But...
Xiao Wu's soul trembled.
As a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she had an almost instinctive sense for lies and truth.
She could clearly feel that every word the man on the Judgment Platform spoke came from the depths of his heart, without a trace of falsehood!
Ning Lin had not lied!
The moment Xiao Wu let go, Tang San's heart sank as well.
But he had no time to soothe his companion's emotions.
For an even greater, utterly undisguised fury was already bearing down on him from the High Platform!
"Tang San!"
Prince Xue Xing's voice exploded in everyone's ears like a thunderclap in winter.
His usually dignified face was now dark with storm clouds, his eyes blazing with towering rage.
"Was this what you summoned us here to see?!"
"To watch your Tang Sect brazenly slander and frame our empire's city lord on the Judgment Platform of my Heaven Dou City?!"
Prince Xue Xing pointed straight at Tang San's nose and rebuked him without mercy.
"Ning Lin is an official of the Heaven Dou Empire! He is the Heaven Dou City Lord, personally appointed by my elder brother Xue Ye! Even if he is guilty, he should be judged by our imperial family, under our Heaven Dou Law!"
"Since when did an outside sect like yours have the right to throw its weight around here and mete out punishment on its own authority?!"
Those words were not merely a challenge, but a warning!
The faces of the Heaven Dou Empire's officials present also darkened one after another.
Exactly!
However powerful the Tang Sect was, it was still a sect.
However guilty Ning Lin might be, he was still an imperial official!
How was the Tang Sect's conduct any different from climbing onto the empire's head and taking a shit?!
And what was more, it now seemed the charges were entirely fabricated!
For a moment, the looks in the eyes of those nobles and ministers who had previously thought well of the Tang Sect all changed.
Xue Beng was the new emperor and Tang San's disciple. If he was willing to let the Tang Sect suck his blood, that was his own folly!
But veteran officials like them, whose families had served the Heaven Dou Imperial Family for generations, could never tolerate such a thing!
"This matter must be investigated until the truth comes to light!"
Prince Xue Xing's voice grew even sterner.
"If City Lord Ning's words are true, then your Tang Sect must give our Heaven Dou Empire an accounting!!"
His voice rolled like waves, his imposing pressure weighing down like a mountain.
Tang San's face was so dark it seemed water could be wrung from it.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and bowed slightly to Prince Xue Xing.
"Please calm your anger, Your Highness."
His voice regained its composure, betraying not the slightest ripple.
"This matter has yet to be settled. Everything just said was merely Ning Lin's side of the story and cannot be taken as fact."
"A trial must ultimately rest on evidence."
After placating Prince Xue Xing, Tang San slowly straightened and turned his gaze back to Ning Lin on the Judgment Platform, murderous intent laid bare in the depths of his eyes.
"Ning Lin!"
He shouted harshly, trying to seize back the initiative through sheer force of presence.
"Stop spouting nonsense and bewitching the crowd!"
"You claim you were wronged and that I shielded my companion. Do you have any evidence?"
"Everything must be backed by evidence!"
Tang San sneered inwardly.
Ning Lin, you truly are talented.
Your intellect, your methods, and your courage all far exceeded my expectations.
Unfortunately, I discovered that too late.
Today, you must die here.
Now, this is no longer merely a matter of covering up Hongjun's crimes.
More importantly, it concerns my reputation, the reputation of the Shrek Seven Devils, and the Tang Sect's future standing!
None of those can suffer the slightest damage because of an insignificant Ning Lin like you!
I intended to use your severed head to establish the Tang Sect's authority and pave the way for my eventual complete control of the Heaven Dou Empire.
I never expected you to give me such a "surprise," nearly capsizing my boat.
But this is as far as you go.
Even if your tongue blossoms with lotuses, all your eloquence will ultimately be futile before absolute "evidence."
Out of the corner of his eye, Tang San glanced toward Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang understood at once.
As he looked at Ning Lin's calm face, a surge of satisfaction rose in his heart.
Boy, you want to fight me? Fight my disciple?
You're still too green!
He cleared his throat, a malicious grin appearing on his face, and announced loudly in an exaggerated tone:
"Silence!"
"Since Ning Lin refuses to confess and instead bites back at his accusers, summon the most important witness in this case!"
"Bring—the—witness!"
As he drew out the last word, the crowd in the Square parted of its own accord to form a path.
A frail figure slowly emerged, "escorted" by two Tang Sect disciples.
It was a woman.
She was the very female Soul Master Ning Lin had rescued in a dark alley off Vermilion Bird Avenue three days earlier.
She wore a cloth dress washed nearly white, her long hair disheveled and her face pale as paper. Her head hung low, hiding her expression.
She walked slowly, her steps faltering, as though every step drained all the strength from her body.
When she reached the Judgment Platform, every gaze in the square focused on her.
Ning Lin looked at her.
He looked at the woman he had once stepped in to save, who was now here to accuse him as a "witness."
There was no anger in his heart, only a bone-deep chill.
He had anticipated this long ago.
With Tang San's methods, how could he possibly have failed to prepare a fallback?
Threats, or inducements?
Or perhaps both.
Poor woman.
She had been the victim, yet now she was being reduced to her tormentor's accomplice.
How bitterly ironic this world was.
Below the platform, among the Shrek group.
When Ma Hongjun saw the woman appear, the corners of his mouth involuntarily spread into a grin. The smile bunched up the fat on his face, looking greasy and lecherous.
He leaned close to Dai Mubai's ear, lowered his voice, and chuckled in a boastful tone:
"Boss Dai, look."
"That woman really tastes good."
"That night was her first time, too! Fuck, that was a thrill!"
Dai Mubai frowned, a flicker of disgust crossing his eyes, and instinctively wanted to move away from him.
Ma Hongjun remained utterly oblivious, continuing to boast smugly.
"It's all thanks to Third Brother's brilliant methods."
"I don't know what Third Brother said to her, but this little woman is perfectly obedient now. She's already become my personal maid."
His voice was full of lewdness and outrageous glee.
"Now I keep her in my room."
"Every night, I can play with her however I like. I pin her down and take her several times!"
"Tsk, tsk, that feeling..."
He smacked his lips, stuck out his thick tongue, and licked them, his eyes brimming with greed and bestial lust.
Ma Hongjun made no particular effort to lower his greasy, smug voice.
Naturally, Oscar beside him heard every word clearly.
His eyes showed none of Dai Mubai's disgust. Instead, a flash of burning envy passed through them.
He wanted that too.
Why should that fat bastard Ma Hongjun get to enjoy such luck with women?
He instinctively glanced at Ning Rongrong a short distance away.
The girl remained as haughty as ever, like a fairy untouched by the mortal world.
I've pursued her for so long, and I've only held her hand a handful of times.
Even now, I'm still a virgin.
And look at Ma Hongjun. Not only does he have women in both arms, now he can even use methods like these to turn a female Soul Master into his exclusive plaything.
Before you continue