Three days later, the life-and-death battle between the Zhan Long Hall Master and Liu Xin became the event of most global concern, with unprecedented and unparalleled popularity. It not only sparked heated discussions across major media outlets and online platforms but also saw many people, like a surging tide, heading towards the Liu family ancestral home that morning, wishing to personally witness this fight.
Among them were ordinary people interested in martial arts, pure onlookers just seeking excitement, internet celebrities looking to capitalize on the trend, and even weak martial artists from all over the world!
However—
None of them got their wish.
This was because all roads within a one-kilometer radius of the Liu family had been sealed off by the police. The police had set up roadblocks and cordons, with officers stationed at every section to maintain order and vigilance.
In addition, the Eastern Region War Zone of the Martial Department had also deployed a large number of personnel. They formed a chain, centering on the Liu family manor, creating a circle that enclosed the Liu family. Not even a rabbit could escape, let alone a living person.
Only those holding the spectator and access passes issued by the Eastern Region War Zone of the Martial Department were allowed to pass through the double layers of police and martial department blockades to enter the Liu family ancestral home and watch the battle.
However—
The actions of the police and the martial department did not dampen the public's enthusiasm; instead, they further escalated the heat surrounding this life-and-death battle.
Neither the ordinary citizens who were blocked nor the martial artists who did not receive spectator or access passes left. Instead, they gathered at various blocked intersections.
Among them, some astute internet celebrities live-streamed the situation on-site, gaining immense attention.
At the same time as all this was happening, relevant departments in Jiangnan announced the investigation and trial results for the Su Shirong case and the Nie Xiaoqian case.
In the Su Shirong case, Yuan Zeping, the mastermind behind Su Shirong, was sentenced to eight years. The reason given was that Yuan Zeping had changed his mind before Su Shirong's death, and subsequently, his failed attempt to order Liu Qingfeng to kill Wuming, coupled with a good attitude towards confession, led to the reduced sentence.
The killer, Liu Qingfeng, was sentenced to death, and the Eastern Region Legion of the Martial Department also issued a wanted notice for Liu Qingfeng.
The narrative for the Nie Xiaoqian case was much more detailed. Yuan Hao, originally the main instigator, was only an accomplice and was sentenced to eight years. The decadent young man who ultimately caused Nie Xiaoqian's death was treated as the principal culprit and the direct killer of Nie Xiaoqian, and was sentenced to death.
He had taken the blame for Yuan Hao!
Due to the overwhelming popularity of the life-and-death battle between the Zhan Long Hall Master and Liu Xin, which captured almost all public attention, the sentencing announcements for the Yuan Zeping and Yuan Hao father-son duo did not attract much attention.
This was precisely why the Yuan family had exerted their influence, urging relevant departments to rush the verdict and release the announcements at this critical juncture.
Many people who had previously followed the Su Shirong and Nie Xiaoqian cases did not even bother to look at the announcement.
Nie Xiaoqian's parents, however, saw the announcement immediately!
"Qian... you see, dear, the outcome is as we expected. That beast Yuan Hao, the executioner, did not receive the punishment he deserved."
After reading the announcement, Nie Xiaoqian's mother's eyes were red with tears as she spoke with a trembling voice. Her sallow face was filled with unwillingness, and even more so, despair!
On the day Nie Xiaoqian's case occurred, she had received a message from Nie Xiaoqian, knowing that Yuan Hao was the mastermind behind the case, and even knew that Yuan Hao had instructed others to torment Nie Xiaoqian, ultimately leading to her death.
Similarly, after the incident, it was Yuan Hao who used his connections to forcibly alter the nature and outcome of the case, eventually ruling that Nie Xiaoqian died of myocardial infarction!
Her husband and she hadn't even seen their daughter's body, only an urn – a typical act of destroying the body to eliminate evidence!
"Wife, although the handling of the case is still unfair, it's much better than before."
Nie Xiaoqian's father hugged his wife tightly, his voice hoarse as he spoke, both comforting his wife and trying to convince himself.
"I... I know, but my heart just feels so heavy," Nie Xiaoqian's mother said, crying.
Nie Xiaoqian's father fell silent. Didn't he also feel heavy-hearted and deeply unwilling?
However—
What could he do besides feel unwilling?
"Qian's father, the final result is out. Shall we go find Qian?"
As she cried, Nie Xiaoqian's mother's unwillingness and despair gradually disappeared, replaced by numbness. The tears in her eyes also stopped flowing.
In the past few years, she and her husband had tried every possible means to seek justice for their daughter, but they were met with one setback after another, ultimately leading to despair, and they decided to accompany their daughter to the underworld.
Not long ago, their daughter's case was unearthed online, and the police department and Jiangnan Province successively issued statements promising a thorough investigation. In their despair, they saw a glimmer of hope.
