Once Yang Qing was satisfied that they had used the technique for an appropriate duration, he turned his attention to the next case, which hopefully would be easier than the first two, if the curse-breaking technique did its job that is.
His next case was between Wen Yingjie who was a rogue cultivator, and Tan Ping, the owner of the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop. Wen Yingjie was accusing Tan Ping of selling him a defective top-tier sky-grade weapon.
"Wen Yingjie, a peak core formation expert, commissioned a custom-made saber from the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop," Yang Qing began as he started reading through the details of the case.
"Seems like Tan Ping is also a peak stage core formation expert, though Luo Meili's investigation shows different.... he is rumored to be already at the quasi-palace stage," Yang Qing murmured as he held his chin thoughtfully.
"The Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop has existed for almost 18,000 years, passed down from father to son in each generation, and has gained enormous popularity in the Thundercrane Kingdom, a rank 3 kingdom," Yang Qing murmured as he carefully perused the case details.
"I see that the royal family has been trying to recruit the Tan family as their official royal blacksmiths for generations, but they've been turned down every time.
Mmh… it seems the only reason they never retaliated despite what could be seen as a blatant slap to the face was the pact made between the fifth-generation king and the fourth-generation head of the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop at the time."
The pact stipulated that the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop would give priority to the royal family when forging new weapons and would supply them with a set quota of arms each year. In return, the royal family would provide the necessary materials, with all transactions conducted at market price. As part of the agreement, the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop would be granted complete autonomy, even from the royal family itself. Additionally, should the blacksmith shop ever face a crisis beyond its ability to handle, the royal family would be obligated to step in and provide aid.
This pact had been in place for the past 10,000 years and had been faithfully upheld by every successive king and Tan family head.
"With a reputation like this, I find it hard to believe they would sell a faulty weapon. For a blacksmithing lineage to survive nearly 18,000 years, they must have been constantly honing and improving their craft to remain both relevant and renowned to this day. Luo Meili even noted that the current owner, Tan Ping, might be one of the most talented masters in the shop's history with his skills far surpassing those of the previous generational head.
Could there truly be an issue with the saber, or does the problem lie with its owner, Wen Yingjie?" wondered Yang Qing.
"But according to Luo Meili's notes, he seems like a relatively straightforward person with a strong sense of responsibility I wonder what his story is?" Yang Qing silently wondered as he poured his attention into Wen Yingjie's background.
"Before becoming a rogue cultivator, he was a young general in a rank 3 kingdom. However, an incident at his post led to the death of a prince from that kingdom. Out of respect for his family's generations of loyal service, the king spared his life but permanently exiled him, never to return. Since then, he has lived as a rogue cultivator.
Despite his immense talent, he has never joined any sect, kingdom, or clan, choosing instead to live the life of a vagrant.
Mmh.. sounds like someone trying to punish himself."
"That's quite the burden of responsibility he's carrying. This case might actually be easy to conclude," Yang Qing thought, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.
Yi Jie was already at the door, calling in Wen Yingjie and the owner of the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop. Moments later, he walked back in, followed by a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties. He had a medium build and height, with amber eyes and brown hair. His skin was deeply tanned, and he wore black robes embroidered with the emblem of a falling blue meteor. His footsteps were steady, exuding the presence of someone with complete control over every part of his body.
Yang Qing also noticed the qi flowing through the young man rumbled like a boiling furnace. He assumed it was a result of the cultivation technique the young man practiced or something else.
"He may have a unique physique to handle such tyrannical qi coursing through him," Yang Qing mused.
"But who is he? From his robe, I can tell he's a member of the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop, but his cultivation is only at the 10th stage of the foundation realm. He definitely isn't the owner," Yang Qing thought, his expression puzzled as he studied the young man before shifting his gaze toward the end of the entourage.
