Interesting

"Fang Xuan, how could you? How could you kill an imperial official? And... didn't you say you were only going to show me the true nature of Pingjiang City's constables? Why did you lie to me?"

Even after so much time had passed, Chen Zijin still turned pale and trembled all over whenever she recalled that constable who had been split in two, his belly ripped open.

She raised her head and looked at Fang Xuan, standing before her with a faint smile at the corner of his lips and an utterly unconcerned expression. She truly could not imagine it.

How had this rogue, only a few years older than her own younger brother, managed to gut a man and cleave him in half without the slightest hesitation or messiness?

Fang Xuan did not answer. He merely spread his hands and said, "Miss Chen, look. You said that whenever we suffered unfair treatment in the past, we could report it to the authorities. Now you've seen these so-called authorities yourself. Do you think they can be reported to?"

Recalling the lecherous gaze Yang Zheng had swept over her without restraint, Chen Zijin's face turned pale, then green. At last, she bit her lip lightly and said:

"You cannot condemn a whole group with one stroke because of one person. That is wrong. I have always believed that no matter how rotten the world becomes, no matter how treacherous people's hearts are, there are still more good people than bad people in this world! More good officials than corrupt ones!"

Having said that, Chen Zijin raised her head to look at Fang Xuan. After hesitating for a moment, she said softly:

"Fang Xuan, I have learned a little about what happened to you all in the past. Indeed, many times you were driven by life itself, but you cannot simply sink into depravity and abandon yourselves. This road of yours will not lead far. In the end, evil cannot suppress righteousness. I believe your natures are not bad. So long as you can turn back from your wandering ways, it is never too late."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Fang Xuan hurriedly cut her off, his head buzzing. At last, he understood why Chen Jingming found this young lady—who would probably have been called a saintly mother in his previous life—so unbearably annoying.

He truly wanted to say six words—

Master, please stop chanting already!

Chen Zijin looked at Fang Xuan's dejected expression, like he had seen a ghost, and could not help blushing. "Was I... talking a little too much?"

Fang Xuan gave her a look that plainly said, You seem rather self-aware, and silently glanced at Chen Zijin.

Chen Zijin's face reddened further. After coughing softly, she shook her head and said:

"Fang Xuan, tonight I will take Father and hurry back to the prefectural city overnight. If you can, please speak to A-Ming for me. Father never intended to abandon him back then. The one who was truly abandoned... was me."

"And it is not too late for my younger brother to study and seek scholarly honors. Do not be fooled by how the imperial court seems to be in deep waters and blazing fire. In truth, not only does the court still have some strength left, but even if it falls... in the end, dynasties may change, but the class does not. Scholars will always be scholars, no matter the dynasty or generation. Please persuade him more."

"Lastly, if you have the chance later, you may come to the prefectural city to find me. I... I will remember you!"

After saying this, Chen Zijin, who had always looked so pitiably delicate, drew a deep breath and turned to leave.

Only two words drifted softly over from afar.

"Take care."

Fang Xuan watched Chen Zijin's receding figure. After a long silence, he gave a low laugh.

"Interesting."

Rain poured down in sheets, while the river rolled on without end.

After walking for roughly half an hour, Fang Xuan arrived at the river bend where he had buried the jars before. He lifted the pile of grass and pulled out a jar of Whale Blood buried in the earth.

He peeled away the clay seal, raised the jar, and tipped his head back, taking a mouthful of Whale Blood.

He glanced at the raging Ping River, where furious waves surged without cease, and could not help letting out a bold, ringing laugh.

"Today is greatly auspicious!"

Bang—!

With one stomp, he shot forward like a cannonball before plunging into the churning waves!

Beneath lightning and thunder, atop the furious sea-like torrent.

Someone battled the waves alone!

"Have you heard? Someone died last night!"

"In times like these, isn't it normal for one or two people to die? What day does Heaven not take someone away?"

"No! It was Yang Zheng who died!"

"Which Yang Zheng? Wait! Hiss—! You mean Yang Zheng from the county yamen, the one in charge of our East City, is dead?!"

