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Frith lay on the ground, stunned, staring at Du Cheng.
A few soldiers stood awkwardly, realizing the situation. They were just ordinary foot soldiers, but the men before them were the sons of powerful imperial ministers. These nobles, who held great authority, were untouchable. Any wrong move could land them on the pyre.
Du Cheng patted his chest, took a few breaths to compose himself, and then pulled several silver coins from his pocket, handing them out to the soldiers. "I apologize, Frith, these coins are what I just took from you."
"Brave warriors, you arrived just in time, thank you for saving my life along with that masked Dou-Shen!" he said with sincerity.
"Blessed by the Dou-Shen! You are too kind, Young Master Francis. As soldiers of the City Guard, it is our duty to protect you!" One of the more astute soldiers took the silver coins, his face lighting up with a grin. However, he quickly added, "But, Young Master, you are a descendant of a titled Dou-Shen, and Frith is suspected of attempting to kill you… it would be best if the Holy Church handles this matter."
"Alright, could you kindly take me to see the priest?" Du Cheng requested.
"We will gladly serve you, Young Master! Brothers, take these two young masters to Saint John’s Cathedral! By the way, where’s that masked Dou-Shen?"
Du Cheng looked up at the stars, a look of awe on his face as he said, "After he defeated Frith, upon seeing you, he hurriedly flew up into the sky. Oh, forgive me, I got carried away. As you may have heard of me, I am someone who cannot cultivate Dou-Qi, and seeing such a powerful Dou-Shen for the first time, I couldn’t help but be surprised!"
"No, we too admire powerful Dou-Shens. It’s a pity we didn’t get to see that masked Dou-Shen..." one of the soldiers commented.
Frith finally recovered, his teeth knocked out in the earlier confrontation. He could only groan and yell, "He’s lying, it’s—"
"Silence, Frith!" one soldier cut him off, his voice devoid of emotion. "You’re suspected of trying to murder a descendant of a titled Dou-Shen. Your crime will likely be judged by Father Ferdinand."
Du Cheng nodded in agreement, "Yes, your integrity moves me, brave warriors. Also, please help me search him thoroughly, collect as much evidence as possible for his attempt to murder me!"
"At your service!" The soldiers immediately went to frisk Frith, and it wasn’t long before they discovered a note hidden on him. Du Cheng had touched it while he was stealing silver coins but had put it back. The note read: "After the banquet, Francis will be going home alone, he will pass through the Seventh District..."
"Dammit, why didn’t I destroy him then!" Frith lamented.
Du Cheng's eyes lit up, "Brave warriors, you heard that, please remember this line and testify for me later! By the ancestors of the Sigru family, Frith, you have shown your shame in front of these warriors!"
...
The rest of the events unfolded just as Du Cheng had anticipated.
The influence of the Dou-Shen Holy Church across the three continents was vast, much like the power the Roman Catholic Church once held over medieval Europe. The Lanning Empire, one of the strongest nations on the three continents, was of immense significance, and thus the Holy Church had sent a high-ranking official, Father Ferdinand, who was second only to the Pope, to oversee the Lanning dioceses!
A titled Dou-Shen descendant being targeted for assassination was a direct challenge to the Church's authority. Imagine if there were a descendant of Jesus Christ and they were murdered—how would the world's faithful react? How would the Vatican handle it?
In the Dou-Shen world, Du Cheng enjoyed such privileges due to his prestigious ancestor, the ten-level titled Dou-Shen, Sigru!
Arriving at the largest church in the Eastern part of Ains, the Saint John’s Cathedral opposite the Lanning Palace, the priests listened to the events unfold. They dared not make decisions themselves and thus passed the matter to Father Ferdinand.
Inside the hall, just behind the cathedral’s main entrance, Father Ferdinand began interrogating the two men.
Du Cheng, being the magnanimous gentleman, asked Frith to speak first, while he observed the man who was said to hold even more authority than the King of Lanning in the Ains continent.
He was a man in his sixties or seventies, wearing a long, gray, hooded robe. Under the broad brim, his hair was a mixture of purple and white. His face was sharply defined, though slightly aged, it appeared well-maintained. The man exuded an aristocratic aura and stood with an imposing presence. What was most striking was his eyes and eyebrows—both were purple!
