Chapter 76: At Zichen Hall, the Sword Master Is Impeached

Inside Zichen Hall, it was eerily silent.

The representatives from all regions, who had just been shouting until their faces turned red and necks bulged, now all stared at Jiang Che at the hall's entrance.

Impeach the Guardian of the Nation Sword Master.

This would have been unimaginable in the Old Dynasty.

The Emperor could not be questioned.

The powerful ministers could not be questioned.

Even if an Imperial Censor dared to submit a death petition, it was often merely a gamble for an empty reputation.

But now, Gu Chongming, before all the representatives, the public observers, and the History Camp's recorders, said someone had impeached Jiang Che.

And Jiang Che said only one word:

"Read."

Gu Chongming sat on the temporary Three Ruling Seats, his expression grave.

He looked toward a young representative in the hall.

"You."

The young representative was clearly nervous.

He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wearing a gray cotton long robe with faded cuffs.

Lin Xiaoman whispered to Jiang Che: "He's Du Ruobai, from Qingxi Commandery in Jiangnan, elected as a student representative this time."

Jiang Che nodded.

Du Ruobai took a deep breath and unrolled the petition in his hands.

His hands trembled.

But his voice remained steady.

"Your subject… no, I, Du Ruobai, representative of Qingxi Commandery, impeach the Guardian of the Nation Sword Master Jiang Che on three counts."

Someone in the hall drew a sharp breath.

Du Ruobai continued:

"First, though the Guardian of the Nation Sword Master does not sit among the Three Ruling Seats, he holds supreme command authority over the Anti-Heaven Bureau. The Anti-Heaven Bureau spans the land; sword cultivators, military units, and spies all answer to him—it has become a fourth power outside the New System."

"Second, the Sword Master has repeatedly bypassed the Council Hall to handle major affairs—such as the Jiangnan grain case, the Western Desert relief effort, and the Southern Border Demon Well. Though outcomes were often favorable, once this precedent is set, how will future generations restrain a Sword Master who is not virtuous?"

"Third, the people of the realm revere Jiang Che more than they revere the New Laws. This is not because the Sword Master is guilty, but because it is a hidden danger to the New System. If constraints are not established early, the Human Realm will one day again be ruled by one man's reputation overpowering the system."

When he finished reading these three points, the hall fell utterly silent.

Many faces changed.

Some thought Du Ruobai had gone mad.

Jiang Che had saved the Human Realm, blocked Heavenly Punishment, and slain Heavenly Patrol.

Now, with the Black Profound Demon Seed still unclarified and the Upper Realm watching with hungry eyes, impeaching Jiang Che now is not cutting off your own arm?

If Chen Shanhe were here, he would have already slammed his fist and cursed.

But Chen Shanhe was not in the Capital City.

Xie Tingxue stood behind Jiang Che, her expression calm, unreadable.

Gu Chongming asked: "Does the Sword Master wish to defend himself?"

Jiang Che looked at Du Ruobai.

Du Ruobai's face was pale, but he did not avert his gaze.

Jiang Che asked: "Are you afraid?"

Du Ruobai froze.

Then he answered honestly: "Yes."

"Then why impeach?"

Du Ruobai clenched his teeth: "Precisely because I'm afraid, I must impeach."

Many in the hall were moved.

Jiang Che smiled.

"Well said."

He stepped into the hall, not ascending the jade steps, nor standing beside the Three Ruling Seats, but taking the position of the accused.

"I accept half of these three points."

A murmur stirred in the hall.

Jiang Che said:

"The Anti-Heaven Bureau's power is indeed excessive."

"My repeated bypassing of the Council Hall to handle major affairs is indeed fact."

"The people revering Jiang Che more than the New Laws is indeed a danger."

Du Ruobai stared, stunned.

He had prepared many rebuttals, but never expected Jiang Che to admit them first.

Gu Chongming narrowed his eyes: "Half?"

Jiang Che said: "The other half, I must clarify."

"If we waited for the full Council Hall process for the Southern Border Demon Well, the Western Desert Dry Bone Abyss, and the East Sea Water Gate, the people would already be dead."

"The Anti-Heaven Bureau was established because the Upper Realm's calamities are unpredictable, requiring rapid-response power."

"So the issue is not whether the Anti-Heaven Bureau should exist."

"But how the Anti-Heaven Bureau should be held accountable."

Gu Chongming nodded: "Continue."

Jiang Che said:

"I propose three points."

"First, the Anti-Heaven Bureau shall have an oversight seat, composed of representatives selected by the Council Hall, the History Camp, and Legislative Officers, to investigate the Bureau's orders and accounts."

"Second, the Guardian of the Nation Sword Master's emergency decree power must be publicly explained to the Council Hall within thirty days of each use. If no explanation is given, the Council Hall may strip the power."

"Third, the position of Guardian of the Nation Sword Master shall not be hereditary, nor set for life. It shall be reviewed by the Council Hall every five years. If two-thirds of the representatives oppose, the Sword Master shall step down."

At this, the hall completely exploded.

Even Du Ruobai was stunned.

He was merely impeaching.

Yet Jiang Che was directly shackling himself.

Someone urgently said: "Sword Master, you cannot! If the Anti-Heaven Bureau is constrained by the Council Hall, what if Heavenly Punishment from the Upper Realm strikes?"

Jiang Che said: "The emergency decree power remains."

That person said again: "What if the Council Hall is manipulated and moves to impeach the Sword Master?"

Jiang Che said: "Then it proves the New System is rotten. If it rots to this extent, even a Jiang Che cannot save it."

Gu Chongming said in a deep voice: "Have you thought this through?"

Jiang Che looked at the cracked Dragon Throne behind the hall.

"I have thought it through."

"Hei Xuan said the Demon Seed grows in our most proud places."

"I have thought about it for a long time."

"What I fear most is not corrupt officials in the Council Hall."

"Nor powerful families buying seats."

"It is me."

Silence fell over the hall once more.

Jiang Che said:

"If one day, everyone under heaven believes Jiang Che is always right."

"If one day, the Anti-Heaven Bureau believes it listens only to the Sword Master, not the New Laws."

"If one day, anyone questioning me is slandered as a Heavenly Gate Remnant."

"Then Hei Xuan has won."

He looked at Du Ruobai.

"So, your impeachment was correct."

Du Ruobai's eyes turned red, and he suddenly bowed deeply to Jiang Che.

"Du Ruobai thanks the Sword Master for accepting the questioning."

Jiang Che returned the bow.

"No need to thank me."

"Continue questioning in the future."

On this day, the Council Hall passed the "Anti-Heaven Bureau Interrogation Law."

The History Camp recorded:

"In the second year of the New System, spring, Du Ruobai, representative of Qingxi, impeached the Guardian of the Nation Sword Master. The Sword Master committed no crime, but instead limited his own power."

"In Zichen Hall, for the first time in the Human Realm, the Sword Master was placed under the law."

That night, at the entrance of Wenxin Hall in Capital City, a new line of characters appeared:

"Question people, and also question the Sword Master."