abnabooks Chapter 378 In the Courtroom
Chapter 378 In the Courtroom
"I know why you're convinced I'm the murderer. It's because I'm human, and you're the Blood Witch Clan. We're different races, so you think my feelings are different from yours, and that only I can violate your taboos. But are these the real reasons for your anger?" Guo Shiyi asked coldly, her gaze sweeping across everyone in the audience. "I see resentment in your eyes. You don't care about other people's lives at all. Your anger isn't out of pity or sympathy for the victims, because you've long since lost those basic emotions."
Guo Shiyi's words immediately caused a commotion, with some even hurling insults. Qin Xiaochuan looked at her with some concern, wondering why she had offended these people, but Guo Shiyi remained unmoved.
"You must be angry saying these things, but I know your anger doesn't stem from my offense, but from your own fear. You're afraid I've exposed your hypocrisy, and you're afraid of becoming increasingly numb, eventually becoming no different from those cruel monsters. But look at yourselves, your aggression is growing stronger. The slightest disturbance in this world touches your fragile hearts, and you impose all your aggression on others, verbally attacking them, even wishing to eliminate them. What's wrong with you? What's wrong with Crescent Moon City? Is this really what you wanted?"
After Guo Shiyi asked three questions in a row, the entire courtroom fell silent. Although no one made a fuss anymore, the gazes directed at Guo Shiyi were filled with tension and vigilance. Guo Shiyi did not stop speaking. She slightly adjusted her agitated tone and continued slowly, "Actually, I know that you did not become like this by your own will. It's just that this world makes you feel uneasy, the pain of the past has made you lose the courage to love, and the helplessness of reality has extinguished the light of hope in your eyes, turning you into walking shells. People can live in poverty, they can live in pain, but they cannot live in despair. You just want to find a way to redemption."
This time, everyone's gaze softened; some were fearful, some lowered their heads, and some looked thoughtful.
"I believe your doubts about me stem not from our different races, but from your perception that our feelings are different, that I cannot understand them, and thus you see me as an outsider. In reality, we share the same origin. Your suffering is not because you are the Blood Witch Clan, but because the root of your pain arose while you were still in the human world. However, please believe in the arrangements of Goddess Nuwa. I am not saying this to defend myself, but to urge you to believe in your future Blood Witch King. He and I stand with you. Believe that he can change the fate of the Blood Witch Clan and break the curse. I also hope that you will not lose faith in destiny."
After Guo Shiyi finished speaking, everyone in the audience stared at her in silence, and no one expressed their opinion.
Guo Shiyi understood that these people were no longer hostile towards her, so she added, "If I cannot provide the most direct evidence to prove my innocence, then I am willing to accept the judgment of the Holy Spirit."
As soon as Guo Shiyi finished speaking, there was another commotion in the audience. The Holy Spirit's Judgment was of great importance in the Blood Witch Clan. Only those with unwavering will and absolute loyalty would dare to accept such a test. Few people in the Blood Witch Clan, who believed in witchcraft, would choose this method to prove themselves, let alone Guo Shiyi, who was a human.
"If we cannot provide evidence to prove Shiyi's innocence, I am willing to accept the judgment of the Holy Spirit together with her." Qin Xiaochuan also stood up and said. Guo Shiyi turned her head and looked at him in surprise, only to see him give her a slight smile.
The audience erupted in cheers once again. With things having progressed to this point, the Fire Priest had no other choice. He glanced at the Gold Priest, who sat calmly in the priest representative's seat, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Silence!" The fire priest struck his gavel, silencing the entire courtroom before declaring, "In that case, I hereby declare this hearing suspended and postponed until two days from now. Court adjourned!"
Qin Xiaochuan finally breathed a long sigh of relief as he led Guo Shiyi out of the courtroom. Just then, he heard Guo Shiyi exhale beside him. The two smiled at each other, and he took Guo Shiyi's hand, saying from the bottom of his heart, "Thanks to you today, you're amazing."
"Hehe." Guo Shiyi chuckled and said, "At least I didn't hold you back."
Qin Xiaochuan said, "It's not just that they didn't hold us back, they practically turned the tide. They deserve a proper reward."
"Really? How does Your Majesty plan to reward me?" Guo Shiyi asked, tilting her head.
"Hmm..." Qin Xiaochuan drawled, pretending to be imposing, "Then I'll reward my beloved concubine with a sumptuous meal. I'll order the imperial kitchen to prepare a table full of delicious dishes at noon."
"What? My dear concubine, you really think you're the emperor?" Guo Shiyi said angrily.
"I was just joking with you," Qin Xiaochuan quickly explained.
Guo Shiyi snorted coldly, not buying his argument.
Qin Xiaochuan had no choice but to change the subject, saying, "You know what? I was really worried for you in court just now. You're so bold."
