MASTER HEI DONG stepped lively through the lower halls of the high court, satchel and key tablet in hand. It was not often he had a chance to engage in direct conflict with a rival sect. As an artisan craftsman, his skills were far removed from the courts ofbat, but today he would do battle in the courts ofw.


    The prospect of humiliating Master Lo Feng had his spirits soaring to the heavens.


    The same could not be said for his daughter trailing behind him, however.


    “Keep up, Fia,” he said, slightly agitated. “I realize this is neither your nor your mother’s preferred method of dealing with conflict, but it is no reason to show disrespect to the courts by beingte.”


    He nced back at her as she dragged her feet like a child awaiting punishment.


    “Yes, Father,” she said without even looking up from her feet. “Sorry, Father.”


    Hei Dong was not a martial artist, but he was still a skilled cultivator in his own right and his Qi sensitivity could detect the imbnce in her soul. Her Qi was split and in a confused state––a mncholy that mirrored the vacant look on her face.


    It was as if the girl was in mourning.


    Hei Dong stopped to let her catch up. “What ails you, Fia? This is but a simple court appearance. Surely you can’t be this distraught over it.”“No… it’s not that,” she said and then sighed. “It’s… it’s nothing.”


    Hei Dong could sense something was on her heart.


    A burden. But what?


    “This isn’t about your brother, is it?”


    Her head jerked upwards and a look of bemusement shed across her face. “Please, I have not even thought of him. Not directly anyway.”


    “Is it the writ then?”


    Her Qi fluttered and Hei Dong knew he had touched on the right subject.


    “Fia, it’s a year away and by all ounts you will decimate this <i>Chun</i> fellow or whoever he is. You will easily restore our family’s honor. You are the Lady Silver Light. Do you have yet doubts?”


    The brief look of bemusement that had appeared quickly turned to sadness.


    “No, Father,” she said. “I have no doubts that I will win. I will defeat Max Chun.”


    Hei Dong squinted at her, puzzled as the mncholy within her only doubled.


    But whatever this was, there wasn’t time to deal with it now.


    “Fia, you cannot go before the courts in such a state,” he said, starting off again. “The magistrate will think you guilty.”


    “Guilty of what? This is a waste of time, Father.” Fia stepped more closely behind him now, the change in topic doing her soul well. “These Fire Birds are forever trifling with us. If only I had had the opportunity to y the lot of them as they imed.”


    “You and your mother both,” Hei Dong said with a chuckle. “This is but a poor attempt to save face for not being able to back their initial writ, nothing more. They have lost Hong Feng to likely his own misdoings and now seek to me us for it.”


    “That’s preposterous,” Fia said with disdain.


    “Indeed. Nowe, your mother is waiting for us,” Hei Dong said as the thrill ofbat filled his soul. “Let us do battle with these Fire Birds once more.”


    * * *


    Hei Dong entered the chambers of the High Magistrate where he joined his wife, Rhi Dong, in the defendant’s box along with several of Fia’s Silver Shadows. Hei Dong had selected four of Fia’s disciples who had ascended to the Core Realm, giving them the signature silver hair that his wife’s n was known for.


    They had already cut their hair to mirror their mistress, short bobs, but there was no beauty among them that could match her face. Fia was a spitting image of her mother in that regard, an image of her younger self. A hint of pride filled him as he watched Fia join her Silver Shadows—a respectable Lady of the Silver Leaf n at only 33.


    If only Hein had inherited her same temperament and wisdom.


    <i>Thank the heavens for you, Fia</i>, he thought. <i>The true future of our family</i>.


    The doors to the courts opened a second time and Lo Feng and his two cronies entered. Master Lo Feng stroked his wispy beard and eyeballed him as he entered the intiff’s box as their users, a slight smirk on his face.


    The sight sparked irritation in Hei Dong’s soul.


    “With both Master Hei Dong and Master Lo Feng now arrived, we may begin,” High Magistrate Yi Xhi Yen said from atop her raised dais. “Master Lo Feng, you im your witness can identify the woman he saw at the scene?”


