Chapter 182: One Hundred Lashes, a Billion in Fines

Qin Xiao might not know the situation in Qingzhou, but Ling Ruoxue knew. Therefore, when Qin Xiao killed Chen Shunyi and showed no intention of fleeing, Ling Ruoxue devised this plan.

It might not work, but she had to try. If Qin Xiao died, Man’er would be heartbroken, and she would have no one left to fleece for Spirit Stones.

During the two days Qin Xiao awaited trial, Ling Ruoxue mobilized the merchant association’s intelligence network to compile extensive evidence of Chen Shunyi’s crimes.

She then brought this evidence directly to Qingzhou City. Owing to the ties between their two families, she passed into the Governor-General’s mansion without hindrance.

She praised Qin Xiao to the skies, describing him as a peerless prodigy whose talent was almost impossible to find, and asked the Governor-General to protect him.

The Governor-General naturally weighed his own interests. After due consideration, he consented to Ling Ruoxue’s request.

Thus came Yan Xingchang’s two choices for Qin Xiao.

But an operation on that scale could hardly escape the president’s notice. Her father had dragged her home and scolded her for half a day. Rather than miss the outcome, she had slipped back to Tianyi City.

Seeing the booklet taken from Qin Xiao’s tunic, she suddenly felt that everything she had done was worthwhile. Fortunately, Qin Xiao had not acted recklessly this time.

A quarter of an hour later, Yan Xingchang composed his expression and stepped out with a grim look.

“This official has concluded the verification,” Yan Xingchang announced, shaking his head as he resumed his seat. “Never did I imagine that such a corrupt and heinous parasite existed among our Heavenly Dynasty officials. It is a profound disappointment to this official.”

“What? That Grand Commander really was a villain?”

“Verified? If true, Qin Xiao might escape the death penalty.”

“Not necessarily. It all depends on this lord’s mood, seeing as the power of judgment rests entirely in his hands.”

“True enough. If this lord had ties to the Grand Commander, verification changes nothing.”

Everyone was surprised by Yan Xingchang’s words. So Chen Shunyi really was no good.

Yet no one felt optimistic about Qin Xiao’s fate. Officials always protected their own; even verified guilt mattered little when another held the power of life and death.

“Qin Xiao,” Yan Xingchang surveyed the assembly and spoke with feigned reluctance, “since this official serves the Heavenly Dynasty, I naturally will not convict without proof. With so many watching, I must weigh my judgment carefully.”

“My lord, this was all a misunderstanding! Chen Shunyi deliberately targeted me and tried to kill me again and again. I only acted to protect myself. Surely there were mitigating circumstances!” Qin Xiao hastily pretended to beg for mercy.

“Indeed, Lord Yan. Qin Xiao had no other choice,” Ling Ruoxue chimed in swiftly. New chapters come out on novelping dot com first.

“That’s right, my lord! We commoners can all testify that Young Master Qin was forced into it.”

“Indeed! You are Heavenly Dynasty officials, but you cannot issue blind judgments.”

“Precisely! That so-called Grand Commander never looked like an honest man.”

Those commoners whom Qin Xiao had previously rewarded with Spirit Stones during the humiliation of Fang Xiuxian now raised their voices in support. After all, their entire lives had changed because of him.

At first, they had been too cowed to speak. A Heavenly Dynasty official lay dead, and any desire to repay their benefactor could only be expressed by erecting a memorial tablet later.

Now things were different. Someone from the Immortal Dao Merchant Association had spoken first, and they all followed suit. After all, the law could hardly punish the whole crowd.

“What is this?” Qin Xiao thought, slightly bewildered as the crowd rallied behind him. I didn’t hire any extras. Did that official arrange this? Or did Ruoxue?

He had no inkling that the Spirit Stones he distributed previously were now returning their dividends.

This lad Qin Xiao is quite shrewd, even knowing how to rouse the common folk, Yan Xingchang mused. This makes things even better.

