Bu Kek Siansu (The Demigod) Chapter 23

The Raja spoke in a calm yet authoritative voice. Sia Gin Hwa held her lover's hand and wept while kissing it, but Lu Kiat's face grew paler. Sin Liong rose to his feet again.

"Forgive me, Suhu. Teecu is forced to object again! They have indeed committed an act that violates existing law, but is their act so wicked that they must be sentenced to exile? Teecu believes that behind their actions there must be a cause and a reason. They became victims of lust, but if a wife commits adultery, surely the husband also bears some fault. Is it not necessary to investigate why this married woman committed adultery with another man? Why was she unable to restrain the urges of passion? There must be reasons."

"Sin Liong, you are an immature boy, what do you know about lustful passion?" His master snapped, slightly taken aback because he found a hidden truth behind his disciple's objection. Suppressed laughter was heard here and there; even the Permaisuri herself held back a smile.

"Teecu... Teecu... I understand it from books...."

"The defense of an immature child regarding adultery committed by adults cannot be accepted. Execute the sentence and exile the three of them immediately to Pulau Neraka!" Han Ti Ong said.

The trial was adjourned, and the three convicts were then escorted out to have their sentence carried out: exile to Pulau Neraka, the most terrifying and feared punishment by all inhabitants of Pulau Es, because they all knew that being exiled to Pulau Neraka meant a life of torment and misery, worse than death! It was incidents like this that made Sin Liong's heart rebel. He deeply loved and admired his Suhu, but he considered the legal regulations on Pulau Es too cruel. Conversely, Han Ti Ong, understanding the disappointment in the heart of his disciple whom he admired and loved, tried to please his disciple by imparting his secret martial arts, so that within just another year, the skills of the fifteen-year-old youth became even more formidable.

It could be said that he was the only person who inherited the martial arts of Pulau Es. Although the Permaisuri also inherited many formidable techniques, compared to Sin Liong, she lacked talent, resulting in less perfect movements, especially in terms of Sinkang, where she lagged far behind. This was because Sin Liong was fundamentally a person with a strong inner spirit and was never dragged down by lust, whereas The Kwat Lin was a woman whose passions had been awakened since she was raped by Pat-jiu Kai-ong.

And one day, something happened that had long been anticipated—an event resulting from the suppressed atmosphere within the palace, which began with the entry of The Kwat Lin, who had now become the Permaisuri, into Pulau Es. That morning, Sin Liong was sitting alone in his favorite spot with Swat Hong, on the quietest part of the beach, a beach never covered by snow because the white sand, formed from broken coral, shells, and cocoons, seemed to always emit a warm aura.

While he was sitting lost in thought, he heard the sound of a drum being beaten rapidly, a sign that a very important court session was being held that morning—a session held approximately three months after the last three convicts were exiled to Pulau Neraka. The sound of the drum seemed to pound against Sin Liong's chest, as it was the sound he disliked the most, a sound indicating that someone else was about to be punished! So he did not move, deciding not to watch, because watching would only mean facing something that hurt his heart.

However, he leaped up when he heard Swat Hong's call, a call different from usual because the maiden's voice contained a startling sob.

"Kwa-suheng...!!"

Sin Liong was shocked to see the maiden running toward him, weeping, her face extremely pale.

"What is it, Sumoi?"

He asked before the maiden reached him.

"Suheng... disaster... My mother..."

Although his heart pounded with shock and surprise, Sin Liong remained calm as he held his Sumoi's shoulders and asked,

"What happened to your Mother? Calm down, Sumoi."

Swat Hong held back her sobs.

"They... they arrested my Mother and took her to the court session..."

Sin Liong furrowed his brows. This is too much, he thought. His curiosity made him act somewhat roughly. He took his Sumoi's hand, pulled the maiden, and said,

"Let's go see!"

When the two arrived at the courtroom, they found that the situation was completely different from previous court sessions because the atmosphere was extremely quiet. No one was allowed near the courtroom, and when Sin Liong and Swat Hong arrived, they were blocked by several guards,

"Pardon us, by His Majesty's order, no one is allowed to enter the court session today,"

They said. With both hands clenched into fists, Swat Hong leaped forward, her eyes wide and her face completely red,

"What did you say? You dare forbid me from entering the room? Are you tired of living?"

Sin Liong quickly grabbed his Sumoi's arm because he knew that if his Sumoi became angry, the consequences would be severe. The guards also retreated in fear because they understood how formidable the Princess was.

"Please report to your superiors that we will be entering the courtroom,"

Sin Liong said calmly to the guards.

"But we are only obeying orders. How dare we violate them?"

The head guard replied with a confused expression.

"I know. My mother is being tried, isn't she? Now, listen to me! Whatever happens to my mother, I must be present; if necessary, I will kill all of you just to get in!"

Swat Hong snapped again.

"Please step back and allow us to enter. We will bear the consequences ourselves,"

Sin Liong said again, and the two forced their way in. None of the guards dared to stop them, but they quickly ran inside to report.

