Chapter 58 Drafts
Glancing sideways at the young constable in front of him, whose face was flushed from drinking, You Mingjiang's eyes were half-closed, his face showing signs of drunkenness, but his mind was still very clear.
She hasn't encountered anything too difficult in a long time.
The Sun Moon Cult was practically untouchable in Pingding Prefecture; even the local government dared not stop its members from fleeing at night.
What You Mingjiang wanted to do was never to become some kind of law enforcement elder of the Sun Moon Cult; otherwise, why would he have left the Azure Dragon Society in the first place?
What she wanted was to cultivate her own power and establish absolute authority, an authority that would not tolerate the slightest provocation.
This time, she was determined to turn the besieged city into her second Pingding Prefecture.
As for the rest...
Yu Mingjiang's gaze returned to Leng Xue, his eyes half-closed, his fingers lightly tapping the millstone.
Xiao Leng has a lot of enthusiasm, but very little experience in the ways of the world.
Looking at him, You Mingjiang felt as if she were seeing her former self through a mirror, full of passion and pure to the point of naivety. Such people are most likely to create miracles, but before that, they are destined to suffer more.
Presumably, the cold-blooded master also regarded this ordeal as a crucial test for him.
Unfortunately, no one, no matter who it is, can take away this lucrative prize of a besieged city.
The lessons of the past are still fresh in her mind, and she will never allow herself to repeat them.
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You Mingjiang stretched and slowly straightened up.
"Xiao Ming..." Leng Xue looked confused, his eyes were almost closed.
His head was spinning, and his hands instinctively gripped the edge of the millstone as he struggled to get up.
Unexpectedly, he went limp and slid straight down the millstone, collapsing to the ground with a thud.
He blinked slowly, his eyes filled with a bewilderment rarely seen on him. After a long while, as if he had finally figured things out, his thin lips curled up slightly, then his head tilted to the side, and he fell into a deep sleep.
As the saying goes, don't be fooled by the unassuming appearance of homemade wine. It may seem plain, but it's surprisingly potent; once it hits you, one bowl and you're knocked out.
Unfortunately, Leng Xue had never heard of this proverb before. After all, there are countless proverbs in the world, how could one possibly know them all?
What's more, she made up this saying herself.
Standing beside him, looking down at him, You Mingjiang leaned down slightly and gently touched his arm with her toe. Leng Xue groaned twice in a daze, turned over, and remained still.
You Mingjiang raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, looked down at Leng Xue lying on the ground, and said slowly, "I'm sorry, Leng. Look at this dangerous city, isn't it a blessed land specially reserved for me by God? I fell in love with it to the bone at first sight. As the saying goes, a gentleman does not take what others cherish, right?"
Cold-blooded and unresponsive, he remained lying drunk on the ground.
She shook her head, sighed softly, and muttered to herself, "Drinking leads to trouble."
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Just as You Mingjiang was about to turn and leave, a soft "click" reached his ears.
Her gaze sharpened slightly as she gracefully turned around.
Leng Xue's clothes were loose, and a jade pendant resembling an ancient seal slowly slipped out of his open robes. The jade pendant, about the size of a palm, was warm and smooth in texture, and rolled to You Mingjiang's feet.
You Mingjiang narrowed his eyes, his fingers steadily gripping the jade pendant, and slowly stood up.
She held up the jade pendant to the moonlight, where the patterns on it were clearly illuminated. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that there were no inscriptions on the jade pendant, but the patterns resembled the whorl-patterned seals described in ancient books.
In reality, this "Pacifying Ring" was a token bestowed by the late emperor, possessing the same power as the "Imperial Sword," allowing the holder to execute first and report later. Before his departure, Master Zhuge entrusted this "Pacifying Ring" to Leng Xue, instructing him to take good care of it. Little did he expect…
Even though she had never seen the Pingluan Jue before, as she caressed the jade, You Mingjiang couldn't help but recall what she had seen at the Taiping Prince's Mansion.
This top-grade jade has always been reserved for royalty, and ordinary people simply cannot access it.
·
You Mingjiang frowned, then lowered his head and fell into deep thought:
There must be something fishy going on here...
