Major Upheaval Outside the City, Bandits Descend from the Mountain! (Seeking Collections)

The sudden turn of events startled the young master, his expression a mask of surprise.

Before he could even speak, the executioner strode up to him.

Then, a slap landed, sending him flying from the reclining chair and crashing to the ground.

An intense, searing pain shot through his face.

He let out a heart-wrenching scream.

"Hurry! Get him! Take this guy down!"

Clutching his face, the young master glared at Qin Zheng with venom, shouting sharply.

However, the guards around him, having witnessed what just happened, hesitated to step forward.

Seeing this, the young master blinked in surprise and then yelled, "Old Lu! Please reveal yourself quickly!"

Qin Zheng sneered and took another step forward, standing before the young master.

He wanted to keep a low profile, true, but not to the point of being bullied!

He just needed to reveal his strength gradually, at a measured pace!

To avoid sparking suspicion and greed in others!

He wasn't actually trying to pretend to be an ordinary executioner!

If even this insignificant nobody could push him around.

What was the point of him practicing martial arts!

He reached out again, aiming another palm strike at the young master's face.

"Wait!!"

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.

Immediately, a figure darted from the shadows, extending a hand to block Qin Zheng.

But Qin Zheng's strength was immense now!

He had even personally beaten the Golden Cicada Gang leader, Shi Dian, to death.

Let alone some unknown person who suddenly appeared.

And even if Qin Zheng couldn't go all out, he could still utilize a thousand pounds of force.

Thus, the figure that suddenly appeared, barely having made contact to stop Qin Zheng.

Was then violently yanked backward by an immense force, sent flying.

Slap!

A loud slap echoed.

The young master was sent flying backward again, crashing to the ground.

This time, the young master didn't even have time to scream before he passed out.

The figure that had suddenly lunged out rolled a few times on the ground before jumping up.

He quickly said, "I am Lu Sheng. This is the second master of the Canoe Gang's son. Please, sir, show some mercy!"

There was a river in Black Goose City, and naturally, that gave rise to martial arts factions.

The Canoe Gang controlled the businesses along the river and was a force no weaker than the Golden Cicada Gang.

But Qin Zheng had killed the Golden Cicada Gang leader. Did he care about some spoiled brat from the Canoe Gang?

Qin Zheng said coldly, "Tell this dog to watch his mouth!"

Since the other party had been knocked unconscious by him, this was considered a minor punishment.

As for whether the other party would seek revenge later.

Qin Zheng wasn't worried.

After speaking, he ignored the other person's feelings or reactions.

He turned and walked towards the execution ground's exit.

As he passed the woman sitting on the ground, Qin Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Go to the dilapidated temple in the east of the city and find an old monk named Chongming. He can protect you."

Qin Zheng didn't want to be bothered himself, but if he didn't help, this woman definitely wouldn't survive the night.

Giving her a path to survival was her choice to make.

As for the old monk Chongming, his strength was definitely not weak, and he also took in a group of stray children at the dilapidated temple in the east of the city.

With strength and kindness, such a person should not refuse to shelter a pitiable person like her.

After saying this, Qin Zheng didn't say anything more and left directly.

After collecting his wages and returning to the city, he bought some medicinal herbs, grain, and meat, preparing to go home to brew medicine and eat meat to replenish his qi and blood.

Along the way, he heard people discussing the Golden Cicada Gang and praising Bailiff Xu.

It seemed that Bailiff Xu's killing of Shi Dian was gradually spreading throughout the city, guided by those with influence.

This also aligned with Qin Zheng's intentions.

If people knew he was the one who killed Shi Dian.

The fame gained from killing Shi Dian would not be enough to counter the suspicion and greed that his rapid growth would inevitably stir.

Just as Qin Zheng, carrying medicinal herbs in one hand and food and meat in the other, was about to leave the bustling market and head home.

A wave of screams suddenly erupted from a distance.

Qin Zheng turned and looked back, seeing a figure riding a spirited horse suddenly appear in his field of vision.

On the horse was a constable, his face filled with anxiety.

"Giddy up! Giddy up!"

Even within the city, the person showed no signs of slowing down, continuing to accelerate.

Fortunately, the street was wide enough, and pedestrians quickly moved aside, preventing any accidents.

However, it stirred up dust and made a mess, with chickens flying and dogs scattering.

After the horse quickly departed, Qin Zheng watched in the direction it had gone, his eyes narrowing slightly.

A constable riding a horse through the city must have an urgent matter.

And judging by the expression on the constable's face, he was extremely anxious.

Furthermore, the direction he was heading was towards the military camp outside Black Goose City!

Putting it all together, it was clear that something significant had happened inside or outside Black Goose City!

This incident was so serious that the yamen couldn't handle it and had to seek help from the stationed army!

Thinking this, Qin Zheng's heart sank slightly.

He had just resolved one crisis, and before he could enjoy a few days of peace, was something else about to happen?

He hurried home, put down his belongings, hesitated for a moment, then picked up the ghost-head saber wrapped in rough cloth and left the small courtyard.

He walked silently towards the east of the city. During this time, a tense atmosphere seemed to be spreading throughout the city.

He vaguely heard some citizens discussing.

"Why is everyone in such a hurry this early in the morning?"

"Don't you know? The bandits from the mountains outside Black Goose City have come down!"

"So what if they came down? They usually only plague the towns and villages outside Black Goose City. Do they dare to attack Black Goose City itself?"

"Heh! That's exactly it!"

"The leader of those bandits is the former constable of our Black Goose City, a strong practitioner in the Bone Tempering Realm!"

"I heard he's already issued a hero's decree, calling for all the wicked and desperate individuals in Qingzhou to join him!"

"First, they'll flatten the four towns and thirteen villages outside Black Goose City, and then they'll threaten Black Goose City!"

"This, this, this! Isn't this tantamount to rebellion?!"

"Sigh, what has the government become these days? Can they even pay attention to a small city like ours?"

"Let's go quickly. We don't know where this news came from, but everyone is rushing to the rice shops to stock up on supplies in case of the unexpected."

"If we're any later, we won't be able to buy anything!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

"..."

Qin Zheng followed the two of them and, after hearing their conversation, changed direction and continued heading east.

Bandits entering the city!

No wonder that constable looked so anxious!

The reason Black Goose City was one of the Qingzhou execution grounds was that the surrounding areas, radiating from Black Goose City as the center, had a high concentration of rogue bandits.

The court established it this way to deter these lawless individuals!

However, it was fine when the court's deterrence was strong, but now that the court's deterrence was gradually weakening.

He feared it could no longer deter these fierce bandits and outlaws!

If what the person just said about a hero's decree was true, and many bandits had indeed joined, Then the invasion of Black Goose City by these lawless individuals might not be an empty threat!