At the Shi Fu County Yamen's main hall, Guo County Magistrate, the Shi Fu County Magistrate, presided over a case.
"Bang!" The court block slammed down as Guo County Magistrate demanded harshly:
"Is the man below named Liu Yuanzhou?"
"Yes." Liu Yuanzhou knelt upon the bluestone floor, his head slightly lowered but his back ramrod straight.
"Do you know Liu Chuang and Zhang He?" the County Magistrate asked again.
"I do." There was no way to deny it.
"Wang Dafa of Crouching Tiger Slope has accused you, Liu Chuang, and Zhang He of murdering his son, Wang Youcai. Do you confess?" The County Magistrate raised his voice.
"We did not kill anyone," Liu Yuanzhou said calmly.
"Hmph, still stubborn? Give him forty strokes of the paddle! Men, administer the punishment!" Guo Renlian slammed the court block down again.
Three yamen runners immediately stepped out from the lines on either side of the hall and pinned Liu Yuanzhou to the floor before the court.
Not a shred of resistance rose in Liu Yuanzhou's mind. Unless he was prepared to flee to the ends of the earth from this moment on—and besides, the County Yamen had skilled fighters as well. He might not even be able to fight his way out.
One yamen runner raised a Water Fire Cudgel level with his brows and smashed it down onto Liu Yuanzhou's back.
"Smack! Smack! ..." For a time, the only sound in the courtroom was wood striking flesh.
Liu Yuanzhou's face twisted savagely, his teeth clenched tight. By the time the forty blows were over, blood had soaked through the clothes on his back. From beginning to end, he did not cry out once.
"Will you confess truthfully?" Guo Renlian shouted.
A piercing pain drilled through his body, and an inexplicable fury rose