A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 264 Bloody Execution Ground

This major case of dirty blood in Xiangu County is certainly not a small case, and all cases related to the Dirty Blood Cult have always been taken very seriously, whether by sects or local governments.

But Xiangu County is, after all, located in a remote area.

Although the county office concluded the case before the New Year, and Shen Yanliu rushed to deliver the case closing documents to the sect and the government before the end of the year.

But by the time the clan envoy arrived in Xiangu County to review the case, it was already early February.

Shen Yanliu and Tang Wanhong had already reasoned out the whole story of the case very clearly, leaving no clues unturned.

The chain of evidence is also deduced perfectly!
The sect's envoy naturally did not find any problems and praised Shen Yanliu for his ability in handling the case!
On the third day of February, it was still chilly. This wave of late spring cold in Xiangu County was even colder than the twelfth lunar month!
At 9:00 p.m. on that day, a large crowd gathered at a certain intersection on West Street, and the yamen runners were using water and fire sticks to push the crowd apart!

The middle of the street was a temporary execution ground!
In the south position, there is a desk and an armchair.

Five sturdy swordsmen holding machetes and with murderous looks on their faces stood not far from the table.

Following a shout, the prisoners involved in the bloody case were forced in by the police in handcuffs.

The servants from Luan Bao, Su Di, Wei Yutian's mansions, as well as the servants from Luan Jingfu's mansion, knelt in the middle of the street in a black mass!
As the prisoners entered, there was a sudden burst of restless whispers among the crowd!
Killing so many people at once, in such a huge scale, it has been many years since such a sensational case happened in Xiangu County!
Xie Daohan walked into the execution ground with a gloomy face. He had no credit at all and he still had to do the dirty work of killing people.

Xie Daohan spat a mouthful of thick phlegm on the ground, raised his head to look at the sun which was not very warm in the winter, and it was about half an hour before 12:30 noon. No rush!
West Street is the widest and most prosperous street in Xiangu Street. Setting up an execution ground on West Street makes it convenient for people to watch executions and plays a role in educating and deterring.

Men, women, young and old from Xiangu County surrounded the execution ground in three layers, making it impossible to get in or out.

Killing so many people at once, just hearing about it makes people feel cold...

Not far from the packed crowd, Duan Rong was sitting alone in a small pub at the entrance of the alley. He asked the owner to heat up a pot of rice wine, and ordered a plate of peanuts and a plate of spicy tofu. He sat there, eating and drinking slowly.

The tavern was empty. Everyone had gone to watch the beheading. Who had time to drink here?
Duan Rong took a sip of boiling hot rice wine and swallowed it. Then his consciousness suddenly freed himself and he walked through the alleys and had a clear view of the execution ground inside and outside.

When Duan Rong's spiritual sense swept across Su Di's dull face, his heart moved slightly.

At first, in order to save Xiao Yu, he used Su Di to stir up this bloody case in a desperate situation to attract Shen Yanliu to take action. But this stirring was like stirring up a pool of mud. In Duan Rong's opinion, the water in Xiangu County was becoming more and more muddy.

I don't know whether it was intentional or not, but the location of the execution ground was just one alley away from the Yuanshun Escort Agency...

At this time, in the flower hall in the backyard of the county government office.

Shen Yanliu was wearing a loose scholar's suit and was sitting there drinking tea with someone else.

The man was of burly build and had a resolute face. He was none other than Chu Ming, the clan's special envoy who had come to Xiangu County to investigate the bloody case.

Chu Ming took a sip of tea and said, "County Magistrate Shen destroyed such an important stronghold of the Filthy Blood Sect this time. This is a great achievement for the sect!"

Chu Ming had personally visited the secret room mandala in Wei Yutian's backyard. It was large in scale and well-made, and it was obvious that a lot of effort had been put into it. It was far better than the other two mandalas he had seen.

Shen Yanliu said: "Since I have received the official position, it is my duty to share the worries of the sect."

Chu Ming nodded and said, "It's just that after reading the files, I have a vague feeling that the bloody remnants in Xiangu County may not have been completely cleared."

Shen Yanliu's heart skipped a beat. He didn't expect Chu Ming to be so sharp.

"What the Imperial Envoy said is exactly what I have in mind." Shen Yanliu said, "Rest assured, Imperial Envoy. I have been operating in Xiangu County for many years and have cultivated many trusted spies. This bloody case has also revealed some clues, and these people have already found out."

Chu Ming smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "It seems that County Magistrate Shen has already made a plan. Then I will use tea instead of wine to wish County Magistrate Shen more success!"

Shen Yanliu raised the teacup and said, "Thank you for your good words, envoy!"

At the execution ground, it was almost three quarters past noon.

Five executioners have already stood behind the first row of prisoners, waiting for orders!

