Chapter 47 p2
Celestial Pivot Department, Grand Court of Justice.
The thunderous sound of drums echoed through the hall.
The Vermilion Bird Elder, captured by the Arrest Warrant, was forced to kneel on the ground, his hair disheveled, his appearance pathetic.
Dao Ling Star Monarch didn’t appear personally. Yunze Young Lord, presiding over the trial, fidgeted in his seat. He had received a decree from the Heavenly Emperor, stating that the Vermilion Bird Elder’s life must be spared. This meant that, regardless of the severity of his crimes, he wouldn’t be executed on the Soul Severing Platform. However, Dao Ling Star Monarch had already made her decision—a death sentence.
With both witnesses and physical evidence presented, the Vermilion Bird Elder knew he couldn’t escape punishment. His only goal was to take full responsibility, shielding Danxue Mountain from implication.
Countless divine senses converged on the Celestial Pivot Department through the Chaos Mirror, eager to watch the spectacle.
Lines of text scrolled rapidly across the screen. Although the matter had already been discussed extensively, the immortals’ enthusiasm remained undimmed.
— So Danxue Mountain held a grudge against the East Abode Master because of a Cinnabar Jade and the Zhenyu Sword. They were even willing to join forces with the demons to kill her.
— It wasn’t just the demons. There was also Yuan Yao Star Monarch from the Realm Beyond Heaven.
— The Vermilion Bird, Bifang, and the others are truly foolish! It’s thanks to the East Abode Master guarding the border that the demons haven’t invaded. They only care about their own interests, disregarding the safety of the Immortal Realm.
— The feathered lineages’ selfishness is deeply rooted.
— Fellow Daoist above, be careful. One more word, and you’ll be kicked out of the Chaos Mirror.
— This humble Daoist only has one question: Will the East Abode Master and her junior sister come?
The scrolling text suddenly stopped, then a flurry of “They’re here!” appeared, reflecting the immortals’ excitement.
Yunze Young Lord also saw Ming Jian Su. His eyelids twitched, and a wave of fear and anxiety washed over him. He looked around, relieved not to see Feng Chiyue. Without Feng Chiyue, the East Abode Master wouldn’t be “blinded by lust” and do something that would embarrass everyone.
“Why did you target the East Abode Master?” the court official asked, following protocol.
The Vermilion Bird Elder scoffed. If Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue hadn’t gone too far, would they have resorted to such measures? His eyes flashed with malice. “Ming Jian Su killed our juniors, burned our Danxue Mountain, and stole our Zhenyu Sword. Shouldn’t I kill her?”
Yunze Young Lord knew about these incidents. The mysterious deaths of the feathered juniors had been left unsolved, and as for the fire in Danxue Mountain… well, wasn’t that divine retribution? He signaled to the official, who immediately said, “The Zhenyu Sword was legally acquired by the East Abode Master for a Cinnabar Jade. How could you hold a grudge over such a matter, allowing your inner demons to manifest and leading you to commit such a grave crime? According to the Heavenly Court’s laws, colluding with the demons warrants execution. However, in consideration of Danxue Mountain’s contributions to the Heavenly Court, your death sentence will be commuted to permanent imprisonment in the Grand Court of Justice!”
The Vermilion Bird Elder had expected this outcome. He lowered his gaze, his face cold.
“Danxue Mountain’s contributions?” Ming Jian Su spoke up at this moment. “Are you implying that it wasn’t just the Vermilion Bird Elder who colluded with the demons, but all the lineages in Danxue Mountain?” Her words threatened to escalate the situation. The official fell silent, and Yunze Young Lord felt a surge of panic.
“I take full responsibility for my actions. What does it have to do with the other lineages?” the Vermilion Bird Elder glared at Ming Jian Su, his gaze like a poisoned arrow.
Ming Jian Su raised an eyebrow. “It seems you’re quite wealthy, Fellow Daoist,” she said calmly. “We won’t mention the source of the bribes you offered to the demons for now. But the Cinnabar Jade, artifacts, and treasures that ended up in the hands of those wandering immortals and the Star Monarch are countless. Surely, you couldn’t have gathered all that by yourself? Are you telling me that the Swan Goose, Bifang, and Golden Pheasant lineages weren’t involved?” She smiled, but her eyes were as cold as ice.
The official gulped and turned to the Vermilion Bird Elder. “What do you have to say?”
