Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Treasure
The marketplace, essentially the default execution ground within the Daji Dynasty’s territory, exists in every province, state, and county and doubles as the simplest vegetable market.
Why execute criminals at the marketplace? The answer is straightforward: it’s where the bottom tier of society frequents most.
The unspoken rule of public execution at the marketplace served as a warning to the Daji Dynasty’s most impoverished citizens, showing them the grim fate of lawbreakers.
The street Chen Ku was standing on was called New Street, a newer road in the outer city, somewhat muddy and not yet paved with bricks. He watched as Ni Kun’s prison cart approached from this direction.
Li Yuancheng spotted his brother-in-law amongst the crowd, somewhat surprised, and came over to ask, "What are you doing here?"
"I was about to head back to Medicine King Hall; I didn’t expect to come across this on the way," Chen Ku replied truthfully.
Then, he looked up toward Ni Kun inside the prison cart.
Chen Ku always remembered the intangible benefits this man he had personally reported had brought him—this unlucky fellow whom a group of constables had then captured like fish in a barrel. Besides the reward of over one hundred taels of silver, the Blood Blade Transformation alone was enough to make him deeply grateful to Ni Kun, this easy mark.
"It’s the autumnal executions; ten criminals in total this time, but only he is to be paraded through the streets. The other criminals were secretly moved to the marketplace earlier," Li Yuancheng whispered to Chen Ku.
"Do you want to go see a killing? It’s best for a martial artist to witness bloodshed and death; this strengthens their courage. Otherwise, if you truly face ferocious evildoers or see someone die before you, you’ll be the one scared witless. Then, all your Martial Arts will be for naught."
He was nothing like his damned brother-in-law Chen Xin, who had caused him to lose his official post. In contrast, he had a very good impression of his other brother-in-law, Chen Ku. Chen Ku had helped him regain his official position, managed to elevate their family’s status through legitimate means, and even secured him a share in the crow sink sand mine.
So when Li Yuancheng said these words, urging Chen Ku to witness a killing, it might sound frightening, but in reality, it was beneficial for a novice who had never seen such bloody scenes before. This was advice from an old soldier turned constable, hardened by experiences from the battlefield.
A martial artist who sees blood early in their training excels early in their career. Especially given that Chen Ku’s talent was not bad?
Chen Ku sensed his brother-in-law’s intent without betraying any emotion.
If he really were inexperienced, he would indeed have to force himself to watch, but so far... he had already lost count of the lives taken by his own hands on one palm.
At that moment, Ni Kun on the prison cart, who had also seen Li Yuancheng and Chen Ku speaking, suddenly roared, "Are you Chen Ku? It was you who reported me! You little beast! You little beast! Even in death, I will not let you go!"
How could he not recognize Chen Ku? Li Yuancheng’s brother-in-law! Moreover, after being incarcerated in the county jail, he had gradually learned that it was because of this little beast that his whereabouts had been exposed. Without any preparation, he had been surrounded by a dozen constables!
The key issue was, Ni Kun had no idea when Chen Ku had first discovered him! Could it have been that very day when I had arrived at Li Yuancheng’s place, and he had noticed me immediately? Then Li Yuancheng had deliberately found an excuse to take his sister away, and the constables had arrived shortly after? But how could that be? Ni Kun couldn’t fathom where he had slipped up or revealed his tracks.
Now, on his way to the execution grounds, about to be beheaded, to encounter the very pest responsible for his demise halfway there—Ni Kun was so furious he felt his teeth could shatter. Standing in the prison cart, he stuck his head out and continued to bellow at Chen Ku, "I swear, I won’t let you go as a ghost, you little beast! Remember this, in eighteen years, I will definitely come for my revenge!"
Originally, Chen Ku didn’t really want to witness Ni Kun’s death. Because he wouldn’t be the one personally dealing the blow, he wouldn’t obtain Evil Qi from an Inner Qi Realm expert.
But now, seeing Ni Kun’s reaction and coupled with his brother-in-law’s invitation, he became somewhat interested in witnessing Ni Kun’s head fall. In a sense, it would truly put his mind at ease.
