A Trial by Halves

The Truth

"So you're telling me that Ye Hua escaped his responsibilities for the love of a  Mortal woman who was pregnant.  Only she wasn't Mortal, but High Immortal Si Yin who as you know is our most wanted fugitive.  Only it now turns out that she is in fact Queen Bai Qian who had been sealed by Qing Cang after she sealed him and now it looks as if this entire saga turned out to be her High Ascension trial while Ye Hua has been left severely injured, I have a grandson who is also full Immortal with exceptional powers, Su Jin is dead along with hundreds of my soldiers, Cheng Yu must also die and my son Lian Song is still in love with her?" Haode asked incredulously and staring at the old Spiritual Master with distrust in his eyes.

"I know it sounds incredible when you put it that way, but it is essentially the truth." Ci Hang replied now exhausted and just wanting to go to bed.

Haode sat in thought for a while.  It really did seem incredulous that his grandson had gone through all of that, just for a woman who was in the end, his wife anyway.  Yet so many suffered for the choices he made.  If he had remained, Su Jin would still be alive, he would not have lost so many soldiers, Bai Qian would have come through her trial differently, Cheng Yu would not be facing the death penalty and Lian Song would not be facing the predicament he was in.

Because as it stood, Cheng Yu could not be freed from punishment, it was completely out of his hands because Lord Pua had taken control of it.  He could of course overrule any decisions seeing as Ci Hang himself had come to speak for her, but what kind of example would that set?  

"Whether intentionally or not, she attacked me.  My position must remain untouchable.  If I don't punish her, then I cannot protect the Nine Heavens.  I will be seen as weak and no better than my grandson who sees the sanctity of life as a mere play thing to be manipulated to his own ends and I will therefore be open to more attacks.  She must be punished." he said stiff lipped and resolute after some time and seeing the way his eyes had hardened, Ci Hang knew the mans mind was set.

"Then allow her to live.  If you do not, you will lose your son." Ci Hang warned him even more strongly.  "This entire mess started because of their inability to choose their own mates and besides whos to say that this isn't also their trial?" he asked with a sudden flare of excitement in those old eyes having thought of it just then.

Thinking on it, Haodes body leaned back against his bed where he was resting.  His hands were lightly clasped in his lap while his toes began to twitch to a beat as a smile began to rise.

"Indeed.  Who's to say?" he replied with a growing smile, because it seemed as if fate was truly testing them all at that moment.

"Then you will spare her life?" he asked tentaively but optimistically.

"As you said, who's to say it isn't also their trial.  If that's the case, then its out of my hands anyway." Haode replied and giving the man no real commitment but the spark in his eyes did give Ci Hang some small hope that he would relent.

"Then I will prepare her for what is coming.  Will you allow Lian Song to accompany her?" he asked next and forcing Haode to understand just how much the woman meant to his son.

"If that is what he wants." Haode replied tiredly.  And he was tired.  Having almost lost his life in that battle and then to return to find his grandson had taken the beating for him, and then to have Ci Hang openly fighting for that woman, Su Jins downfall as well as the resurrection of Mo Yuan and Di Juns loss of cultivation, it was all a little too much.

Remaining to assist him into his bed properly before issuing the order that only the Medicine King was to enter while also ensuring that no one was to disturb him for the rest of the day, Ci Hang left for the infirmary with much lighter steps than when he entered.