Once Yang Qing was sufficiently satisfied they had used the technique for an appropriate duration he quickly started reading through the details for the next case he had decided upon. It was the case between Wen Yingjie a rogue cultivator who was suing Tan Ping the owner of the falling meteor blacksmith shop. Tan Ping was accused of selling a defective top-grade sky rank weapon to Wen Yingjie.
"Wen Yingjie a peak core formation expert requisitioned a custom-made saber from the falling meteor blacksmith shop which is run by Tan Ping who is also a peak core formation expert though from the investigation of Luo Meili she had heard the owner was at the quasi palace stage.
The falling meteor blacksmith shop has been around for almost 10,000 years being passed down from father to son each generation. It has gained enormous popularity in the Thundercrane kingdom which is a rank 3 kingdom.
I can see that the royal family has been trying to get the Tan family to be their official royal blacksmith but have been turned down each generation. The only reason the royal family never retaliated for the rejection which may have seemed like a slap to the face was the pact made between the 5th generation king and the 4th generational head of the falling meteor shop at that time.
The details of the pact was the falling meteor blacksmith shop would give priority to the royal family when they made new creations and they would help arm the royal family with a certain quota of weapons every year however the royal family would provide the ingredients and the cost would be at market price. The falling meteor blacksmith shop in exchange would enjoy autonomy even from the royal family itself and should they face a disaster that they can't handle themselves the royal family would step in.
This pact has been in place for the past 4,000 years and has been faithfully upheld by each king and Tan family head.
With this kind of reputation, I find it hard that they would sell a faulty weapon. Being in existence for almost 10,000 years must mean they have been honing and improving their blacksmith skills for them to still be relevant and famous to this day. Luo Meili has even heard that the current generation owner Tan Ping may be one of the best among the masters who have headed the shop. His skills and talent far outshine the previous generational head.
Could there really be a problem with the saber or does the problem lie with the saber's owner Wen Yingjie but I can see Luo Meili note from her interactions with him that he seems like a relatively straightforward person with a sense of uprightness to him. Before he became a rogue cultivator he was a young general in a rank 3 kingdom however a problem occurred in his station that led to the death of a prince from that kingdom. Their family has been loyal to the crown for generations so the king in respect to the service of the family spared his life but he was banished from that kingdom forever never to return. He has been living as a rogue cultivator ever since then and despite his great talent, he has never joined any sect, kingdom, or clan. Living in solitude seems to be some sort of penance and atonement for him.
That's quite some sense of responsibility he is carrying. From what I can tell this case might just be straightforward and easy to conclude," Yang Qing thought to himself as hope grew in his heart.
Yi Jie was already by the door calling in Wen Yingjie and the owner of the falling meteor blacksmith shop. Moments later Yi Jie walked in followed by a young man who seemed to be in his late 20s. He had a medium height and build with amber eyes and brown hair. His skin was deeply tanned. He had on black robes with the emblem of a falling blue meteor embroidered on it. His footsteps were steady like someone who had complete control of every single part of his body. Yang Qing could also detect that the qi flowing through the young man's body was like a boiling furnace. He assumed it was a result of the cultivation mantra the young man cultivated.
"He must have a unique physique to handle such tyrannical qi flowing around him. But who is he? From his robe, I can tell he is a member of the falling meteor blacksmith shop but his cultivation realm is only at the 10th stage of the foundation realm so he definitely isn't the owner," Yang Qing had a puzzled expression as he stared at the young man before looking over to the end of the entourage.
His eyesight fell on a lady who had dark green hair tied in a bun. Her hair was darker than Yang Qing's as it had hints of black to it. This color scheme translated even to her eyes as she had green-black eyes. She had a mature and gentle charm to her almost like an older sister to 5 younger brothers. Her beauty was breathtaking like spring water. Everything about her screamed gentleness and nurturing which was why the three well-polished bones which she used to hold her hair together in a bun really stood out. in direct contrast to her demeanor She had on robes that were half red and half blue.
Her name was Luo Meili and she was an inquisitor and the one in charge of this case. She noticed Yang Qing's gaze but responded with a gentle smile as she shook her head sideways as she pointed toward the young man.
"A stand-in huh?" Yang Qing thought to himself as he read Luo Meili's nonverbal cue. He quickly shook his head free of questions that were about to bubble on where the owner Tan Ping was but he decided to focus on the other party in this case.
There was a middle-aged man in his early forties right behind the young man. His hair was tied in a topknot with a few strands of greying white hair on his sides but they added a charm to him. His eyes were dark, deep, and tranquil but they hid a sense of sharpness and fluidity to them. He was slender and tall and had on grey robes that seemed they had just been worn today because of how straight and fitting they were. As for his aura, he seemed like a ramrod spear stabbed into a stone. He had the sharpness of a spear and the stability of a rock.
The entourage was soon in front of Yang Qing as Yi Jie made his way to his side.
Luo Meili calmly stepped forward as she gave a respectful bow with a grace that made the young man at the side gulp inadvertently with his ears reddening in embarrassment and shyness.
"Inquisitor Luo Meili presents rogue cultivator Wen Yingjie who has filed a suit against the falling meteor blacksmith shop for selling him a defective sky rank saber. However the owner Tan Ping is unable to avail himself for the proceedings due to extenuating circumstances and has thus his son Tan Delun will step in his place as his proxy," Luo Meili softly said
"What are the circumstances that made Owner Tan Ping unable to avail himself?" asked Yang Qing.
"He has been in secluded cultivation for the past 4 months and is at a critical juncture. I confirmed it myself and can attest it to be true. It is the reason this case has been brought to the Order. When Wen Yingjie went to the shop to forward his query Tan Ping was already in secluded cultivation and since his son, Tan Delun wasn't confident to resolve the matter and he doesn't know when his father will come out of seclusion he opted to bring the matter to the Order. Both parties willingly agreed to this and will submit fully to the deciding of the court," Luo Meili patiently explained as she stepped back.
"Thank you, Meili. Well then Wen Yingjie and owner Tan Delun I know Luo Meili has informed you both of what penalties you would suffer should you act in violation of the ruling or act in a conduct that breaches the articles guiding the whole court process. Are you sure you want to go through with it? There is still time for you to change your minds and decide to handle it yourselves?" Yang Qing gently asked. From what Yang Qing had experienced earlier with the Shen brothers he couldn't help but be prudent.
"On behalf of the falling meteor blacksmith shop and its 17th generation master I Tan Delun on the honor of the Tan name will abide by the ruling of the court," Tan Delun solemnly said with a booming voice that reverberated around the courtroom.
"I just like my young friend here do promise I will abide by the court rulings and proceedings whichever end it comes to I will gladly accept it. My name may not mean much but I Wen Yingjie value promises made as much as my own life," Wen Yingjie softly said. Even though his voice was soft everyone could feel the conviction in his voice.
Yang Qing nodded to them as inwardly he was extremely pleased.
"This may be a sail through soft life case. Finger crossing technique you have saved your faithful practitioner once again,"