The Vermilion Bird Elder hadn’t expected Ming Jian Su to attack from this angle. He frowned and said through gritted teeth, “It was all my personal wealth!”
Ming Jian Su looked at him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “Are you telling me that the mines and spiritual fruits from Chongming Mountain, Tianheng Mountain, Tianqing Mountain, and Xuanwu Mountain… all belong to you personally?”
The generous rewards hadn’t been prepared by him alone. He couldn’t even remember all the details. Hearing the names listed by Ming Jian Su, his expression grew increasingly grim. If he said “no,” would she demand to see the account books and implicate others? What was she trying to do?! The Vermilion Bird Elder’s anger reached its peak. His face tightened, and he raised his voice. “Yes!”
Ming Jian Su looked at the official. “Did you get all that?”
The official’s face flushed red. He nodded hastily.
Que Chenyi, who was watching from the sidelines, suddenly understood Ming Jian Su’s intentions. She hurriedly instructed Qing Xun to note down the names of those mountains. She had come here prepared for a tough battle, but the East Abode Master had arrived personally. As expected, there was nothing she couldn’t handle!
“Are there any further questions?” Yunze Young Lord asked, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, hoping that Ming Jian Su would shut up.
“I suspect he’s lying,” Ming Jian Su said, walking to the center of the hall, stopping a few steps away from the Vermilion Bird Elder. She smiled sweetly. “Isn’t the Celestial Pivot Department authorized to use forbidden techniques? Why don’t we search his soul?”
Yunze Young Lord: “…” His face alternated between red and white. Wasn’t she just trying to stir up trouble? He gritted his teeth. “Using forbidden techniques requires permission from the Star Monarch.”
“Then send someone to ask for permission,” Ming Jian Su said calmly.
Que Chenyi signaled to Qing Xun, then, disguising her voice, shouted in agreement. A moment later, the crowd outside erupted, chanting, “Search! Search! Search!”
The Vermilion Bird Elder would never allow his soul to be searched. If all his secrets were exposed, he would never escape the Senluo Prison! Ming Jian Su was trying to force him to his death! Consumed by rage, he suddenly broke free from his restraints. With a roar, he channeled his power into his magic sword and slashed at Ming Jian Su. “Ming Jian Su, you’ve gone too far!”
A cold glint flashed in Ming Jian Su’s eyes, but she didn’t move.
Everyone watched as the Vermilion Bird Elder, breaking free from his bonds, attacked Ming Jian Su with his crimson blade. But Ming Jian Su’s sword energy automatically defended her, its light as bright as a shooting star. In a flash of cold light, a grey-white head flew into the air, spraying blood. The roar still echoed in their ears, but in an instant, the enraged Vermilion Bird Elder was dead.
Ming Jian Su seemed to snap out of a daze and took a step back. A look of surprise appeared on her face, and she said in a heartbroken voice, “Fellow Daoist Vermilion, what have you done?”
Yunze Young Lord: “…” Looking at the corpse on the ground, he felt a splitting headache. If it had been a simple decapitation, a few spells could reattach the head. However, the moment the Vermilion Bird Elder had charged into Ming Jian Su’s sword, his soul had been completely obliterated, leaving no trace of life. Had Ming Jian Su done it intentionally? She must have. But it was the Vermilion Bird Elder who had attacked in front of everyone. There was no way to blame her. He was still trying to figure out how to handle the situation when a blinding purple light suddenly appeared. The light pulsed, and a figure clad in purple Daoist robes and a jade crown stepped out. It was Dao Ling Star Monarch.
Dao Ling Star Monarch bowed to Ming Jian Su in a gesture of greeting between fellow Daoists. “The Vermilion Bird Elder committed suicide out of fear of punishment,” she said calmly. “Until Danxue Mountain is cleared of suspicion of colluding with the demons, no one is allowed to leave the mountain.” She raised her hand, and a decree appeared in her palm, settling the matter.
Yunze Young Lord didn’t object. The Vermilion Bird Elder was dead, and it was his own fault. Even if the Heavenly Emperor wanted to hold someone accountable, it wouldn’t be him.
With the case concluded, Ming Jian Su declined Dao Ling Star Monarch’s invitation and left the Celestial Pivot Department.
Feng Chiyue, who had been hiding in her sleeve, emerged and perched on her shoulder, her spirits high.
