Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 402 - 377: Truly Unstoppable?

Chapter 402: Chapter 377: Truly Unstoppable?

Zhang Datui could now be 100% certain that these people instigating the crowd below were definitely brought in by Zhang San.

After all, what normal person would dare to create such an uproar against the Town Demon Office!

Was their neck sturdier than the blade of the Town Demon Office?

But the key issue was, all these people were mixed among the onlookers—Now surrounding them was a dense crowd, presumably numbering at least forty to fifty thousand people. With thousands of Zhang San’s insiders mingling within, how could they be apprehended?

And this Hu Xingxiang was stubbornly refusing to reveal her true form!

"Why won’t this Demon-Revealing Mirror expose her?"

Zhang Datui turned to the martial artists beside him and asked.

The martial artists beside him were almost in tears. After all, for so many years, she was the only one who had been brought to the Demon-Execution Platform and required the use of the Demon-Revealing Mirror.

"Principal Officer Zhang, I’ve heard that this Demon-Revealing Mirror has a success rate of 99% in exposing demons, unless perfect transformation has occurred, or there is significant qi luck at play making success unlikely. Hu Xingxiang was said to be just a Little Fox, this shouldn’t be happening!"

"Right, I’ve also heard that some demons from powerful bloodlines, such as the Dragon Clan of the East Sea, the Four Holy Demon Clans, or the Five Immortal Clans from the Northeast might also find it hard to be exposed. But her, she should... um... why not try again?"

At that moment, the number of people shouting slogans and insulting the Town Demon Office had increased from a few thousand to tens of thousands, and now even the surrounding onlookers who weren’t initially involved began shouting—those who did not join in were met with scornful looks.

After all, on the Demon-Execution Platform, a young and beautiful girl who looked pitiable under torture was suffering agonizing pain, and yet she still hadn’t revealed her true form.

Anyone would naturally side with the apparent underdog, convinced that the Town Demon Office had made a mistake!

It was then that a loud command erupted from the crowd.

"Stop!"

Zhang Datui looked toward the source of the voice, relieved to see the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, Second Master Shen, and quickly tucked away the mid-air Demon-Revealing Mirror.

"Is that Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, Second Master Shen?"

Zhang Datui didn’t know why this man, who had been hiding, had now suddenly appeared.

But he heard that the Family Heads of the Shen Family, Shen Qi and Second Master Shen, were both extremely astute. His stepping forward was definitely to lend support!

He clung to the hope, delighted. Once Second Master Shen offered a reasonable explanation, he could act against Hu Xingxiang and force Zhang San to appear!

Second Master Shen, you’re truly a good man! I’ll treat you to Bull Demon kidneys later!

"Principal Officer Zhang, I was ill before, and only now have I managed to rush here, I hope you’ll excuse my delay."

"It’s nothing. No worries. It’s good that you’ve come. Please, share any advice you have! As Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, your words I’m sure will convince everyone!"

At this moment, Zhang Datui could scarcely suppress his grinning lips.

"Today, the matter belonged to the Town Demon Office. As Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, it’s not appropriate for me to say too much. However, since the Town Demon Office invited my government office to assist, let me just make a couple of remarks."

"This woman, named Hu Xingxiang, came to the Capital after registering at the governmental office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture. She came from Chuan-Yu Road. Her identity and papers were verified as authentic. She is a citizen of Great Sui, not a demon."

"Of course, if by any chance, or perhaps she is indeed a demon, that would be the fault of the governmental officer in Chuan-Yu who verified and certified her documents; my office of the Magistrate does not have the authority nor the ability to verify this. But at least from the documents she submitted, this woman is a mere citizen of Great Sui, not a demon. Hence, I urge Principal Officer Zhang to hand this woman over to the office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture. We will confine her at home temporarily to facilitate investigation and evidence collection by the Town Demon Office."

Upon hearing this, the smiling Zhang Datui was completely dumbfounded.

I’ve been pushing myself to the edge here, just to lure Zhang San out, pulling this backwards beauty trick in public.

And then you just swoop in and pull the rug out from under me!?

"No! This woman is a demon; her true form is a white Snow Fox. As the Chief of the Town Demon Office, having battled with the All Things Path for nearly thirty years, could I not recognise one?"

Second Master Shen thought this was the right moment for him to step forward and provide Zhang Datui with a way out.

He hadn’t expected the guy to become even more stubborn.

"I’m sorry, perhaps the Town Demon Office can act on subjective hunches. However, here under the Emperor’s feet in the Capital, acting on imperial decrees, we must adhere to evidence. Today, if the Town Demon Office can provide evidence that she is a Fox Demon, then they may strike her down on the Demon-Execution Platform!"

"Otherwise, if the Town Demon Office cannot prove she’s a Fox Demon, then according to the laws of Great Sui, she is a citizen of Great Sui. If she has committed a crime, then it must be handled by my office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture!"

At that moment, many government officers of the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture maintaining order around were stupefied.

"Since when did our Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture become so resolute?"

"Are we still maintaining order or not?"

"Follow the Magistrate’s orders! Being pushed around by the Town Demon Office here has been irritating enough. Quitting now would be perfect!"

Zhang Datui found himself in a dilemma.

If he agreed with Second Master Shen, then today’s entire plan would have been for nothing.

And if he disagreed, he indeed had no proof.

Grinding his teeth and steeling his resolve, Zhang Datui bellowed, "Kill her! She will turn back into a Snow Fox, and her corpse will serve as the evidence!"

"That won’t do! She is a citizen of Great Sui. You want to kill without evidence! I, Second Master Shen, won’t allow it, and the laws of Great Sui won’t allow it either!"

