A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1029: Noon has arrived, kill! (Please subscribe!)

In the next few days, perhaps because two more thieves were caught, Wumeng became even more lively. Even Bao Longxing complained to Hua Twelve:
"I really don't understand what those people on the street are thinking. Why are they making such a fuss about killing someone? If you don't know better, you would think they are attending a temple fair!"

Hua Shier chuckled. He understood the idea of ​​just eating melons.

He also knew the reason why Bao Longxing complained.

With the influx of gangsters, public security has become a big problem. Also, the county magistrate has to guard against the seventy-two evil spirits who may sneak into the city and cause trouble. The pressure is huge for him.

You have to know that the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends were the fierce bandits of that era, who would slaughter entire families at any time.

Now the government has arrested Tang Long, the adopted son of the leader of the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends, and his wife, Shisan Niang. Given their hot tempers, it is very likely that they will cause some trouble.

Hua Shier was also afraid that these people would act without scruples and harm innocent people, so he asked Bao Longxing to arrange personnel in advance. In addition to increasing the number of patrolling yamen runners on the streets, he also deployed secret sentries inside and outside the county.

If anything happens, the secret sentry will send a signal to notify immediately, and Hua Twelve will be able to arrive as soon as possible after hearing the signal.

As for what signal to send, the fireworks industry in the late Qing Dynasty was still extremely developed. When a "Flying Ten-Shot" was launched into the sky, Hua Twelve could tell the distance and direction even if he was in the county government office, so he could rush to help at the first time.

Hua Twelve was not the only one who was worried that the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends would cause trouble.

On that day, Lei Bao, Xu Baijiu, uncle and nephew Bao Longxing, and others were drinking tea in the flower hall of the county government office when a bailiff came in to report that there was a man outside who claimed to be the Wudang swordsman Li Mubai and wanted to see the imperial envoy.

Before Hua Shier spoke, Xu Baijiu, Bao Longxing, and Lei Bao were all shocked when they heard Li Mubai's name. They said almost at the same time:

"The best fighter in the world, Wudang swordsman Li Mubai!"

Hua Shier gave the two guys a displeased look. One of them must have glaucoma and the other one must have cataracts. Isn’t the number one master sitting right here? Where are you looking?
"You said Li Mubai is the best master?"

Bao Longxing: “Yes, even children know it!” His nephew Bao Youwei nodded repeatedly.

Hua Shier asked Bao Longxing: "So what do you think is his strength?"

Bao Longxing said that he only knew that he was the number one master and he didn't know anything else.

Hua Twelve looked at him with disdain and said, "So you belong at the kids' table, bah!"
Xu Baijiu has loved martial arts since he was young and is a martial arts fanatic. Although he has never met any famous teachers, he does know a lot about martial arts:

"I do know something about Li Mubai. He became famous ten years ago. Ten years ago, Jiang Nanhe, the head of Wudang, the world's best martial artist, was killed by a poison needle from the Blue-Eyed Fox. Li Mubai went out to avenge his master and hunted down the Blue-Eyed Fox. With his Qingming Sword, he fought all over the country without any rivals. He forced the Blue-Eyed Fox to stay out of the martial arts world for ten years. He is now recognized as the world's best martial artist!"

Hua Twelve suddenly realized: "So he is a person with nothing to do!"

Facing the puzzled looks of several people, he explained:
"You said he went down the mountain to avenge his master, but he ended up making a name for himself and failed to avenge his master. Isn't this just a waste of time?"

Bao Longxing touched his chin: "Now that you put it that way."

Bao Youwei said: "It's true!"

Lei Bao said with disdain: "What hero? Pah!"

Hua Shier gave Lei Bao a thumbs up and said, "Since you are so tough, you should be responsible for bringing Li Mubai in. Remember to be tough and let the top expert see how powerful you are as the top detective of the Six Gates!"

Leopard Head patted his chest and said, "Just wait and see!"

