Chapter 181: Public Trial, Evidence of Crime

That afternoon, Yan Xingchang brought a team of people into Tianyi City with great fanfare.

Nearly every faction in Qingzhou had sent spies to Tianyi City, and the city was now bustling.

The brothers Zhang Zuo and Li You had not left Tianyi City either; both were curious about the final outcome.

The couple known as the Heaven and Earth Fiends also hid in the shadows, curious about how Qin Xiao would survive this calamity.

Qin Xiao’s disciples had all come to Tianyi City as well, though they arrived alongside the elders of their respective sects.

It was the first time in Qingzhou that someone had killed an official of the Heavenly Dynasty, so everyone wanted to know what the outcome would be.

“Qin Xiao, don’t be foolish. This is all I can help you with.”

Ling Ruoxue had disappeared for two days and returned to Tianyi City today.

Yao Tiansheng naturally would not miss this moment worth celebrating, so he waited in Tianyi City as well, wanting to watch Qin Xiao die with his own eyes.

Not long after Yan Xingchang brought his men into the city, the City Lord Manor issued an announcement: the criminal had been captured, and a public trial would commence in a quarter of an hour.

Everyone who received the news hurried to the largest plaza in the city, waiting for the trial to begin.

Inside the City Lord Manor.

“Qin Xiao, I have arranged everything properly. Are you prepared?”

Yan Xingchang entered Qin Xiao’s room and asked.

“Sir, rest assured, I have prepared blood packs. Once they are struck, they will burst open, guaranteeing a bloody mess.”

Since it was a performance, it naturally had to be thorough. Qin Xiao had prepared numerous blood packs to attach to his body. Given his Body Refinement cultivation, if a few lashes left him completely unscathed, how could they possibly wrap up the act?

“Good, you’re quite clever. I will personally administer the whipping. Don’t worry, my whipping technique is top-notch; it’s guaranteed not to truly injure you.”

Yan Xingchang was pleased with Qin Xiao’s preparations. The kid was bold and meticulous, though a little too young and arrogant. Still, he had talent, courage, and good fortune. No wonder the Governor-General wanted to recruit him.

“I will go make preparations. Someone will come to tie you up shortly; be sure to cooperate.”

Seeing that Qin Xiao was ready, he needed to get the trial underway.

Ever since Yan Xingchang’s arrival, Chen Lou had been banished to a side room. The entire City Lord Manor had been requisitioned by Yan Xingchang, leaving Chen Lou completely in the dark about what was happening.

A quarter of an hour later, everything was prepared at the plaza in Tianyi City.

The square was packed with people: ordinary onlookers, even more spies from factions large and small, and several people who knew Qin Xiao.

Yan Xingchang wore his official robes and sat in the chief judge’s seat, flanked by two officials: a chief clerk on one side and a chief constable on the other.

One judge, one recorder, one man to administer the punishment—the makeshift court was ready. Get faster updates on NovelPing.

“Bring Qin Xiao forward.”

Yan Xingchang called out.

Moments later, Qin Xiao was bound to a wheeled cross and pushed out into the open.

To facilitate the upcoming flogging punishment, he had already been tied up beforehand.

“Qin Xiao, you murdered an official of the Heavenly Dynasty. Do you admit your guilt?”

Yan Xingchang questioned the bound youth.

“I do not admit guilt. I did not murder a Heavenly Dynasty official, but I do admit to killing a man named Chen Shunyi.”

Qin Xiao denied it flatly.

“Under the watchful eyes of the public, you still dare to quibble? Do you take me for a fool?”

Yan Xingchang put on a show of anger.

“Sir, every word I say is true. Everyone in Tianyi City knows what happened. Chen Shunyi claimed to be a Heavenly Dynasty official, but when I asked for proof, he could produce nothing. Besides, techniques such as disguise arts exist. I took him for an impostor posing as a Heavenly Dynasty official, so I killed him. I was ridding the Heavenly Dynasty of a villain!”

Qin Xiao spoke without changing his expression or missing a beat, treating the whole affair as a routine stage play.