The clerk next to him glanced at the sundial, clasped his fists and said to Xie Daohan, "Captain Xie, it's already three quarters past noon!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Daohan immediately jumped up from his chair, stood in front of the table, and shouted, "Executioner! Execution!"

When Xie Daohan roared, Su Di's lips trembled noticeably, and in an instant, a cold blade cut off her delicate neck...

Su Di's head flew up, and the faces of the crowd flashed by, and her head fell to the ground. The last scene Su Di saw was a crack in the bluestone slab, where there was a mouthful of thick phlegm...

After the axeman chopped off one row of heads, he stepped back a few steps steadily and then chopped off the second row. Heads rolled down one after another, blood flowed everywhere, and a strong smell of blood filled the cold air...

Many people in the crowd who were watching were afraid to look anymore, their faces pale as they covered their eyes...

Duan Rong sat alone in the tavern. A strong smell of blood wafted over from the wind, and even the smell of rice wine could not suppress it.

The smell of blood was too strong, and Duan Rong had no appetite for food. He just drank the whole pot of rice wine cup after cup.

Six rows of prisoners, thirty heads, all were beheaded in a matter of seconds.

Many of these prisoners also have relatives and families, and no one dares to come to be executed. This is a major bloody case, and if you get involved, you might be implicated.

I am too busy trying to clear myself of the charges, so who would dare to come and punish me?
Amid the strong smell of blood, thirty people instantly turned into wandering ghosts...

The crowd slowly dispersed, and the bodies were dragged away by the yamen runners and sent to a mass grave!

After the yamen runners dispersed, people from nearby shops and houses came out with buckets of water and washed the streets.

The blood of thirty people had seeped into the cracks of the bluestone slabs. Even if it was washed clean, the faint smell of blood would not dissipate for months...

Duan Rong walked out of the tavern, stepped on the wet bluestone slabs, and walked back to the Yuanshun Escort Agency...

Duan Rong has been practicing hard behind closed doors recently, trying to break through the last layer of the inner breath realm. But breaking through the great perfection is more difficult than he expected.

It's like you can clearly see the top of the mountain, and you try to climb it from different slopes and sides, and from different paths.

As a result, they are stuck in the same position and can’t get there.

Unable to break the door with a final kick, Duan Rong finally felt a sense of being trapped.

He gradually began to realize that perhaps the reason he couldn't achieve the great perfection of the inner breath realm was because of the problem of his mental strength.

If his mental strength didn't break through, it would be like an invisible barrier covering his head, and he would not be able to break through! In the blink of an eye, the cold February had passed, and the weather was gradually getting warmer.

There are only a few days left until the sect’s registered disciple selection examination on March 3rd.

A martial arts examination and selection stage has been built at the entrance of the county office, with viewing seats on both sides of the stage.

This school's Wu Ze Yingtai is built every three years. In the square in front of the county office, there is a ready-made space for wooden stakes to be inserted.

The yamen runners carried large logs out of the warehouse.

The large wooden stake, which had been covered in dust for three years and was covered with cobwebs and dust, was skillfully hammered into the gap by the yamen runners.

The school martial arts arena is not a platform, but a row of round wooden stakes. The candidates taking the test compete by standing on these round wooden stakes.

Sitting in the viewing seats on both sides were the gentry of the county, and the leaders of various major forces would also be present, but these people were just supporting roles.

Those who have the real power of supervision over the assessment are, first, the county magistrate, then the five imperial envoys of the Taiyi Sect, and finally, the person in charge appointed by the governor's office at the prefectural level.

The assessment results will only be valid when the three parties, namely the sect, prefecture and county, come together!
On this day, Duan Rong was sitting in the pavilion in the Liulu courtyard, thinking quietly, when suddenly there was a knock on the gate.

Duan Rong frowned, and his consciousness passed through. It turned out to be Guan Kui, a waiter from Guyuezhai, who came to visit.

Duan Rong stood up and opened the door. When Guan Kui saw Duan Rong, he immediately smiled and bowed, saying, "I am here to bother you again, Master Duan."

Duan Rong's demeanor and expression changed a lot later on. Every time Guan Kui saw Duan Rong, he was always worried.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "It's Brother Guan Kui. I haven't seen you for a while."

Guan Kui said, "My shopkeeper has two items that he is unsure of. He would like to ask Master Duan to come over and help take a look."

Duan Rong said cheerfully, "No problem. Anyway, I have nothing to do right now, let's go now."

Guan Kui was overjoyed. Duan Rong closed the gate and followed Guan Kui to Guyuezhai.

Duan Rong thought: The assessment is imminent and all parties are gathering together. Let's see who Shen Yanliu is going to use to borrow these antiques, calligraphy and paintings.

On the official road twenty miles away from Xiangu County, a rather majestic horse-drawn carriage was moving slowly. The driver was a burly man wearing black shoes and a business uniform. He was obviously an official from the yamen.

