Chapter 17 Awakening
After the sound of the gavel, the judge said: "Court is now in session."
The prosecutor said: "Your Honor, my witness hasn't arrived yet. I request a recess."
Martin said: "Your Honor, I object."
"Your Honor, the evidence provided by my witness is very important. I request a recess."
"Judge..."
The judge interrupted: "Quiet. Please let the jury deliberate."
While both sides were arguing, Situ Liwen's voice sounded from outside the door: "No need, I'm here."
Situ Liwen walked in, accompanied by the police officer.
"What happened?"
"I was attacked on the way, and almost couldn't make it."
Everyone's eyes fell on Kuang Tianyou. Seeing this, the prosecutor said smugly: "Can you point out that person in court?"
"He has already escaped."
"What?"
"The person who tried to harm me is Hou Pengcheng, the lobby manager of Long Xiao Detective Agency. I can prove that the accusations against Kuang Tianya and Jin Shiyu for killing detective Jiang Yong were entirely a setup."
The prosecutor exclaimed in surprise again: "What?!"
The judge said: "Please take the witness stand and let the prosecutor ask questions."
"Please state your identity."
"I am Situ Liwen, Chairman and General Manager of Jinhua Trading Company."
"Miss Situ Liwen, I ask you, have you sought Detective Jiang Yong?"
"Yes."
"What did you seek him for?"
"To surveil Mr. Kuang Tianya's father, Mr. Kuang Tianyou."
"Why?"
"I have admired Mr. Kuang for a long time, so I wanted to know everything about him."
Bang! The courtroom erupted, whispers spreading everywhere.
Ma Xiaoling, Wang Sizhen, Bai Meigui, Kuang Tianya, Yuan Yue, and many women stared wide-eyed at Situ Liwen. But Situ Liwen's face did not blush; she seemed completely unfazed. Looking at Kuang Tianyou, one could see his mouth open, looking both surprised and flustered: "Oh my, what is happening?" Watching his wife's sharp gaze, his heart raced a hundredfold.
The judge waved the gavel: "Quiet, quiet, please maintain court decorum!"
"Why is what you're saying now different from your statement to the police?"
"At that time, I wanted to conceal something."
"Why do you not want to conceal it now?""At that time, I didn't expect Hou Pengcheng to be so despicable."
"Please explain in more detail."
"At that time, when I went to meet Scout Jiang Yong, it was Hou Pengcheng who received me. I didn't expect that after that, he tried to see me every day. To put it bluntly, he wanted to pursue me. But my heart belonged to someone else," she paused for a moment, glanced at Kuang Tianyou, and everyone's eyes also looked at Kuang Tianyou, including Ma Xiaoling's sword-like gaze, making Kuang Tianyou's heart nearly jump out of his chest. Kuang Tianyou mentally shouted: 'Big sister, stop exaggerating, stop making things up!' But she continued, "How could I compromise with others? I rejected his request, but I didn't expect that his scheme would involve framing Mr. Kuang's daughter, and then further frame Mr. Kuang himself."
"Then how did you know about his scheme?"
"I just mentioned, he set traps on the road to control us. He thought everything was safe and actually revealed these conspiracies. Additionally, he also attempted to humiliate me. Unfortunately for him, he underestimated me—thinking I was a weak girl—but he didn't realize I'm a Taekwondo expert. He was almost captured by me, but luckily he ran fast."
"Who can testify?"
The police officer immediately stood up and said: "I can testify."
"Do you know the consequences of giving false testimony?"
The police officer said: "I know." Thinking: Damn, a few years in prison for false testimony isn't more important than keeping my life safe. If you want to investigate the truth, be careful with your life. After finishing this, I'll retire quickly to avoid running into these fierce people again.” He thought this and cautiously glanced at Kuang Tianyou.
"I have no objections."
Just as the judge was about to speak, Martin said: "Your Honor, all testimonies indicate that someone else killed Jiang Yong. I request that my client be found not guilty and released."
"Please have the jury deliberate."
