Merit!
One tael and seven qian!!
Qin Zheng's eyes suddenly lit up.
With this one tael and seven qian of merit, perhaps he could raise the Ghost-head Saber Technique to perfection!
Although the Ghost-head Saber Technique was not some especially formidable martial art, once perfected, it should be enough to keep him alive!
And besides—
Killing evildoers could earn merit.
Everyone awaiting execution at this execution ground was a heinous criminal!
As an executioner, the heads he chopped off were precisely those of such criminals!
In other words, even if he did nothing else and simply continued working as an executioner here at the execution ground—
There would be an endless stream of evildoers delivered into his hands, bringing him merit!
This was far easier than roaming the land as a hero and doing good deeds!
At that thought, Qin Zheng suddenly felt that being an executioner was simply a fine job tailored specifically for him, one worth more than a thousand pieces of gold!
Joy surged in Qin Zheng's heart, and he immediately turned his gaze toward the young man beside him who was still shouting threats.
In his eyes, the other man was no longer a villain steeped in evil, but a glittering mass of merit!
He took a slow breath, calming the somewhat restless emotions in his heart.
Qin Zheng gripped the Ghost-head Saber tightly, waiting only for the moment to arrive and the execution token to fall. With one stroke, heads would roll, and the merit would be his!
When Shi Yan received no response, he merely assumed that this executioner, who had narrowly escaped death, was now frightened by what he had just said.
He sneered and continued, "Let me tell you the truth—I am the young gang leader of the Golden Cicada Gang in Black Goose City!"
"You'd best weigh carefully what you should and should not do later!"
The instant those words left his mouth, a booming voice suddenly rang out across the execution ground.
"The auspicious hour has arrived—execute him!!"
Within the canopy, Ji Changyin expressionlessly tossed out the execution token.
Upon receiving the order, Qin Zheng's eyes brightened. He immediately picked up the strong liquor beside him, took a great gulp, then fiercely sprayed it across the broad Ghost-head Saber in his hand.
The icy blade gave off a chilling aura, making Shi Yan's heart tremble.
Someone, hurry and come!
Father! Come save me!!
Qin Zheng fixed his gaze on Shi Yan's neck, his eyes steadying as he raised the saber into the air.
The secrets of beheading surfaced in his mind. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he brought the blade down in an instant!
"Stay your blade!!"
Boom!!
At that critical moment, when a thousand pounds hung by a single thread—
A furious roar suddenly exploded from among the citizens watching outside the execution ground.
It was like thunder, reverberating in all directions.
Then several black-clad figures abruptly broke through the blockade. Two of them charged straight toward the canopy where Ji Changyin stood.
"Insolence!!"
Ji Changyin shouted furiously, immediately rising to his full height. He snatched up the long saber at his side and stepped forward to engage the two black-clad men.
At the same time, another man raced toward Qin Zheng, whose saber was already descending.
The newcomer moved like a hunting leopard, covering dozens of meters in a heartbeat.
In the blink of an eye, he was about to reach Qin Zheng.
And at that moment, the edge of the Ghost-head Saber had just barely touched Shi Yan's nape.
Swish!!
Suddenly, two flashes of silver streaked through the air.
A sense of mortal danger erupted in Qin Zheng's heart.
Under that threat, he had no choice but to abruptly raise his saber and block the two poisoned throwing darts flying toward him.
By then, the black-clad man had already arrived before Qin Zheng.
He made no unnecessary movements. He grabbed Shi Yan from the ground, turned, and prepared to flee.
"Why did you wait until now to make your move?!"
Still trapped in the terror of nearly being beheaded, Shi Yan immediately cursed aloud, venting the fear in his heart.
The black-clad man frowned slightly but said nothing. Only when he glanced at Qin Zheng from the corner of his eye did a trace of surprise flash through his gaze.
Watching the two figures about to escape, Qin Zheng gripped the Ghost-head Saber, took a single stride forward, and swung downward.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Qin Zheng roared, and the strength throughout his body suddenly erupted.
The Ghost-head Saber Technique swept forth with ruthless speed, shadow following shadow. Icy saber light instantly enveloped the two men attempting to flee.
Swish!!
The black-clad man was carrying someone now, and his speed was far slower than before. He could not evade this strike.
So he violently flung Shi Yan back toward the path he had come from, spun around, and produced two nimble daggers from within his sleeves.
Then, with a burst of movement, he closed the distance to Qin Zheng. The two daggers stabbed toward Qin Zheng's heart and throat.
Qin Zheng's eyes flickered. He stepped back, then used the Ghost-head Saber to meet the twin daggers.
The Ghost-head Saber was five chi long and weighed thirty jin. In terms of agility, it might not match the other man's weapons.
But every collision made the black-clad man's hands tremble!
Qin Zheng had inherited his ancestors' legacy and been able to continue serving as an executioner because he naturally possessed strength far beyond that of an ordinary man!
After exchanging blows for some time, the black-clad man grew frantic.
He excelled at lightness skills, but his fighting arts had not been refined enough. He could only barely protect himself within Black Goose City.
He had thought he was merely rescuing someone from beneath the blade of an executioner who knew no martial arts, and that he would not need to fight himself.
Who could have imagined that this executioner actually knew saber techniques!
After this brief stalemate, the soldiers within the execution ground had already reacted and rushed over to surround them.
As for Shi Yan, his hands and feet were bound by rope, leaving him able only to wriggle forward with great difficulty.
"Trap him!"
Qin Zheng shouted, then knocked the black-clad man into the soldiers' encirclement with a single saber strike.
He himself broke free, took several swift strides, and arrived before Shi Yan, who was wriggling on the ground.
He seized the other man and hauled him up.
The arrogance had long vanished from Shi Yan's face. His entire expression was filled with panic and terror.
"Please! Let me go!"
"As long as you let me go, my father will give you anything you want!"
"Let me go! Your commandant accepted gifts from my father. If you let me go, he won't blame you!"
Shi Yan said in a panic.
Qin Zheng's eyes narrowed.
Then, commotion broke out once more among the crowd outside the execution ground.
Clearly, seeing the situation change, someone else was about to rush into the execution ground to save him!
Qin Zheng did not hesitate. He immediately released Shi Yan, then stepped on his back, pinning him in place.
He could pretend to let this man go, but if he did, would the Golden Cicada Gang behind him let Qin Zheng go?
Furthermore, the black palm print on his chest had already left Qin Zheng with no time to chop off another head.
If he did not obtain this merit today and seek a change in fate, death would still be the only road awaiting him!
At that thought, a ruthless gleam appeared in Qin Zheng's eyes. He raised the Ghost-head Saber with one hand, aimed at Shi Yan's nape, and savagely brought it down!
Pfft!!
A head rolled across the ground, scarlet blood spraying out in a steaming burst.
The merit was his in an instant!
Before Qin Zheng could rejoice, a furious roar rang out from outside the execution ground!
"My son!!"
Then a powerful aura surged forth.
Qin Zheng's expression darkened. He immediately devoted a sliver of his attention to sinking into the depths of his mind.
Facing that scroll, he willed, "Ghost-head Saber Technique, upgrade!!"
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