Chapter 867 Decay of the major families (5)

Chapter 867 Decay of the major families (5)

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."

"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.."