Chapter 84: 81 The Judge

81 Judge

The night wind seemed to fall silent for a moment.

After a while, the Judge spoke: "Why would you think that?"

Tang Zhao countered: "Aren't you?"

The Judge let out a laugh, his voice shifting into the tone Tang Zhao was familiar with, and said: "I am. But I'm curious, how did you see through it?"

Tang Zhao let out a breath. He actually had a hunch and wasn't just bluffing, but even with ninety-nine percent certainty, it wasn't as definitive as a personal admission. He smiled and said: "Seeing through it is just seeing through it. Does Your Excellency think your acting was so flawless that no one could spot a flaw?"

The Judge, who was Xing Ji, said: "No, no, according to my experience..."

Tang Zhao muttered to himself: "You certainly have experience."

"Whether the acting is flawless or not doesn't matter; as long as the identity is constructed well and you establish a first impression, people won't look elsewhere even if there are small issues later. Only when a fatal flaw appears, causing people to suddenly break character and grow suspicious, will they start thinking it's all wrong. Then all the small, past doubts connect, the defense collapses, and it can no longer be hidden."

He touched his Mask and said, "Of course, there are also cases where it can't be hidden over time. But the Judge only appeared twice and we only truly spent one night together; where were the major flaws?"

Tang Zhao understood what he meant and said: "In that case, I can't call them flaws, but there was indeed a moment where I figured it out—back in the dungeon, didn't you stop me from killing someone?"

Xing Ji let out an "ah" and stopped speaking.

Tang Zhao said: "A hand reached out from outside the dungeon door and grabbed my blade; I still remember that scene. Later, in the Grape Courtyard, I acted in anger again, and you stopped me once more. That was the moment I felt it was familiar."

"Think about it, who else in this world would stop me from killing? Especially the first time, you grabbed my blade from the front with your bare hand; that is a very rare move. Even with powerful strength to back it up, grabbing a blade from the front requires true resolve, right? Even if my sword was sharp, you were willing to let your flesh be cut to stop me. With that kind of resolve, besides Lord Xing, could there be anyone else in heaven or on earth?"

Xing Ji listened quietly. The black and white Mask hid his expression, and he looked like a statue.

Tang Zhao continued: "I won't mention the rest. Like you said, once you start doubting, everything feels wrong. Actually, I still want to ask, what for? You are a dignified fifth-rank official of the Imperial Court; are you really addicted to role-playing games?"

Xing Ji finally spoke, his voice as nonchalant as ever: "No, no, this time it really wasn't a game. Actually, at first, I wanted to come to you every night as the Judge to teach you Sword Art. For one, I thought that at your age, having read some miscellaneous books, you would surely love the encounter of a master entering your home in the dead of night to teach you martial arts; perhaps your interest in learning would double."

Tang Zhao chuckled twice, thinking: *Actually, you're the one who likes it, right? *

But he wasn't wrong; if the Judge, as a great master, found some excuse to teach him advanced Sword Technique in the middle of the night, it would indeed be mysterious and exciting, perfectly fitting his teenage "chuunibyou" appetite.

"Furthermore... I felt that since you hold that sword, you should be guided by the Judge."

Tang Zhao said softly: "Is the Judge truly the Master of the Sumeru Sword? Has he passed away? Was he a Town Guardian of the Inspection Division back then?"

The black and white Mask, the black and white sword...

The Judge.

Xing Ji said: "You are indeed clever. The Judge was a Sword Guest of the Xiezhi Sword and my old superior. This 'Judge' character refers to the judgment of justice, not some judge from the underworld. Back then, when the Iron-Faced Judge was mentioned, I don't know if children stopped crying, but those demons and heretics certainly would."

Tang Zhao remembered Guan Lei, who had lost his composure after drinking, and could not help but fall silent.