"That's right, him! I heard he was cleaved alive into two halves! Two constables following him also died. They say their heart meridians were shattered in an instant—yes, shattered—and they died on the spot!"

"If they had not found him early enough, Yang Zheng's corpse would have been half-eaten by the wild dogs outside the city!"

"Hahaha! Heaven has opened its eyes! Which heroic champion did such a good deed?"

"Good riddance!"

Early the next morning, the entire East City exploded as though a single stone had stirred a thousand waves!

The streets and alleys were filled with talk of Yang Zheng's death. Countless commoners, and even some yamen runners and clerks, secretly applauded and cheered!

Yang Zheng had run rampant and tyrannized others. Not only had he cruelly preyed upon the common folk, often violating other men's wives and daughters and swallowing up land, but relying on his family's status as wealthy gentry, he had also acted domineeringly in the county yamen. Anyone not in league with him was liable to suffer his deliberate harassment, beatings, and scoldings!

Everyone in East City, high and low alike, had long suffered under Yang Zheng!

Now that Yang Zheng was dead, countless people did not dare show too much joy openly, fearing the Yang Family's wrath and revenge. Yet in secret, they had long since blossomed with laughter. Those with slightly better means even made roast chicken at home for the rare occasion, offering it in thanks to their ancestors' blessings!

Beyond that, the topic that filled East City even more was the cause of Yang Zheng's death.

Some said Yang Zheng's deeds had been too vicious, angering the Dragon King, who had sent shrimp soldiers and crab generals to claim his life!

Some said a divine being, three zhang tall with three eyes and a golden blade in hand, had descended to earth and slain Yang Zheng with a single stroke!

Others said that Yang Zheng had set his sights on a woman as beautiful as a celestial maiden the night before and harbored evil intentions, only for her husband to turn out to be an unrivaled martial arts master whose blade had killed him!

In short, with Yang Zheng's death, East City grew ever more clamorous, and all manner of rumors spread into increasingly bizarre and grotesque shapes.

Each person spoke with utter conviction, as though they had witnessed it with their own eyes!

Amid the noisy commotion.

Fang Xuan, dressed in Short Azure Clothes and carrying a flask of Whale Blood wine, walked through the crowd.

This was a new discovery he had made regarding Whale Blood. Soaking wine in Whale Blood could not increase his progress, but it could warm the sinews and nourish the meridians, moistening and strengthening the flesh.

Especially after a night of training, one sip of Whale Blood wine made much of the night's exhaustion seem to melt away.

Creak.

Fang Xuan entered Tong'an Alley and had just pushed open the door.

Several people were already seated in the fenced courtyard.

"Brother Xuan!"

One Line Sky, Water Monkey, Chen Jingming, and Chu Chong all stood to greet him.

Fang Xuan nodded. Before he could speak—

Water Monkey rushed out with an animated expression. "Brother Xuan, good news! Tremendous news! That bastard Yang Zheng had committed too many unjust deeds and brought destruction upon himself. Even the Dragon King could not stand the sight of him and took his life!"

"Bullshit! Your Dragon King knows how to gut people now, does he?"

One Line Sky narrowed his little eyes and glared at Water Monkey. With a snort, he said, "Yang Zheng was cut from head to tail in one stroke. The wound was clean and sharp, without a single pause. It was clearly the work of a great master deeply versed in the Dao of the Blade!"

"I don't care! It was the Dragon King! It must have been the Crab General under the Dragon King who snipped Yang Zheng into two halves!"

"Idiot!"

Seeing the two were about to start arguing, Fang Xuan waved his hand.

"Enough. You are all grown men already. What is there to argue about? Besides, Yang Zheng died today, but perhaps Liu Zheng, Wang Zheng, or Li Zheng will pop up tomorrow. This is the way of the world. The death of one Yang Zheng changes nothing."

As soon as those words fell—

One Line Sky and Water Monkey glared at each other, snorted coldly at the same time, and turned their heads away.

Fang Xuan pulled over a wooden chair and sat down. After thinking for a moment, he spoke solemnly.

"It is good that you are all here. I have something I want to tell you as well."

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