Chapter 13
Because the distance between the outer city and the Academy was quite far, most people usually traveled back and forth using wind-riding techniques. Since Yu Sui hadn't learned the Nine Schools arts, Blackbeard had arranged things in advance.
The carriage's speed was comparable to wind-riding techniques because mechanical arts had been added, and the horses were top-grade ones blessed by the School of Names. Their running was, in a sense, also one of the Nine Schools arts.
Yu Sui lifted the carriage curtain, curiously looking outside.
"Each school within the Academy has its own forbidden grounds. Some forbidden grounds will directly kill intruders without even a trial. Young Master Gu broke into the Legalist School's first-level forbidden ground this time, the Inverted Hanging Moon Cave." Blackbeard explained the situation to her on the road. "He claims he didn't actively intrude but was invited by someone, yet no message inviting him to the Inverted Hanging Moon Cave can be found on his Wind-Listening Ruler."
"Coincidentally, on that very night, the forbidden item Silver River Water from inside the Inverted Hanging Moon Cave went missing. Although the Silver River Water wasn't found on him, he's still suspected of being an accomplice."
Yu Sui supported her face with one hand while looking outside. After listening, she turned back: "What is Silver River Water?"
Blackbeard respectfully replied: "It's a forbidden poison-making substance, extremely harmful. Because it cannot be destroyed, it can only be placed in the Inverted Hanging Moon Cave to let it naturally disappear with time."
Yu Sui couldn't help but recall Little Master Lin from the National Academy years ago, his desperate shouts after kneeling echoing in her mind.
"Today's trial is to decide whether to treat Young Master Gu as a theft accomplice," Blackbeard explained. "Academy verdicts are generally decided by Saints from the relevant school. For particularly heinous crimes, all twenty-four Saints of the Academy judge. The verdict can be expulsion from the Academy or deprivation of life and death."
After finishing, he added: "However, Young Master Gu's matter hasn't reached the level of life and death deprivation, it's just that expulsion from the Academy is a bit dangerous."
Yu Sui asked: "Related to poison-making, yet there's no risk of life and death deprivation?"
Blackbeard was stunned, then said: "Young Master Gu cultivates both the School of Names and Legalist School. The School of Names Saint is familiar with him. If life and death deprivation is proposed, he'll be the first to reject it."
Cultivating two schools showed how high his talent was.
Yu Sui understood, then asked: "So is Brother Gu being judged by all twenty-four Saints of the Academy today?"
"Not twenty-four. This Silver River Water incident only involves three schools: Legalist School, School of Names, and Ghost Way School." Ji Meng said solemnly. "These three schools will each send one Saint representative to attend today's trial. The heaviest verdict should just be expulsion from the Academy."
Yu Sui counted on her fingers: "He's a School of Names disciple, the incident happened in Legalist School, so what does it have to do with Ghost Way School?"
"Legalist School verdicts uphold that the guilty should be punished. They don't allow ties to appear in any matter, only 'right' or 'wrong,' just these two results." Ji Meng explained. "So verdicts need at least three people to avoid tie results."
"Ghost Way School isn't completely unrelated to this matter either. Silver River Water cannot be destroyed, but Ghost Way School's supernatural arts can accelerate its dissolution and disappearance. In matters concerning Silver River Water disposal, Ghost Way School and Legalist School have always worked together."
Blackbeard pondered: "Old Master Zhu from School of Names needn't worry, he's on Young Master Gu's side. Though Legalist School is somewhat targeting him, they can't break the rules either. The Di Su Balance Scale exists as a verdict standard. As long as the scale leans toward Young Master Gu's side, they cannot convict him."
After speaking, he looked up and found the little princess looking completely bewildered, as if she hadn't understood. Blackbeard secretly worried: He'd long heard that the manor princess had no talent, probably the first ordinary practitioner in the Nangong family. Now seeing her in person, he found that besides being good-looking, she indeed had no other advantages.
In this world, just being good-looking was useless.
Yu Sui propped her chin with one hand: "But there's still one left, isn't there?"
"Ghost Way School? This should be fine. Ghost Way School has only one Saint, but this Saint is somewhat special." Ji Meng looked at Yu Sui's confused, innocent eyes and spoke more patiently. "To understand his specialness, you must first understand Ghost Way School's highest realm. Ghost Way practitioners pursue 'physical dissolution, consciousness eternal.' Very few have achieved this so far. The Ghost Way Saint at the Academy has achieved consciousness survival after death."
