Infinite Professions

Chapter 410: Chapter 212: Night Trial

A few days later, on the official road, carriages and horses sped along.

Inside the carriage, a few people sat together; Zhu Xiaolian’s face was pale, appearing absent-minded, and the other young gentlemen looked similar.

During the recent trip to the Red Lotus Temple, although they did not experience the same ordeals as Zhu Xiaolian, they were also startled by the massacre that took place in front of the temple. For several days they couldn’t find peace of mind, and even now, the shock lingered.

Fortunately, after occupying the Red Lotus Temple, Li Mubai did not trouble the uninvolved people too much. Apart from the monks of the Red Lotus Temple, everyone else was released after their identities were verified, allowing them to return by carriage.

They had set off full of vigor, but returned feeling frightened, and the carriage was enveloped in silence; no one spoke a word.

In this way, they finally arrived at the Prefecture City, and only then did their expressions slightly relax. The absent-minded Zhu Xiaolian also woke up, forced himself to gather his spirits, bid farewell to everyone, and then got off the carriage and headed for his home.

"Son, you finally returned home. I heard the Red Lotus Temple was attacked by bandits. Are you alright?"

Upon returning home and facing the concerned gazes of his parents, Zhu Xiaolian barely responded with a few words before shutting himself in his room.

Sitting alone in the room, he began to feel slightly relaxed in body and mind. But after relaxing, he couldn’t help but recall his experiences at the Red Lotus Temple and in the Painted Wall—the young girl, the red-robed divine being, and everything that followed, which seemed like a surreal dream.

Unknowingly, sleepiness surged over him, and his eyelids felt as heavy as mountains, involuntarily drooping down.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

But just as his eyelids closed, he suddenly heard noises from outside the courtyard, which instantly dispersed his drowsiness.

Zhu Xiaolian awoke, bleary-eyed, and looked outside only to see darkness had already fallen.

"Who is knocking at the door so late?"

Hearing the commotion outside the courtyard, Zhu Xiaolian frowned, got up, and walked into the courtyard, but saw no sign of his parents or the servants and maids, only the courtyard door rattled.

He felt nothing strange, walked straight ahead, and opened the courtyard door.

As soon as the door was opened, he saw several people, dressed in black official uniforms resembling government officials, though their expressions appeared somewhat stiff and cold.

Zhu Xiaolian showed an expression of surprise: "What are you all doing here?"

"Scholar Zhu!"

One of the constables clasped his hands: "The Lord of the Mansion is opening the trial for the Red Lotus case. You are a direct witness and need to testify in court. Please come with us!"

"The Lord of the Mansion?"

"Red Lotus?"

Zhu Xiaolian was stunned, then reacted with suspicion and uncertainty as he looked at them: "You all..."

"Please come along!"

The constables said no more and directly lifted him into the carriage behind them together.

"Drive!!!"

"Neigh!!!"

The whip cracked, the gallant horses neighed, and the carriage sped off quickly, but soon came to a sudden stop again, and before Zhu Xiaolian could react, he heard urging from outside the carriage.

"We’ve arrived at the Prefecture Government Office, Scholar Zhu. Please get off!"

Zhu Xiaolian lifted the carriage curtain only to see a magnificent hall in front, dazzling in gold and jade, appearing somewhat familiar, yet he couldn’t recall anything despite racking his brains, and could only sluggishly follow the constable onward.

Following the constable, they proceeded into the mansion, and after an unknown length of time, they finally arrived at a grand hall.

The hall was vast and well-lit, clear and bright, exuding a holy and majestic aura.

Zhu Xiaolian glanced cautiously and saw more than ten people sitting up high, all shrouded in divine light, revealing only vague silhouettes without discernible facial features.

Fortunately, the robes were distinct enough to roughly identify them; altogether there were more than ten people—half in red robes styled like official uniforms, another half draped in Kasayas, indicating Buddhist Sect members, and the remaining were adorned in high caps and flowing robes, wielding dusters, exhibiting the demeanor of the Confucian Sect and the celestial aura of the Daoist School.

Such a group of people was seated up on the high hall, with only the central position vacant.

"The Lord has arrived!"

At this moment, a loud voice rang out from above, and then golden light burst forth, revealing a Divine Being manifested in the central position of the great hall, surrounded by wafting incense and rolling smoke. Not only was his face indistinct, but even his attire was unclear, exuding an imposing majesty.

"The Lord!"

Upon seeing this, everyone stood up and saluted one after another.

"Today, the Three Religions gather to jointly try the case of the Red Lotus!"

The Divine Being spoke succinctly, his voice thunderous, followed by the clap of a wooden tablet: "Court is now in session!"

"Might and Power!"

The two rows of government officials banged their deterrent cudgels, alarming Zhu Xiaolian, who looked around him to find himself standing alone in the hall, feeling even more confused and panicked.

What is happening?

"Slap!!!"

Before Zhu Xiaolian could settle his thoughts, he heard the wooden tablet clap from above again, and the Divine Being referred to as the "Lord" spoke: "Bring the defendant Li Mubai to the hall!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a person arrived, stepping steadily into the hall. Zhu Xiaolian watched cautiously, recognizing the young official who had previously led the attack on the Red Lotus Temple—Jinyang Prefecture Magistrate Li Mubai.

"Li Mubai!"

The Divine Being on the high stage roared: "You are accused of being instigated by someone to unwarrantedly lead troops to attack the Red Lotus Temple, slaughtering monks, and looting wealth. Is there such a matter?"

"May I ask the Divine Monarch!"

Li Mubai’s expression remained unchanged: "What does being ’instigated’ mean?"

"Hmm!?"

With these words, the divine beings on the high stage all showed a change in expression, and those Buddhist Sect venerables clad in Kasayas slammed on the table, angrily accusing him: "Rogue, how dare you put on an act at this point?"

Li Mubai glanced at him, then turned his gaze back: "These words, I do not understand!"

Hearing his arguments, the Jinyang Prefect simply asked: "Did Song Xiang instigate you to lead troops to attack the Red Lotus Temple?"

Li Mubai then spoke: "Indeed, Song Shenjun entered my dream and pointed out the illicit deeds of the Red Lotus Demon Monk, which is why I led troops to destroy this demon temple."

"So you finally admit it!"

Hearing him refer to "demon monk" and "demon temple," the Buddhist Sect venerables were even more furious, yet they didn’t press Li Mubai further but rather turned their gaze to a red-robed divine being on the left: "Song Xiang, do you have anything to say?"