Fa Cai the Ruffian Appears, Shi Dian Emerges! (Seeking Collections)

On the road outside Tongguan Town.

The ruffian led the way, with Qin Zheng following behind.

After walking to a large tree, the ruffian stopped, turned, and said to Qin Zheng with a tearful face, "Sir, I really can't go any further."

"The people in that ruined temple are all greenwood bandits. If they see me bringing you there, they'll definitely draw their sabers and hack me first."

"If you follow this road, it's about another mile to the ruined temple. Sir, please be merciful and let me go!"

Qin Zheng stared at him, and finally, his lips parted slightly, uttering a single word: "Scram."

Upon hearing this, the ruffian's face lit up with joy, and he turned to run back the way he came.

However, after only a few steps, he hesitated, turned back to look at Qin Zheng, and warned, "Sir, those people in the ruined temple are not simple."

"If it's not a deep-seated hatred, I advise you not to go."

Qin Zheng turned his head, looked at the ruffian, and asked, "What's your name?"

The ruffian was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Qin Zheng to ask his name.

After a moment of hesitation, he replied, "I've been an orphan since childhood, so I gave myself a name – Fa Cai."

Qin Zheng nodded and then said, "Go on. In the future, find some honest work to support yourself. Don't just wander around aimlessly."

The ruffian responded dazedly, then hesitantly turned and left.

Qin Zheng also turned around.

Those fifty meat pies from the old stall owner wouldn't even cost one piece of silver.

The thought flashed and disappeared. Qin Zheng immediately turned his gaze back to the road ahead.

He had come this time to act as bait, to lure Shi Dian out.

But the old man hadn't appeared; instead, he had found his hiding place.

Thinking about it, it was actually normal.

He, an executioner, was alone in Black Goose City, with no relatives in Tongguan Town.

Now that he had offended the Golden Cicada Gang, he wasn't staying put in Black Goose City but had come to such a poor and remote place.

There must be something wrong with this.

Even if Shi Yan knew about him, he would suspect a trap and wouldn't come out rashly.

It was just that Qin Zheng found it a bit strange that finding the other party's hiding place seemed too easy.

He had only walked around Tongguan Town and casually obtained crucial information from a stall owner.

Then, he got the other party's hiding place from a ruffian.

If it were this simple, Ji Changyin and Bailiff Xu from the yamen should have already taken action.

There would be no need for him to play the bait.

As Qin Zheng thought of this, his brows furrowed slightly, and then a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Everything was deliberate!

After he arrived in Tongguan Town, he might have already been detected by Shi Dian's men.

Then, they would use others to lure him, or Ji Changyin and Bailiff Xu behind him, to that ruined temple!

Therefore, if he continued to the ruined temple about a mile away, he might very well be ambushed!

Thinking of this, Qin Zheng's eyes narrowed. He immediately scanned his surroundings, trying to find Ji Changyin, who was hidden in the dark.

Regardless of the actual situation, he should first tell the other party his suspicions.

Moreover, Shi Dian had likely already figured out the identities of these two and prepared an ambush.

Hiding further would not be of much use.

But just as he was about to call out, a voice suddenly sounded from a distance.

"Sir! Don't go!!"

Qin Zheng focused his gaze and saw that it was indeed the ruffian Fa Cai, who had led him here earlier.

"There's a trap there! They told me to lure you guys there, and give me..."

Before the ruffian could reach him, Qin Zheng suddenly felt countless sharp arrows shoot out from the mountain beside him.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The arrows tore through the air, emitting sharp ripping sounds.

At the same time, the sounds of clashing weapons could be heard from the mountain.

This is bad!

Qin Zheng's pupils suddenly constricted.

Then, he abruptly pulled off the coarse cloth from his back and took the ghost-head saber into his hand.

"Get down!!!"

Qin Zheng deflected the arrows aimed at him with a few swift slashes.

He then used his full agility to rush towards Fa Cai the Ruffian, shouting loudly as he went.

However, Fa Cai the Ruffian seemed frozen in shock by the sudden turn of events, remaining completely still.

