That Fair-Faced 'Sage' {Completed}

18. The Verdict

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"An immortal didn't descend, but Clan Leader Zhao came to your defense, bringing new facts to light...." Lu FengHo said...

~

When Zhao ChaoYun finished speaking in the hall, there had been a somewhat lengthier silence, and this was closely followed by more muttering...

"... to do something so evil..."

"... can't blame the young man at all!"

".... They're the ones who took up stones to smash their own feet!"

"... We didn't even realize what was happening in those two sects..."

"... Really so evil..."

"... Aren't we judging the wrong person here?"

"... Isn't Xuè Shèngrén the victim?!..."

Zhao ChaoYun had resisted the urge to smile, as Kong JuLong turned to him.

"Elder Zhao... Please can you tell us where you were when all this happened?"

It was a big question that none of them had thought of asking, and now they were looking at him as if his answer would determine their next move.

Zhao ChaoYun cleared his throat. "As I stated earlier, I had been imprisoned within the Zhao Manor.

"As the years passed, Wang ShanMei found a way to communicate with me, so I offered advice through the years, pointing her to who she could trust, and how she could discover the truth."

They remained silent and he continued.

"After ShanMei's death and LanFeng's disappearance, I was released from my prison, but not allowed out of the Clan grounds. It was from then that I begun gathering my information...

"After everything ShanMei had told me through the years, it was easy to question the servants in the manor, and when LanFeng attacked the manor, he left behind the pendant for me, and disappeared before I could stop him."

That was only partly true. Before leaving, LanFen had also explained a few things to him, but these people would only assume she was lying, so there was no point in telling them that.

"Since I became free to go wherever I liked," He continued. "I went round gathering more information, and even went to the Southern Dragon Clan, where I met Clan Leader Wang."

Everyone had turned to Wang FeiYang who looked a bit pale, but after what he had heard, he himself had built some resolve.

"It's exactly as Elder Zhao says... I and Zhao LanFeng heard the conspiracy together nineteen years ago, and the plan to kill Lady Wang ShanMei.

"It's also a shame to the Wang family, but whispers from the household servants have made it clear that Clan Leader Wang was involved with Demon cultivation..."

Several of the Clan Leaders muttered amongst themselves, as the recent facts had changed their initial standpoints...

Xuè Shèngrén had indeed killed a lot of people, and the Wulin did have it's rules, but most didn't think he deserved the death sentence.

In fact, one or two didn't think he should be punished at all, and Shuǐ ChangSheng was one of them.

Still, he knew that was impossible, and he turned to Zhao ChaoYun. "Elder Zha- Ahem! Clan Leader Zhao." He politely addressed. "I do not want Zhao LanFeng to be punished, but there's no denying that innocent lives were lost. What do you think we should do to him?"

"Yes." Wei Zhu Qing backed him up, recognizing the clever tactic.

Asking Zhao ChaoYun's opinion first was a smart move, as the and would definitely suggest the lightest sentence he could think of. The other Clan Leaders might not agree, but it wouldn't get too bad.