“Even if he could not produce proof, he remained an official of the Heavenly Dynasty.”

Yan Xingchang pressed the accusation further.

“If you put it that way, sir, then I am truly baffled. I investigated this Chen Shunyi. The man committed every manner of evil, bullied the weak, and stopped at no wickedness. If you now declare such a person to be a Heavenly Dynasty official, are we to suppose that all Heavenly Dynasty officials are cut from the same cloth?”

Qin Xiao immediately countered.

“Nonsense! Do you know the penalty for slandering Heavenly Dynasty officials?”

Yan Xingchang feigned even greater fury.

“I speak no nonsense. I have evidence of Chen Shunyi’s crimes.”

Qin Xiao knew it was time to introduce the evidence.

“Where is this evidence? If you cannot produce it, I shall certainly add to your crimes.”

“Sir, the evidence is in my tunic. If you doubt me, have someone search for it.”

“You there, go see if he truly has evidence.”

Yan Xingchang instructed the chief constable beside him to search Qin Xiao’s tunic for the proof.

Up to this point, the onlookers noticed nothing amiss, all of them marveling at Qin Xiao’s fearless defiance of authority and deeming him a real man. Follow the newest chapters on novеlping.com.

Sure enough, the chief constable retrieved a booklet from Qin Xiao’s tunic.

“Present it.”

Seeing the constable looking at him with the booklet in hand, Yan Xingchang ordered him to bring it forward.

Taking the booklet, Yan Xingchang pretended to flip through its pages, letting an appropriately grim expression settle over his face.

“The matters recorded in this booklet will require verification by this office. If it is discovered that you have falsely accused a Heavenly Dynasty official, your punishment will be far graver. The trial is suspended for a quarter of an hour while I verify the authenticity of this information. We shall resume shortly.”

With that, Yan Xingchang stood up and walked toward the back.

What the hell was there to verify? The Immortal Dao Merchant Association had supplied the information, and many of the crimes were already recorded at the Governor-General’s office. But since they were putting on an act, they had to see it through.

Once Yan Xingchang departed, the spectators began to murmur amongst themselves.

“Could that Grand Commander really have been a scoundrel who committed all sorts of atrocities?”

“It would appear so. Didn’t you see the expression on that lord’s face change? No wonder Qin Xiao killed him-he was an evil official.”

“Perhaps this Qin Xiao really might escape this disaster after all.”

“Don’t be foolish. Even if that Grand Commander was an evil official, it is for the Heavenly Dynasty to pass judgment. For Qin Xiao to take his life was a direct challenge to the majesty of the Heavenly Dynasty.”

Everyone held their own opinions. Even if Chen Shunyi’s misdeeds were verified, it did not give Qin Xiao the right to execute him.

“Where on earth did this kid get evidence of Chen Shunyi’s crimes? Could the Immortal Dao Merchant Association have intervened?”

Han Mingyuan watched Qin Xiao with a hint of curiosity. Originally, he had held high hopes for the young man, only to watch him court an even greater disaster.

“Xiao’er, you must be all right. If things truly cannot be salvaged, your master’s wife will avenge you down the road.”

Ye Qiuyue felt helpless. If her opponent were merely at the mid-stage of Body Integration, she would fear nothing, but the chief judge was Yan Xingchang-a late-stage Body Integration expert. Even if she fought with her life on the line, she would stand no chance.

Moreover, she dared not risk the entire Heavenly Clothes Pavilion and the Ye Family. Offending the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty was essentially a death sentence; extermination of the clan would be considered a merciful punishment.

“Master, rest assured. If all else fails, this disciple will risk her life to break your bonds. As long as you can escape, I am willing to take the gamble.”

Yun Man said nothing, but she had already made up her mind.

“Man’er, don’t worry. Qin Xiao will be fine.”

Ling Ruoxue felt entirely at ease the moment the booklet appeared and hastened to comfort Yun Man.

She knew this because she was the one who had personally handed that very booklet to the Qingzhou Governor-General. Its appearance in Qin Xiao’s tunic meant that Qin Xiao had accepted the proposal-which meant he was in no danger of dying.