Upon returning to the castle, Zenki immediately ordered for the kidnappers to be interrogated. With the assistance of Zhang Wei, they were able to extract valuable information about the mastermind behind the kidnapping ring - Wei Ming. The interrogation revealed that Wei Ming had been running this operation for years, using his wealth and power to abduct and sell women to foreign brothels, while keeping some as personal playthings for himself and his men.
Shaken by the extent of Wei Ming's depravity, Zenki wasted no time in taking action. He immediately instructed the guards to search the other hideouts that they had learned about during the interrogation, hoping to find any remaining captives. With Liu Yong and Liu Wei by his side, Zenki led the search party through the dark, winding corridors of the abandoned buildings.
After several hours of searching, the guards stumbled upon a hidden room within one of the buildings. Inside, they found several women who had been kidnapped recently, including some who were badly injured. They were being held captive in inhumane conditions, and the stench of sweat and filth hung heavily in the air.
Zenki's heart sank as he surveyed the scene before him. He knew that these women had been subjected to unspeakable horrors at the hands of Wei Ming and his men. Without hesitation, he ordered for the women to be freed and escorted to the castle for medical attention. The guards worked quickly and efficiently, helping the women to their feet and guiding them out of the room.
As they made their way back to the castle, Zenki couldn't help but feel a deep sense of anger and frustration. He knew that there were still many more women out there who had been taken by Wei Ming's gang. But for now, he was glad that they had been able to save these few. He vowed to do everything in his power to put an end to Wei Ming's reign of terror, no matter what it took.
The following day, Zenki meticulously arranged for the court to be assembled in the grand throne room. As the time for the judgement drew near, he couldn't help but feel a hint of nervousness. It wasn't that he doubted the evidence or the verdict, but the thought of all eyes being on him triggered his old social anxiety. He took deep breaths to steady his nerves, reminding himself of the weight of his responsibilities as the ruler of the kingdom. Despite his unease, he knew that he had to be composed and resolute in delivering his decision regarding the case of Caiwu Zongjian.
The court was a grand room in the palace, with ornate decorations adorning the walls and ceiling. At the center of the room stood a large, elevated throne made of polished wood and decorated with intricate carvings of dragons and other mythical creatures. The throne was empty, as Zenki had yet to make his entrance.
On either side of the throne were two long tables, one for the nobles and the other for the commoners. The nobles' table was adorned with fine silk tablecloths and silverware, while the commoners' table was more modest, with plain wooden chairs and simple dishes.
Representatives from both sides sat at the tables, their faces tense with anticipation. The nobles were dressed in luxurious robes of silk and satin, while the commoners wore more practical clothes, such as simple tunics and trousers.
As the time for the meeting approached, the courtiers quieted down and took their seats. Soon enough, the doors at the far end of the room opened, and Zenki strode in, flanked by his most trusted advisors.
The courtiers stood up and bowed deeply as Zenki made his way to the throne, taking his seat with a regal air. He surveyed the room, his eyes scanning the faces of the nobles and commoners alike.
Zenki took a deep breath before addressing the court, feeling the weight of everyone's attention on him. He began by presenting all the evidence they had gathered on Caiwu Zongjian's alleged corruption, including witness statements, financial records, and secret meetings. The court listened intently, and Zenki could see some members nodding in agreement with the accusations.
As Zenki prepared to deliver his judgement on Caiwu Zongjian, he paused for a moment and looked around the room. He noticed a few nervous glances and realized that the tension in the air was palpable. It was then that he knew he had to reveal the truth, no matter how difficult it might be.
"However, during our investigation, we have uncovered something even more troubling," Zenki said, his voice clear and steady. "It was not Caiwu Zongjian who was behind this corruption, but rather, it was Wei Ming."
There was a murmur of surprise and shock from the court, and Zenki could see the looks of disbelief on some of the faces. He proceeded to present the evidence they had gathered against Wei Ming, including his involvement in the kidnapping ring and the sale of women to foreign brothels.
"The truth must always prevail, no matter how difficult it may be to accept," Zenki continued. "I am sorry for any misunderstandings and wrongful accusations that may have occurred during this investigation. We must all work together to ensure justice and fairness in our society."
The court fell silent, with everyone processing the new information. Zenki could feel his anxiety start to dissipate as he realized that he had done the right thing, even if it meant admitting to his own mistake in accusing the wrong person.
The moment the court finally processed this new information, the nobles and commoners erupted into a loud clamor, demanding justice for the victims of Wei Ming's corruption. "Arrest him!" shouted one nobleman. "Punish him for his crimes!" yelled a commoner.
