The trial was intense. Neither Byul Rak nor the Magistrate would budge, fiercely confronting each other. Whenever the Magistrate introduced evidence and witnesses, Byul Rak would refute it with logic.
However, the situation wasn’t entirely evenly matched. Due to the disparity in resources, the trial was gradually tilting in favor of the Magistrate.
“Here is a notch on a blade found in the royal treasury two years ago.”
The Magistrate presented a piece of parchment, continuing with a tone that suggested his pride had been wounded by Byul Rak’s constant rebuttals. He was now genuinely exerting himself.
“More precisely, this drawing was commissioned during the official investigation, with the aid of a master artist. Perhaps a court official unversed in martial arts wouldn’t notice, but this is undoubtedly the aftermath of the Namgung family’s secret technique, the Emperor Sword Form.”
“Namgung Cheolbin, is this Emperor Sword Form correct?”
“It is correct. However, I did not create this mark.”
“You scoundrel! Who else in this world besides you can wield the Emperor Sword Form? Precious treasures stored in the royal treasury vanished alongside this mark, and now you dare to deny it?”
“On the contrary,” Cheolbin replied, “it’s widely known that the Emperor Sword Form can only be mastered by the head family, but that doesn’t mean it’s exclusive to me. Even if I truly had infiltrated the treasury, why would I leave such an obvious clue?”
“…”
“Actually, I would also like to ask why all the evidence presented by the Magistrate feels so forced? If there’s only one or two instances, it might be coincidental, but isn’t this setup suspicious?”
There’s no helping it. The evidence was fabricated. If legitimate proof existed, the trial wouldn’t have dragged on for so long.
“Namgung Cheolbin, most of your arguments are reasonable, but the difference between having and not having evidence is significant. Since traces of your martial arts were found at the crime scene, this is ample grounds to suspect you as guilty.”
“…Two years ago, I was the patriarch of the once-mightiest Daenamgung Family. What could I possibly have needed that would drive me to repeatedly infiltrate the royal treasury? Moreover, my lack of greed is evidenced by the fact that I left the family with nothing but the clothes on my back.”
Most of the onlookers in the courtroom harbored ill feelings toward Byul Rak. Nonetheless, his counterarguments were so logically sound that even they couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
“Hmm… You’re right. There seems to have been no motive to begin with.”
“He’s certainly hiding something from us. The Sword Sage is renowned enough to have his reasons.”
“Still, something about all these pieces of evidence feels off.”
“Not to mention, the traces of the Sword Sage’s martial arts were found at the crime scene!”
Even among the spectators, a spirited debate unfolded. Although the only ones showing favoritism toward Byul Rak were Gayoung Jin, Jade Flower, Hong Ryun, and an accidental passerby, logic was, as always, the strongest counter to emotion.
However, Judge Bao had slightly different thoughts.
‘”Certainly… Once again, he hasn’t mentioned Namgung Bin. If the Emperor Sword Form is only passed down to the head family, then Bin Namgung surely knows it as well. Yet, he intentionally avoids mentioning him. It would’ve been reasonable to suggest that this incident was orchestrated by Bin Namgung and correlate it with the entries in the diary.”
The judge is someone who reads the situation and decides the fate of others.
Judge Bao did not show mercy in sentencing but was not someone who took human life lightly either. The memory of mistakenly executing an innocent person due to misinterpretation lingers deeply in his thoughts, driving him to constant reflection.
Of course, he did not intend to view only one side of this trial which determined someone’s fate.
“Next, please call the next witness forward.”
As the Judge solemnly commanded, an old man wobbled forward from the group of witnesses. This elder had a peculiar black mark under his eyes.
Unlike the other witnesses, this old man, despite his shaking, did not give off an impression of weakness. It was as if he had deliberately concealed his strength.
“State your identity and name.”
“My surname is Wei, and my name is Ji-yun.”
“Wei Ji-yun, and your occupation?”
“I am an apothecary.”
“Apothecary? However, I don’t see your name on the registry…”
Judge Bao flicked through the census, appearing troubled.
“I’m from a foreign land.”