    “Yes, your honor,” Lo Feng said.


    The magistrate then gestured towards Fia and her four Silver Shadows, all five of them dressed in the same in ck and silver robes, giving no distinction between them at all. Fia had even forgone her normal beautification regime to look as in andparable to her subordinates as possible.


    Master Lo Feng pushed the slim Fire Bird with the bald head and goatee forward. “Du Mak here can identify her. Go on, Du Mak.”


    “Du Mak,” Yi Xhi Yen said directly to the man. “Is the woman you saw present in the court room?”


    “Y-yes, your honor.”


    “Identify the woman you saw on the night in question by pointing to her.”


    Hei Dong stretched the aura of perception to reach the man standing to use his daughter and could detect the imbnce in his soul. He was nervous for certain. And Hei Dong was certain also that there was no chance this man had ever seen his daughter before, much less on the so-called ‘night in question’.


    <i>Preposterous</i>, he thought.


    But as expected, the man Du Mak pointed right at Fia.


    “She is there,” he said. “That is the woman I saw.”


    Fia’s jaw dropped, and Hei Dong sensed her Qi re. “How dare you speak such a lie!”


    “Fia, that’s enough,” Hei Dong said quickly, tugging on her robe. “Let me handle this.”


    Fia opened her mouth to protest yet again, but she caught the serious look in his eyes and bowed to him, respecting his authority.


    “Your magistrate,” Hei Dong said. “Clearly this man is either mistaken or seeks to involve himself in some kind of perjury. Surely a single witness alone, much less one of such lowly status should hold such weight within this court.”


    Lo Feng fumed. “A witness is a witness. He pointed out your daughter. ept it! She is guilty!”


    “Your honor,” Hei Dong said coolly, ignoring Lo Feng’s usation. “My daughter ims her innocence. Unless there is a second witness, I suggest this case be dismissed. The penalty for an unsanctioned attack on another martial sect is severe and as a Lady of the Silver Leaf n, it is ridiculous to think that the Lady Silver Light would ever take such a risk to dishonor herself or her own n so. I would therefore expect the court would not take a matter such as this so lightly as to base it upon the questionable evidence of a single witness.”


    “You need not remind <i>me</i>, Master Hei Dong, of the penalties for this crime under Imperial Law,” Yi Xhi Yen said, not masking her irritation. “Tread carefully, counselor. I know my job and thew very well.”


    “As you well do, honorable High Magistrate,” Hei Dong said, swallowing the rebuke with a slight nod of his head. “A thousand apologies.”


    “There is a second witness,” Lo Feng said suddenly. “Come on, Ju Gong. You saw her too, didn’t you?”


    “Objection!” Hei Dong said. “Is this man attempting to change his testimony?”


    “I’ll allow it,” Yi Xhi Yen coolly, without even looking at him. “Witnesses often times recall things after some reflection.”


    Hei Dong felt the punch to the gut as Lo Feng smirked at him again.


    <i>What in the heavens was this?</i>


    He looked back to the High Magistrate and finally got the clear picture now.


    <i>So that was it</i>, he thought. <i>The bastard had gotten to her first this time</i>.


    Hei Dong himself had bribed the magistrate with 100 Taels of silver before, but to side against him, who knows how much Lo Feng had paid Yi Xhi Yen for her not so subtle discretion in thew.


    “Go on then,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “If you recall some additional details that you did notst fromst time, you are free to reveal it, Ju Gong.”


    Hei Dong could sense the distress in the man’s soul.


    “You did see something, didn’t you?” Lo Feng said. “What about after you awoke?”


    “I saw a great many things that night, your honor,” Ju Gong said after a pause. “I found the pin, but I cannot say that I saw a woman.”


    Hei Dong smiled as Lo Feng’s face creased into a grimace of rage.


    <i>Clearly this one was willing to risk his master’s wrath rather than the court’s</i>, Hei Dong thought with a smile. <i>A wise man indeed</i>.