Could this jade pendant be some kind of token used to signify acting first and reporting later?
·
Thinking of this, she subconsciously clicked her tongue.
She glared at the sleeping Leng Xue, feeling half angry and half amused.
The city of danger was the stronghold of the fearsome general, who had cultivated it for many years and whose power was deeply entrenched.
Leng Xue's arrival on Ling Luoshi's territory to confront him is destined to be a life-or-death struggle with no way out!
The slightest mistake could result in utter destruction.
This jade pendant was so important, it concerned his life and fortune, yet he just casually stuffed it into his clothes as if it were an ordinary object.
You Mingjiang thought to himself, "Does he even have a brain?"
If any cunning person comes along, they can easily snatch the jade pendant away when the other person isn't looking.
When that happens, you'll have nowhere to cry!
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As she was pondering this, a cautious call suddenly entered her ears: "Miracle Doctor?"
Yu Mingjiang subconsciously turned to the side and placed the jade pendant into the space of the bamboo medicine basket. Then she straightened up and looked at Aping calmly, "What is it?"
“This…” A-Ping hesitated, his gaze falling on Leng Xue, who was fast asleep on the ground. He opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back.
Yu Mingjiang, concise in his words, said: "He was drunk."
As if belatedly realizing something, Aping slapped his forehead and said, "I forgot to mention earlier that the homemade wine has a strong aftereffect! If someone has never drunk alcohol before, they can easily get drunk after just one bowl, so be careful."
You Mingjiang raised an eyebrow and said, "Did you forget to mention that?"
She smiled faintly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Aping shrank his neck and didn't say a word.
You Mingjiang reached into the bamboo medicine basket, took out an exquisite "Zesheng Pavilion", and set it up in a few quick movements.
①The light red oilcloth steadily covered Leng Xue's head, and green gauze curtains hung all around, which could not only shield him from the wind and rain, but also keep out the annoying mosquitoes.
After finishing all that, You Mingjiang looked up and immediately noticed A Ping's unusual expression. Without any hesitation, You Mingjiang asked, "You heard everything Xiao Leng and I said in the room, didn't you?"
Ah Ping understood perfectly what she meant, and subconsciously clenched his fists. He suppressed his emotions and replied in a low voice, "Mm."
The injustices and oppression he had suffered over the years had fueled his resentment, and even though he tried his best to suppress it, his anger kept rising.
Just now in the courtyard, as he looked at the food laid out on the millstone, the arrogant faces of the officials kept flashing through his mind, and he wished he could throw them all to the ground.
Aping took a deep breath to calm himself down.
Fearing that he might take out his hatred on Leng Xue, he had no choice but to hastily pick up the wine bowl, tilt his head back and drink it all in one gulp. He didn't even glance at the food again before getting up and hurriedly going inside.
You Mingjiang sighed softly, deeply moved, and said, "Yes, these officials usually bully others in the countryside, walking with their noses in the air. They don't even have enough education to write their own names. When something happens, they neither investigate nor reason, but arbitrarily convict people, treating the lives of ordinary people like a game."
"This world is a mess, right and wrong are reversed, justice is hard to find, it's utterly disappointing." Every word she said pierced straight into A-Ping's heart.
Aping's chest heaved violently, the resentment in his heart threatening to burst his body.
If demons and monsters truly exist in this world, they must be lurking in the hearts of every wronged and humiliated person. Only when these "demons and monsters" gnaw away at their souls, emptying them completely, will the seeds of hatred take root and sprout.
The Fearful General stands high above, seemingly indifferent to human life, readily labeling any act as a foolish uprising.
But when has this damned Ling Luoshi ever given the common people a chance to resist?
It wasn't just his own sister who wanted to die; Ah Ping's heart had already died and been reborn repeatedly amidst suffering.
From being forced into hard labor, starving and whipped, to his sister being humiliated...
Aping wished he could tear Ling Luoshi and his henchmen to pieces and scatter their bones to ashes!
The flames of hatred burned day and night in his chest, threatening to consume him.
Those damned powerful and wealthy people!
These damned lackeys of the powerful and wealthy!
They all deserve to die!
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You Mingjiang slightly raised her eyelids, instantly seeing through A Ping's deepest thoughts. With a flick of her wrist, a gleaming dagger lay in her palm.