“A foreign land? Where?”
“At the entrance of the Silk Road, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountain.”
“The Hundred Thousand Great Mountain? In that case… ah.”
At the elder’s response, ripples spread through the audience.
Unfamiliar as Judge Bao was with the martial arts world, he understood that the mention of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountain carried serious implications.
“Isn’t entry into the Central Plains forbidden for followers of the Devil Sect? Aren’t you concerned about revealing your identity so openly?”
“I’ve been a naturalized citizen of the Central Plains for quite some time.”
“I see.”
Follower of the Devil Sect.
In other words, a worshipper and follower of the Heavenly Demon. To the Central Plains martial artists, this sect was an even greater foe than the Blood Cult.
While they do not oppose all those who have renounced the sect, a Devil Sect member is never an easily accepted subject, especially among the orthodox martial artists watching in the audience.
“Devil… Why are you stepping forward so rudely?”
“You! Get back to your foul mountain of the heavens before it’s too late!”
Despite the crowd pointing fingers and shouting, the old man flashed a sly smile before addressing Judge Bao.
To the government, it didn’t matter if someone was from the Devil Sect or the Central Plains. Judge Bao was ready to accept the testimony without prejudice.
“While running a medicine shop, I’ve treated numerous practitioners of Devil Sect arts. Those accursed techniques were so vile that they were hard for decent folk to even contemplate.”
“Hold on a moment. Are you attempting to evoke the laws of martial arts? Here, in court, they have no power.”
“Please hear me out. All I ever did for the Devil Sect was two things: using herbal baths to treat wounds and enhancing their bones and muscles. But one day, someone new appeared. Someone directly affiliated with the Sect Leader.”
“…”
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but now I’m certain. It was him. That very Sword Sage came to me asking for ways to expand his demonic energy. With such a chilling demeanor, I couldn’t say a word but agreed. I stand here today to expose the true nature of this hypocrite!”
Although the court of law doesn’t impose restrictions on whether one practices righteous or devilish martial arts, the martial arts world is different. Is it any wonder that the words “exterminate the demons” exist? To a martial artist of the Central Plains, practicing devilish arts is a grave offense punishable by death.
“That’s none of my concern. Rather, why don’t you vent to the audience.”
“They’re already listening.”
He was right. From the moment the word “Hundred Thousand Great Mountain” was spoken, the spectators had been listening intently, channeling their internal energy to focus. After the testimony ended, they turned their glares toward Byul Rak.
Rak, already under suspicion of practicing devilish arts, now faced a rising flame of hatred in the hearts of the martial artists, except for those who knew the truth.
Bin Namgung watched the entire spectacle, clearly satisfied.
“Hmph, it took quite an effort to bribe that elder. Practicing devilish arts might not be an issue for the government, but it’s an unforgivable sin in the martial arts world. Even if Iron Bin loses this trial, he will never be forgiven by the martial world.”
However, there was something he didn’t know.
“To think I’d encounter one of my own followers here in the distant Central Plains… It brings such joy!”
Currently in the courtroom, someone who shouldn’t exist lingered silently in the air, observing.
“Did you run an apothecary for our sect? Do I happen to know you?”
A woman descended right in the middle of the court, parting the air.
Her fiery red eyes burned like flames, and her black hair shimmered like the cosmos, but it was something else that truly captured everyone’s attention.
It was the dark energy emanating from her neck, back, elbows, and knees, writhing menacingly.
Her presence was like that of an incarnated Demon God, causing even Judge Bao, who knew nothing of martial arts, to shiver.
“Who are you? Intruders, reveal your identity!”
Yet Judge Bao tried not to falter as he shouted.
“Me?”
The woman replied with a carefree tone.
“Passerby, Heavenly Demon.”
Since the start, the old man had been participating in the trial with light-hearted intentions.
The faction that had recruited him told him it was a set trial. All he had to do was sprinkle his testimony over a done deal. All the old man could think about was making easy money this way.
Of course, he never imagined that he’d face the Supreme Leader of the sect he’d abandoned.
But then, amidst the frozen world, only she appeared to exist.