    Yi Xhi Yen must have sensed it too, because the slightest of smirks touched her lips. “It seems the second witness has no additional information to share.”


    Lo Feng muttered a curse and leveled a threatening stare at Ju Gong.


    Hei Dong smiled. “Then it should be settled then. Surely the testimony of a single witness should not be enou–”


    “Not so fast, Master Hei Dong,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “You forget that the testimony is not the only evidence we have to consider in this case. The pin itself forms the other half. With this much evidence, it is quite usible that your daughter was indeed the culprit. I have no choice but to consider this writ as valid.”


    Rhi Dong gasped. “What?”


    Hei Dong’s own stomach did a flip as the High Magistrate continued.


    “The penalty for an unsanctioned attack on a fellow martial sect is indeed severe, with penalties ranging from maiming to execution. Considering that over a hundred Fire Bird n members were in, my ruling would be for the execution of Lady Silver Light.”


    His heart nearly stopped and Fia herself let out a gasp.


    “This is wrong!” she cried. “I did no such thing!”


    “You will hold your tongue in my court!” Yi Xhi Yen shouted, banging her gavel. “Master Hei Dong, this is your matter to address, I suggest you keep your <i>client</i> calm.”


    But he was anything but calm at the moment, his mind racing.


    <i>How much did that dog Lo Feng pay her?</i>


    Hei Dong was about to pull his rank as a member of the ruling n, but that power extended only to Jurin Province. A High Magistrate was appointed by the princess herself. Even the Warden would have to acquiesce to her rulings.


    “You can of course always contest Master Lo Feng’s im in the court of battle,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “If you have a champion of matching ranking.”


    “I will stand as champion!” Rhi Dong suddenly said. “I will contest this matter in the courts of battle!”


    A huge grin spread across Lo Feng’s face and Hei Dong saw the trap that had clearly beenid for them. Lo Feng was never after his daughter. He was targeting his wife!


    “Your honor,” Hei Dong said quickly. “Please ignore that statement. I request a recess to give official counsel to my clients.”


    Rhi looked back at him in confusion and shock, but Hei Dong kept his features calm and unreadable. Yi Xhi Yen gave him a frown but eventually banged her gavel.


    “You may have five minutes,” Yi Xhi Yen said with a sigh. “I am being lenient enough allowing the retraction. Be quick with it, Master Hei Dong.”


    Hei Dong’s head was already spinning by the time he led his family out of the courtroom and into a small private chamber adjacent to it.


    “What are you doing?” Rhi Dong said in a huff. “That liar of a man seeks to execute our daughter and you will not allow me to defend her?”


    “That is madness, Father,” Fia said, joining in. “These are lies! All lies!”


    “I know, I know!” Hei Dong said. “But this is what he wants. He wants to fight you, Rhi, he always has.”


    “Then let him,” she said with a grimace of determination. “I am ready.”


    Hei Dong shook his head. “No…this will pull everything into the public eye. He is a sect leader. You are not even an elder. You challenging him would be tantamount to a challenge for seat of the ruling n itself.”


    Rhi Dong furrowed her brow. “What? How so?”


    “Only a sect leader may challenge another sect leader,” Hei Dong exined. “This would bring tremendous shame to the Warden. Especially if you lost.”


    “You think I would lose?” Rhi shouted. “To <i>him</i>?”


    Hei Dong could see the hurt and indignation in her eyes. “My love, you have not trained seriously since the children. You and Lo Feng may have been Gold Rankpetitors thirty years ago, but he has done nothing but advance since then while you rightly chose to raise our family instead. And it is our family that I care for more than anything else.”


    Fia dropped to one knee, head bowed. “Father, allow me to defend myself against Master Lo Feng. I am Gold Rank now as well. I know I am currently no match for him, but we can perhaps ask the magistrate for more time. Three years perhaps. I can train hard and––”


    “Daughter,” Hei Dong said, cutting her off as he lifted her from the ground. “You are as honorable and fearless as your mother. But the problem of challenging another n leader still remains. It cannot happen this way. That devil Lo Feng knows this. He seeks to pull us into a trap that will ensnare the entire n. He may be targeting you, Fia, but I believe his true target is the warden.”