"Good, I’ll watch your head fall to the ground, and then wait for you to come find me in eighteen years," Chen Ku said this to Ni Kun on the prison cart a few meters away, then spoke to Li Yuancheng, "Brother-in-law, I’m coming with you to watch the execution."
Just that one sentence made Li Yuancheng’s eyelids twitch once more, his scrutiny of Chen Ku filled with particular surprise.
Watching your head hit the ground, waiting for you eighteen years later...
To speak so casually, he couldn’t believe that this was his little brother-in-law from the countryside. Could he really have such boldness, unafraid at all?
This kid will definitely make something of himself in the future, Li Yuancheng thought to himself.
Then, he let Chen Ku follow the prison cart towards the marketplace.
...
Baojiao County lay on the frontier; it could be said that this was a place where the sky is high and the emperor is far away. Here, the County Magistrate had complete authority over the life and death of the hundred thousand households under his command.
At this moment, in the sumptuous rear garden of the huge mansion belonging to the Lord County Magistrate, green plants filled the space as autumn winds scattered the fallen leaves.
Lord County Magistrate Shangguan Yun held a black piece in his hand and slowly placed it on the board, casually asking the counselor opposite him, "Do you think the remnants of the last Hero King and his group will come?"
Sui You sat opposite the number one official of Baojiao County at the stone chessboard, pinching a white piece and speaking leisurely, "More than one hundred years ago, the previous dynasty collapsed. Hero King Pei Dongliu and the Grand Ancestor Emperor—along with eight other righteous army leaders—were known as the ’Ten Great Rebel Kings.’ Hero King Pei Dongliu was even the first Rebel King to breach the Great Hong Imperial Palace of the former dynasty. After that, Pei Dongliu occupied Hongjing City for a whole year. Although he was defeated a year later by the Grand Ancestor, Pei Dongliu met his end, and his force was wiped out. But, it is said that within that year, Hero King Pei Dongliu had already covertly transferred large portions of Hongjing City’s wealth, assigning his four great bodyguards to move it to other locations...
For over one hundred years, the Daji Dynasty has never forgotten the wealth of the former dynasty. Yet, in the end, they found only half of it. The remaining half is known only to the descendants of those four bodyguards. Regrettably, over the years, those families have been killed or destroyed. Two of them have completely died out. The remaining two families disappeared decades ago. By then, they were in such decline that they no longer had anyone with Five Internal Strong Cultivation."
"The four great bodyguards under Hero King Pei Dongliu, once called the Four Great Heavenly Kings, also known as the Four Fierce Men, were indeed invincible under heaven. Especially Tuo Mountain Heavenly King Xiong Ying; he was truly non-human—a monster capable of lifting Half Moon Mountain. If not for him, the Grand Ancestor and the other Rebel Kings would all have been trapped and died in that foremost pass."
Shangguan Yun, looking at Sui You place down a piece, followed with a casual move of his own, softly speaking, "Speaking of which, this Xu Minjun, had she not accidentally demonstrated the Xiong Family’s ’Mountain-Lifting Palm’ at the chrysanthemum appreciation festival a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been sure she was a descendant of the Xiong Family. This woman has been in my hands for three years, yet I still haven’t managed to extract more secrets about the Hero King Treasure from her. If it weren’t for the repeated failures of those attempting to break her out of prison these three years, I would doubt whether her family really knows the secrets and whereabouts of the Hero King Treasure. But now I’m losing patience, and I’ll use her to bait one last time. If I catch something, good; if not..."
Autumn wind swept through the garden.
A black piece fell into place.
"Then, that’s that. I have other methods at my disposal," said the County Magistrate nonchalantly.
Sui You, looking at the chessboard where he could no longer make a move, bowed and sighed, "Lord, you excel in both chess and martial prowess; this small Baojiao County is truly unworthy of your ambitions."
But at that moment, an old butler walked over slowly and whispered a few words into Shangguan Yun’s ear.
Shangguan Yun raised his eyebrows slightly, "Hmm? Peace Path has gotten involved too? How interesting."