The blade gleamed with a chilling light.
Her expression was terrifyingly calm. She looked at A-Ping and said coldly, "Take it and kill Constable Leng."
Aping's whole body suddenly trembled.
His pupils contracted sharply, his face filled with disbelief. His gaze trembled as he moved from the short knife in You Mingjiang's hand to her face, trying to find a trace of a joke in her expression to confirm that she did not mean what she said.
You Mingjiang's face was indifferent. The person who had been drinking and chatting with her earlier seemed to be someone else; the one who had affectionately called her "Little Leng" also seemed not to be her. She was like a cold-blooded executioner, ruthlessly encouraging A Ping to stab Leng Xue to death.
A surge of heat rushed to his head, making him feel like his head was about to explode. A-Ping's eyes reddened, and his hands trembled as he instinctively reached for the short knife. But the moment his fingertips touched the hilt, he recoiled as if burned.
Aping looked at You Mingjiang pleadingly, her voice trembling and on the verge of tears, and said:
"But he did nothing wrong! He even helped me carry Ayu back. He's not even a local of Weicheng, and he wasn't involved in any of the evil deeds of the Fearful General..."
You Mingjiang remained unmoved by A Ping's words.
Her hands remained outstretched, urging A-Ping to make a decision.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of the body for you. No one will know that you killed him."
These words became the final straw that broke A-Ping's back. A-Ping's inner defenses collapsed instantly, and all the pain, helplessness, and self-blame overwhelmed him in an instant.
She suddenly covered her face with both hands, feeling as if her spine had been removed, and slowly squatted down, bursting into tears.
He also longed to be a true man, to avenge his sister and kill all the villains.
But he dared not confront the bully directly, and could only bury his hatred deep in his heart, even his anger had to be carefully hidden.
They could only vent their pent-up hatred by mistakenly directing it at good officials like Leng Xue.
What Ah Ping hated most was actually himself.
He hated himself for being so cowardly, so foolish, so spineless. Unable to even fill his stomach, he had become numb, utterly lacking the strength to think about what to do.
There is only one point.
A-Ping knew very well that he absolutely could not kill Leng Xue.
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Hiding behind the curtain, A Ping overheard You Mingjiang and Leng Xue's conversation clearly.
Only then did he realize that Constable Leng was an imperial envoy sent by the capital to investigate the crimes of the Frightened General, and that he had a powerful backer.
Life had long filled him with despair, but upon hearing this news, a spark of hope, long extinguished, quietly rekindled in his heart.
For a long time, the people of the besieged city have been suffering terribly. Kind people have been oppressed and dared not utter a word. They live in fear every day, trembling with anxiety for fear that disaster will befall them.
Today, the emergence of cold-blooded individuals may be their only chance to escape suffering and see the light of day again.
He was truly fed up with living in constant fear.
Aping still remembers it; it was a day four years ago.
He had painstakingly saved up some money and went to the shop with great joy to buy meat, intending to improve his family's meals.
But when he arrived at the butcher shop, his eyes widened in surprise.
What was displayed on the stall was clearly a human organ and flesh!
The scene was so horrifying that Aping felt a churning in his stomach and almost vomited on the spot.
The butcher at the butcher shop turned pale, but everyone present remained silent, no one daring to utter a sound.
It was only because the general had sent his subordinate, General Rose, to monitor the area.
General Rose always had a smile on her face, but her methods were ruthless, no less so than those of the Great General.
Out of fear, everyone could only suppress their nausea and buy the meat to take home, where they secretly disposed of and buried it.
It was later discovered that the flesh had been cut from the remains of Meng Nu'an, the military commander.
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Even now, thinking back on it, A-Ping still feels a chill run down his spine. He increasingly feels that he should no longer harbor the same blind hatred as before.
Aping raised her hand and hastily wiped away the tears on her face.
He took a deep breath, afraid of being overheard, and said in a low voice to You Mingjiang, "Divine Doctor, I can't take his life, and I have to find a way to cover for him... But, but he is a person..." As he said this, A Ping's eyes were full of struggle, and he couldn't help but want to back out.
