~~~

News of Elder Cheung's upcoming trial spread like wildfire.

For three days, it is all everyone can talk about, and there is no end to the rumors created as a result. While everyone knows Elder Cheung will be put on trial, the specifics are still a secret to most, prompting no end of theories from the disciples.

Unsurprisingly, it is the most outlandish rumors that gain traction with the disciples. Even those from the Medical Pavillion manage to convince themselves Elder Cheung has torture chambers hidden somewhere in the building.

However, not all have turned against Elder Cheung. As the accusations against him grow, so do his defenders become more ardent. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Medical Pavilion. During his first day there, Liu Jin's main concern was easing the tensions between the Medical Pavilion and the Apothecary.

During the second day, it is the disciples of the Medical Pavilion that turn against each other as Elder Cheung supporters and opposers exchange heated words that always threaten to erupt into violence.

Even with Lu Mei’s help, keeping things under control is a hassle.

It is also a bit of a blessing.

If Liu Jin was only seen acting in favor of those from the Medical Pavilion, he could lose support from members of the Apothecary. That most of his acts suddenly consist of quieting down Medical Pavilion disciples helps solidify his authority with the others. Even those who don’t quite respect him yet are willing to let him handle the more administrative side of the occupation if only so they don’t have to do it themselves. Organizing the examination of the Medical Pavillion’s disciples and going over their records are not things anyone wants to do.

Regardless, if things are already this bad in the Medical Pavilion, where Elder Cheung used to rule, Liu Jin does not want to imagine how bad things are in the rest of the compound. As the date of the trial grows closer, everyone will have to pick a side.

However, it is not Elder Cheung’s guilt they are making their minds on. Not really.

Lord Feng Shang or Lord Feng Gui.

That is the true question on everyone’s minds.

~~~

In preparation for the trial, the many sparring rings inside the Sparring Hall have been removed and several rows of seats added in their stead, enough for well over a thousand people. The center of the building has been cordoned off and left mostly vacant. It is here where Elder Xun, the oldest and wisest of the Elders, will preside over the trial.

On the highest row of seats, an area has been separated for the Elders. For many, it is an overwhelming sight. There are only one hundred Emperor Realm cultivators in the Crimson Cloud Empire, yet the Emperors in this room near the double digits. Some do their best not to look in that direction. Others cannot help but look there.

Regardless, all do their best to remain silent.

It is a pity their best is not enough. As the pressure mounts, the disciples find their tongues becoming loose. Nervousness compels them to speak in hushed whispers. And how can so many whispers be anything but loud? Not only have all the seats been filled three hours before the trial began, but a great number of disciples are standing outside. So many whispers are like the buzzing of a thousand insects.

“It is not often I see a gathering like this.”

The entire room immediately goes quiet.

Elder Xun is a small man with skin weathered like leather. His eyebrows are so bushy they threaten to cover his eyes and his beard is long and white. Nothing about him appears threatening, yet he is someone who climbed all the way to the Ninth Level of the Emperor Realm and realized he could go no further.

To quiet the whole room, Elder Xun did not even need to amplify his voice with Qi. Elder Xun did not even bother opening his eyes. He rarely does as it is rumored he lost his sight a long time ago.

He merely spoke with authority.

“What a pity it is that we must gather to discuss the crimes which Elder Cheung has been accused of.”

Worried murmurs ripple across the room. Elder Xun allows them to, but only for a moment.

“Elder Xue, as the one who brought this issue to light, I am given to understand it is you who will handle the prosecution.”

Elder Xue rises from her seat. In the blink of an eye, she is before Elder Xun.

“That is so Elder Xun. I stand here ready to prove Elder Cheung’s guilt.”

Elder Xun nods with almost deliberate slowness. “I see. I see. Elder Dang, you will be in charge of Elder Cheung’s defense. Correct?”

“Indeed, I will, most venerable Elder Xun,” Elder Dang says as he too takes his place in front of Elder Xun, just a few paces away from Elder Xue. Like Elder Xue did moments ago, he uses Qi to amplify his voice. “As I am in charge of the Division of Internal Disputes, this role is most fitting for me.”

“Is that so?” Elder Xun says with noticeable disinterest. He turns to Elder Xue. “You have Elder Cheung under your custody.”

Elder Xue nods. “That is the case, Elder Xun.”

“Usually, a criminal would be placed in the Punishment House.”

“The matter of Elder Cheung’s guilt has not been settled,” Elder Xue replies. “That is, after all, the motive behind this trial. To hold someone as strong as Elder Cheung in the Punishment House, we’d need to use the lowest level of cells. In the event of his innocence, such a punishment would be far too heavy. This Elder could never live with herself if she made such a blunder. Holding Elder Cheung in the Apothecary was the most humane solution.”

The reaction from the audience is split. Some, like Khong Hu, marvel at Elder Xue’s kindness, for she shows mercy to her enemies and is prudent in word and deed. Others, however, see her words as nothing but empty lies. She did not send Elder Cheung to the Punishment House because there was a chance the other Elders would have freed him if she had.

“I see.” Once again, Elder Xun’s voice is completely neutral. Detached. It is as if his mind is elsewhere. “Regardless, it would be negligent of us to hold a trial without the accused. Elder Xue, if you would.”

Though she does not look pleased with the command, Elder Xue does not object. A transfer circle appears to her left. Elder Cheung’s form slowly rises from it.

Several gasps follow.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

Elder Dang is the one who shouts. However, he is far from the only one shocked. All eyes are on the bound Elder Cheung. His elegant robes have been replaced by multiple restraints and bindings. His eyes are covered, his mouth gagged, and his body tied to a chair and decorated with talismans and chains to hold him in place. Those who have reached the Earth Realm can see at least one hundred and four different barriers surrounding him.

