Yang Qing and Mao Yunru remained in their respective positions as Yang Qing reviewed the case details stored within the white jade talisman Mao Yunru had handed him earlier in the day.
"Three brothers—Shen Shi, Shen Ding, and Shen Tian—destroyed a table made of earthvine wood belonging to the Earthvine Restaurant. They were unable to pay the 15,000 middle-grade spirit stones required to cover the damage.
Mmmh… Rogue cultivators, huh? That explains why their purses are tight. All three are at the fourth stage of the core formation realm and are under 500 years old. With that level of talent, they could easily become retainers or guest elders in any rank 3 or rank 4 sect or family, but instead, they insist on remaining rogue cultivators…"
His gaze shifted further down the report.
"Now, let's see about the other party—the Earthvine Restaurant. It's known for its iconic earthvine wood, which possesses gentle restorative properties and can soothe someone's spirit. That effect alone is especially beneficial for anyone struggling with mental demons. Combined with their quality dishes, it's no wonder the restaurant attracts a steady flow of regulars and stands out within the Red Maple Empire. The proprietor is at the seventh stage of the core formation realm…"
Yang Qing's eyes narrowed as he came across a particular line.
"Mmmh? What's this? They're a subsidiary of the Golden Bamboo Pavilion?!"
His head shot up as he turned to Mao Yunru.
"Mao Mao, you read this report, right?"
"Mmmh," Mao Yunru nodded in reply.
"Well, why is the owner bringing this case here instead of handling it in-house?" Yang Qing asked, his brows furrowing in confusion. "The report states that his restaurant is a subsidiary of the Golden Bamboo Pavilion, which is a mercantile organization led by four domain-level cultivators. With that level of power, dealing with a few puny core formation cultivators should be effortless. So why bring the case to us… unless there's something I'm missing?"
"From what I heard from Zheng Hu who got assigned the case—he discovered something interesting when conducting a background check on the restaurant," Mao Yunru said.
"Apparently, the Golden Bamboo Pavilion is caught up in something major. Based on the information he dug up, they're in the process of merging with another mercantile organization. That merger has them too preoccupied to allocate attention or resources elsewhere.
All of their subsidiaries were ordered to handle their affairs independently for the next few months to a year—whether the issue is minor or major, the pavilion won't step in. Even if one of their businesses were to face a calamitous disaster, they wouldn't intervene."
Yang Qing's eyes flickered as he absorbed the information.
"As for the owner of the Earthvine Restaurant," Mao Yunru continued, "Zheng Hu noted that he has a cautious personality. He also detected some instability in the owner's cultivation. He suspects that his realm was built through the excessive reliance on external means like maybe alchemy pills or something of the like.
While he may be at the seventh stage of the core formation realm, a shaky foundation like that would make it difficult for him to suppress three rogue cultivators—especially ones who have spent their entire lives surviving on the edge. That's why he decided to involve the Order."
Yang Qing tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought.
"Mmmh, okay. Everything seems simple enough—I doubt we'll see any twists like the previous case," Yang Qing said as he shifted his gaze to the courtroom doors, which had swung open. Yi Jie led the way, followed by three stockily built men who appeared to be in their forties.
The three men were near-identical copies of each other, down to the way they walked. The only visible difference was the color of their robes. One wore a clean, neatly pressed blue robe—a sharp contrast to his rugged appearance, with blade scars etched across his forehead, chest, and part of his hands. The second man wore a yellow robe, while the third had on a rough, brown robe that looked like a patchwork of unprocessed spirit beast hides. Each of them bore scars across their bodies—a clear testament to a life lived on the edge of the blade.
Despite their similarities, Yang Qing's trained eye easily caught subtle differences.
The one in the blue robe exuded the air of a valiant general. Every step he took was measured, and even his breathing followed a precise, timed rhythm—a sign of someone with rigorous self-discipline.
The man in the yellow robe, by contrast, had a shifty and calculative demeanor. His eyes constantly darted around the room, subtly taking stock of everything as if appraising their value. His gaze held the sharpness of a merchant weighing potential profit and loss.
The last one, dressed in the brown, patched-hide robe, appeared the most carefree. He was casually picking his ear, projecting an unrestrained and lackluster attitude. But beneath that façade, Yang Qing sensed a coiled tension—his body was high-strung and ready to react explosively at a moment's notice. Of the three, he had the fewest visible injuries—a telling sign that his easy-going act concealed the fact that he had the deadliest instincts of all three.
Behind the three triplets was a rotund middle-aged man dressed in orange robes embroidered with the emblem of an earthvine tree. He had short, curly light brown hair, a medium goatee, and a rosy pink complexion. His friendly and gentle aura made him easily approachable and amiable to most people.
Lastly, closing the group was a youth who looked to be around eighteen years old. His charming smile brightened several notches the moment he spotted Mao Yunru. Appearance-wise, he was quite the looker, with hints of craftiness and playfulness in his expression. His red hair was tied in a bun with a green stick, and he wore robes that were half red and half blue. On the back of his robes was a rhombus symbol with the numeral IV imprinted on it, marking him as an inquisitor of the Order.
He guided the triplets to the left while the rotund middle-aged man was led to the right.
"Inquisitor Zheng Hu hereby presents Zhong Quan, the owner and proprietor of the Earthvine restaurant, who has filed a complaint against the three brothers—Shen Shi, Shen Ding, and Shen Tian.
The three brothers stand accused of destroying an earthvine wood table, with the damage valued at 15,000 middle-grade spirit stones as per the owner's assessment. The three brothers have been unable to pay the sum, and a middle ground could not be reached between the two parties. Both sides have thus agreed to submit their case to the Order and fully adhere to its ruling," Zheng Hu solemnly declared, performing a curt bow toward Yang Qing.
His earlier playful demeanor had vanished, replaced by the calm, professional bearing befitting an inquisitor.
"Thank you, little— ahem, cough, cough— I mean, thank you very much, Inquisitor Zheng Hu, for your report," Yang Qing said, trying to mask his embarrassment with an apologetic smile.
Zheng Hu stood as still as a rock, his expression perfectly neutral as if the earlier slip had nothing to do with him. But the faint sound of his grinding teeth told a different story.
Yang Qing quickly shifted his focus back to the case. "My name is Yang Qing, a judge at the Superior Core Courts, and I'll be in charge of your case today. Both sides will take turns presenting their accounts, and after hearing everything to my satisfaction, I will deliver my verdict. I trust Inquisitor Zheng Hu has informed you of the penalties you would face if you act against the court's ruling. By being here, you have both agreed to submit yourselves fully to the judgment of this court."
His tone grew heavier as he continued, "I'll ask again, for your sakes—do you all agree to abide by the ruling of this court and the penalties that come with disobedience?"
"We do," they all answered solemnly.
"Good," Yang Qing said with a nod. "We'll begin by hearing your side of the story, Owner Zhong Quan. Afterward, the three brothers will have their turn. Let's proceed."