Leng Xue, being new to the job, lacked the authority of an official and was easily led by the nose, making A Ping feel somewhat insecure.
"As you can see, Leng Xue is still too young. How could he possibly grasp the situation in the besieged city so quickly?"
You Mingjiang spoke in her usual gentle and soft voice.
"If we let him wander around like a headless fly, and if we are not careful, we might disturb the Great General of Fear... that would be a disaster, and we might even lose our lives."
“If anything happens to him, the people of the besieged city will truly have no hope. Who knows how long they’ll have to endure this? You certainly don’t want to see that happen, right?”
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As Aping listened to You Mingjiang's words, the more he thought about it, the more frightened he felt. He nodded repeatedly and said, "You're absolutely right!"
Seeing this, You Mingjiang smiled slightly and deftly put the short knife back into the bamboo medicine basket.
Then, she found a broadsword and handed it to A-Ping: "Here you go." This broadsword had accompanied a group of people, young and old, through the Yellow River floods in the mountain god temple on Jingyanggang.
Aping trembled in fright, waving his hands frantically and shaking his head like a rattle: "I really don't want to hurt Constable Leng anymore, I absolutely have no such intention!"
You Mingjiang chuckled, her eyes full of gentleness: "What are you thinking? This is for you to use for self-defense. The world is not peaceful. Having a weapon in your hand will always make you feel more at ease. It's better than being bullied by others empty-handed."
Ah Ping finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He carefully took the broadsword and slowly gripped it.
For the first time, a resolute look appeared on that young, sallow face, as if grasping the knife meant grasping the courage to fight against injustice.
You Mingjiang's expression turned serious, and he earnestly instructed, "Remember, tomorrow you must tell Constable Leng everything about Weicheng, without reservation. This is crucial for his investigation and for the people of Weicheng."
Aping nodded emphatically, his eyes resolute: "Don't worry, I will tell you everything I know!"
You Mingjiang raised his eyes and his gaze fell on Leng Xue, who was fast asleep in the tent.
She thought to herself, "Little Leng, although I let Aping hold you back, I also paved the way for you in advance, saving you a lot of trouble. In this way, we're even."
Just then, You Mingjiang had a sudden inspiration. He turned his gaze to A Ping and had an idea in mind: "By the way, you are familiar with this area. Do you know any abandoned temples, stockades, or similar places?"
Aping frowned slightly, lost in thought.
A moment later, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said excitedly, "After passing that bamboo forest, there seems to be an old temple that has been abandoned for a long time. It looks dilapidated and hardly anyone goes there."
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late at night.
Following A Ping's directions, You Mingjiang walked through the bamboo forest and finally found the old temple.
The stone steps in front of the temple were covered with moss, and broken plaques lay carelessly on the ground. Most of the temple had collapsed, and the statues of the gods had vanished, exuding a sense of desolation and decay.
Carrying a lantern, You Mingjiang walked around the collapsed screen wall and began to carefully examine each house.
After an unknown amount of time, they found a hidden door in a side hall of the old temple.
She reached out and gently pushed, and with a creaking sound, the hidden door slowly opened.
What comes into view is a deep, dark passageway.
You Mingjiang took a deep breath and slowly walked down the steps. The dim light gradually illuminated the forgotten passageway as she walked.
The walls on both sides of the passage were covered with mottled scratches, but strangely, the ground was very clean, not like it had been deserted for a long time, but rather as if it was regularly cleaned. Puzzled, You Mingjiang subconsciously tightened her grip on the lantern in her hand and cautiously continued forward.
Finally, she reached the end of the passage, where a spacious stone cave came into view. The surrounding stone walls were painted with a scene of war and hell on earth, and some pots, pans, and other household items remained in the cave.
This place is very likely a refuge from the ravages of war. You Mingjiang paced back and forth, his gaze sweeping over every corner, not missing a single detail.
Her thoughts became clearer and clearer, and her idea of renovating the old temple grew stronger.
In this perilous city with its complex situation, a reliable stronghold was essential. She thought of Dragon Tiger Stronghold, whose fortresses were ingeniously designed, rationally laid out, and served both defensive and residential functions.
Applying the stockade building model of Longhu Village to the renovation of the old temple would be an excellent solution.