Xing Ji's voice gradually lowered: "The Inspection Division back then was not like it is today. It was said to be for eliminating demons and pacifying the people, but in reality, it was full of filth, bullying the weak, taking bribes, and extorting the commoners—what wicked deeds did they not commit? Even if you had a shred of conscience coming out of the Training Camp, you would lose it all after serving in the division for a few days. Only the Judge was a ray of light."

"He was upright and clean, unyielding and selfless, as hateful of evil as the Xiezhi itself. In the muddy waters of the Inspection Division, if there was one clear drop of water, it was him. Because he was there, we still retained a sliver of justice in our hearts."

"At the time, I was initially serving under other Town Guardians and learned a bunch of bad habits, living in a daze and forgetting the aspirations I had set. Later, I offended the Judge. He was originally going to kill me, but through a twist of fate, he saved my life instead. Later, I took the initiative to follow him. Infected by his virtue, I re-established my resolve to be a righteous hero."

"So he saved me twice—once my life, once my soul. My body and mind were reshaped; he was truly a benefactor of rebirth. After he left, I also left the Inspection Division. Only recently did I return to the division at the summons of the Marquis. Thanks to the Marquis's grace, the Xiezhi Sword was placed in my hands again. Since I chose you as the Sword Envoy, I wanted to teach you in his identity."

Tang Zhao said: "Then why did you give it up later?"

Xing Ji said: "On one hand, there was a slight error in the plan. That night when your Sword Technique failed and you suddenly appeared before me, it was actually an accident. I hadn't intended for you to get involved in the Sumeru Sword affair, but through a twist of fate, I ended up bringing you along."

Tang Zhao said: "Yes, you were originally a Sword Guest yourself, and your Inspiration might be even stronger than mine; you didn't really need me."

Xing Ji said: "Your Inspiration is still stronger; I haven't found your limit yet, and it should be the strongest I've ever seen. However, relying on myself to find Lao Pingtou was enough. It's a pity that my meddlesome nature... I almost messed up on the way and nearly made you kill someone with your own hands. Moreover, on the way, I gradually discovered... I am actually not suited to play the Judge."

"At first, I wore that Mask just to muddle through, doing whatever. Later, when I met you and the plan started, I had to start acting like the Judge. Whenever something happened, I had to think: what would the Judge do in this situation? What would he say?"

Tang Zhao heard the words "the Judge" coming from behind the black and white Mask and felt it was quite wondrous.

"But the more I thought, the harder it became, and the more I did, the more wrong it felt. For example, how would he treat someone as wicked and murderous as Sun Sheng? Would he put an innocent youth in danger? Would he open the prison doors without discrimination and let those prisoners kill and burn? Sometimes I knew what he would do, but for the sake of the goal, I made other choices. And sometimes, I didn't know what he would do, because I discovered I didn't truly understand him."

"That night when I went back, I asked myself, in what way am I like the Judge? Not only am I unlike him, I don't understand him, and I don't even respect him. I wear his Mask and use his name, yet I refuse to follow his choices, doing only unjust things and causing his reputation to suffer. If he had a spirit in heaven, he would likely regret saving my life from the Heavenly Demon."

Tang Zhao said: "That would never happen. If the Judge was as black and white, upright, and selfless as you say, he would never regret saving a life."

Xing Ji was stunned for a moment and fell silent again.

After a while, he slowly took off the Mask, revealing a young and heroic face, and handed the Mask to Tang Zhao, saying: "Take it. This is his relic. Wear it when you hold that sword, as if the Judge is watching over you. If..."

He hesitated and swallowed the second half of his sentence.

Tang Zhao took the Mask, put it away solemnly, and said: "Thank you, Excellency."

He asked again: "Then later, was Ping Xiansheng also sent by you on purpose?"

Xing Ji said: "Yes, since I couldn't teach you in the name of the Judge and things were too busy, I chose someone else to watch over you. Lao Pingtou was very suitable."

Tang Zhao said: "He is a Sword Hero; are you also a Sword Hero? Are you stronger than him? Otherwise, why would he listen to you?"