After a while, a solemn voice sounded: "Kuang Tianya and Jin Shiyu are suspected of the murder of Xu Guang and Jiang Yong. Due to insufficient evidence, they are hereby released in court."
After being released, Kuang Tianya happily ran to Ma Xiaoling and said: "Thank you, mommy!"
Kuang Tianyou said: "Why don't you thank me?"
"If it weren't for mommy making a major sacrifice, how would Miss Situ have told the truth?"
Kuang Tianyou, frustrated for a while, said: "Actually, you should also thank Mr. Martin. If he hadn't done his best, you wouldn't have been released so quickly."Kuang Tianya then turned to Martin and said, "Lawyer Ma, thank you."
Martin said, "As a lawyer, this is my duty. Alright, I won't disturb your family reunion; I have some matters to attend to, so I'll leave first."
"Okay. Next time, I'll treat you to tea."
"Sure."
"Mr. Kuang," the voice of Situ Liwen came.
Kuang Tianyou felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Miss Situ, thank you."
"I'm just telling the truth, it's nothing."
Kuang Tianyou laughed awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Seeing this, Situ Liwen said, "Remember our agreement. I will tell you my dream." She pointed to her head. She glanced at Ma Xiaoling and then left.
Watching Situ Liwen walk away, Kuang Tianya suddenly smiled and said, "Remember our agreement, I will tell you my dream." After saying this, she withdrew and left. By the time Kuang Tianyou realized it, the women had all dispersed with knowing smiles—except for Ma Xiaoling.
Seeing his wife staring at her, Kuang Tianyou hurriedly said, "Xiaoling…"
"No need to say anything."
"I… misunderstood."
"You're having a romantic stroke of luck now."
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not going to leave you."
"Remember, I am your wife. I can read a woman's eyes for her lover, especially a woman who wants to compete."
"You're guessing again."
"I'm not wrong. When she left, the way she looked at me was jealousy, unwillingness."
"Really?"
"I told you, you only care to be polite with women and not believe me? Be careful not to get pricked by the thorns!"
"I adore my wife most of all. I only pay attention to my wife, no time to admire flowers."
"Then what did you see?"
"Pure tenderness, mixed with just a tiny bit of dominance, oppression!"
"If I weren't dominant or oppressive, wouldn't I already have a harem?"
"Nonsense."
"Yesterday it was Wang Sizhen, today it's Situ Liwen, who will it be tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, it's you."
"You only know how to coax people! I want to fly."
"Where to?"
"Heaven—there is where heroes show their true colors."
"Your demands have been getting higher lately."
"It's because you've been distracted. Two hours, not a single discount! Hurry up!"Late at night, the northern sky suddenly burst into a colorful spectacle, extremely beautiful, attracting the attention of many people who thought it was a once-in-a-century aurora phenomenon…
Kuang Tianyou, who was sleeping soundly in bed, turned over and got up, rushing to the window, staring at the sky and lost in thought. Ma Xiaoling woke up, walked over, and leaned on Kuang Tianyou's back, saying, "Do you feel something, Tianyou?"
"I feel a strong energy fluctuation, like waves gently spreading out."
"Is it caused by the aurora?"
"No, the aurora wouldn't cause such a strong energy fluctuation."
"Is it man-made?"
"No, weapons created by humans can provoke such large energy fluctuations, but they cannot achieve such a gentle effect."
"Then what is it?"
Kuang Tianyou thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Could it be…?"
"What?"
"The Emperor's Resentment Ring!"
In the distance, a large chair faced away from the people below the stage. A commanding male voice said: "He has emerged; their divine consciousnesses will awaken soon. Each one of them is about to appear in the world, and they will surely gather together. Find them and bring them here. Remember, they must be alive, no matter the cost. Anyone who disobeys the order, who is disloyal to me, shall die!"
Cold! The people below, whose faces could not be seen clearly, felt a bone-chilling chill! "Yes, Demon Ancestor!"
"Go."
