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The man looks almost appalled. Despite his worry Shen Jiu feels irritated. 'You were just choking me to death, laughing and mumbling to yourself like a maniac but when I try to plead for my life. You look at me as if I'm the crazy one?!' He obviously can't say any of that.

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"Gongzi," his voice still comes out scratchy,– it would probably be like this for a few days, judging from past experiences– but it's certainly more audible. "I'm sorry if this lowly one offended you. Please have mercy. spare me." "Shen Qingqiu, what is wrong with you?"

The man's head snaps up at the sound. So fast Shen Jiu hoped it might snap, but he wasn't that lucky. Shen Jiu tries to speak. But his throat hurts. His voice coming out muffled. Crushed. He tries to clear his throat the man's attention now completely on him. "I'm sorry."

Shen Jiu has to do something before he decides to either choke him again, maybe beat him to death or unsheath that sword around his waist.. He might not know the man's grievances, but if he begs for his forgiveness it can't possibly make things worse right? He hopes so. "Ah-"

"Fuck!" Shen Jiu tries to curl up into his side. Greedily gulping down air. His eyes are burning from the strain. The man stands shoulders heaving, as he laughs, hands gripping into his hair. He looks positively deranged. Mumbling incoherently to himself.

That part doesn't come as a surprise. Not even Qi-ge would take his side when he fought with the other kids, why would it be any different... But still he doesn't just want to lay down and die! "Pl-please." The words are barely audible, more akin to an exhale. But by some miracle it works.

Shen Jiu's lungs burn. The man's grip around his throat so tight he fears it might break before he gets to strangle him to death. He can't move a single inch. If he begs would it matter? Can his voice even come out at this point? He really doesn't remember a thing and yet no one will believe him.

His own hands are restrained so he can only try to thrash around as much a s his position allows it. It doesn't seem to be very effective. "What kind of trick are you trying to pull. You dare! Do you really think I'll spare you just because you put on this pathetic act!?"

The man's hands are not yet choking him so he might still have a chance to placade him. If only Shen Jiu knew what short of grievances he has... "Gongzi. I'm sorry if I have wronged you I-" Shen Jiu's words are cut off when the others hand's construct around his thin neck.

back away from him. But in his restrained position it probes to be too hard. Falling back. Still trying to inch away but the other doesn't seem to have much trouble pinning him down. Straddling Shen Jiu's hips and curling his fingers around his throat. Shen Jiu's body freezes in the spot.

Striding in, far more imposing that he'd looked in the court room. His carefully crafted mask gone. "Shizun, you can fool anyone but do you really think you can fool me? This won't save you." The expression on his face is almost manic. Shen Jiu tries to back away from him.

Not before the tall man that reminds him of his Yue Qi promises he'll make sure "Shen- shidi is treated well." Shen Jiu doubts it. A few moments after the heavy doors close behind him and the water starts flowing. His hands secured with the red rope. He comes.

can't find anything wrong with him as of present. He'd have to search more thoroughly for any similar case to figure out if it were reversible. SJ's wounds are also taken care of. It wasn't to bad, he'd been through worse. Mu-shidi still seems to frown at them Shen Jiu is brought back to his cell.

But that doesn't seem to be the case. The charade is still very mindfully crafted. Shen Jiu doubts the poor old bastard hasn't even figured it out yet... --- The seem to have come to an agreement. SJ is examined by 'Mu-shidi' the claims he suffered 'another Qi deviation', but-

"Fine. But Huahua will have to agree to let Mu-shidi examine Shen-shidi." "We have perfectly good healers here at HuaHu-" "Of course" The old man doesn't say anything after being rudely interrupted...how strange. Even though it would appear as if the man in the dark robes would be his subordinate

well I think we can figure an agreeable compromise in that case." Shen Jiu doubts the compromise will be in his favour either, so he truly doesn't have any skin in the game. Besides his life...but he doesn't seem to be in control of that for a while now.

SJ tries not to look at him. He reminds him too much of his Qi-ge and he doesn't want to think about how Yue-Qi is most likely dead. There would be bo other reason for him not to be here with SJ. He refuses to think so. "If the situation is resolved, we proceed as normal. If not...-

Shizun's own sect. They can't be responsible for holding him. I would not put such strain on you." The man smiles politely at the other. Shen Jiu has begged in enough street corners to recognise a fraud 'Zhangmen-shibo' remains quiet. Almost pitiful in the way he looks towards Shen Jiu.

