Chapter 187: From Now On

~~~

The court building is located between the upper and lower sides of Rumbling Thunder City. Liu Jin suspects this is not a coincidence but the result of conscious city planning. Even the look of the building, block-like and lacking adornments, seems to reflect the soberness of its purpose. One of the city waterways makes a loop around the building, making it look quiet and remote despite being in the middle of a bustling city. One could almost be forgiven for thinking it peaceful.

There is nothing peaceful about what is going on inside right now.

“Naturally, I take responsibility for the incident,” Liu Jin says to the small group assembled before him. Among them is City Lord Chu, who looks like he was hurried out of his mansion. He sits behind the judge’s stand. Two city officials stand on either side of him. One is writing everything that is said in the courtroom, and the other stands guard.

Usually, there would be far more people in the courtroom. As Liu Jin understands it, many consider watching the trials to be a source of entertainment. Some entrepreneurially-minded souls have even made a business out of selling memory talismans containing their recollections of the more unique cases. Liu Jin saw quite a few in the marketplace while walking around with Huang Shing and Fan Bingbing.

Due to the sensitive nature of this trial, there will be no audience.

“Y-You do?” asks City Lord Chu, furiously wiping sweat from his brow with a white handkerchief.

“Naturally,” Liu Jin replies with considerable calm. “I am a Core Disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan. As far as the actions of the disciples under my authority are concerned, I am fully responsible. In fact, I can safely say Disciple Huang acted with my full support.”

“I-I see,” City Lord Chu says, clearly not understanding anything.

“City Lord Chu, I regret to say this case is clear as day,” says Yuan Tao. Despite being in the Heaven Realm, Yuan Tao speaks with deference to a man who is barely in the Earth Realm. “We heard it right from my underling’s lips. It is he who bears the burden of this crime, and so, punishment must be levied upon him.”

Much like City Lord Chu, it is clear Yuan Tao rushed down here as soon as he heard the news, most likely abandoning whatever meeting was taking place with General Dan’s men. His motives are fairly simple to understand. Disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan beat up General Nie Dan’s soldiers. By having that be the story that spreads around the city, he seeks to undermine their alliance.

“How curious,” Liu Jin says, pressing a finger to his chin. “I do not recall saying I have committed any crimes.”

Silence fills the courtroom as all eyes turn to Liu Jin.

“You just took full responsibility for what happened,” Yuan Tao reminds him. The look on his face is one of mild irritation.

It is not the first time he and Liu Jin have stood in such close proximity to each other. However, it is the first time they have been in the same room without an Emperor commanding their full attention.

Yuan Tao looks rather cat-like.

It is not due to the leanness of his body, his golden eyes, or even the way his black hair is tied in a long, thin braid that reaches all the way to his waist, almost resembling a tail. There is a certain grace about Yuan Tao. Something predatory hiding beneath a mask of civility.

“I took responsibility for the actions of those under my command,” Liu Jin corrects Yuan Tao. “I do not recall ever saying those actions were a crime.”

“N-Not a crime?!” City Lord Chu says before Yuan Tao can ask any follow-up questions. “Then what would you call them?”

“A lesson in etiquette, naturally,” Liu Jin answers. “What happened was simply a demonstration of proper manners.”

“P-p-proper manners!” yells the scandalized City Lord, who seems to have it upon himself to echo Liu Jin’s every word.

“There were six unconscious men, and four were reported to have fractures,” Yuan Tao points out icily. He holds up the report made by the city guards who arrived after Huang Shing had finished educating the soldiers.

“I am aware,” Liu Jin replies. “I was the one who made the diagnosis.”

Yuan Tao and City Lord Chu stare at him as if waiting for him to say more. He doesn’t.

“So?” Yuan Tao asks with rising impatience.

“So?” Liu Jin echoes with polite confusion.

“So will you still insist on calling it a lesson in etiquette despite the damage done?!”

“Manners are no small matter, senior brother,” Liu Jin tells him with no small amount of seriousness. “There are dire consequences to excessive rudeness, and that is something General Nie Dan’s soldiers have learned today. How can I call it anything other than a well-taught lesson?”

“Foolishness!” Yuan Tao yells, throwing the report to the floor. “You speak nothing but foolishness! Do you truly expect this to stand?”

“Foolishness? I think not,” Liu Jin says, unfazed by Yuan Tao’s anger, which is far more than can be said for City Lord Chu, who looks like he wishes he could be cowering in the corner. “Truthfully, I do not see why there needs to be a trial at all. What else can be said about this incident? Should we say General Nie Dan’s men were acting like brutes and terrorizing the people they were sworn to protect? That would be a little too unkind towards the good general, wouldn’t it? It would take a foolish person to persist on that explanation.”

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it’s taken without the author’s consent. Report it.

“Is that any way to address your superior, junior?” Yuan Tao asks him.

“No. That is why it is good that Senior Brother Yuan is not my superior,” Liu Jin replies. “This disciple belongs to the Apothecary and is under Elder Xue’s command in the same way Senior Brother Yuan answers to Elder Fa. My direct superior would be Senior Brother Mud or, in certain cases, Young Master Feng Zhi. I am afraid Senior Brother Yuan does not have a place in that chain of command.”

“It seems Elder Fa was right about the rudeness of those in the Apothecary,” Yuan Tao says, glaring at him. “You spend so much time boiling herbs that you have forgotten how to interact with others.”

“Is that what is said about us? I find that constant silence makes us good listeners. Senior Brother Yuan should try it so that his ears may improve.”

“Are you saying I need to listen to you?!” Yuan Tao shouts. “Where is the evidence that those men started the fight? I should have all the injured soldiers called here so they can testify!”

If he were to call the soldiers, they’d obviously testify they did nothing wrong. Naturally, Yuan Tao expects Liu Jin to oppose this.

However, Liu Jin smiles and nods.