Xing Ji said: "Of course I'm not stronger than him. That old man was very powerful back then, decades ago..."

Tang Zhao said: "Decades ago?"

Xing Ji raised an eyebrow and said: "Ah, what did that old man brag to you about? That he's hundreds of years old? He's not that old; he was still very active over twenty years ago. Based on his age, if he let you call him Grandpa, that would be acceptable, but anything older is just acting like a senior."

Tang Zhao grinned and said: "Oh, so he even lowered his own generation."

Xing Ji said: "Decades ago, he provoked an enemy and was severely injured, and he could never come out of the Time Jar again..."

Tang Zhao was surprised again and said: "Can't come out?"

Xing Ji said: "What did you think? He doesn't want to come out? His state is very similar to that white-haired one; his body collapsed, and he relies on the Sword Intent stored in the sword to preserve that state of being neither dead nor alive, but he can never leave the Time Jar. He is a 'Man in the Jar'."

Tang Zhao felt distressed and said: "So that's how it is. I said his state was hysterical; I only thought he was lonely, but it turns out it was sorrow..."

Xing Ji said: "And his Sword Intent and Sword Technique are very useful, so many people are looking for him. That white-haired one as well; his Sword Intent is complementary to Ping Laotou's, and he tracked him here from thousands of miles away just to seize this Sword Intent."

Tang Zhao said: "Can Sword Intent be plundered?"

Xing Ji said: "Yes, so being a Sword Guest is very dangerous; there is danger everywhere in heaven, on earth, and in the human world. However, one cannot plunder Sword Intent recklessly, as it easily disrupts one's own Sword Intent. But Ping Laotou's Sword Technique is also very useful, like a fragrant piece of fat meat; no wonder he hid in the dungeon. I brought him out, recruited him in the name of the Marquis, and promised to treat his injuries; naturally, he listens to the Inspection Division."

Tang Zhao asked hurriedly: "Can it be cured?"

Xing Ji said: "Yes. He is someone the Marquis specifically wanted; if the Marquis takes action, he can naturally save him."

Tang Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Thank you, Excellency."

Xing Ji smiled and said: "Why thank me? I chatted with Ping Laotou, and he actually likes you quite a bit. Although he listens to me, I only told him to watch you practice your sword and give some pointers. He is willing to spend time and effort to improve your martial arts because he appreciates you and has high hopes for you. You don't have to think it's all hypocrisy."

Tang Zhao said, "I would not think so. Also... thank you, sir."

Smoothing out the twists and turns of this, when thinking about it carefully, Xing Ji had truly exhausted all his efforts to cultivate him; he had racked his brains to provide him with a master, resources, and all sorts of trials. If anyone were to say this was just the standard procedure of the Land Inspection Division, Tang Zhao certainly would not believe it.

If one were to say that Tang Zhao had been using cheats during this period, then there were at least two: one was naturally the Glasses, and the other was Xing Ji's sincere cultivation.

In this world, apart from his parents and Chen Zong, no one had treated him better than Xing Ji.

Tang Zhao felt that this was not because Xing Ji was after something from him; if he were truly "after something," he would not have been able to do all this.

Great kindness is not expressed in words; a simple "thank you" was certainly not enough. He might not be able to repay the Glasses, but he could at least do his best to repay Xing Ji.

At this moment, the vortex of the Time Jar gradually calmed, and the shadow beneath it was gradually absorbed until nothing remained.

Only a lump of white, soft mud-like substance remained spread on the ground.

Xing Ji asked in confusion, "What is this?"

Tang Zhao observed it carefully, then suddenly exclaimed in alarm, "Not good, it is a White—"

Suddenly, that white soft mud transformed into a streak of white light and shot up; it vaguely resembled the shape of a fish, only it had a human face growing on the fish's head—

A White-Haired Person!

The human-headed fish was incredibly fast, pouncing with the Momentum of a thunderbolt, and as it opened its mouth, a profound ripple submerged into Tang Zhao's body.

81 Judge