Once the renovation is complete, this old temple will be transformed into a branch for her to gather intelligence and contact various parties.
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At dawn, the sky was shrouded in a light gray-blue hue, and the thin mist had not yet dissipated.
You Mingjiang was immersed in the blueprint for the renovation of the old temple in his mind as he slowly descended the winding mountain road.
A gentle breeze carried the faint aroma of noodles. She looked up and saw wisps of smoke rising leisurely from a simple teahouse in the distance.
Stepping into the tea stall, one sees a few simple tables and chairs set up inside, with some dried vegetables hanging around the perimeter.
Rong Sao was busy in the shed. She was wearing a faded coarse cloth outfit with oil stains on the front and a worn-out rag casually draped over her shoulder. When she looked up, she saw You Mingjiang carrying a bamboo medicine basket.
She greeted me gently, "Miss, although our shop is simple, we have a full range of soup noodles. What would you like to eat?" As she spoke, she handed me a long, gleaming bench.
She was the only customer in the empty teahouse. You Mingjiang gently picked up the teapot, filled the teacup, and smiled, "Sister-in-law, would you please have a bowl of oil-splashed noodles?"
"Okay, please wait a moment, it will be ready soon!"
Rong Sao deftly rolled up her sleeves, walked around the curtain separating the inside from the outside, and went into the kitchen to start cooking noodles. A little while later, she scooped the cooked noodles into a large, rough earthenware bowl.
Just as they were about to pour oil into the pot and heat it up, a sudden burst of chaotic shouts rang out.
You Mingjiang frowned and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a group of constables storming into the teahouse.
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The constables, each carrying a stern rod, had menacing faces and were clearly well-prepared.
The leaders were a man and a woman. The man was the local headman, named "Fu Laojin"; the woman was a local matchmaker who specialized in finding women for the Frightened General and was known as "Huo Shanpo".
Rong Sao was a newly widowed, frail woman with a pretty face, which naturally caught Huo Shan Po's eye. However, Rong Sao resolutely refused, which angered Huo Shan Po, who then fabricated a charge and came to cause trouble.
As soon as the two men entered the teahouse, without saying a word, they took the lead in swinging tables and chairs to smash them, all while cursing.
"What are you doing!" Rong Sao rushed out of the kitchen in alarm when she heard the noise.
With a foul swear word escaping his lips, Old Fu swung his fist and smashed it hard into Sister Rong's face!
Such a vicious punch could easily smash Rong Sao's face to pieces. Just at this critical moment, a slender hand suddenly reached out and firmly intercepted his fist.
His fist remained completely still. Old Fu was both shocked and furious. He yelled at the top of his lungs, "You audacious commoner, how dare you touch me? Let go right now! Do you know who I am?"
You Mingjiang lunged forward, grabbed his wrist, twisted it forcefully, and then kicked him hard in the back of the knee.
He lost his balance and fell to one knee with a thud.
Taking advantage of the situation, You Mingjiang forcefully twisted his arm backward, causing the bones and joints to creak and crack.
"Who gave you permission to run wild here? Do you think this is your backyard where you can do whatever you want?!"
Seeing this, the seven or eight constables behind him raised their batons and shouted, "Officials are arresting people, we are acting under orders!"
"Whose orders are you on!" A fierce glint flashed in You Mingjiang's eyes. "Who gave you the right to oppress the people?"
Fu Laojin's arm was throbbing with pain. He tried his best to break free, but his hand felt like it was welded to You Mingjiang's.
His eyes darted around, and he secretly glanced at You Mingjiang. This woman was cold and fierce; she didn't seem like a pushover who could be easily manipulated...
But with the Fearless General backing him up, he figured she wouldn't dare do anything to him.
Thinking this through, he immediately straightened his back and shouted at the top of his lungs, "This is the order of the Fearful General! Who dares to disobey? You'd better think about how many lives you have!"
Surrounded by a group of constables wielding batons, Huo Shanpo felt emboldened and jumped out to shout as well.
"That's right! If you're not happy, go and reason with the General!" she shouted, twirling her handkerchief triumphantly as the fat on her face trembled.
