The sudden turn of events startled the young master, his face changing at once.
Before he could speak, the executioner had already stepped before him.
A slap came flying, sending him straight off the recliner and crashing onto the ground.
At the same time, an agonizing pain erupted across his face.
He immediately let out a heart-rending scream.
"Get him! Get him for me! Take this bastard down!"
Covering his face, the young master glared viciously at Qin Zheng and shrieked.
But after witnessing what had just happened, the surrounding guards naturally did not dare step forward.
Seeing this, the young master froze slightly before shouting around him, "Elder Lu! Show yourself at once!"
Qin Zheng gave a cold laugh and stepped forward again, arriving before the young master.
It was true that he wanted to keep as low a profile as possible, but not so low that anyone could trample all over him!
He merely needed to reveal his strength bit by bit, to keep it within bounds!
That way, he would not arouse others' suspicion and greed!
It did not mean he truly intended to disguise himself as some ordinary little executioner!
If even such an insignificant piece of trash could bully him,
then what was the point of his martial training!
He raised his hand again and brought another slap down upon the young master's face.
"Wait!!"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
Immediately afterward, a figure shot out from the shadows, stretching out a hand in an attempt to stop Qin Zheng.
But Qin Zheng's strength now was immense!
Even Shi Dian, the Golden Cicada Gang's leader, had been beaten to death alive by him.
Let alone some nameless nobody who had suddenly appeared.
And even if Qin Zheng could not use his full strength, he could still draw upon the force of a thousand jin.
Thus, the figure that had suddenly appeared had only just reached out to stop Qin Zheng
when he was violently dragged backward by a tremendous force and sent flying.
Smack!
A loud slap rang out.
The young master's body was sent flying once more, crashing to the ground.
This time, he did not even have time to scream before he fainted.
The figure that had suddenly leaped out also rolled across the ground several times before springing to his feet.
He hurriedly said, "I am Lu Sheng. This is the son of the Canoe Gang's second boss. I ask that you show mercy!"
Black Goose City had a river running through it, so naturally, it also had martial-world factions that had arisen because of it.
The Canoe Gang controlled the livelihoods on this river and was a force no weaker than the Golden Cicada Gang.
But if he could even kill the Golden Cicada Gang's leader, would he care about some spoiled son of the Canoe Gang?
Qin Zheng said coldly, "Tell that dog to watch his mouth!"
Since the other party had already been knocked unconscious by him, this could be considered a small punishment and a stern warning.
As for whether the other party would come seeking revenge afterward,
Qin Zheng was not worried.
After speaking, he paid no heed to how the man opposite him felt or what reaction he had.
He turned and walked toward the execution ground's exit.
As he passed the woman sitting collapsed on the ground, Qin Zheng thought for a moment before saying, "Go to the ruined temple in the east of the city. Find an old monk named Chongming. He can protect you."
Qin Zheng did not want trouble himself, but if he ignored her, this woman definitely would not survive the night.
He had pointed out a path to survival for her. What she chose to do was up to her.
As for old monk Chongming, his strength was certainly not weak, and he had even taken in a group of wandering beggar children at the ruined temple in the east of the city.
Strong and kind-hearted, such a person should not refuse to shelter someone so pitiful.
Having said that, Qin Zheng spoke no more and left directly.
After collecting his wages and returning to the city, he bought some medicinal herbs, grain, and meat, intending to go home, brew medicine, eat meat, and replenish his blood and vitality.
Along the way, he heard the townsfolk discussing the Golden Cicada Gang and praising Bailiff Xu.
It seemed that, under the guidance of interested parties, word of Bailiff Xu killing Shi Dian was gradually spreading throughout the city.
That suited Qin Zheng's intentions as well.
If people learned that he was the one who had killed Shi Dian,
then the prestige gained from killing Shi Dian would be far from enough to offset the suspicion and greed stirred by his rapid growth in strength.
Just as Qin Zheng, medicinal herbs in one hand and grain and meat in the other, was about to leave the bustling market and head home,
a burst of startled cries suddenly rose in the distance.
Qin Zheng turned to look back and saw a figure riding a fierce horse abruptly enter his field of vision.
The rider was a constable, and his face was filled with anxiety.
Hyah! Hyah!
Even within the city, the man showed no intention of slowing down and continued spurring his horse faster.
Fortunately, the street was fairly wide, and pedestrians scattered aside, so no accident occurred.
Still, dust billowed up, and the street became a scene of chickens flying and dogs leaping, utter chaos.
After the horse galloped away, Qin Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked in the direction it had gone.
For a constable to race through the city on horseback, something urgent must have happened.
Moreover, the expression on that constable's face just now had shown extreme anxiety.
And the direction he was heading was the military camp outside Black Goose City!
Putting it all together, some major upheaval must have occurred within or outside Black Goose City!
It was serious enough that the yamen could not handle it and could only seek assistance from the troops stationed at the military camp!
At this thought, Qin Zheng's heart sank slightly.
He had only just resolved one crisis and had not even enjoyed a few peaceful days. Could something else be happening already?
He hurried home. After setting down his things, he hesitated for a moment before taking up the Ghost-Head Saber wrapped in coarse cloth and leaving the small courtyard.
He headed silently toward the east of the city. Along the way, the city already seemed to be filling with an atmosphere of tension.
Faintly, he heard townsfolk talking.
"Why does everyone seem to be rushing about so early in the morning?"
"You don't know? The bandits in the mountains outside Black Goose City have come down!"
"So what if they've come down the mountain? Won't it be the towns and villages outside Black Goose City that suffer? Do they dare attack Black Goose City itself?"
"Heh! That's exactly it!"
"The leader of those bandits was Black Goose City's previous chief constable, a Bone Tempering Realm expert!"
"I heard he has sent out hero summons far and wide, calling upon every vicious and wicked sort within Qing Province to join him!"
"First, they'll flatten the four towns and thirteen villages outside Black Goose City, then threaten Black Goose City itself!"
"Th-then isn't that no different from rebellion?!"
"Ha, look at the state those above are in now. Do you think they can still spare attention for a tiny place like Black Goose City?"
"Come on, no one knows where this news came from, but everyone is rushing to the rice shops to buy supplies in case something happens."
"If we're any later, there won't be anything left for us to buy!"
"Go, go, go!"
"..."
Only after Qin Zheng followed the two men all the way and heard their entire conversation did he turn around and continue toward the east of the city.
Bandits invading the city!
No wonder that constable had looked so anxious!
The reason Black Goose City was one of Qing Province's execution grounds was that the areas radiating outward from Black Goose City were plagued by numerous wandering bandits and outlaws.
The imperial court had made such an arrangement precisely to intimidate these lawless people!
That was all well and good when the imperial court's deterrent power was strong, but now its authority had gradually weakened.
It was likely no longer enough to cow these fierce bandits and wandering outlaws!
If the hero summons that man had mentioned was true, and many bandits truly answered the call,
then these lawless people invading Black Goose City was likely no empty threat!
Before you continue