The Overlord, Yue Tianbo, only cared about who was right and who was wrong. He didn't pay attention to what Nie Changkong was saying. Cheng Aofang saw that the testimony was in favor of her side, so she naturally wouldn't question it. Thus, she didn't pay much attention to the flaws in it.
However, Nie Changkong was different. It didn't matter whether his subordinates were right or wrong. As the Palace Lord of Traversing Celestial Palace, how could he not stand up for his subordinates? Moreover, his Hall Master had been beaten to death. Naturally, he had to find a way to seek justice and protect his own reputation.
After hearing his words, not only Yue Tianbo, but even Cheng Aofang noticed the problem in the testimony. Both of them looked at Lan Hou.
Lan Hou remained unmoved. He said calmly, "This testimony is enough. I didn't interrogate any of the parties involved in the fight."
Nie Changkong sneered. "Governor Lan, you claim to be a strict law enforcer, but you didn't even interrogate the parties involved in the fight. Instead, you used a one-sided testimony to frame my Traversing Celestial Palace. I'd like to ask why you're doing this. Could it be that you're intentionally siding with Traversing Wood Palace? I don't think my Traversing Celestial Palace has offended you in any way. Why are you being so unfair? "
Lan Hou replied calmly, "Nie Changkong, are you suspecting that I fabricated this testimony?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Nie Changkong said in a low voice, "The testimony may be true, but there must be something else going on. Why didn't my subordinates even have a chance to defend themselves?" He turned to Yue Tianbo and cupped his fists. "Overlord, I can't accept Governor Lan's careless judgment!"
Before Yue Tianbo could speak, Lan Hou said, "The Overlord knows this better than anyone else. If you're not satisfied, you can listen to his advice."
Yue Tianbo was speechless. 'What could I possibly know? What the hell is this Lan Hou doing? '
However, Nie Changkong had already cupped his fists and asked, "Since Governor Lan says so, I'll be so bold as to ask the Overlord to teach me. Even if I'm wrong, I want to know why!"
Yue Tianbo's mind was blank. He couldn't figure out what to do. Teach me? Nonsense would make me look like a joke, but I can't let my subordinates think that I'm an idiot!
However, being able to climb to his current position was naturally no easy feat. He casually replied, "Lan Hou, there are no outsiders here. There's no need to beat around the bush." The ball was then kicked back to Lan Hou.
"Understood!" Lan Hou cupped his fists in acknowledgement. He then looked towards Nie Changkong and said, "Because of the four words' strict enforcement of the law '!"
"You call this unclear law enforcement?" Nie Changkong coldly snorted. "Forgive me for my ignorance, but I hope Governor Lan can clarify!"
Lan Hou said, "This Governor's words remain the same. The testimonies of these bystanders are enough. There's no need for a retrial of the others! These testimonies were enough to punish both parties involved in the fight! If you really want to interrogate them in court, then this Governor will not be biased. Any cultivator who dares to fight in the capital city will be severely punished. Do the two Palace Lords want this Governor to behead all the Palace Lords under you, or do you want this Governor to imprison them for a hundred years? When the time comes, can the two of you promise not to plead with the Overlord? If the two of you plead with the Overlord, do you want the Overlord to be biased, or do you want the Overlord to enforce the law? "
When he heard this, Nie Changkong was instantly rendered speechless. Beheading all the Palace Lords under his command was obviously out of the question. Imprisoning them for a hundred years was also out of the question. What kind of joke was this? It was fine if one or two of them disappeared for a while, but disappearing for a whole year was out of the question! It was impossible not to plead with the Overlord. When the time came, the Overlord would truly be in a dilemma. Once the Overlord opened his mouth, it would be difficult to retract it in the future. If another cultivator were to encounter a similar incident in the capital city in the future, and someone came to plead with the Overlord again, it would be inexcusable for the Overlord to give him, Nie Changkong, some face, but not others. If this continued, the law would no longer exist!
Cheng Aofang looked as if she had suddenly come to a realization. She cupped her fists towards Lan Hou and said, "Governor is wise." She wasn't going to lose out anyway, so there was no harm in saying a few cheap words.
Most importantly, Yue Tianbo secretly nodded after hearing this. This was the reason why he liked Lan Hou. By placing Lan Hou in the position of law enforcer, he would be able to enforce the law strictly. At the same time, he would be able to consider Yue Tianbo as well. With such a dedicated subordinate, what else was there to say?
Seeing that Nie Changkong had gone silent, Yue Tianbo, who already had an idea of what was going on, naturally said calmly, "Nie Changkong. Did you hear me clearly?"
Nie Changkong had no choice but to cup his fists and say, "I did."
Yue Tianbo asked, "Then do you submit now?"
Nie Changkong cupped his fists and lowered his head slightly. "Your subordinate submits!" However, he then turned back and asked, "But how does Governor Lan intend to punish them?"
Lan Hou said, "Since the rules are set, how can we let a brawl in the capital city go so easily? A death sentence can be avoided, but a punishment cannot be forgiven. If we don't teach them a lesson, how can we convince the masses in the future? A small punishment is inevitable. Anyone who participated in the brawl will be lashed five times with the Dragon Taming Whip! "
Dragon Taming Whip? The corner of Nie Changkong's mouth twitched. He said solemnly, "If Governor Lan wishes to punish me, I have nothing to say. I only wish to ask, how will the murderer, Miao Yi, be punished? Perhaps he will be lashed five times as well?"