Frith quickly recounted his version of events. Finally, he added, "I admit that I attacked the descendant of the titled Dou-Shen, but Francis stole the holy artifact and should be punished!"
After speaking, he glared fiercely at Du Cheng, seemingly willing to take the punishment himself but determined to drag Du Cheng down with him.
"Francis, do you admit the events Frith described?" Father Ferdinand’s voice was deep and magnetic.
"No, he’s lying!" Du Cheng responded quickly, giving the Father a polite smile. However, his expression soon darkened, and he said angrily, "Father Ferdinand, this is one of the most important churches of the Dou-Shen Holy Church, and you, being the most revered Father under the Pope, yet Frith dares lie in front of you! I don’t want to say more. You only need to do two things to prove my innocence!"
He glanced at Frith, "This shameless man accuses me of stealing a holy artifact. So, Father, please examine my body and see if I have any Dou-Qi!"
He lowered his head slightly, "Father, as you know, I’m known as the disgrace of the Sigru family..."
"Poor child, I apologize for reminding you of your painful past." Father Ferdinand stood before the two men, patting Du Cheng on the shoulder. "However, for the sake of fairness, I still must have your body examined. Francis, would you accept the examination?"
"Honored Father, I willingly accept the examination!"
Soon, a purple-robed priest entered from a side door, holding a red cloth tray with a crystal ball the size of a fist on it.
"This test crystal can measure your connection with the natural forces. Place your hand on it!" the priest said.
Du Cheng looked at the crystal ball curiously, thinking that this was the very item that had earned the previous Francis the title of "disgrace."
He placed his hand on it, and as expected, the crystal showed no reaction.
What reaction could it have? Du Cheng, without using his Lotus Inner Energy, was just an ordinary person. Anyone could see no anomalies.
Even if he used his Lotus Inner Energy, could the people of the Dou-Shen world recognize a celestial technique?
"No, this can’t be!" Frith cried out. "The crystal must be broken!"
Father Ferdinand furrowed his brow. "Frith, are you still lying? Francis cannot sense the natural forces and thus cannot cultivate Dou-Qi. Everything you said is a lie! He couldn’t have defeated you with the Sheep Horn Hammer! If you suspect the crystal, well then, why don’t you try it yourself?"
Frith hurriedly placed his hand on the crystal, and in an instant, the transparent crystal turned a soft blue, indicating that he had a strong affinity with the water element, making him an excellent candidate for cultivating water-based magic Dou-Qi!
"How could this happen? This is impossible!" Frith collapsed in front of everyone.
Du Cheng chuckled, "The facts prove that I don’t even have Dou-Qi, so I couldn’t possibly wield the Sheep Horn Hammer. Now, let me prove my second point: the Sheep Horn Hammer is not on me!"
With that, he began removing his clothes. Today, Du Cheng wore only a thin robe over his underwear, and when he reached just his shorts, nothing else was found.
He shook the shorts, signaling that nothing but his "little brother" was inside. Du Cheng said loudly, "Father, I believe I don’t need to explain further!"
Father Ferdinand gestured for the crystal to be taken away and solemnly declared, "The matter is clear. Frith, consumed with hatred, attempted to kill Francis but was defeated by a Dou-Shen wielding the Sheep Horn Hammer. Yet, he remains unrepentant and tried to frame Francis!"
Standing up, he crossed his arms and pressed them to his chest. "I am Ferdinand, and I find Frith guilty! According to the Dou-Shen Holy Church’s Law, Chapter Twelve, Section Two..."
Frith stood motionless, his mouth opening and closing. His face was numb, his heart pounding. As a warrior, he knew what fate awaited him.
Frith would be sent to the pyre! Du Cheng secretly smiled. Old Fuye had been a good teacher, imparting much legal knowledge, especially on how to protect oneself, so Du Cheng had already expected this outcome.
However, Frith couldn’t die yet—he still had greater value!
"Father, please, don’t burn him alive! That would be so cruel!" Du Cheng said with a "kind" expression.
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