In the days that followed, they slept only a few hours each day, constantly staring at their phones, eagerly awaiting the final outcome, only to be met with injustice once again.
This immense drop from hope to despair caused tears to well up again in her eyes, which were almost blinded by crying. But her tears soon dried up, her heart died, and she no longer held any hope or attachment to this world.
"Wife, you've decided to go find Qian?"
Nie Xiaoqian's father gazed at his wife's skeletal, sallow, and emotionless face and asked softly.
"Yes. When I think about that executioner Yuan Hao not receiving the punishment he deserves, my heart is torn apart, and life is worse than death.
Moreover, Xiaoqian must be so lonely and pitiful down there by herself.
When she was alive, we didn't protect her well, nor did we give her enough companionship. But we can accompany her and protect her forever in the afterlife, ensuring she never suffers any harm again."
Nie Xiaoqian's mother said, looking at her husband, "How about I go down to accompany her first?"
"I'll go with you."
Nie Xiaoqian's father smiled faintly, his hand trembling as he reached out to gently stroke his wife's tear-soaked, rough cheek, intending to accompany his wife to the underworld to join their daughter.
Nie Xiaoqian's mother turned, picked up a photo frame, and gazed at the picture within.
In the photo, seventeen-year-old Nie Xiaoqian, wearing her school uniform and holding books, stood on the school's football field, her face beaming with a bright smile.
"Qian's father, let's go outside. We can't trouble the landlord."
Nie Xiaoqian's mother carefully tucked the photo frame into her embrace and said to her husband.
If they died in the rented room, it would become a haunted house and would be difficult to rent out in the future, greatly affecting the landlord.
"Okay."
Nie Xiaoqian's father nodded gently, clasped his wife's hand, and walked out with her.
"Bang!"
At that moment, a muffled sound echoed.
The door burst open.
Qin Xiaozhi, his eyes red and his face full of self-reproach, rushed into the room.
Ever since he learned that there were hidden circumstances surrounding Nie Xiaoqian's death, he had been investigating the inside story and searching for Nie Xiaoqian's parents. He only found their whereabouts last night.
Just as the verdict for Yuan Zeping and Yuan Hao, the father and son duo, was announced, and Nie Xiaoqian's parents still decided to go to the underworld to find their daughter, Qin Xiaozhi and Jiang Wuming arrived here.
Thud!
Qin Xiaozhi rushed into the room and immediately knelt before Nie Xiaoqian's parents. "Uncle, Aunt, I'm sorry, I caused Xiaoqian's death!"
"You... you are Qin Xiaozhi?"
Nie Xiaoqian's mother recognized Qin Xiaozhi. She had seen photos of Qin Xiaozhi from that year on her daughter's phone.
"Yes, Auntie," Qin Xiaozhi nodded, his eyes red.
"If I'm not mistaken, the reason Xiaoqian's case was reopened is because of you,"
Nie Xiaoqian's father looked at Qin Xiaozhi, who was full of apology and pain, and sighed with a hoarse voice. "Although what happened back then started because of you, you did nothing wrong, nor did you expect such an outcome. Now, you have done your best to avenge Xiaoqian, so we don't blame you. Please get up."
Qin Xiaozhi remained unmoved. Instead, he looked up at Nie Xiaoqian's parents with red eyes, "Uncle and Aunt, please don't do anything foolish. Xiaoqian definitely wouldn't want you to do this!"
"It seems you overheard our conversation, so you should know that life is worse than death for us to remain in this world," Nie Xiaoqian's mother said numbly.
"Auntie, don't you want to see that beast Yuan Hao pay with his life for your daughter?"
This time, before Qin Xiaozhi could speak, Jiang Wuming suddenly said.
"We do, but what's the use of wanting? We can't achieve it, and even Xiao Zhi couldn't do it," Nie Xiaoqian's father said despairingly.
"Uncle and Aunt, a while ago, Xiao Zhi had an opportunity to kill Yuan Hao at the cruise ship dinner during the Jiangnan Economic Forum, but I didn't let him do it. I felt that it was more meaningful to let that beast Yuan Hao be justly tried by law and have justice served for your daughter, rather than killing him directly!" Jiang Wuming said seriously.
Hmm?
Upon hearing this, Nie Xiaoqian's parents' faces, which were filled with despair and numbness, showed a flicker of emotion. They looked at Jiang Wuming with surprise.
"Uncle and Aunt, if I can ensure that beast Yuan Hao is justly tried by law, do you promise me that you will live well from now on?"
Jiang Wuming negotiated with Nie Xiaoqian's parents.
"Can you?"
Nie Xiaoqian's parents looked blankly. They had completely lost hope in this regard.
"Uncle and Aunt, believe me, justice may be delayed, but it will never be absent!"
Jiang Wuming stared at Nie Xiaoqian's parents and said firmly.