Chapter 34: Multiple Crimes Punished Together, Death by Lingchi

“If we both die, can we truly rest easy leaving Yuexi to him?”

Mei Xiaofang’s face was filled with nothing but pain and hesitation.

Su Zhenglong remained silent. Su Xuefeng and Su Zhengtao would undoubtedly come to deal with the matter of the murdered servants next. His original intention had been to unleash his full strength and fight to the death!

It was highly likely he would die, and Mei Xiaofang would not survive alone either.

But if they were both dead, could Sikong Jing truly be trusted? Would he really take care of their daughter for the rest of her life?

“Let’s observe a little longer,” Su Zhenglong finally sighed.

*Rumble...*

Just then, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard, accompanied by an aged, fierce shout: “Surround them!”

As soon as the command was given, Su Yuexi’s courtyard was instantly encircled by the Su family’s elite experts.

Following them, the family head, Su Xuefeng, and Su Zhengtao strode into the courtyard.

Their expressions were grim to the extreme.

Following behind them was Su Yun, whose face was red from being slapped, yet she wore a cold, distorted sneer.

It was her report that had prompted the mobilization of Su Xuefeng and the others.

This time, they were determined to completely annihilate Su Zhenglong’s family!

Seeing this, Su Yuexi, who was still in the courtyard, immediately pulled away from Sikong Jing’s embrace and looked toward the grandfather she both feared and hated.

Ultimately, Su Yuexi lowered her head and called out, “Grandfather.”

Su Xuefeng ignored her entirely, instead shouting toward the depths of the courtyard, “Su Zhenglong, get your ass out here!”

Soon, supported by Mei Xiaofang, Su Zhenglong emerged, trembling. His face was pale as he said, “Father, please forgive your son; my health is poor, and I cannot perform the formal greetings.”

“Hmph!”

Su Xuefeng snorted coldly and added, “I have no need for the greetings of an unfilial son like you.”

His expression was ruthless; he did not treat Su Zhenglong as a son at all.

Without wasting any more words, Su Xuefeng spoke directly: “Zhengtao, you are the Hall Master of the Su Family Law Enforcement Hall. Now, in front of your elder brother, announce the verdict for the criminal Sikong Jing.”

As soon as he spoke, Su Yuexi’s expression changed, and she cried out, “Grandfather...”

“Shut up! I don't have such an ugly granddaughter,” Su Xuefeng barked.

With a predatory grin, Su Zhengtao stepped forward loudly: “Sikong Jing, as a son-in-law of the Su family, has brutally murdered dozens of servants. He deserves death!”

At these words, Su Yuexi’s body shuddered!

She tried to rush forward to say something, but her hand was suddenly grasped—it was Sikong Jing’s large hand once again.

While Su Yuexi was caught between confusion and fear, Sikong Jing pulled her behind him. He looked at Su Xuefeng and the others with a cold sneer and asked, “Aren't you going to ask why I killed those servants first?”

This question made Su Zhengtao laugh. He replied, “The facts are clear. You refused to pay their wages, and when the servants came to demand them, you acted tyrannically and murdered them.”

Hearing this, Mei Xiaofang was so enraged she nearly rushed out to argue with Su Zhengtao, but she was held back by Su Zhenglong.

If one wishes to frame someone, one can find any excuse.

No amount of explanation would help now; it was better to wait and see how Sikong Jing would handle this.

Sikong Jing shrugged and asked again, “Then won't you ask why we had no wages to pay?”

He already knew that it was Su Zhenglong who had elevated the Su family from a second-rate clan to one of the four great families of Yunye City. Even without any blood relation, it was only natural for Su Xuefeng to support the heavily injured Su Zhenglong and his family.

Moreover, Su Zhenglong was his father.

This question momentarily put Su Xuefeng in an awkward position. He said coldly, “What a clever criminal, quite the silver-tongued devil. But do you think this is your only crime?”

“Zhengtao, continue,” Su Xuefeng commanded heavily.

