Volume One, Chapter Twelve: Can the "Code of Hammurabi" Not Crush You?

Chapter Twelve: "Hammurabi"—Can't Smash You to Death?

Tu Zhe stroked Dog's fur with sincerity written all over his face. "Sir, are you familiar with the Code of Hammurabi?"

Mo Le Shabi was momentarily stunned—who wouldn't know that?

Tu Zhe continued, "Sir, do you know the chapter concerning Celestial Servants in the Code of Hammurabi?"

Mo Le Shabi's eyelid twitched. "If you've something to say, just say it. Beating around the bush isn’t a good habit."

With a solemn expression, Tu Zhe pressed on, "Then I’ll be direct. Sir, do you know what Article 121, Section Three of the Celestial Servants chapter in the Code of Hammurabi contains? Please enlighten me!"

Mo Le Shabi thought for a moment and suddenly grew enraged. "Are you trying to corner me with the code?"

Tu Zhe’s gaze turned cold. "Is it difficult for you to abide by the Code of Hammurabi, sir? Or does the relevant content already put you in a tight spot?"

Mo Le Shabi seemed choked, his throat working for a while before he finally burst out in anger, "You—you—are you here to cause trouble on purpose?"

Tu Zhe snorted coldly. "If your heart were pure and you served the Celestial Lords, princes, princesses, and commoners faithfully, how would trouble find you?"

Taking a step forward, Tu Zhe shouted, "You fool! If you refuse to tell me, then allow me to recite it for you. Article 121, Section Three of the Celestial Servants chapter in the Code of Hammurabi states: 'Celestial Servants must uphold the precept against false speech. They must not claim titles such as Lord, King, Exalted, Throne, Sir, etc. Those who violate this shall be struck twenty times by the superior as a warning.' Tell me, fool, when did you shed your servant status and dare to call yourself 'sir'?"

Mo Le Shabi’s face flushed a dark, livid hue. "You slander me! When have I ever called myself 'sir'?"

Tu Zhe burst out laughing. "I’m not the only one with long ears here! You slapped your own mouth, and before your words faded, you already denied it. Do you think the ears of the Celestial Princes, the Sirs, and all these onlookers are mere ornaments?"

Dog waved his little paw and shrieked, "I heard it too! Don't you dare deny it!"

Many among the crowd, having suffered Mo Le Shabi’s petty tyranny, seized the opportunity, clamoring loudly:

"We heard it as well! Denial is useless—"

"I’ve disliked this fellow for ages. Which superior will step up and give him twenty slaps?"

Some timid ones whispered advice to their boisterous friends:

"Keep your voice down. Who doesn’t know how vile he is? But if you’re not afraid of him, aren’t you afraid of the Eight Celestial Princes? Trouble comes from loose tongues—watch your words..."

Mo Le Shabi was beside himself with rage; his reputation was utterly ruined today. He couldn't help but roar, "Who dares slap me—me, I mean, slap my face? I’ll make you regret your reckless words—"

Tu Zhe declared loudly, "Article 96, Section Eight of the Celestial Servants chapter in the Code of Hammurabi states: 'If Celestial Servants, when guilty of a precept, intimidate witnesses with words or threaten them with force not to testify, their crime is increased; they shall be shackled and exposed tenfold by the superior.' Have I quoted incorrectly, sir?"

"You—"

Mo Le Shabi was pounding his chest, nearly bursting with fury.

Tu Zhe pressed on, "Article 10, Section One of the Celestial Servants chapter says: 'Celestial Servants, upon encountering Celestial Lords, princes, princesses, Nightshade Kings, Dragon Elephant Kings, Garuda (Golden-Winged Great Peng), and other superiors, must address them by their honorifics and kneel in salute.' Tell me, fool, my father and uncle are Celestial Lords, ranking among the minor Celestial Kings, and my brothers and I are Celestial Princes. Does that not make us superiors as defined by the code? If so, why have you not yet saluted? Do you, mere servant, treat the Code of Hammurabi as if it doesn't exist?"