Seeing the perfect moment, Zhang San, who had blended into the crowd, shouted, "The laws of Great Sui allow it, we the common people also won’t allow it!"

Thousands more in the crowd chimed in echoing him, sparking yet another wave of crowd contagion.

Now, Zhang Datui had basically figured out that Second Master Shen was indeed trying to help Zhang San.

"No! She is of the Demon Clan, she must be killed! If she doesn’t reveal her true form after death, I will take responsibility and offer my life to the government office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture!"

Shen Erxian was also angered.

If it weren’t for my son’s poor choice of friends, I wouldn’t bother arguing with you here.

"No! What if she truly is an innocent girl and you then go back on your word? Could I really force King Kaihuang to execute you, the Chief of the Town Demon Office?"

Just as the two were furiously shouting at each other, a voice came from afar.

"King Jin has arrived——"

Upon hearing that it was King Jin, everyone present immediately knelt down.

However, there were simply too many people at the scene. Everyone was standing initially, which was extremely crowded but still manageable.

But now needing to kneel required even more space.

As a result, many people simply couldn’t kneel down!

Meanwhile, King Jin’s carriage and the team guarding him took a full quarter of an hour to reach the base of the Demon-Execution Platform.

King Jin had not expected that it would take a quarter of an hour from when he received the news to arrive at the West Market.

It also took a quarter of an hour from a distance to walk down to the Demon-Execution Platform.

King Jin lifted the carriage curtain and seeing a throng of people around with no space even to set his foot down, he simply stood on the carriage and shouted, "I am merely a simple prince. Everyone here cares about the national affairs and has come to oversee the enforcement of the national laws, which makes you all more important to the state than I. I should be the one grateful to all of you. How can I accept your kneeling? Please rise!"

His words made many in the crowd feel that King Jin was approachable and even made them feel they were also contributing to the nation.

But on reflection, although they hadn’t done anything beneficial for the nation, by being present to watch the proceedings, they were indeed overseeing the execution of national laws. That was a contribution too!

King Jin sure had a way with words!

After letting everyone rise, King Jin gave a bow to Shen Erxian, the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture, and then to Zhang Datui who was on the Execution Oversight Platform.

"I have already heard about this matter from outside. I think this might be the best course of action, both sides have their reasons, and the crux of the matter is this woman named Hu Xingxiang. Yet, if the Town Demon Office cannot provide evidence, it’s tantamount to forcing the government office of the Metropolitan Prefecture to breach the law. Therefore, their refusal is understandable."

"Similarly, Principal Officer Zhang, as the Execution Supervisor, it is now three... no, five minutes past noon, and the execution has not yet been carried out; naturally, I know your difficulties,"

"But indeed, each party insists on its opinion, making it difficult to determine the right course. I suggest the government office of the Metropolitan Prefecture to take this young lady into custody first, whether confined or closely monitored, the person must be under the surveillance of the government office. And Principal Officer Zhang should return to the Town Demon Office, to find either the evidence confirming Hu Xingxiang’s true identity or a method to do so."

"That way, neither side will be violating the law. How about that?"

Shen Erxian did not speak, but only looked at Zhang Datui.

After all, following King Jin’s method meant that Hu Xingxiang would be saved.

Zhang Datui, however, furrowed his brows tightly. He knew that if he let Hu Xingxiang go now, it would essentially mean he had botched up the task involving Zhang San.

But now that King Jin had spoken, he had no way to object.

Just then, another voice came from afar.

"The Crown Prince has arrived——"

Someone promptly cleared a path to let the Crown Prince’s carriage and escort enter.

It took almost another quarter of an hour for the Crown Prince’s carriage to reach the base of the Demon-Execution Platform.

But because the Crown Prince’s status was higher than King Jin’s, his carriage moved further forward.

The Crown Prince stepped out of the carriage, glanced around, and angrily said, "How audacious, the commoners! Seeing this Crown Prince, yet you do not kneel?!"

Everyone knelt down reluctantly.

The Crown Prince turned to glance at King Jin beside him and sneered, "Ah, younger brother, what an imposing presence! Be it the Town Martial Office or the Town Demon Office, both directly obey our father the Emperor. Now just because of a word from you, the Town Demon Office is to hand over a demon to be executed to the government office of Metropolitan Prefecture? Does our father know of this?"

King Jin, Yang Quan, immediately gave a bow to the Crown Prince.

"What the Crown Prince says is extremely correct; it was my oversight. Let the Town Demon Office follow the Crown Prince’s directive then."

The Crown Prince, having heard King Jin’s initial words, was about to feel proud, but upon hearing the latter part, his smile immediately vanished.

Thus, both the Crown Prince and King Jin looked towards Zhang Datui.

Zhang Datui, while unable to precisely grasp the subtleties in the Crown Prince’s and King Jin’s words, could feel that the atmosphere had become somewhat tense.

So, he quietly asked the martial artists beside him, "Usually, in this situation, what should be done?"

The martial artists beside him almost wanted to cry.

"Principal Officer Zhang, usually neither the Crown Prince nor the other princes interfere with the affairs of the Town Demon Office."

Zhang Datui, looking troubled, glanced at Hu Xingxiang on the Demon-Execution Platform and then at the forty to fifty thousand spectators who had reluctantly knelt.

Since he has already disregarded shame this time, he might as well disregard it completely!

"What King Jin said doesn’t matter! What the Crown Prince said doesn’t matter!"

"I, Zhang Datui, am the Chief of the Town Demon Office, and I have come here today to execute Hu Xingxiang!"

"No matter what happens during the process, we must execute this demon! No one can stop me!"

As soon as Zhang Datui finished speaking, a cold laugh came from among the crowd, shouting, "Really? No one can stop you?"