Sikong Jing: Rewarding Merit

Yet just as Su Zhenglong erupted, a faint voice rang out. "Su Zhenglong, the eldest master of the Su Clan, are you planning to rebel?"

The moment the voice fell, a middle-aged man dressed as a constable stepped out of the crowd.

Su Zhenglong's gaze froze. It was as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his head; his imposing aura vanished without a trace.

Across from him, Su Yun couldn't help giggling. "Hehe, Uncle, are you ready to fight to the death?"

"Too bad we won't give you the chance. This is Chief Han of Yunye City's Patrol Hall. He's already learned from the city guards that Sikong Jing forced his way out of the city."

At that, Su Zhenglong and Su Yuexi grew even paler. This was a disaster.

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

Chief Han spoke with a sly grin. "As one of the four great clans, the Su Clan may carry out the execution themselves."

It was over. Completely over!

Su Yuexi's whole body was about to crumple. This time, her father didn't even have a chance to fight to the death—and now even the chief constable had arrived.

Su Zhenglong gritted his teeth and shut his eyes. The only thing he could do now was protect his daughter from punishment.

Sikong Jing was as good as dead.

"Report..."

The next moment, a Su Clan servant appeared before Su Xuefeng and announced, "Clan Head, City Guard General Qiu Ye requests an audience."

Su Xuefeng, Su Zhengtao, and the others brightened at once.

"Haha, Su Zhenglong, even City Guard General Qiu is here. Let's see how you plan to resist now!" Su Zhengtao crowed. Qiu Ye had surely come to punish Sikong Jing.

Su Xuefeng beamed and called out, "Hurry, show him in!"

In the courtyard, Su Zhenglong could only smile bitterly. Now that even Qiu Ye had arrived, there was truly no chance left.

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

Warmth surged through Sikong Jing's heart and spread through his body.

He smiled at Su Yuexi. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen. I'll turn things around soon."

Before Su Yuexi could answer, Mei Xiaofang's voice rang out sharply. "What are you going to turn around? Who told you to go steal money? I think Su Yun was right—you were planning to escape the city all along."

Now that Chief Han and General Qiu were both here, it proved Sikong Jing really had forced his way out of the city and been caught.

He claimed he'd gone to retrieve the Jade Hairpin, but the truth was, he'd stolen it back from Hengyu Pawnshop.

"Yuexi, stay away from him."

"He's a criminal. If he can steal money and hairpins, he must have been a notorious bandit before he was exiled."

Mei Xiaofang tugged hard at Su Yuexi. She couldn't entrust her daughter to a criminal who wouldn't mend his ways.

Su Yuexi opened her mouth. "Mother, the thing about stealing money really wasn't how the Hengyu Shopkeeper described it."

She hadn't expected even her mother not to believe Sikong Jing. But she had seen what happened with her own eyes.

Mei Xiaofang stared at her daughter with a bitter smile. "You're too innocent. Far too innocent."

"Forget it. When General Qiu arrives, you'll see his true colors for yourself."

With that, Mei Xiaofang stopped tugging at Su Yuexi and returned to Su Zhenglong's side in anguish.

Sikong Jing didn't try to explain either. He merely sighed inwardly. With his status as a criminal, it was easy for people to assume the worst of him.

Perhaps this was exactly what Yan Yuru wanted to see.

She wanted him to suffer scorn and torment even if he tried to live an ordinary life.

But he wasn't so easy to knock down.

"Haha, General Qiu, what an honor to have you visit the Su Clan. Forgive us for not welcoming you sooner."

Su Xuefeng's voice rang out, followed by Qiu Ye, clad in military uniform.

Qiu Ye was smiling too. He was just about to speak when he spotted Chief Han and said in surprise, "Chief Han, what are you doing at the Su Clan?"

Chief Han hurried over with a smile. "General Qiu, I'm here to arrest Sikong Jing, the wanted criminal who forced his way out of the city."

Qiu Ye's expression darkened sharply.

Chief Han still hadn't noticed anything amiss. He chuckled. "Sorry, General Qiu. You didn't catch Sikong Jing because he returned to the Su Clan—and I got here before you."

He was positively smug.

Word that Sikong Jing had forced his way out of the city had spread among their circles. Qiu Ye had personally led men in pursuit but failed to catch him. Whatever the reason Sikong Jing had returned, the credit was now Chief Han's.

"You're saying you came to arrest Sikong Jing?" Qiu Ye asked, anger in his voice.

Chief Han shrugged and grinned. "Is there a problem? General Qiu, you don't have to envy me. I'm not giving you the credit."

Thud!

Without warning, Qiu Ye kicked Chief Han hard in the stomach. With a cry, the man went flying.

Su Xuefeng, who had been grinning moments earlier, was dumbfounded. Why were they fighting?

Su Zhenglong and his family were just as stunned.

Then Mei Xiaofang covered her forehead. Her criminal son-in-law really had people lining up to kill him.

Was arresting Sikong Jing really worth that much credit?

"Qiu Ye, what the hell are you doing?" Chief Han shouted furiously from the ground.

Qiu Ye stepped up, seized him, and hauled him to his feet. "Who the hell told you that you could arrest Sikong Jing?"

Huh?

Su Xuefeng had been about to break up the fight, but froze in place at those words. Something about that didn't sound right.

"He forced his way out of the city. His criminal status falls under the jurisdiction of my Patrol Hall, so why can't I arrest him?" Chief Han couldn't beat Qiu Ye, but he still insisted he was in the right.

"Your city guards couldn't catch him, so you won't let me pursue him?" Chief Han shouted again.

Smack!

Qiu Ye slapped him across the face and barked, "Who told you Sikong Jing forced his way out of the city?"

"What? If he didn't force his way out, then what was he doing?" The slap left Chief Han dazed.

Qiu Ye gave a cold laugh and flung Chief Han to the ground. Then he said calmly, "Sikong Jing didn't force his way out of the city. He was cooperating with my operation to wipe out the Beast Bandit Group."

What?

Everyone present was stunned. What in the world was going on?

Qiu Ye ignored their shocked faces and looked toward Sikong Jing. "Though Sikong Jing is a registered criminal, he rendered meritorious service by assisting in this operation against the Beast Bandit Group. He is hereby awarded twenty Gold Crystal Coins."

With that, he looked to his subordinate. A soldier quickly stepped forward and handed Sikong Jing the Gold Crystal Coins.

As everyone stared blankly, Sikong Jing took the money and said calmly, "Thank you, General Qiu."

The entire courtyard was still gaping in shock.

It took Chief Han a good while to recover. Then he shouted, "Qiu Ye, what are you playing at? He clearly forced his way out of the city. I received a report!"

Su Xuefeng had also come to his senses. He stepped forward and said, "General Qiu, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

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