Chapter Sixty-Two: Is There Still Justice? Is There Still Law?
Page 1 of 3
Late at night.
Outside Su Xiyan’s room at the Riverside Inn.
Left unattended, Su Xiyan hid herself under the quilt, her eyes wide open and vigilant as she surveyed her surroundings.
Perhaps the long hours of tension had drained her strength. With Li Yunjie and Su Qingmeng absent, there was no one to feed her.
It wasn’t long before she drifted into a deep sleep.
Soon after, a finger pierced the window, letting in a wisp of curling white smoke.
Su Xiyan inhaled the smoke, and her sleep deepened.
Creak—
The window slid open. Two masked figures dressed in black slipped into the room.
They exchanged a knowing smile, and together carried Su Xiyan, quilt and all, out through the window.
“Young master~”
“We’ve brought the person you wanted!”
The black-clad men hauled Su Xiyan straight back to the Song Manor.
At the sight, Song Zeye shoved aside the two heavily made-up women pressed against him.
“Quick! Put her on my bed!” Song Zeye said, his face twisted in a lecherous grin.
The two men did as instructed.
After laying Su Xiyan on the bed, they sensibly took their leave.
Heh heh heh—
Fueled by drunken lust, Song Zeye settled by the window, slowly savoring Su Xiyan’s beauty.
“What a stunning woman~”
“Pity she’s a mute!”
“If not for that, keeping you here as my chambermaid would be such a delight~”
He muttered to himself, his grin growing ever more depraved. He swallowed hard, his impatience barely contained.
“Beauty~ Tonight, let me show you my affection!”
With that, Song Zeye yanked back the quilt covering Su Xiyan.
“Huh?”
“What’s this supposed to mean?”
He saw Su Qingmeng’s hands forming a strange gesture, and his brow furrowed in confusion.
Before he could react, a yellow talisman materialized out of thin air.
Suddenly, the sleeping Su Xiyan curled her lips in a wicked smile, her fingers continuing the incantation.
Boom—
The talisman burst into flames, and at the same instant, streaks of violet light flashed!
Crack—
A bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens, striking Song Zeye squarely.
“W-what’s happening...”
His hair now a frizzled mess, Song Zeye’s eyes rolled back as white smoke streamed from his mouth; he toppled to the floor, stiff with shock and disbelief.
His body twitched intermittently.
Su Xiyan paused, a trace of guilt in her gaze.
She reached out two fingers to check his breath; only after confirming he was alive did she let out a sigh of relief.
Outside, the Black and White Twin Fiends heard the muffled thunder from above, brows knitted in concern.
Page 2 of 3
“Was that thunder just now?”
“Seems like it.”
...
“What?!” In the dungeon, Su Qingmeng roared after hearing Li Yunjie’s plan. “You used Xiyan as bait?!”
Li Yunjie stood against the wall, nodding awkwardly.
“Back in the courtroom, I could already tell Song Zeye harbored ill intentions toward my sister.”
“Now that we’re imprisoned, he’s bound to make a move.”
He raised five fingers as he spoke, “Traded for five roast chickens.”
Rage flared in Su Qingmeng’s eyes. She seized Li Yunjie in a chokehold.
“If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive you!”
“Don’t worry!” Li Yunjie grimaced in pain, his brows knitting. “Lin Mao is shadowing her—she’ll be safe!”
Only then did Su Qingmeng release him, grumbling, “Then why not just have Lin Mao capture Song Zeye outright?”
Li Yunjie swung his arm, “The Taihu Academy can’t meddle in court affairs.”
“Besides, my sister has the Heavenly Thunder Talisman—more than enough to handle Song Zeye.”
Su Qingmeng pondered for a long moment, then pressed, “But even if we catch Song Zeye, what good does it do?”
“Do you have any evidence?”
Li Yunjie’s tone grew grave. “I checked yesterday when I went to Maoshan’s home.”
“The bedroom was a mess, complete chaos.”
