As Lin Ji's words fell, the whole hall was shocked.
No one could have imagined that this matter would be blown out of proportion like this.
The Tian Family in Liang City was a prominent clan, with many members holding positions in the government and controlling many important positions in the city.
Even the Monitoring Heaven Bureau had Tian Jiufeng as a wedge inserted.
In addition, the Tian Family also had many businesses in the city.
The collusion between officials and merchants was becoming more powerful.
It was precisely because of this that everyone thought Lin Ji's actions were just to show the Tian Family's authority.
Establishing authority and then letting it go.
This matter would pass.
Even Tian Zechuan, who was thrown into prison, thought he would only suffer a bit and could go back the next day.
Tian Jiufeng's plan was just hoping that things wouldn't escalate and could be settled quickly.
But no one expected that Lin Ji would actually utter the words "decapitation sentence." Not only that, judging from his demeanor, it seemed like he was really prepared to handle things according to the law.
No one in the hall spoke.
Tian Zechuan had been frightened into stepping back repeatedly, and Tian Jiufeng had to support him.
Facing Lin Ji's questioning, he didn't know how to respond.
"You won't speak? The evidence is conclusive, even without your words, I can still sentence you!"
With those words, Lin Ji reached out and threw the official document with the order towards the ground.
The Monitoring Heaven Bureau did not make idle threats. If they said decapitation, then it would be carried out.
As the order document hit the ground, everything became real.
For a moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on the order document slowly falling to the ground.
But at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared and reached out to tightly grasp the falling order document in mid-air.
An elderly voice rang out.
"When the order document falls, Tian Zechuan's head will fall, and dozens of people in the Tian Family, including hundreds of servants, will all be exiled."
Lin Ji looked at the old man in front of him without any surprise.
"Who are you?"
"Tian Kun."
The old man replied and calmly inserted the order document back into the tube.
"Grandfather." Tian Jiufeng hurriedly called out.
But Tian Kun ignored him, just standing at the bottom of the hall, looking at Lin Ji with a slight shake of his head.
"The Fifth Realm?" Lin Ji lightly chuckled, indeed the true person in charge had appeared.
"Correct." Tian Kun nodded, slightly bowing to Lin Ji, "Master Lin, your anger has been vented, and the face of the Tian Family has been lost. Can this matter end here?"
"Elder, if I were to let go lightly, how could I establish authority and suppress others?" Lin Ji retorted.
"Today's events have attracted the attention of many families' spies in the yamen. After today, it is likely that no one in Liang City will dare to trouble you, Master."
Lin Ji smiled wryly, he was well aware of this.
By making such a big show in court, it was meant for others to see.
But Lin Ji was not planning to stop there.
"Elder, if I insist on passing judgment? The evidence in this case is conclusive, it's an ironclad case."
"In that case, this old man will have to make a trip to the capital and report you for personal revenge," Tian Kun squinted slightly.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji burst into laughter.
"Indeed, not using your cultivation to intimidate others, you are quite insightful."
In a city where even a junior like Tian Jiufeng was in the Third Realm, how could there be no other cultivators in the family? Lin Ji had long been aware of this.
"Elder, perhaps you don't know my character," Lin Ji shook his head slightly.
"I'd like to hear more."
"I have always been kind to others. If someone gives me face, I will return it twofold. Therefore, I have quite a good reputation among friends."
"But if someone provokes me and I can't handle it, I'll avoid it, after all, my life is more important! But if I can handle it, I'll do everything I can to kill them. One for one, a whole family for a whole family, to prevent future troubles!"
Tian Kun's expression changed slightly.
"Elder, you said you would go to the capital to report me? Just go ahead! Even if you don't go, when this case is resolved, I will explain everything clearly in the case file!"
Lin Ji's tone suddenly became firm.
"I will say that I intentionally made a big fuss about this matter to establish authority! To seek personal revenge!"