After the group departed, the man murmured to himself: "Queen, how could you go against the true god's will and release him? Do you want to rule the human world?"
…
In the distance, a group of people knelt on the ground. In front of them, a clear stream flowed slowly, and a pair of enchanting jade feet were immersed in it. A woman was giving a stern lecture: "You are about to enter the Eastern World to find them. Gather them all and bring them here. Remember, they must be alive. Anyone who tries to stop this, kill without mercy. You are warriors of God; God will always watch over you, and glory belongs to you!"
"Fighting for God is our glory!"
A male voice said, "Do you really want to do this? The Eastern World is full of powerful people!"
"I am a good sister of the True God, I should do something."
"You can never forget that person!"
"Shut up!"…
A pale, ancient voice from the depths of the stars said: 'The birth of a strange phenomenon—fear that all beings shall face calamity again. Moreover, Heaven grants favor, and human destiny is once more in your hands!'
…
A desolate, sorrowful female voice said: 'You've come out? But I am still sealed and cannot reincarnate. No matter what happened in the past… sigh, in the end, we can only resolve our grudges with life and death. Who asked Heaven to toy with people?!'
…
Ring, ring, ring, the phone rang. A beautiful woman picked it up and said: 'Hello, Jiuxiao Fengyun Company, how may we assist you?'
'Is Aren there?'
'May I ask who's calling, and what is it regarding?'
'I'm his old customer, something personal.'
'Please wait a moment, I'll transfer you.'
Beep beep beep, in a half-closed office, a man answered the phone: 'This is Aren. What can I do for the front desk?'
'A person said they're your old customer, I'll transfer them to you.'
After a beep, a charming female voice came through the receiver: 'Hello, is this Mr. Aren?'
'Who is this?'
'I'm Li Wen. Do you have time today to come over to my house to discuss something?'
'Well, can't it be discussed over the phone?'
'Some things are better said in person,' Li Wen emphasized the words 'in person.'
'Okay,' Aren felt a twinge of nervousness upon hearing this, hastily replying: 'I'll come right away, please wait.'
At Li Wen's home, an elderly servant stood at a room's doorway and told Aren: 'My young lady is waiting for you inside.'
'Alright, thank you.' After watching the servant leave, Aren pushed the door open and walked inside.
He heard a voice before seeing her: 'Remember to close the door after entering.' When Aren closed the door and turned to walk inside, Li Wen appeared before him wearing a seductive mini evening dress.
Aren stared at Li Wen intently, without a hint of lewdness. He calmly asked: 'May I ask what matters Miss Li has for me?'
'Have you forgotten so quickly what you did?'
Aren felt nervous and said: 'You really misunderstand, I was just driving away a thief.'
'I remember in the parking garage, I was rescued by a masked person, who seemed to have a special fondness for the word ‘thief.''
'That was me.'
'And the other person?'
“I don't know.”
“Since you had the courage to cheat, then why are you afraid to admit it?”
“I admit that I have a special feeling for Miss Li, but I absolutely have no intention of violating her. I am innocent.”
“Oh, why does it sound like you are the victim, and I am the one violating?” With that, Li Wen placed a jade-like hand on Aken's shoulder, her whole body almost leaning against him.
“Please, miss, respect yourself.”
“Ha,” Li Wen twisted her hips in dissatisfaction and walked away, poured a glass of red wine, took a sip and said: “The thief in the garage said that Count Kain invited me, so please verify Count Kain's background to prove your innocence.”
“No problem. Anything else? If not, I'll take my leave.”
“All the serious business is done. Can't we talk about love and pleasure between us?”
“Matters of love and pleasure have nothing to do with me.” With that, Aken left. As he departed from the luxurious villa, he gazed back once and thought: “That kind of charm is not Miss Li's, those profound eyes are not Miss Li's either. Who exactly are you?”
At this moment, upstairs, Li Wen also peered through the curtains at Aken's back and said: “It's a pity I haven't fully awakened and cannot detect the aura passed on to him <
