Strange Tales of the Ghosts
Ch. 31 - Yab-Yum (Part 9)

Master Liu sat high up in the hall and interrogated the two who were kneeling on the ground, "What else is there to say?"

"I'm innocent, I didn't kill Master Li!" Su Qing'e looked at Master Liu, who had just made love with her an hour ago, and hallucinated that Master Liu could let her go.

"Innocent? You killed him and buried him, how are you innocent?"

"I admit that we buried him, but we really didn't kill him. He died in bed, I'm not lying!" Su Qing'e spilled everything that happened that night, including how they were making love in bed and how she found him dead, along with why Zhao Tianhu buried the body with her.

Everyone who came to listen was all murmured. All men kept quiet as most of them had spent a night with Su Qing'e before, and no women could stay cool-headed. They hated this slut and loathed her for seducing their husbands. Now that they knew Su Qing'e killed Master Li in bed, they were afraid that their husbands would end up the same, and they all shouted, "Kill this slut! Kill this demon!"

"N-No, don't kill me." Su Qing'e felt cold and sorrowful that all these people wanted to see her die. She hoped her crime wasn't heavy enough to get her killed.

Zhao Tianhu stayed silent for a long time, then he suddenly looked at Master Liu firmly, "If you must kill, kill me. It has nothing to do with Su Qing'e. She said that just to cover up the truth for me, she didn't kill him. I was the one who killed Master Li."

Everyone fell silent. Master Liu laughed coldly, "Zhao Tianhu, you've always caused problems, but why did you kill Master Li? Tell me the truth!"

"Because, because I went looking for Su Qing'e, but I found out that Master Li took her, I was angry and killed him!" Zhao Tianhu replied reasonably as if Master Li had really taken his love away from him.

When the others were considering who was telling the truth, tears filled Su Qing'e's eyes. She didn't know how many people she had slept with, but no one treated her like this other than Zhao Tianhu. She didn't know if this was love, but she knew this man was risking his life for her.

"Brother Zhao..."

"Don't. Even if I lose my head, I'll be a man again in eighteen years." Zhao Tianhu wasn't easily touched, but he felt bitter at her tears.

Su Qing'e cried and shook her head, "But you didn't kill him. Even if someone harmed him and caused his death, it was me. I should be the one to repay with my life."

"Enough! Stop arguing!" The hammer hit the table hard and Master Liu's face was as stern as if he was an ethical official. He cleared his throat and announced, "Master Li's murder case is clear: Zhao Tianhu and Su Qing'e were partners in crime and killed Master Li. I announce that Zhao Tianhu and Su Qing'e will be beheaded at the front of the market tomorrow at noon!"

Many cheered at the decision; whether they were in for the drama or hatred, everything was decided. Su Qing'e didn't know why, but she wasn't that scared when she heard their sentence. She even smiled as if she had dropped the heavy burden.

In fact, Master Liu didn't have the power to sentence them, and they should investigate the case more. But there was no need to continue as they fell into Master Liu's hands, and they would die sooner or later. Master Liu hoped that Su Qing'e's death could wash away the relationship he had with her; there was no way he would let her live.