“Are you pleased to see me?”
“…”
“Hmm, seems you’re too nervous. Most people who meet me are like that.”
The old man originally joined the trial with a carefree heart.
He was told it would be a straightforward case where he only needed to sprinkle on a bit of his testimony. He was looking forward to making a quick fortune with mere lip service.
Of course, he never once imagined that he would come face-to-face with the Supreme Leader of the sect he’d betrayed.
Everyone held their breath. Even the renowned Divine Judge and the Magistrate showed signs of restraint in her presence.
“By the way, is it true the Sword Sage practices demonic arts? Did the Sword Sage secretly learn our sect’s techniques without my knowledge?”
“…”
“Are you considering joining our sect? If so, we’ll welcome you with all our might. I can’t offer you the Supreme Leader position—that belongs to my daughter—but I can offer you a position just below it: the Left and Right Guardians.”
“That’s preposterous! Why would I consider joining the Devil Sect?”
“Why, then, does that old man accuse you of practicing demonic arts?”
Although the question was directed at the Sword Sage, her piercing gaze was fixed on the old man, Wei Ji-yun. Trembling like a mouse in front of a cat, Wei Ji-yun barely managed to respond.
“It was… two years ago when I was still within the sect, the Sword Sage came to me…”
“How dare you fabricate such nonsense! This is utterly ridiculous!”
A voice rang out from the audience that had been frozen in silence. Soon, several onlookers recognized the speaker and gasped in astonishment.
“Jade Flower! The chief of the Kunlun Sect has also arrived?”
“What did you just say? Preposterous nonsense? Are you saying Jade Flower is taking the side of the Sword Sage?”
“On my honor as Jade Flower, the Sword Sage did not practice demonic arts! There was a time when I too believed the rumors, but the Sword Sage directly proved his innocence to me!”
Originally, she was of an extreme disposition, unable to tolerate wrongdoing easily. Watching these false testimonies was already pushing the limits of Jade Flower’s patience.
Thus, Jade Flower’s patience had long been on the verge of bursting.
“I personally examined the lower abdomen! His dantian was as clean as could be, without a trace of foreign substances!”
At the realization that what she confirmed herself was being denied before her eyes, the accumulated anger erupted like a volcano.
“You say Jade Flower examined you?”
“Jade Flower! Present your evidence! Proof that your word is true!”
The audience, having relaxed somewhat after the Heavenly Demon’s appearance, now focused their attention on Kunlun’s chief, whose reputation was relatively weaker.
Although even Kunlun Jade Flower was one of the paramount figures in Central Plains’ martial world, she wasn’t completely ignored.
“On my honor and the legacy of the Kunlun Sect elders, I assert with confidence, the Sword Sage’s dantian was pure!”
“What nonsense about the dantian! Jade Flower, how exactly did you examine the Sword Sage’s dantian?”
“Didn’t I already say? I touched it with my own hands!”
“Such nonsense! For a martial artist to expose their lower abdomen is tantamount to handing over their life!”
“How desperate must the Sword Sage have been to let me do this just to prove his innocence? Even now, in this trial, why won’t any of you believe in the Sword Sage despite all his arguments!”
With rage boiling to the brim, Jade Flower erupted in fury. Realizing that without solid, indisputable evidence, her words would only backfire, Heavenly Demon interjected to take the lead again.
“Minion.”
“Yes, yes, yes?”
“You are still a follower of our sect. According to our strictest laws against hypocrisy, your lies are ultimately my responsibility.”
“Yes?”
“If you’ve spoken falsehoods, confess now. I’ll show leniency and let this pass for now.”
An escape route was offered, and Heavenly Demon sent a silent pressure toward Wei Ji-yun. Beads of cold sweat streamed down his back.
“This is your only chance. If you confess the truth, I will be forgiving. But if you persist despite my leniency…”
The pressure was enormous. Even a Divine Judge of the Martial Arts couldn’t stand against the “Heavenly Demon”. A mere someone like Wei Ji-yun could do nothing.
