Chapter Twenty-One: The Beginning of the Tribunal Assembly

A day had passed. That morning at nine o’clock, the trial of the Angel Clan’s Xibens, as well as Qingxia and He Changlou, officially commenced.

This day, the number of attendees was well over three hundred, far exceeding Gong Kui’s previous expectations. Though most had come out of curiosity, the sheer crowd spoke to the gravity of the trial. This was no trivial matter—it was a feud among guardians, a clash between the powerful. The strength involved was greater than that of over ninety percent of those present.

A veteran guardian, such as He Changlou, possessed abilities only slightly inferior to the likes of an agency director or a guardian captain. The strongest guardians, like Captain Feng Qiang, were considered top-tier in District Nine, with few who could rival them.

Yesterday, Xia Yan had offered his assistance, and Gong Kui, unable to resist his insistence, agreed. Thus, the trial was to be presided over by Xia Yan. She had warned him, however, that when she conducted trials, it was her duty and could not be refused, so resistance from the Angel Clan would be minimal. If Xia Yan were to preside, however, it would be perceived as a provocation against the entire Angel Clan.

Xia Yan remained adamant—he wished to preside, for all of this had originated because of him.

At this moment, many awaited the imminent start of the trial.

Most attendees were mentors, with few agency management members under twenty years old. The entire management of Fuxiang City’s agency was present, and members from neighboring districts had also arrived.

To ordinary agency managers, He Changlou’s strength was almost divine, unattainable. The one who had defeated him was a mountain they could only look up to.

“Have you heard? This trial is because the Angel Clan tried to target a young human prodigy, but ended up captured.”

“Did the Angel Clan succeed?”

“Apparently not. At least two veteran guardians of the Angel Clan attacked the human youth.”

“That kind of terrifying strength—only a guardian captain or agency director could stand against it. And yet, they failed?”

“Exactly! How could they not succeed? It’s unbelievable.”

“I’m not sure about the details, but I heard the human prodigy struck back fiercely, injuring one and forcing another to flee.”

“That’s too unbelievable. How old is this human prodigy? How could he accomplish something so extraordinary? Are we to believe his strength rivals an agency director or guardian captain?”

Many discussed the event, knowing only its broad strokes—the Angel Clan had targeted a human youth, but were utterly defeated, while the youth remained unharmed.

“I heard that Xibens, the guardian, was severely injured and only managed to escape by activating his bloodline, which exposed his identity.”

“Xibens? He’s formidable—a veteran guardian, master of stealth.”

“Yes, Xibens is so skilled at assassination, and his ambush failed to kill the human youth?”

“Impossible. Even an agency director or guardian captain would have to be extremely cautious facing Xibens’s ambush.”

“I also heard the other attacker was named He Changlou!”

“He Changlou? Supposedly his brain development is over forty percent, a true veteran guardian. His two abilities are attack and disruption—invincible in a duel!”

“He Changlou is the one who was crippled. His tendons were severed, and his strength almost entirely ruined.”

“Who could cripple He Changlou? That’s incredible!”

“Could that human youth really have done it?”

Many knew He Changlou and Xibens and were stunned by the rumors. Few present dared claim they could evade Xibens’s ambush, and fewer still would challenge He Changlou.

Yet, both powerful figures had been captured—one crippled, one gravely injured, both awaiting judgment.

In the audience below the trial hall,

“Hey, Gong Kui, what are you doing down here?” The freckled girl ran over and sat beside Gong Kui. “I thought you’d be presiding over the trial!”

“It’s not me,” Gong Kui replied, smiling.

“Then who?” The freckled girl looked curious.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Gong Kui smiled mysteriously.

Soon, He Changlou, Xibens, and Qingxia were led to the defendant’s seat. The presiding figure was a young boy.

“Who is this kid?”

“A child presiding over a trial?”

“How is he qualified?”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be Gong Kui? Why the change?”

“Gong Kui may be young, but she’s from a prominent family and ranked first in the agency, barely qualified. Other humans don’t have the right to preside!”

Many did not recognize Xia Yan, showing expressions of confusion. However, all the mentors and agency managers from Fuxiang City knew him well.

“This can’t be— isn’t that Xia Yan?” Mentor Nina was bewildered. “How does he have the right to preside over a trial? Someone of his experience shouldn’t be judging guardians!”

Nina knew that not even she was qualified to judge guardians, let alone Xia Yan. What puzzled her further was that Xia Yan should have graduated—why was he still in Fuxiang District and appearing in such an unlikely venue?

“How could this be?” The freckled girl frowned. “Gong Kui, are you teasing me? Xia Yan doesn’t have the qualifications to preside over a trial!”

Gong Kui smiled mysteriously, offering no explanation.

“Is this a joke? Does Xia Yan really have the qualifications?”

“Must be some mistake.”

“Yes, probably a mistake.”

