The streets were packed with people, completely blocking the entrance to the market. Even the small vendors stopped selling their goods and craned their necks to look across the street.

After waiting for a long time, it finally arrived at noon.

"The time has come—"

"cut--"

All that could be seen was Magistrate Lu, who was sitting in a high position, throwing down a token.

He shouted loudly.

All around was silent.

The two executioners each carried a large knife, one walking to the left and the other to the right.

A row of people knelt on the execution ground.

Thirteen in total.

They were bound tightly with hemp ropes, unable to move. Upon hearing the word "execution," several of them wet themselves in fear. Yellowish liquid dripped from the wooden planks, and the people standing nearby covered their mouths and noses, showing utter disgust.

"This smell is just too pungent."

"Get away from here quickly—"

The group couldn't stand the smell and backed away.

The vacant spot was quickly occupied.

The thugs at the top of the two ranks wished they could faint immediately.

Because two executioners were already standing behind them.

Shen Jiading knelt in the very center.

His eyes were as black as ink, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Compared to his pale-faced, terrified subordinates beside him, he knelt upright, his face showing a willingness to die.

Jiashu County only had two executioners, and this was the first time they had encountered such a large number of people to behead. Therefore, due to the shortage of manpower, they had to behead people in shifts, two at a time.

"puff--"

The executioners picked up their wine jugs, took a swig of strong liquor, and then sprayed it violently onto their broadswords.

The midday sun was exceptionally bright. The light shone on the sharp knife, refracting through the water droplets on the blade, creating a shimmering silver light. The elderly, whose eyesight was failing, were blinded by the light.

The prisoners were all gagged.

They couldn't utter a single word.

All I could do was sob.

Logically, prisoners should be allowed to leave their last words before execution, but the letter from the governor clearly stated that they must be silenced.

Magistrate Lu was helpless.

He had no choice but to obey, since walls have ears.

There might be spies of the Governor of Jiangnan among the crowd.

The executioners on the execution platform exchanged glances, then took two steps forward, holding their sharp swords.

"Mmm—"

The two thugs, about to be tortured, twisted their bodies wildly, refusing to lower their heads in cooperation.

They know.

Once this head is lowered...

It landed.

He could never lift it again.

"You four, go and press their heads down onto the wooden blocks," Magistrate Lu whispered to the four constables beside him.

If we delay any longer, the appointed time will pass.

If necessary, some coercive measures must be taken.

"Yes, sir—"

The officers immediately stepped forward, and in pairs, they subdued them.

The executioners changed positions and moved to the front, raising their broadswords high.

"Snap—"

"Bang bang—"

The broadswords were sharp, and the executioners were strong. With a powerful swing, the broadswords pierced through flesh and severed the neck bones. The two heads rolled off at the same time, crashing heavily onto the wooden board with two loud thuds.

None of the people present screamed. They stared intently at the head on the ground. The timid covered their eyes, while the bolder ones even pushed forward to get a clearer view.

"Whoosh—"

Blood gushed out, splattering on the executioner's face and body.

But they were not afraid at all. They casually wiped their hands a couple of times and then moved on to the next round of chopping.

In just a quarter of an hour, there were already ten heads on the ground at Caishikou.

Some of them had their eyes closed, while others died with their eyes wide open, their heads detached from their bodies, and their flesh gradually turning gray.

With another slash of the broadsword, two more heads appeared on the ground.

Only Shen Jiading remained.

His previously fearless expression completely changed, and he looked like a wild boar waiting to be slaughtered, his face deathly pale and his eyes bloodshot, as if he wanted to see the world one last time before he died and was reluctant to close his eyes.

"It's time for you to set off—"

These words, like ghostly whispers from the underworld, nearly stopped Shen Jiading's heart from beating.

He was breathing rapidly because his mouth was tightly blocked.

The nasal cavity was enlarged by one time.

He greedily inhaled the surrounding air.

"Thump—"

The next second, his pupils suddenly dilated.

Then his eyelids twitched twice, and his head hit the ground with a dull thud.

At the execution ground, there were exactly thirteen heads, no more, no less.

"Hang these heads at the city gate as a warning to the people passing by!" This was the order given by Magistrate Lu and the county coroners after they had examined the thirteen corpses and confirmed their deaths.

Logically speaking, his head had already fallen to the ground.

There's no need to check; even a miracle couldn't save him.

But Magistrate Lu was always cautious in his actions.

He didn't cut any of the procedures.

Blood flowed like a river at Caishikou, and the shoes of the people standing in the front row were stained with blood.

But they weren't afraid at all.

A legend circulated during this dynasty.

When you hate someone to the extreme, wait until they die and then trample on their flesh and blood! They will never be able to be reincarnated.

The people who were harmed by Shen Jiading were all standing at the front.

They were stomping with incredible energy.

Just like the tap dancers on TV.

Yan Xia wanted to laugh.

After the execution, Caishikou was cleaned up, but bloodstains could still be faintly seen in the gaps between the bluestone bricks, and the air was filled with the smell of rust.

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