Public Trial (Part Two)

As Luo Mingchuan’s words fell.

Everyone in the hall changed their expressions.

He Yanyun exclaimed, “Senior Brother Luo, what are you talking about!”

Zheng Yangzi puffed up his whiskers and shouted angrily, “Nonsense! What does that have to do with you? On what grounds are you speaking for him?”

Not only did everyone else look stunned, but Yin Biyue was also bewildered.

Elder Lingfeng, Sect Leader Cheng Antai cleared his throat, “Disciple Luo was originally a victim; now that someone else is speaking on his behalf there must be some other reason, but whatever caused this matter to arise, there should at least be an explanation.”

Cheng Antai came from the Hall of Justice and now also served as its chief elder; he liked to reason things out more than anything.

At his words, the others quickly agreed.

Yin Biyue couldn’t shake the feeling that Luo Mingchuan was behaving unusually today.

But he still told himself to relax—yes, the promised divine assist wouldn’t be wrong.

Luo Mingchuan took a deep breath. Say what?

If he hadn’t used Jialan’s pupil technique, he might never have known the reason.

But his junior brother was still so young; this was only a momentary dependence. When he grew up and became sensible, he might even have a girl he liked—after all, the proper path is the harmony of yin and yang. If he revealed now that his junior brother admired him, wouldn’t that cut off his future?

A junior disciple so proud and self-respecting to his core would certainly never want anyone to know.

Moreover, it was my responsibility in the first place.

The young man bowed his head. “It wasn’t my junior disciple’s fault; it was mine. I was drunk back then… I once attempted to force myself on him. My junior only meant to teach me a lesson; he had no intent to harm or involve others! It is all my fault. As for the matter of Cangya’s thirty-two disciples being endangered, I am willing to bear the responsibility alone!”

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Drunk back then? Attempted coercion? What does that mean?

This—surely it can’t be what they’re thinking.

It was still Yin Biyue who reacted first, her eyes widening, “Luo Mingchuan! What nonsense are you talking?!”

The ever-impassive youth’s expression shifted abruptly, panic and annoyance showing between his brows and eyes.

Everyone’s hearts trembled — could this really be true? If not, why such fury? Could it be a clumsy attempt to cover it up?!

Of all people, Cheng Antai nonetheless asked seriously, “Is this true? Disciple Luo, you can’t say something like that lightly.”

For a moment, all kinds of doubtful, unsettled gazes swirled between the two of them.

Zheng Yangzi’s face went from ashen to white; he trembled, pointing at Luo Mingchuan, unable to speak.

The young man kowtowed hard once more, then lifted the long sword.

“My conduct has been disgraceful; I have failed my master and betrayed Cangya. I am unworthy of this sword. Today, in the Hall of Clear Harmony, do with me as you will.”

When he first entered the sect and became an apprentice, he was then a martial cultivator; Zheng Yangzi had found this sword, “Sinking Boat,” for him.

——The swordsmith Yan Qing’s decade-long labor of love, a gentleman’s sword.

Who would have thought that later the spiritual vein awakened, and it turned out to be more suitable for spiritual cultivation. Zheng Yangzi didn’t want to take it back either, so Luo Mingchuan kept it.

Now Zheng Yangzi looked at the sword, enraged and choked up. He didn’t believe his disciple would do such a damned thing, but he also knew his disciple wouldn’t lie, and for a moment he was so conflicted he couldn’t catch his breath.

Yin Bi was even more eager to roar than he was. How could this be! He did want to evade guilt, that much was true, but not for this reason!

Is this the plan you came up with, protagonist!!!

If this reputation sticks, how will I ever become the big BOSS later on!

He was about to protest when he was cut off.

Liu Qishuang stepped forward two paces, lamenting as if at an iron-willed student, “Junior brother, such a thing happened and you didn’t say anything! Do you expect my Xihua Peak to be unable to protect you, forcing you to endure such wrongs!”

Senior sister, this is really not the moment to pile on!

Yin Bi, so flustered he spoke without thinking, “There was no grievance at all. I was never a good person to begin with!”

“Ding—villain line ‘I was never a good person’ detected, condition met, halo activated!”

Yin Bi was so moved she cried!!!

Perfect timing!!

Conscience halo!!

He Yan Yun was about to defend Luo Mingchuan, but somehow, when her gaze fell on the person standing in the hall, she suddenly found herself unable to speak.

The lean young man, from the moment he entered until now, whether facing being pointed at by a thousand people or withering mockery, had not offered a single explanation nor shown a hint of expression.