"It's true that I ordered the monsters, and it's true that people died! Your Tian Family is audacious, secretly plotting against the Monitoring Heaven Bureau is also true!"
"Tian Kun, let me ask you, if I report this matter truthfully, what will happen?!"
As his words fell, the hall fell into silence once again. What could they do? If everything was true, the Tian Family being exiled had become a fact, and he, Lin Ji, would at most lose his position as the Chief of the Bureau.
He was just one person, what could they do? It was just a position as the Chief of the Bureau, he didn't want it if he had to be constantly controlled and restricted.
But for a family as large as the Tian Family, it might not be worth it.
Lin Ji sat back in his chair, looking at the Tian Family's patriarch in front of him.
This old man who had remained calm since appearing finally showed a hint of panic on his face.
He looked at Lin Ji, his eyes twitching slightly. After a long time, he took a deep breath and said, "The Tian Family has done wrong, but the Tian Family has never conspired to harm Chief Lin. Even if the younger generation has offended, there has never been any intention to harm lives. I hope Chief Lin can forgive us." With that, Tian Kun deeply bowed to Lin Ji.
"Grandfather!"
"Father!"
Tian Jiufeng and Tian Zechuan widened their eyes. When had their ancestor ever bowed to others like this?
Ignoring the two juniors, Tian Kun just asked with his head lowered, "Chief Lin, please give us a way out for this matter."
"Now you want a way out?" Lin Ji shook his head with a smile, getting up and walking towards the exit of the hall. As he walked, he said, "Forgive others as you would like to be forgiven. This time, I'll let you off the hook. I must let you know that when I claim to be kind to others, it's not just empty words."
If he continued, it would be an endless battle. There was no need for that. His goal had been achieved, to make the Tian Family admit their mistake, so that those ill-intentioned noble families would know that trying to drive him, the Chief of the Bureau, away would come at a cost.
The three members of the Tian Family looked at Lin Ji in disbelief.
Lin Ji just kept walking out.
"There are still unclear aspects to this case that need further investigation, so let's put it on hold for now."
Pausing, Lin Ji turned to look at the three members of the Tian Family.
"The case is on hold, but you must find a way to explain to me. I can't let people think that I'm afraid."
"As for how to explain, it's up to you."
With that, Lin Ji had already left the hall, leaving everyone in the hall looking at each other in confusion.
Tian Kun sighed deeply, and left with Tian Jiufeng and Tian Zechuan.
Zheng Yunxuan, seeing that no one paid attention to him, ran away.
The three remaining constables looked at each other in silence.
"Chief Lin is truly... truly..." Li Wushuang muttered for a long time, not knowing how to describe it.
Sun Hai smiled bitterly, "It's an eye-opener. Both of you, be careful in the future, don't accidentally provoke the Chief."
"He was just a constable in the county before?" Chu Qin asked in astonishment, "Is the Monitoring Heaven Bureau really so full of hidden talents?"
"So Chief Lin is the Chief, and we are just constables," Sun Hai shook his head.
He had originally thought that Lin Ji was promoted because of his high cultivation talent.
After all, a Fourth Realm with exceptional wisdom in his early twenties would be remarkable anywhere.
But after this incident, Sun Hai realized that Lin Ji was not only talented in cultivation.
Such a person not taking the imperial examinations was truly a waste.
Distorting right and wrong, speaking nonsense with eyes wide open, guiding people with kindness, and being aggressive, it was truly eye-opening.
And then he lightly let go, but also put pressure on the Tian Family.
And what's this about unclear aspects in the case, needing further investigation, and putting it on hold?
Wasn't that clearly holding a handle to threaten them, and if they dared to provoke him again in the future, he would bring up the old matter and crush the Tian Family?
"Both of you, what kind of explanation do you think the Tian Family will give?" Li Wushuang asked curiously.
"I don't know."
"They definitely won't dare to deceive the Chief."
(End of Chapter)