Criminal? Shi Chun, unable to lift his head, could hear the words and felt curious. Is it talking about me?

After all, he had just been pulled by the hair and had his face revealed for identification.

It seemed like it was talking about him, but how did he become a criminal? Situ Gu's attempt to rescue someone shouldn't have led to such a scene. Could it be the people from West Bull King Court summoned by the Red-clothed Woman? But it shouldn't be, as he has already cleared his name; a simple discussion should solve the issue. It's unnecessary to put on a show of seizing a criminal in such a public manner.

He usually felt he had some brains, but today, everything seemed so strange and inexplicable, as if his mind was not enough to understand it all.

"Criminal?" The executioner was equally curious, tapping the edge of his sword against Shi Chun's neck, asking, "Him? Are you here to take him away?"

Qie Shan, with a smile, pointed to the row of falling heads on either side, "Otherwise, what? Could it really be that I'm here to rob the execution grounds? The matter was urgent, I arrived a step late, fearing the severance of case clues, acting under emergency, please don't hold it against me..." raising his hand to point to the notch on the raised guillotine above, "I'll pay to have a new guillotine made for you as a gesture of apology."

So that's the case, the executioner slightly relaxed. As an executioner, his duties were unavoidable. He didn't want to confront Life Prison forcibly; as long as it's not robbing the execution grounds, everything can be negotiated. But the necessary attitude must remain, otherwise he wouldn't be able to account for it later, hence he said sternly, "That's not a reason for you to trespass on the execution grounds!"

Qie Shan immediately provided a reason, displaying the Magical Treasure in his hands as a mark of respect, "The Judge's Pen is here, as if the Judge himself were present!"

The tone, the meaning, seemed to imply, is this reason sufficient?

The executioner was silent, and the edge of the sword that was pressed against Shi Chun's neck slowly moved away, changing the topic, "What did he do, that Life Prison personally came to capture him?"

What? Life Prison? That Judge? Shi Chun was startled, suddenly lifting his head to look at the person standing in the blood pool in front, seeing the other's smiling expression, he realized he seemed to have heard of this person in Life Prison.

This also plunged him into another kind of dread, knowing clearly the fate of being captured back to Life Prison for punishment—discarding cultivation, thrown away to fend for oneself—was worse than when he was a native in Life Prison. Moreover, when he was in Life Prison before, he had offended so many people with his fighting; those old friends would surely make his end miserable upon his return.

That accursed place, any external connections entering it would be nullified, not only discarding one's cultivation, but nullifying all relations.

Qie Shan, smiling, said, "Some things, knowing too much about them isn't good for you. If you don't want to be held accountable, I'd advise you not to ask too many questions."

The executioner pondered, "You should understand that I cannot make decisions on this matter. Without permission from above, I cannot allow you to take him away, nor can they!" waving his hand to indicate the Royal Court personnel around, glaring with hostility.

Qie Shan, still smiling, "I wasn't asking you to decide, simply take me to someone who can decide."

Turning back, he gestured to his men, "Take the criminal along."

Two subordinates immediately crossed the transverse groove, unlocked the chains bound to the ground.

The executioner intended to stop them, but facing the intimidation of Qie Shan's gold-flashing Judge's Pen signal, he ultimately remained silent.

As for the chain binding Shi Chun in the 'worker' shape, it remained unremoved, with one person hoisting Shi Chun by an arm to lift him up.

"Continue with the execution," the executioner called for people to come over, entrusting the execution duties, leading Qie Shan and others away personally.

At this point, the sobbing sounds below the platform resumed, a group of people climbed the execution stage to collect the bodies.

Young Master Nan, wrapped in a white cloth, was surprised, having never seen Qie Shan nor the Judge's Pen, unsure of the origin of the interference with the execution.

Wu Jinliang, equally stunned, though he was from Life Prison, similarly hadn't witnessed such things, not knowing which deity had arrived.