Yu Sui stared in shock.
This Ghost Way Saint's title was Chang Gen. What Ji Meng called "physical dissolution, consciousness eternal" was called Divine Transformation in Ghost Way realms.
Ji Meng continued explaining: "Saint Chang Gen won't attend the verdict. Though his consciousness survives, it's difficult to manifest concretely. Only when Ghost Way School has major matters will he take action. So representing Ghost Way School in this verdict will be the Saint's disciple, Mei Liangyu."
Yu Sui nodded, indicating he should continue, she wanted to hear more.
Being pursued by her curious gaze, Ji Meng felt somewhat embarrassed, unconsciously straightening his back, searching his limited knowledge to explain more clearly: "Ghost Way Academy has over a thousand students, but Saint Chang Gen has only this one disciple. So Ghost Way School can only have Mei Liangyu participate in the verdict."
"Though this person has a strange temperament, he has no grudges with us. Moreover, I heard from others that he follows a 'mind your own business' style, meaning he doesn't wade into muddy waters and lets things pass when possible."
"So Ghost Way School should be neutral. As long as the Di Su Balance Scale doesn't convict, then Mei Liangyu will also be on our side."
Yu Sui made an enlightened "oh" sound, changing from supporting her cheek to pointing at herself: "So I just need to deliver the Di Su Balance Scale?"
Blackbeard said: "Yes, the Di Su Balance Scale is unique. The Legalist School Saint knows it's in the Prince's hands. Only when delivered personally by the Prince's heir, Princess, can it not be suspected."
Yu Sui sighed in relief: "Good thing it's just delivering something. If I had to take the Di Su Balance Scale and debate with Legalist School, I'd be afraid of getting him killed."
Ji Meng: "......"
He smiled awkwardly, thinking if you went to debate with Legalist School, my brother would go from expulsion to death sentence.
Blackbeard sighed inwardly. How could the Prince, with his lifetime of glory, let an ordinary practitioner inherit the throne?
……
The carriage sped forward, traveling from the outer city into the Academy in the morning breeze fragrant with flowers, then turning toward the Legalist School's Trial Ground.
The Trial Ground was shaped like a large circle, with a high platform in the center supporting four stone pillars covered with Legalist School laws. The platform's edges had execution racks hung with various torture instruments.
Some looked frightening at first glance, others seemed harmless until you learned what torture instruments they were, then you'd avoid them like the plague.
The Trial Ground's stands had four levels, built of black stone, with only the central execution platform carved from white stone. The stands went from low to high, divided into front and back sections. The front door was for walking, the back door could accommodate carriages.
The Trial Ground stands already had many people: teachers and students from various academies, some standing in groups of three to five, others sitting alone at a distance.
People continued entering through the front door.
Currently, only Legalist School disciples responsible for maintaining order ran around the Trial Ground. They wore unified black uniforms with red bands on their left arms bearing Legalist School insignias.
At the edge of the first-level stands, Princess Shangyang had rolled up her sleeves and looked displeased, while her companions fanned her and tried to calm her down.
Princess Shangyang looked toward a white-dressed girl not far away, her tone unfriendly: "Hey, Gu Qian has repeatedly saved you, yet this time you stand aside and watch the excitement without helping. If he gets expelled from the Academy by your Legalist School, I'll never be done with you, Xun Zhiya!"
The girl called Xun Zhiya frowned slightly upon hearing this. Her pupils were light-colored, making her seem somewhat cold. At this moment, she only glanced lightly at Princess Shangyang before looking away.
Many people stood around Xun Zhiya, including Li Jin Shuang, who had just entered the Academy today.
On the second level, at a more distant spot, Wei Ren plopped down on the stone steps, leaning back with his hands spread on the stone railing, legs crossed, looking relaxed as he yawned at the sky.
Xue Jiayue pulled the exhausted Xue Mushi up, coincidentally encountering Wei Ren sitting in front blocking the way. She felt unlucky: "It's you!"
She turned to leave.
"Hey, don't go. Let's watch together," Wei Ren tilted his head and called out. "I won't release scorpions this time."