“If I’m not mistaken, Song Zeye assaulted Madam Du right on the couple’s bed.”
“Since then, neither of them has set foot in the bedroom.”
“So what? That doesn’t prove anything,” Su Qingmeng replied, her expression grave.
“Not so,” Li Yunjie’s eyes were resolute. “Every crime scene leaves traces.”
“Song Zeye will be no exception.”
As his words fell, a peal of thunder echoed.
A faint smile tugged at Li Yunjie’s lips. “My sister has succeeded.”
With that, he kicked open the cell door and strode out boldly.
Su Qingmeng stared in disbelief, her feelings conflicted.
Rescue at the execution grounds by day, jailbreak by night?
Was there any rule of law left?
Li Yunjie made short work of the guards and arrived at Maoshan’s cell.
Seeing the battered Maoshan, a wave of emotion surged in his heart.
Li Yunjie drew his sword and slashed the chains, then approached Maoshan.
He wished to offer comfort, but couldn’t find the words.
“Your Highness,” Maoshan’s voice was weak, “In this world, is it true that good people are doomed to suffer?”
Li Yunjie paused, then replied gravely, “Absolutely not.”
“Then why have my wife and I, who have always done good, met such a fate?”
“While evildoers remain at large?”
Li Yunjie met Maoshan’s gaze, at a loss for an answer.
In a world that devours its own, the powerful oppress the people as a matter of course.
Li Yunjie survived precisely because of his status.
For ordinary folk like Maoshan, powerless and defenseless, their fate was to be trampled upon.
“Evil will never go unpunished,” Li Yunjie said, eyes firm. “At least, not while I live.”
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...
Song Manor, East Wing.
Shiyi stood at the door, a cleaver in hand.
Before him, the Black and White Twin Fiends lay collapsed on the ground, foaming at the mouth, completely unconscious.
The Song family’s guards lined the courtyard, but not one dared take a step forward.
“Go on, then!”
Hiding behind a wall of servants, Song Yongnian’s face was flushed with anxiety.
Shiyi rested his foot on the black-clad lackey’s face, his voice cold: “Before my young master arrives, anyone who comes near this door dies.”
At his words, a commanding aura burst forth from him. The guards exchanged uneasy glances and quickly retreated.
They knew all too well this boy was not to be trifled with.
They hadn’t even seen how the Twin Fiends were taken down.
Song Yongnian clenched his teeth, not daring another word.
“Lord Song.” In the midst of the standoff, Li Yunjie’s voice sounded from behind.
Song Yongnian whirled around, his face livid. “Your Highness should be in the dungeon.”
“I broke out,” Li Yunjie replied calmly, striding forward with unruffled ease.
Suppressing his fury, Song Yongnian forced a smile. “Your Highness is quite unruly. Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you?”
Li Yunjie soon reached his side and patted him on the shoulder. “You’d better worry about saving your son.”
With that, he brushed past Song Yongnian and went straight to the east wing, pushing open the door.
Inside, Song Zeye lay sprawled on the floor, disheveled and limp.
On the bed behind him, Su Xiyan was “unconscious” from the drug.
Li Yunjie cleared his throat and discreetly gave her a thumbs-up.
Su Xiyan squinted at him, a faint, fleeting smile touching her lips before she regained her composure.
“Zeye!”
Song Yongnian rushed in, his face full of concern.
He lifted Song Zeye and pinched his philtrum hard.
“That won’t wake him,” Li Yunjie said, squatting down and slapping Song Zeye twice.
“You—!” Song Yongnian was furious, about to explode, but stopped short as Song Zeye’s eyes fluttered open.
“Father!”
“Save me!”
“She, she, she struck me with heavenly thunder!”
Song Zeye pointed shakily at Su Xiyan on the bed, clearly terrified.
And when he saw Li Yunjie seated on a stool beside him, his face turned even paler.
“H-he... What is he doing here?!”
“Wasn’t he supposed to be in the dungeon?!”
“What in the world is going on?!”