https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-9-Refining-the-Martial-Art-Golden-Cicada-Shedding-Signed-/12984460/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-11-Immense-Strength-Wei-Feng-Master-of-Black-Demon-Palm-/12984472/
Chapter 10: Accumulating Merit!
Chapter 10: Accumulating Merit!
"The auspicious hour has arrived! Execute!"
On the execution ground, with the drop of a beheading token, a dazzling blade light suddenly flashed.
Blood splattered, and the headless body of the prisoner instantly fell to the ground.
But the execution didn't end with this one prisoner.
Qin Zheng took a step to the side and moved behind a new prisoner.
Swish!!
Another swing of the blade, and heads rolled.
In the face of the impending crisis and the grim task of beheading, Qin Zheng managed to ignore the terrifying scene.
At this moment, five prisoners were lined up, but there was only one executioner, Qin Zheng.
So, after the allotted time, he had no choice but to follow the order, moving from left to right, and behead each prisoner one by one.
After decapitating the last prisoner, Qin Zheng tightly gripped the Ghost Head Blade, shook the blade slightly, and flicked off the blood droplets.
The wide Ghost Head Blade, now gleaming with the bloodstains, appeared even more chilling and fierce.
"That's it! We'll take care of the rest. You go to the officer and sign for your payment."
At this moment, several soldiers approached, starting to clean up the dismembered corpses on the ground. One of them glanced at Qin Zheng's Ghost Head Blade and spoke.
Qin Zheng nodded, then wiped the blade with a cloth and wrapped it in coarse cloth, slanting it across his back.
Only after completing this did he head towards a certain building outside the execution ground.
"Brother Qin, we're recruiting new executioners. You'll have to bear the burden during this period."
The soldier who had spoken before addressed Qin Zheng again.
These soldiers had witnessed Qin Zheng blocking two of Shi Dian's attacks with just the Ghost Head Blade the day before.
So, they all assumed that Qin Zheng must possess martial arts skills, and their respect for him grew.
Hearing this, Qin Zheng paused and turned to nod at the soldier.
Then, he continued walking towards the area outside the execution ground.
The executioner at the Black Goose City's execution ground was not solely Qin Zheng.
Before Shi Yan's execution, there were originally five executioners, but apart from Qin Zheng, who had transmigrated and survived, the other four had mysteriously died for various reasons before Shi Yan's execution.
This was the information Qin Zheng had learned upon arriving, which was why he alone had to behead the five prisoners.
At this thought, Qin Zheng's emotions became momentarily complex.
Shi Dian must have made a deal with Ji Changyin, agreeing to postpone the execution if no executioner was available on the day of the sentence, leaving room for negotiation.
But neither of them had anticipated that although Qin Zheng's predecessor had died, his transmigration would impact their agreement.
Ji Changyin, as a captain dispatched by the Imperial Court, could secretly make a deal with Shi Dian, turning a blind eye to the situation.
However, once on the execution ground, with all conditions met, they could no longer uphold the agreement.
He had no choice but to throw down the beheading token and execute Shi Yan himself.
This led to the subsequent events.
But Qin Zheng couldn't quite understand two aspects of this.
If the Golden Cicada Gang held significant influence in Black Goose City and could even reach an agreement with the stationed army captain, why was Shi Yan arrested? And who ordered his beheading?
Moreover, would the execution ground truly postpone the execution due to the absence of an executioner? With so many soldiers, couldn't they just choose someone, give them a long sword, and proceed with the execution?
Was there a rule more significant than the timely execution protocol? Qin Zheng's mind was filled with these chaotic thoughts.
After a moment, he shook his head, clearing these thoughts from his mind.
These matters weren't his top priority at the moment, and he didn't need to waste his energy on them.
Diverting a sliver of his attention, he glanced at the Virtue Scroll within his Heart Sea.
【Qin Zheng】
【Lifespan: 70 (17)】
【Martial Arts: Ghost Head Blade Technique (Perfect), Golden Cicada Shedding (Entry)】
【Merit: 1 Liang 6 Qian】
【Current Martial Art: Golden Cicada Shedding can be upgraded, requiring 5 Qian of Merit. Upgrade?】
Qin Zheng's eyes lit up as he read the contents, his mood instantly turning excited.
One Liang and six Qian, aside from the one Qian he originally had left, the rest were all earned today.
In other words, a criminal had provided him with three Qian of Merit.
Although it was significantly less than Shi Yan, Qin Zheng was still satisfied. He hadn't expected that in just one day, he had accumulated enough Merit to refine the Bodhimanda Wisdom Technique!
Once he refines this martial art, his safety will be greatly assured!
Imagining the changes the Bodhimanda Wisdom Technique would bring, Qin Zheng's heart raced with excitement.
However, refining martial arts would cause changes to his body, and being at the execution ground, he couldn't refine it immediately.
So, he could only temporarily suppress his excitement and wait to refine it after returning home.
Next, he had to collect his wages; otherwise, being penniless, even eating would be a problem.
The execution ground of Black Goose City was located on the southern outskirts, and the garrison was naturally stationed around it.
The role of the executioner was not assigned to soldiers from the garrison but was taken up by brave ordinary people who volunteered.
Twenty copper coins for each beheading, and if there were many prisoners, one could earn a substantial amount in a day.
Therefore, near the execution ground, there were families who made a living as executioners, passing down the occupation from generation to generation.
Qin Zheng's current body's family was one such family.
Today, he had beheaded five heads, plus the one from Shi Yan that hadn't been settled yet, making it a total of six.
In other words, he could receive 120 copper coins today, roughly one Qian of silver.
Not long after, he arrived at an office-like area within the garrison.
Qin Zheng stated his name, and the person on the other side didn't verify much, instead handing him a bag.
The bag rattled with a crisp sound as it moved, indicating a substantial amount of coins inside.
Qin Zheng didn't bother to count them, thanked the person, and hurriedly left.
The middle-aged man with a slightly graying beard handed him the silver.
Watching Qin Zheng's departing figure, he shook his head and muttered, "What a pitiful, short-lived man!"
But Qin Zheng didn't hear any of this.
Or even if he did, he would have just laughed it off.
With money in his pockets and sufficient Merit accumulated on the Virtue Scroll, he felt a sense of satisfaction and pleasure.
As long as he refines the Bodhimanda Wisdom Technique!
His future will be smooth sailing!
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly spotted an old monk outside the execution ground.
However, this old monk was thin and ragged, looking more like a beggar than a monk.
He saw the monk with palms pressed together, facing the direction of the execution ground, compassionately reciting sutras.
"Namu Amitabha Dayeheto"
Qin Zheng listened for a moment but couldn't understand.
However, judging by the appearance, it seemed to be a sutra for cleansing sins and guiding departed souls.
Qin Zheng didn't linger and turned to leave.
From the garrison outside the southern outskirts to his residence in the eastern part of the city, it would take half an hour on foot.
But Qin Zheng, eager to refine the Bodhimanda Wisdom Technique, quietly employed his lightfoot techniques.
In an instant, his speed increased significantly.
Not long after, he returned to the eastern part of the city.
However, as he approached his earthen house, he heard a faint breath, seemingly coming from inside!
(End of Chapter)
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