at Chen Gutian, some part of him hoped he would forever remain confused he was in rather than gain clarity and with it, a thirst for vengeance. He had enough blood on his hands, and with how bad things were for Chen Gutian, the weight of taking his life too was a burden he didn't want.

As he was lost in his thoughts, Tan Lafen had thanked the court too for sparing her son's life and requested to have some time with him before he was sent to Requiem, to which Yang Qing acquiesced but her time with Shen Mu would only be under the presence of a domain expert from the Order. With all things considered it would likely be someone from the special inquisitors who were experts at anticipating and sniffing out hidden measures.

With almost all of the sentences given, he was left with Chen Zholan and the distraught and confused Chen Gutian. Seeing Chen Gutian's state, Yang Qing opted to hand Chen Zholan his sentence.

Even though Chen Zholan looked better than Chen Gutian, mentally, it wasn't by much, as one could see the fear in him as he looked around him, looking for help or mercy. The Chen Clan elders had drawn a clear line from him, Chen Zian wanted to kill him, and the court was overbearing.

It was like everyone and everything around him was judging him as the culprit of the whole thing which prompted him to keep muttering,

"It wasn't my fault..."

"Chen Zholan for the crime of harboring and nurturing pill slaves and human cauldrons, just like the rest you shall be sentenced to the Chaos Yang River Of Redemption, where you will undergo its cleansing for 247 years, and should you survive it, just like what I told them, your debt will be considered to have been paid in full..." said Yang Qing, though Chen Zholan didn't seem all too excited at the prospect, still wearing the same look of fear and nervousness.

"However.." Yang Qing added as his gaze fell on Chen Zian.

"The court will temporarily hold off on enacting the sentence because of the challenge issued earlier.

The court approves Chen Clan Leader Chen Zian's request to settle the blood debt owed by you Chen Zholan for your part in the murder of Chen Xue.

Should you survive the blood debt challenge, only then will the sentence given come into effect..." announced Yang Qing.

"Clan leader, having issued the challenge, as per our rules, with you being the collector, you have the right to decide on the time, but that time can not exceed seven days because of his impending sentence. Were he given a life sentence we would have accommodated the time frame you required, but because of the terms of his sentence, you have a week to prepare for the fight.

If you exceed that, without proper cause, his sentence will take effect on the eighth day.

When would you like to have the challenge?"

Without pause or thought, Chen Zian answered,

"Immediately, Judge Yang Qing.."