Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

"My lord, what should we do?"

The brothers inside and outside the city, under the orders of their superiors, had been searching for the treasure-robbing thief. They had searched almost every nook and cranny, dug three feet into the ground, but still had no clue!

The constable was even more flustered.

"Looking now would probably be a waste of time, and what if we can't find it, or we're already too late..."

They didn't even dare to think about the latter, only hoping that the murderer hadn't made his move yet.

"This damned notorious thief, a serial killer who committed a series of bloody crimes, dares to turn the tables and be sentenced to beheading by the magistrate!"

Chen Tao was so angry he almost ground his teeth to powder, feeling as if disaster had struck out of the sky.

"My lord, if anything happens to the prefect, the court will be furious. Not to mention us, even Lord Feng will not be able to bear the consequences!"

Where will this damned thug take them?

Have you searched everywhere?

Li Fu's gaze was deep and thoughtful. After a moment's thought, a cold smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

"Where should we look? Chen Tao, didn't you already tell us?"

"I said... what did I say?"

Chen Tao was bewildered.

"His crime deserves beheading..."

Li Fu asked, "Where is the place where ordinary people are beheaded?"

"You mean..." Chen Tao's eyes widened in disbelief.

"……execution ground?!

That thug... he... he dares to be so arrogant?!

"In broad daylight, they kidnapped a high-ranking official and then led him to the execution ground?"

He simply found the idea utterly absurd.

"Isn't he bold enough?"

Li Fu countered with a question.

"In the eyes of his younger brother Cao Yu, this person is a 'god-like person' who can ignore the guards of three thousand iron-clad soldiers and four great masters!"

They even dared to kidnap a prefectural magistrate appointed by the government; they should be sentenced to beheading!

So, what is there that he wouldn't dare to do?

Where else could there be a more suitable place to carry out this execution than the execution ground where life and death are decided? Where else could one best avenge Judge Hong and ensure his humiliating death?

"Then...the City God Temple area..."

Chen Tao recalled the clue he had just heard.

"There's no need to go yet," Li Fu waved his hand and said. "Since the murderer has already shown himself, if we can capture him in one fell swoop, why bother searching for clues?"

Gather your men and come with me to the execution ground outside the city.

"The execution ground outside the city?"

Immediately, Li Fu spurred his horse and led his men straight to the drill ground outside the city, which was being used as an execution ground.

There are usually three places where a person is beheaded.

Firstly, the bustling crossroads are where the most people gather, and the execution of criminals, thieves, and bandits serves as a warning to others. Secondly, the city gates, where people come and go, serve the same purpose.

Thirdly, there was the military drill ground, which was specifically used to execute criminal officials and soldiers, preserving a semblance of dignity for officials and the court, and also serving as a warning to those who most needed to be warned.

It was absolutely impossible for it to happen in the bustling city center. The constables from the prefectural government had already turned the city upside down. If the murderer had taken Magistrate Hong hostage and intended to kill him in the city center, it would have been discovered long ago.

The city gate was also teeming with people, making it difficult to hide.

Only this training ground, far outside the city and usually abandoned, is far from the hustle and bustle. It is only used when the border troops are training, and is usually deserted.

Furthermore, the execution platform set up here was originally intended to execute corrupt officials!

"This place is the best choice for someone who wants to behead Magistrate Hong while avoiding the eyes and ears of the city!"

Li Fu's judgment was quickly proven correct.

Located in the far north suburbs of the city, this drill ground outside the city is usually deserted and overgrown with weeds, only bustling with activity when the border troops are training.

As soon as they approached the training ground, they saw that it was surrounded by layers upon layers of people, like an iron barrel!

Hundreds of armored soldiers drew their swords and spears, nocked their bows and crossbows, and together with a large number of constables and yamen runners, they surrounded the huge drill ground, filling the wilderness with a chilling atmosphere.

Li Fu had deduced that intelligence about the drill ground had been reported to Prefect Feng Shaoting, who immediately mobilized troops and took control of the situation.