    “The Lady Silver Tear?” Rhi let out a scoff. “My great aunt has decades on Lo Feng. Clearly, he is no match for her.”


    Hei Dong didn’t respond right away. He knew of the shadowy activities that the Fire Birds ran through the <i>jiangu</i>––the ess to limitless means of forced cultivation, and even darker rumors of illegal practices to do such. It was the main reason he wasn’t keen to allow his wife into the ring with Lo Feng. Not only had he advanced while his wife had raised their family, but the rate of that advancement could be well beyond what was considered normal.


    “Of that I am not so certain,” Hei Dong said. “The Fire Birds keep great secrets, but regardless, either of you challenging him will lead to the same oue. A direct confrontation between the Fire Birds and the Silver Leaf ns––a conflict that hasin dormant for well over three hundred years. Reigniting this war is something the Dong family cannot be responsible for.”


    Both Rhi and Fia grew silent then, staring at the floor.


    “Bless the heavens for you, husband,” Rhi Dong said after a while. “My impulse will forever be tempered by your great wisdom. I had not given thought that he could be after such a thing.”


    “What shall we do then?” Fia said, her Qi unstable with fear. “Am I to ept this fate?”


    Hei Dong looked at her sternly. “Only if it is true. Speak freely now, girl. You had no hand in this, correct?”


    “Of course I did not,” she said with a violent shake of her head. “This I swear by the heavens.”


    Hei Dong smiled. “Then you have nothing to fear. I will see to this. Come.”


    Hei Dong re-entered the court with his family and took his ce in the defendant’s box. “Your honor, I wish to contest a portion of the evidence. One that will clearly exonerate my daughter as the one used.”


    “I’m sorry?” Yi Xhi Yen said, her eyes squinting with confusion. “Are you saying that you will not meet Master Lo Feng inbat?”


    “We will not, your worship,” he said. “I wish to prove instead that the origin of the quill cannot possibly be from my daughter. I beg the court’s indulgence to allow for a Grand Sage from the interior to be summoned to examine the quill to determine if its structure and that of my daughter’s core do indeed match.”


    A series of murmurs came from all within the court.


    A Grand Sage was a rarity even in the core worlds, a schr of such renowned cultivation level that they had the ability to determine not only the essence of one’s Qi but the fingerprint of anything produced by it.


    “Master Hei Dong,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “Such a request is oundish to impose upon the courts. The avability of a Grand Sage is measured in months not weeks. And without an Omni-gate, the expense to ferry them here from the interior would be well beyond–”


    “I will bear the expense personally,” Hei Dong said and Rhi gasped again.


    “This is ridiculous!” Lo Feng said. “I object.”


    “Oh, do you now?” Hei Dong said, feeling the thrill of a critical strike. “You have a witness that ims to have seen my daughter specifically. This test will either prove or disprove that im. Or do you now doubt the testimony of your own witness, Master Lo Feng?” Hei Dong grinned. “You are free to drop these charges at any time, you know? If you are confident in your evidence, then why not have it tested for all to see?”


    Lo Feng grimaced but didn’t say anything else.


    “Master Hei Dong, as you have agreed to assume the sizable cost of this exercise, I will allow it,” Yi Xhi Yen said and banged her gavel. “This matter is adjourned until an audience with a Grand Sage can be procured from the interior. Master Hei Dong, you may see the clerk to settle payment for this service.”


    Rhi rushed to him as the crowd dispersed.


    “Husband, that was a brilliant move, but will it not cost thousands of spirit stones?”


    “A temporary expense,” Hei Dong said, giving Lo Feng a smirk as he departed. “Once he loses in court, I’ll sue him for the cost of wasting both our and the court’s time.”