You Mingjiang stood there quietly, watching everything with a cold eye. After the two finished shouting, the hand restraining Fu Laojin suddenly loosened, as if throwing away a piece of rotten, foul-smelling flesh.
Old Fu staggered and almost fell. His face flushed red and then turned pale. He was both shocked and angry, but dared not utter another word.
You Mingjiang smirked coldly, "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Since you're already here, I'll treat you to some oil-splashed noodles."
Seeing her turn and go into the kitchen, the group of lackeys assumed that You Mingjiang was scared and dared not interfere anymore. They all wore arrogant smiles, exchanged glances, and chuckled softly. They quickly surrounded her, like a pack of hungry wolves surrounding their prey, blocking Rong Sao's escape route completely.
Sister Rong was so frightened that her face turned as white as paper. She hugged her arms tightly to her chest and retreated to the corner of the wall, trembling.
Fu Lao Jin winked at Huo Shan Po, the sinister look in his eyes speaking volumes.
Huo Shanpo understood immediately, and a ferocious smile appeared on her face.
She pulled a sharp hairpin from her hair, waved it in her hand, and approached Rong Sao step by step.
"Heh heh, you little slut, you dare to talk back to me? I'll tear your mouth apart today!" Huo Shanpo said viciously as she approached, her face full of excitement at the prospect of getting her revenge.
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The kitchen.
Flames licked the bottom of the pot, the oil sizzling and quickly heating up to a scalding temperature, sending up plumes of steam.
Rong Sao's bowl of noodles was just waiting to be topped with boiling oil. You Mingjiang poured a spoonful of scalding hot oil over the noodles, held the noodles in his left hand, and scooped up another spoonful of boiling oil with his right hand, then steadily walked towards the door curtain.
"Hmph! Don't pretend to be a virtuous and chaste woman here. Who knows what kind of dirty things you've been doing behind the scenes! Look at her, running a teahouse all alone in this desolate wilderness. Who knows if she's just using it as a front to lure up shady men!"
Just as she was spouting nonsense at Rong Sao, Huo Shan Po suddenly heard a loud shout: "Hey, that horse face is longer than a facelift, like it's been caught in a door, all she does is cause trouble everywhere, you low-class old hag!"
An unnamed anger suddenly surged from the bottom of her heart, making her forehead throb. Huo Shanpo glared angrily and turned her head fiercely, about to burst into a tirade, when in a flash, a spoonful of boiling oil splashed onto her face.
"Sizzle—"
Huo Shanpo's noodles were instantly swallowed by the boiling oil.
In the blink of an eye, the smell of burning filled the air, followed by a piercing scream that tore through the sky!
Huo Shanpo rolled around on the ground, scratching her face wildly, trying to shake off the boiling oil and the excruciating pain.
But with this grab, a large piece of already rotten flesh was torn off, and the space under the fingernails was full of bloody, mangled pieces.
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Apart from the wailing of Huo Shanpo, the teahouse was deathly silent.
Just then, You Mingjiang let out a soft sigh without warning, suddenly burrowing into the bones of the lackeys.
She tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over the lackeys one by one, and said in a low voice, "The oil-splashed noodles taste pretty good, don't they? Want me to give you a few spoonfuls too?"
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Author's Note: [Lucky Lotus] Rong's Wife: Because she refused to marry Ling Luoshi as his 37th concubine, she was framed as an adulterous young widow by the matchmaker Huo Shanpo and the local constable Fu Laojin. Huo Shanpo scratched her face, poured boiling soup into her lower body, and ravaged her beyond recognition. She was escorted naked and shackled all the way to the dangerous city to be judged.
[Good Luck Lotus] ①Zesheng Pavilion: a type of tent.
[Green Heart] Oil-splashed noodles: [Eating melon] I don't care where the noodles are from, just tell me if the oil is on full blast?
[Let me see] Leng Xue is a tough guy who once said, "The emperor is so weak and cowardly, why not kill him?" [Sunglasses] is nicknamed "the flathead of the Jianghu". With his stubbornness and passion, it wouldn't be unreasonable to give him a "Shura Armor".
The next chapter's cold-bloodedness: [Angry] You Mingjiang, I'm going to diss you!
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