Three Golden Robes Jointly Interrogate! I Am the Golden Holder

Lu Jun was locked up in the Demon Slaying Division's prison.

Old Man Yun had specifically chosen a superior single cell for Lu Jun.

Before leaving, Old Man Yun gave Lu Jun a parting instruction: "Stay here for a while. Don't worry, it won't be more than three days."

Lu Jun nodded.

Not exceeding three days was acceptable to him.

Otherwise, it would more or less affect his demon-slaying.

The next day, Fang Yilin came in to bring Lu Jun his meal, along with an important piece of information.

"Xiao Yungui's wife has already explained the whole sequence of events to the three Golden Robes."

"But he is still an official of the court. Even if he consorted with demons and monsters, he must be judged by the Demon Slaying Division before any punishment can be applied..."

"If you use private punishment, you will ultimately be judged." Fang Yilin sighed softly.

Lu Jun nodded, his emotions calm. "How will I be judged?"

Fang Yilin spoke, "In two days, the three Golden Robe Envoys of the Demon Slaying Division will judge you together. Only then will they fully determine your guilt or innocence."

"If two or more Golden Robes deem you innocent, you will be safe and sound. Otherwise... you will inevitably face imprisonment..."

"Remember to prepare yourself."

Fang Yilin continued, "To be honest, the relationships between the three Golden Robes are not very good. They rarely interact with each other on a daily basis."

"Golden Robe Yun thinks highly of you, so you have potential. He will definitely cast a vote for you, but whether the other two Golden Robes will deem you innocent remains an unknown."

Lu Jun asked, "What kind of people are the other two Golden Robes?"

"There are two Golden Robes. One is surnamed Fang, and the other is surnamed Mo."

"Golden Robe Fang is upright and meticulous in his work. He is particularly strict about laws and regulations, to the point of being almost inflexible."

"As for Golden Robe Mo, his reputation isn't very good. He is very greedy for money and loves gold and jewels. Many Demon Slaying Envoys who wish to be promoted even bribe him for a path to advancement..."

Lu Jun nodded, indicating he understood, and then closed his eyes to meditate quietly in the cell.

The Demon Slaying Division would judge him... but was he not also judging whether the Demon Slaying Division was truly worth preserving...

At the same time, in a certain courtyard within the Demon Slaying Division.

This courtyard was extremely luxurious, with winding paths of crimson white marble and a rockery built from a single piece of solidified coral stone.

The buildings were made of the finest golden nanmu wood, covered with sky-blue glazed tiles.

The luxurious environment was a stark contrast to the simple, almost temple-like, exterior of the Demon Slaying Division.

At this moment, Mo Jin Yi, one of the three great Golden Robes of the Demon Slaying Division, was seated in the main seat, playing with a jade thumb ring. His eyes gleamed as he looked at two treasure chests filled with various gold and jewels before him.

Mo Jin Yi swallowed lightly, but maintained his outward composure. He looked at the middle-aged man in front of him and asked, feigning ignorance, "What is all this for..."

The middle-aged man smiled. "Our general admires Mo Jin Yi's character and his achievements in slaying demons and monsters. He wishes to befriend Mo Jin Yi. These treasures are a token of his goodwill."

"Ah, you are too kind... too kind..." Mo Jin Yi chuckled, his eyes still scanning the treasure chests. "As people, we should reciprocate courtesies. If your general needs my help with anything, I will not refuse as long as it is within my capabilities."

Mo Jin Yi was accustomed to receiving gifts and navigated this situation with ease, not bothering to waste words with the other party. He directly asked what they wanted.

"It's nothing much. We heard that in two days, Mo Jin Yi will be judging a Demon Slaying Envoy with two other Golden Robes?"

"Yes, I believe there was such a matter. A Bronze Robe reported it to me earlier, but I didn't pay much attention. What's wrong? Are you trying to protect that person?"

The middle-aged man quickly replied, "That person killed our general's nephew... so..."

"I understand, I understand. So he is guilty, is that it..." Mo Jin Yi waved his hand dismissively, his expression casual.

