Path of the Berserker

MASTER HEI DONG let out a tired sigh as the fool Lo Feng stormed into the audience chamber of the High Magistrate. The room was relatively quaint and modest for the authority it held. Simple wooden partitions, barely waist-high, divided the room into three separate boxes.

Hei Dong stood within the defender’s box, accompanied by his wife, Rhi Dong. At the head of the room, the High Magistrate, Yi Xhi Yen, sat upon her elevated throne within the third box, flanked by several junior members of the court. All of them wore the beige and off-white robes of imperial service, representative of the empire’s authority.

As Vice Warden of Jurin Province, Hei Dong himself owned such robes and ones that could influence even the magistrate. But today he wore the black and silver robes of his wife’s clan, defending himself as a member of the Dong family and the Silver Leaf Sect.

His accuser, Lo Feng, local leader of the Fire Birds, scowled as he rushed past to enter the plaintiff’s box, joined by two lower-ranking members of his clan. All three of them wore the bright red and orange robes of their Sect.

Inwardly Hei Dong smiled when he noted that none of the three was a barrister. Which meant the proceedings would likely be short and succinct. Hei Dong cast a glance to his wife, Rhi Dong, still a stunning beauty at over a hundred years old. But her eyes were focused like daggers on Lo Feng, the warrior within her itching to jump across the audience chamber.

“Easy, my love,” Hei Dong whispered to her. “Your countenance betrays thee. We are here to defend our innocence. A look like that before the magistrate will not be helpful.”

Despite being a martial cultivator well above his rank in terms of both skill and power, Rhi Dong immediately straightened herself and replaced her scowl with a pleasant, if not forced smile.

“Thank you, husband,” she whispered back. “Where would I be without your wisdom?”

Hei Dong responded with a gentle squeeze of her hand.

He was not a martial prodigy like his wife, merely an artisan crafter who had risen through the ranks by his wit and charm alone. Facing down a martial sect leader like Lo Feng, a man who could easily tear his head off with a single technique was nothing new to him. But in this case, the accusation was particularly unsavory.

Lo Feng, a man who appeared in his seventies, with a flowing white beard bowed towards the magistrate. “A thousand apologies to the court, your worship. I was unexpectedly delayed.”

The High Magistrate, Yi Xhi Yen, barely acknowledged his bow with a nod. “It is your case to bring forward, Master Lo Feng. Do so now.”

Lo Feng scowled again. “I wish to file a writ against the family of Rhi and Hei Dong.”

“On what charge?”

Lo Feng looked across the audience room to glower at Hei and his wife. “For murdering my nephew Hong Feng and killing every member of his sect.”

“Your worship,” Hei Dong said in an authoritative tone. “That claim is unfounded and preposterous. We deny it completely.”

The magistrate nodded to him and then looked back to Hong Feng. “Have you any evidence to base this claim?”

“I do,” Lo Feng said. “Two witnesses and physical evidence.”

“Present it.”

Lo Feng pushed the two lower members of his sect forward “Speak to the magistrate. Tell her what you saw.”

Both of them bowed in unison.

“State your names before the court,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “And be reminded that as witnesses your statements are governed by the laws of perjury.”

One of the witnesses, a bald man with a goatee, looked to the other. “What’s that mean, Ju Gong?”

Lo Feng smacked the man on the back of his head. “Speak only to the magistrate! State your name. And refer to her as Your Worship.”

The bald man bowed obsequiously. “My name is Du Mak, your worship.”

The other witness, a portly man with a beard also bowed and then responded in a formal tone. “This One is known as Ju Gong, your worship.”

“Tell me what you witnessed, Ju Gong.”

“It was a night eight days ago, your worship,” he said. “There was a knock at our headquarters door. When I went to see who it was, the door burst inwards. I can’t recall anything after that as I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke, I was outside in the alley and the entire headquarters was on fire. Upon awaking I also found this.”

Ju Gong presented a single silver quill and one of the court bailiffs ran to fetch it from him and delivered it to the magistrate. Hei Dong shared a questioning glance with his wife. He wasn’t expecting them to produce something like this. Still, he had covered his bases for any eventuality.

“And what is this?” Yi Xhi Yen asked, flipping the quill in her hand.

“A silver needle, your worship,” Lo Feng answered. “A technique employed exclusively by the royal members of the Silver Leaf Clan.”

“So are you accusing the entire Silver Leaf Clan of this alleged crime?” the magistrate asked.

Lo Feng bowed immediately. “This One would not dare to accuse the ruling clan of such a cowardly act. My accusation lies with the Dong family alone.”

“Why so?” Yi Xhi Yen asked.

“Motive, your worship,” Lo Feng said with a glare at Hei Dong. “I filed a writ against the Vice-Warden for the loss of tournament proceeds and he challenged it with his daughter, the Lady Silver Light. She was to face my nephew, Hong Feng. I find it oddly convenient that now, on the eve of their court date, that something like this occurs. Clearly the girl must have feared a loss and then resorted to these tactics to rid herself of the burden of facing my nephew.”