Zenki nodded in agreement, "I hear your voices and demands for justice. I assure you that Wei Ming will be arrested and punished for his crimes." He then turned to Zhang Wei, "Zhang Wei, I entrust you with the task of arresting Wei Ming and bringing him to justice."
Zhang Wei bowed deeply, "As you command, Your Highness. I will not disappoint you." With that, he swiftly left the throne room to carry out Zenki's orders.
The court was left in silence, with everyone still in shock over the revelation of Wei Ming's corruption. Zenki could feel their eyes on him, waiting for his next move. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
As Zhang Wei and his guards approached the imposing gates of Wei Ming's estate, the butler stepped forward, his nose upturned in disdain. "What business do you have here?" he sneered, eyeing them up and down.
Zhang Wei held up the warrant of arrest, his voice calm and steady. "I am here to apprehend Wei Ming on the order of the court."
The butler's expression flickered with surprise, quickly followed by a scowl. "I cannot allow you entry without the master's permission," he said haughtily.
Zhang Wei's gaze remained fixed on the butler, his voice firm. "You will allow us entry, or you will face the consequences."
With a sigh of resignation, the butler nodded and reluctantly opened the gates. As they made their way through the lush gardens and towards the main house, Zhang Wei and his guards remained on high alert, ready for any sign of trouble. They were not disappointed.
As they approached the front door, a group of Wei Ming's guards appeared, blocking their path. "You are not welcome here," one of them snarled, brandishing his sword.
Zhang Wei drew his own sword, his eyes narrowed. "I am here on official business. Stand aside, or face the consequences."
The two groups stood there for a moment, tense and ready for action. Suddenly, one of Wei Ming's guards lunged forward, his sword aimed directly at Zhang Wei. With lightning-fast reflexes, Zhang Wei parried the attack and swiftly dispatched the attacker with a well-placed strike.
The remaining guards hesitated for a moment, their confidence shaken by their comrade's quick defeat. Zhang Wei used this momentary distraction to his advantage, leading his guards in a coordinated attack that quickly overwhelmed Wei Ming's forces.
As Zhang Wei and his guards entered Wei Ming's office, they were confronted by his personal bodyguard. The bodyguard was a towering figure, exuding an air of confidence and strength. Zhang Wei knew he was in for a tough fight, as the bodyguard's cultivation level was also at Advance Spiritual Ascending.
Zhang Wei's lightning powers crackled as he prepared himself for the battle. The bodyguard wasted no time and immediately attacked, sending massive rocks hurtling towards Zhang Wei and his guards. The guards were quick to dodge, but Zhang Wei knew he had to take a more direct approach.
He charged towards the bodyguard, lightning crackling around him as he dodged the rocks. The bodyguard responded with a fierce punch, but Zhang Wei was too quick and managed to dodge it, striking back with a bolt of lightning that hit the bodyguard square in the chest.
The bodyguard stumbled back, but quickly regained his balance and countered with a barrage of earth spikes, which Zhang Wei narrowly avoided. The fight continued, with both combatants trading blows and unleashing powerful elemental attacks.
The bodyguard quickly summoned chunks of earth, forming them into a protective armor around his body before charging at Zhang Wei. With a thunderous impact, he hit Zhang Wei's arm, causing it to crack and bend in an unnatural angle. Pain surged through Zhang Wei's body, but he gritted his teeth and focused on the fight.
As the bodyguard charged again, Zhang Wei waited for the perfect moment to strike. Just as the bodyguard closed in, Zhang Wei gathered lightning on his fingertips and aimed for the gap in the earth armor where the bodyguard's eye was exposed. With pinpoint precision, Zhang Wei unleashed the lightning strike, which hit its mark with deadly accuracy.
The bodyguard let out a guttural scream as the lightning bolt tore through his skull, killing him instantly. Zhang Wei took a step back, panting heavily as he surveyed the scene. He had won, but the victory had come at a great cost. His arm was broken, and he was badly bruised and battered.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned his attention to Wei Ming's whereabouts, only to find that he had already escaped. Nevertheless, Zhang Wei was satisfied with his victory and knew that it was only a matter of time before they caught Wei Ming and brought him to justice.
As the fight raged on between Zhang Wei's guards and Wei Ming's men, Wei Ming seized the opportunity to slip out through the back gate in an attempt to escape. However, little did he know that Zhang Wei had anticipated this move and stationed guards at the back exit.
As Wei Ming made his way towards the gate, he was caught off guard by a group of guards led by one of Zhang Wei's trusted lieutenants. Wei Ming tried to fight them off, but he was quickly outnumbered and outmatched. With no other options left, Wei Ming surrendered, realizing that there was no way out of his predicament.