Daily life of a cultivation judge

Chapter 547 Strange looks

"It's the reason despite knowing what Dai Chen did back then, there were no repercussions for him. We understood it and even agreed to it on some level, and should the day come when we uncover those who harmed Lai Lei, however, it ends up getting handled, we will not stop it.

The two obsidian serpents were victims in this, and their reaction was completely within their rights to do so, but it still doesn't deny the fact that an inquisitor died in their hands. We can overlook the injuries it caused to the Branch Chief and the rest since it's treatable, but a death, that complicates matters.

This is why we have decided that the moment they're caught, while we will not take their lives, they will be indentured to the service of the Order for the entirety of their lives via a soul contract.

It's a little harsh but it has to be done. Though they will not be stationed here, but will instead remain in the Deer Mountain Range for now, until we find a suitable place to send them. Probably one of the branches or maybe even the new branch that you suggested.."

"Will they be okay with it?" asked Yang Qing in wonder.

Though the judgment seemed harsh, in terms of balance it was what made sense. The two serpents took lives from the Order's and the Deer Mountain Kingdom's side. It was a blood debt that either of these sides would collect if they were allowed to roam freely.

Rather than leave room for the bud of a cycle of hatred to flourish, it was better to nip it in the bud through forced indenture, which even though wouldn't restore the lost lives, was slightly palatable to all parties involved. The only problem was the obsidian serpent. They were known to be vindictive and hold on to grudges. It won't be a stretch for them to violate the soul contract and induce the deathly punishment inscribed on it, or even choose destruction by suicide.

"Well, we will give them the one thing they want desperately at this moment....vengeance.." said Jia Bohai with a cold tone.

Yang Qing nodded in understanding before another question came to his mind as he recalled the statement made by Jiang Chen.

"Did the Spiritual Temperance Sect already agree for us to build a branch in their territory?"

Despite being ascetic, Yang Qing did not expect it would easily allow the Order to build a branch within their territory. 

If they were so amenable or indifferent, then the territory would already have rank 3 sects making their homes, but as it stood there wasn't. Currently, the Summerfield Kingdom was among the strongest entities within that territory which made Yang Qing curious, should they become a rank 3 kingdom, would the Spiritual Temperance Sect kick them out?

"Maybe the story about the previous king who received a beating for seeking guidance, he may have not gone there to seek guidance but may be to sound them out and test their attitude.." 

"After the attack on you, specifically by a member of the Dark Helminth Ghost Sect, at this point we don't need their approval to build a branch there. 

They should be grateful we are not taking them into account for their negligence since it could be considered a violation of the treaty signed by all these organizations during the founding of the Order. 

One of the guiding precepts of the treaty was the provision of measures that would allow us to conduct our affairs easily without hindrance. Monitoring their territory of fiendish organizations is one such measure and they broke it.

Building a branch in a territory they allowed to rot could be considered letting them off easy and in some account we are even doing them a favor since they liked staying holed up in their sect so much.." Long Enlai calmly said.

Yang Qing could detect a cold frightening sensation behind that calm remark and when he looked around, it was something shared by the rest, even Xi Si who seemed the gentlest of the four had a coldness to her. 

He felt like he was staring at an executioner's blade when he looked at her eyes. 

Yang Qing couldn't help but be bewildered at their reactions. It was just a little oversight, that's all, it's not like it was not known that the Spiritual Temperance Sect cared so little about their large territory which was why many organizations swarmed up there.

The reaction from the four that made it seem they wanted to raze the sect to the ground felt a little extreme to him.

However, what he didn't know was that during the dark ages of the Order, orthodox organizations would team up with fiendish organizations to lay traps for the members of the Order. 

The Order lost countless of its members back then, and with recent happenings, there were recordings of a similar resurgence, like in Lai Lei's case. 

Their livid reaction to the Spiritual Temperance Sect was understandable especially when the search for the member of the Dark Helminth Ghost Sect that Yang Qing had marked with a gold-grade karmic spell and a piece of thin wood from a saint-grade tree by the name of treading cicada peach wood ended in failure. That marked member erased the marking before the Special Inquisitors closed in on his location.

The branch was being established in the territory of the Spiritual Temperance Sect in part to maintain some semblance of order in the area, but the other was to monitor the sect itself in secret.

The markings were not something just anyone could do. It could only be done by a domain expert and above, and it had to be one skilled in alchemy or one with skills in obfuscation. The Spiritual Temperance Sect happened to be known to have top-tier spells and arts in obscurity, which extended to even isolation in karma.

Despite how unlikely it was for them to be considered as suspects in the matter, the marking had been erased too fast for them to not be a suspect, when considering the last known location was within their territory.

"Have you decided on the rank?" asked Yang Qing. 

On paper, the Spiritual Temperance Sect was a rank 3 sect, but the Order knew for a fact they had a domain expert already and it was not just one. Yang Qing wondered if the branch would be a rank 2 or will the Order uphold the ruse and build a rank 3 branch. Though with the Order's way of doing things, he felt like the latter was likely to happen.

"It will be rank 3, which will be working in tandem with the Deer Mountain Branch.."

"Oh.." nodded Yang Qing which was what he expected.

"Now that all that is out of the way, Xi Si would you please.." Long Enlai said as he motioned for her to take over.

"Well, Judge Yang Qing, I handle the deployment procedures of branch chiefs including an explanation of your duties and a few little bits here and there that will help your transition to your post be smooth.

But before that, I'd like to clarify a few things, well it's just one. What happened to the Deer Mountain Branch was a wake-up call to us.

Before, when we set up the branch we didn't completely scout the region other than a few key areas and where we ended up building the branch.

At the time our rationale was, as long as the defenses of the branch were good, the rest was negligible and with two palace realm cultivators from the Order holding the helm, we didn't think much would happen.

We would maintain order within our territory without interfering with the rest of the inhabitants of the range.

We are not conquerors, so there is no need for us to interfere with the various spirit beasts and dangers lurking in there. As long as it doesn't infringe upon our guidelines we remain spectators, but with what happened we thought it prudent to send a special inquisitor, a gold eagle guard, and a resource specialist to do a deep and thorough survey of the whole range.

By the time you head there, you will be given a document containing the full survey of everything within it, the map and distribution.."

Yang Qing's eyes immediately lit up when he heard that.