Confrontation in public
The deathly silence in the forest clearing was even more profound than when they were surrounded by the wolves and ghosts. The air seemed to freeze, with only the rustling of the wind through the leaves and the heavy, suppressed breathing of the group remaining.
One finger.
With just a slender, seemingly powerless finger that didn't even emit any energy fluctuations, he effortlessly neutralized the "Holy Light Judgment" that Judge Silas had unleashed in anger, a "judgment" powerful enough to flatten a small hill.
This wasn't just shocking; it was utterly shattering everyone's understanding! Magical clashes? Energy cancellation? Absolutely not! It felt like an adult casually popping a soap bubble blown by a child—so easy it was despairing.
Silas, the Inquisitor, convulsed violently, his knuckles white from gripping the mace. Horror, anger, disbelief, and a hint of fear he himself refused to acknowledge gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes. The holy light that sustained his faith and strength was so utterly vulnerable before the opponent's completely incomprehensible methods?
"Evil... Demon! What kind of sorcery is this?!" Silas's voice was sharp and distorted due to extreme emotional turmoil. He stared intently at Ling Yao, trying to find even the slightest trace of the powerful magic she had used, but to no avail. Her beautiful, otherworldly face was only calm, even... a little bored?
"Sorcery?" Ling Yao finally spoke again, her voice still calm and even, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a strange penetrating power. "Power is power. What's the difference between good and evil? Used for good, it's good; used for evil, it's evil. It's just a tool, what's all the fuss about?"
She used the simplest language to explain a truth that was as natural to her as breathing: Power itself has no attributes; the difference lies only in the heart and purpose of the person who uses it.
But to Silas and the others in the Inquisition, these words were the greatest blasphemy and heresy!
"Absurd! Power has its own order and affiliation! Holy light represents purification and order, darkness represents corruption and chaos! This is the ultimate truth of heaven and earth!" Silas retorted sharply, trying to cover up his inner turmoil with his loud voice. "Your chaotic, disordered, and undefinable power is the greatest evil! It is a trampling on the supreme laws!"
"The inability to define something equates to evil?" Ling Yao tilted her head slightly, seemingly finding this logic somewhat laughable. "Just because you are ignorant, does that mean you want to destroy the unknown?"
Her gaze swept over the students she had just freed from the curse, then over the two professors with complicated expressions, before finally settling back on Silas: "I saved lives, you killed. Who is good, who is evil?"
This seemingly casual rhetorical question struck Silas like an invisible hammer blow, resonating with all the surviving students present!
"That's right! Miss Ling saved us!"
"Your Honor, were you planning to kill us all at once?"
"What makes you say Miss Ling is evil!"
"Her power can save people! It can protect us! That's good!"
The students were outraged and voiced their support for Ling Yao. The facts spoke for themselves: it was clear who had offered help in the crisis and who had been aggressive or even murderous!
Although the two professors had doubts and were shocked by Ling Yao's power, they had no choice but to speak up at this moment.
“Your Honor,” the frostbitten professor said sternly, “regardless of Ms. Ling Yao’s power system, it is an indisputable fact that she saved the lives of dozens of students. Before the facts are fully investigated, your actions just now were indeed too reckless.”
“Yes, Inquisitor Silas,” another professor chimed in, “the priority is to treat the wounded, clear out the remaining monsters, and investigate the truth of the matter, not to target our savior at this moment.”
In the courtroom, some of the young judges, observing the scene before them and listening to the students' accusations and the professors' words, showed a hint of hesitation and wavering on their faces. They believed in the divine light and pursued justice, but the situation before them seemed somewhat at odds with their education…
Silas looked at the almost unanimous public opinion and sensed the subtle emotional shifts among his subordinates. His face was so dark it was almost dripping with gloom. He knew that in the face of the undeniable fact of "saving his life," his previous accusations and attacks seemed so pale and powerless, even somewhat... laughable.
But he could not back down! His beliefs wouldn't allow it! His duty wouldn't allow it either!
"Solicitation of reason! Sophistry and flattery!" Silas forced down his inner turmoil, his voice growing colder and more stubborn. "It is precisely this seemingly 'beneficial' illusion that is the most dangerous seduction of heretics! She can save people today, but she can harm them in even more cruel ways tomorrow! Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts! Their power is bound to be evil! We must take precautions against them!"
He raised his mace once more, and holy light began to gather again, though not as intense as before, but with a resolute determination: "Inquisition, heed my command! Capture the heretic Ling Yao at all costs! Those who obstruct will be punished as accomplices!"
At this critical moment, when tensions were high and conflict seemed imminent, an aged yet authoritative voice finally rang out from the edge of the forest:
"Stop!"
