Co-co-co!
The rooster crowed, its sound echoing through the vast Black Goose City.
The pitch-black night sky was also brightened by a streak of dawn light from the east.
Qin Zheng had already gotten up early, drank his medicinal soup, and was practicing his martial arts in the courtyard, circulating his Qi and blood.
The Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique comprised thirteen transformations, as if corresponding to the thirteen realms.
Practicing this martial art stimulates the body's Qi and blood much more powerfully and effectively than other martial arts.
Therefore, after trying out several martial arts he knew, Qin Zheng focused primarily on practicing this technique to circulate his Qi and blood.
At this moment, he finished a set of movements slowly, his body emitting white steam, his blood coursing rapidly, stimulating the surge of Qi and blood, strengthening his inner body.
Bang bang bang!
The door to the small courtyard was knocked on again.
Qin Zheng finished his practice and arrived at the courtyard door, opening it.
In came the earnest-looking Wang Er with his dark complexion.
"Big Brother Wang, what brings you here?"
Seeing him, Qin Zheng's eyebrows slightly raised, then as if realizing something, he said with understanding, "Is it time for an execution today?"
Although Black Goose City was one of the main execution grounds in Qingzhou, not every day did a prisoner have their head chopped off.
So when an execution was needed, the execution ground would normally notify the executioner in advance.
In the past, it was constables from the government office who delivered the notices, as the execution ground was outside Black Goose City and the office was conveniently inside.
But now, for the second time, it was Wang Er, a soldier at the execution ground, who came to inform him.
"Right, there are a few prisoners who need to be executed today."
Wang Er nodded, his face showing delight as he said, "Brother Qin, did you know, Shi Dian is dead!"
"It's that Cicada Gang leader Shi Dian, who broke into the execution ground the other day and was driven back by Colonel Ji!"
"Heard he was killed by Inspector Xu outside of Black Goose City, stabbed through the heart with a sword, a wound as big as a bowl, he died with his eyes wide open!"
As Wang Er spoke, he gesticulated, obviously quite excited.
Upon hearing this, a gleam flashed in Qin Zheng's eyes.
So Inspector Xu ended up taking credit for this feat!
That way, Qin Zheng himself had fewer troubles to worry about!
"I know you've been living in fear recently, worried that old brute might come after you for revenge. When I heard the news, I rushed to tell you right away."
"Now you can live a little more peacefully."
A warm current immediately flowed through Qin Zheng's heart.
He raised both hands, clasped his fists, and bowed, saying, "Thank you for the news, Big Brother Wang. Now I can have a peaceful sleep!"
Wang Er laughed heartily upon hearing this and then said, "Hurry up and prepare, come with me to the execution ground outside the city."
Qin Zheng nodded, went back to his room and grabbed the Ghost Head Greatsword, wrapped it in coarse cloth, and slung it over his shoulder before heading to the execution ground.
Arriving at the barracks, the two men separated, and Qin Zheng, carrying the Ghost Head Greatsword, walked straight into the execution ground.
While waiting for the prisoners to arrive, he glanced toward the execution platform.
Ji Changyin sat there with his usual composure, not surprised by Qin Zheng's presence, his gaze serene as he watched the center of the execution ground.
It seemed Ji Changyin must have learned of Qin Zheng's survival immediately.
Qin Zheng thought as such.
Soon, the prisoners were brought out from the jail.
There were three men. The one in the lead was a young man with a calm expression, as if it was not him who was about to be beheaded.
The two following him were also young men, but they looked completely dispirited, extremely haggard, like soulless bodies.
After the three were held down, the soldiers who escorted them left.
Having inherited the memories of his predecessor and served as an executioner himself, beheading several heads, Qin Zheng had seen all kinds of attitudes in such prisoners.
There were those who cried bitterly, those who were dispirited, and those who cursed wildly.
However, facing death with equanimity was somewhat rare,
especially for someone so young.
With this in mind, Qin Zheng couldn't help but turn his gaze toward the young leader.
And this time, there were no new words emerging on the Merit Scroll.
This means, this person should not be put to death!
Qin Zheng immediately turned his gaze to the other two young men.
Similarly, the Merit Scroll did not react.
This indicated that the other two young men also did not deserve death!
This was the first time Qin Zheng had encountered such a situation on the execution ground; although the merits awarded for executing prisoners varied in amount.
They were ultimately deserving of death, which was clearly different from the situation with these three prisoners.
He hesitated for a moment before letting out a light sigh.
In any era, injustice is inevitable.
It can only be said that in the eyes of powerful and influential families, so-called facts, righteousness, and evil are merely their version of the story!
These three young men might not necessarily be kind-hearted, but they didn't deserve to be beheaded.
What they had gone through, perhaps only the three of them knew in their hearts.
However, this did serve as a warning to Qin Zheng.
If one day someone like the old monk Chongming appears on this execution ground, and killing that person would deduct one's own Hundred Taels of merit.
What should he do then?
Should he let his Ghost Head Greatsword fall?
Qin Zheng did not consider himself a saint able to quell all injustices, unable to save all the wrongfully condemned.
Being able to protect himself and survive was his main concern.
It seemed that he should not execute every prisoner from now on.
At least before carrying out the execution, he needed to know if the prisoner deserved to die and if killing them would deduct his own merits.
Similarly, he still needed to continuously strengthen himself!
He must remember that the fist is the real power!
Only by growing stronger could he ensure that such situations did not befall him!
Just as these thoughts proliferated in Qin Zheng's mind.
"The auspicious time has come, execute!"
With the throw of the execution token.
A loud voice resonated over the execution grounds.
Qin Zheng's mind snapped back to reality, and he swung the Ghost Head Greatsword.
"The three of you, go in peace!"
At the same time, Qin Zheng spoke aloud for the three prisoners before him to hear.
Then...
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three swift flashes of the blade passed, and three heads fell to the ground.
After that, it was no longer Qin Zheng's concern.
He wiped the blade, wrapped it in a coarse cloth, and slung it over his shoulder.
Looking up, he saw that Colonel Ji Changyin had already left the monitoring platform.
It seemed that he had no intention of summoning him.
Qin Zheng walked out of the execution ground, while the onlooking crowd was already dispersing in twos and threes.
Only a plainly dressed woman remained, sitting alone on the ground, wailing bitterly.
She continued to cry out phrases like "brother" and "it's my fault".
On the other side, a pale-faced young master was sitting on a recliner, flanked by burly bodyguards.
He watched the three beheaded corpses on the execution grounds with a malicious and satisfied gaze.
Noticing Qin Zheng's gaze, the young master turned his head and said with disgust, "What are you looking at! Get lost! You bring bad luck!"
Then he turned his eyes back to the woman sitting on the ground, sobbing loudly, and sneered, "Your three brothers are dead, now I want to see how you can escape from the palm of my hand!"
"Go, bring that woman to me, tonight we'll have a good time!"
The guard beside him immediately approached the woman with a lecherous smile, reaching out his hand to pull her up.
But at that moment, a hand clamped down on the guard's shoulder, rendering him immovable in an instant.
The guard's face changed, and before he could say anything, a powerful force struck him, sending him flying through the air.
After spinning head over heels, he landed heavily in front of the young master, screaming in pain.