Martial Star Ocean - Chapter 16 Betrayal

Chapter 16 – Betrayal

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It had to be known that within Huang Wei’s heart, Sikong Jin was a spiritual demon lord who controlled the destiny of everyone in the Divine Orchard Gang.

Now, that invincible existence in his mind had been beaten into a pile of rotting meat by someone.

And, the one who killed Sikong Jin was the young county magistrate who he had been taunting and sneering at just several days ago in the county court hall.

If he could turn back time, Huang Wei truly wished that on that day in the court hall he had fallen to his knees and called this fellow his father, and he definitely wouldn’t have looked down on him with contempt.

Li Mu sat where he was, eating the fragrant barbecued snake meat, grinning as he saw Huang Wei’s expression.

At such a great time, how could he not continue his act?

What he liked to see were these people who had openly taunted him in the past suddenly frightened speechless by him.

This sort of feeling was amazingly refreshing!

“My L-L-L-Lord….please forgive me.” Huang Wei felt as if he were standing upon pins and needles as Li Mu stared at him.

Li Mu laughed. “L-L-L-Lord your face…wahaha, a few days ago in court, weren’t you extremely arrogant back then?”

“This lowly one should die, this lowly one should die…” Huang Wei bowed deeply, almost smashing his head into the ground.

Li Mu was invigorated. “Heh, weren’t you also the one who told me that in Alabaster County City, I might not be able to keep my word? So, tell me, does this count as keeping my word?”

“This…” Huang Wei was immediately frightened. He didn’t think that this young county magistrate would be someone to bear such a grudge. His voice trembled, “This lowly one was a fool, this lowly one should die…in the county, My Lord is majestic and wise. Only your words can be relied upon.”

Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing glanced at each other. They finally understood that the so-called ‘important matter’ was to drag this little storekeeper Huang Wei of Divine Herb Hall here for punishment. Wasn’t this a bit too vengeful?

The two of them were left speechless.

But Li Mu didn’t care about this at all.

This Huang Wei had put on such a front that day, so today he would be ruthlessly smacked around.

A true man should stand tall and virile, with a strong and indomitable spirit. If others were to put on such an act and affront you, then if you didn’t beat them back would you still be called a man?

And now was the best time to beat them back.

“I also remember that on that day, you said I should inquire into how deeply rooted your Divine Herb Hall was. So, I came here to the Divine Orchard Gang to ask. Sikong Jin didn’t seem too willing to tell me, so I sent him off first. Storekeeper Huang, how about you personally tell me instead?” Li Mu asked in all seriousness as he continued to eat his barbecue.

Huang Wei was frightened to the point of peeing his pants.

“In front of the great lord, Divine Herb Hall isn’t worth a single cent…” His intestines began to turn blue with regret.

Li Mu said, “Oh. Then, about the case concerning Zhang Li and her family, what can you tell me?”

“This is…” Huang Wei’s heart shivered. He instinctually wanted to justify those events with a few sentences, but as he saw Sikong Jin’s rotting corpse near the pool as well as Li Mu’s somewhat playful and thoughtful smile, his mind became as clear as a mirror and he didn’t dare to try his luck again. He reiterated the process of everything the apprentices of Divine Herb Hall had done, confessing all they had done and all their lies.

“My Lord, this lowly one has spoken of the entire series of events. This lowly one was mistaken. This lowly one was wrong. This lowly one deserves 10,000 deaths…but I beg the lord to spare this lowly one’s life. This lowly one will surely turn a new leaf in the future, surely become a new person…” Huang Wei cried as he finished, pleading with remorse and sorrow in his voice.

Li Mu put down the barbecue in his hands. He looked as if he had been touched.

“Become a new person? What lazy words. Storekeeper Huang, you can turn over a new leaf and become someone else, but what about Zhang Li? And Little Kin, she was only a child. Before she tragically died, do you know what she experienced in these Divine Orchard Gang headquarters that is no different from a living Asura hell? Do you even dare to imagine? Very well. If you can return Little Kin and her family back to life, then I will give you a chance to reform yourself. How about it?”

As Huang Wei heard these words, he recoiled as if bitten by electricity. Despair swelled up in his eyes.

“My Lord has such a vicious heart…” His eyes filled with hatred, as if he were cursing Li Mu.

Li Mu welcomed this hatred-filled gaze. He chuckled. “My viciousness cannot even compare to a tenth of yours…remember, in your next life, do some more good deeds and stop putting on such a front.”

As his voice fell, Li Mu sent out strength from his toe. A piece of rock shot out and pierced through Huang Wei’s forehead.

This cruel and ruthless storekeeper of Divine Herb Hall died like this, bringing an end to his life of evil.

On the side, Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxiang were stunned.

This young county magistrate wasn’t trying to make an example of punishing people to frighten them, right?

Li Mu turned his head. He looked towards the two and said, “You two also saw what happened. He confessed his crimes himself and according to the laws of the empire, he deserved execution. If I killed him, this isn’t an example of personal retaliation, alright?”

Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing thought to themselves – wasn’t this clearly a case of personal retaliation?

The so-called important matter was to drag a small fry like Huang Wei from Divine Herb Hall all the way here to kill him?

Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing were full of complaints in their mind, but they definitely wouldn’t speak them out loud.

“Of course, of course. My Lord is fair and impartial, upholding justice for the people, so how could there possibly be something like personal retaliation?”

“Haha, what a great kill. Such a despicable person that holds no regard for life should be sliced into 10,000 pieces.”

