On April 7th, 4 days after the national banquet, in the execution ground outside the Meridian Gate of the emperor's imperial city of Xuanyuan Hill...
In handcuffs and shackles, Fang Keyan, who had just been escorted out of the black prisoner carriage by some people of the Supreme Court, was dazzled by the sunshine. At the same time, he closed his eyes as he raised his hand to cover his forehead.
But just as he closed his eyes, Fang Keyan heard a tsunami-like roar in his ears.
"Kill him..."
"Kill him..."
"Kill this lackey of Heavens Reaching Church..."
"Kill this b * stard!"
In the midst of this tsunami-like roar, Fang Keyan only felt a pain in his forehead. In an instant, he was smashed in the head by a rotten egg. The broken eggshell and the rotten egg yolk in the egg instantly splashed on Fang Keyan's face. The filthy stench made him look incomparably miserable.
Fang Keyan turned around and found it was a 7-year old kid who was glaring at him fearlessly. At the sight of Fang Keyan turning around, the kid threw the second rotten egg towards Fang Keyan.
"Kill you son of b * tch..."
"Kill him!"
All the onlookers in the surroundings of the execution ground were watching him with furious, contemptuous and hateful looks.
When the event broke out in Xuanyuan Hill, Han Zhengfang's party and his accomplices struggled in Xuanyuan Hill. In order to create chaos and escape out of Xuanyuan Hill, the henchmen of Heavens Reaching Church killed people and set fires everywhere. As a result, the commoners in Xuanyuan Hill hated Heavens Reaching Church very much. After knowing that they were going to kill the "remnants" of Han Zhengfang's party here today, the onlookers had long been eager to eat his flesh and sleep his skin; instead of being polite to him.
At the same time, Fang Keyan was hit by more filthy objects, such as broken soles, rotten vegetable roots and even dry and hard * * *. All of them were wrapped in paper and thrown onto Fang Keyan's body.
If not being dragged by some officials of the Supreme Court who forbade commoners to throw stones on such an occasion in case of being killed by stones and not easily identified after being disfigured by stones, Fang Keyan would have been smashed to death by the furious onlookers during the short period of over 100 steps from getting off the carriage to the execution ground.
At the sight of the execution ground, Fang Zhengzhi's face changed greatly as he quivered all over. A few days ago, Zuo Pushe who could be the guest of honor in the national banquet of Anyan Palace of Taixia Country could not imagine that his fate had been reversed only after a few days. He was going to meet the end of his life in the execution ground of Meridian Gate.
In the past, as an official of the imperial city, whenever he went to a province, the provincial governors and county governors would flock to him. Even the Commander Cheng had to show him some respect.
But now, he was a prisoner who was sentenced to death. He had been stripped of his official robes and hat, and was dressed in a prison uniform. Everywhere he went, he was condemned by thousands and hated by tens of thousands. Even seven or eight year old children wanted to kill him.
This was like going to heaven or hell at any moment.
"I want to see the chief justice of the Supreme Court. I'm wronged. I want to see Lord Yu and His Highness …" Fang Keyan was still shouting and struggling in an embarrassed manner. However, his voice was as faint as a fly flapping its wings among the surrounding yells of "Beat him to death" and "Beat this son of b * tch to death".
"General Mushen saved hundreds of millions of civilians in the camp of demons on the bank of Weishui River and killed hundreds of millions of demons by himself. He even fed civilians in the theater of operations so that generals and soldiers in the theater of operations could have sharp weapons to kill demons. As we're doing menial labor, although we're not educated, we also know that General Mushen is a hero in Taixia Country. These days, we've been drinking in boites. Even the storyteller of the Legend of Black Iron Hero said that General Mushen is the mainstay of Hua people in Taixia Country. He's righteous, benevolent and noble. Because of General Mushen, demons didn't defeat Weishui River. You b * tch official, how dare you frame General Mushen and open the eyes of demons and Heavens Reaching Church? Have you lost your conscience? You're wronged, pah …"
A 40-odd official of Supreme Court who was escorting Fang Keyan said as he watched Fang Keyan with a contemptuous look. Watching Fang Keyan struggling and shouting as he didn't want to go to the execution ground, those officials exchanged a glance with each other. At the same time, that official threw a glance at Fang Keyan. Closely after that, two officials behind Fang Keyan started to pound Fang Keyan's shins with their iron rods ferociously.
As the bailiffs of Supreme Court were all veterans, they felt a heart-wrenching pain as Fang Keyan's two calves were broken in a split second. In the sudden sharp pain, Fang Keyan who had always lived like a prince uttered a miserable shriek and passed out in a split second. Closely after that, some bailiffs directly dragged Fang Keyan onto the execution ground.
