Cannon fodder in a classic cultivation story

8. Murder and Karma

*changed some names

Tian Hui Sect - Heavenly Clouds Sect
Longzhu forest - Grey Skies Forest

Though cultivators possessed immense strength, they were expected to never stir unnecessary discord or violence against one another. Straying from this path was not only frowned upon but could have severe consequences, both in reputation and karma.

This unspoken agreement kept the balance of the immortal realm intact, ensuring that even in competition or conflict, outright murder was rarely an option.

The only exception to this rule was when it was decided that the best punishment for a sinner was death. Such a decision was not made lightly; it required a formal gathering known as the Immortal Convention, where the severity of the offender's actions would be debated and weighed.

It was a stern reminder that even the most powerful cultivators were not above the laws of their realm.

That except Feng Zhihao. As much as she was a heroine, she was also a murderer. She was smart enough to cover her tracks and escape accusations by either using her enemies or using the facade of a good-natured doctor.

Of course, all her victims weren't randoms but persons she had a personal feud with, like what happened at the Mount Shu staircase to the immortal realm. So, in a way, her murder was excused as a "good thing," abiding by the realm rules. She punished evildoers.

So what happened with Chunwan?

This small story arc marked how Feng Zhihao started being on the other side, the one who investigated murder cases with the help of her medical knowledge. Doing autopsies and helping the high judges in the Immortal Convention find the criminal, she was able to make herself shine easily.

This particular case wasn't that complicated. After Feng Zhihao left the Grey Skies forest, she reached Twelve Roads City, where she encountered a mess since a cultivator died for unknown reasons. No blood, wounds, or signs of poisons were seen, and this made everybody, even the highest local cultivators, decide the cultivator's death was because of natural causes since he was also quite ill before.

However, it just happened that before arriving in the city, Feng Zhihao had met this man in the forest, along with some other cultivators who were his companions. Of course, being the main character, she was accused of murder, since in the forest, Feng Zhihao helped them kill a monster by using poisonous needles.

And that very accusatory was no one else but the jealous and mean Chunwan.

Su Jing couldn't help but side glance at Yawen, especially at his cane and feeble body. Reminiscing how Lord Qingwu invited him to the marketplace and how he also planned to go to the forest to hunt beasts, Su Jing, as much as she felt bad for Yawen, was very certain her worries were right.

Yawen was the one meant to die soon.

Su Jing's fingers tightened around the cup of tea as her mind raced.

A strange pressure seemed to wash over her mind and body, but still, things were confusing, especially since these events were supposed to happen one month after Feng Zhi Hao entered the immortal realm. Su Jing was certain of this because Feng Zhihao had an almost obsessive habit of tracking time between the real realm and her farming space.

So, if things went really correctly like in the story, then that meant Su Jing had stayed on Mount Shu more than she anticipated. It was either when she lost consciousness after Feng Zhihao's inner demon or when she broke the teleportation array.

Arrays weren't only about space, but also about time so she could glitch and stay stuck for some period, the same how she seemed to have used her inner Qi to jinx Feng Zhihao levelling up, and that maybe made her asleep to recuperate.