"Uh, where is this?"
When Qin Zheng woke up, his first instinct upon seeing the rudimentary earthen house was to frown.
But then, the flood of memories made his consciousness completely clear in an instant.
He had transgressed into a place similar to ancient China and had become an executioner.
At the execution ground, he had decapitated the head of a son from a gang's influential family.
Afterward, he was struck twice in succession by the boy's father, who was also the gang leader.
In the end, he couldn't hold on and passed out.
Thinking of this, Qin Zheng disregarded the pain in his body and suddenly opened his inner shirt to inspect the skin on his chest.
There was only a faint palm print, not very noticeable, but still faintly visible.
The palm print had faded!
Qin Zheng's eyes immediately brightened, and the tension in his heart slightly relaxed.
This palm print located at his chest was like a death warrant.
The original body had died from this palm strike, and just after he transmigrated, he could only endure the oppression it brought.
Previously, the palm print was as dark as ink, obviously leaving only one day to live; another outbreak and he would surely die from the intense pain.
But now, the palm print had thinned considerably, no longer the pitch black of before.
Clearly, the power of the palm had been diluted and relieved.
It also meant that the crisis was temporarily postponed, and the time he could survive had been extended.
However, as long as the palm print was not removed, he would always be in danger.
As Qin Zheng arrived at this thought, he also recalled the details at the execution ground.
He had perfected the Ghost Head Saber Technique, but it was still not enough to block a strike from the Cicada Gang leader.
After being blown away for the second time, he thought he was going to be beaten to death.
But unexpectedly, it was Colonel Ji, who was in charge of overseeing the execution, who intervened and repelled the Cicada Gang leader, saving his life.
Was this palm print on his chest the work of the Colonel Ji?
Or did perfecting the Ghost Head Saber Technique weaken the force of the palm strike?
Qin Zheng surveyed his surroundings, verifying that the humble and shabby house was indeed where he had transmigrated to.
So after he had fainted, it must have been them who had someone carry him back here, right?
While he was thinking this, the door suddenly opened.
A somewhat burly, dark-faced man walked in.
When he saw Qin Zheng awake, he also appeared surprised and said, "You're awake?"
Qin Zheng calmly nodded at the unfamiliar man and asked, "Who are you?"
However, he subtly tensed his body, his internal energy circulating.
If there was any peculiar movement from the man, he would strike with the speed of thunder!
Even without the Ghost Head Greatsword in his hand, his hand was still a sword!
The man laughed and said, "I'm Wang Er, a soldier under Colonel Ji. You were seriously injured and unconscious; it was I who carried you back here."
As he spoke, the man placed the medicinal herbs and some meat on the stove.
"Master Shi is a martial artist of the Sinew Refining Realm; you blocked his two strikes without dying, and even your injuries aren't too severe, truly remarkable."
"You survived a great disaster, and you're sure to have vast good fortune in the future. I see you now in some difficulties, so consider these things a little investment in you."
He said, smiling at Qin Zheng and gesturing towards the medicinal herbs and meat on the stove.
Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng immediately endured the pain and stood up from the bed, bowing to the man known as Wang Er.
"I accept your kindness, Big Brother Wang, and if I achieve anything in the future, I will surely come to thank you personally!"
Having just transmigrated, he was left with nothing but an empty home.
In his past life, he had given away every last silver coin on his person in his desperate pursuit of talisman papers and the concoction of talisman water.
If this Wang Er before him didn't give him these items, Qin Zheng had no idea how he would scrounge up money to live on at the moment.
"No need, you should focus on getting yourself healed first,"
Wang Er said with a smile, shaking his head.
After randomly picking a spot to sit down, he looked at Qin Zheng with a grave expression and said, "The Cicada Gang has been wiped out."
Qin Zheng stiffened at the news, then quickly realized that the dandy he had beheaded was the Young Gang Leader of the Cicada Gang.
And the one who had burst into the execution grounds, attacked him, and clashed with the Garrison Commander was the leader of the Cicada Gang.
"Did that old guy die?"
Qin Zheng asked anxiously.
After all, having beheaded his son, he would undoubtedly be one of the man's primary targets for revenge.
It would be less concerning if the Cicada Gang had not been destroyed, as being tied down by family affairs could potentially influence how determinedly he might act.
But with the Cicada Gang eradicated, if the old man was still alive, there would be no conventional constraints to hinder his vengeance!
In response to Qin Zheng's question, Wang Er's face turned solemn as he shook his head.
Qin Zheng's face instantly darkened, feeling a heavy stone press down on his heart.
This was the worst outcome, and the one he least wanted to face.
An unrestrained beast is the most terrifying when it bares its fangs!
Having clashed with him, Qin Zheng knew that the man's martial arts, which could emit a golden glow from the body, were far beyond what his own Ghost Head Saber Technique could withstand.
If that old man came looking for him, without the protection of the Garrison Commander by his side, Qin Zheng knew the likely outcome.
It would surely mean his death!
With this thought, Qin Zheng's mood became even heavier.
However, at that moment, Wang Er reassured him, "You don't have to worry too much. Although Master Shi is not dead, the Colonel has inflicted severe injuries on him."
"He has done many evil deeds in Black Goose City and has made quite a few enemies."
"These people did not dare to act against him before, fearing his strength, but now it might not be the case."
"So in the short term, he probably won't rush back, at least not until his wounds have healed."
Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
But he was also aware that these were just comforting words from Wang Er. Although possible, nothing was certain.
Who could be sure that the old man wouldn't be blinded by hatred, dragging his injured body to seek revenge?
If the old bastard feared others, would he fear Qin Zheng, who could be sent flying with a single blow?
Therefore, Qin Zheng now needed martial arts skills!
He urgently needed martial arts skills!
With the Merit Scroll at his side, and the Executioner's job, he could rapidly bring a martial art to Perfection!
As long as he could get one, or a few decent martial arts, and pile them up with merit!
His own strength would definitely see a tremendous increase!
Once his strength improved, he wouldn't have to fear the other party seeking him out!
And given the other party's many misdeeds, slaying him might even yield a considerable amount of merit!
Qin Zheng's mind raced, considering where he might acquire martial arts skills.
In this world, martial artists held a lofty status and martial arts were not something ordinary people could access.
As a loner with no connections or means to acquire martial arts skills, Qin Zheng's brow slowly began to furrow.
All of a sudden, he lifted his head and looked at the dark-faced man before him, asking hopefully, "Big Brother Wang, do you know martial arts?"