Whether it was Mingshan Sect's group or Li Hongjiu's side, all were bewildered, seeing off with a knife that could potentially bring about an unexpected outcome?

Normal people couldn't access someone like Qie Shan, who only comes out for business, not befriending ordinary people outside.

Due to distance, nobody clearly heard the discussions on the stage between the executioner and Qie Shan.

But those close to the stage heard, and soon the news spread backward.

Granny Qi, kneeling, turned her head to look at the departing figure of Shi Chun, right when she was wondering, she was also hoisted up, startled and somewhat unwilling and regretful, in the drumbeats, she was escorted to the execution platform.

Ninety-nine grooves popped open a notch, not affecting subsequent executions, missing one is enough.

The drumbeats stopped, a chop sound, Granny Qi, hanging her head in bitterness, shivered under the thunderous guillotine, her head fell, revealing her true form, and the Bai Family below wailed in grief.

The next round, disciples from Extreme Fire Sect also were escorted to the execution platform, with Martial Hall Master Qiu Ben among them. Despite Extreme Fire Sect's connections and influence, they couldn't get anyone out, and helplessly, the disciples below with tear-stained faces sent them off.

Qiu Ben, accepting death, also couldn't understand how capturing Shi Chun turned into a matter of violating the royal law and led to beheading.

He also hoped for an unexpected exemption like Shi Chun's earlier, yet the cruel reality provided none.

The guillotine fell, demon cultivators of different sizes revealed their forms...

Inside the hall, the people in front of the Mirror Image slightly moved their gazes, seeing a palace-attired woman reporting, "Your Majesty, the executioner reports, that Life Prison operative Qie Shan, under orders, came to take away the criminal. The Right Minister asks Your Majesty to decide, Qie Shan holds the prisoner awaiting execution outside the palace."

"What kind of trick is this?" Queen Xin hummed, but still relented, "Let them come over."

She also wanted to see what was going on.

"Yes," the palace-attired woman swiftly retreated.

At this point, the Demon Queen spoke quietly, "Now that Life Prison is involved, I'll avoid facing them, going behind the sister for a while."

She actually didn't want to meet Shi Chun.

Queen Xin glanced at her, unsure of her intentions, saying nothing.

The Demon Queen gave tacit approval, turned around in her black robe, and slowly walked into the rear hall, standing by the door, separated by a wall.

Dao Zhen, who had not been greeted, remained in place, but he flipped his hand to glance at the communication content on the mother-child talisman, then transmitted a message to the avoiding Demon Queen beyond the hall: "Your Majesty, Wu Jinliang, mixed with the observers of the execution, has been secretly controlled by an unidentified person. It's unwise to act in such a public setting, so we'll have to wait until the crowd disperses before seizing the opportunity to retrieve him."

Yet someone still took advantage, the Demon Queen was quite surprised, and whispered back, "Find out who they are."

"Yes," Dao Zhen responded.

Soon, a palace-robed woman led a group in, precisely Qie Shan's team who had just left the execution ground.

As they entered, the Executioner respectfully saluted, "Your Majesty."

Shi Chun, who was thrown aside, knelt firmly, there was no choice—still bound, unable to stand without support.

At this moment, not being able to speak has its advantages, eliminating the need for politeness. His eyes rolled around, focusing on the East Victory Queen, opening his eyes to such figures unexpected in his life; her appearance was nothing special.

Of course, he also saw Yin Luo and Yin Xu. He had seen Dao Zhen before but did not know who he was.

Others could no longer recognize his true face, as his face was splattered with blood during the execution, and his body too.

Anyway, he looked quite disheveled at this moment.

Yin Xu clenched her teeth upon seeing him, curious as to how Life Prison got involved.

She knew some matters as well. Their Qingqiu Fox Clan was one of the few in the Cultivation World that maintained good relations with Life Prison.

Dao Zhen, with a tilted head, became interested in scrutinizing Shi Chun.

