Kapitel 60: Chapter 59: A Mechanical Maiden Cannot Be Hurt
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Perhaps out of consideration for Su Jinyan's dignity or due to other reasons, Judge Xueyi did not lead him through the crowded marketplace. Instead, they avoided the throngs of Xianzhou citizens, opting to traverse rooftops or secluded alleyways.
Su Jinyan pondered a rather serious question. During their conversation earlier, he had learned that this judge from the Ten-Lords Commission possessed a mannequin body. Now, the issue at hand was: how realistic is Judge Xueyi's mannequin form?
"Lady Xueyi, was your mannequin crafted by artisans from the Artisanship Commission?" Su Jinyan asked.
"Not at all," Xueyi replied coldly, "and what does it matter to you?"
Su Jinyan mused aloud, "Well, Lady Xueyi, I must say, your mannequin appears incredibly lifelike."
"So, once we return, I'd like to find a skilled artisan to create one for myself too."
Xueyi remained unfazed by this clumsy provocation; however, she deeply disliked jokes about her mannequin form. Her gaze showed no trace of sympathy as she looked at Su Jinyan. "You won't be returning."
Feigning confusion, Su Jinyan asked, "What do you mean? Has Lady Xueyi taken a liking to me and wishes to keep me in the Ten-Lords Commission?"
Without pausing her stride, Xueyi's eyes remained emotionless. "Criminal Su Jinyan, your identity as a secret cultivator of Sanctus Medicus has been exposed. The Ten-Lords Commission's envoys are currently searching Shen Hai's residence for evidence."
"You will remain in The Shackling Prison, facing eternal confinement with no hope of release. No sinner ever escapes its grasp."
Su Jinyan dramatically exclaimed, "Wow, Judge Xueyi!"
"Despite our familiarity, be cautious with your words; I might still charge you with slander."
"I am merely a commoner, having served in the Divination Commission for less than a month," Su Jinyan protested.
"Just because, in my anger, I inadvertently harmed one of the Medicine King's secret disciples, should I be sentenced to The Shackling Prison?"
"Sigh, it seems this Rising Immortal Ferry has its own laws, leaving me nowhere to seek redress."
Xueyi halted her steps, her tone filled with skepticism. "If thou art not indeed a cultivator of the Medicine King's secret teachings, do thou have any evidence to support this claim?"
Su Jinyan couldn't help but shake his head. "Lady Xueyi, the burden of proof lies with the accuser. As a judge of the Ten-Lords Commission, surely you're aware of this principle?"
"So if Shen Hai falsely accused me on his deathbed of being a cultivator of the Medicine King's secret teachings, does that single accusation make me one? If he claimed I was a general, would I suddenly become one? If he declared me a judge of the Ten-Lords Commission, would I instantly assume that role? And if he said I was your husband... uh, then perhaps I truly might be..."
Xueyi's icy gaze pierced through him as she pointed towards a corner ahead. "Thy sharp tongue and clever retorts are indeed rare."
"However, why don't you take a look ahead?" Lady Xueyi continued. "If thou art not indeed a secret cultivator of Sanctus Medicus, how would thou explain this?"
Su Jinyan was taken aback.
Following the direction she indicated, he spotted around two dozen hidden cultivators from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, lying in wait along their path. Among them, at least three were shapeshapers who had completed their transformation.
Yes, they were elite cultivators of the Medicine King's secret teachings—the shapeshapers.
"Lady Xueyi," Su Jinyan asked hesitantly, "if I say I genuinely didn't know about this, would you believe me?"
One of the shapeshapers stepped forward, emanating formidable energy and authority. With a raspy voice, he demanded, "You, the hound loyal to that demon bow, if you're wise, release Lord Epimedium immediately."
"Otherwise, only death awaits thee."
Su Jinyan looked perplexed; something wasn't right here. Even with swift communication, there must be limits, right? The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus should have been unaware of his true identity; only the black-robed figure and their leader knew.
And now, with Shen Hai—his sole confidant—already slain by him, there was no one left to corroborate his secret. All evidence that could reveal his identity had long been destroyed.
It seemed impossible for the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus to learn of his capture mere moments after Shen Hai's demise.
Moreover, what audacity! To confidently gather a group of cultivators and confront a Judge of the Ten-Lords Commission? Who granted them such courage?
If I had intended to resist, I would have done so long ago—why would I need your help?
As both judge and mannequin, how could Lady Xueyi possibly be outmatched by these lowly Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?
"O Medicine King, with thy benevolent heart, grant me invincible strength! Crush our foes!"
Dozens of cultivators surged forward like bloodthirsty hyenas, their eyes crimson, intent on tearing Xueyi apart.
Xueyi's gaze remained icy, her movements swift as a specter. Swinging her iron chains, she wove a dense web before her.
"Ten Lords' Divine Judgment—!"
