Under Trial

"Tonight's shipment is to be delivered to Wang Manor's Branch Estate." The leader pulled back his hood, revealing the scarred face of the Wang family's third-branch steward.

Chu Ning's fingernails dug into his palms.

"Wang... family!"

The saber light surged like a thunderstorm. Chu Ning's Rusty Saber flew from his hand, transforming into a purple dragon that pierced through the steward's chest.

The saber light flashed like lightning, tearing through the darkness. The Thunderclap Saber Art erupted with violent force, instantly ripping apart the temple's silence.

"There's an assassin!"

The people inside the temple were aghast and hurriedly drew their sabers to meet the enemy, but how could they possibly be Chu Ning's match?

"Pfft!"

Blood sprayed through the air. Chu Ning's saber pierced through one bandit's chest, then swept sideways as he drew it back, slicing another man in half at the waist.

The others retreated in terror, their eyes filled with fear.

"Retreat, quickly!"

Chu Ning's killing intent soared to the heavens as he darted among the enemies like a ghost.

In barely a moment, corpses lay strewn throughout the temple.

Seeing that the situation had turned against them, the remaining few hurriedly abandoned the account books and fled.

Chu Ning gave a cold snort and raised his hand, loosing an arrow that precisely pierced one of them through the back of the heart.

"Ah—"

The wretched screams echoed through the night. The remaining few completely broke down and fell to their knees, begging for mercy.

Chu Ning watched them coldly, his voice low and chilling. "Who ordered you to do this?"

"It was... it was Young Master Wang Li!"

At that, Chu Ning's gaze turned icy beyond measure.

As expected, it was the Wang family again!

He advanced with his saber and mercilessly dispatched the last few men.

Just as the battle in the temple was nearing its end, hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.

Immediately afterward, a squad of constables charged into the ruined temple with sabers drawn. The man leading them was none other than Li Jing'an, the county yamen's chief constable.

However, when the constables saw the scene inside the temple, their footsteps abruptly halted.

Corpses lay sprawled in every direction amid pools of blood, and the air was thick with the stench of blood. At the very center of the temple entrance stood Chu Ning, propping himself up with one hand on his saber. Though his clothes were stained with blood, his figure remained tall and straight, his gaze cold and indifferent, like a bloodthirsty asura.

Such a sight actually made these constables, who had handled countless cases, shudder with dread.

"Th-this kid is a monster?"

"He... he killed all these people by himself?"

Several constables swallowed hard and unconsciously retreated half a step. Their grips tightened around their saber hilts, yet not one of them dared to step forward first.

Li Jing'an's gaze was deep, but his expression remained unruffled.

He looked over the corpses covering the ground, then turned toward the children huddled together in terror in the corner of the temple. His eyes flickered slightly.

Then he slowly stepped forward and looked at Chu Ning. "Who are you?"

Chu Ning raised his brows slightly. He glanced at the constables around him before answering calmly, "Chu Ning."

Li Jing'an studied him carefully.

The youth was tall and slender. Though his clothes were plain, they could not conceal the sturdy frame of someone trained in martial arts. In particular, the hand gripping the saber had cracks across its web between thumb and forefinger, yet remained steady as a rock.

His features were firm and resolute, his swordlike brows slightly raised, and his gaze as sharp as a hawk's. A wild and untamed air faintly emanated from him.

More importantly, the detached killing intent around him was so formidable that even a battle-hardened veteran might not possess such an aura.

"To be able to wipe out these experts single-handedly at such a young age..." Li Jing'an secretly nodded to himself.

He had already seen that the youth before him was no ordinary martial artist.

Collecting his thoughts, he waved his hand and ordered his subordinates to bring the bandits' corpses and the children back to the yamen.

"You're Chu Ning, right? This matter is of great importance. Come with us."

Chu Ning offered no resistance.

Since he had struck at the Wang family's people, trouble was bound to follow. The authorities' attitude was precisely what he needed to probe.

Under the cover of night, the group escorted Chu Ning slowly toward the county yamen.

The county yamen's main hall was brightly lit.

Chu Ning was brought before the hall. At the very center, the county magistrate sat behind his desk, lightly tapping his fingers against its surface as he swept his gaze over Chu Ning.

"Chu Ning, I ask you: do you know what crime you have committed?"

Chu Ning's expression did not change. His tone was calm. "The people I killed were all villains who trafficked children. Shouldn't the authorities have dealt with this?"

The county magistrate let out a cold laugh, casually opened the case file, and said indifferently, "You are merely a commoner. Without a ruling from the authorities, you slaughtered several people on your own initiative. That alone is a grave crime. Since you are young, if you are willing to confess and affix your seal, I may yet spare your life. It would also save me considerable trouble."

Chu Ning's eyes turned cold, but he did not answer. Instead, he took the account book from his robe and tossed it onto the desk.

"These are the evidence of those villains' crimes. The account book records in detail the times and locations of the child trafficking, as well as the masterminds behind it. Magistrate, could it be that these villains committed evil for years, and you knew nothing of it?"

The county magistrate's eyelid twitched slightly. His gaze swept over the writing in the account book, but his face remained placid. He slowly closed the book, a mocking smile lifting the corners of his lips.

"Hmph. You think a mere account book can clear you of your crimes?"

He paused, and his tone abruptly turned cold. "Guards! Throw this boy into the dungeon. We'll decide his fate after I thoroughly investigate the matter!"

The yamen runners immediately stepped forward and moved to seize Chu Ning without a word.

At that moment, Li Jing'an, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke. His tone was calm. "My lord, please wait."

The county magistrate frowned. "Chief Constable Li, what is it?"

Li Jing'an's gaze was deep as he said slowly, "This man possesses formidable martial skills and single-handedly eradicated a bandit den. He is very likely a Ranked Martial Artist registered in the records. My lord, you might as well check the martial artist register and see whether he is listed."

The county magistrate was stunned at first, then burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the main hall.

"Ridiculous!" He glanced at Chu Ning with utter disdain. "This boy isn't even twenty years old. How could he possibly be a Ranked Martial Artist? Chief Constable Li, could it be that you think too highly of this youngster?"

However, the instant his laughter faded, a nervous-looking secretary emerged from the rear hall with a book in his arms. He jogged to the county magistrate's side and whispered into his ear.

After listening, the county magistrate's expression changed drastically.

He suddenly raised his head and stared fixedly at Chu Ning, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"You... you actually..."

The secretary whispered, "My lord, this person is indeed in the register. His name is Chu Ning, and he is a registered Ranked Martial Artist. And furthermore..."

He paused, sweat faintly appearing on his forehead. "He is also an instructor at Thunderclap Martial Hall."

The county magistrate felt a chill run down his spine as cold sweat silently slid from his temple.

A registered Ranked Martial Artist—and an instructor at Thunderclap Martial Hall, at that?

This was no ordinary wandering martial artist. He was a bona fide figure recognized by a martial hall, someone with an official standing within the martial artist system.

To offend such a martial artist was not merely to oppose an individual. It was to oppose the entire Thunderclap Martial Hall.

Sweat rolled down the county magistrate's forehead and along his cheek. His expression shifted unpredictably, and the calm composure he had displayed earlier had long since vanished.

Li Jing'an, meanwhile, gave Chu Ning a meaningful look, the admiration in his eyes growing even stronger.

This youth not only possesses exceptional martial prowess, but such an identity as well. It seems he's far more interesting than I had expected...