Not long after, Lei Bao's voice was heard from outside:

"Master Li, slow down, watch your step, and walk this way!"

Everyone in the flower hall said at the same time, Pah!

A voice as gentle as jade said, "Thank you, Thunder Detective!"

Judging from the way they addressed each other, it was obvious that the two had already introduced themselves to each other outside.

Then a tall and long-armed scholar was led into the flower hall by Leopard Head, who introduced him to the main seat:
"Master Li, this is the Imperial Envoy!"

Li Mubai was startled when he saw Hua Twelve, and clasped his fists and said:
"Are you Lord Yu?"

Hua Twelve returned the greeting with a bow and said with a smile: "I am Yu Rui, how can I not look like him?"

Li Mubai waved his hand quickly: "Please forgive me, sir. I just didn't expect you to be so young. I'm a little surprised!"

Hua Twelve laughed and said, "What's the big deal? I've practiced martial arts and have naturally regained my youth. In fact, I'm already ninety-six this year!"

Li Mubai: “.” From what he could see, he couldn’t see any signs of Hua Twelve having practiced martial arts.

Bao Longxing: "I'm sixty-nine!"

Xu Baijiu really wanted to cover his face, these two things.
Lei Bao looked at Bao Longxing with disdain: "No one asked you!"

Bao Longxing stiffened his neck and said, "Whether you ask me or not, I'm already 69. I was this age when I swore brotherhood with you!"

Li Mubai's brain froze a little. Looking at the two guys in official uniforms, he didn't know what to say for a moment. He laughed dryly:
"You two adults are such a joker!"

Hua Twelve laughed:
"Just kidding, Mr. Li, please take a seat. Someone, close the door and serve tea." I'm so used to hearing this, I almost couldn't hold him!
After the two of them sat down, Hua Twelve asked:
"I heard that Hero Li and Tie Beile are close friends, so we are family. I wonder if Hero Li has anything to ask for this visit?"

Iron Prince or something like that, he just said it according to the relationship in the original plot. Sure enough, when he said that, Li Mubai immediately smiled:
"It turns out that you are also familiar with Lord Beile. That's great. Mu Bai was invited by Lord Beile this time to cooperate with the court to deal with the Forty Thieves and the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends!"

"I was originally tracking down Yi Daoxian, the leader of the Forty Great Bandits in Shu. I heard that you captured several members of the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends in Wumeng, which caused a lot of trouble in Wumeng. So I came here to remind you of something!"

Yidaoxian? Another familiar name.

Hua Twelve smiled and said, "I don't know what it is, Master Li, just tell me!"

Li Mubai did not speak about the matter immediately, but said:

"Sir, if Mu Bai is not mistaken, you are so high-profile to behead Tang Long and the other two in public, you must be trying to use them as bait to lure the 72 Earthly Fiends here and catch them all in one fell swoop!"

Hua Twelve smiled and nodded: "That's exactly what I meant!"

Li Mubai said solemnly: "Your Excellency, this is a brilliant plan, but the 72 Earthly Fiends are descendants of the Xixia people, and are extremely cruel. They have massacred villages and destroyed villages many times, and the soldiers have also surrounded and suppressed them several times, but all to no avail!"

"This time, you have captured their people. The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends have never suffered such a big loss. Given their vengeful character, they will not give up even if they know it is a trap!"

"The Disha Cult leader is insidious and cunning. Mu Bai is worried that they will come to jailbreak in advance, or simply take revenge and assassinate you!"

"Of course, you have elite soldiers and generals around you, as well as masters like Thunder God, so you don't have to worry. Mu Bai is afraid that they will attack innocent people, or hold innocent people hostage to force you to surrender. Please take precautions early!"

