“If only….”
Bin Namgung’s mind began to whirl in complexity. The knots tied within were reaching a point where they couldn’t be undone without a blade.
“Did Soeun Yu really bring Cheolbin’s diary? If so, when and where did she find it?”
The first place that came to mind was the bedroom or study that Namgung Cheolbin used to occupy. However, Namgung Bin quickly shook his head realizing it was impossible.
After exiling Namgung Cheolbin, Namgung Bin thoroughly investigated and cleaned up any traces left behind. If there were items that might stir feelings in Soeun Yu, he either stored them in his own office or destroyed them.
But there was one place he hadn’t completely cleaned up. Namgung Bin’s thoughts drifted to that location.
Deep beneath the Namgung estate, there was a small cellar. This secret warehouse, created by Namgung Cheolbin during wartime, could not be entered by anyone who didn’t know the specific “condition” for entry.
Of course, given Namgung Bin’s meticulous nature, there was no reason to leave the basement untouched, but some items inside refused to be tampered with by outsiders. There were objects like the Qing Guang Sword that would cut down anyone foolish enough to meddle with them.
As a result, Namgung Bin couldn’t freely handle anything in the cellar. This was also the reason he had revived Blood Demon with Gong Cheongsiuyou (a special elixir) and then had her limbs severed before storing her in the cellar.
Still, what if…
Soeun Yu had entered the cellar and discovered Cheolbin’s diary, something he himself didn’t even know existed?
“Damn. I’ve been too focused on Cheolbin and Guan Zun, neglecting the most important woman.”
His mind darkened like it was obscured by storm clouds. All of his efforts to kill Namgung Cheolbin and frame him for crimes were for the sake of reclaiming Soeun Yu, but if this happened, it would all be meaningless.
“This is a ridiculous mistake. Four years of preparation are about to crumble unexpectedly…”
The only remaining hope was not knowing what was written in the diary. Since he fainted while visiting Cheolbin, he supposedly missed today’s trial, implying that he might not be on good terms with Cheolbin now.
However, this was merely wishful thinking, far removed from reality.
Soeun Yu fully believed the false accusations against Namgung Cheolbin. They had been such a loving couple that she trusted him without question, which made Namgung Bin once wonder if there was something he didn’t know. Though unable to find any clues, he eventually dismissed it.
But now, there was no denying it. Soeun Yu had undoubtedly looked at him with a gaze filled with murderous intent. That is, it was highly probable she knew he had framed Cheolbin.
“Damn. I thought everything was going smoothly, but I overlooked the most crucial thing.”
Namgung Bin gazed complicatedly at the hall where the trial was taking place. His mind needed to be sorted out quickly, yet the emergence of the diary complicated the trial.
“What should I do now with this situation…?”
As he was deeply contemplating, a faint metallic sound could be heard, audible only to him.
A bone-chilling cold and the sharpness of steel grazed the back of his neck.
It was a familiar energy. Like a sword blade perfectly sharpened by a great blacksmith of the realm.
“Ahh, my son, it’s been a long time.”
The voice that followed was that of a young woman, alluring and clear, devoid of any hostility.
However, Namgung Bin remained on edge. On the contrary, the situation demanded even more caution and tension.
“I explicitly told you not to interfere with the Swordsage again, didn’t I? You’ve grown quite arrogant.”
Namgung Bin slowly turned his head back. Surely, it couldn’t be… in such a crowded place, the Queen of Shadows was walking freely, impossible…
“Are you not afraid of the wrath of the Sword?”
“Hell.”
The woman’s voice grew fainter, as Namgung Bin’s ears stopped functioning due to a sudden cut. The ghostlike woman behind him was responsible.
When he finally fully turned his head, he saw a large bamboo hat. The hat that covered the woman’s face and hair framed a blade sharper than steel targeting his neck.
A similar sound was heard from the opposite side. The energy was even fainter, yet the sense of murderous intent was incomparably greater.
The power itself was insignificant, but the concentration of killer intent was so dense that Namgung Bin trembled under the downpour of hostility.
“You were the ones who slandered my uncle, weren’t you? I heard everything.”
“Young one, why do you call him ‘our’ uncle? Don’t fabricate something that belongs solely to me.”
“…! That’s not important right now…!”
Turning his head again, he saw a girl he didn’t recognize.
Her hair black as flowing streams, her radiant golden eyes—Namgung Bin didn’t recognize her face but deduced her identity from the giant battle axe on her back.
Moon Blossom, allegedly missing from the Taewon Jin Clan, one of the Wu Lin Seven Flowers. It was puzzling why she was targeting his neck.
“Sal, Moon Blossom, both of you stop. If we keep this up, people might notice.”
“That’s quite the hypocrisy coming from someone who’s known for not thinking twice about drawing swords, isn’t it?”
“Still… her name, Jade Flower, known for slicing through righteous or not without hesitation, is indeed famous…?”
“…”
The sharp, cutting intent that felt ready to tear him apart at any moment could be sensed from behind as well. From a familiar voice, and with disbelief, Namgung Bin turned his head.
“…! Jade Flower…?”
“General, it’s been a while. Or should I call you Master of the Namgung Family now?”
It was truly her. As white eyes and white hair as Namgung Cheolbin, Jade Flower stood with an edge aimed at Namgung Bin, a master of Kunlun who tolerated no evil.
Even among the spectators, the audience, with high-level martial artists, didn’t care about the mock swords formed merely by their palms.
