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Chapter 114 Unyielding to the Death (Please Subscribe)

Lu Chen packed his spoils from the past two days into two large sacks, went to a deserted place, soared into the sky, flew for a distance, and then landed when he saw the towering mountains below. He found a flat, large rock and sat down cross-legged.

"Add some points!"

Lu Chen's mind stirred.

A powerful aura instantly emanated from his body, and the terrifying pressure swept in all directions, instantly silencing the chirping of insects and birds around him.

[Mastery of Qi Refining] - [Qi Refining Perfection 1%]

Life value - 40000.

The energy in the body doubled again.

Four thousand strands of energy, a mixture of gold and silver, swirled within the dantian, brimming with vitality and life.

His body was also enveloped by a vast energy mist, which slowly and continuously strengthened and nourished his muscles and bones.

The internal organs grow stronger with each beat, and the blood flows like a long river through the blood vessels, delivering nutrients and nourishing every cell.

After a long while, Lu Chen looked up at the sky and let out a long roar.

"Awoo!"

He roared, and his voice echoed through the surrounding mountains like a tiger's roar, shaking all directions.

After carefully sensing the changes in his body, he smiled.

Come back home!

He suddenly leaped upwards and flew towards Qingshan Village.

In Tianmu County, Li Ying, the eunuch of Ningshou Palace, Wen Qin, the assistant prefect of Shanyang Prefecture, and Wang Yuan, the head of the Wang family of Shanyang Prefecture, sat in the county government office.

The original magistrate of Tianmu County, Zhao He, and others stood aside, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

Li Ying sat in the main seat, looking at Huo Zheng, the county magistrate of Tianmu County, kneeling below, with a sneer on his face.

"Huo Zheng, do you know your crime?"

Huo Zheng had already been whipped several times, his body covered in blood and gore. At this moment, this upright and incorruptible man was filled with anger and confusion.

"I'm innocent! What did I do?"

He roared, his voice hoarse.

"Innocent? Ha! You released a high-ranking criminal on your own, and you're asking me what I did? Don't you know what you did?"

Wen Qin slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily.

Wang Yuan, the head of the Wang family, watched with a smile.

Huo Zheng roared, "Bullshit! You beast, when did I ever let a high-ranking criminal escape? You're spouting nonsense!"

After being scolded, Wen Qin's face immediately turned cold, and he waved his arm.

Several armored soldiers stepped forward, grabbed Huo Zheng, raised their sticks, and struck Huo Zheng hard on the back.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

After a few blows, Huo Zheng went from screaming loudly to groaning softly, and his resolute face couldn't help but twitch in pain.

Blood spilled from Huo Zheng's mouth. Although he was being held down, he still struggled to look at the three people sitting above him.

He spat out a mouthful of blood and realized what was happening.

Those were the children he rescued a few days ago!

He saved someone, but instead they came over and asked him if he knew his crime?

Who is truly guilty?

You, as high and mighty figures, do not help those poor people, but instead stand with the Star-Picking Gang, colluding with them to prey on the people.

"alright!"

Li Ying held the teacup to her lips, flicked the lid knob across the surface of the water with one hand, drank the tea, and said softly, "Huo Zheng, a Jinshi of the nineteenth year of Yongning, served as an official for 16 years, but he is still just a county magistrate, haha."

He put down his teacup and looked at the bloodied and mangled Huo Zheng: "Everyone says you're upright and honest, a good person, which is why you've missed out on promotions several times because you offended your superiors. Didn't you ever think about giving your family a better life? Do your family members also think you're a good person? Do your family members understand what you've done? Are they willing to live this kind of miserable life with you?"

"I don't consider this a hard time; someone like you naturally wouldn't understand!"

Huo Zheng said coldly.

"Then why did you collude with gangs and let a wanted criminal escape!"

"Those are all children, all children kidnapped by the Star-Picking Gang! I'm innocent! They're not wanted criminals! You're turning black into white!"

"Bai!" Huo Zheng coughed up blood, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Oh? So you know those are people the imperial court wants? Who gave you permission to release them? Why didn't you follow the proper procedures and inform the county magistrate, but instead acted on your own?"

Li Ying looked around the main hall of the county government office.

Everyone was trembling, only daring to stare at the ground.

"What does the imperial court want with children? Are they for your amusement and play, or for some shady, clandestine schemes? Every year, children go missing in Tianmu County, yet no one cares. Why do you only show up when the children are rescued? You people take the imperial stipends but do nothing, harming the people; you will surely be punished by heaven!"