Han Ti Ong frowned when he saw Sin Liong and Swat Hong entering the courtroom, but he merely nodded to the confused guards. This relieved the guards, and they quickly left the room to stand guard outside, as they too were forbidden from listening to the trial that was judging the Raja's wife! One can imagine how heartbroken Swat Hong was to see her mother calmly kneeling before the judgment table alongside a young man dressed as a palace servant. Her heart guessed the truth, and she felt horrified because seeing her mother and the youth kneeling there, she seemed to see Sia Gin Hwa and Lu Kiat, the two convicts who committed adultery! But she didn't believe it! It was impossible for her mother...!

However, she went limp and simply followed when Sin Liong pulled her and led her to sit in the row of side chairs, which this time was completely empty. Behind the long table sat only the Jaksa, the Hakim, Raja Han Ti Ong, his Permaisuri, and Han Bu Ong, an eight-year-old boy wearing beautiful clothes and sitting regally near his mother, his eyes looking toward Sin Liong and Swat Hong with arrogance. Then came the sharp voice of the Jaksa, a voice that sounded to Swat Hong's ears like a sword slash piercing her heart, and to Sin Liong like thunder in broad daylight!

"Liu Bwee, as the former wife of His Majesty, rising from an ordinary fisherman's daughter to an honored noble, you have repaid His Majesty's kindness with shameful and despicable disgrace, having been arrested for committing adultery with a young servant. This sin is immense because, besides bringing shame and dishonor upon His Majesty, if known to the outside world, it will tarnish the name of the Pulau Es Kingdom. Therefore, she deserves to be sentenced to the heaviest possible punishment."

"Lies...! Mother couldn't possibly...."

Swat Hong screamed and tried to leap forward to attack the Jaksa who dared to utter such accusations against her mother, but Sin Liong caught her arm to prevent his Sumoi from moving.

"Swat Hong! How dare you be insolent in front of your Father?"

Han Ti Ong's authoritative voice thundered.

"Father, that accusation is mere slander! It's impossible for Mother to commit such a filthy act. Where is the proof? Who are the witnesses?"

Swat Hong screamed again and again.

"Hong-ji, don't be like that. Your mother is not guilty, but we must submit to the rules and the law, my child. Calm down."

This statement came from Liu Bwee, who turned toward Swat Hong, her voice soft and clear, yet containing heart-wrenching sorrow.

"Liu Bwee, you have heard the accusation against you. What is your defense?"

The old Hakim's voice was heard, gentle and soft as usual, yet full of authority, because in this session, he was the most powerful person.

"I will not defend myself, but just as my daughter said, so as not to cause resentment, please state who the witnesses are and what evidence supports the accusation against me,"

Liu Bwee said calmly in a gentle voice. The Jaksa, who was among the members of the royal family displeased with Liu Bwee because he had previously hoped Han Ti Ong would choose his own daughter, immediately spoke loudly,

"The evidence? You were arrested while in the room with A Kiu, even though he is not your servant. What else could you have been doing if not committing adultery? A woman and a man who have no relationship being alone in a room! Furthermore, your adultery was witnessed by someone."

Swat Hong's face was pale one moment and red the next. She couldn't restrain her anger. Her mother was accused of adultery with a servant!

"Lies! That is not proof!! If there was a witness, then who witnessed it?"

She shouted, ignoring Sin Liong's restraint, who was still holding her arm, worried that the maiden might go berserk.

"I am the witness!"

Suddenly, a small, melodious voice was heard, and Han Bu Hong stood up with a challenging posture. The boy's mouth curled into a mocking smile, and his eyes shone brightly.

"Elder Sister Hong, I was the one who saw your mother and that servant on the bed...."

"Shhh, quiet...!"

The Permaisuri pulled her son back. But the Hakim spoke again,

"The great error committed by Liu Bwee has been proven. The greatest error a woman can commit..."

"Wait a minute!"

With an extremely pale face, Swat Hong interrupted the Hakim's words.

"This is unfair! We haven't heard A Kiu's statement yet. Hey, A Kiu, I believe you are a man of integrity and courage; it's impossible for a man from Pulau Es like you to stoop to slander like a despicable coward. Come on, tell us exactly what happened!"

Swat Hong's voice was very sharp, and A Kiu's face turned pale, his head bowing even lower. The atmosphere became silent and was finally broken by the Raja's voice,

"A Kiu, you are permitted to speak!"

The body trembled, the handsome face was extremely pale as he lifted it to look at the Raja, then glanced toward Liu Bwee, who remained calm and dignified, kneeling beside him. When he glanced toward Swat Hong, who stood with an arrogant posture looking at him, A Kiu sighed softly, then prostrated himself and said in a voice containing a sob,

"This servant is helpless... I was indeed in that room... but... not as the young Pangeran testified... I was forced because..."

"How dare you call my son a liar?"

This scream came from the Permaisuri's mouth, and a devastating blast of force swept out as the Permaisuri moved her left hand toward A Kiu.

"Dess...! Aungghh...!"

A Kiu's body was thrown tumbling and fell lifelessly, blood flowing from his mouth, nose, and ears. The long-distance strike delivered by the Permaisuri was incredibly powerful, hitting A Kiu's head, which naturally could not withstand it. The Hakim and Jaksa exchanged glances, while the Raja reprimanded his Permaisuri,

"You are too reckless...."

"Should I remain silent when a lowlife like him insults our son?"

The Permaisuri retorted with a slightly sharp voice. The Raja remained silent and took a deep breath. He felt confused and deeply saddened having to face this matter, then gave a signal to the Hakim while saying,