CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 48: IF YOU WANT TO HURT HIM, STEP OVER MY DEAD BODY FIRST

Bai Shaqi trembled as if struck by lightning, her delicate body quivering as her eyes brimmed with tears. "What is going on, Hu Tian? What happened to our child? Why are you saying he’s a monster?"

Su Hutian silently shook his head, his expression forlorn. "If only I knew what happened, how wonderful that would be."

Bai Shaqi hurried to get up and hold the child but felt a sharp pain all over her body. She gritted her teeth and leaned against the headboard. "Hu Tian, you must protect our child, do you hear me? I can’t let him get hurt! He’s the child we worked so hard to have..."

Watching his wife so heartbroken, Su Hutian seemed to freeze, standing there for an age... just standing...

Throughout the entire Su Mansion, news of Su Chen’s murder spread overnight. Those guests who had left were full of shock and fear as they returned home, and the events of the banquet quickly became a top topic for them to discuss eagerly.

It was as if overnight, the entire Iron Stone City was abuzz with terrifying news about Su Chen. Because of his innate qilin bloodline, and more so because he had killed the city’s only Spirit Master, Di Geng!

"Have you heard? The little monster from the Su Family killed Master Di Geng, and now the City Lord is preparing to investigate!"

"I heard. They say that little monster was smiling when he killed. Just thinking about it gives me chills!"

"Exactly, you’d think he was some genius, but he’s just a little demon who kills without batting an eye. Such a disaster should be eradicated early before everyone lives in fear!"

"Alas, poor Lord Su. Did so much good, only to end up with a little monster for a child. What a pity!"

All over the streets and alleys, stories about Su Chen spread; some felt regret and pity for the Su Family, while others felt schadenfreude. After all, the world’s warmth and coldness show most in difficult times...

"Lord Su, can you hand the child over to me?"

The City Lord of Iron Stone City, Mu Ben, dressed in luxury, spoke to Su Hutian, seated in a master’s chair, with a sense of authority. Behind him stood several stern-looking generals, their eyes filled with a killing intent.

Next to Su Hutian were three Su Family elders, including his father Su Anyun. Now, they were also gazing intently at the hostile Mu Ben. The Su Family was tangled in such a mess that the usually reticent elders had no choice but to speak up.

"City Lord, we beg your forgiveness, but we cannot agree. My son Hu Tian has only this one child, and we struggled so hard to have him. If we hand him over to you, will there still be hope of getting him back?"

Su Anyun bluntly refused.

Another elder nodded slightly, and on his naturally authoritative face, there were traces of dissatisfaction. "City Lord, you need not heed the malicious gossip outside. The matter of Su Chen allegedly killing Master Di Geng is not as exaggerated as they’ve made it out to be. I guarantee by my honor that he’s not some so-called little monster!"

"Is that so? Whether or not he’s a monster, it needs to be investigated to determine the truth. The three elders are highly esteemed; do not jeopardize the Su Family’s reputation because of a rash decision."

Mu Ben frowned and said coldly.

Su Anyun and the other two elders remained silent.

Mu Ben’s words, although harsh, held some truth upon further thought. On the Profound Cyan Continent, Beast Cultivators, Spirit Masters, and Astrologers were extraordinarily prestigious professions. Compared to Beast Cultivators, Spirit Masters and Astrologers were even more rare; in some places, even several combined towns did not have a single Spirit Master. Astrologers usually served ancient noble families or the court, and were less practical than Spirit Masters, who thus held a significantly elevated status. Sometimes even a City Lord’s prestige would not match a Spirit Master’s. High-ranking Spirit Masters held astonishing status even within the empire, attracting numerous people eager to curry favor and win their hearts.

Now the only Spirit Master in Iron Stone City had been killed by Su Chen, causing unbelievably large chain reactions. Beast Cultivators of ordinary or moderate strength were all righteously indignant, intending to visit the Su Family to demand justice. To prevent unrest, Mu Ben had to lead his followers to the Su Family, intending to take Su Chen away first.

"What, three elders? Have you not yet grasped the gravity of the situation?"

Mu Ben’s tone was stern, his gaze fixed on Su Anyun.

"City Lord, can you tell me, should the investigation prove that Su Chen is indeed the culprit behind Master Di Geng’s death, what will you do with him?"

Su Anyun’s face was covered with dark clouds, and his murky eyes cleared as he spoke.

Mu Ben frowned, glanced at the silent Su Hutian, and replied, "If it is true, we would have no choice but to hand him over to the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute!"

"Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute!"

Su Anyun’s heart skipped a beat, his complexion suddenly turning extremely unsightly!

"Indeed, for all the Beast Cultivators in Iron Stone City, I have no other choice. Your Su Family has done good deeds for Iron Stone City, but we cannot deal with the child here; he must be handed over to the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute."

Mu Ben said expressionlessly.

In truth, he knew that handing the child over to the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute would have even more tragic consequences, since the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute was the Auslan Empire’s most senior and most ruthless law enforcement agency. The entire institute was comprised of a Referee Chief, adjudicators, and law enforcers, with the Referee Chief at the highest level and not involved in general law enforcement actions, while adjudicators and law enforcers dealt with the security and safety of the empire. All acts contrary to imperial laws and regulations were subject to their punishment.

Throughout the Auslan Empire, the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute had no fewer than a hundred branches, with each branch’s Referee Chief possessing power at the Beast King level or higher. Of course, Referee Chiefs in larger cities were even more formidable, with powers reaching or nearing Beast Spiritual level!

The Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute was a formidable force within the Auslan Empire, and even powerful Beast Cultivators dared not provoke them lightly. After all, no one wanted to be jointly wanted and hunted by the entire judgment institute throughout the empire.

Falling into the hands of those executioners from the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute, how could Su Chen survive? Even seasoned Su Anyun was panicked, "Lord Mu Ben, we cannot hand Su Chen over to them under any circumstances; he’s just a newborn child!"

In his anxiety, he even changed his form of address to Mu Ben.

Mu Ben gave him a meaningful look and slowly said, "That will depend on the investigation results, Elder Su. It’s not that I, Mu Ben, am unfeeling, but the public sentiment is restless. If you went out and took a look, you would understand my predicament..."

Su Anyun fell silent again. He knew that nearly all Beast Cultivators in Iron Stone City had appeared: Beast Spirit level, Beast Warrior level, and even Beast Master level. They all still needed a Spirit Master’s certification, and with Di Geng dead, they had to seek another Spirit Master elsewhere.

Su Anyun looked at Su Hutian, his lips quivering, his expression difficult. He had rarely seen Su Hutian so silent, except when his mother passed away that year.

"Hu Tian, you should make the decision."

Su Anyun seemed to age a few more years all of a sudden, his voice hoarse. He sat back in his chair and said nothing more.

Sitting at the center of the main hall, Su Hutian slowly stood up. He looked at Mu Ben and said expressionlessly, "I, Su, have spent half my life to have a son. Though he is a ’monster’ feared by all, I will never allow anyone to harm a single hair on his head! Today, anyone who wants to take him from me will have to walk over my dead body first!"