“You dare accuse my daughter of such cowardice!” Rhi Dong screamed, her Qi swelling uncontrollably with rage. “I will face you myself in the ring for even making such a claim!”

Hei Dong squeezed her hand like a vice.

“Easy now,” he said in a hushed whisper. “Don’t play into this. I will speak.”

Hei Dong was glad Rhi had shown enough restraint to not skewer Lo Feng with a silver needle of her own. He bowed to the magistrate and thanked the heavens that he too possessed a degree in law. It would not take much effort to undo such a weak argument.

“Your worship,” he said. “I would like to present a different and far more plausible argument to the courts.”

“Proceed, Master Hei Dong.”

“The writ Master Lo Feng mentions is true, but I would conclude that the planting of this quill, a common item that can be replicated by easy means—and I as a master smith would know this—is being used now as a means of saving face for not being able to defend the writ.”

“Plant?” Lo Feng shouted. “You dare accuse me of falsifying evidence!”

Hei Dong raised his hands innocently. “I mentioned nothing of the sort, Master Lo Feng. Note I did not say it was you who did such, but it is interesting that that is the first conclusion you yourself formed. Nevertheless, if you allow me to continue, I believe there is a far more reasonable explanation for the fire that killed Master Lo Feng’s nephew Hong Feng and his disciples.”

“And that is?” Yi Xhi Yen asked.

Hei Dong chuckled. “Is it not obvious, your worship? They are practitioners of the fire arts and chose a building filled with wooden structures as their headquarters. A fire like this was bound to occur sooner or later. Perhaps some wayward initiate started the blaze that unfortunately killed them. I would say sheer stupidity is the culprit here.”

The magistrate chuckled along with several of the court staff.

“A plausible outcome indeed,” Yi Xhi Yen said.

“What!” Lo Feng turned two shades redder as his brows dove into a deep scowl. “I resent such a flippant accusation!”

“Yet it is far more plausible than yours,” Hei Dong said. “Your witnesses saw no one, they were unconscious were they not?”

Lo Feng looked to the bald-headed man. “You have not spoken yet, Du Mak. What did you see? Did you not tell me you saw a white-haired woman?”

“I ah…” The man’s eyes darted back and forth, clearly in duress.

“Tell her!” Lo Feng shouted. “Tell her if that’s what you saw!”

“I… I may have… your worship.”

“Did you or did you not?” Yi Xhi Yen said rising in her chair. “Speak clearly now, under threat of perjury. What did you witness?”

The man Du Mak gave another glance towards Lo Feng and the glare his sect master gave him was enough to melt steel.

He nodded profusely. “Yes, your worship. I… well… before I got knocked out. I recall seeing a woman with white hair.”

Lo Feng grinned while the man Ju Gong merely rolled his eyes.

“Are you certain?” Yi Xhi Yen asked.

Du Mak nodded, his voice quivering. “Yes, your worship!”

“Well then,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “There appears there may be some validity to this claim.”

“Your worship, if I may,” Hei Dong said. “Even if what this ‘witness’ says he believes he saw is true. It in no way ties our family to this.”

“Can you identify the woman you saw, Du Mak?”

Du Mak glanced at Lo Feng and then nodded. “Maybe? Yes?”

“Is she present in this room?”

Another subtle prompt from Lo Feng caused the man to shake his head. “No, your worship.”

“I find it convenient that the most likely suspect is not even present, your worship,” Lo Feng said. “I would say that is by design. Where is your daughter, Master Hei Dong? Why is she not present as a prominent member of your family?”

Heated anger began to boil within Hei Dong’s core. The bastard was targeting Fia now.

“None of our children are present. Your worship, Master Lo Feng is trying to paint my daughter the culprit with the barest of proof!”

“Summon her then,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “We will deal with this matter immediately.”

Hei Dong bowed to the magistrate. “A thousand apologies, your worship, but my daughter is not available.”

“Why?”

“She is conducting family business elsewhere this morning. May I call for an adjournment until we can reschedule another hearing?”

“Very well,” Yi Xhi Yen said. “This matter is adjourned until Master Hei Dong’s daughter can make an appearance to defend herself against these claims.”

With a bang of her gavel the matter was concluded for the day.

Lo Feng harrumphed. “I would like to know what matter is so important that your daughter is able to avoid a summoning by a high magistrate, Master Hei Dong.”

Hei Dong smirked at the man. In all honesty, the 100 Taels of silver he had paid to the magistrate beforehand had more to do with her leniency than anything else, but this presented the perfect opportunity for a last dig.

“She is doing what you have failed to do this morning, Master Lo Feng.” Hei Dong gave his adversary a vile grin. “The Lady Silver Light is serving a writ of her own. One that has already been approved by the courts.”