Although this small figure might have minor fame, he had no power to resist under such a colossal force as Her Majesty, akin to being toyed with, seemingly about to perish unexpectedly.

The Qie Shan group didn't salute, as Qie Shan raised the golden Judge's Pen respectfully, "There is no rank before the Judge's Pen. With the Judge's Pen at hand, Your Majesty, forgive us for not bowing."

To such nonsense, Queen Xin clearly snorted disdainfully; she thought, facing that Prison Chief, you wouldn't dare be disrespectful.

She was too lazy to bicker over it, knowing full well there was a sovereignty mismatch, pursuing it meant finding unhappiness for oneself. Instantly, she resumed her authoritative stance and said, "I don't care whether it's a Judge's Pen or Judge Dog's Pen on East Victory Royal Court's execution ground; with a scrappy pen, you openly intend to take away the convict. What is wrong with Du Huoguan's brain? If you cannot provide a satisfactory reason today, you won't leave but join this dog-blooded individual on the execution ground!"

The dog-blooded individual naturally referred to Shi Chun.

Shi Chun truly felt panicked; he did not wish to return to the execution ground once more, nor did he want to be captured back to Life Prison. The former meant immediate death, while the latter was worse than death.

He did not know what sin he had committed to face such choices.

Qie Shan was not intimidated by the Queen, still responded with a smiling demeanor, "Naturally, an explanation must be given to Your Majesty. Shi Chun is involved in a Life Prison case and must return for interrogation. Afterwards, East Victory can handle him however they wish."

A Life Prison case? Shi Chun's eyes moved again, vaguely realizing something.

"A sudden case, really?" Queen Xin appeared amused with irritation. "So, it's possible to think of a different case whenever desired, concocting reasons to take someone anytime. Does that mean East Victory can play the same game with Life Prison in the future?"

Qie Shan smiled broadly, "Your Majesty, calm down. This isn't a whimsical, sudden case—this case was filed with Heaven Court years ago, as well as East Victory. You should be able to verify it, but if East Victory cannot, someone clearly tampered with it; Life Prison can access the records.

Your Majesty, although Life Prison doesn't handle external affairs, under the Heaven Court framework, basic cooperation with East Victory Royal Court is required, correct? Taking a step back, things should at least operate sequentially; you can't decide to execute someone related to a case Life Prison is investigating, can you? That wouldn't be proper, would it?

Your Majesty, if you insist on this, I can only disturb the throne. If the Saint King insists, there's nothing more I can do, but I will then alert the Judge to file a complaint with Heaven Court."

Shi Chun understood; it was indeed about that matter years ago.

After so long without reaction, he thought it had passed. Strangely, it resumed, feeling uneasy about his right eye superpower.

To be suddenly saved from execution due to this was too coincidental.

He did not believe there was any trick here, as he could confidently assure he had no significant ties within Life Prison. The only connection he could think of was Lan Qiaoyan, whose capability wasn't of such extent, so it must have been a coincidence.

"..." Queen Xin, having displayed anger on her face, was now frozen.

It was evident that Life Prison's presence suspected thwarting the execution assignment; how it turned into her being accused of silencing suddenly, leaving her in poor justification?

About Shi Chun and involving Life Prison, with an archived case from years ago—having investigated Shi Chun for a long time here, never heard of it?

The opposite party should not lie about it face-to-face; is someone intentionally hiding something from me?

She immediately turned her head towards the palace-robed woman beside her, the inquiry intention in her frigid gaze obvious.

The Demon Queen behind the hall also bore an expression of doubt, similarly perplexed, having not heard relevant circumstances before.

The palace-robed woman in the front hall quickly shook her head, "Your Majesty, I've never heard of such a matter."

Queen Xin cast cold eyes upon Qie Shan.

Qie Shan maintained his smile, "I'm in no rush, can wait."

Queen Xin promptly turned to the palace-robed woman beside her and commanded, "Investigate!"

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