"Such a grand entrance! The person is indeed here!"

Li Fu rode his horse through the passage cleared by the crowd and arrived at the center of the training ground.

Feng Shaoting sat upright in the temporary central command position, with a grand chair placed in the open space. His personal guards stood solemnly on both sides, his face serious and his eyes fixed on the high platform like a hawk.

Upon seeing Li Fu arrive, his eyes lit up, and he spoke with a hint of appreciation.

"Officer Li, it's all thanks to your meticulousness. If you hadn't guessed that the culprit was in this desolate training ground, everyone else would probably still be wandering around the city like headless flies!"

"The prefect is too kind."

Li Fu clasped his hands in a fist salute, looked up, and gazed at the high platform.

The platform where generals once reviewed their troops has now become a makeshift execution ground.

Judge Hong was bound hand and foot with thick ropes and forced to kneel on the stage.

His official robes were tattered and covered in dust and grass clippings. His hair was disheveled, his face was injured, and blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth. Despite his disheveled state, he still held his neck straight and forced an air of official authority.

The white-clad man who had previously escaped from Li Fu's hands stood beside him, dressed in plain white, his face covered by a veil, revealing only a pair of blood-red eyes filled with grief and murderous intent!

He held a heavy, ghost-headed broadsword in his hand, its blade cold and menacing, pressed against the back of Magistrate Hong's neck.

His body trembled slightly from extreme anger; he saw only his enemy and ignored the crowd surrounding him below the stage.

"Listen up, you thugs on the stage!"

Do you know that what you are doing now, daring to openly kidnap officials of the imperial court, is an unforgivable crime?

"Quickly lay down your weapons and release Lord Hong, and perhaps you will be spared!"

Feng Shaoting took a deep breath and shouted coldly at the high platform.

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; you can no longer escape even if you grow wings!"

Surrender and you may save your life. But if you remain obstinate and harm Lord Hong in the slightest, you will be doomed and it will be tantamount to treason!

Think of your parents, wife, children, relatives, and friends. Do you really want to drag them down with you to their deaths?

His words contained both stern intimidation and a hint of persuasion.

"Nine generations of relatives?"

Unexpectedly, it would have been better if he hadn't mentioned the word "family." As soon as he said it, it was like a spark falling into an oil drum. The grief and indignation in the white-clad man's eyes instantly turned into overwhelming murderous intent.

"Ha ha……"

He laughed angrily twice, like a wounded beast, and suddenly bent down and ripped the rag stuffed in Hong Tongpan's mouth!

Caught off guard, Hong Tongpan coughed a few times, spitting out mouthfuls of bloody saliva, looking utterly disheveled.

Peng!

Cao Mufeng struck Hong Tongpan's back heavily with the blade of his knife, as if whipping him, and questioned him angrily.

"You old scoundrel, you killed my brother, my last remaining relative in this world. You abused your power and committed murder!"

Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven and behead you, you corrupt official, and display your head to the public!

"What do you have to say now that you're about to die?!"

Li Fu, sitting below the stage, scanned the audience with lightning speed.

This man in white possessed astonishing courage. Even in dire straits, he regarded a thousand soldiers as nothing, his only thought being revenge. He truly had the air of "ignoring three thousand border soldiers and four great masters".

but……

A hint of doubt flashed through Li Fu's mind.

He asked in a low voice to the constable who had brought the news earlier, "Are you sure that Magistrate Hong was kidnapped last night?"

The constable, puzzled, quickly nodded: "Absolutely true, sir."

According to the steward of the Hong residence, the master returned to his room last night and never came out again. The note was only discovered this morning when the servants were cleaning!

"They were kidnapped last night, and another morning has passed..."

Li Fu narrowed his eyes, staring at the executioner's knife that could fall from the stage at any moment.

Could it be that this person not only wanted revenge, but also wanted to be beheaded in public, which is why he deliberately kept Judge Hong alive until now?

But judging from his expression, he was clearly filled with resentment, as if he couldn't see anyone else but his enemy.