Chapter Forty-Four: The Weight of the Law and the Night of the Demon Lord

The towering black stone bookshelves still stand tall within the Demon Realm's Department of Law, but many of the ancient legal codes that clearly favored the nobility, imposed harsh punishments, and had vague provisions have been removed. In their place are stacks of new draft laws that are being compiled and proofread.

This place became another core battlefield for the Nine Courts to implement their new policies. And the one presiding over this "battle of the law" was none other than the newly appointed Duke of Ting—Moro.

At this moment, Moreau sat behind his large desk, surrounded by the most learned and enthusiastic officials of the Department of Justice, as well as several impoverished scholars who had distinguished themselves in the recruitment hall and were well-versed in legal statutes. The desk, the floor, and even the side table next to him were piled high with open files and drafts covered with annotations.

"Article 127, the old law stipulated: 'If a commoner injures a nobleman's limbs, depending on the severity of the circumstances, one of his hands or feet shall be cut off, or all his property shall be confiscated.'" A young official read out the old clause, his brow furrowed.

"Absurd!" another student from the common people couldn't help but mutter in disapproval. "When nobles harm commoners, they often only need to pay a small amount of magic crystals to settle the matter! Different punishments for the same crime, where is the justice in that?"

Morrow raised his hand to signal him to calm down, and picked up his pen to write on the new draft: "Anyone who intentionally injures another person, regardless of status, shall be sentenced and convicted according to the severity of the injury and the motive. The compensation standard shall also be consistent." He pondered for a moment and added, "Note: If law enforcement officers abuse their power and deliberately show favoritism, they shall be punished the same as the offenders, and their punishment shall be increased by one degree."

This is just a small glimpse. The revision work is massive and arduous. They need to review thousands of old laws one by one, abolish those that are obviously unjust and cruel, such as collective punishment, some cruel corporal punishments, or outdated clauses, and revise those vague and ambiguous parts that are easy for the powerful to misinterpret and exploit.

Although Jiu Ya did not personally participate in the deliberation of every word and sentence, she set a clear tone for the revision work and infused it with the core of the rule of law spirit from modern society.

“His Majesty has decreed,” Moreau conveyed to all members involved in the revision during a crucial discussion, “that the core of the new law lies in ‘fairness’ and ‘clarity.’ First, it is necessary to emphasize ‘legality of crime and punishment’—what constitutes a crime and what punishment should be imposed must be clearly stated in the law, and cannot be arbitrarily determined based on ‘old precedents,’ ‘customs,’ or the personal preferences of law enforcement officers.”

"Secondly, we must attach great importance to the 'chain of evidence.' Confessions cannot be the sole basis for conviction. They must be corroborated by physical evidence, magic code records, reliable witnesses, etc., to form a complete chain before a conviction can be made. Confessions obtained through torture are invalid, and those who tortured the confession will be held accountable."

"Thirdly, a strict decree must be added: any form of abuse of power or arbitrary bullying of the weak is strictly prohibited. Within the demon race, regardless of strength, their basic survival and dignity are protected by law. This clause must be written into the general outline of the law as a top priority!"

These ideas were groundbreaking for many demon officials accustomed to old ways of thinking. There was no shortage of debate and skepticism, but with Moro's persistence and Jiuya's explicit support, these ideas, representing a more advanced direction of civilization, were gradually inscribed into the new laws of the demon realm.

Months later, a completely revamped draft of the "Demon Realm Code" was finally completed. After being reviewed and approved by the Nine Sovereigns, it was officially promulgated throughout the land!

On the day the new law was promulgated, a colossal magic crystal monument was erected in the central square of the Demon City, inscribed with the general principles and core provisions of the new law in enormous magical script. Moro personally delivered the address, his voice amplified through a magical array, proclaiming to all demons the arrival of a new era of rule of law.

However, the life of the law lies in its enforcement. Promulgation is merely the beginning.

Jiuya knew that even the best laws were just empty words if they weren't strictly enforced. She immediately made arrangements.