"What's there to worry about?" Guo Shiyi said nonchalantly, but then smiled and said, "Actually, I've been thinking about these words for many days, but I never expected to say them in court. Thinking about it now, it really is a bit unbelievable."
"You're really brave. Weren't you afraid of angering them?" Qin Xiaochuan asked curiously.
Guo Shiyi slowly shook her head. "People, especially ordinary people, are neither as good nor as bad as we imagine. Their anger is not to frighten others, but to be seen and understood."
"I feel like you really understand people's hearts. It's a shame you didn't study psychology."
"You know what, I really want to minor in psychology so I can help others better. I'll understand people better then. Won't you be scared?" Guo Shiyi asked him, blinking her eyes.
"What are you afraid of?" Qin Xiaochuan asked, puzzled.
Aren't you afraid that I know you too well and can easily manipulate you?
"Then I would feel very happy. I would rather be controlled by you, preferably held tightly in your hands." Qin Xiaochuan said, pinching her nose.
"Tch, who wants to hold you in their palm? Don't be so conceited. You're my pet, and I'm going to leash you," Guo Shiyi said with a grin, making a leash gesture as she spoke.
Qin Xiaochuan wasn't angry. Instead, he looked at her quietly and said affectionately, "To be honest, I really want to hold you tightly in my hands and pamper you forever and ever, hehe."
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Inside the study of the Golden Priest in the Tower of Imprisonment.
"We really underestimated that girl. We had victory in our grasp, but she single-handedly turned the tide. Did you see that? Those people in the audience who originally hated her actually had excited looks in their eyes after she finished speaking. They practically regarded her as a savior!" As the fire priest spoke, his reddish-brown beard bounced up and down like a leaping flame.
The Golden Priest calmly looked at him, and after a long while, slowly said, "We did overlook that girl before, but it's not too late to pay attention to her now. Besides, what she said is indeed thought-provoking."
The fire priest was taken aback and asked in surprise, "What do you mean by that?"
Instead of answering, the Golden Priest asked, "Was Crescent City like this before?"
"This..." The Fire Priest pondered for a moment before saying, "In the past, although we were also bound by the curse, everyone was full of hope, unlike now where we are filled with despair for the future and lifelessness." Saying this was undoubtedly a denial of the Gold Priest's twenty years of governance, but the Gold Priest was not someone who couldn't listen to the truth. Since he asked this question, he must have an answer in his heart.
Just as he expected, the Golden Priest didn't react to his words, but instead said calmly, "Why do you ask? Before, Crescent City had almost nothing; the residents could only barely survive by hunting, yet they were full of hope for the future. Now, Crescent City has introduced new technology, making people's lives increasingly prosperous, and there are more and more entertainment facilities, but they have lost hope for the future, and their spirits are becoming increasingly empty. Are people living in the present or in the future?"
"A present without a future becomes meaningless," the Fire Priest said without hesitation. "However, the transformation of Crescent City began when the previous Blood Witch King was still alive. Technological advancements and material abundance led them astray. They indulged in fleeting pleasures and abandoned the teachings of Goddess Nuwa. Isn't that why you opposed the previous Blood Witch King?"
"That's right, that's exactly why I oppose him. Even now, I still think his actions are inappropriate. In the face of infinite life, fleeting entertainment is utterly meaningless. Only by strictly adhering to the teachings of Goddess Nuwa can we achieve true salvation. The development of technology is simply a desecration of ancient teachings. The changes in Crescent City today have confirmed my thoughts."
The Gold Priest's emotions became unusually agitated: "Fire Priest, you know that I have done everything in my power over the years to eliminate the influence he left behind in order to stop the spread of this blasphemy. I finally managed to gain basic control of the situation in Crescent City, and now the Uncrowned One has returned at this time. No one can ruin my plans."
"Yes, I know that everything you've done is for everyone, for Crescent City," the Fire Priest replied earnestly.
The Golden Priest looked at him and said, "Now that the situation has developed to this point, we should prepare for both possibilities."
The fire priest's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"
"In any case, to extricate the Blood Witch Clan from their predicament, we must break their curse. It's time for us to take that step," the Golden Priest said in a deep voice. "Staying in the Buzhou Realm, this place of exile, guarding the demonic beasts in the Netherworld Mountains, is both our responsibility and our constraint. Now it seems we can only trust that person's words. Only by reversing the barrier's fortune in Crescent City can we break our curse. Once we accomplish this, no one in Crescent City will stand on the side of the Uncrowned One."
"But what if we do this and a monster attacks?" the fire priest asked worriedly.
"Reversing the barrier's fortune won't destroy the barrier; it will only gradually weaken the seal on the surrounding void turbulence, but it won't be affected in the short term." The Gold Priest had clearly thought this through carefully, and the Fire Priest had no objections after hearing his explanation.