The old Dean, Maurice, accompanied by a group of academy guards and several professors with solemn expressions, strode into the open space. He had clearly arrived in a hurry; his snow-white beard and robes were covered with dust and grass, and his face was extremely grave.
He first quickly scanned the chaotic battlefield, the injured and dead students, and the remaining demons separated by the Vajra Talisman and the protective circle. A trace of heartache flashed in his eyes, and then his gaze fell on the two opposing sides.
"Judge Silas! Ms. Ling Yao! Please stop the conflict immediately!" Dean Morris's voice carried an unquestionable authority. "The academy's trials have suffered such a major upheaval and heavy casualties. The most important thing now is to treat the wounded, eliminate the remaining culprits, and find out the truth, not to fight among ourselves!"
Silas frowned upon seeing Maurice, but his tone remained firm: "Dean Maurice! You've come at the right time! This heretic uses evil powers, his identity is suspicious, and he may even be connected to this attack! I must bring him back to the Inquisition for questioning!"
"Your Honor!" Dean Morris emphasized, "Ms. Ling Yao has just saved dozens of lives, a fact witnessed by everyone present! To label her a heretic based solely on speculation and differences in power systems without any solid evidence is far too arbitrary. This is not the fair judgment advocated by the Holy See!"
He paused, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Silas: "Moreover, if it weren't for Ms. Ling Yao's intervention, we would have witnessed a complete annihilation by the time we arrived! How would the court explain this to the academy and the families of these students?"
These words were quite strong, directly pointing out the crux of the problem—no matter how strange Ling Yao's power is, she is now a hero, a savior. If the court forcibly arrests her, it is untenable from a moral, rational, and practical standpoint, and will inevitably provoke a huge backlash.
Silas was speechless for a moment, his face turning ashen.
Dean Morris then turned to Ling Yao, his tone softening considerably, tinged with apology and solemnity: "Ms. Ling Yao, thank you for your help in saving the lives of so many of our faculty and students. Rockefeller Magic Academy will remember your kindness. I deeply apologize for Inquisitor Silas's excessive actions."
Ling Yao glanced at the old dean, nodded slightly, accepting the apology, and still showed no other expression.
The old dean continued, “However, the power you have displayed is indeed…extraordinary, raising many doubts and concerns. In order to thoroughly investigate the truth of this incident and to give you a fair explanation, I humbly request that you temporarily move inside the academy and accept our protective supervision…of course, not imprisonment! You will be a distinguished guest of the academy, but you will need to cooperate with us in some necessary inquiries and investigations until the truth comes to light. What do you think?”
These words were quite generous, both appeasing Ling Yao and giving Silas a way out. More importantly, they temporarily put the initiative in the hands of the academy.
Ling Yao pondered for a moment. She didn't care about being watched over; she could cultivate anywhere anyway. Going head-on with this stubborn black-clad leader right now, while not afraid, would be troublesome and could potentially affect Finn and the people she had just rescued. Staying inside the academy might save her some trouble, and she could also see what these people could find out.
"Okay." She used the same word again.
The old dean immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He was genuinely afraid that this mysterious and incredibly capable young girl might suddenly start a fight, which would have made the situation truly unmanageable.
"Dean! No!" Silas cried out urgently, "This heretic is extremely dangerous! How can we allow her to enter the core area of the academy?!"
"Your Excellency the Inquisitor!" Dean Morris's face darkened. "The academy has its own rules! Until the truth comes to light, Ms. Ling Yao is a guest of the academy, not a criminal! If the inquisition has any doubts, it can participate in the investigation, but everything must be done according to the academy's procedures! Otherwise, I will have no choice but to request arbitration from the higher echelons of the Holy See!"
When the Vatican's high-ranking officials were mentioned, Silas's expression changed several times. Finally, he gritted his teeth, snorted coldly, and stopped talking. However, the look in his eyes as he stared at Ling Yao was still full of icy killing intent.
“In that case, we should not delay. Ms. Ling Yao, please return to the academy with us first. The subsequent cleanup and treatment work here will be handled by others.” Dean Morris made the arrangements, and then gestured for Ling Yao to proceed.
Ling Yao nodded, and with a casual wave of her hand, the bronze flags placed around her and the remaining power maintaining the Vajra Talisman quietly dissipated. Without even glancing at Silas, she calmly walked towards the academy's ranks.
Finn quickly followed, and as he passed Silas, he couldn't help but proudly raise his chin.
Silas watched Ling Yao's departing figure, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
In the public confrontation, he lost. Not only did he fail to subdue the heretic, but he also gained more sympathy and support for him.
But he will never give up!
Protective surveillance? Hmph, that just gives him the time and opportunity to gather even more fatal evidence!
He wanted to see how long this heretic could remain arrogant!
The storm has subsided for the time being, but a greater undercurrent is already brewing within the academy.
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