Cluck, cluck, cluck!
A rooster crowed, its call echoing through the vast Black Goose City.
The pitch-black night sky was lit by a thread of dawn sunlight arriving from the east.
Qin Zheng had risen long ago. After brewing soup and taking his medicine, he practiced martial arts in the small courtyard, circulating his blood and qi.
The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill had thirteen forms in all, seemingly corresponding exactly to thirteen realms.
Practicing this martial art stimulated the body's blood and qi far more powerfully and effectively than other martial arts.
Thus, after testing the several martial arts he had mastered in turn, Qin Zheng had made this skill his main method for circulating his blood and qi.
As he slowly completed a set of movements, white steam rose from his entire body. His blood surged rapidly, driving out blood and qi to strengthen his physique.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The courtyard gate was knocked on again.
Qin Zheng finished his practice, walked to the courtyard gate, and opened it.
Standing before him was the dark-skinned, honest-looking Wang Er.
"Brother Wang, what brings you here?"
Looking at him, Qin Zheng raised his brows slightly. Then, as though recalling something, he said knowingly, "Is there another execution today?"
Although Black Goose City was one of Qing Province's main execution grounds, prisoners were not beheaded every day.
Thus, whenever executions were required, the execution ground would generally notify the executioners in advance.
Previously, the constables from the yamen had always delivered the notice on their behalf. After all, the execution ground was outside Black Goose City, while the yamen was more conveniently located within the city.
Yet now, Wang Er, a soldier from the execution ground, had come to notify him both times.
"Yes, several prisoners are to be executed today."
Wang Er nodded. Joy surged across his face as he said, "Brother Qin, did you know? Shi Dian is dead!"
"The Golden Cicada Gang leader Shi Dian—the one who stormed the execution ground that day and was driven back by Captain Ji!"
"I heard Bailiff Xu from the yamen killed him outside Black Goose City. His heart was pierced through by a single blade, leaving a wound as wide as a bowl. Even in death, he could not close his eyes!"
As Wang Er spoke, he gestured animatedly, clearly thrilled.
A sharp gleam flashed through Qin Zheng's eyes.
Bailiff Xu had ultimately claimed the credit for this deed!
That spared him quite a bit of trouble!
"I knew you'd been on edge lately, afraid that old bastard would come seeking revenge. The moment I heard the news, I hurried over to tell you."
"Now things are good. You can live a little more peacefully."
A warm current immediately flowed through Qin Zheng's heart.
He raised both hands and clasped his fists in salute. "Thank you for the news, Brother Wang. Now I can finally sleep soundly!"
Wang Er laughed heartily, then said, "Get ready quickly and come with me to the execution ground outside the city."
Qin Zheng nodded. He returned to his room, picked up the Ghost-Head Saber, wrapped it in coarse cloth, slung it diagonally over his shoulder, and set off for the execution ground.
After arriving at the military camp, the two parted ways. Carrying the Ghost-Head Saber, Qin Zheng headed straight into the execution ground.
While waiting for the prisoners to be brought out, he looked toward the execution platform.
Ji Changyin sat upright in his seat, his expression unchanged. He showed no surprise at Qin Zheng's appearance, merely watching the center of the execution ground with calm eyes.
It seemed he had learned that Qin Zheng was alive at the very first opportunity.
That was what Qin Zheng thought to himself.
Soon afterward, the prisoners were escorted out of the prison.
There were three of them. The man in front was young, his expression calm, as though the one about to be beheaded was not him.
The two behind him were also young, but they were utterly despondent and haggard, like corpses without souls.
Once the three were forced to their knees, the soldiers who had escorted them left.
Qin Zheng had inherited the memories of his former self and had become an executioner himself, cutting off several heads.
Thus, he had seen all manner of prisoners facing death.
Some wailed bitterly, some were dazed and listless, and some cursed wildly.
But those who faced death calmly were rather rare.
Especially ones so young.
With that thought, Qin Zheng could not help looking at the young man in front.
Yet this time, no new words appeared on the Merit Scroll.
In other words, this man did not deserve to die!
Qin Zheng then turned his gaze toward the other two young men.
Likewise, the Merit Scroll showed no reaction.
That meant those two young men did not deserve death either!
This was the first time Qin Zheng had encountered such a situation at the execution ground. Though the prisoners he had beheaded before had yielded varying amounts of merit, they had all deserved to die, clearly unlike these three prisoners before him.
He hesitated for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.
No matter the era, injustices could never be avoided.
All one could say was that in the eyes of powerful aristocratic clans, so-called truth, right and wrong, good and evil were all merely whatever they said they were!
These three young men might not have been kind by nature, but they did not deserve to be beheaded.
What had happened to them was perhaps known only in their own hearts.
Still, this served as a warning to Qin Zheng.
If one day, a prisoner like the old monk Chongming appeared at this execution ground, and killing him would deduct a hundred taels of his merit—
How should he respond then?
Should the Ghost-Head Saber in his hand fall, or not?
Qin Zheng did not consider himself a saint sent to save the world. He could not quell every injustice or rescue every wronged person.
Keeping himself alive was the most important thing.
It seemed that in the future, he could not behead just any prisoner.
At the very least, before an execution, he needed to know whether that prisoner deserved to die, and whether killing him would deduct his merit.
Likewise, he still needed to continuously strengthen himself!
He had to remember: a fist was power!
Only by becoming stronger could he prevent such things from happening to himself!
Just as countless thoughts churned through Qin Zheng's mind—
"The auspicious hour has arrived—execute!!"
Along with the throwing of the execution token,
A resounding voice rang out across the execution ground.
Qin Zheng came back to himself and swung the Ghost-Head Saber.
"May you three rest in peace!"
At the same time, he spoke aloud so the three prisoners before him could hear.
Then—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three swift flashes of saber light swept past, and three heads fell to the ground.
After that, it no longer had anything to do with Qin Zheng.
He wiped the blade clean, wrapped it in coarse cloth, and slung it diagonally over his shoulder.
When he raised his head, Ji Changyin had already left the execution platform.
That man seemingly had no intention of summoning him.
Qin Zheng walked out of the execution ground. The commoners who had watched the execution were already leaving in twos and threes.
Only a plainly dressed woman remained, sitting alone on the ground and weeping bitterly.
She continued crying out words such as, "Elder brothers," and, "I'm the one who harmed you."
Elsewhere, a pale-faced young master sat in a reclining chair, with brawny household guards standing at either side.
His gaze fell maliciously and smugly upon the three headless corpses on the execution ground.
Noticing Qin Zheng looking over, the young master turned his head and said with disgust and disdain, "What are you looking at? Get lost! You're bad luck!"
He then looked again at the woman sitting on the ground and weeping bitterly, letting out a sinister laugh. "Your three elder brothers are dead. Let's see how you can escape the palm of my hand now!"
"Go, bring that woman over for your young master. Tonight, we'll have some proper fun!"
The guard beside him immediately approached the woman with a lewd grin, stretching out a large hand to pull her up.
But just then, a hand clamped down on the guard's shoulder, instantly leaving him unable to move.
The guard's expression changed. Before he could say a word, an enormous force struck him, sending his entire body flying into the air.
After spinning through the air in dizzying confusion, he crashed heavily before the young master, screaming in agony.
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