Most surprised were Tan Jing and Chang Duosu, two veteran agency managers. During Xia Yan’s duel with Lai Wen, neither had thought highly of him.

Yet now, in such a short time, Xia Yan was presiding over the trial.

It was astonishing. Just months ago, Xia Yan stood as a defendant; now, he was presiding.

As the two discussed, Xia Yan, standing at the podium, finally spoke.

“Everyone, it may seem strange for me to preside over this trial,” Xia Yan smiled. “But it’s not so strange. These people tried to kill a human—me.”

His words caused an uproar. Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

It’s you? You’re the sixteen-year-old human prodigy who fought two at once, seriously injured Xibens, and crippled He Changlou?

No one could believe such an absurd thing, unless Xia Yan’s strength equaled that of an agency director.

Of course, Xia Yan did not possess such power, but he had no wish to expose Lan Xin; he simply swallowed all the credit.

He was unconcerned—he may not be able now, but perhaps in half a year he would. He had to surpass former director Ai You, or else face certain death.

“How is it possible? Xia Yan, no matter how strong, should only be at the level of the agency’s top three.”

“What’s going on? Is it really Xia Yan? He’s made so much progress in just half a year?”

“If Xia Yan is that strong, he could defeat any of us managers with a single move.”

“It’s too unbelievable. Even with the best motivation, he couldn’t have improved so much in half a year.”

Tan Jing and Chang Duosu wore expressions of utter confusion, almost frantic.

They did not believe it, nor did the mentors, nor the freckled girl, nor anyone present.

Yet, they could not help but believe.

Xia Yan would not lie at a trial, nor should he be presiding, yet here he was—proof that he was the target of the assassination.

Many watched and discussed, most focused on the question of how the human race could produce such a terrifying prodigy.

Xia Yan began recounting the events.

“Through our investigation, Miss Qingxia’s identity is that of a human cultivated within the Angel Clan. Because she deeply hates humans, she disguised herself and joined the third guardian squad among humans.”

“After I joined the third squad, the assassination attempt against me began.”

“Qingxia’s second ability is an extremely rare form of enchantment. By coupling with a man, she can completely control him for a short time,” Xia Yan explained. “Such an ability is akin to the most perfect mind-control.”

The audience murmured; some knew of such abilities.

“Qingxia targeted me by controlling He Changlou, then collaborating with the Angel Clan’s Xibens. One suppressed me openly, the other ambushed me from the shadows, both seeking to kill me.”

As Xia Yan revealed the truth, the murmuring grew louder.

“Impossible. They failed to kill him?”

“Even if he survived, Xia Yan should at least have been injured, otherwise it doesn’t make sense!”

“Yes, Xia Yan was unharmed, Xibens was seriously injured, and He Changlou was crippled.”

Such bizarre events were hard to accept. Yet Xia Yan stood on stage, unscathed.

He continued,

“Unfortunately for them, I saw through their plot and prevented them from forming a perfect encirclement. In that moment, I quickly crippled He Changlou, then pursued Xibens in the shadows and gravely injured him. However, due to his bloodline ability, he escaped by flying and survived.”

Shock, overwhelming shock, filled the crowd. Everyone fell silent.

No matter their doubts, hearing this from Xia Yan astonished them. How terrifying was his strength?

“Impossible!” Tan Jing gritted his teeth, nearly unhinged. “Xia Yan can’t be so strong—only half a year has passed!”

“How did Xia Yan become so powerful? At graduation, he was only among the agency’s top three; now he easily surpasses veteran guardians,” Chang Duosu said, incredulous.

“What’s going on with Xia Yan? How is he so strong?” The freckled girl was deeply frustrated. “In such a short time, he’s left us agency managers far behind.”

Just then, a scream pierced the hall—it was Qingxia.

“Xia Yan, you’re lying!” Qingxia, wild-haired and ferocious, shouted. She knew she was doomed, and refused to let Xia Yan have his way.

Yes, she would expose Lan Xin, refusing to let her hide.

“Xia Yan, in that incident, there was also—” Qingxia forced out her words.

The whole hall watched as Xia Yan, at the podium, strode toward Qingxia.

They saw Xia Yan raise his ever-changing blade and bring it down with a single stroke.

A severed arm fell to the floor, blood spurting like a fountain from the stump. The grisly scene stunned everyone.

“Ahhhhhhh!” Qingxia’s shrill screams struck terror into the hall, as if hell itself had descended. Yet, Xia Yan showed no intention of mercy.

He pressed the blade to Qingxia’s throat and spoke quietly, “Qingxia, if you wish to die sooner, I don’t mind killing you now and releasing evidence of your crimes afterward.”

Everyone watched, awestruck by the audacity of this young man, who, at the trial, defied all rules and severed Qingxia’s arm without hesitation.

The feeling was nothing short of chilling.