Surrounded on three sides, only the front remained as an exit, where the trial was still underway. It was practically a siege on all sides.
‘This…’
A line of dry saliva trickled down Namgung Bin’s dry throat.
‘I thought it was my trap, but was it Cheolbin’s? Damn, how far had he planned ahead…!’
In the midst of all this, the unpleasant presence around his neck was entirely a stroke of bad luck.
*
“I, I saw the Swordsage committing murder. At a humble household in Anhui… When a child’s scream caught my attention and I went closer… ”
“I saw it too! When I was caught by Swordsage, I wet myself with fear, but he laughed and let me go, thinking it was funny!”
The witnesses’ testimonies were quite systematic. Po Qingtian scratched his head in thought.
There were pieces of evidence and witnesses. Normally, Swordsage would have been pronounced guilty immediately, but one pesky stone kept tripping him up.
The witnesses’ statements weren’t wrong. They recounted the same incident with almost no discrepancies, and their narrative had no apparent logical flaws.
However, Swordsage’s rebuttals were equally flawless. That was the problem.
“Nonsense. If I had truly done such a thing, I wouldn’t have let them live, would I? Their very existence on that witness stand proves my innocence.”
“You’re lying! You definitely mocked me and let me go…”
“First of all, I’m a law-abiding person. If I had truly done those things, I would have fled immediately upon receiving the official notice. I wouldn’t be standing here if I really committed those crimes or if those witnesses saw them. Would I voluntarily come to trial if I had something to hide?”
Contrary to the icy atmosphere when he first entered the courtroom, Swordsage calmly refuted each point without emotion. Most witnesses could only spit out weak answers in response.
“Here! We have evidence!”
Occasionally, Guan Zun stepped forward with prepared evidence. Things like clothes found at the scene linked to Swordsage.
“Namgong Cheolbin, are these your clothes?”
“Yes, but I distinctly remember leaving them at the Namgong estate four years ago. Don’t frame me by bringing out objects left behind from the family, Guan Zun.”
“Are there any proofs supporting your claim?”
“None, but there’s no proof proving my claim wrong either. Who would have guessed the Guan Family would confiscate clothes I left behind to use as evidence?”
All true. Normally, finding someone’s clothing at a crime scene would serve as decisive evidence, but since all incidents were five to eight years old, absolute certitude was impossible.
“No! I clearly saw Swordsage wearing these clothes as he killed people!”
“… So, what grudge do you hold against me? Judge Sir, I have a request. Investigate whether these thirty witnesses, including Guan Zun, have purely come to accuse me of my crimes.”
Swordsage even introduced a conspiracy theory, turning towards the witnesses with earnestness. Po Qingtian, who was already suspicious of Guan Zun for bribery, couldn’t overlook this.
“Excuse me… I was hit while serving this uncle drinks…”
“Witness, start with your name and identification.”
“Uh… I am Qing of the Lotus House in Anhui…! Five years ago, while serving this uncle drinks… this uncle got drunk and started making trouble, throwing his wine glass, resulting in this… my head…”
The girl showing her hair exposed a gruesome scar on one side of her forehead.
“Are you accusing me of this?”
“Well, you did it! That day you clearly…”
“Absurd. Let me demonstrate.”
Byun Rak casually grabbed a small pebble and flung it at the ground.
Suddenly—
KUUUUUMMMM!!!
The tiny pebble pierced the hard floor for several feet.
“An absolute master like me doesn’t get drunk without San Gong Du poison. Moreover, if I were truly drunk throwing things, her wound wouldn’t have been that measured.”
“Ah…!”
“Indeed. The witness is dismissed. Even if true, someone drunk and throwing things would not have the restraint to cause such wounds.”
PaLang!
As Po Qingtian cross-examined each witness, he simultaneously perused the journal Byun Rak had submitted, cross-referencing the dates of incidents the witnesses described with it.
It wasn’t the only reason, but…
“The journal clearly records everything as a false charge plotted by his younger brother, yet he doesn’t mention it in his defense at all. Is he consciously avoiding it? Does he have a plan?”
During the short gap between dismissing one witness and bringing up the next, Po Qingtian focused deeply.
“Namgong Bin isn’t someone to be underestimated. He seized the family’s power immediately after exiling Swordsage. Perhaps he commissioned this trial through Guan Zun… Hmm.”
Po Qingtian signaled a clerk recording the trial to come forward with a flick of his finger.
The clerk, named Gongson Chaek, had been picked up by Po Qingtian years ago after being denied a top scholar position and was a trusted confidante.
If Pre-Deacon was Po Qingtian’s right hand, Gongson Chaek was his left; if Pre-Deacon was the left, Gongson Chaek was the right hand.
“Summon a search team immediately and raid Guan Zun’s residence.”
“Huh? Immediately?”
“Yes, right now. If they resist, say it’s by the Emperor’s decree. Go ahead.”
“Yes.”
Gongson Chaek immediately handed over his brush to another clerk and departed. Without wasting a moment, Po Qingtian turned to Pre-Deacon.
“Pre-Deacon, did the assassin we captured earlier talk?”
“Not yet. Even with torture and flaying, their mouths are sealed.”
“Typical of assassins, trained by professional slayers. Bring them to the Western Guard. Despite our rivalry with the Eastern Guard, they’re experts in interrogation. They can force them to speak, no matter what.”
“Understood.”
“Remember, we must break the assassin’s silence before this trial concludes.”