Eventually,
“It’s… actually…”
“…”
“I received money… from an unknown group to give false testimony and… In return, they promised me fifty taels of silver…”
Heavenly Demon wore a satisfied smile while Jade Flower, who still had much to say, closed her mouth.
Judge Bao’s reaction was the most intense.
“You admitted to false testimony!”
The question of whether Rak practiced demonic arts was irrelevant to him as a government official. What mattered here was false testimony.
“Yes?”
Initially, since this trial fell under martial law, there wasn’t much Judge Bao could say. But,
“Yuanfang, Magistrate! How could this happen!”
“…”
“How could a witness you brought in commit false testimony? What’s your explanation!”
Because the Magistrate had brought in a false witness, he could be questioned.
“It’s none of my doing. This man offered to testify on his own, and I merely granted his request.”
Of course, the Magistrate wasn’t one to be easily pressured. He quickly cut off any responsibility.
“I…!”
Narrowing his eyes, Judge Bao glared at the Magistrate but could say nothing more. The magistrate was clear that the fault of an individual witness couldn’t be extended to the government.
“You, Wei Ji-yun, then, who commissioned this false testimony? Speak up now.”
“I do not know. All I received were funds without any identifying origin.”
“Since the issue of demonic arts isn’t under the jurisdiction of the court, we cannot detain you for false testimony, but I’ll punish your attempted tax evasion. Take him away and imprison him!”
Hearing Judge Bao’s command, Wei Ji-yun looked toward Heavenly Demon with a panicked expression, but she refused to meet his gaze. Her silent response was telling him to handle it himself.
Subsequently, bailiffs restrained Wei Ji-yun and dragged him away.
“So… Was it true that the Sword Sage never practiced demonic arts?”
“Jade Flower and the Heavenly Demon have testified, didn’t they? That old man admitted to his false testimonies, and… where did the Heavenly Demon go, anyway?”
“Why isn’t the Heavenly Demon around? She was clearly just here… um?”
The audience was thrown into a state of confusion for various reasons. Not only had the Heavenly Demon vanished in an instant, but the first accusation against the Sword Sage had been decisively dismissed as false.
It wasn’t just a minor accusation. One false accusation could easily lead to more. With one having been uncovered, there was no guarantee that more wouldn’t follow.
“If the Sword Sage truly didn’t practice demonic arts… But then how about that black mark under his eye? Didn’t the Sword Sage originally have one?”
“Look at the Sword Sage’s face. It’s as white as snow, without a trace of darkness. What black mark are you talking about?”
“That might be true since even the Heavenly Demon no longer has any marks either… Perhaps once you reach a certain level in martial arts, they disappear automatically. In essence, demonic arts become indistinguishable from righteous ones at their peak.”
“Enough. No one else but Jade Flower has vouched for him so strongly. If it isn’t true, it isn’t. Let’s lay this matter to rest.”
Even in a heated debate favoring Byul Rak, regarding the demonic arts issue, the audience had found their way through.
At that moment, a man who had been sitting in the audience strode confidently toward the court’s center. The two women restraining him had become stupefied over Jade Flower’s mention of examining “the lower abdomen,” giving him the perfect opportunity to break free.
The man was exceedingly corpulent, yet a regal bearing accompanied his gait—unlike any of the previous submissive individuals. An aura of authority, indicative of someone who had once held dominion, exuded from him.
“State your identity and name.”
“Patriarch of the Namgung Clan and the previous Chief of Military from the Martial Arts Alliance, Namgung Bin.”
‘”Truly, these fools… I must personally intervene. That old man Wei Ji-yun wasted so much money on, yet instead of helping, he only hindered…”
“Hmm? Aren’t you Namgung Bin?”
“This man—wasn’t he the one surrounded by women earlier? Is he really Namgung Bin?”
The trial was gradually heating up. Numerous human ambitions clashed without mercy.
And amidst this,
‘Please, step forward just a little more.’
Cheolbin, hunched quietly, waited patiently for the right moment. Like a seasoned hunter lying in wait throughout winter, ready to ambush a mountain beast at just the right time.
‘All of you will be wiped out when the time comes.’
