Chapter 651 Price of greed (1)
The four people standing beside Luo Meili all turned when they heard Yang Qing's voice.
On seeing Yang Qing, they all had varying reactions but the one commonality among them was surprise. Surprise that such a young man was the temporary Branch Chief of the Deer Mountain Branch.
They quickly came out of their stupors as they said,
"Greetings, Branch Chief.."
"Greetings.." Yang Qing said as he nodded politely at the four cultivators while looking quizzically at Luo Meili with a gaze that seemed to be asking who the four were.
Luo Meili's response was a slightly inclined head that motioned that she would explain everything once they were inside.
Following her lead, the group made its way into the Branch.
The four froze solid immediately after passing through the protective barrier of the branch and got hit by the richness and grandeur of the branch.
Spiritual qi so dense and pure that just by standing there, they could feel a subtle transformation of their bodies.
The eyes of the four cultivators were wide-eyed as they felt like they had been transported to another realm.
Other than the spiritual qi, the place was filled with a sense of majesty and mystique from the colorful mist floating around the branch, the flowing river that seemed to carry a sense of calming effect, the beautifully crafted sculptures that seemed almost lifelike, the garden that was a mix of wild and well structured that was filled with thousands of spiritual plants of which more than half they had never seen, but from the energy waves the plants released, they knew it had to be precious.
"Is this real?!" asked one of the cultivators in stupefaction as his eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets.
"It is.." Yang Qing said as he gently patted the cultivator's back.
He had always been a slightly (more than slightly) vain person. Among the many reasons he joined the Order, other than for safety, was to have bragging rights.
The awe factor evoked by those who were not members when they saw the opulence of a place he was a part of.
He always felt a refreshing sense of smugness about it.
"Yes, Yes, soak in the grandeur of my home. Amazing, isn't it?" he would always think every time a reaction similar to what the four were showing would happen.
Seeing how shocked they were, he was even tempted to give them a tour of the place and destroy their perceptions and imaginations further.
"Would they even remember their names at the end of it.." he wondered with a sense of cheekiness.
Just as he was lost in his gleeful schemes, he felt a gaze on him, and when he looked up it was Luo Meili shaking her head with a wry smile.
She seemed to have guessed his thoughts and Yang Qing instead of showing some modicum of shame or self-reproach, raised his gait slightly and widened his steps with a sense of peacock pompusness within him.
"Meili, oh Meili, you have much to learn. It's criminal not to brag about it. My bragging is my way of showing respect and appreciation to the craftsmen who designed this place.
It's the least I can do.." Yang Qing thought as he waved the flag of righteousness.
Ignoring Yang Qing's deluded tactics that the four guests completely missed because of how out of it they were, as the only sane person in the group, Luo Meili calmly led them to the branch's courtroom.
Once in the courtroom, the four cultivators seemed to have cooled down, albeit slightly as their looks quickly turned from overwhelming shock to sighs of dejection.
Yang Qing wasn't surprised, as it was something that he had seen over and over, especially among cultivators who had some background and some ambition within them.
Seeing such a scene was likely an eye-opener giving them insight on what they had to scale to reach those heights they constantly envisioned in their minds.
Some cultivators, for example, a pride of their clan, a generational talent the likes of which their clan hasn't seen in over 1,000 years, said cultivator riding the high of being a standout genius would believe themselves to be sons of destiny and wearing that mantle they would lift their clan to the heavens.
When immortals ascend, even their chickens and dogs ascend with them.
However, those cultivators, truly have no idea how high the heavens are and what it would take to even take a single step toward it. Stepping into a place like the Order gives them a picture of what it is they're chasing after and most eventually lose the drive after and wear the same look of dejection that the four cultivators currently wore.
A newborn calf is unafraid of tigers until it slowly grows and realizes how terrifying they are.
Yang Qing ignoring the shock of the four, walked to his podium with Luo Meili in tow, who took a seat in one of the seats next to the judge's seat.
"I take it's a malpractice case?" asked Yang Qing via a secret voice transmission.
"Yes.." Luo Meili said as she nodded in response.
"Just these ones, or there are others?"
"There may be others, Su Jinjing is following up on that as she follows the trail of the culprit. It shouldn't be long now.."
"Hopefully it isn't more complicated than it seems.." Yang Qing said as he massaged his temples.
Yang Qing straightened his posture as his gaze fell on the four cultivators.
"My name is Yang Qing and I am the temporary Branch Chief of this branch. The fact that you are here before me, should mean you have a grievance against someone.
As per my duties as Branch Chief, it's my job to listen to those grievances and give a fair verdict on them, which I will try to do.
I am sure my colleague, Luo Meili has already explained what is expected of you. For redundancy's sake, i will reiterate what she has likely already informed you.
From the moment you walked through those doors, you became subject to the articles and laws governing the Order.
Whatever judgment, I come to, you will all have to adhere to it, and should you choose not to, you will be subject to the penalties associated with said defiance.
If you want to walk away, the moment is now. If you have any doubts and don't wish to go along with the case, the moment is now.
On my authority, as the leading authority in this case, I will allow it. Does anyone have a change of heart and wish to leave?" Yang Qing solemnly said as he eyed the four cultivators.
A few inadvertently took gulps of fear when they saw Yang Qing's whole demeanor suddenly transform.
"I do not.."
"I wish to go along with it.."
"So do i.."
"Me too.."
"Good, then let the case begin.." Yang Qing said with a gentle smile as he reigned in his presence.
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