Xue Jiayue turned back. Wei Ren gestured toward the dog-tired Xue Mushi: "What are you afraid of? Whether I release scorpions or centipedes, your cousin will spot them immediately. How boring."
Xue Mushi let go of Xue Jiayue's hand and collapsed on the stone steps, indicating he'd rather die than run anymore.
Only then did Xue Jiayue give up, looking at Wei Ren with displeasure: "Why are you here too?"
Wei Ren shrugged: "I heard on the way that Legalist School opened the Trial Ground for judgment. Came to join the excitement. Public trials at the Trial Ground are too rare. It wouldn't be worth it not to watch this excitement."
Xue Jiayue snorted, sitting ten steps away from Wei Ren, crossing her arms and staring at him without blinking.
Wei Ren laughed: "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not the one being tried by Legalist School, right?"
Xue Jiayue said: "I'm watching how you release scorpions."
Wei Ren turned over, smiling ambiguously at Xue Jiayue: "Want to know? Join our Agricultural School and you'll find out."
Xue Jiayue: "Ugh! Your stone scorpions are disgusting. Even if I die in this lifetime, I'll never enter your Agricultural School to learn such things!"
Wei Ren laughed after being scolded, covering his face and bending over with laughter.
……
Compared to Wei Ren and Xue Jiayue's bickering, more people were still focused on today's Trial Ground protagonist.
The youth sitting across from Wei Ren had an unfriendly expression, his eyebrows somehow always slightly furrowed, his narrow phoenix eyes sharp, carrying unconscious scrutinizing arrogance when looking at people.
Sheng Hao wasn't optimistic about today's three-school verdict.
Mu Mengbai, sitting beside him, was playing with his Wind-Listening Ruler, his fingers rapidly pressing the fill-character grid. When he looked up and saw someone in the distance, he made a sound of surprise, gesturing for Sheng Hao to look: "How come that big stiff Zhongli Shan is here to watch the excitement too?"
Sheng Hao looked in the direction he indicated. On the third level of stands diagonally across from them, a dark-clothed youth with a sword at his waist stood with proper posture, back straight like a measuring stick.
He stood alone, expression calm, silently surveying the crowd below.
Sheng Hao withdrew his gaze, not caring why Zhongli Shan would skip class to watch the excitement.
He only cared whether Gu Qian could be expelled from Taiyi Academy today.
"He often plays with Mei Liangyu. Did he come to watch Mei Liangyu?" Mu Mengbai added. "Whether Gu Qian can be convicted today, I think the key still lies with Ghost Way School."
Sheng Hao turned to look at him: "How did your divination turn out?"
"So-so," Mu Mengbai said with a profound expression. "Anyway, this verdict won't go smoothly."
Sheng Hao frowned and said: "This isn't called so-so, this is called completely useless. You're clearly a Technical Arts School disciple, yet your divination skills are like an outsider's."
Mu Mengbai wiped his face, smiling without humor: "What can I do? I didn't voluntarily enter Technical Arts School."
Sheng Hao couldn't get the divination answer he wanted, his frown deepening.
Mu Mengbai looked down at his Wind-Listening Ruler while replying to messages: "The attitudes of School of Names and Legalist School are obvious. School of Names wants to protect him, but Legalist School has Sha Qian, who's Gu Qian's mortal enemy. This time he's desperately trying to push Gu Qian toward death penalty."
His eyes brightened after speaking.
"Sha Qian fell in love with Xun Zhiya at first sight, but Xun Zhiya doesn't like him. Gu Qian is close to Xun Zhiya with an ambiguous relationship. Xun Zhiya hasn't rejected Gu Qian either. Sha Qian, consumed by love turning to hate, wants to suppress Gu Qian's reputation for Xun Zhiya's sake, but keeps losing face to Gu Qian. Old grudges plus new hatred, he wants Gu Qian out of the Academy even more than you do."
"I heard Sha Qian has a fiancée back home. I don't know her name or where she lives, otherwise I'd definitely ruin his engagement."
"But if I ruined his engagement, wouldn't Sha Qian be more justified in pursuing Xun Zhiya? This guy is shameless enough that it's really possible."