Lan Hou calmly said, "Everyone is well aware of the cause of this incident. I am not related to that Miao Yi, and I will not side with him. If it weren't for the dead Wen Jiuxian speaking rudely and attacking first, this incident would not have happened. To put it bluntly, Wen Jiuxian is dead. If he didn't die, even if Palace Lord Nie begged for mercy, I would still have beheaded him. As for Miao Yi, I will be acquitted. Since Wen Jiuxian is dead, I will no longer pursue this matter. What I am punishing is the brawl. If Palace Lord Nie insists on pursuing the matter of Wen Jiuxian's death, I will still acquit Miao Yi, unless someone can prove that it was wrong for him to retaliate after being beaten. Even if it is wrong for him to retaliate after being beaten, I will still pursue the matter of Palace Lord Nie's lack of discipline. Who gave him the courage to make a move in the capital city? If all the Palace Lords do not restrain their subordinates' actions in the capital city in the future, who will be responsible for the consequences? Palace Lord Nie will not be able to absolve himself from the blame for Wen Jiuxian's death! "
"You …" Nie Changkong stared at Lan Hou with a twitching expression. 'Fine, you're going to punish me as well.' However, he knew that Lan Hou's words weren't without reason.
"Enough!" Yue Tianbo interrupted. Lan Hou had already thought things through for him so thoroughly. How could he allow this matter to escalate? He immediately made a decision and said, "Lan Hou has been in charge of punishment for many years. He knows better than you, Nie Changkong, what he should do. Leave this matter to Lan Hou to handle. The two of you should stay out of this."
"Understood!" Nie Changkong and Cheng Aofang could only cup their fists and accept the order.
After exiting the golden hall, the two of them followed Lan Hou to the Martial Manor's prison.
Lan Hou gestured for the two groups of people to be chased out of the prison. When they saw their respective Palace Lords, they quickly went up to greet them, thinking that their Palace Lords were here to take them away.
However, Lan Hou's words caused the hairs on their bodies to stand on end. "Prepare for the execution!"
The group of Hall Masters were immediately bewildered. 'Execution? What execution?
The one who was the most worried was Miao Yi. 'What execution? Who is he going to execute?
Unfortunately, the two Palace Lords just stood there with tense expressions, not saying a word.
Two cultivators from the Martial Manor flew up, each pulling out a thick metal chain and tying it to the two copper pillars outside the prison. At the other end of each chain was a pair of shackles.
"Palace Lord! What the hell is going on? "Advisor Miao naturally relied on his status to question Cheng Aofang.
Cheng Aofang coldly replied, "Do you think fighting in the capital city is a small matter?"
Miao Yi's expression twitched. Nie Changkong walked over and scanned him from head to toe, then turned back and said, "Lan Hou. If I remember correctly, this seems to be the second time you've sent this guy to the prison, right? This person is a repeat offender. I suggest Governor Lan punish him harshly. "
Cheng Aofang continued, "Governor Lan has his own judgment. Even if he was sent to the prison for the second time, it doesn't mean anything. If it weren't for your men making the first move, how could he have been sent to the prison for the second time?"
The various Hall Masters stared at Miao Yi in astonishment. 'This bastard is a repeat offender who's been sent to the prison for the second time. What the hell is this? He's definitely not a good person!'
What shocked everyone was the Dragon Taming Whip in the hands of a cultivator from the Martial Manor. It was practically a steel whip, with sharp teeth all over its surface.
"Begin the execution!" Lan Hou suddenly commanded.
Immediately, two cultivators from the Martial Manor rushed over and grabbed the arm of a Traversing Celestial Palace Lord, then dragged him towards the middle of the two metal chains tied to the two copper pillars.
That person immediately cried out in alarm, "What are you doing? Palace Lord! What are they doing? "
Nie Changkong, who was already fuming with anger, bellowed, "What are you screaming for? It's just five lashes. You won't die! "
That person was a little confused. However, since the Palace Lord had already spoken, he was extremely terrified as he was dragged to the execution spot. His wrists were locked with shackles, and his entire body was chained up.
The people who locked the shackles quickly retreated to the sides. The executioner holding the Dragon Taming Whip reminded, "It's best if you don't invoke your arts to resist. This Dragon Taming Whip is a Third Grade Transcendent Artifact. If you do, I will have no choice but to invoke my arts to carry out the execution. When the time comes, don't blame me for splitting you in half!"
After he finished speaking, he flicked his wrist and lashed out with the whip.
"Ahhh …" That person screamed in agony as the whip struck his back, tearing a deep gash out of his clothes along with his flesh. Blood gushed out from the whip, and one could even see the teeth marks on his bones.
Another lash followed, and the person couldn't help but scream in agony. The Hall Master was in so much pain that his body twitched and twisted.
After five lashes, there wasn't a single piece of flesh left unscathed on his back. All that was left were white bones and fresh blood. The ground was also drenched in blood.
Two of the executioners quickly untied the shackles, dragged the injured person to the side, and threw him away. Another terrified Hall Master was dragged onto the scaffold. The sound of the whip and the screams of agony resounded once more.
Once the appalling man was dragged down, Miao Yi moved closer to Cheng Aofang and laughed dryly, "Palace Lord, the cultivators of Traversing Celestial Palace receiving such torture is truly retribution …"
He actually wanted to test if the Traversing Celestial Palace disciples were the only ones being punished. Unexpectedly, Nie Changkong turned around and sneered, "Don't be hasty. Everyone involved in the fight will be punished. You, the main culprit, won't be spared either."
Miao Yi immediately retorted, "Traversing Wood Palace was acting in self-defense. What crime are we guilty of?"
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