When Fang Keyan woke up after a short period of unconsciousness, he was already detained on the execution platform. His head and hands were already unable to move. A person wearing a vermillion official's robe was sprinkling water on Fang Keyan's face to wake him up.
After seeing Fang Keyan waking up, that person took a flagon and poured a glass of liquor for Fang Keyan. After that, he lowered his body and raised the glass to Fang Keyan's mouth.
"Lord Fang, after drinking this glass of liquor, you'd better be on your way …"
At the sight of this person's face, Fang Keyan's eyes turned bright at once as if he had caught a life-saving straw. Therefore, he struggled for the last time, "Lord Xiang, Lord Xiang, as we've known each other for a long time, please let me see Lord Yu and the crown prince. I'm wronged. You know I'm wronged …"
"In peaceful times, civil officials are used; in troubled times, military generals are used. Don't you understand that, Lord Fang?" That official in scarlet official's robe let out a sigh as he continued, "As we're in high positions, we've already been far more powerful than common provincial governors. We're paid by the monarch and the country's salary. In Xuanyuan Hill, we should be cautious and conscientious and serve the country faithfully. General Mushen is a gentleman. Lord Fang, you're trying to bully him and embarrass the crown prince in Anyan Palace. It's not good for the country. Do you know that it's in the holy war? Although we're not weak, we couldn't even match a common lieutenant on the battlefield. Even 1 million of us couldn't match one finger of General Mushen in the eyes of the public. It's fine that we couldn't fight the enemy on the battlefield; however, how could you accuse General Mushen? You're seeking for death. If you're wronged, wouldn't all the people in the world be idiots?
Fang Keyan burst into tears as if he was driven mad, "I know I'm wrong … I know I'm wrong … I want to see the crown prince … I can present a bramble and ask for punishment …"
"If Su Qianling was here, he might feel lucky that he submitted the impeachment memorial a few years ago when General Mushen was not famous yet. Neither did demons invade Taixia Country. If he submitted it at this moment, Lord Fang would not be the only one who would be beheaded today …" The official in scarlet official's robe said calmly, "Lord Fang, don't talk nonsense at this moment. You're too talkative. Given that we've been acquainted with each other, this glass of wine is my last gift to you. After drinking this glass of wine, Lord Fang, you'd better be on your way. I will have the executioner do it neatly so that Lord Fang won't suffer anymore …"
Su Qianling was one of the censors who impeached Zhang Tie in the early years. Later on, he failed to impeach Zhang Tie and was demoted to Yinzhou Province as a Class 8 official of the Ministry of Finance. Thankfully, he survived.
"I want to see the crown prince … I want to see General Mushen … I'm Zuo Pounsha, the official of the Ministry of Finance and Living Affairs. Who dares kill me … Xuanyuan Hill never kills officials based on their opinions. I want to see Emperor Xuanyuan …" Fang Keyan started to yell in confusion.
Watching Fang Keyan's behavior, the official in scarlet official's eyes gradually turned cold as he poured the last glass of wine onto the bluestone in front of Fang Keyan. After that, he turned around and walked back to the execution platform.
Two other officials were sitting on the execution platform with a straight face. At the sight of that official in scarlet official's robe, one of them waved his hand while an elite official on his side walked forward and confirmed Fang Keyan's identity.
That petty official walked back as he nodded towards that official.
"Mr. Xiang, please don't blame me. It's a major case assigned by the crown prince himself. No mistake is allowed. This official could only follow the procedure …" That official cupped his hands towards Mr. Xiang as he said.
"Mr. Hong, you're too polite. It's reasonable; it's reasonable …" Mr. Xiang said with a smile, "Fang Keyan's clan has been thoroughly investigated. All the male members of his clan have been sent to the black mine in Mozhou Province. All the female members of his clan have been sent to the Musical House in Liangzhou Province. After today, this case will come to an end …"
After throwing a glance at the sundial on the execution platform, the official on the other side turned around as he said, "It's almost time …"
The sun was high in the sky while the shadow on the sundial indicated that it was 3: 45 in the afternoon, which was the time when the yang qi was the most abundant. If they executed the condemned prisoners at this moment, they could break the ghosts and evils easily.
After throwing a glance at the sundial, Mr. Xiang picked up a token arrow and threw it out.
"Chop …"
On the execution platform, the executioner drank a mouthful of liquor. Closely after that, he sprayed half of the liquor onto his huge saber. With a flash of saber qi, his neck was chopped off, spraying dirty blood onto the bluestone which was still stained with liquor …
"Nice …" The onlooking commoners in Xuanyuan Hill cheered loudly.