"Xun Zhiya seems uninterested in him too. Sha Qian picks fights with Gu Qian every time, but he handles them all. I don't know how he's so capable, cultivating both schools isn't enough, he's proficient in everything. I even saw him learning divination at our academy last time."
Sheng Hao: "......"
Listening to Mu Mengbai's chatter, his face already showed clear impatience, yet he couldn't do anything about it. The more you tried to stop him, the more he'd talk, not knowing where he got so many words.
Sheng Hao rubbed his temples.
"Oh! They're coming, they're coming! The three school Saints and our unlucky Gu surname fellow are here!" Mu Mengbai suddenly grabbed Sheng Hao's shoulder and patted hard.
Sheng Hao irritably pushed his hand away, frowning as he looked down.
A large group entered through the front gate, including Legalist School disciples escorting Gu Qian and School of Names disciples following to support him.
Walking in front were two elders.
One was Old Master Zhu from School of Names, the other was Saint Yu from Legalist School.
Both elders had full heads of silver hair and wore white saint robes, whispering to each other, looking like two friends on an afternoon stroll, leisurely walking toward the high judgment platform.
The dark-clothed youth walking a step behind them was adjusting his sleeves. He stepped into shadow, morning wind gently lifting his temple hair, like parting clouds to see mist. The cool breeze took the opportunity to sweep past those eyes filled with casual indifference.
The youth was a head taller than the two elders in front. His sash outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist, sleeves tightly fastened at his wrists, fitting perfectly while containing power, ready to unleash.
The black outer robe draped over his arm. When turning onto the high platform steps, Mei Liangyu grabbed the robe and put it on, slipping one hand through the sleeve, becoming a streak of black between the two white-robed Saints.
Mei Liangyu walked calmly to sit behind the judgment platform table, leaning back in his chair with long legs crossed, taking out his Wind-Listening Ruler to play with.
Others weren't as leisurely as him.
Upon reaching the judgment platform, the two Saints stopped talking, not even exchanging glances.
Old Master Zhu from School of Names had kind eyes, while Saint Yu from Legalist School looked serious.
Both were watching Gu Qian being led onto the trial platform by Sha Qian.
On the third level of stands, the veiled Xiang Feifei watched Gu Qian being led onto the trial platform, feeling anxious and couldn't help glaring at the gold-robed youth beside her who was still playing with his Wind-Listening Ruler.
"He's about to be tried, where are the reinforcements you called?" Xiang Feifei asked.
The gold-robed youth glanced sideways, laughed, and pointed toward the back entrance: "Look, aren't they here?"
……
A carriage drove through the back entrance into the Trial Ground, stopping at the side. The horses lowered their heads and swished their tails, waiting for the people inside to get out.
When Yu Sui got out, she happened to see Gu Qian walking onto the trial platform.
She hadn't seen Gu Qian for two years actually.
The youth who left the imperial capital that night had grown much taller now. His sharp, defined features had replaced the somewhat childish appearance in her memory, replaced by the flamboyance and rebellious spirit belonging to young men.
Gu Qian seemed not to have changed clothes for several days. He looked dirty, wearing only a tunic and long pants, with slightly messy temple hair swaying as he walked with lowered head.
His hands were bound behind his back, with faintly visible red wounds on his rolled-up sleeves and neck.
Yu Sui was a bit far away here. After Gu Qian walked onto the platform, she couldn't see him anymore, so she carried her box and walked forward.
A chair was placed in the center of the trial platform.
Sha Qian frowned upon seeing it, gesturing for Legalist School disciples to remove the chair. Hadn't he said to remove it before?
Just as the Legalist School disciple was about to remove it, Gu Qian had already plopped down into it.
"What, can't spare even a chair? Our academy isn't that poor," Gu Qian raised his head and mocked hoarsely.
Sha Qian snorted coldly, ignored him, and turned to leave.
Gu Qian's gaze swept toward the edge of the stands, meeting eyes with Xun Zhiya who looked up. After a moment, he looked away again.
Sha Qian stood at the edge of the trial platform, ready to interrogate at any time.
At this moment, almost everyone in the Trial Ground was looking at Gu Qian, but he himself sat with lowered head in silence.
The Legalist School Saint on the judgment platform slowly spoke: "The trial begins regarding the theft of Silver River Water from the Inverted Hanging Moon Cave. Disciple Gu Qian was discovered entering the forbidden ground Inverted Hanging Moon Cave before the Silver River Water theft. After being caught by patrolling guards, the Silver River Water also disappeared."
