Chapter 119: Trial II

~~~

In the Night Forest, Liu Jin found himself surrounded by countless foes. They had been an unrelenting barrage, hounding him at every turn.

He still felt safer back then than he does right now.

It would be an exaggeration to say the eyes of everyone in the Eternal Flame Clan are on him right now, but that is only because there is a limit to how many people the Sparring Hall can house. As Liu Jin makes his way to Elder Xun, he’s keenly aware there are well over a thousand pairs of eyes on him.

This is fine.

If he says it enough times, he’ll start believing it.

“You may sit,” Elder Xun says once Liu Jin is within a few paces of him. Elder Xun does not say his name or even look at him. Liu Jin has not earned that yet. Much like Elder Cheung moments ago, an old, burnt chair emerges from a transfer circle.

At least, it looks like an old, burnt chair.

The moment he sits on it, Liu Jin instantly feels it. He meets Elder Xue’s eyes and nods. The chair has a slight truth compulsion in it, similar to Elder Xue’s technique. It is not overpowering, but it is definitely there and guarantees no falsehood will leave his lips.

It is just as she warned him.

~~~

“We have three days to prepare you for the trial.”

“Am I to remove myself from the Medical Pavilion?”

“No, while going over the records of Elder Cheung’s activities and those of their missing disciples can be safely delegated, we need as many people capable of testing the disciples there as possible. I expect you to come here every night after you are done for the day there.”

“As Elder Xue commands. Will we go over my testimony?”

