"Enough," Xun Yu said, "You speak of loyalty, yet you corner me like a criminal.
Kenji stepped forward, slow and deliberate.
"We are not enemies Xun Yu. But if you have stepped into darkness then it is better to admit it here, while given a chance."
"I practise it not for power, but for our realm. Would I have reported it, they would have cast me down." Xun Yu spoke.
"You dare lie in my court Xun Yu, our realm needs no dark cultivation and you are well aware of that." Superior Guardian's voice rang through the chamber, sharp and commanding. Guards stifferend around the perimeter, their hands hovering near their hilts. Xun Yu's shoulders rose and fell with the weight of his breath. His robes, once pristine, now seemed sullied by the implications that hung in the air. Silence thickened, palpable, and even the court scribes had stopped writing, their quills suspended in anticipation.
"Speak," Superior Guardian ordered, "Tell the truth."
Xun Yu's eyes glimmered, not with defiance but weariness. Maybe he carried too many secrets for too long. He turned slowly, his gaze sweeping across the nobles, advisors, guardians and warlords present. No allies. No sanctuary.
Then, he knelt.
Gasps filled the chamber. Kenji's eyes narrowed with surprise.
"I confess," Xun Yu said, voice low but steady. "I did practice the dark cultivation arts. Not for power, as I claimed, but not entirely for betrayal either."
Kenji's expression hardened, "Each and every member of the divine realm is trusted and that includes you Xun Yu. There is no "not entirely" to treason."
A deadly silence fell over the court.
"Seven years ago," Xun Yu said, his voice now firm, "the incident at Iron Marsh. The supposed outbreak of shadow plague among the border provinces. It was no plague, it was a dark summoning, failed and misdirected by me. I was sent them, not by our court but by Liuxing, as his spy."
"You mean to tell me," Superior Guardian stepped forward, " that all this time while I have sent out the divine members to fight corruption, it rotted within us." Superior Guardian's voice echoed like a threat.
"I never served Liuxing willingly." Xun Yu bowed further, "I was forced, my sister and my mother, my lord you are aware they are not immortals, they are but, mere mortals. They were taken as leverage. The message came sealed in blood. Obey or they die. I failed to protect them."
Kenji said nothing, his eyes watched him sharply, observing his every expression and every movement.
"I knew the consequences. But I thought, perhaps, I could deceive Liuxing. Pretend to serve him, all while feeding you false intelligence, or twisting his designs. But he was always a step ahead."
"Yet you practised dark cultivation." Kenji said coldly, "Dark cultivation, the very thing we oppose."
"Yes," Xun Yu admitted bowing his head down, "Because it was the only way to gain his trust. I had to partake in rituals, carry the seal of binding, let my energy brush the core of that void. I did….terrible things, so that I might find the key to his destructions while keeping my loved ones safe. Please...…my lord..please give me another chance, I beg you, forgive me my lord." Xun Yu's voice trembled a bit.
"And what did you find?" Superior Guardian asked, her gaze fixated to Xun Yu.
"Liuxing…..is not merely a mortal who ascended as a demon on grounds of his grudge and mastery of dark cultivation….he
was made to ascend as a demon, forcefully....by-"
"Enough of your lies Xun Yu. Practising of dark cultivation is still a treason, you dare look down upon the divine court by not making them aware of your situation and asking help. Did you dare underestimate the divine court?" Superior guardian's voice rang through the hall.
Kenji's eyes widened slightly, he stood silent, his fists clenched.
"I am here today not to lie, but to confess. To speak the truth-"
"You shall be executed." Superior Guardian issued the decree.
"My lord… my lord, my lord please forgive me, my lord give me one last chance. My lord…my lord give me a chance to speak…please my lord…." Xun Yu begged.
"Enough." Superior Guardian raised her voice.
Kenji looked towards the other guardians seated side by side. They all exchanged uncertain glances.
"I strip you if the title and station," Superior guardian declared, "Effective immediately on the grounds of treason, you will be confined to the lower sanctum under watch of the mage council. Every memory you hold, every cursed sigil, your cultivation core and energy, you will hand it over. The execution will be carried out as soon as the third light ascends."
Xun Yu's eyes widened with horror, tears of dread threatening to flow out, "My lord….my lord, I beg you my lord, just one last chance, my lord please forgive me, my lord I beg your mercy. Have mercy my lord."
Superior guardian's hand moved in a swift motion, signalling the guards.
The guards approached with vary reverence. Grabbing Xun Yu by the arms, they picked him up. He looked one last time towards Kenji, his eyes wide and tears trickling down his face and then he surrendered, he did not beg for forgiveness again, he did not even utter a single word. He just walked silently, led by the guards, held by his arms, like a betrayer.
Kenji did not respond. But as soon as Xun Yu was led away he glanced at Superior Guardian, the burden on her face seemed to be lifted away. Many would think it was because she got rid of a spy, of a betrayer but Kenji noticed something else. Instead of speaking further he stepped ahead and bowing politely, "My lord."
"The session is dismissed." Superior Guardian announced.
Kenji glanced at Superior Guardian's face one last time, he was observing, observing something which was just a suspicion but if it turned out to be true, it would be the most facinourous truth.