Saint Yu spoke slowly but with dignified authority, making people unconsciously hold their breath to listen.
"You have one final chance to restate what happened then. Every word you say next will determine whether you stay or go today."
Saint Yu paused, looking at the Legalist School disciple at the edge of the trial platform: "Sha Qian, interrogate."
Before Sha Qian could respond, he was stopped by School of Names Saint Old Master Zhu: "Since the Silver River Water wasn't found on him, it means the item isn't with him. Without evidence, having a Legalist School disciple conduct artificial interrogation is unfair."
"Unfair?" Saint Yu said in a deep voice.
Old Master Zhu still smiled cheerfully: "Though it's idle chatter among students, there is existing personal grudge between Sha Qian and Gu Qian."
"If someone who resents him conducts the interrogation, especially a Legalist School disciple skilled in torture techniques, would the results be fair and convincing?"
Mei Liangyu, sitting between the two, seemed focused on playing with his Wind-Listening Ruler.
Zhongli Shan at the edge of the stands took out his Wind-Listening Ruler and lit it, seeing a message from the person on the judgment platform:
"The two old men are putting on a double act there."
Zhongli Shan replied: "Be careful."
"If the two elders discover you talking like this, you'll be the one on trial down there next."
Sha Qian below heard the two Saints talking and his expression changed slightly. He had just stepped forward trying to explain to Saint Yu when he heard him say to Old Master Zhu: "According to your meaning, what would be fair?"
Old Master Zhu smiled with squinted eyes: "His situation is too serious for life-reading techniques, too harsh for interrogation techniques. Why not use the Di Su Balance Scale for questioning to distinguish truth from falsehood?"
Saint Yu said slowly: "The Legalist School treasure, the Di Su Balance Scale, is unique in the world, yet it's not within our Taiyi Academy."
Sha Qian couldn't bear it anymore: "The Di Su Balance Scale is far away in Qingyang Kingdom. Are we supposed to go to Qingyang to fetch it? Not to mention the time consumed traveling back and forth to Qingyang Kingdom, who knows whose hands the Di Su Balance Scale is in in Qingyang..."
"It's with me."
The girl's clear shout interrupted him.
Yu Sui had hurried as fast as she could and finally arrived in time.
Hearing the words "Di Su Balance Scale," Yu Sui quickly spoke up, afraid of missing the best moment to present it.
Yu Sui walked onto the trial platform from the back entrance, approaching in golden morning sunlight.
She carried the black box into everyone's sight. All the people in the stands were attracted to her. In the dazzling light, the approaching figure had celestial beauty with delicate eyebrows and apricot eyes, her light steps making her seem like she had just descended from heaven.
Sheng Hao in the stands stood up immediately upon recognizing who it was, his face dark with anger, frightening Mu Mengbai into standing up too: "What's wrong? What's wrong?!"
Princess Shangyang on the first level of stands widened her eyes: "Nangong Sui?"
"How is she here?"
Her companions were also stunned, not knowing how to answer for a moment.
"Huh? How does a School of Names person have the Legalist School treasure?" Xue Jiayue wondered.
Wei Ren's gaze followed Yu Sui's movement, chuckling: "Our Qingyang Nangong family's treasures aren't limited to School of Names items. We have items from every school, more than you can imagine."
Many people in the stands recognized Yu Sui. Those who didn't recognize her heard from others that this was the Qingyang Nangong Princess.
Gu Qian watched Yu Sui approaching, his gaze shifting from initial surprise to gradually filling with smiles, finally showing unconcealed tenderness.
Yu Sui winked lightly at him as she passed.
Gu Qian couldn't help but smile.
Watching the two, Sheng Hao clenched his fists until they cracked. Mu Mengbai gasped and grabbed him, shouting: "You never told me your sister was this beautiful!"
"Death penalty! Let Sha Qian judge Gu Qian for death penalty! I support the death penalty!"
Yu Sui walked toward the judgment platform.
Mei Liangyu played with his Wind-Listening Ruler, lightly lifting his eyelids to look.
Zhongli Shan in the stands opened a message:
"Who's this shining girl?"