"In that case, on behalf of my general, I thank you, Golden Robe!"

After finishing, the middle-aged man left.

As soon as the middle-aged man left, Mo Jin Yi immediately rushed to the two treasure chests placed before him, his eyes fixated.

"My heavens!"

"Glazed grapes, night-shining lamps, so much gold... I'm rich, I'm rich..." Mo Jin Yi beamed with joy. "Commander Xiao Wei is truly wealthy!"

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Escorted by two Demon Slaying Envoys, Lu Jun arrived at the Demon Slaying Division's tribunal.

"Three Golden Robe Lords, Lu Jun has been brought here."

The tribunal was dimly lit. The load-bearing pillars around were carved with ferocious Taotie patterns. Candles flickered on the bronze lampstands, illuminating the figures of the three Golden Robes on the platform.

Lu Jun looked up and saw the faces of the three clearly.

Old Man Yun was not wearing his usual simple white robe. Instead, he was clad in a dark cloak embroidered with large Taotie patterns in gold thread. The easygoing expression he usually wore was replaced by a hint of seriousness.

Lu Jun also looked at the other two Golden Robes. They were dressed identically to Old Man Yun in their golden robes.

One of them was short and stout, with small eyes and a rather flat face. Dressed in the golden robe, he looked like a large golden toad.

According to Fang Yilin's description, this was Mo Jin Yi, the greediest of the three Golden Robes, known as 'Mo the Golden Toad'.

Lu Jun looked up at the last person, who was tall and burly, with a square face, heroic features, and a full beard that reached his neck.

Fang Golden Robe, the most resolute and rigorous of the three Golden Robes.

At this moment, he occupied the seat of honor.

As Lu Jun was appraising the three men...

The three men were also appraising Lu Jun at the same time.

However, Fang Golden Robe and Mo Golden Robe couldn't help but show a fleeting look of surprise in their eyes when they saw Lu Jun's extraordinary demeanor and excellent appearance and build.

As the four men met each other's gaze, the atmosphere froze for a moment.

Fang Golden Robe, with his square face, spoke first.

"Lu Jun, do you know your crime?!"

Lu Jun looked up, his eyes burning, "What crime?"

"Do I have to tell you myself, Golden Robe?! You killed Yunzhou Pacification Commissioner Xiao Yungui, is this not true?!"

"Naturally, it is true."

"He was indeed killed by me."

Lu Jun's tone was indifferent.

"Xiao Yungui was a fifth-rank official of the imperial court!" Fang Golden Robe said angrily, "And yet he died so miserably!"

"Why did you act so cruelly? Are you any different from those demons and heretics!"

"Because I am human, and they are demons and heretics. If they are demons and heretics for a day, they will be demons and heretics forever. Demons and heretics deserve death a thousand times over!" Lu Jun said calmly.

Fang Golden Robe was momentarily stunned, then filled with anger.

"Then what crime did Xiao Yungui commit to warrant such brutal and fierce methods from you!"

"Was he a demon?"

"No."

"Was he a heretic?"

"No."

"Then why did you strike him down with such poison!"

Lu Jun looked up, his eyes filled with fury!

"He is more hateful and despicable than demons and heretics. He is a human traitor! He was human, yet he colluded with demons!"

"Demons are brutal, enslaving ordinary people with their spiritual powers and using humans as food. They are utterly detestable!"

"Heretics are greedy. In order to gain power, they abandon their human identity and willingly become servants of demons. Naturally, they are despicable!"

Then, Lu Jun's voice suddenly rose by more than a notch.

"But Xiao Yungui! He was not a heretic, nor did he crave power. As a human, as a general of Yunzhou, he dared to secretly harbor demons and collude with them! This is simply against human ethics, worse than beasts, hateful and despicable!"

The complexions of the three Golden Robes changed, and their voices simultaneously faltered.

Fang Golden Robe's tone softened inexplicably, but it still carried a sharp edge.

"But that is no reason for you to abuse your power and inflict private punishment!"