With a twisted face, Su Zhengtao announced, “The criminal Sikong Jing and Su Yuexi, in order to settle a debt, caused a disturbance at the Hengyu Pawnshop, injuring over a dozen people, including the manager, and robbed them of one hundred Gold Crystal Coins!”

“Sikong Jing deserves death! Su Yuexi has disgraced the Su family reputation and must receive one hundred strokes of the cane!”

As Su Zhengtao made his announcement, Mei Xiaofang’s expression shifted again.

She couldn't help but look at Sikong Jing and ask, “The Gold Crystal Coins you have... were they stolen?”

So much had happened previously that she hadn't realized how Sikong Jing had obtained so many coins.

She hadn't expected they were stolen from the Hengyu Pawnshop.

“No, Mother, the pawnshop owner broke the contract first!” Su Yuexi hurriedly explained, trying to make the truth clear.

But before Mei Xiaofang could speak, Su Zhengtao interrupted harshly, “Lies! Bring in Manager Hengyu!”

Soon, Manager Hengyu, who had been knocked unconscious by Sikong Jing yesterday, walked out with a cold sneer.

The more he thought about it after waking up, the angrier he became, so he had come to the Su family to demand justice.

The process had been smooth; Su Xuefeng had believed him without hesitation, even stating he would bring him as a witness to punish his criminal son-in-law and his ugly granddaughter.

As soon as he appeared, Manager Hengyu said, “When did I break the contract? It was clearly because you didn't have the money to redeem the Emerald Stone Jade Hairpin. Not only did you snatch the hairpin back on the spot, but you also robbed me of a full hundred Gold Crystal Coins!”

As he spoke, the manager suddenly noticed that Su Yuexi was actually holding that very Emerald Stone Jade Hairpin in her hand.

He couldn't fathom how she had managed to buy it back, but this played right into his hands. He pointed directly at her, saying, “Look, Old Master Su! The item in that ugly girl's hand is exactly the Emerald Stone Jade Hairpin that was supposed to be mine!”

At this moment, Mei Xiaofang also noticed the hairpin.

She stood there agape, unsure if the manager was telling the truth.

Meanwhile, Manager Hengyu sneered inwardly. If Sikong Jing and Su Yuexi hadn't managed to buy the hairpin back, things would have been difficult, but now that they had it in their possession, framing them became even easier.

“No, that’s not how it happened!” Su Yuexi was both angry and anxious; Manager Hengyu was twisting the truth.

But Su Xuefeng roared in anger, “Utterly insolent!”

Then, Su Zhengtao shouted again, “Sikong Jing, in his criminal state, forced his way out of the city, causing severe negative impact on the Su family. He deserves death!”

He ignored Su Yuexi’s defense and threw down another charge.

“Murdering servants, robbery of hairpins and money, and forcing an exit from the city—with these crimes combined, he shall be executed by death by a thousand cuts!”

Su Zhengtao announced heavily, his eyes filled with a frenzied hatred, intent on torturing and murdering Sikong Jing.

His second son, Su Yang, was still not healed, and it was uncertain if he ever would be.

Previously, they couldn't punish him because it was a direct challenge, but if they wanted to kill Sikong Jing and Su Yuexi, they had plenty of ways.

“No, it really wasn't like that!”

Su Yuexi backed away continuously, tears streaming down her face. She could not let Sikong Jing suffer such a wrongful injustice.

She looked sharply at Su Zhenglong: “Father, things are not at all what they say!”

Su Zhenglong stared at Su Xuefeng and the others, his fists clenched tight.

Originally, he had wanted to observe Sikong Jing, as he truly did not know if this criminal was worthy of trust.

But seeing his daughter in such agony, Su Zhenglong’s heart softened instantly.

To hell with it. Taking a sudden step forward, Su Zhenglong let out a thunderous roar: “It is all lies! Su Zhengtao, if you want to punish my daughter and son-in-law, you'll have to ask if I agree first!”

As he finished, his true qi surged violently into the Human Realm, and he glared fixedly at Su Xuefeng.

He was prepared to fight to the death.

Even if it meant fratricide, he would not hesitate.