Locked on by two wolves

A middle-aged man in a green coat and matching robe, bearing a tupelo tree emblem, was escorted into the courtroom by an inquisitor who had a slender, tall build, long, flowing black hair, and looked to be in his twenties. He had a long sword sheathed in a pure white, slender scabbard attached to the left side of his waist. His name was Feng Xin.

Despite his slender build, he was quite the ravenous eater, a fact that had gotten him banned from a few dining establishments within the Order grounds. Feng Xin was also part of the inquisitor team attached to Yang Qing, under the leadership of Yi Jie.

The middle-aged man being escorted by him was Cheng Yuan, the current Sect Master of the Green Fog Swamp Sect. The sect itself had been in existence for close to 9,000 years. The tupelo tree symbol embroidered on his robe had become their sect's emblem because that tree was the reason the sect had been able to survive in the Green Fog Swamp, a most treacherous place located in the southeastern part of the continent.

The tree had been planted long ago in the sect grounds by their founder, a rogue cultivator on the run. He hadn't noticed anything special about the seed at first. Only when he planted it and it had grown into a tiny sapling did he start noticing the minute and peculiar changes around it. Spiritual essence in the air increased, the soil grew richer and less damp, and even the insects seemed to avoid the area.

As the tree continued to grow, so did the range of its effects on its surroundings. It altered the air, water, and soil, and soon even the plants around it began to change. A small biome took shape, centered around the tupelo tree. This little haven it created became the foundation of the sect.

The swamp in the Green Fog region was highly inhospitable, especially to outsiders. It was filled with poisonous insects and spirit beasts, and anyone below the foundation stage risked being poisoned to death by nearly every living thing in the area. Without the tupelo tree, establishing and sustaining the Green Fog Swamp Sect there would have been next to impossible.

The circumstances that posed a danger to them and others became a boon for them. The region's notorious reputation, especially when it came to poison and spirit beasts that filled the area, provided the perfect cover for them to develop and grow whilst also maintaining their ownership of the Tupelo tree. 

As inhospitable as it was, the Green Fog region was home to countless species of spiritual herbs difficult to find anywhere else. With few other human organizations around, the Green Fog Swamp Sect had access to all manner of spiritual herbs and plants that they used as their foundation for their development. 

Of course, they still had to be wary of the countless spirit beasts around, but when it came to spirit beasts, as dangerous as they were, or as huge as their numbers were in the region, they didn't care much for the spiritual plants in the place like a human organization would. This gave the Green Fog Swamp Sect unfiltered access and minimal competition when it came to those plants and herbs.

They ended up developing a specialty in medicine due to the poisonous nature of the region be it from the plants themselves or the spirit beasts.

...

Soon, Sect Leader Cheng Yuan and an emerald leaf cow—a cow that, from size alone, had clearly transcended the ordinary—stood at the entrance. The cow was massive; five Yang Qings could sleep sprawled out on its back, and there would still be room for more. Its green and white coat formed into clear, leaf-like patterns, and green horns that were serrated like leaves.

Both the Sect Master and the cow bore solemn expressions as they entered. The dagger-like looks they had traded moments earlier vanished as they stepped into the courtroom.

The courtroom radiated a regal aura, bathed in an incandescent golden glow. It was dome-shaped and filled with furnishings and equipment made from high-grade resources. The spiritual essence here was a hundred times richer than in their sect. The vast difference made Cheng Yuan feel like he had been living in a pig sty.

Overwhelmed by the disparity, Sect Master Cheng Yuan couldn't help but stick out his tongue slightly, as if to see if even the air tasted sweeter. Yi Jie and the others were unfazed by his reaction; it was far from the strangest thing they'd witnessed in these courtrooms. One defendant had once pretended to have an epiphany mid-trial, sitting down on the spot to meditate. Yang Qing happily indulged him, relishing the thought of a delay. Of course, he ended up working all-nighters for a week because of that stunt.

Feng Xin led Sect Master Cheng Yuan and the emerald leaf cow to the center of the courtroom and then separated them. The cow was directed to the right, while Cheng Yuan was directed to the left.