“Eventually. First, let us talk of truth, falsehood, and their relative values.”

~~~

As it turned out, the truth, for the purposes of a technique of this level, is malleable. A too strong compulsion would interfere with a disciple’s ability to think and answer. That would defeat the purpose of using witnesses.

“Disciple Qing,” Elder Xue says, using Qi to amplify her voice. “You are the one who discovered Elder Cheung’s actions. Is that not so?”

“That is correct, Elder Xue.”

Just like Elder Xue, he uses Qi to make sure his voice is heard by all. Indeed, a round of whispers is set off by his declaration. However, the biggest reaction comes from none other than Elder Dang.

“An Inner Disciple?” His deep voice echoes across Sparring Hall. He does not bother looking at Liu Jin but turns to Elder Xue instead. “You acted on the words of a mere Inner Disciple?”

“Elder Dang.”

Elder Xun does not tell Elder Dang it is not yet his turn to speak. He does not say Elder Dang will have time to ask questions later. He merely says his name.

That is all he needs to say. Elder Dang immediately goes silent.

“Disciple Qing,” Elder Xue throws with a pointed glance in Elder Dang’s direction. “When did you enter the Eternal Flame Clan?”

“This year, Elder Xue.”

“How long did it take you to become an Inner Disciple?”

“Two days, Elder Xue.”

Liu Jin’s declaration ripples across the audience. It is one thing to be an Inner Disciple, but not many attain the rank so quickly. Even though Liu Jin wasn’t raised in the Sect, he quickly proved himself just as good as those who have been here for far longer. That is what his answer reveals to the audience.

“Since entering the Eternal Flame Clan, you have yet to lose a single sparring match. Is that not so?”

Liu Jin nods. “That is the case.”

“Despite working almost exclusively in the Apothecary, one of the harshest Divisions in the Eternal Flame Clan, your work has never been found wanting. Is that true?”

“Elder Xue knows better than anyone that my work in the Apothecary has never been found wanting.”

Elder Xue favors him with a smile. “Quite true. This Elder can attest to that. It is also true that Lady Ling has acknowledged you as someone worthy to tutor her son?”

If the earlier declarations are like pebbles thrown into a lake, this one is a boulder, and the ensuing splash takes the shape of numerous gasps and wide-eyed stares. Even Liu Jin is caught off-guard. The intensity of the stares coming from the Elders in the high seats increases enough to make the hairs on the back of Liu Jin’s neck stand on end.

And yet, Liu Jin understands why Elder Xue just revealed his connection to Feng Hao.

“It is true, Elder Xue,” Liu Jin says. “This one was granted the privilege of being able to tutor Young Master Feng Hao.”

Elder Dang tried to undermine his words by attacking his status. Thus, Elder Xue must build up his reputation in front of everyone. A prodigy that became an Inner Disciple mere days after joining the Eternal Flame Clan. Someone trusted not just by the Apothecary but by Lady Ling.

That is who Qing Jin is now.

Elder Xue meets Elder Dang’s eyes and smiles for the most fleeting of instants before turning back to Liu Jin.

“Tell us how you discovered Elder Cheung’s crimes.”

Liu Jin does so. For the next thirty minutes, he narrates how the discovery took place. He does not speak of Eastern Port City or Doctor Wu. He keeps his story confined to Pan Qiu and the odd state of his dantian, as well as their subsequent acquisition and analysis of the poison he was given.

“Naturally,” Elder Xue says once Liu Jin is finished, “I, along with several members of the Apothecary, have verified the state of Disciple Pan’s dantian. We are in full agreement with this diagnosis. If need be, I am prepared to have Disciple Pan brought here so that my fellow Elders can examine him.”

She makes the offer without any fear of foul play. Even if every Elder in Lord Feng Shang’s faction were to deny Pan Qiu’s condition, Elder Xun would still be able to ascertain the truth for himself.

“I am sure there is no need for that,” Elder Dang says, well aware that having Pan Qiu brought before Elder Xun will only help Elder Xue’s case. “Rather, I wonder when it shall be my turn to question the witness.”

“By all means, do so,” Elder Xue replies, turning to Elder Xun. “For now, at least, I have no more questions for this disciple.”

“Very well,” Elder Xun says. He gestures at Elder Dang. “Elder Dang, you may begin.”

“Thank you, honored Elder.” Elder Dang moves to stand before Liu Jin, subtly raising his Qi. Not enough to be overpowering, but certainly enough to unbalance most people.

Most have not stood before Nine-Headed Snake God.

“Disciple,” he says, the word rolling from his mouth as though it were an insult, “were you somehow not aware of the existence of Internal Disputes?”

It takes Liu Jin a few seconds to answer. Not because he is intimidated, but because his mind is stuck on that word.

Disciple.

Not Disciple Qing. Just Disciple.

It is not that Elder Dang somehow didn’t hear his name. He is just determined to prove his irrelevance in front of this audience.

“On the contrary, Elder, its existence and purpose were explained to me during my second day in the Eternal Flame Clan.”

“Then why, upon making your discovery, did you not go there?”

Liu Jin blinks.

“Surely, Elder Dang should have no trouble understanding that. When Elder Xue called me to testify, was it not Elder Dang who called this one a mere Inner Disciple? How could this one possibly expect the Division of Internal Disputes to take my words seriously?”

Elder Dang’s eyes narrow slightly. It is the only sign of how irritated Liu Jin’s words have made him.

“Have you ever met Elder Cheung?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Yes.”

“Did you ever see him give anyone anything to drink during those occasions?”

Ah.

“No,” Liu Jin replies, frowning as he realizes where Elder Dang is taking this. Elder Xue warned him this was a possibility.

“Have you ever seen the disciple you analyzed in the same room as Elder Cheung?”

Even so, he is surprised Elder Dang is already resorting to it.

“No.”

Elder Xue can prove there is a disciple that has been experimented on.

“So you simply assumed Elder Cheung’s culpability?”

That is not the same thing as proving Elder Cheung did it.

“No.”

Elder Dang raises an eyebrow at his answer. “No?”

“Assume is a word with many meanings, many of which I do not feel are suitable for the occasion,” Liu Jin quickly says, the compulsion working on him. “I deduced Elder Cheung’s culpability.”

“Based on what evidence?” Even though Elder Dang does not move, it feels as if he’s suddenly looming over Liu Jin. “You have given your testimony, disciple. A disciple has been experimented on. Elder Xue needs but to transfer him here to prove that.”

“Is that a request?” Elder Xue asks with an innocent look on her face.

“Elder Xue,” Elder Xun says, sternly. “You will not interrupt Elder Dang while he questions the witness.”