From Li Yue's Imperial Guard, elite troops were selected to form an "Enforcement Team" directly under the Ministry of Justice, responsible for enforcing the law and apprehending suspects in Shanghai and surrounding important areas. They were well-equipped, highly trained, and repeatedly instilled with the spirit of the new laws.

Xing Yuan was responsible for establishing an independent oversight system, dispatching censors to inspect various regions, supervise the implementation of the new laws, handle public complaints, and report directly to the Nine Courts and the Ministry of Justice.

The new law did indeed encounter considerable resistance at the beginning of its implementation. Many former nobles, accustomed to their past privileges, outwardly complied with but inwardly defied the new law's provisions on "equal punishment for the noble and the common," and even openly challenged it.

Soon, the test began.

In Shanghai, a powerful young nobleman rode his demon cavalry recklessly through the streets, injuring an elderly demon vendor. Instead of apologizing or offering compensation, he assaulted the vendor, claiming the vendor was blocking his way, displaying extreme arrogance. Passersby dared not speak out in anger.

The incident was quickly reported to the Department of Justice. The enforcement team was dispatched swiftly, and after gathering sufficient evidence at the scene, they stormed into the nobleman's residence and arrested him.

The noble family was immediately thrown into turmoil. The patriarch personally intervened, first attempting to bribe the captain of the law enforcement team with a large sum of money, but was sternly refused. He then invoked his connections to pressure Moro and even several elders with whom the family had a history, claiming, "It's just the beating of a lowly commoner, why make such a fuss?" "Based on the merits of our ancestors, we should show leniency."

Some people even secretly spread rumors, slandering the new law as being too harsh and inhumane.

The pressure was passed down layer by layer, eventually reaching Jiu Ya's desk.

Jiu Ya only wrote two words on the petition pleading for leniency:

"In accordance with the law."

Not only that, she also had Bai Yu secretly record the names and words of those who pleaded for leniency.

On the day of the public trial, the square was packed with people. Faced with irrefutable evidence and the new legal provisions, the nobleman's son had no way to deny it. Moro personally presided over the court and, based on the provisions of the new law regarding intentional injury and bullying of the weak, sentenced him to the maximum penalty: one-third of his cultivation would be abolished, he would be imprisoned for ten years, and he would be ordered to compensate the victim with a huge amount of magic crystals and all medical expenses.

The verdict caused an uproar. The old nobles turned pale; they finally realized that the new Demon Lord was serious, and the era of privilege was over. The ordinary demons, after a brief moment of shock, erupted in cheers. In this impartial judgment, they truly saw hope for order and justice.

Following this, Jiuya severely reprimanded the noble families who had been most vocal and attempted to exert pressure, citing "interference with the judiciary," and confiscated a large portion of their property, which was deposited into the national treasury as a warning.

This case thoroughly established the authority of the new law.

Subsequently, several more cases involving aristocratic privilege challenging the new laws were investigated and dealt with by the enforcement team and the legal department with the same firm stance. Xingyuan's supervisory system also began to play a role, uncovering several former officials who were attempting to deceive their superiors and misinterpret the new laws while in other places.

Under this iron fist, the new laws were swiftly implemented. While imbalances persisted throughout the Demon Realm, the concept of "equality before the law" began to take root. Bullying the weak, though not entirely eradicated, was significantly reduced, as perpetrators began to genuinely fear the law's punishment.

The light in the Demon Lord's study was often the last one to go out in the Demon Palace.

Outside the window, the eternal night sky of the Demon Realm was a deep, inky blue, with sparse demonic stars like cold gems embedded in it. Occasionally, a demonic falcon, trailing a ghostly light, would silently fly by, adding to the desolation. The hustle and bustle within the palace had long since subsided, and even the footsteps of the patrolling guards sounded distant and rhythmic, like the pulse of this enormous palace as it slept.

Inside the study, however, it remained as bright as day. A huge magic crystal lamp cast a soft yet bright light into every corner, illuminating the mountains of memorials, documents, and spread-out maps.

