Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1860: 1399: Cleared of Suspicion
Previously on Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan...
“What’s wrong with my words? From the moment I stepped into this yamen, I haven’t uttered a single word, yet you’ve already branded me guilty, sir. So, what’s the point of me defending myself anymore?”
Li Zhirui fired back without flinching, not just to release the bottled-up anger from his time in Daqian territory, but also to firmly declare his rightful innocence.
Bang!
The official pounded the Shock Court Wood down hard on the desk once more, his face turning red with rage, eyes bulging as he snarled, “When did I convict you?! I was only trying to shake your resolve!”
As a follower of the Legalist faction, he depended on an impartial and rigid mindset to handle cases. If things played out like Li Zhirui claimed, it would definitely rebound against him.
Thus, even though he had considered a swift verdict earlier, now that it was called out, he was forced to shift his approach and cover for his slip-up.
If news of this spread, he’d not only lose his dignity, but tarnish the Legalist faction’s name too, making him the real culprit in the end.
“Heh!”
Li Zhirui responded with a chilly scoff. Did he not see through the man’s intentions?
Still, going all out in conflict wouldn’t help his situation, so he eased off just in time. After all, in someone else’s territory, one had to lower their head—this was the heartland of the Human Dao empire, no doubt.
Noticing this, the official clenched his teeth and pressed on with the questioning, barking sharply, “Where were you last night? What were you up to? Anyone to confirm your whereabouts?”
“After strolling through the city yesterday, I headed to the Five Blessings Tavern to spend the night and resume my trip to central Daqian the next day.”
“Got proof for that?”
“The night attendant at the tavern can confirm I stayed put all night.”
Li Zhirui had picked that tavern on purpose, knowing it could back up his claim of being uninvolved in the junior official’s murder.
“Guards! Bring the shopkeeper and attendant from the Five Blessings Tavern here for interrogation!”
While they waited for the pair to show up, Li Zhirui remained composed on the sidelines, his steady demeanor inspiring belief that he was truly unconnected to the crime.
After two quarters of an hour, the plump-faced shopkeeper and a jittery attendant arrived at the yamen.
“May I ask why the master has called us here? The Five Blessings Tavern always follows the rules and hasn’t broken any laws.” As a merchant’s disciple with connections, the shopkeeper showed little fear toward the court official.
The aide nearby quickly outlined the purpose of their summons.
Upon hearing it, the shopkeeper eyed Li Zhirui and stated, “This the cultivator in question? He never stepped out of the tavern last night.”
“How do you know for certain? Were you handling the night shift yourself?” The official scowled and questioned in a harsh manner.
Though both were disciples of the Human Dao Hundred Schools, merchant followers were often looked down on, with trade seen as a base pursuit, so he treated the shopkeeper with clear contempt.
“We keep a special log for guests exiting at night, but last night’s entry was empty, meaning nobody went out.” The shopkeeper’s round face beamed with a grin, brushing off the disdain.
“Tell me! Did you spot anyone exiting the tavern last night?”
The attendant, a plain commoner at heart, shook as he replied, “To the master, I saw no one leave.”
“You positive?”
“No one did, master, I swear.”
“Understand the penalty for falsehoods?”
The attendant faced a barrage of probes, and the official even used Legalist techniques, slyly alluding to harsh punishments. How could an ordinary folk endure that? His frame quivered uncontrollably.
Li Zhirui’s brow furrowed at the sight, ready to intervene and ease the strain, but the shopkeeper moved first, flipping a Copper Coin in his palm with a relaxed smile, “Master, that’s not the right way.”
“Hmph!” The official pulled back his intimidation upon seeing it.
“Master, with witnesses confirming I stayed in the tavern all night, it’s clear I’m not involved in this. May I depart now?” Li Zhirui took the chance to interject.
The official’s expression soured further, his voice rigid as he muttered, “Fine, you’re free to go for the moment, but if any links to you surface, expect a summons anytime. Don’t leave the city in the meantime! Do so, and I’ll charge you with evasion!”
“I appreciate the warning, master. I’ll keep it in mind!”
He offered a bow before turning leisurely to exit.
“Master, since our Five Blessings Tavern isn’t tied to this, I’ll take my attendant and head out too.” The shopkeeper lifted the attendant from the floor and departed the yamen.
The official shot to his feet in fury, his features shadowed as he marched to the back courtyard. With a crash, a roadside vase shattered into fragments on the ground.
Once his temper settled, he bellowed, “Guards! Call the Masters!”
He had brought in five Masters to help run this area, and they started filing in shortly.
“I’m convinced that junior official Wang Jianyi fell to Wang Qinghe’s hand! He must’ve pulled off some trick to kill him in secret!”
The official ranted on without solid proof, leaning purely on his guesses and wild thoughts in his rage.
His outburst left the five Masters exchanging uneasy, perplexed glances. Low as a cultivator’s standing was in Daqian, they couldn’t simply seize folks without cause.