At these words, everyone present widened their eyes, suddenly understanding.
"Su Yuexi is that ugliest woman in all of Yun Province, and the man just now is her criminal husband."
With that explanation, everyone understood.
Everyone knew that the Yun Province Lord had arranged Su Yuexi's marriage, bringing shame upon the Su Clan across all of Yunye City.
There wasn't a single person in the entire city who didn't know about it.
"Damn it, calling Su Yuexi the most beautiful woman under heaven? That's disgusting."
After the crowd came to their senses, everyone's mouths twitched. Was that criminal deliberately trying to disgust people?
Meanwhile, Lu Zhao had quietly slipped back inside Heaven Martial Pavilion. He drew a sharp breath and said, "An exiled criminal, a marriage arranged by the Yun Province Lord, and Martial Intent inscribed on Green Jade Slate—a feat only transcendent martial artists can accomplish..."
"This man is surely no ordinary person. We mustn't offend him. Perhaps he has some special mission."
Lu Zhao also recalled Sikong Jing's warning: there were some things one shouldn't ask about, lest it bring the risk of death...
He shuddered and tightened his grip on the Green Jade Slate.
He resolved to keep his mouth shut. This Green Jade Slate that had fallen from the heavens would stay buried in his belly. He could enjoy the secret to himself!
Meanwhile, Sikong Jing returned to Su Mansion the way he'd come, a hundred Gold Crystal Coins tucked against his chest.
As he neared Su Mansion, he spotted his mother-in-law, Mei Xiaofang, pacing anxiously outside the gate of an ordinary courtyard, apparently waiting for someone.
Just as Sikong Jing was about to go over and greet her, a middle-aged woman, dressed in fine clothes, came out through the courtyard gate.
Mei Xiaofang quickly stopped pacing and greeted her with a beaming smile. "Oh, Madam Liu, what took you so long?"
Her face was full of ingratiating smiles.
Madam Liu, however, looked haughty. She suddenly pulled a small pouch from her clothes and said, "I've heard about your situation, Madam Su. Here, take this money. You don't have to pay it back."
With that, she tossed the pouch out.
After catching it, Mei Xiaofang looked at Madam Liu with excitement. "Thank you, thank you so much. I've asked so many of my old friends, and you're the only one willing to help me."
Then she took her leave and carefully opened the little pouch...
The next moment, the excitement on her face froze.
Mei Xiaofang turned back in disbelief and stared blankly at Madam Liu. "T-ten Copper Crystal Plates?"
She had come to borrow money, just as she'd told Madam Liu.
Over the past two days, she'd gone to many women she'd once called friends. One after another had either driven her out or made excuses to avoid seeing her. Only Madam Liu had agreed to help—and even said she didn't need to repay the money.
But there were only ten Copper Crystal Plates in the pouch. That wasn't even enough to pay Aunt Li for a single day's work.
Madam Liu narrowed her eyes and sneered. "You think it's too little?"
Mei Xiaofang's face flushed red. "Madam Liu, I'm not a beggar."
"Ha? You're not a beggar? Going around begging people for money—if that doesn't make you a beggar, what does?" Madam Liu gave a mocking laugh, then added, "Giving you ten Copper Crystal Plates is already an act of great kindness. Take the money and get out of here."
With that, Madam Liu turned to go back inside.
Sikong Jing's eyes reddened in the distance, anger burning in his heart. Madam Liu had gone too far.
Just as he was about to go over and confront her, Mei Xiaofang suddenly called out, "Madam Liu, please, lend me a little more. Otherwise, my son-in-law will be forced to his death tomorrow."
In an instant, Sikong Jing stopped in his tracks, as if struck by lightning.
His mother-in-law, Mei Xiaofang, was begging Madam Liu for money because she feared he'd be forced to his death?
If he couldn't pay the servants, Aunt Li and the others, in three days, he'd have to give them his life. And back then, his mother-in-law had hinted more than once that she hoped he'd hurry up and kill himself.
But now she was swallowing her pride to beg for money for his sake, continuing to plead even as they treated her like a beggar.
At that moment, Sikong Jing's heart felt as though it had been gripped tight.
At the gate, Madam Liu continued to sneer. "Whether your son-in-law dies or not, what does that have to do with me?"
Madam Liu remained utterly heartless.
"If he dies, Yue Xi may not survive either."
Mei Xiaofang cried out in despair and rushed toward the gate, begging, "Madam Liu, you watched Yue Xi grow up too. Please, lend me some money. I promise I'll pay you back."
Bang!
The gate slammed shut, and Madam Liu's voice came from inside. "Don't disgust me by bringing up that ugly girl."
Bang, bang, bang...
Mei Xiaofang pounded hard on the gate and cried out, "Madam Liu, your Liu family owes its wealth and status to my Zhenglong's help. You can't be so ungrateful!"
Sadly, the Liu Family Courtyard gate remained silent. There was no reply.
Sitting down on the ground, Mei Xiaofang stared at the ten Copper Crystal Plates in her hand, her heart aching beyond measure. When Su Zhenglong had been powerful, people had flocked to curry favor with him and benefit from his help.
The head of the Liu family had once been nothing more than a humble blacksmith. Su Zhenglong had helped him rise, step by step, to where he was today.
Yet now, all they'd given back was the word "beggar," ten Copper Crystal Plates, and the sound of a heartless door slamming shut.
After a long while, Mei Xiaofang left, utterly dejected.
Only after she had gone did the Liu family's gate open again. Madam Liu emerged with her arm wrapped around a middle-aged man's, sneering. "Husband, we finally got rid of that beggar woman."
"But you gave her ten Copper Crystal Plates. Could that upset Second Master Su Zhengtao?"
The middle-aged man was her husband, Liu Neng. He burst into laughter.
"How could it?"
"Second Master Su will be thrilled. Ten Copper Crystal Plates to humiliate his sister-in-law—and maybe even anger his elder brother, Su Zhenglong to death? What a bargain!"
At that, Liu Neng sighed. "It's a shame Su Yuexi is so ugly. If she still looked the way she did ten years ago... tsk, tsk, I'd have made her my bedchamber maid no matter what."
Madam Liu giggled and scolded him. "You old lecher. If she still looked like that, how could you ever have gotten your hands on her?"
If Su Yuexi had grown up without becoming ugly, people would've fought over her long ago.
"True enough. But that figure of hers isn't bad behind a veil. Once Su Zhenglong is dead, it'd be nice to bring her over and have some fun."
"Haha, let's get dressed up and go ask Second Master Su for a reward."
After saying that, Liu Neng shut the gate again.
But the instant they turned around, they saw a young man standing in the courtyard, though no one knew when he'd appeared. Liu Neng instinctively cried out, "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
The young man had appeared too suddenly. Standing in the courtyard, he looked sinister and terrifying, like the Grim Reaper.
"I'm Su Yuexi's husband, Sikong Jing."
Sikong Jing stood tall, icy wind swirling around him and killing intent boiling in his eyes. Suddenly, a Gold Crystal Coin clinked to the ground.
"One Gold Crystal Coin to pay you back for the ten Copper Crystal Plates. The rest buys your lives."
As the words fell, Sikong Jing flashed forward and seized them both by the throat. With a sharp crack, he twisted their necks.
Liu Neng and his wife died with their eyes wide open.
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