…
At the same time, in the airport of Xuanyuan Hill …
Zhang Tie looked up at the rising sun as he told the crown prince, "It's too late, Brother Changying, please wait a moment!"
Zhang Tie's family members had already boarded the airboat; however, the crown prince was bidding a farewell to Zhang Tie on the platform outside the airboat. Due to the arrival of the crown prince, the entire airport had been blocked. The airport was covered with the shadows of powerhouses who were in charge of imperial guards.
Additionally, the crown prince also brought an imperial airboat which was specially made for the crown prince by the imperial financial and living affairs ministry of Taixia Country. The imperial airboat was almost 1,000 m in length and 6 floors in height. When it parked in front of Zhang Tie, it looked pretty magnificent. It was definitely a top-class airboat. Across Taixia Country, there might be less than 20 airboats on the same level.
Due to the great enthusiasm of the crown prince, Zhang Tie had to accept such a gift before leaving. After that, he had his family members board the airboat of the crown prince.
"Alas, younger brother, I don't know when will I see you again. If you couldn't recover your wounds after returning to Youzhou Province, I hope you could notice me as soon as possible. I will definitely find a good prescription for you to recover your wounds with the efforts of Taixia Country!" The crown prince sighed with emotions.
"Thanks for your concern, Brother Changying. If I couldn't recover my wounds, I would definitely not refuse your kindness!" Zhang Tie said with a smile.
"That's great; that's great. Wish younger brother a safe journey!"
"Here's a small gift for you, Brother Changying. I hope you won't refuse it!" Zhang Tie said as a jade box appeared in his hand. Closely after that, he passed it to Crown Prince Changying.
After throwing a glance at Zhang Tie, the crown prince revealed a smile as he accepted Zhang Tie's gift.
After cupping his hands towards the crown prince, Zhang Tie bade a farewell to him. Closely after that, he turned around and boarded the 1,000 m long airboat.
The crown prince was watching the airboat slowly rising up and flying towards the north. Not until the airboat left did he open the jade box out of curiosity. Then, he saw 10 extremely precious fruits of cross-realm flowers in the jade box.
The 10 fruits of cross-realm flowers were even more than those in the imperial warehouse of Xuanyuan Imperial Palace.
Crown Prince Changying couldn't help but let out a long sigh while looking at the ten fruits. Outsiders couldn't understand the complex feelings in his heart …
…
On the airboat, watching Xuanyuan Hill gradually disappearing in the distance, Zhang Tie gradually recovered his composure as he let out a deep sigh.
Xuanyuan Hill was a huge swirl, in which there were fame and fortune, liquor, women, avarice, grand hegemony, dirty tricks, ambitions and desires. In such an environment, Zhang Tie could barely settle down. When he recalled what he had encountered in Xuanyuan Hill in a few days and the Sincerity Garden that Meng Shidao had been guarding in Xuanyuan Hill for dozens of years, Zhang Tie really admired Meng Shidao's temperament and cultivation base.
In Xuanyuan Hill today, someone's head was chopped off; someone would feel happy because of Zhang Tie's departure; someone would sigh because of Zhang Tie's departure. However, it didn't matter anymore. What counted was that Zhang Tie could return to Youzhou Province and Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory.
Compared to the prosperity of Xuanyuan Hill, Xuanyuan Hill was the place that Zhang Tie would miss.
No matter how magnificent and prosperous a place was, it would be strange for Zhang Tie if he didn't have someone whom he loved and cared about.
After returning to Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory, Zhang Tie could enter Castle of Black Iron to take a look at the fruit of redemption of humans in the name of cultivation. As someone was paying attention to Zhang Tie's movements in Xuanyuan Hill all the time, Zhang Tie could not enter Castle of Black Iron unless he exposed the existence of Castle of Black Iron to the public.
Take Yan Feiqing as an instance, as long as Zhang Tie disappeared within the territory of Qianji Manor, she would sense it at once. Only in the knight's backroom which was specially built by Iron-Dragon Sect for him to enter secluded cultivation could he be completely isolated from the outside world.
"Papa, are we going home now?" At this moment, Zhang Shini walked over here and asked Zhang Tie in a childish way while holding Zhang Tie's hand.
Zhang Tie instantly cradled this baby girl as he let out a deep sigh and faintly pinched her nose, saying, "Yup, we're going home. Are you happy, little Nini?"
"Mom is happy, grandma is happy, I'm happy too …"
"How about it? Do you like this airboat?"
"I like it. I have a lot of toys in my room …"
Kids' world was so simple. Zhang Tie burst out into laughter …
…
(To be continued.)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