The two men praised.

In fact, even if it were just two hours ago, they never imagined that they would be speaking such flattering words to this young county magistrate.

Li Mu nodded. “Then that’s good. Men, come and bring this villain, hang him in the stone forest at the entrance to the headquarters. Put up a notice. Inform the people of his sins and alert everyone else. If anyone dares to violate the laws and commit such heinous crimes in the future, plundering from the innocent, then they too will meet such a fate.”

Several soldier guards loudly shouted out in response. They moved forwards to take away Huang Wei’s corpse.

Li Mu thought for a moment and then added on, “Pass on my orders. Not on a single one of those criminals from Divine Herb Hall will be spared. Capture them all and interrogate them. Find the mastermind behind the crime. No matter who is involved, all of them will be punished according to the laws of the empire.” Li Mu’s voice echoed through the cave, vast and deep. Everyone could feel an unshakable will contained in his words.

“We obey.”

Some hot-blooded soldier guards spontaneously shouted out in response.

Li Mu nodded. In his mind, the tragic state of Zhang Li and her daughter appeared once more. He couldn’t help but feel sadness and remorse.

If only he had managed this case better then he could have saved that mother and daughter from a cruel fate. But, because of his carelessness, because he was overly cautious and indecisive, because he took too many things for granted…for a number of reasons, what eventually happened was that two innocent lives had horrifically suffered miserable deaths in this demon’s cave.

This world, how could it be so dangerous?

The human heart, why could it be so cruel and evil?

Li Mu felt a little stuffiness in his chest.

He had single-handedly demolished the Divine Orchard Gang headquarters, but the anger in his heart had yet to be fully released.

The ones responsible for this situation was not just the small Divine Orchard Gang.

The real culprits were those ‘big bosses’ that manipulated things behind the scenes while ensuring that their hands were stained with blood. They were still out free in the world.

At this time, more footsteps rang out from the distance.

County Registrar Feng Yuanxing was actually leading a team of soldiers forwards.

Seeing Feng Yuanxing, Zhou Wu’s eyes brightened.

Before this, he had ordered Feng Yuanxing to search through the ruins of the headquarters and find evidence of collusion between Zheng Longxing and the Divine Orchard Gang.

Had he finished already?

Thinking about it, in these past years, Feng Yuanxing had faithfully followed him at his side and had played the trusted role of adviser and strategist. Not only had Feng Yuanxing helped him solve many troubles but he was also loyal and showed great graciousness. As long as he could ascend to the position of county magistrate, he would surely entrust many responsibilities to Feng Yuanxing; Zhou Wu was someone who knew when to give.

Thinking of this, Zhou Wu tossed Feng Yuanxing a questioning glance. He wanted to know what the results were.

However, unexpectedly, Feng Yuanxing didn’t even glance at Zhou Wu, but directly stepped towards Li Mu. He knelt down and said, “This subordinate is the registrar of Alabaster County. I greet the lord.”

Li Mu splayed out on his stone chair. He glanced at Feng Yuanxing, not responding, instead continuing to eat the snake meat in large bites.

“Reporting to the lord county magistrate, this subordinate led the troops to clean up the battlefield and sift through the ruins of the Divine Orchard Gang. We have found the innocent women and poor citizens and have safely arranged them elsewhere. We also have 171 criminals of the Divine Orchard Gang who have yet to die and have temporarily locked them away. As for how to handle them, I ask Lord County Magistrate for direction.” Feng Yuanxing bowed his head, ignoring the repeated glances from Zhou Wu.

Li Mu still didn’t bother with him.

He seemed to be incredibly hungry. He ate meat in great mouthfuls and golden oil dripped down the corners of his mouth.

Feng Yuanxing clenched his teeth. He hardened his heart and made a decision. He said, “Reporting to the lord, there is also another matter that is of vital importance. This subordinate doesn’t dare to conceal it. During the capture of the Divine Orchard Gang criminals, there were several Elder level characters that, in order to plead for mercy, were willing to testify against County Commander Zheng Longxing and admit that they colluded with the Divine Orchard Gang to kill the innocent…”

“Shut up!” Zheng Longxing shouted out in rage. “Feng Yuanxing, you dare to slander me, you…”

“Hey, County Commander Zheng, there is no need to be so impatient. Allow County Registrar Feng to finish speaking first. The innocent are innocent and the guilty are guilty, so what do you have to fear from County Registrar Feng?” Joy began blossoming in Zhou Wu’s heart. The matter he entrusted to Feng Yuanxing had truly been accomplished. While this young county magistrate was simmering in his rage, he could directly expose this matter. By fanning the flames, he could end Zheng Longxing forever. Within the Qin Empire, a county magistrate had enormous lawful authority and could directly sentence one to life or death.

But, before Zhou Wu finished speaking, he heard Feng Yuanxing say, “There is also another criminal from the Divine Orchard Gang who declared that he was a trusted spy sent in by County Deputy Zhou Wu. In order to plead for mercy, he is willing to testify that the death of County Guard Zhang Ru during the attack on the medicinal hall was actually all arranged by County Deputy Zhou Wu. And, the reason he did so was to intensify the conflict between Lord County Magistrate and County Commander Zheng…at the same time, they wanted to borrow the knife of others to kill and bring harm to you.”

“Shut up!” This time it was Zhou Wu who snapped out in shock. He angrily roared, “Feng Yuanxing, what nonsense are you speaking? You…since when have I ever treated your poorly, you…dare to slander me, you…”

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