Surprisingly, Cheonma didn’t cause any special conflicts with the group.
He unexpectedly readily helped with camping preparations and meal preparations, and was also very skilled at hunting. Our team was by no means lacking in any area, yet Cheonma easily took care of most tasks with his lone martial skills.
Separately from that, I do have a bit of concern. Cheonma himself said he would help with my trial, but no matter how I think about it, I don’t see a way for him to actually do so.
The title “Cheonma” is a general term for all the successive leaders of the Devil Sect. In other words, the primary enemy of the Central Plains martial world.
Just being with Cheonma can lead to great misunderstandings. To begin with, I, too, used to automatically attack Blood Sect or Devil Sect members before being expelled from the Namgung family.
So how can Cheonma possibly support me in the trial? Though it’s not entirely trustworthy, I choose to believe him because Cheonma isn’t the type to spout empty words.
During the time we’ve spent together, I’ve come to realize that Cheonma is, surprisingly, quite an ordinary person. Maybe he’s pretending to be an ordinary person.
He laughs when it’s time to laugh, eats when it’s time to eat, and sleeps when it’s time to sleep. There was nothing particularly fussy about him.
I was a little puzzled. Of course, I’ve never experienced living peacefully with Cheonma like this, but Cheonma is someone who doesn’t hesitate to use others as tools for the sake of her husband.
Cheonma is both similar and different from Hong Ryun. Hong Ryun may lack a moral sense but retains basic human kindness. However, Cheonma appears to transcend human limits and lacks even that basic kindness. That’s how I remember her.
The Cheonma I know was a madwoman.
She didn’t value anything in this world, the vast expanse of all living beings, not even herself. It’s not that she disrespected or looked down on them, but rather she saw everything in this world as one-dimensional tools.
The only thing she cherished was her husband. Because she didn’t want to believe in his death, she used me as a tool to stop time.
It wasn’t just me who suffered and was harmed. Of course, only I remember it, but Cheonma has a daughter just like me.
What kind of mother ties up her daughter’s life for nearly ten thousand years? Even if it’s for her husband, I can’t comprehend it at all.
She has an extreme nature. She always said her first priority was her husband, and her second priority was her daughter, but even so, erasing everything except her first priority is something impossible for a person with normal thinking.
Speaking of which, it’s a little curious.
In the past, the reason for Cheonma’s life was her husband.
What reason does the Cheonma of now, who has let go of her husband, have for living?
When I think of her temperament, it wouldn’t be strange for her to throw herself in at any time, complaining that life is tedious. Moreover, she wasn’t someone who desired immortality.
“You’re not much different either.”
Cheonma said.
“…Excuse me?”
“Exactly as I said. Over these past few days, living with you all, you didn’t differ much from me or him.”
“Well, isn’t that natural? People are inherently similar.”
“Yes, that’s true…”
Cheonma looked at the floor with a self-mocking expression.
“It doesn’t suit you.”
“Hmm?”
“What you mean is that it’s strange seeing you radiate a dark atmosphere.”
“…Really? What was I like before?”
“You were always cheerful. Occasionally, you were so emotionless it was a bit disturbing.”
“I see, that’s what I was like…”
“…?”
Does someone of Cheonma’s stature really not realize their own behavior?
“Now, I somewhat understand the meaning of what he said… What I’ve done…”
“…??”
The Cheonma I know wouldn’t leave things unsaid like this. Why is she acting this way?
While thinking about this peculiar behavior of Cheonma with doubts, Hong Ryun suddenly pointed somewhere and spoke.
“Benevolent one? It seems we’ve arrived, hasn’t it?”
“Arrived, you say?”
“That over there, isn’t it the Taiyuan fortress, one of the two great fortresses in Shanxi Province? Isn’t there a military office inside?”
After listening to Hong Ryun’s words, I turned my gaze toward where her finger was pointing to see a large fortress in a rectangular shape stretching out.
I didn’t notice because I was talking with Cheonma. The Phoenix Fortress of Taiyuan, which I had visited several times before — one of the two great mountains in the Shanxi province. A massive and sturdy fortress.
A fortress that had almost always collapsed and burned in most of the chapters, but seeing it standing so firmly now gives me a sense of pride.
“There it is.”
“Wow… I’ve been here occasionally too, and it’s really massive.”
“Byul Rak, are you sure my trial will be held at the government office? Confirm it one last time.”
“It was clearly written in the letter. There’s an official seal on it, so it’s certain.”
Clang—
Though I’ve attained the realm where sweat doesn’t come, my heightened senses can tell that the temperature of this area is quite high.
Even under the scorching summer sun, others with great martial abilities might be unaffected, but Jin Gayoung will certainly feel the heat.
I silently gathered water Qi from the Great Nature’s internal energy and subtly dispersed it around us. This way, we should remain quite refreshed until we enter the fortress.
*
After proving our identities, we entered the city. Cheonma, whose status in the Central Plains is unknown, sneaked in using her own martial arts skills.
Jin Gayoung suggested that we should prepare a bribe for the presiding judge of the trial, but upon hearing that the judge was a “Iron-Faced Judge,” she quickly resigned herself. The Iron-Faced Judge Bao Qingtian, his reputation is even known to someone like Jin Gayoung, the leader of a martial arts sect.