A ruthless glint flashed in Qin Zheng's eyes. He pushed off the ground again, his entire body moving like an illusion as he instantly appeared before Fa Cai the Ruffian.

Then, he swung his ghost-head saber like a shadow, blocking all the incoming arrows.

"Grandfather, thank you!"

Only then did Fa Cai the Ruffian snap back to reality, trembling as he spoke to Qin Zheng.

"Run! Don't look back!"

Qin Zheng hissed at him.

Fa Cai the Ruffian quickly nodded and fled rapidly in the direction of Tongguan Town.

The arrows from the mountain had stopped. Instead, the sounds of fierce weapon clashes could be heard.

It was likely the remnants of the Golden Cicada Gang, along with Ji Changyin and Bailiff Xu from the yamen, engaged in battle.

Qin Zheng didn't leave immediately, as these Golden Cicada Gang remnants, including Shi Dian, were prime targets for harvesting Merit.

An ordinary prisoner would only provide a few qian of Merit at most.

However, the two Golden Cicada Gang members Qin Zheng had killed so far, Shi Yan and Wei Feng, had each provided over an liang of Merit—one was worth more than several others combined!

Anyone who could survive this long without being captured and still be by Shi Dian's side would surely have even more Merit!

With this thought, Qin Zheng's eyes hardened. He took a step, activated his agility, and quickly darted into the mountains.

Following the sounds of battle, Qin Zheng soon spotted Ji Changyin, and beside him was a man in bailiff's attire.

The two of them wielded long sabers, fending off five or six remnants of the Golden Cicada Gang surrounding them. Several Golden Cicada Gang remnants already lay dead on the ground.

Seeing this, Qin Zheng quickly concealed himself and, after moving close to the battlefield, aimed at his target.

His figure exploded forward!

The ghost-head saber sliced through the air, leaving a white streak.

Then, before the enemy could react, he drew the blade across their throat.

Instantly, blood gushed from the neck, sending the head flying.

"Watch out! There could be surprise arrow attacks at any moment!"

Upon seeing Qin Zheng join the fray, Ji Changyin shouted.

Swish!

As soon as he spoke, an arrow flew towards them.

Qin Zheng sent the remnant in front of him flying with a saber strike, then twisted his blade, deflecting the arrow.

These remnants were not weak; they were all martial artists who had reached the Rùjìng realm.

Coupled with archers hiding in the shadows for surprise attacks, it was no wonder Ji Changyin and Bailiff Xu hadn't quickly subdued them.

Qin Zheng intentionally hid his strength at this moment, not unleashing wide, sweeping attacks to kill enemies.

However, even so, under the combined assault of the three, these remnants didn't last long before they were all killed and wiped out.

Seizing a moment, Qin Zheng diverted a sliver of his attention to the Merit Scroll.

He had killed three remnants and gained a total of four liang and three qian of Merit.

This filled Qin Zheng with joy.

The gains from this short period were more than what he'd earned over several days!

"Why aren't you running?"

At this moment, Ji Changyin, having confirmed all the remnants were dead, looked at Qin Zheng and asked.

"Reporting to you, sir, I also wish to contribute to eradicating the remnants of the Golden Cicada Gang!"

Qin Zheng responded with imposing righteousness.

"Is this the 'little executioner' you mentioned?"

On the other side, the tall Bailiff Xu from the yamen looked at Qin Zheng.

He then nodded and continued, "Not bad. Your saber skills are sharp; you're a promising talent."

"Thank you for your praise, Bailiff Xu!"

Qin Zheng clasped his hands in response.

"Let's go. Shi Dian dared to lure us here himself; he's likely close to breaking through!"

"We need to be extra careful from now on!"

Ji Changyin spoke, then led the way. They didn't loot the bodies. After returning to the road, they prepared to head towards the dilapidated temple.

This made Qin Zheng feel a slight sense of regret.

However, just as the three of them had walked a few steps, a familiar figure approached them.

It was the leader of the Golden Cicada Gang, Shi Dian!