As Zhang Quan's last breath faded, a gentle breeze followed, carrying the chill unique to winter.
The wind seemed to sense the intense aura of death, carrying a chill as it swept through the empty courtyard, like a messenger traveling between the mortal world and the underworld.
"Drip!" The soft sound of rain came from outside the door, as if even the heavens were shedding tears for this trial.
Chen Zhennan picked up the blood-stained costume, wrapped up all the belongings, and hurriedly left the Zhang residence with Yan Shiyu.
The next morning, sunlight pierced through the thin mist and spilled onto the streets, draping the city in a golden veil.
The streets, washed clean by the rain, looked exceptionally clean, and the air was filled with a fresh, slightly damp scent that made people feel particularly comfortable.
Chen Zhennan took Yan Shiyu out and they went to a steaming hot steamed bun shop. They sat down and started their breakfast.
They wolfed down their food, looking like starving wolves that hadn't eaten for days.
The steaming hot buns, mingled with the aroma of meat, filled the air, drawing more and more people into the store to enjoy their meal.
Just as they were enjoying their meal, several soldiers from the county government office nearby began posting notices on a nearby notice board.
Soon after, the officers and soldiers posted a large notice.
A burly constable shouted, "Last night, the magistrate's residence was suddenly attacked, and the magistrate was unfortunately killed. Effective immediately, a reward is offered for the capture of the murderer. Anyone who fails to report information will be executed without exception. Anyone who provides important clues will be rewarded with five hundred taels of silver!"
These words immediately caused an uproar, and murmurs arose from the crowd as everyone looked up at the newly pasted notice.
At this moment, a middle-aged woman squeezed into the crowd, her face clearly showing anxiety.
As the woman's gaze fell upon the notice board, she couldn't help but speak up: "Oh dear, neighbors, last night my husband received the two wives of the county magistrate, saying that they encountered underworld messengers who wanted to kill him!"
Her tone was so empathetic, as if she were the one experiencing it herself, that everyone around her was drawn in and listened intently.
Immediately after, a young woman followed, adding, "Yes, Sister Wang, you're right. My husband went to the magistrate's house with your brother last night, and he said he saw the magistrate with a document pasted on his face, with something like 'Please, Lord of the Underworld, spare my life' written on it. My husband is still terrified; he was having nightmares just now, sigh..."
As the two women's conversation spread, more and more people in the crowd began to believe their story.
People whispered among themselves, discussing the "underworld judge" killing people. Some nodded in agreement, while others were skeptical. In any case, the matter had become a hot topic of conversation in the streets and alleys.
Chen Zhennan heard it clearly. Although he didn't want to see such ignorant and foolish ideas, at least no one pitied Zhang Quan, and the conscience of the people was still gratifying.
...
On the walls of Mingzhou, the first rays of dawn break, and all things come back to life.
Zhao Xiong had just gotten up and stepped onto the city wall to begin his daily routine patrol.
Suddenly, a soldier came running up in a hurry. The soldier was pale, sweat was streaming down his face, and he was panting heavily, obviously having traveled a long way.
He took out eight letters from his pocket and handed them to Zhao Xiong.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Xiong's brows furrowed, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart, fearing that something bad had happened again!
He took the envelopes and examined the covers one by one, discovering that the eight letters were urgent reports from all eight counties in Mingzhou.
Zhao Xiong frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What's going on? Why are all eight counties sending urgent reports?"
The soldier replied, "Your Majesty, last night eight counties in Mingzhou were once again massacred. Most of the money shops, brothels, grain shops, and security escort agencies in the city, as well as the bandits and landlords outside the city, were massacred to varying degrees. A total of more than 500 people died in the eight counties."
Upon hearing the report, Zhao Xiong was overwhelmed with emotion, his shock evident in his expression, and he was completely stunned.
The eight counties of Mingzhou, spanning five hundred li from north to south and six hundred li from east to west, such a vast area, actually suffered such a bloody catastrophe at the same time, with hundreds of people losing their lives. How horrifying!
Zhao Xiong's hand holding the envelope trembled slightly. After a moment, he slowly released it, letting it fall to the ground like autumn leaves.
He gazed at the rising sun in the distance and murmured to himself, "Could there really be messengers of the underworld in this world?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the soldier immediately interjected, "Your Majesty, the rumors about the underworld taking lives have spread rapidly, and are even being discussed in the military camp. Many soldiers couldn't sleep last night because of this, and the situation tonight is likely to be even more serious."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiong felt a chill run down his spine. If this rumor were to spread throughout the army, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The army is crucial to the safety of Mingzhou; once morale is damaged, it will directly affect combat effectiveness.
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xiong immediately issued an order: "Send someone to the army immediately to clarify that the magistrate of Yi County has already captured the assassin who was impersonating a ghost soldier, and that it was all just a conspiracy orchestrated by someone behind the scenes..."
However, before Zhao Xiong could finish speaking, the soldier interrupted him again: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Magistrate Zhang... he..."
"What? What happened to him?" Zhao Xiong asked anxiously.
The soldier quickly picked up the report from Yi County from the ground, handed it to him, and said in a low voice, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Magistrate Zhang was killed last night with a single blow. It is said that the judge of the underworld personally carried out the killing."
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