“What have you done to him, Elder Xue?” Elder Dang shouts. “Elder Cheung is still an Elder of the Eternal Flame Clan!”

Many mutter their agreement, yet Elder Xue is unmoved by their outrage.

“Elder Dang,” she says with gentle exasperation. “It is as you say. Elder Cheung is an Elder of the Eternal Flame Clan. I could not possibly use fewer restraints than this.”

“Was it not you who just said his guilt has not been fully established?”

“And neither have we established his innocence,” Elder Xue replies. “Shall I risk all my disciples on what-ifs? Surely, everyone can see that subjecting Elder Cheung to some momentary discomfort now and apologizing for it later is better than letting him have free reign to escape into the night and wreak vengeance at his leisure.”

“That is quite enough,” Elder Xun says. Unlike most people in the room, he is completely unfazed by Elder Cheung’s appearance. He turns his head to Elder Xue. “Elder Xue, it would be unseemly of us to leave Elder Cheung without a voice in his own trial.”

“I can easily restore his senses right now, honored Elder,” Elder Xue says. “Although I would suggest his speech be restored later.”

“You will restore all his senses.”

Elder Xue’s lips thin, clearly not happy with his decision, but there is no room for argument in Elder Xun’s voice.

“Very well.”

With a wave of her hand, multiple talismans burn to ashes, and twenty of the barriers around Elder Cheung vanish. The gag in his mouth and the bindings around his face fall off, leaving Elder Cheung gasping for air as if he had just emerged from the dark depths of the ocean.

“W-What is the meaning of this?” Elder Cheung asks, looking around wildly, his eyes slowly gaining focus. “Why are you all just staring? Do you not see what has been done to me?! Unt—”

“Elder Cheung,” Elder Xun cuts in smoothly but with force. “I would ask that you do not lose your temper. Desperation, though understandable, has no place here. It would serve you better to remain silent until you have been called to speak.”

“But-”

“Am. I. Understood?”

Silence.

Elder Cheung, who is only in the Ninth Level of the Heaven Realm, cannot oppose Elder Xun. Even though they are both Elders, the difference between them is too big. Faced with Elder Xun, Elder Cheung can only nod, completely cowed by a man who never once looked in his direction.

“The accused, the prosecutor, and the defense. All are finally present.” Elder Xun pauses for a moment, his weathered hands folding over each other. His chair creaks a little as he leans back. “Elder Xue, you may begin.”

“Thank you, honored Elder,” she says, inclining her head to him. Her gaze then rises as she addresses not just Elder Xun but everyone else in the room. “Fellow Elders, disciples of all ranks, some of you already know why we are here. Others have no doubt been wondering what would lead us to treat one of our own like this. Well, wonder no more. Days ago, I received proof that Elder Cheung was performing dangerous experiments on our disciples.”

She pauses for a moment, allowing her words to sink into the audience.

“These experiments were not, as some may assume, beneficial. These were not the actions of someone who wanted to improve the cultivation level of the Eternal Flame Clan. Rather, this was heretical experimentation, the breaking of one of our highest taboos! This person was modifying their dantian but not for their benefit. He was doing so to harness the elixir of immortality inside them!”

Chaos ensues.

What had merely been whispers become gasps and shouts. Elder Xue has just accused Elder Cheung of committing the highest taboo among cultivators. Arguments regarding Elder Cheung’s culpability that had been put on hold are suddenly renewed. People scream. Some condemn Elder Cheung. Others call Elder Xue a liar.

“Enough.”

This time, Elder Xun does use Qi. It carries his voice to every corner of the Sparring Hall, almost as if he were right next to everyone at once. The feeling of having him so close to them instantly paralyzes everyone there.

Only once every mouth has been silenced does Elder Xun turn his head in Elder Xue’s direction.

“Elder Xue, continue.”

“Of course, honored Elder.” To Elder Xue’s credit, her voice does not waver. She shows no outward signs of having been affected by Elder Xun’s presence despite standing so close to him. “It is clear now that Elder Cheung was slowly turning some disciples into cultivation pills for his personal use. Considering his level, it should be obvious why he was doing so. By drinking from their elixir, he would increase his likelihood of reaching the Emperor Realm.”

“Lies! She li—”

“Elder. Cheung.”

There is weight in each word that comes from Elder Xun’s mouth. The pressure is such that the bindings Elder Xue has placed on Elder Cheung cannot possibly compare. Many Outer and Inner disciples in the front rows end up fainting.

“Another outburst like that, and I will tell Elder Xue to remake your bindings. Is that understood?”

Elder Cheung does nothing. He is stunned by the weight of Elder Xun’s presence.

“I asked a question. Is that understood?”

“Y-Yes,” Elder Cheung manages to gasp out, his face pasty white and covered in sweat.

“Good. Elder Xue, is there anything you wish to add?”

“Not a thing, honored Elder.”

“I see. I see,” he says as though nothing important had happened. “Regardless, this is a most grievous accusation. Elder Dang, how will you answer it?”

“It is true the accusations against Elder Cheung are grave, but at this moment, they are just that. Accusations,” Elder Dang says, doing an admirable job at pretending not to be affected by Elder Xun. “Elder Cheung is an Elder of the Eternal Flame Clan. As such, he cannot and must not be treated like a common criminal. I intend to have Elder Xue thoroughly prove Elder Cheung’s guilt to the satisfaction of everyone here. If she cannot do so, then she has clearly overstepped her authority and acted rashly.”

“If this Elder has acted rashly, I am fully prepared to accept any punishment for my folly,” Elder Xue says, looking only at Elder Xun.

“Bold words,” Elder Xun says, though it does not sound like he means it. “Call your first witness, Elder Xue.”

~~~