Hua Twelve clapped his hands and agreed with him: "Master Li is absolutely right. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Li Mubai had already made plans before coming to the government office, and when he heard Hua Twelve's question, he just said:

"To be honest with you, my Lord, Mu Bai has united some fellow martial artists, and they can work with the government office, one in the open and one in the dark, to cooperate with you to protect the people of Wumeng and capture all the seventy-two evil spirits in one fell swoop."

Hua Twelve was speechless. Why didn't you just say you were here to help? As for Fei's matter, he immediately pushed Li Mubai to Bao Longxing and Leopard Head Lei Bao, and asked them to communicate and cooperate. The government was in the open, while Li Mubai and the people in the underworld were in the dark. This way it would be foolproof.

After discussing the important matters, Hua Shier was about to host a banquet to entertain Li Mubai, but the latter brought up another matter: he wanted to meet Tang Long.

Hua Shier didn't think much about it and personally took Li Mubai to the prison to meet Tang Long who was in solitary confinement. He was also curious about what Li Mubai wanted to say to Tang Long.

Unexpectedly, the two knew each other. Tang Long was stunned when he saw Li Mubai:
"You are Li Mubai!"

Li Mubai glanced at the other two evil bandits in the prison who were tied up like Japanese female teachers and had their mouths gagged, then looked at Tang Long who was like a wandering chicken, with a puzzled look on his face.

Hua Twelve explained: "Those two are quite ferocious. Tang Long has behaved well, so I will have his shackles removed!"

Li Mubai nodded, turned to look at Tang Long, and hated him for not fighting:
"Tang Long, we met on the road ten years ago. I defeated you with one move. I wanted to hand you over to the government, but you said that you were adopted by the leader of the Disha Sect since you were a child and had no choice. Killing and arson were not your intentions. I saw that what you said was sincere, so I gave you a chance to choose again. I didn't expect you to be unrepentant. Tell me, what did you do this time that you were arrested by the government?"

Tang Long shook his head vigorously: "No, I have been hiding in the mountain village for the past ten years, hiding my name and surname, and I have married a woman and had children. I have never done anything evil!"

Hua Twelve was listening in surprise. He didn't expect that there would be such a thing between this Wudang hero and the bandit Tang Long.

But think about it, Tang Long retired ten years ago. That was the time when Li Mubai went down the mountain to conquer the world and become famous. The timing was right.

He spoke up to testify for Tang Long: "Master Li, I can prove this. Tang Long has done nothing evil in the past ten years, just as he said. This time, he was arrested because he bravely killed Yan Dongsheng, a bandit who robbed the villagers. That’s why his identity was exposed!"

"Ah this."

When Li Mubai heard that Tang Long was arrested, he thought he was doing evil again. He didn't expect it to be like this. He nodded to Tang Long apologetically:

"You did a good job, I was wrong about you!"

After Li Mubai finished speaking, he turned around and clasped his fists towards Hua Twelve:

"Sir, Mu Bai has an unwelcome request!"

Hua Twelve waved his hand with a half-smile: "Since it's an unreasonable request, then don't say it!"

He had already guessed what the other party wanted to say, so he refused directly to avoid having to say out loud that he disagreed, which would be unpleasant for both sides.

Li Mubai looked embarrassed, but still said earnestly:
"Sir, Tang Long was adopted by the leader of the Earthly Fiends when he was young. He had no choice but to do evil before. Ten years ago, he turned back and escaped from the 72 Earthly Fiends. Buddhism says that if you put down your butcher knife, you will become a Buddha right away. Since he has already put it down, why don't you give him a chance?"

Hua Twelve's smile faded:
"Isn't it funny that a Wudang Sect hero is telling me about Buddhist principles? I want to ask you, if I let Tang Long go, will the innocent people who died in his hands before die in vain? Who will seek justice for them?"

Li Mubai frowned slightly: "Your Excellency is wrong. The dead are gone. Even if Tang Long is killed, those people's lives cannot be saved. It will not help. Tang Long can turn over a new leaf. Why don't you give him a chance?"

