Beast Breaks Out of Its Cage

Su Zhengtao's face turned stern and grim. He barked, "Do you know the Su Clan's family laws? If you kill an innocent servant without cause, even if you're a member of the family, you'll be punished with the staff!"

Of course Su Yuexi knew that. The punishment was at least a hundred strokes.

That was stipulated in the Su Clan's family laws, to ensure the servants' loyalty. But when a master really did kill a servant, the family would usually find some excuse to get them off the hook—or pretend to strike them during the punishment.

But Su Yuexi knew full well that as the family's ugly daughter, she would never receive such treatment.

If she was sentenced to the staff, she would be beaten hard.

Biting her lip, Su Yuexi still tried to plead her case. "Second Uncle, it wasn't without cause. Aunt Dou bullied me first. She even accused me of stealing a pig from the Pig Farm, and she tried to harm my husband."

At that, Su Zhengtao glanced lightly at his daughter, Su Yun.

"Bullshit!"

Su Yun stepped forward and snapped, "The Pig Farm was missing a pig, and my father already proved you stole it. Aunt Dou only scolded you a few times, but you cut off her hands and feet—and then killed her."

As she spoke, the corner of Su Yun's mouth curled ever so slightly. So what if I framed you?

A strange glint flashed in Su Zhengtao's eyes. He immediately put on a stern face and said, "Su Yuexi stole the pig. The evidence is conclusive. After being exposed, she killed Aunt Dou. The evidence is conclusive. She must receive a hundred strokes!"

Her whole body trembling violently, Su Yuexi's eyes filled with tears. "No, you have no evidence."

Su Zhengtao ignored her and barked again, "Su Yuexi's criminal husband was her accomplice. But he doesn't bear the Su name, so he must receive two hundred strokes. Carry out the sentence at once!"

What? They were going to beat her husband with two hundred strokes too? How could he possibly survive that?

"This has nothing to do with my husband. I did it all."

Su Yuexi struggled to her feet and rushed toward Su Zhengtao, crying, "Second Uncle, please! I stole the pig, and I killed her. Punish me alone."

To protect Sikong Jing, Su Yuexi even admitted to stealing the pig.

Su Zhengtao and Su Yun both sneered. There really was no evidence that she had stolen the pig, and it could even be proven that Aunt Dou struck her first. But Su Yuexi had admitted it herself. No one could fault them for punishing her however they wanted.

"Yuexi, what am I supposed to do with you?"

"It was only one pig. You could've just told your second uncle, and I would've given you one. How could you steal it?"

"Your second uncle is deeply disappointed. But as the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, I can only enforce the family laws... Guards, give her a hundred strokes!"

Two members of the Law Enforcement Hall stepped forward at his command, each gripping a heavy Execution Staff.

Su Yun smiled coldly. "Make sure you hit her hard!"

Boom!

Just as the two enforcers raised their Execution Staffs high, a violent aura suddenly swept in from the entrance to the Law Enforcement Hall, accompanied by an angry shout. "Let's see who dares to hit her!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a straight-backed figure landed and strode inside.

Su Yuexi's face changed dramatically. She turned around!

When she saw that it was Sikong Jing, she couldn't help crying out, "Didn't I tell you not to come? Hurry and leave!"

At the same time, Su Zhengtao raised his head coldly and shouted, "Who are you?"

"Father, he's Su Yuexi's criminal, sickly husband! He's the one who beat my servants and maids. He almost hit me too." Su Yun pointed at Sikong Jing and shouted, "Guards, seize him and punish him!"

At her command, the members of the Law Enforcement Hall gripped their Execution Staffs and surrounded Sikong Jing.

Seeing this, Su Yuexi cried out anxiously, "Stop! You have no reason to take him!"

She was truly panicking. It was obvious that Second Uncle and Su Yun were deliberately targeting her. Why had he still come?

Once she took her hundred strokes, the matter would be settled.

"Don't listen to that ugly freak. If that sickly criminal dares to resist, beat him to death!" Su Yun's face twisted.

More than a dozen enforcers let out mocking laughs. True energy surged around them, and every one of them was at the fifth level of the Bright Realm.

Gripping their Execution Staffs, they didn't waste a word before swinging them at Sikong Jing!

"No, please!"

Su Yuexi shrieked, then looked at Su Zhengtao. "Second Uncle, please tell them to stop!"

But Su Zhengtao smiled calmly, even taking a sip of fragrant tea.

If this criminal was beaten to death, so be it.

Five days earlier, when the head of the Su Clan—that is, Su Yuexi and Su Yun's grandfather—heard that the Lord of Yun Province had arranged a marriage, he had almost stormed over to kill the criminal himself.

But the marriage had been arranged by the Lord of Yun Province. Without a reason, they couldn't kill him, even if he was only a criminal sent into exile.

Now, they had their reason!

Seeing that her second uncle wouldn't intervene, Su Yuexi could only stare anxiously at Sikong Jing, surrounded by the enforcers. She wanted to rush over and shield him... but ever since she had suddenly become ugly at the age of eight, her martial cultivation had not advanced a single step.

Even the true energy in her body had vanished without a trace. How could she get close?

Was the husband she had looked after for five days really about to be beaten to death?

"Yun Province really is a remote borderland. Even at the fifth level of the Bright Realm, they're far weaker than others of the same level elsewhere. A pack of good-for-nothings."

Suddenly, Sikong Jing's voice reached her ears. Then... boom!

A surge of savage true energy erupted from the center of the group of enforcers, crushing outward.

Bam! Bam!

Sikong Jing burst out of the crowd. Somehow, he had seized an Execution Staff.

He landed beside Su Yuexi, then looked toward the dozen or so enforcers.

"Kill!"

A low shout thundered from Sikong Jing's mouth. The true energy that had only reached the third level of the Bright Realm when he arrived now roiled violently around him. Clutching the Execution Staff, he charged into the crowd like a ferocious beast breaking out of its cage, unstoppable!

His opponents were all clearly at the fifth level of the Bright Realm, yet not one of them could withstand a single blow from him.

Screams rang out one after another, and the thuds echoed through the Law Enforcement Hall.

By the time Sikong Jing landed, all the enforcers were sprawled on the ground, spitting blood. Not one remained standing!

Su Yuexi, still frantic, stared wide-eyed in disbelief and covered her mouth.