With public sentiment pleading for leniency, he had solid grounds for a light sentence. The Supreme Heavenly Dynasty governed the mortal realm and lived off the offerings of the common people; when so many petitioned for mercy, a lenient verdict would draw no censure.

“Very well. Since there were genuine mitigating circumstances, I can give you a lighter sentence for killing Chen Shunyi. He was indeed in the wrong; a man like that is no great loss. But until he was convicted, he was still an official of the Heavenly Dynasty. Killing him challenged the dynasty’s authority. The circumstances allow you to escape death, but not punishment. Do you admit your guilt?” Yan Xingchang appeared to struggle with the decision.

“This humble one confesses,” Qin Xiao replied promptly.

The performance had served its purpose. A trial of this sort was merely a formality.

“Since you admit your guilt, I can show some consideration. Many people have pleaded for you, but you did mistakenly kill a Heavenly Dynasty official, so you must still be punished. I sentence the prisoner Qin Xiao, for defying the Heavenly Dynasty, to one hundred lashes and a fine of one billion Spirit Stones.”

With that, Yan Xingchang delivered the sentence.

“What? One hundred lashes? That can hardly be called light!”

“Be grateful. One hundred lashes might cause grave injury, but at least he keeps his head.”

“They say the whip used for this punishment is a Top Grade Spirit Weapon, and all hundred lashes are delivered at full strength. Someone with weak cultivation would die after ten.”

“You forget, Qin Xiao is a Body Refinement practitioner. The magistrate likely factored that in before handing down a hundred lashes.”

Those who knew about flogging began to worry for Qin Xiao, while others felt this was already the greatest mercy he could receive. After all, he had killed a Grand Commander. Get faster updates on novelping.com.

“What kind of damned luck does this brat have? He gets out of even a certain-death situation like this?”

Yao Tiansheng was furious. He could survive even this?

“I still underestimated him,” Han Mingyuan muttered with a bitter smile, shaking his head. The boy clearly enjoyed the favor of destiny to survive such peril. It seemed wise to cultivate closer ties in the future.

On the trial platform.

“Qin Xiao, do you accept this judgment?”

“I accept. Many thanks, my lord.”

Qin Xiao accepted readily enough. The flogging marked the final act before curtain call.

“Since you accept, I shall administer the hundred lashes myself. If you survive, you will be released without further charges. If you die, you have only your ill fortune to blame.” With that, Yan Xingchang took the whip from the chief constable.

“What? He is wielding the whip himself? Isn’t he still trying to kill Qin Xiao? I thought he had really let Qin Xiao off, but it was only empty words!”

“My lord, we object!”

“Indeed! A light sentence in name, but still shielding your own through violence! What sort of justice is this?”

The spectators broke into an uproar at the sight of Yan Xingchang taking up the weapon.

“Everyone, thank you for your support! Rest assured, I can withstand it,” Qin Xiao called out in cooperation with the spectacle.

Ignoring the commotion, Yan Xingchang strode directly toward Qin Xiao.

“Defying the Heavenly Dynasty’s authority alone is enough to sentence him to death. But there were mitigating circumstances, and if I do not administer the lashes myself, I cannot answer to my superiors. Out of respect for all of you, I have given him a chance to live. If he cannot endure it, that is no fault of mine. If he survives, the Heavenly Dynasty will let the matter rest. Stop making trouble.”

He had meant to begin immediately and finish early, but decided to add a little more to the performance and show how difficult his position was. Otherwise, someone might see through the act.

At that, those who had been making a fuss fell silent. He had indeed given Qin Xiao a chance to live, and Qin Xiao’s Body Refinement should allow him to endure it.

Then Yan Xingchang held the spirit whip as Spiritual Qi began to coil around it. It looked terrifying.

“Crack.”

At the crack of the whip, a bloody welt appeared on Qin Xiao’s body, blood flowing from it.

Before Qin Xiao could react, another lash struck.

The hundred lashes followed one after another. Qin Xiao never made a sound, but by the end his body was a bloody mess, and he passed out.