Chapter 99 Adjudication


    "Ricky, you... you are… oh, God! I really don''t know what to say about you! You''re under arrest, Ricky!"


    Elder Abbott said gravely.


    Elder Abbott''s attitudes toward Ricky had changed several times. But all in all, he liked the young


    warrior quite a lot. But he had gone too far this time. In an act unprecented in the Snow Sect, Ricky had


    killed a fellow disciple.


    Heather was extremely confused, in shock at having no idea what Ricky had done.


    But Ricky reassured her, and she calmed down a little.


    Elder Abbott led Ricky to the Law Enforcement Hall. Seeing such a tense situation, Heather grew quite


    anxious and knocked Grace''s door, telling her that Ricky had been arrested.


    On the road to the Law Enforcement Hall, Rod shouted insults and threats at Ricky again and again.


    But Elder Abbott shooed Rod away, along with the other people who were chattering at Ricky.


    When they arrived at the Law Enforcement Hall, Ricky was put into a prison cell. Its walls were made of


    fine iron, making it impossible for Ricky to escape. Outside, numerous guards stood watch.


    "It now appears that I have gotten myself into quite a bit of trouble," Ricky murmured to himself as he


    looked at the darkness all around him.


    ......


    The story of Ricky killing Phil had spread throughout the whole Sect overnight.


    The truth about why Ricky did it gradually came out as the news spread. Some disciples thought that


    Ricky was a man with integrity who was forthright in making a distinction between kindness and


    revenge. Some of the female disciples pitied Ricky. because they felt as though Rick was not guilty.


    But there were some others who hoped that Ricky would bear harsh consequences. They said that


    Ricky outright broke the primary rule that had never been broken in the Snow Sect. To them, even a


    thousand deaths would not atone for his crime.


    But the final adjudication was up to the Elders, Chief Zenith, and the Dominant Top Elder, Boris.


    .....


    Elder Abbott came to the prison after half a day had passed since Ricky was locked up.


    "Elder Abbott, will I die?" Ricky asked, for he knew Elder Abbott was soft-hearted.


    "Ricky… Why did you do it? Why can''t you just have held back? Do you think it will be worth losing


    your life because of such an unremarkable disciple like Phil?" Elder Abbott said angrily.


    "I can''t help it, Elder. He maliciously insulted my master in front of me," Ricky replied without a hint of


    regret.


    "Well, Grace is fortunate that she has such a bold, loyal person like you as a disciple." Elder Abbott


    sighed.


    "Elder Abbott, please tell me! What is going to happen to me?" Ricky pleaded.


    "I''m not sure. But I have found out the details of the whole event. On the whole, you have the


    advantage, Ricky. Besides, the sect chief seems to be on your side. I think you stand a good chance of


    leaving with your life," Elder Abbott said earnestly.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "Oh, my lucky stars! I can escape this disaster!" Ricky said with a smile.


    "It''s still too early to be cheerful. You should know that the Dominant Top Elder Boris is not in your


    favor," Elder Abbott said with a sullen face.


    "Does he hold a higher position than the sect chief, Elder?" Ricky asked.


    "No, the sect chief is the ultimate ruling position in our Snow Sect," Elder Abbott said. "But not too long


    ago, Boris sessfully broke through the heavenly doom and became a middle spiritual king."


    "Now that Boris is a middle spiritual king, he is equal to Zenith in the realm of their powers. This means


    that even though there is still a gap between his position and that of the sect chief, it is now impossible


    for Zenith to suppress Boris anymore."


    "The sect is divided now, Ricky. Two main factions have formed."


    "I see," Ricky nodded. He was deep in thought.


    "The sect chief and Boris have nned to hold your trial at the square. So you need to mentally


    prepare to ept whatever the result may be," Elder Abbott reminded him.


    "Even if there seems to be a feud between Zenith and Boris, I didn''t expect that such powerful warriors


    would be called upon to adjudicate on my case. I am just a humble disciple of Blood Purification.


    What''s more, it seems like such a big deal, doesn''t it? To hold the trial in such a grand square," Ricky


    said, slightly surprised.


    After all, even if hemitted a more heinous crime, in the eyes of innate spirits it would be of trifling


    importance. Ricky knew it was totally unnecessary to trouble innate spirits for his case.


    "Indeed, Boris wouldn''t care about your life, Ricky. But he wants to further establish his hold on Snow


    Sect using this opportunity. Do you understand?" Elder Abbott asked.


    "Yes, Elder!"


    "Don''t worry! Together with Chief Zenith, I will try my best to fight for you," Elder Abbott said


    reassuringly and left.


    ......


    "It''s power! My power will never be enough!" Ricky shouted, pounding the walls of his cell after Elder


    Abott left.


    ......


    The next day, the main square of the Snow Sect was packed with people. All disciples from the Snow


    Sect arrived early.


    It was the first time that someone had killed his fellow disciple in the history of the Snow Sect. They


    wanted to see what would happen to Ricky.


    A few powerful disciples knew that they would see apetition between the opposing powers of the


    sect chief and the Dominant Top Elder.


    The Dominant Top Elder Boris was trying to establish his hold, while Chief Zenith wanted to maintain


    his power across the Snow Sect.


    Soon, the nine Elders appeared, and they allnded beside the nine seats on the tform.


    They were then followed the sect chief Zenith and the Dominant Top Elder Boris.


    After greeting the other Elders, Zenith directly orderedw enforcement disciples to bring Ricky to the


    square.


    After a while, Ricky appeared, his hands restrained.


    The whole square broke out into noise.


    Grace and Heather were extremely anxious and worried. Elder Abbott felt the same. They all regretted


    that Ricky had been so impulsive and hotheaded.


    But deep inside, Grace was grateful and even happy once she found out just why Ricky had killed Phil.


    Surely Ricky has seen Grace and Heather, but he walked right past them, not meeting their eyes.


    What Ricky hadn''t seen was that in a corner of the square stood Amelia, the leader of Amber Faction,


    and the charming girl who had apanied Grace to the Stone City.


    "If the Snow Sect really wants to kill Ricky, I hope you can help him," Amelia whispered.


    "Is it going to happen because he possessed no spiritual meridian?" the charming girl asked.


    "Yes. I have a strong intuition that he is the person I''ve been looking for," Amelia said, nodding


    decidedly.


    "I have heard his story. He is not bad. I''ll think it over. If it is really that necessary, I''ll do it for you," the


    girl whispered in Amelia''s ear.


    "Thank you," Amelia said, nodding her head in gratitude.


    ......


    "Sect chief, Dominant Top Elder and nine Elders!" Ricky said respectfully, as was the custom.


    "Ricky, all people in Snow Sect have gathered on this tform today. Do you know why?" Zenith was


    the first to speak. "Will you confess your crime?"


    "No, Chief Zenith. I don''t think Imitted a crime. How could I confess one?" Ricky said simply and


    earnestly, his eyes sweeping over the row of Elders who held his fate in their hands.