Moreover, on the roof of the majestic carriage was a black flag with a gold-threaded edge and a bear embroidered in the middle. This was the flag of the prefecture-level government office.

This carriage is the official carriage of the Yuanyang Prefecture and the Governor's Office.

Inside the spacious carriage, the interior was magnificent, with seven people sitting on three sides: Li Xianjiang, Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, Lu Qingfeng, Wang Shanshan, Lu Qingzhu, and A-Mo.

Li Xianjiang was the head of the Yuanyang Prefecture's provincial government office.

Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, Lu Qingfeng, Wang Shanshan, and Lu Qingzhu are the outer disciples of Taiyi Sect, and are also the sect's envoys for the selection and examination of registered disciples in Xiangu County.

And A-Mo is the girl that Lu Qingzhu keeps with her.

Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, Lu Qingfeng, Wang Shanshan, and Lu Qingzhu, these five envoys from the sect, came from different places. They had reported to the governor's office of Yuanyang Prefecture a few days ago. After checking the sect's documents, they were assigned horse-drawn carriages and rushed to the corresponding assessment locations together with the heads of the office.

Fan Yuanhai really didn't expect that he would be assigned to Xiangu County again. The local customs and habits here are quite good, and the products are also abundant, but it is located in a remote area and transportation is inconvenient.

He had previously wasted nearly half a year here working on Xu Ruhu's case, but returned empty-handed. This place could be considered a sad place for him.

He really didn't expect that he would set foot in this place for the second time in his life. It was really fate!
Fan Yuanhai sat there, and from the corner of his eye he kept secretly glancing at Lu Qingzhu and Amo, the master and servant not far away.

It’s not that Fan Yuanhai is dishonest. This master and servant pair is really weird. One is extremely beautiful, and the other is extremely ugly. Anyone who sees them can’t help but take a few more glances.

Lu Qingzhu had black hair like a spiral of black snails, her eyebrows were light and almost invisible, her skin was as white as a lychee after it had been cracked open, and she had a straight waist and a clear temperament. She sat there with her lips pursed, as if she was thinking about something, with her brows slightly furrowed.

Ah Mo, who was sitting next to Lu Qingzhu, had thick bones and was very tall. She was as tall as a small mountain in the carriage. Although she was just a girl, she took up the space of two men.

Although Amo was ugly, no one dared to make a mocking expression towards her.

Because her hands with thick knuckles had a faint bronze luster.

The people sitting in the carriage were all knowledgeable people and naturally knew what that meant.

This Ah Mo is obviously a skilled kung fu master, and judging by her size and build, she seems to be endowed with supernatural powers. Who would dare to offend her?
But with such a girl following him, everyone in the carriage couldn't help but secretly speculate about Lu Qingzhu's identity.

When they first got into the carriage, they exchanged names, but they didn't communicate much along the way.

The five imperial envoys from the sects were of similar age and would occasionally chat with each other, but Li Xianjiang, the head of the Yuanyang Prefecture's Provincial Government Office, had been sitting in a corner with his eyes closed since he got on the carriage. He did not say a word from beginning to end.

Li Xianjiang is already in his forties and has a goatee on his chin. He is not tall and has a fat body.

Li Xianjiang was not a warrior, but an accountant by birth. He had his own connections and methods to rise to the position of head in the governor's office, which was in charge of the money and grain of a prefecture.

At the end of the Si hour in the morning, the carriage drove into the east gate of Xiangu County. The head of the yamen guarding the city, when he saw the regulations of the carriage, immediately knew that the visitor was extraordinary. After asking the reason, he immediately rode to the county office to report.

When the carriage stopped at the gate of the county government office, Shen Yanliu, dressed in official uniform, was already waiting for him at the bottom of the steps.

As soon as everyone got off the carriage, Shen Yanliu clasped his fists and said, "Master Li, all the imperial envoys! I am sorry for not coming to greet you in person. Please forgive me!"

Li Xianjiang returned the greeting with a fist and said with a warm smile: "County Magistrate Shen, come to think of it, we just met two months ago. However, it feels like we haven't seen each other for a long time now since the New Year."

"Hahaha..." Shen Yanliu smiled and said, "It seems that Master Li is thinking about me!"

Li Xianjiang was the head of the Provincial Administration Office, which was in charge of the taxes and grains of Xiangu County and Tanghe County. Shen Yanliu often dealt with him when he went to the Provincial Administration Office to hand over taxes, and the two had known each other for a long time.

"Master Li, all the imperial envoys! Mr. Shen has prepared the banquet and is here to welcome you all!"

"please!"

"please!"

Shen Yanliu smiled and gave in, her eyes seeming to glance at Fan Yuanhai's face inadvertently.

(End of this chapter)