In less time than it takes for incense to burn through, Xueyi effortlessly ensnared them all.
Even watching from afar, Su Jinyan felt utterly embarrassed.
This wasn't just losing face for him; it was practically slapping the leader's dignity away. The caliber of these Disciples of Sanctus Medicus was truly abysmal, akin to rats in a gutter—both unaccustomed to facing challenges and easily crushed underfoot.
Against the cultivators assaulting her, Xueyi made every effort to capture those who yielded. As for those who resisted, she showed no mercy, instantly dispatching them with her demonic-breaking awl without the slightest hesitation.
"If only they were all as cooperative as you," Xueyi remarked mildly.
Su Jinyan's expression stiffened, but he forced a flattering smile. "Lady Xueyi, is your shoulder sore? Shall I give you a massage?"
At this, Xueyi became wary. "Oh? Do you know a way to escape the chains?"
"No, but I can do this. Even Shizun praised it."
"Prrrprrrprrrprrr..."
On cue, Su Jinyan opened his mouth, showcasing his unique talent to Xueyi.
Such mastery could only be achieved through relentless training.
Xueyi's gaze shifted subtly as she took a step back.
This Su Jinyan was truly insufferable; one lick from him and her mannequin body might become irreparably compromised.
Tilting her head, Xueyi asked, "Your Shizun...who is he?"
"Imperial Diviner Fu Xuan of the Divination Commission," replied Su Jinyan.
Xueyi remained silent, utterly disappointed that Imperial Diviner Fu Xuan had fallen so low.
The other cultivators were filled with grief and indignation. "Lord Sun Xiaochuan, how can you grovel before these hunting dogs?!"
Su Jinyan glared at them, rebuking sharply, "What do you know? I have no acquaintance with any Epimedium or Sun Xiaochuan—stop mentioning them! Lady Xueyi, these Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are unbearably noisy, trying to frame me intentionally."
"I'm innocent, couldn't you make them cease their accusations?" His voice held a note of pleading.
With a dispassionate look, Xueyi slowly raised the Demon-Breaking Awl.
Whoosh.
A gust of wind swept across Su Jinyan's face.
He appeared unfazed, certain that Xueyi wouldn't dare harm him. Even though the Ten-Lords Commission operated independently from the six rulers and wasn't directly under their control, it still adhered to established rules. Without such order, chaos would ensue on Xianzhou.
As Xueyi herself acknowledged, there was substantial suspicion that Su Jinyan might be one of the Medicine King's secret disciples.
However, Shen Hai's dying words and the cultivators' address to him proved little. Xueyi lacked decisive evidence to confirm that Su Jinyan was indeed the Medicine King's secret Disciple.
Thus, she couldn't harm him—unless he actively resisted, posing a direct threat to her life. Moreover, if he truly wished to escape, did Xueyi really think she could stop him?
As expected, the Demon-Breaking Awl narrowly missed his face by an incredibly precise margin.
Immediately after, a sound akin to a watermelon bursting echoed behind him.
Xueyi wiped blood splatters from her robes, her voice cold. "If someone merely pesters me with their grievances, I might tolerate it; they have the right to defend themselves against accusations." She paused before continuing sternly, "But as grave sinners who committed the ten unforgivable offenses, what entitlement do you have to burden my ears? Once we reach the Ten-Lords Commission, all your past sins will be laid bare on parchment. No one can evade judgment."
The cultivators fell silent, trembling like leaves in winter.
Before the Dog Judge's Demon-Breaking Awl, their blessed immortal bodies, once a source of pride, were rendered utterly useless.
In his moment of triumph, Su Jinyan gloated shamelessly, "Did you hear that? Lady Xueyi said only I am worthy enough to speak candidly to her."
Unable to resist, Xueyi glanced at him, a hint of displeasure flickering in her eyes. Her gaze seemed to convey a warning: Once we reach the Ten-Lords Commission, if your true crimes come to light, just wait for what awaits you.
After Lady Xueyi escorted Su Jinyan and the other cultivators away, Phantylia's figure emerged from the shadows.
The reason these cultivators had come to rescue Su Jinyan was due to her manipulation.
Phantylia held grudges deeply.
Every action Su Jinyan had taken against her that day remained etched in her memory.
She abhorred direct involvement in causing destruction, as it contradicted her aesthetic of ruin.
Phantylia favored the simultaneous devastation of both mind and substance, where spiritual collapse led to physical demise.
Thus, there was one thing she desperately wanted to know:
When all evidence pointed to Su Jinyan being an Abundance Remnant, how would he extricate himself from this predicament?
"Su-gongzi, if your performance pleases me,"
"I might overlook past grievances and transform you into one of my Voidrangers..."
"And then subject you to endless torment!" Phantylia licked her lips, her gaze filled with malevolent charm.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein