Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 400 - 375: Announcing the Beheading of the Owl Leader

Chapter 400: Chapter 375: Announcing the Beheading of the Owl Leader

The Town Demon Office in Daxing City captured some demons that had sneaked in and beheaded them at the Demon-Execution Platform to make a public example.

On one hand, it stabilized the public’s spirits, letting everyone believe that the Great Sui’s Town Demon Office could capture all evil demons and that it increased everyone’s recognition and support for the Town Demon Office.

On the other hand, it served to intimidate the insignificant criminals, especially because nearly all in both the Jin City Fang and Jingshan Fang were of the Demon Clan, and also mixed within the capital were forces dissatisfied with the Imperial Court, like the Heavenly Punishment Sect.

Thus, each time a demon was to be beheaded at the Demon-Execution Platform, the news would generally spread throughout Daxing City the day before.

Of course, the dissemination of information was mainly targeted at the Hundred Flowers Fang and Jingshan Fang area.

But this time, the news spread back and forth in Jin City Fang, it was almost as if someone was carrying a notice, knocking on every door to alert them.

The next morning, Wang Junwu came to bid farewell to Qiong.

"Leaving? Why?"

Although Wang Junwu had been with Xu protecting Qiong at the Yu Family, Wang Junwu was not foolish, through observing Qiong’s food, clothing, and surrounding people, even though Qiong hadn’t said anything, he had guessed her identity.

"Something difficult came up at home, I need to handle it."

"Then let me bring some people to help you deal with it."

Wang Junwu immediately shook his head, whispering, "I should go by myself. After all, it’s a difficult situation. It’s better if I go back alone."

Although Qiong wanted to help, knowing that he had declined twice, she realized it would be inappropriate to insist further.

"Alright then, you go ahead and handle it. If anything happens, just have Senior Xu inform me."

Wang Junwu hesitated for a moment, wanting to tell Qiong that Xu might also need to go with him, but thinking that the two of them had no real chance of being together, and thus creating more interactions was meaningless, he didn’t continue the conversation.

After Wang Junwu left, Qiong went to her elder sister, Yang Lihua.

"Elder sister, Wang Junwu has some family issues and needs to leave for a bit. I just found out that Senior Xu might be leaving too. Do you know what’s happening?"

Yang Lihua who was reading a book put it down and looked at her younger sister, sighing.

"You probably don’t know yet. The Town Demon Office captured Hu Xingxiang, that woman brought back by Zhang San."

"Ah!? The Emperor only ordered to capture Zhang San, what does it have to do with the people around Zhang San? The people from the Town Demon Office are going too far!"

Yang Lihua grabbed Qiong’s hand gently, whispering, "So you think Wang Junwu and Xu are really leaving because of family issues? Zhang San is hiding somewhere unknown. If Zhang San can receive the news, it would be good, but if the place where Zhang San is has no news, then his beloved Little Fox might die."

"Wang Junwu is Zhang San’s sworn brother, and Xu has an outstanding relationship with Zhang San. Do you think, at this time, they would stand idly by?"

At this moment, Qiong felt her mind start to clutter and herself becoming somewhat panicked.

"Wouldn’t they be going to confront the Town Demon Office then? But it is the Town Demon Office they are facing! If they go, isn’t it more likely doom than fortune..."

"Knowing something is impractical but still attempting it, that is what being a real man is all about. Qiong, haven’t you noticed that Wang Junwu has been intentionally avoiding you recently?"

Qiong, with lowered head and pouting, said, "I felt it. Does he think I’m too heavy? I can lose weight."

Yang Lihua scoffed and lightly tapped Qiong’s head.

"He probably guessed your real identity and mine. I’m just Zhang San’s adopted elder sister; my identity does not matter. What is important is you. If he wants to be with you, a small Martial Artist from the Town Martial Office and a princess cherished by the Emperor, do you think it is possible? He doesn’t want to get too involved with you because he does not want to hurt you."

Upon hearing this, Qiong sadly lowered her head.

"But I think, this man, even knowing that you are a princess doesn’t think he can climb up the social ladder, nor does he ignore his brother’s troubles when encountered. He’s quite admirable. I suggest you bring some people and wait near the Demon-Execution Platform. If Wang Junwu really fights against the Town Demon Office for his friend! Such a man, if you want to marry him, I will help you!"

Upon hearing this, Qiong immediately excitedly embraced Yang Lihua.

"Elder sister, you are the best!"

"Just now you were pouting and looking down, now you’re smiling like this. Oh, it can’t be stopped, just get married already, get married."

...

Outside Daxing City, Xu saw Luo Liangfeng off.

"We are both living dead, I’ll speak directly, today I am going to do something important. It’s more likely to end badly than well, if I don’t come back, you should return to Chuan-Yu Road."

Before, when Xu had Luo Liangfeng carry things out, Luo Liangfeng thought there was some secret mission, but once they were out of the city and Xu said to hide first, he knew the situation was grim.

"Senior Xu, although you are not my master, during this time you and those of us from Maoshan who are living dead, have been like headmasters to me. Now that you are in trouble, I run away, is that something a person should do?"

Along with Luo Liangfeng, who was also carrying a pack, Wei glanced at him and snapped, "How can you still be insulting people?"

Luo Liangfeng immediately apologized to Wei, "Senior Wei, I didn’t mean that. I just feel that if Senior Xu is in trouble and I can’t help it is one thing, but running and hiding would be too inhuman!"

Wei, already in a bad mood, became even angrier hearing Luo Liangfeng’s words.

"Alright, alright! You two half-dead are human, it’s just me who isn’t human! I should die! I always run away when I see trouble!"

As he spoke, Wei threw the pack into Luo Liangfeng’s arms and turned, walking back into Daxing City.

Luo Liangfeng looked confused and nervously at Xu.

Xu laughed, "No worries, he has just come to terms with it. Since you’re not afraid of dying again, take the things and wait for us outside Ximen. If something happens to us, come find you, so you can help. If nothing happens, I will come to fetch you and go back."

...

Wang Ziteng arrived at the Demon-Execution Platform located in the West Market.

The West Market covered a vast area, filled with shops everywhere, and even browsing for one day was not enough to explore it all.

The Demon-Execution Platform was set up in the West Market because of the large number of people there, and beheading demons in this place naturally made it easier for more people to learn about it.

Wang Ziteng arrived at several rice shops near the Demon-Execution Platform and directly spent money to buy all the rice and grains there.

"Where should we deliver these grains, sir? We can help deliver them!"

Since he was a major customer, having someone buying up all the rice and grains as soon as the shop opened in the morning naturally warranted excellent service.

"I am a kind-hearted person and cannot bear to see the poor go hungry. I won’t take these grains away myself. You must cook porridge immediately, then gather all the nearby poor people to come here, offer them a bowl of porridge, and give them five pounds of grains each. They must be able to drink down a bowl; otherwise, they must be trying to deceive you for grains and are not really poor. Do you understand?"

Although the owner of the rice and grain shop had never seen someone doing charity in such a way, upon further consideration, he realized that it was indeed a very effective method to prevent people from exploiting the situation.

Unless someone had a particularly big appetite, they might drink a large bowl of porridge, go to the back of the line, and then come back for more.

But what this owner did not know was that Wang Ziteng had not only approached their shop but had bought up the food supplies of more than a dozen rice and grain shops around the Demon-Execution Platform.

The only requirement was one, to start making porridge right now, and then to go around publicizing it, encouraging more poor people to come for the porridge and grains.

After buying up all the rice and grains from the dozen shops, Wang Ziteng glanced at the Demon-Execution Platform and the nearby Execution Oversight Platform, which were already being cleaned, and then he sneered.

"Executing demons? Cut your grandmother’s leg!"

...

Second Master Shen had received a document personally delivered by the Chief of the Town Demon Office yesterday, hoping that the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture would fully cooperate with the Town Demon Office today in maintaining order at the Demon-Execution Platform.

Second Master Shen truly did not want to be involved, but he dared not refuse a document written personally by the Chief of the Town Demon Office.

At this moment, Second Master Shen, looking at his personnel from nearly the whole Government Office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture he had brought, said, "Today, the Town Demon Office has asked us to help maintain order. This matter is of great importance and must not be taken lightly. But as for me, um..."

"Right, my back pain. Find me a place to lie down properly. Then you all just obey the instructions from the Town Demon Office side. Whatever they tell you to do, you do it, understood?"

People of the Government Office were unsure why Second Master Shen was delegating responsibility today, but since he had given the order, apart from a few astute ones who stayed by Second Master Shen to take care of him, the rest went to find the personnel from the nearby Town Demon Office to follow their commands.

Just as Second Master Shen was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned around to shout to the people from the Government Office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, "Right! There is something even more important than obedience— if you encounter danger, your safety comes first! With the Martial Artists of the Town Demon Office around, they won’t need you to hog the limelight, understand? No matter how much you annoy me during normal operations, you are still my people! Your own life is most important! Remember that?"

"Remembered!"

"Thank you, Second Master Shen!"

The crowd shouted and then dispersed.

Second Master Shen watched the people from the Government Office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture and silently said to himself: I hope nothing goes wrong today! If something must go wrong, then those close to me must be safe!

As for those I’m not close with... whose kid are they to die for!?

The job of overseeing the execution was naturally still under the charge of Zhang Datui.

Zhang Datui, with a ceremonial blade hanging around his waist, arrived at the Demon-Execution Platform with an imposing presence.[Note 96]

It was his first time at this place, and standing on the platform, he could sense the solemn atmosphere of the past looking at the brown stains of blood on the platform.

It inevitably reminded Zhang Datui of the days of fierce battles he had faced in Longyou Road and All Things Path.

Speaking of which, Longyou Road was better, although the daily battles were very dangerous, at least it wasn’t as troublesome as in the Capital.

When would he be able to be transferred to the battlefield again!

Daxing City, this crummy place, other than having more money and women, has no other merits!

Just then, a martial artist ran up and whisper to Zhang Datui, "Principal Officer, people are already ambushed all around."

Zhang Datui nodded contentedly and asked, "So, what do we do next?"

"Principal Officer, just go back and sit at the Execution Oversight Platform. Once it’s Noon Three Quarters, we can proceed to execute the Demon Clan."

Zhang Datui nodded, glanced in the direction of the nearby Execution Oversight Platform, and with a leap, jumped onto the Execution Oversight Platform.

The location of the Execution Oversight Platform was slightly higher than the Demon-Execution Platform, allowing him to look down on the situation on the Demon-Execution Platform.

Of course, for Zhang Datui, what mattered more was that if Zhang San came today to rescue someone, he could directly pounce and capture Zhang San!

========

[Note 96]Knowledge tidbit

The ceremonial blade is not a real blade, or rather, it is not a blade that can be used in combat.

An account from "Catalog of Things and Affairs - Flags and Banners Chapter - Ceremonial Blade" mentioned, "Since the Eastern Jin, ceremonial blades have become more common, mostly made of wood, serving to display might and authority, analogous to the blades carried by officers."

The "Annals of the Song Dynasty" also mentioned: "Silver decorations, also provided to princes and dukes."

It proves that ceremonial blades are a type of ceremonial equipment.

It is said that in certain dynasties, some ministers were granted the singular honor by the Emperor to carry a blade into the court. Such a blade was a ceremonial blade, meant to display might rather than actually being used as a weapon.