Only when Senior Brother Luo said those words did he suddenly become agitated; his voice shot up sharply, as if eager to conceal something.

I was never a good person to begin with.

Who would willingly say that about themselves?

Actually, he must have endured a lot of grievances…

Not just He Yanyun; almost everyone had a similar thought surface in their minds.

Yin Biyue quickly realized something was wrong.

Everyone looked even stranger at him; some showed sympathy and pity, others felt sorrowful regret. Those looking at Luo Mingchuan were either conflicted or filled with righteous indignation.

No, wait, wasn’t the aura supposed to be in effect? How could this be?!

Weren’t you supposed to scare them to tears with just one look?!

Duan Chongxuan stepped out and stood beside Liu Qishuang. “Senior brother, you’re unwilling to reveal the truth, but who has been threatening you?”

Liu Qishuang seemed to have thought of something. “Also, I visited half a month ago. Back then the junior brother still had dark hair; now he has three thousand white hairs. Isn’t that strange?”

No no no, stop it, brain!

Before Yin Bi could speak, Duan Chongxuan continued on “Senior sister, that’s your slip of the tongue. White hair is often a sign of demonic descent; though the Sect Master sealed Senior Brother’s cultivation, he never led him astray… And Brother Luo, what are you saying? You are now the first disciple of Cangya, a person of high standing—how can you casually take the blame for someone else?”

Zheng Yangzi snapped, “You… you are talking nonsense!”

Duàn Chóngxuān’s words were praise on the surface but condemnation beneath: he rebuked Luo Mingchuan for improper, bullying behavior and at the same time subtly accused him, as Sect Master, of being unjust and shielding his own disciples—of wrongfully blaming Yin Biyue before the facts were known. He even tried to tie Yin Biyue’s white hair to him, each phrase striking at the heart.

Sure enough, everyone’s looks grew even colder.

At that moment, the man who was the head seat of Xihuafeng spoke.

“Junior Brother Duan, step back.”

His voice was soft, yet seemed to contain a certain power. It carried far, like ancient, unchanging ice and snow, settling into each person’s heart.

Yin Bi looked up toward the sound.

This was the first time he had studied Jun Yu closely.

A long, dark robe with crossed collar, plain and unadorned, his black hair cascading like a waterfall. His brows and eyes were as sharp and cold as blades, his thin lips like cicada wings. Though clearly seated on a chair, he seemed like an incomparable divine weapon—mere sight of him sent a chill, making one unable to look directly.

From the beginning until now, this cold-featured man had spoken only one sentence.

When he did not speak, it seemed few people paid him any attention.

But once he spoke, no one dared say another word.

Duan Chongxuan and Liu Qishuang also quietly stepped back.

Everyone fell silent, waiting to see his stance.

Zheng Yangzi exhaled in relief—there was still Jun Yu, sensible and composed, worthy of being Wei Jingfeng’s disciple and the senior brother of Xihua Peak…

The praised person turned and said to the boy holding the sword, “Go fetch my sword.”

Zheng Yangzi felt the world go black before his eyes.

The boy holding the sword responded with a “Yes” and then retreated.

The entire main hall was as silent as death.

After who knew how long, Zheng Yangzi cleared his throat, as if about to say something.

The boy entered holding the sword case, countless gazes fixed on it as if trying to pierce the aged peachwood.

Zheng Yangzi howled inwardly—it’s over, it’s over, Xi Huafeng’s old problem has resurfaced: protecting his own and being unreasonable.

One Wei Jingfeng leaves, and another Jun Yu arrives!

As if fate weren’t cruel enough, Luo Mingchuan spoke again, “Master, every word I say is true. For causing the thirty-two disciples of Cangya to fall into danger, I am willing to take the blame for him!”

Zheng Yangzi really wanted to throw him to Xihua Peak and have him killed!

…But no matter how much of a bastard he was, after all he was a disciple he’d raised with his own hands.

Zheng Yangzi sighed, his tone softening, “Disciple Yin, has the wicked apprentice wronged you in any way?”

“Absolutely nothing happened! He has nothing to do with it!”

Yin Bi knelt down even faster!

Finally it was his turn, the person involved, to speak!

But in his mind there seemed to ring a cold electronic voice: beep beep, your teammate’s IQ has gone offline.

Master Xi Pingfeng cleared his throat, “In my view, perhaps Disciple Luo harbors feelings for Disciple Yin that aren’t reciprocated, and the young man acted on impulse… Fortunately no great harm was done, ahem, Junior, put your sword away and let’s talk this out properly, shall we…”

Xi Pingfeng was always good at calming things down and turning big issues into small ones.