Jiu Ya sat behind her large desk, her posture still upright, but the weariness in her eyes was even more pronounced than during the day. She had just finished reviewing a document on the allocation of grain supplies from a border military town, carefully checking the figures and writing down her comments.

She put down her pen, leaned back gently in her chair, closed her eyes, and unconsciously massaged her throbbing temples with her fingertips. This weariness was more of a feeling of frailty after the very essence of life had been quietly drained away.

The Secret of Burning Marrow and Eroding the Heart.

The terrifying cost of this domineering technique that grants her the power to turn the tide in desperate situations is becoming increasingly clear as time goes by and the power is used more frequently.

She quietly circulated the magic power within her body. The power was still vast and pure, possessing the attribute of scorching everything; with a thought, it could shatter gold and break jade. But beneath the surging veins of this power, she could clearly "perceive" a kind of "passing away."

It was as if an invisible stream was being quietly drawn from her life force, flowing into the operation of that domineering technique and transforming into the power to incinerate the enemy. Each time she exerted her full strength, each time her realm was elevated, this flow accelerated.

She didn't even need a mirror to "feel" the few silver strands hidden beneath her cloud-like hair. They grew stubbornly, clashing with the surrounding jet-black hair, coldly reminding her of the price she had paid. Her face remained young, her skin smooth—a facade maintained by powerful magic. But deep within her profound eyes lay a world-weariness far beyond her years.

She opened her eyes, her gaze falling on a corner of the desk. There lay several newly delivered briefings.

One report came from Moro, detailing the smooth implementation of the new laws in several areas that had previously faced the greatest resistance, earning praise from the people and resulting in a significant improvement in public order. Attached was a detailed case of a lower-ranking demon who successfully sued a minor nobleman who had oppressed him, obtaining fair compensation, all thanks to the new laws.

One of the documents was sent by Qingcheng. The Bureau of Industry and Machinery had successfully mass-produced a batch of more efficient agricultural magical tools using the newly allocated magic crystal resources. They were preparing to pilot and promote these tools in several impoverished counties, and it was expected to significantly increase grain production.

Another document, compiled by Xing Yuan, states that the Recruitment Hall recently recruited more than a dozen talents with various specialties. Among them, a craftsman skilled in water conservancy proposed an amazing idea to transform the underground drainage system of Shanghai, which has been adopted and validated by the Bureau of Industry and Machinery.

There was even a thank-you letter from an extremely remote tribe, written on rough animal hide, expressing gratitude to the venerable one for sending physicians and providing medicines, which prevented a plague that could have wiped out the tribe.

These papers are very light, but when you hold them in your hands, they feel as heavy as a thousand pounds.

This is not just cold numbers and platitudes on a report, but evidence that her policies, her efforts, and the price she has paid are truly and gradually changing the world.

The time and strength she gained by trading her lifespan were not wasted on endless infighting and pleasure, but were truly transformed into nutrients that nourished this land.

Is it worth it?

Those few glaring white hairs in the mirror seemed to be swaying in front of my eyes again.

Jiuya took a slow breath. "It's worth it," she murmured to herself. "The time and power gained by exchanging lifespan must be used in more valuable ways."

Which is more important, an individual's lifespan or the recovery of a world and the well-being of hundreds of millions of people?

The fatigue remained, and the emptiness of life slipping away could not be dispelled. But these feelings no longer swayed her will; instead, they transformed into a kind of motivation—she had to do more and do better in the limited time she had.

She sat up straight again and reached for the next memorial.

That was Changdong's detailed plan for the rotation of border defenses, involving the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops and the allocation of countless resources. She examined it extremely carefully, frequently making annotations in red ink, raising questions, and requesting additional data.

The night outside the window grew even deeper.

The lights in the study remained on steadily, illuminating the figure bent over his work.

Every document reviewed and every decision made is quietly shaping the future of the Demon Realm.

And she did it willingly.