Righteous and unwavering, Tu Zhe stood his ground, the moral high ground firmly in hand. Jin Mu and Jin Si, brothers, were filled with pride—such eloquence and courage! Among all Celestial Princes and Princesses across countless realms, who could match him?

As they reveled in this, a surge of lightning swept from the direction of the Imperial Palace in Shan Jian City, overwhelming and grand. A cold, mocking voice rang out: "What a clever-tongued Celestial Prince. Shall I reason with you?"

From that direction, the void erupted with thunder, two bolts thick as giant serpents twisting and clashing in midair, generating even greater force. Purple lightning and azure flashes coiled and flickered, thunder booming continuously as if tearing the very fabric of space. A tremendous power, pressing upon every inch of skin and every pore, instilled fear deep in the heart.

The crowd looked up, their faces changing.

Jin Mu groaned, glancing at the equally wary Jin Si. "It's the Eight Celestial Princes and his Lightning Fate Severance. Brother, he won’t let this go easily. What should we do now?"

Jin Si clenched his fists and growled, "Either way, we've endured this humiliation for ages. I won’t stand for it any longer. If anyone dares touch these two children today, I’ll stake my life and fight him to the end."

Hearing this, Jin Mu stamped his foot. "Enough! Let’s see how they dare move against my two sons!"

In the sky, a great cloud drifted closer, slow yet inevitable. Standing atop it, hands behind his back, was Huluzhina, the Eight Celestial Princes, clad in dragon-scale armor, a phoenix-plumed helmet, and kirin boots. A host of Celestial Princes followed, and behind them surged hundreds of fierce Great Yaksha Generals, each brandishing treasured weapons and raising banners, coming in force. The crowd saw that the flickering lightning in the void above and below originated from Huluzhina's eyes. Fear gripped them all; none dared breathe.

Tu Zhe took a deep breath, gazing calmly, sighing, "My, deploying the machinery of violence for the sake of a mere servant. How amusing..."

He released his spiritual sense, intending to communicate with Dog—his first time employing this power. Ever since absorbing the ancestral soul fragment of Chiyou, his divine awareness had grown immensely, able to perceive things thousands of miles away with perfect clarity regardless of size. He had scarcely had time to appreciate the transformation of body and mind since absorbing Chiyou’s soul fragment and unexpectedly gaining a physical form.

Dog responded, a spiritual message arriving: "Hey, rogue brother, what do you need?"

Tu Zhe quickly initiated spiritual communication: "Can you see through things? If so, check how many treasures are in the Heavenly Artisan Treasure Pavilion. Don’t let anyone notice—can you do that?"

Dog smirked: "Is that all? Not a single item escapes me, no matter where it’s hidden, even if a servant has placed a restriction—useless, hehe."

At this moment, none was more thrilled or smug than Mo Le Shabi. The master craftsman hadn’t arrived, but the Eight Minor Celestial Lords had—better still. He could hardly wait to see Tu Zhe’s demise. He threw himself down the seven-jeweled steps, prostrated himself, and cried, "Servant Mo Le Shabi greets the Minor Celestial Lords!"

Tu Zhe clicked his tongue. How utterly servile.

Today, Tu Zhe dared create such a spectacle only after careful consideration. He knew Mo Le Shabi’s backer was Huluzhina, who would surely stand up for his servant—interests demanded it. But why did he specifically invoke the Code of Hammurabi? He wanted, in front of the masses, to corner the opposition with the code and teach them a lesson, or else his family would suffer endlessly.

What is a scoundrel? Scoundrels are made by the indulgence of the good.

Does he lack supernatural powers? Is his family outsiders? The Code of Hammurabi is the constitution and criminal code of the entire Renli Celestial Realm. Today, he would wield the code as a blade—if it couldn’t kill them, it would at least disgust them.