Great Jin Dynasty, twenty-seventh year of Chongming.
Qing Province, Black Goose City.
A steady drizzle fell from the sky, pattering onto the muddy ground.
It was just before dawn.
Yet the dim execution ground was already packed tight with people, inside and out.
Ji Changyin yawned as he slowly arrived and took a seat beneath the awning.
The crisp chill of the morning air made him pull his clothes tighter around himself, after which he edged closer to the fire burning beside the table.
Only after his body had warmed somewhat did he turn his gaze toward the execution ground before him.
There stood a somewhat lean yet upright figure in the center of the execution ground, a ghost-head saber in hand.
At the sight, Ji Changyin's brows faintly furrowed.
He then shifted his gaze beyond the execution ground, where several burly, high-spirited men stood among the common folk.
The already damp and frigid weather seemed even colder to Ji Changyin after this discovery.
"Alas."
He sighed softly, then beckoned over a soldier standing guard beside the awning.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
The soldier stepped forward and spoke respectfully.
"Tell everyone to keep their wits about them today. Today... is different!"
Ji Changyin said, his gaze fixed on the crowd watching outside the execution ground.
The soldier had followed him for years and understood his meaning. He immediately clasped his fists and acknowledged the order.
Only after watching the soldier leave and quietly notify the other soldiers around the execution ground did Ji Changyin feel somewhat reassured.
Because of its special location, Black Goose City had been designated as one of Qing Province's execution grounds. Some of the criminals throughout Qing Province were escorted here for execution.
As the garrison captain stationed in Black Goose City, Ji Changyin oversaw its prisons and execution grounds, and naturally served as the execution supervisor each time.
Though supervising executions required him to rise a little early, they ended quickly enough and were hardly a difficult duty.
But today was somewhat different.
Because the man to be beheaded today was the eldest son of the Golden Cicada Gang, Black Goose City's foremost gang—the son of the gang leader.
The Golden Cicada Gang's leader had fathered this son late in life and doted on him beyond measure, willing to pour out everything he possessed for him.
If his son truly lost his head today, Ji Changyin found it difficult to imagine whether the gang leader would go mad.
Thinking of this, Ji Changyin looked once more at the upright figure standing in the center of the execution ground.
There was a trace of curiosity in his eyes.
How was this kid... still alive?
Qin Zheng felt somewhat uneasy.
Although he had witnessed countless beheadings through the memories of his former self,
and to him, those memories were scarcely different from experiencing them firsthand,
actually being the one to wield the blade still made him deeply nervous.
Fortunately, after awakening his golden finger, he had gained some confidence.
With that thought, Qin Zheng moved his mind, separating a sliver of awareness to observe the scroll floating above the sea of his consciousness.
Qin Zheng Lifespan: 70 (17) Martial Arts: Ghost-head Saber Technique (Minor Mastery) Merit: None Current martial art, Ghost-head Saber Technique, can be upgraded. Requires five mace of merit. Upgrade?
As he looked at the contents of the scroll, Qin Zheng's heart gradually warmed.
Earlier, after gripping the ghost-head saber, he did not know why, but the Merit Scroll within him had awakened.
Overjoyed, he had hurriedly refined the ghost-head saber and learned the Ghost-head Saber Technique, thereby taking his first step through the door.
He then spent his remaining two mace of merit to raise the Ghost-head Saber Technique to Minor Mastery.
All three mace of merit he possessed had been spent clean.
Looking at the final prompt, Qin Zheng dearly wished to continue upgrading it, but he no longer had any merit to use.
He had muddle-headedly awakened this golden finger, and he did not know how merit was replenished.
But surely it was nothing more than doing good deeds and helping others.
Qin Zheng had already made up his mind. Once he chopped off this head today, he would immediately resign from his job as an executioner.
Then, after removing the palm print on his chest, he would roam the martial world and right wrongs!
That way, he could travel this world while accumulating merit to improve his martial arts.
What a joyous thing that would be!
With that thought, the unease in Qin Zheng's heart slowly settled.
He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and quietly waited for the moment to arrive.
"The hour of the dragon has arrived! Bring the prisoner forth!"
At that moment, a resounding voice suddenly rang out across the execution ground.
The surrounding commoners immediately erupted into an uproar.
There were curses, cries, and pleas of innocence and injustice.
Qin Zheng instantly opened his eyes and prepared himself.
Then, from one side of the execution ground, a young man dressed only in an inner garment and wearing shackles was escorted toward the center by two soldiers.
"You dog! Give me back my daughter!!"
"Beast! This is retribution! Heaven has eyes—you've finally met your punishment!"
"..."
The surrounding commoners roared with vile curses.
Yet the young man wore a broad smile, as though the curses were not aimed at him and the one about to lose his head was not him.
But upon closer inspection, one could see the vicious resentment churning in his eyes.
However, when he saw Qin Zheng, his expression first froze, then instantly turned deathly pale, and the resentment in his eyes became terror.
He hurriedly looked outside the execution ground. Only when he spotted a familiar figure did his expression ease again.
The two soldiers escorted him before the execution platform, tied his hands and feet, forced him to kneel, then turned and left.
"Do you know who I am?"
Qin Zheng was recalling the various techniques of the Ghost-head Saber Technique in his mind.
A voice suddenly sounded beside his ear, coming from the young man at his side.
Qin Zheng ignored him and continued preparing for what came next.
Receiving no response, the other man sneered and continued, "Though I do not know why you are still alive today instead of dead,"
"you should know yourself that death is not far away!"
This sentence instantly made Qin Zheng frown.
It was as though lightning flashed through his mind, instantly linking the words to the palm print on his chest.
The palm print on his body had been left by the forces backing this man!
But he had not even chopped off this man's head yet. Why had they already sent someone to kill him?
Could killing him somehow prevent this man from being beheaded?
Qin Zheng pricked up his ears and carefully listened to what the other man said next.
"If you know what is good for you, take the chance to cut the ropes on my hands and feet. Once I escape, I will naturally reward you handsomely."
"At the same time, I will have someone treat the injuries you have suffered."
"But if you refuse, then the only thing awaiting you is a road leading straight to death!"
His tone was lofty and overbearing, as though what he had just said were a gift bestowed upon Qin Zheng.
Then he said confidently, "Today, it is absolutely impossible for me to be beheaded!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng tightened his grip on the ghost-head saber and turned his gaze toward the other man.
Buzz!
Above the sea of his consciousness, the Merit Scroll suddenly trembled.
A line of words then appeared.
Shi Yan, lecherous and wicked, ravages men and women alike. Kill him, and gain one tael seven mace of merit!
Before you continue