Daily life of a cultivation judge

The beaten down Ma Qi wanted to stand up and straighten his robes somewhat but his legs seemed to have failed him. He wasn't sure if it was the fatigue borne out of three years of working as a dog, or the extreme nervousness born from the situation but he couldn't move his legs no matter how much he tried. It was like he had been paralyzed from the waist below. 

Just as he was about to fall into the never-ending abyss of panic, Yang Qing's voice saved him.

"There's no need to get up, saying it while seated is okay.." said Yang Qing.

What Ma Qi didn't know was it wasn't fear or fatigue that had stolen the strength from his legs but rather it was Yang Qing's doing. Yang Qing covertly used his presence to seat Ma Qi firmly in place.

The wood used on the seats around the courtroom was made from azure lotus wood which had cleansing properties on both the body and spirit.

When Ma Qi stepped into the courtroom Yang Qing conducted a quick scan of Ma Qi and discovered his body was filled with impurities. Some were from his diet and environment, while another part was pill poisoning. With limited time for cultivation, Ma Qi likely had barely enough time to properly refine the pills and potions he was given, and also based on how the Striding Falcon Sect treated their disciples, the pills and potions they got were likely to be substandard and filled with a lot of impurities.

Close contact with the azure lotus wood would help him cleanse his bodies of all the accumulated impurities and Ma Qi would be none the wiser about it.

Ma Qi who was ill at ease cleared his throat in preparation for giving his account.

"Thank you for the opportunity, judge Yang Qing," he said as he cupped his fists in gratitude.

"My name is Ma Qi and I joined the Striding Falcon Sect about three years ago. I was born in one of the little outskat villages spread about within their territory.

Our village was small and didn't know much about cultivation other than a few body refinement techniques. But even then, everyone still knew of the Striding Falcon Sect and looked up to them with awe, it didn't matter whether you were a small child or an old person, we all revered the sect because of the heroic tale of how they defeated the Stormcloud Empire to uphold the honor of their fallen sect master despite the odds that were stacked against them.

Almost everyone at one point or another dreamed of joining such a great sect.." Ma Qi said as he wryly smiled.

One could hear the sarcasm that was mixed in with bitterness and regret in his tone.

"I was not immune to such a sentiment either. Ever since my grandmother told me the story of how they stormed into the Empire fearlessly, something was ignited within me, a desire. A desire to be strong, fearless, and to do something worthwhile like those seniors did when they charged into the Stormcloud Empire to defend the honor of the sect master and the sect as a whole.

I could imagine myself being with them roaring with righteous anger swinging my sword for a worthy cause. 

When young, we all see ourselves as dauntless heroes about to take the world by storm.." 

Ma Qi went silent as his gaze turned indistinct like he was seeing the three-year-old Ma Qi who was jumping and running around their compound as he held the little iron sword his father had gifted him when he was three.

In his mind, at three, he was already creating legends. He had slain ferocious spirit beasts, and freed countless from their misery and he was cloaked in glory and honor to last him several lifetimes.

"Dauntless heroes, huh.." Yang Qing murmured to himself as he tried to recall if he had ever seen himself as one.

For as long as he can remember since when he was young, he had ever truly sought after one thing, a strong desire to survive, and the freedom to live. 

From the moment he could make sense of his surroundings, all he saw was his broken father who constantly cursed his grandfather when he wasn't around as he filled Yang Qing and his brother with all these thoughts of rebellion. Then there were the crazy body refinement experiments that his grandfather and the crazy members of the Yang clan subjected him to. From the crazy training regimens that no three-year-old should do to the disgusting herb solutions he was bribed and threatened into drinking.

To him, all he wanted from that moment forth was to sleep and to eat what he wanted, and that sentiment has remained true to date.

As for being a hero and slaying fiendish creatures and making his name renowned, that was something he had never thought of even once. The closest he had come to it was imagining what phoenix eggs taste like, or dragon meat and even then he was too afraid to indulge in such thoughts.

"With those emotions growing inside of me, like most, I was dead set on joining the Striding Falcon Sect.

Though our village did have a few cultivators, the highest-ranking cultivator was the village chief who was at the late stage of the qi refinement realm. In our family, my father had the highest cultivation base as a fourth-stage qi refinement cultivator.

He was the hunter of the village and everything I knew about the body refinement stage I learned it from him.

I was only able to reach the silver body refining stage thanks to his tireless efforts.

Things as they are right now maybe it wouldn't have been bad to remain in the village and be under his tutelage. Ignoring everything else, my state of mind would be better than the mess it is right now and I have no doubt my cultivation base would have been higher.

As things are I wish I could go back there so strongly, but I am ashamed to.." Ma Qi said as his eyes fluttered with deep sadness and a self-deprecating smile.