His eyes landed on a woman with dark green hair tied into a bun. Her hair was even darker than his, with hints of black woven into its deep green shade. This color scheme extended to her eyes as well which had a striking mix of green and black. She had a mature yet gentle charm, like that of an older sister who had taken care of five younger brothers. Her beauty was as refreshing as spring water with a hint of quiet serenity to it.
However, what stood out in stark contrast to her gentle demeanor were the three well-polished bones she used to tie her hair in a bun. That mismatch of her gentle temperament, and the bones, made the bones stand out even more. She wore robes that were half red and half blue, immediately denoting her identity within the walls of the Order.
Her name was Luo Meili, an inquisitor and the one assigned to this case. Noticing Yang Qing's gaze, she responded with a gentle smile before shaking her head sideways and pointing toward the young man.
"A stand-in, huh?" Yang Qing thought to himself as he read Luo Meili's nonverbal cue. He quickly shook off the questions bubbling in his mind about the whereabouts of the owner, Tan Ping, deciding instead to focus on the other party in the case.
Behind the young man stood a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his early forties. His hair was tied in a topknot, with a few strands of white beginning to show at the sides, though rather than diminishing his presence, they added to his charm. His dark eyes were deep and tranquil, yet they concealed a sharpness and fluidity beneath the surface.
Tall and slender, he wore immaculate gray robes that looked freshly donned, their fit straight and precise. His posture and aura were striking. It was piercing and upright like a ramrod spear embedded in stone. He carried the sharpness of a weapon yet possessed the unyielding stability of rock.
The entourage soon stood before Yang Qing as Yi Jie made his way to his side.
Luo Meili calmly stepped forward, offering a respectful bow, her movements exuding a graceful poise. The sight of it made the young man beside her gulp, his ears reddening in embarrassment and shyness.
Yang Qing couldn't fault the young man for his reaction, in fact, he rather commended him for the little results he had shown as he had seen much more adverse reactions from others, much older and more powerful than him. Luo Meili just had that effect.
"Inquisitor Luo Meili presents rogue cultivator Wen Yingjie, who has filed a suit against the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop for selling him a defective sky-rank saber. However, the owner, Tan Ping, is unable to attend the proceedings due to extenuating circumstances. As such, his son, Tan Delun, will act as his proxy," Luo Meili softly stated.
"What are the circumstances preventing Owner Tan Ping from attending?" Yang Qing asked.
"He has been in secluded cultivation for the past four months and is at a critical juncture. I personally verified this and can attest to its truth," Luo Meili explained. "This is also the reason the case was brought before the Order. When Wen Yingjie initially sought answers from the shop, Tan Ping was already in seclusion. Since his son, Tan Delun, lacked the confidence to resolve the matter himself and was uncertain when his father would emerge, he opted to bring the case here. Both parties have willingly agreed to this and will fully submit to the court's ruling."
Luo Meili then stepped back.
"Thank you, Meili." Yang Qing turned his gaze to the two before him. "Wen Yingjie, Owner Tan Delun—I trust that Luo Meili has informed you both of the penalties should you violate the ruling or conduct yourselves in a manner that breaches the court's regulations. Are you certain you want to proceed? There is still time to reconsider and resolve this matter privately."
After what he had experienced earlier with the Shen brothers, Yang Qing couldn't help but be extra cautious.
"On behalf of the Falling Meteor Blacksmith Shop and its 17th-generation master, I, Tan Delun, on the honor of the Tan name, will abide by the ruling of the court," Tan Delun solemnly declared, his booming voice reverberating throughout the courtroom.
"I, just like my young friend here, promise to abide by the court's rulings and proceedings. No matter the outcome, I will gladly accept it. My name may not mean much, but I, Wen Yingjie, value promises as much as my own life," Wen Yingjie said softly. Though his voice was quiet, the conviction in his words was unmistakable.
Yang Qing nodded approvingly, inwardly feeling extremely pleased.
"This may actually be a smooth, straightforward case. Finger Crossing Technique, you have saved your faithful practitioner once again," he internally rejoiced.