Zhengyangzi had long hated this kind of unprincipled placating; now he nodded repeatedly, “Right, right.”

Master Xi Lingfeng also spoke, “Young people’s private matters are best settled by themselves. If we punish him severely and make a spectacle of it, and it gets spread around, it would, after all, be going too far…”

Other peak masters also chimed in, “Exactly so.”

Liu Qishuang pondered; she didn’t care about Luo Mingchuan, but this junior disciple’s reputation wasn’t good either.

What she could think of, others naturally could too.

The man’s knobby hand rested on the sword case. Almost at the same moment, a clear ringing of a sword sounded in the depths of everyone’s souls, causing them to startle.

The icy voice sounded again, “Today’s matters end here. Those who know must not spread them.”

After speaking, he looked toward Zheng Yangzi.

Zheng Yangzi knew Jun Yu was asking for his opinion, and at last gave him a measure of face. He therefore said, “Everyone remember, this matter must not be spread.”

Jun Yu nodded, handed the sword case to the boy, and then rose from his seat.

Liu Qishuang and Duan Chongxuan followed behind him.

Yin Bi watched those few junior brothers approach, her heart tangled into a complete mess… What should she say?

Say thank you? The assist was in the completely wrong direction! It made it sound like he really was almost taken out by Luo Mingchuan or something!

Don’t say thank you? He didn’t have much of a relationship with the original, yet he helped this much—it’s more than just doing his duty!

Where would a villain get comrades who protect his faults? Wrong set, people! Is this the wrong scene!

Soon he realized he’d overthought it; when Jun Yu walked up in front of him, he couldn’t utter a single word.

The man lifted his hand from beneath his wide sleeve, a faint coolness on it, and placed it on his brow.

A crisp breath flowed from his fingertips into his spirit seat.

Like a spring trickling through, where it passed the invisible fetter inside him suddenly vanished; a vast true essence gushed from the sea of qi, quickly surging into his limbs and bones, as if every inch of muscle re-stretched and every bone was filled with power.

He instantly felt wholly refreshed, his mind clear and invigorated.

Jun Yu unsealed his cultivation.

Yin Bi was momentarily stunned; the sensation of possessing power felt simply wonderful.

The man then said calmly, “It’s not a case of demonic deviation.” He added to the other two, “Escort Junior Brother back to rest.”

Duan Chongxuan laughed, “Fourth Senior Brother has suffered this setback; he really should take a good rest.”

Liu Qishuang said, “I’ll go invite Elder Ning and have him conduct a thorough inspection.”

Yin Bi was almost escorted out of the Qinghe Hall by the two of them.

The other peak masters also rose and took their leave one after another.

Luo Mingchuan watched the young man’s retreating back, but suddenly his view was blocked by a tall figure.

Jun Yu walked toward him step by step, stopped three paces away, and looked him in the eye.

Luo Mingchuan was instantly rooted to the spot, immobilized; an earth-ruining, sky-darkening chill surged through him in an instant, as if standing at the edge of an abyss, a sword hanging above his head!

He almost thought the next second the wooden box would burst open, and that sword—capable of cleaving mountains and leveling shores—would fly out across the sky and pierce his chest.

It felt as though he had been tormented in ice for ten years, when in truth it was only a breath. Jun Yu turned and left.

Luo Mingchuan leaned forward, breathing heavily.

Only then did he realize cold sweat had soaked his clothes.

He Yanyun, who had been standing nearby in a daze, finally dared to rush over and tried to help; after a few attempts she couldn’t lift him and cried anxiously, “Senior Brother Luo, are you all right? Are you hurt?”

This time Zheng Yangzi didn’t intervene.

He knew he couldn’t stop Jun Yu. Luo Mingchuan would also be fine — a light punishment to warn him. In any case, restraint had been shown.

I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Good—this mess was finally over… I was just thinking about dragging my disciple back for a good beating.

Then I saw that unfilial apprentice actually stand up and chase after him, “Let me see my junior brother! I have something to say to him!”

I’ll beat you to death, you damned fool who’s asking for it!

Author’s note: I didn’t catch all the bugs last time, so I’m catching them again~

The domineering, arrogant senior brother is online~ The chatterbox fifth junior brother is online~ The tomboyish second senior sister is online~ The saintess with a strange mindset is online~ Halo is online~

Everyone log in together for this chapter!~~

Yin Biyue: I have so many teammates—why are all the assists going in the wrong direction?!

Scrap paper: …the author’s IQ has gone offline