The Former Heavenly Pride

Su Zhenglong's face remained deathly pale, yet his true energy forced Su Zhengtao to step back, inch by inch.

"Now, do you still intend to put my daughter on trial?" Su Zhenglong demanded in a frigid voice.

Clenching his fists, Su Zhengtao knew perfectly well that Su Yuexi had not stolen any pigs from the Pig Farm, and he was equally aware that Aunt Dou had been the one to insult her first.

With Su Zhenglong now on the scene, if he continued to frame her and impose punishment, even in his wretched state, the man would surely stake his life to take him down. He was only at the Dark Realm; he still couldn't defeat Su Zhenglong, who was at the Human Realm.

Thinking this, Su Zhengtao exhaled softly and forced a smile. "You joke, Big Brother. Since you've said as much, I certainly wouldn't dare hold a trial. I couldn't risk angering you to death, could I?"

The words were dripping with mockery, as if to say, You're half-dead already, what harm is there in letting you strut about one last time?

"Hmph." Su Zhenglong let out a cold snort and slowly retracted his true energy.

The very next moment, he broke into a violent, hacking cough.

After a long while, Su Zhenglong asked in a raspy voice, "Can I take my daughter and my son-in-law away now?"

"Of course. Though I wonder, where do you plan to take Yuexi?" Su Zhengtao asked with a cold sneer, offering a reminder. "Her living at the Pig Farm was Father's direct order. You wouldn't want to anger the old man, would you?"

His words were nothing short of a threat.

Su Zhenglong glanced at him dismissively. "Home with me, of course. I shall answer to Father myself; there is no need for you to trouble yourself, Second Brother."

With that, he turned to Su Yuexi and Sikong Jing. "Let's go."

Sikong Jing swept a light gaze over Su Zhengtao and Su Yun, tossed the Execution Staff aside, and quickly stepped to the side of the father and daughter. "Let me handle this!"

Sikong Jing steadied Su Zhenglong. The man before him was his father-in-law, a father who loved his daughter dearly.

It was just that the injuries on his body appeared grave indeed.

Watching the three of them depart, Su Zhengtao's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, his face twisted into a sinister, terrifying mask. "Su Zhenglong, why won't you just die?"

The words were squeezed through his teeth, heavy with boundless hatred.

Su Zhenglong had once been the pride of the entire Su Clan, hailed as the greatest Heavenly Pride of Yunye City. Since childhood, Su Zhengtao had been suppressed by his older brother, living like a transparent person whom no one noticed.

It wasn't until ten years ago, when Su Zhenglong suffered heavy injuries during a duel, that Su Zhengtao finally had his chance to shine.

That was also the time Su Zhenglong had begun to linger on the brink of death.

Yet, ten full years had passed, and he still hadn't died. Even now, broken as he was, he still surpassed him in martial arts.

As long as Su Zhenglong was willing to risk his life, no one in the entire Su Clan—save for the Clan Head, their father—was his match.

Even their father couldn't claim a guaranteed victory.

By framing Su Yuexi this time, Su Zhengtao had hoped to anger his brother to death.

Despite all his calculations, he never imagined the man would hear the news and come to the rescue.

"Father, are we really just going to let that ugly freak Su Yuexi go?" Su Yun asked, her voice filled with resentment.

Su Zhengtao breathed heavily, his gaze hardening. He said coldly, "Hmph, didn't Su Zhenglong say I was bullying a junior? Go call your Second Brother. Have him go directly to their home and challenge that criminal—beat him to death."

Su Yun's face lit up with joy. "Of course! Second Brother is still at home. I'll go find him and have him vent this frustration for me."

Outside the Su Clan Enforcement Hall, Su Yuexi and Sikong Jing helped Su Zhenglong away.

"Father, when did you wake up? Why did you come here? Does Mother know?"

Su Yuexi asked three questions in rapid succession.

Her anxiety began to settle; with her father here, there was nothing to fear.

A doting smile appeared on Su Zhenglong's pale face. "Your mother doesn't know, of course. If she did, I wouldn't have been able to come."

At this, Su Yuexi's expression stiffened, and she sighed gloomily.

Beside them, Sikong Jing felt a flicker of confusion... If Su Yuexi's mother, his own mother-in-law, knew, why wouldn't she let her husband rescue their daughter? What kind of logic was that?

Shouldn't Su Yuexi's mother be even more anxious?

Moreover, for the five days he had spent with Su Yuexi at the Pig Farm, it seemed this mother-in-law hadn't asked after them once.

As a new son-in-law, it was naturally awkward for Sikong Jing to ask about it directly.

As the father and daughter continued their conversation, Sikong Jing learned that his father-in-law, Su Zhenglong, had been bedridden for years, frequently slipping into comas that would last for days at a time.

He had only learned that Su Yuexi had been betrothed to him after waking up today.

Upon hearing that Su Yuexi was living at the Pig Farm, the father had hidden his intentions from his wife, dragged his sick body out to see his daughter, and only then heard that she had been framed and taken to the Enforcement Hall, prompting him to charge over to save her.

Looking at Su Zhenglong now, Sikong Jing's eyes held a trace of genuine respect.

Halfway through the conversation, Su Zhenglong suddenly looked at the quiet Sikong Jing and asked with a smile, "I truly never imagined that, upon waking, my precious daughter would already be married... What is your name?"

Sikong Jing straightened his expression. "Father-in-law, my name is Sikong Jing."

"Sikong Jing. A fine name." Su Zhenglong offered a compliment, then asked with a profound gaze, "You are only at the fourth level of the Bright Realm, yet you dared to fight against Su Zhengtao, who is at the Dark Realm. Are you not afraid of death?"

As he said this, Su Zhenglong stared intently at Sikong Jing.