"So what would Luo-shizhi suggest?" The man's smile feels strained also. Shen Jiu might not know if he knew either of them. But those two certainly knew eachother quite well... "A week. We postpone for a week. Shizun will stay in Huahua. I believe you understand Zhangmen-shibo Qang Qiong is-

"But like Lao Gongzhu said we can't just postpone the trial indefinitely. What if the situation is never resolved? Can the death of your own martial sibling be left unpunished Zhangmen-shibo?" His smile when he called out 'Zhangmen-shibo' seemed almost mocking.

The man in the dark robes appeared again to placade both parties. With his performance worth smile and with his honeyed words. Shen Jius felt his skin crawl and tried to avoid making eye contact.

The taller man seems tense his hand tensing on his side. Shen Jiu would think he seemed ready to draw his sword at any moment.. But that would be ridiculous What reason would he have. Was he this desperate to kill SJ himself? "Sect leader Yue is right. If Shizun can't remember it wouldn't be just"

The people clearly have a lot to say about that suggestion. "Sect leader Yue, we can't ask everyone to just leave and come again when convenient. His crimes won't change if he remembers them or not. So let's just continue with the trial." The haughty older man in yellow robes suggests.

Imposing even. If Yue Qi had been born in a noble household, if he'd grown up. He could've been the same... "This trial can't continue. Shen-shidi should be released to Cang Qiong's custody untill we can figure what has happened." The murmur somehow get even louder.

The man who had questioned him stays silent. Observing him. SJ can feel the hair on the back if his neck stand on edge. At the very least he doesn't seem to doubt him. Or at least he isn't making it known. "Quiet!" The man that reminds him of Qi-ge. Looks even taller now that he's standing.

#冰九 #bingjiu continuation: There's yelling. People are fighting amongst themselves. Most clearly don't believe him. It has to be some pathetic attempt to save himself. To claim that he doesn't remember. Couldn't he try a little harder? This short of trick is insulting the court's intellect.

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But at the very least he can't let them find out he is a slave. They said he'd killed someone, no matter who it was or if the circumstances were dire won't matter if SJ was a slave.... "I don't know...I don't remember." The "court" erupts in a noisy cacophony.

"Hm? Is Shizun really prepared to face the consequences if he were to lie though?" Shen Jiu shuts his mouth. That bastard. He clearly knows something. He's only toying with him at this point...Shen Jiu should've just kept quiet from the start. Nothing he says will matter...

Doesn't let his unfamiliarity with the name the man uses show. It has to be him he is addressing. He isn't stupid. He should probably lie right? The crowd had only shown more disdain when he answered last. And this man clearly knows him so shouldn't SJ also know? "Yes. I-"

Should SJ had lied and said he did not know Haitang? Whatever it was he couldn't take it back ... The quiet murmurs in the room were growing louder. He really messed up didn't he. If he could just somehow turn this- "Shen Qingqiu. Do you know who I am?" Shen Jiu tries to stay calm this time.

He was clearly important. SJ shouldn't anger him. "Yes, Gongzi, I know her." "Gongzi?" Had SJ said something wrong? The room had suddenly became so quiet he could hear his own breathing. He must've definitely said something wrong. Did he have a different title?

hide it from him. ignore the tears or blood, but Yue Qi would always look at him this was. Asif he knew SJ was- "Shizun, do you know her?" Then there was him. Calculating. Quietly watching from the sidelines. A predator waiting to pounce. Dressed in fine dark robes.

Everyone else does. Their reactions are...varied. Some of them are clearly angry. Then the man that kind of looks like Yue Qi, at least how SJ would imagine him to grow, looks concerned? The same way Yue Qi would look at him when SJ would try to insist he was fine. When SJ was hurt and wanted to-

the end of the day.Everyone seems so eager to rip him apart themselves His facade slips only momentarily when he sees her. It's a habit, instinct. If Haitang was there it meant QJL wouldn't beat him anymore. He doesn't notice when his expression relaxes, the relieved smile on his face.

Either way there isn't really anything he can do. If he speaks up to inform them that he somehow doesn't remember any of these who will believe him? Besides if they find out he is a slave wouldn't it only make things worse? By the time Haitang appears Shen Jiu is already certain he'll be dead by

They go to trial. SJ tries to stay alert find a way out. Only to hear others call him a lecher. A spoiled young master abusing his power to take advantage of even his female disciples. SJ know this whole thing has to be staged against him, of all the things that is something he would never do.

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to help him grasp the situation, so he can only wait it out. No one really notices before the trial. Since the people visiting the water prison aren't very chatty...and no one from Cang Qiong is allowed to see him at this point for security concerns. (YQY is the only one who even tried.)