"Inquisitor Feng Xin hereby presents the Third generation Sect Master of the Green Fog Swamp Sect, Cheng Yuan, who has filed charges against the emerald leaf cow on grounds of breaking sect agreements. He has waived autonomy and is willing to submit himself to the ruling of the Court rather than his internal sect rules. The emerald leaf cow, named Wen Chang, has also agreed to the same," Feng Xin announced, performing a curt bow toward the podium where Yang Qing sat.

"Thank you, Feng Xin. I seem to remember you mentioning the Green Fog Swamp Sect to me in passing," Yang Qing said with a casual tone, though his gaze hinted at something more.

As a seasoned inquisitor, Feng Xin didn't miss the cue. Being cut from the same cloth, he easily picked up on Yang Qing's real meaning.

"Yes, Judge, I recall mentioning it," he replied with a knowing look.

"Is it really as poisonous there as you said?"

"Judge, if there's one thing I never joke about, it's poison. I've sampled plenty of fo—ahem, poisonous fungi, but the plants near the Green Fog Swamp are in a class of their own."

"Hahaha! Good! Good!" In his excitement, Yang Qing lost himself for a moment, forgetting the formal setting, before quickly resuming a solemn look, pretending the lapse hadn't happened.

Meanwhile, Sect Master Cheng Yuan's face bore a puzzled expression as he inwardly worried.

"Poisonous fungi? I don't remember seeing any. If these big shots are talking about it, it must be deadly! Those elders! I always tell them to pay attention to the plants around the sect, but all they do is just fawn over the emerald cow. Now we have poisonous fungi—what if it poisons the tupelo tree? No, Nooo.. this can't happen!! I'll have to call in the Myriad Herbs Sect to inspect…

But those idiots will bleed us dry! The cow's already draining our reserves," thought Cheng Yuan as he gritted his teeth.

"Maybe I can get help from the Order; surely they'd be cheaper than the Myriad Herbs Sect… but how do I enlist their aid?"

As Cheng Yuan worked himself into a fret, the emerald leaf cow's own thoughts took on a different tone. The moment she stepped into the courtroom, her earlier suspicions from the hallway resurfaced with full force.

"There's something fishy going on with the judge and the inquisitor. That inquisitor's been eyeing me like a wolf since we left the hallway. And that judge—they both looked at me like a roast about to be carved when I stepped in. What could they be planning?" Wen Chang wondered, throwing suspicious glances at Feng Xin and Yang Qing, trying to decipher their motives.

The two individuals in question continued their exchange until Mao Yunru cleared her throat, reminding them to focus on the proceedings.

"Apologies. Feng Xin, we'll continue this another time."

"Yes, Judge," Feng Xin replied, offering another bow as he turned to exit. But as he left, fate seemed to conspire as his gaze locked momentarily with Yang Qing's—and with the emerald leaf cow's.

For Wen Chang, that look confirmed her worst fears. They eyed her like ravenous wolves. Though brief, she could swear she saw herself dissected, and roasted over an open flame as her cuts were slathered in all manner of herbs and spices. She wasn't sure, maybe it was because of her grudge against the person, but she could hear Cheng Yuan's voice in the background enthusiastically giving directions on how she should be roasted.

She shuddered, memories of the chickens and goats from her past life flooding her mind—neighbors she'd lost to the sect before she awakened her bloodline. Her dread returned tenfold.

"Let's begin, shall we? Each party will take turns presenting their side of the story, after which we'll proceed to the ruling, provided all information presented meets the threshold to offer a comprehensive judgment.

Wen Chang, since you haven't yet broken through to the palace stage, transforming into a human will be difficult. I'll make communication easier for you."

"Wen Chang, since you haven't reached the palace stage, means you can't transform into a human yet. Communication could be an issue," said Yang Qing as he took out a golden eagle medallion and inserted it into his podium. Glyphs lit up, spreading across the courtroom as an almost translucent, smooth, grey sphere appeared and floated above Wen Chang's head.

"This thought transmission orb will convert your thoughts into speech. Just insert a strand of spiritual qi to activate it," explained Yang Qing, retrieving the medallion as the glyphs faded. "Sect Master Cheng Yuan, we'll start with you while Wen Chang familiarizes herself with the orb."

As Yang Qing began the proceedings, his earlier playfulness vanished, replaced by an aura of profound authority. The change never failed to surprise Yi Jie and Mao Yunru; the casual, sometimes goofy judge transformed into a formidable presence the moment a case began.