Fang Yun looked at the woman and said, "Since you repented in time, this county will not punish you further. Withdraw from the courtroom first."
"Thank you, sir, for your mercy!" The woman in splendid clothes hurriedly left the courtroom.
Enduring the pain, Ni Kuo cupped his hands and said, "My wife was reckless. Thank you, sir, for your mercy."
Fang Yun nodded. "Who stands below? State your name."
Ni Kuo and the other seven defendants trembled, not daring to utter a word.
Then the middle-aged man on the other side clasped his hands toward Fang Yun. "This commoner is Tian Fusheng. I have brought my son, Tian Lu, to pay respects to Lord Void Sage."
"Why have you and your son brought four Licentiates before the court?" After speaking, Fang Yun examined Tian Fusheng closely. The man wore old clothes, and though he had only just passed thirty, his temples were already streaked with gray.
Grief and indignation filled Tian Fusheng's face. "My son Tian Lu has been obedient and sensible since childhood, steadfast and diligent. He has never bullied the good and innocent, and his fellow students all speak well of him. But because of some trivial matters at the academy, he fell out with Ni Xian. Knowing the Ni Family was powerful, my son repeatedly endured and gave way, apologizing time and again. Yet Ni Xian gained an inch and demanded a mile. Not only did he repeatedly humiliate my son, he gathered accomplices and grew even worse—cursing him, tearing his clothes in public, beating him again and again, forcing him to kneel. Such acts are enough to make one's hair stand on end."
"How long has this continued?" Fang Yun looked at Tian Lu, who was no more than thirteen or fourteen. The boy kept his