Chapter 35: Sikong Jing, Rewarding Merit

However, just as Su Zhenglong was about to erupt, a low, eerie voice rang out: "Su family elder, Su Zhenglong, are you attempting to rebel?"

As the voice fell, a middle-aged man dressed in the uniform of a constable stepped out from the crowd.

Su Zhenglong's gaze froze instantly. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head; his momentum vanished without a trace in an instant.

Opposite them, Su Yun could not help but giggle coquettishly, "Giggle, Uncle, are you trying to risk your life?"

"Unfortunately, we won't give you the chance. This is Lord Han, a constable from the Yunye City Constabulary. He has already learned from the City Guards that Sikong Jing forced his way out of the city."

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Zhenglong and Su Yuexi's faces turned even paler. This was going to be big trouble.

"That's right. Sikong Jing forced his way out of the city as a criminal; he deserves death!"

Constable Han's tone carried a sinister smirk: "As one of the four great families, the Su family may execute him personally."

It was over. It was completely over!

Su Yuexi's entire body nearly collapsed. This time, even her father wouldn't even have the chance to fight to the death—even a constable had arrived.

Su Zhenglong gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. All he could do now was try to protect his daughter from punishment.

As for Sikong Jing, there was no hope of survival.

"Report..."

In the next moment, a Su family servant appeared before Su Xuefeng and reported, "Master, General Chou Ye of the City Guards requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, Su Xuefeng, Su Zhengtao, and the others' eyes lit up.

"Haha! Su Zhenglong, even General Chou of the City Guards has arrived. Let's see how you plan to resist now!" Su Zhengtao's face was filled with arrogance; Chou Ye must have come to punish Sikong Jing.

Su Xuefeng was also beaming, shouting loudly, "Quickly, please welcome him in!"

In the courtyard, Su Zhenglong smiled bitterly. With even Chou Ye here, there was absolutely no chance left.

At the same time, Su Yuexi gripped Sikong Jing's hand tightly and said through gritted teeth, "I will die with you."

Sikong Jing's heart felt a surge of warmth spreading through his entire body.

He smiled at Su Yuexi and said, "Don't worry, nothing will happen. I will turn the situation around very soon."

Before Su Yuexi could respond, Mei Xiaofang's voice rang out shrilly: "Turn what situation around? Who told you to go steal money? I think you're exactly what Su Yun said—you were planning to escape the city all along!"

Now that even Constable Han and General Chou Ye had arrived, it proved that Sikong Jing had indeed forced his way out of the city and had been captured.

To claim he went to retrieve a jade hairpin, when clearly the hairpin was stolen from the Hengyu Pawnshop.

"Yuexi, get away from him."

"This man is a criminal. He can steal money and hairpins; he must have been a notorious bandit before his exile."

Mei Xiaofang pulled at Su Yuexi forcefully. She could not allow her daughter to be handed over to a criminal who refused to reform.

With her mouth agape, Su Yuexi said, "Mother, the matter regarding the money is not what the manager of Hengyu said."

She hadn't expected that even her mother wouldn't believe Sikong Jing, even though she had seen the truth with her own eyes.

Mei Xiaofang stared at her daughter and smiled bitterly, "You are too naive, too naive."

"Fine. Once General Chou arrives, you will see his true colors for yourself."

Saying this, Mei Xiaofang stopped pulling Su Yuexi and returned to Su Zhenglong's side in pain.

Sikong Jing did not offer a defense. He merely sighed inwardly; his status as a criminal indeed made it easy for people to assume the worst of him.

Perhaps this was exactly what Yan Yuru wanted to see.

She wanted to see him suffer through contempt and torment, even if he tried to live an ordinary life.

But, he was not so easily broken.

"Haha, General Chou Ye's grand arrival at the Su residence—forgive our failure to greet you properly."

Su Xuefeng's voice drifted in, followed immediately by Chou Ye, who was dressed in military uniform.

At this moment, Chou Ye also had a smile on his face. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Constable Han and said in surprise, "Lord Han, why are you at the Su residence as well?"

Constable Han hurried forward, smiling, "General Chou, I am, of course, here to apprehend the fugitive Sikong Jing."

As soon as these words were spoken, Chou Ye's expression darkened instantly.

However, Constable Han noticed nothing and chuckled, "My apologies, General Chou. You failed to catch Sikong Jing because he returned to the Su family, and I beat you to it."

Speaking thus, Constable Han looked quite triumphant.

The news of Sikong Jing forcing his way out of the city was already known to many in their circles. Chou Ye had personally led a pursuit but failed to catch him; regardless of why Sikong Jing had returned, the credit would now belong to Constable Han.

"You say... you are here to apprehend Sikong Jing?" Chou Ye's voice was laced with anger.

Constable Han shrugged and smiled, "Is there a problem? There is no need for you to be jealous, General Chou. I won't be handing this credit over to you."

*Bang!*

Suddenly, Chou Ye delivered a heavy kick to Constable Han's abdomen, sending the latter flying with a cry of agony.

At the same time, the smiling Su Xuefeng was stunned. Why were they fighting?

Su Zhenglong's family was also aghast.

Mei Xiaofang covered her forehead; it seemed everyone was competing to kill her criminal son-in-law.

Was the credit for apprehending Sikong Jing really that great?

"Chou Ye, what the hell are you doing?" Constable Han yelled from the ground, fuming.

Chou Ye lunged forward and violently hauled him up: "Who the hell told you that you could apprehend Sikong Jing?"

Huh?

Su Xuefeng, who was about to intervene, froze in place. That sentence sounded a bit off.

"He forced his way out of the city! His criminal status is under the management of my Constabulary. Why can't I apprehend him?" Although Constable Han was no match for Chou Ye, he refused to back down from his logic.

"Your City Guards couldn't catch him, so you won't let me?" Constable Han barked back.

*Slap!*

Chou Ye slapped him across the face again and shouted coldly, "Who told you that Sikong Jing forced his way out of the city?"

"What? If he didn't force his way out, then what was he doing?" Constable Han was dazed by the slap.

Chou Ye let out a cold laugh, threw Constable Han back to the ground, and said calmly, "Sikong Jing did not force his way out of the city. He was cooperating with my operation to clear out the Fierce Beast Bandit Group."

What?

The entire crowd was stunned. What on earth was happening?

Ignoring the astonishment around him, Chou Ye looked at Sikong Jing and said, "Although Sikong Jing holds criminal status, he has rendered meritorious service in the suppression of the Fierce Beast Bandit Group. He is hereby awarded twenty gold crystal coins."

Having said that, he looked to his subordinates, and a soldier quickly handed the coins to Sikong Jing.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Sikong Jing took the money and said calmly, "Thank you, General Chou."

The entire scene remained in a state of shock.

After a long moment, Constable Han finally reacted and shouted, "Chou Ye, what kind of trickery is this? The man clearly forced his way out of the city; that is the report I received!"

Su Xuefeng also regained his senses and stepped forward, saying, "General Chou, have you made a mistake?"

What kind of nonsense was this? How could Sikong Jing, a criminal, possibly earn merit?