Hua Twelve shook his head: "I still say the same thing, who will give those innocent people who died at Tang Long's hands a chance?"

Li Mubai hesitated for a moment and said, "Sir, can you give me some face?"

Hua Twelve was so angry that he laughed: "Li Mubai, how many lives do you think your face can be worth?"

Li Mubai, who was originally a gentleman, blushed at this and took out a token from his sleeve:
"Sir, this is Lord Beile's token. Please let Tang Long go for Lord Beile's sake. Mu Bai will do his best to help you wipe out the seventy-two evil spirits." Hua Twelve waved his sleeves:
"Iron Prince has no respect in my eyes. There is no need to talk about this matter any more. I suggested before that if you are willing, you should cooperate with the government to suppress the bandits. If you are not willing, I will not need your Wudang Sect to suppress the bandits. Leopard Head, get out!"

Lei Bao stepped forward and said with a wry smile, "Master Li, please come in."

Tang Long had seen Li Mubai pleading for him, and he still held on to a glimmer of hope, so he hadn't spoken a word. But now that the two had broken up, he sighed:
"Thank you, Mr. Li, for pleading for Tang Long. However, Tang Long deserves what he got for his crime. You two should not ruin the relationship because of a bad guy like me!"

Hua Twelve laughed: "Why didn't you say that just now?"

Tang Long smiled bitterly: "Even ants try to survive, what if the adults agree?"

"You are honest!"

While Hua Shier and Tang Long were talking, Li Mubai had already walked away. Hua Shier turned around, took a look, and spat:

"Bah, what a joke, you really think you are the best in the world and everyone has to respect you!"

Turning his head, he glanced at Tang Long:
"The reward for killing the wanted criminal has been sent to your wife. In addition, I will consider it as your own report, so your share of the reward will also be given to your wife. It adds up to several hundred taels of silver, enough for her to raise your son!"

Tang Long was stunned for a moment, and suddenly tears welled up in his eyes. He knelt on the ground with a plop:
"Thank you, sir!"

Hua Twelve nodded, said nothing, and turned to walk out of the cell.

Is Tang Long wronged?
Not unfair at all!

Although he had no choice, he killed so many innocent people with his own hands. If he didn't kill such people, where is justice for those innocent lives?
The next few days were calm. Unexpectedly, the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends never showed up in the days before the execution, and Li Mubai never went to the yamen to see Hua Twelve again. Time passed quickly and the day of the public execution arrived.

The beheading took place at noon, but just after 9 p.m., there was a huge crowd outside the city.

The common people also want to see what the 72 evil bandits in the legend, who are ferocious and able to stop children from crying at night, look like. Do they have three heads and six arms?
Some people also brought steamed buns with them, hoping to get some human blood steamed buns to take back for medical treatment. Isn't it said that human blood steamed buns made from the blood of evil people are more effective?

After another half an hour, Tang Long, Shisan Niang and Xu Kun were escorted out of the city gate by a group of constables.

Hua Shier, Bao Longxing and others also appeared on the city wall.

The people around pointed and talked, it turned out that this was the notorious bandit.

In the crowd, several people looked at Hua Twelve. Li Mubai had a complicated look, while Yu Jiaolong looked surprised and said to the blue-eyed fox beside him:
"Why is that young man wearing a Qilin patch? Why didn't my father come out?"

The blue-eyed fox also shook his head: "I've never heard of such a young first-rank official in the court!"

On the other side, Mo Zai Ti shouted to her brother with a look of surprise: "Isn't that the man from that day? How did he become a high-ranking official in the court?"

Mo Zaijiang sighed and said, "Don't even think about it, sister. He is young and in a high position. It's impossible for you two to be together!"

Mo Zai Ti's face turned red, and then he looked a little lonely: "Who, who missed him!"

"You were absent-minded during the performance these days, and your eyes were looking everywhere. Do you think I didn't see it? Listen to me. You can't reach him. When there are fewer people here, we will go north to prosperous places like Jiangnan and Beijing. Make money for two years, and I will save up a dowry for you and find you a better one!"

