"I'm not good with words, so I'll send a representative..." Long Chen couldn't be bothered to talk about these things; he wasn't good at that.
"How dare you! You keep disrespecting the courtroom and disregarding the academy's rules. Do you really need to use punishment before you behave?" The elder who had previously apologized to Long Chen shouted sternly.
Long Chen glanced at the old man and pursed his lips, saying, "According to the laws of Lingxiao Academy, Judgment Section, Chapter 16, Article 3, Clause 5: If the person being tried is physically unwell, mentally unwell, or otherwise unable to express their abilities, a designated person may make a statement on their behalf."
Your Honor, you don't even know this much, yet you're sitting in that position. How can you bear it? Do you want that butt of yours? Long
Chen glanced sideways at the old man. This guy was really an idiot. He didn't know if Long Chen had forgotten all the laws or thought he didn't know this rule, yet he directly threatened him. He must be out of his mind.
"How dare you! How dare you insult the chief judge in the hall? In your eyes, you don't even respect us judges, nor do you respect the laws of Lingxiao Academy." The judge shouted angrily.
"How could I insult you? This has been discussed before: the buttocks are just one part of the body, not an insult.
Even the dean doesn't care about this anymore, so why are you making a fuss again? How? You mean, your butt is bigger than the director's, huh? Long Chen said calmly and composedly.
Even the head of the discipline institute frowned this time. What's going on? Why did it come full circle, dragging the dean into this circle, and then on the backside?
"Enough, don't mention the Dean's name again. That would be disrespectful to him." The head of the Discipline Institute shouted.
"Alright, then I admit I misused my words before. I'll swap my butt for my face. Also, when facing the presiding judge, I should have used honorifics."
After Long Chen finished speaking, he cleared his throat and pretended to clasp his fists, saying, "Honorable Presiding Judge, you don't even know this much, yet you still sit in that position. Are you ashamed?" Do you still want your face? The
old man was trembling with anger. He wanted to grab Long Chen's sore spot, but ended up catching him with a nail. Long Chen was so familiar with the law that even he forgot about this one.
The old man shouted coldly, "That's correct, but you're clearly fine—how can you feel unwell?" "
I was fine before, but later I met someone whose breath was worse than athlete's foot and sprayed me, which made me very uncomfortable.
So I asked my friend to handle it for me. How did that become contempt of court and disregard the rules of Lingxiao Academy?
These big labels are being pinned on me one after another. Sorry, I'm small and can't handle it, so I need to take a break and let someone who witnessed the whole process give a statement. Is there a problem with that?
Honorable Presiding Judge, if there are any, please list them. If it truly constitutes contempt for the academy's laws, I am willing to accept punishment. Alright, please begin your performance. After Long Chen finished speaking, he made a gesture inviting him in.
"You..."
The old man was left speechless. Faced with Long Chen's sharp tongue and eloquence, he felt that even if he were slashed a thousand times and covered in bites, he still couldn't argue with Long Chen.
"According to the law, Long Chen has the right to let others make statements. But Long Chen, you need to think carefully: you only get one chance to make a statement. Once you've finished presenting it, you have no right to overturn the original statement, let alone add to it." The head of the Discipline Institute reminded him.
"It doesn't matter. I, Long Chen, am upright and honest. There's nothing I can't talk about, and I disdain lying." Long Chen said calmly.
"Alright then, let's begin." The head of the Discipline Institute nodded.
Long Chen glanced back, and Luo Bing, Luo Ning, and Mu Qingyun suddenly became nervous, especially Luo Ning. She didn't know if Long Chen would settle a personal score.
"You..."
Sure enough, Long Chen's finger pointed at her. Luo Ning's heart suddenly leapt into her throat. She was usually fine with making a mischievous scene, but speaking in such a heated setting, she felt her throat tighten and the world spinning, as if she was about to faint. But she still gritted her teeth and stood up.
"I'm not talking about you. You're clumsy and always opposing me. Who knows if you'll betray me? I'm talking about the person behind you." Long Chen pointed behind Luo Ning.
Li Cai, standing behind Luo Ning, opened his mouth wide, barely able to believe his eyes. Long Chen actually asked him to give a statement.
Li Cai stood up trembling, sweat already forming on his forehead. He had never seen such a grand scene before, and his heart was filled with nervousness.
"You bastard, what are you shaking about? In this situation, you simply don't have the ability to lie. You just say whatever the presiding judge asks. The shameless things you did in the past are not of interest to others. Seeing Li Cai trembling as he walked over, Long Chen angrily kicked him in the butt.
Li Cai used a kick to step onto the presentation platform ahead. The speaker needed to stand and speak, so Long Chen couldn't be bothered to go up.
"What's your name?" The scar-faced elder asked coldly.
"... You ... Guess ..." Li Cai's voice trembled. This time, Long Chen hadn't misheard. When he got nervous, Li would read it as a sound between 'Li' and 'you', very vaguely.
"How dare you..."
The scar-faced elder was furious. Long Chen was so arrogant, yet his subordinates dared to openly provoke the chief judge. Even the others were surprised. Long Chen's men really had guts.
"I... I ... Surname Li... Named 'guess', combined... His name was Li Cai. Li Cai was so nervous he forgot Long Chen's instructions: registration must be done separately with the full name, or else he might die over that name.
Li Cai was so nervous he almost burst into tears. When that scar-faced old man lost his temper, he was terrifying. At the same time, he knew just how strong Long Chen really was—facing such a terrifying person, he could still curse him right in the face. It took more than just courage.
The scar-faced elder snapped coldly, "Speak clearly. Start your statement and explain the whole story." "
Yes... That day, Third Master told us we needed to go out for training, and reminded us to eat plenty of breakfast and bring our weapons..." Li Cai stammered.
"Pick the key point." The old man snapped, "This guy is way too nagging."
"The key is the weapons. Only the Beast-Splitting Crossbow and Dragon Pattern run, nothing else." Li Cai said, somewhat at a loss.
Long Chen suddenly laughed. Li Cai, nervous, responded seamlessly and without error.
The old man's face turned ashen with anger, but seeing Li Cai's trembling demeanor, it was impossible for him to tease them on purpose, nor could he punish him. He was so angry he couldn't be bothered to ask.
The more he asked, the more nervous Li Cai became, while the head of the Discipline Institute listened silently without interrupting.
Li Cai spent a full half hour recounting in detail how Long Chen set out with them, followed the path of cultivation, and after awakening, witnessed the volcanic eruption.
"What about the missing part in the middle?" The scar-faced elder looked at Long Chen. Another elder had repeatedly hit a wall with Long Chen, and this time it was his turn.
"Let Miss Luo Bing tell the missing parts. That way, the two threads run parallel, and the story will be clearer." Long Chen smiled slightly and looked at Luo Bing.