Ming Jian Su smiled. “You’ve worked hard, Junior Sister,” she said softly. The Vermilion Bird Elder’s outburst had been fueled by anger, but it was also due to her junior sister discreetly using her “Virtuous Sound” technique. Their goal had been achieved. The process wasn’t important.
“Immortal Monarch,” a familiar voice called out from behind them. Ming Jian Su turned and saw Que Chenyi and Qing Xun.
The other immortals didn’t pay much attention to the small bird on Ming Jian Su’s shoulder, but Que Chenyi and Qing Xun, both members of the feathered lineages, had sharp senses. Their gazes instinctively shifted to Feng Chiyue. Feng Chiyue ignored them and nuzzled Ming Jian Su’s neck, urging her to hurry up and leave. The brush of her soft feathers against Ming Jian Su’s skin was as thrilling as a gentle caress. Ming Jian Su lowered her gaze, her eyes darkening. She picked up Feng Chiyue and, without changing her expression, looked at Que Chenyi. “Is something the matter?” she asked.
Que Chenyi remembered the reason she had come. “The Vermilion Bird Elder has been found guilty,” she said. “His assets…”
“Should naturally belong to the Celestial Feather Ministry,” Ming Jian Su finished her sentence matter-of-factly. It was perfect timing. Now that the Heavenly Emperor had cut off their connection with the Heavenly Prosperity Department, the Vermilion Bird Elder’s vast wealth would allow the entire Ministry to function again.
Reassured by her confirmation, Que Chenyi beamed. “I’ll go take inventory immediately,” she said, nodding.
Ming Jian Su made a noncommittal sound. “Take Zhenyu with you,” she said. “If there’s anything you can’t handle, come to Dong’e Mountain.” She hoped the other immortals would be sensible enough not to disturb her and her junior sister’s happy life.
***
With the Celestial Feather Ministry now wealthy, Que Chenyi held her head high.
Without needing to be prompted, she immediately returned to the Ministry and added Chang Huai, the ruthless artisan, back to her contact list. She didn’t even bother chatting with her. She simply selected a few capable Mountain Patrol Emissaries and sent them to take over the new, resource-rich mines.
In the Heavenly Prosperity Department.
Upon hearing about the Vermilion Bird Elder’s fate, the Minister of Fortune sighed dramatically. He didn’t care about the Elder’s life or death. He was simply thinking about the Elder’s “personal wealth.” Typically, the assets of convicted criminals were confiscated and registered with the Heavenly Prosperity Department, allowing them to skim some profit. After feigning a moment of sympathy, he summoned his disciples and ordered them to collect the Vermilion Bird Elder’s assets. If they were late, the Vermilion Birds might secretly transfer everything.
However, several hours later, his disciples returned empty-handed.
The Minister of Fortune assumed that the Vermilion Birds were disobeying the rules. Anger surged within him, and he was about to go complain to the Heavenly Emperor.
It was Jing De Immortal Monarch, his face etched with worry, who spoke up. “Master, we were too late. Those assets have been transferred to the Celestial Feather Ministry’s treasury.”
The Minister of Fortune frowned. “Does the Celestial Feather Ministry’s treasury even have a vault? Perhaps they’ll send everything over tomorrow?”
But after waiting patiently for three days, he still didn’t see any sign of the assets being delivered. He couldn’t stand it anymore and sent his disciples to inquire.
Jing De Immortal Monarch, once the most short-tempered among them, was now a shadow of his former self, tormented by fear. In the end, “nominated” by his fellow disciples, he became the one tasked with going to the Celestial Feather Ministry to demand an explanation.
Que Chenyi was busy taking inventory and updating the records. Hearing that Jing De Immortal Monarch had arrived, she frowned and said without looking up, “I’m busy.”
Jing De Immortal Monarch waited impatiently, his Fuchen swaying restlessly. Whenever anger flared within him, a glance at the thunder pillar suspending the Swan Goose would instantly extinguish it.
“Isn’t this Fellow Daoist Jing De?” A cold voice suddenly came from behind him. Jing De’s eyes widened in terror, and his body stiffened. He slowly turned his head, his gaze, filled with fear, fixed on the shadow on the ground instead of daring to look up. The wind blew, and the tinkling of the golden bells on the chariot seemed to echo his unforgivable sins. The next moment, he would be sent to the Yellow Springs to join the Vermilion Bird Elder.
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