Huo Zheng roared with all his might.

"The common people? This whole world belongs to the Zhao family, so aren't these peasants also part of the Zhao family? Harming the common people? Heh, that's their good fortune! They can barely read or write, what could they possibly know? If I say you did everything, they'll only believe me, not you! Whatever I say, they'll listen to! Those you saved are the most ignorant; they'll turn around and curse you, hate you! You'll bear all the infamy!"

Huo Zheng's eyes flashed fiercely: "Bah! You castrated dog! Justice will prevail, and right and wrong are not for you to decide!"

"Is that so? Too bad, you won't see your innocence proven! Kill him, hang him on the city gate for three days, and no one is allowed to touch him during those three days! I want everyone to see what happens when you oppose me!"

Li Ying's face was icy cold.

He hates it most when people mention the word "castration"!

"Furthermore, issue a notice stating that County Lieutenant Huo Zheng has been corrupt and bribery-taking, framed his colleagues, massacred civilians, and has been trafficking women and children for many years. He has committed countless atrocities, and the evidence is conclusive, yet he still refuses to confess, confronts his superiors, and roars in court. He should be beaten to death in court!"

"You beast, you'll die a horrible death! You beast!"

"Beat him!" Wen Qin gave the order considerately when he saw that Li Ying's face had turned slightly ashen after being scolded.

"Father-in-law, please calm down. He's not worth it!"

"Slap! Slap!"

The sound of the cane being struck repeatedly sent chills down the spines of the other people from Tianmu County present.

Huo Zheng's voice gradually faded away, leaving only the sound of pounding.

His back was badly beaten, and his spine was broken long ago.

But since Li Ying didn't say to stop, no one dared to stop.

Before long, a notice spread throughout the county: a mangled corpse was hung on the city gate, and passersby were terrified.

"I heard that the Black Killing Pavilion here was also wiped out and set on fire? It seems they're trying to sabotage me!" Li Ying's anger had subsided considerably by now. He stared at the kneeling magistrate of Tianmu County below and asked in a cold voice.

"Your Honor, yes, it happened last night." The magistrate swallowed hard, his face pale and sweat beading on his forehead. "After discovering the fire last night, we immediately sent people to put it out. Later, we found more than ten bodies. It should be—"

"Okay, I understand!" Li Ying waved her hand. "Do a good job of collecting grain taxes, and don't make any mistakes."

"yes!"

The magistrate immediately scrambled to his feet, bowed, and backed away from Li Ying. Once at the door, he quickly turned and left, his back soaked with sweat.

Although he and Huo Zheng didn't get along well, he still admired Huo Zheng. Being his colleague meant he didn't have to worry about being betrayed.

However, such a person was actually beaten to death and his body hung up at the city gate as a warning.

He felt a chill run down his spine and was quite frightened.

Moreover, collecting grain tax at this time—

Hey!

He sighed, his face full of sorrow.

Inside the room, Li Ying said to Wen Qin, "Next, we're going to Shahu County. Huo Zheng has an accomplice there; we must deal with him as soon as possible!"

Comrade?

Wenqin was taken aback.

Isn't this just a chicken you randomly picked to scare the monkey?

Are you planning to do it again in Shahu County?

"Whom are you referring to, sir?"

"Hu Bufan, the magistrate of Shahu County, colluded with powerful gangs, persecuted loyal officials, and even secretly conspired with Huo Zheng. His crimes deserve to be punished!"

Wenqin remembered.

Some time ago, the gang in Shahu County was wiped out, and Hu Bufan had saved those children.

"Your Excellency is indeed astute; this Hu Bufan certainly doesn't seem like a good person! However—"

He paused.

"But what?" Li Ying glanced at him sideways.

Wen Qin felt a chill run down his spine and quickly said, "However, I heard that this Hu Bufan is from the Hu family of Mingde Prefecture, and is acquainted with the Li brothers, as they are fellow disciples. Li Liang is the leader of the city guard in Shanyang Prefecture, and his strength is average, not worth mentioning. However, his brother Li Ming is a border general with the strength of a perfect Yuan Qi Realm expert—"

Li Ying scoffed.

"It's alright. If there are any problems, let them talk to His Majesty."

Wen Qin cleared his throat, looked around, and said nothing more.

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