"If you had spared his life, the Demon Slaying Division would have punished him for his crimes!"

"Why did you have to kill him cruelly in front of everyone, trampling on the authority of an imperial official in full view of the public!"

"Although we Demon Slayer Envoys are favored by the Dagan emperors of successive generations and granted special privileges, they are not meant for people like you to misuse for wanton killing!"

"Even if Xiao Yungui colluded with demons, you should not have executed him privately through vigilante justice! What does this make of our Demon Slaying Division's laws!"

"If you can kill Xiao Yungui in front of everyone today by defying your superiors! Will you then be able to kill us in the future in the name of colluding with demons?!"

Fang Golden Robe roared at Lu Jun.

Lu Jun's gaze was intense, the silver patterns on his forehead flashing with silver light, and he raised his hand to point at the calligraphy plaque behind the three Golden Robes.

"The four characters behind you gentlemen are my answer."

The three men looked back in unison.

On the plaque behind them, four characters were prominently displayed in calligraphy—ERADICATE ALL EVIL!!!

This was an inscription left by Emperor Taizong of Dagan for the Demon Slaying Division. Successive Grand Executioners of the Demon Slaying Division had replicated these four characters and spread them throughout all branches of the Demon Slaying Division in Dagan.

Upon seeing the four characters, the three Golden Robes couldn't help but tremble.

Mo Golden Robe's hand, which had been fiddling with his jade thumb ring, also paused.

"Gentlemen speak of the laws of the Demon Slaying Division?! Speak of morality and propriety?!"

"You scold me for defying my superiors, it's merely because my official position is not high enough, and I shouldn't have killed Xiao Yungui after killing the demon, thus violating etiquette!"

"But if laws and morality were effective, would there still be a single demon left in this world today?!"

"If your morality, propriety, and laws were effective, and all demons and heretics were wiped out, why would I be needed today!"

"Why must all of you be high and mighty in the temples today!"

"Insolent! Do you know what you're saying!" Fang Yilin reprimanded sternly.

Lu Jun's words did not falter, he still held his head high, "Of course, I know!"

"The masses of this world, from north to south, the scourge of demons and monsters treats the common people like fish and meat on a chopping block!"

"The calamities of heretical cults are many, draining the vital essence of the common people, only to discard them like worn-out shoes!"

"And now, there are those high in the temples who, for their personal feelings, act so recklessly, consorting with demons and monsters!"

"The reason I didn't kill him on the spot that day, and didn't let him face judgment, was because he was the last remaining 'evil' from the entire demon and monster incident. I wish to slay evil, to eradicate all evil!"

"I also want to instill fear, to strike fear into the hearts of all those in this world who, like Xiao Yungui, attempt to consort with demons and monsters, right before everyone's eyes! Let their spirits tremble!"

"If, on that day, I had not killed him! If I had let him live for more than three days, it would have been my sin!! I would have stripped my bones and dug out my heart, questioning my conscience! Then I would have dashed my head against the ancestral temple worshipped by the common people, to atone with my death! I would have found no rebirth in the cycle of reincarnation! And seen no afterlife amidst the torments of reincarnation!"

The complexions of the three Golden Robes faltered in unison, their expressions involuntarily moved.

"You... are rebellious!"

"You... are you truly not afraid of death!" Fang Yilin stood up, furious, her finger trembling with rage as she pointed at Lu Jun.

Lu Jun let out a cold laugh, his voice clear and resonant:

"Have you not heard? The ancient sages said, 'If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening!'"

"I have heard the Way, my heart is clear! To eradicate all evil! To sweep away all wickedness in this world!"

"I have no regrets about life or death!!! Even if there were regrets, it would not matter!!!"

"Those who slay demons and monsters, those who consort with demons and monsters! It is all me, Lu Jun!"

"On that day, the Golden Holder!!! It is Lu Jun!!!"

"Golden Holder! Golden Holder!"

"I am the Golden Holder! I shall annihilate demons and monsters! I shall raze their courts! I shall sweep clean their dens!"

"I shall eradicate all evil!!!"