Even though the famous fair judge Bao Qingtian is overseeing this case, I can’t fully relax. Just looking at the falsified evidence presented in the world, I’m clearly guilty. I need to countermeasure against whatever tricks they’ve prepared for this trial.
Guided by the waiting prison guards, I headed directly towards the government office. Jin Gayoung, Jade Flower, and Hong Ryun, not having the same status as me, had to separate from me. We’ll meet again on the day of the trial.
“Sword Sage, the judge shall arrive shortly.”
Since I’m not yet convicted as a criminal, I was not restrained physically by having a sword at my neck or anything like that. Instead, I had to stay in a solitary cell designated by the official’s quarters.
“However well-known you may be in the martial world… this is the government office. Show some respect. I believe you’re aware that countless ruffians who relied solely on their martial skills have been easily subdued by the government troops.”
This was said by a mere prison guard, but I silently nodded.
Living a life unrelated to the martial world, he seems unaware of my renown. However, I am confident that I won’t yield even if dozens of government troops swarm me. Their barrage of canon fire would fall short compared to the devastating power of my spear thrusts.
But there’s no need for that. Being at odds with the government would destroy the everyday peace. As long as the result of the trial doesn’t turn out strangely, it won’t come to that.
Creak—
Right at that moment, someone opened the wooden door of the enclosed room and walked in.
The person who entered was looking down on me forcefully while I was sitting cross-legged.
“Are you Namgung Bin of the Namgung family, who will be the main figure in this trial?”
His voice was deep and intense. It was a voice that could manipulate people.
“Yes.”
“I am Bao Qingtian, the judge responsible for this trial. I’m currently the Magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture.”
“Your reputation precedes you, Magistrate Bao.”
“I’ve also heard your name countless times. If you show even the slightest interest in the world’s affairs, it’s an impossible name to overlook.”
“You flatter me far too much.”
“However, I’d like you to avoid misunderstanding.”
Bao Qingtian, he was a middle-aged man with a rather dark complexion. His unusual skin tone, rare in the Central Plains, caught my attention immediately.
“Whatever your past has been, this trial will be judged thoroughly by evidence, witnesses, and circumstances. Don’t expect any special preferential treatment.”
“That’s what I hope for. A trial must be fair.”
“Surprisingly composed. Most criminals usually try to bribe their way through this situation.”
“Don’t you always expect bribes? Are you testing me?”
“Hmm.”
“Stop it. Anyone who knows even slightly about you wouldn’t fall for that trick. And I sincerely desire a fair trial. Truly.”
It was a light trap. A probing attempt at my nature.
But I mustn’t fall for it. Bao Qingtian is the most cold-headed person in the world. A famed judge who has unraveled countless complex cases, and someone who does not distinguish between high and low in his verdicts, regardless of external pressures.
Even royal relatives have been promptly dismissed from their positions when they broke the law, and he once even sentenced the emperor to a cane punishment. Of course, no one dared to actually cane the Emperor, so punishment was administered instead on his ceremonial robe.
That signifies that he is an official with strict principles.
“You’re admirable to look at. Any words about this trial?”
“I’m curious why the government office suddenly summoned me here.”
“The people who filed the complaint against you are the Chief Inspector, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Eastern Depot. Do you have any grudges against them?”
“The Chief Inspector? Isn’t he the highest official in the government? The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot are the emperor’s sword. What reason do they have to file a complaint against me?”
In this life, I haven’t even had a single conversation with them. There’s no time or reason for grudges.
“There are countless charges they could lodge. The streets themselves are crimes. But… what the Magistrate is asking is why they moved when they usually don’t unless they are paid.”
“Money, you say… ah, I understand. The true complainant behind this trial. Now it makes sense that something felt odd. There’s someone pulling the strings behind this.”
“Is it? Can you hint to me who it is?”
“There’s no difficulty in that. I’ll reveal it when the trial starts. After all, by then, everything must be unveiled.”
At my words, Magistrate Bao Qingtian nodded in agreement. Renowned for his punctuality, it seems Magistrate Bao dislikes wasting time unnecessarily.
The two potential masterminds are the Emperor and Namgung Bin. The Emperor, capable of mobilizing the Chief Inspector, the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has no connection to me and therefore no motivation to file a complaint.
The other is Namgung Bin. If Namgung Bin bribed the Chief Inspector, and that official rallied the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the explanation fits.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“Do you have any other matters to address?”
“This is a pre-trial investigation. Do you admit to the crimes attributed to you?”
“I haven’t even heard the specific charges yet.”
“All the rumors circulating… hmm, your refusal suggests you don’t admit them, do you? Your claim is that they are all false accusations?”
“Precisely so.”
“Indeed, I see. We’ll let the truth come out in the process. Until then, we’ll see. See you at the trial.”
Magistrate Bao was about to leave with that final remark, walking out with great vigor. However, his confident strides stopped just as he turned around and muttered another word at the door.
“Towards evening, your family will visit. A kind of meeting.”
“…!”
“They’ve been apart for a while, haven’t they? It may or may not be pleasant for you, but as someone who has witnessed countless people who shed tears in regret upon the executioner’s block, it’s my advice to you.”
“Your last meeting, you said?”
“If this is your final meeting with Lady Yu, don’t leave any regrets or lingering attachments behind. Make the most of it. They were once part of your household after all.”
“…”