Mo didn't mention it again and didn't say anything. Baiyue women dare to love and hate. Even if they haven't known each other for a long time, once they fall in love with someone, they will never change their mind easily.

Bao Longxing stood on the city wall, waved his hands around, and then shouted:

"I am the honest and upright official of this county, who is as clean as water and bright as a mirror, and who loves the people like his own children. I am Bao Longxing!" This shameless man even dragged out the tone when he said his name.

After he gave himself a string of compliments, the people of Wumeng, who were familiar with him, started to make a noise at the same time. Then they threw all the cabbage stalks and rotten eggs that were originally prepared for the prisoners onto the city wall.

Bao Longxing wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "Luckily I was standing high, so you guys couldn't throw it at me. Alright, alright, I'm not known for not accepting gifts, so don't give me anything. Alas, that lady, you went too far by throwing a menstrual cloth at me! A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated!"

He also knew that he was not welcome, so he stretched out his hand:

"Now, please invite our most respected Imperial Envoy, Lord Yu, to speak a few words to everyone!"

Hua Shier glared at this crazy man. He had no intention of speaking and had not even prepared a script. Was he going to talk about eating and drinking well, or shouting "Overthrow the Qing Dynasty and Restore the Ming Dynasty"?

But this matter was not a problem for him. He stood up and took two steps forward. Before he could say anything, a group of aunts below shouted excitedly:

"What a good official! He is the one who gave us chickens, ducks and geese."

Hua Shier was completely confused, these are all black fans!

He was about to start talking when someone shouted in a delicate voice:

"He is a fake imperial envoy, he is not Lord Yu!"

As he was speaking, a figure flew up, stepped on the shoulders of the crowd and flashed to the foot of the city. He twisted his waist and jumped up to a height of ten feet. Then he stomped on the city wall several times and landed on the top of the city.

Hua Shier raised his eyebrows. The Wudang Tiyunzong and the appearance of the person who came were none other than Yu Jiaolong, whom he had met once on the street before.

Yu Jiaolong stood in the city, holding a sword in one hand and pointing at Hua Twelve with the other:
"So it's you, little thief. You're so bold! Do you know what it means to impersonate an imperial envoy?"

Hua Twelve said calmly: "You are quite courageous. Do you know what it means to slander the imperial envoy? Leopard Head, take him down!"

"I accept my order from my humble position!"

Lei Bao drew his sword and attacked, but Yu Jiaolong was not willing to be outdone and drew her sword to fight back. Although she had practiced the Wudang Heart Technique, she was inexperienced after all. Leopard Head had practiced the Iron Shirt and had a bronze skin and bones, so he was not afraid of the ordinary sword in her hand. With every move they made, Yu Jiaolong soon fell into a disadvantage.

At this moment, a figure also used the Tiyunzong to fly to the top of the city wall, but this person's Tiyunzong was far superior to Yu Jiaolong. He only tapped the city wall twice with his toes and landed between the two of them. It was Wudang Li Mubai.

Li Mubai shouted softly: "Stop for now!"

Without unsheathing the sword in his hand, he swung it left and right, hitting the hilts of Yu Jiaolong and Lei Bao's swords and knifes respectively. Both of them could not stand and retreated three steps at the same time.

Hua Twelve's face was gloomy: "Li Mubai, do you want to rebel?"

"I dare not, I just have a few words to ask this girl!"

After Li Mubai finished speaking, he ignored Hua Twelve and turned to Yu Jiaolong and said:
"Where did you learn your Wudang martial arts? And why did you say that Lord Yu was a fake imperial envoy!"

Yu Jiaolong said with a cold face:
"Who I learned martial arts from is none of your business. I have my reasons for saying that this man is an impostor of Lord Yu, because I know Lord Yu. Lord Yu has been in the frontier for ten years. How old was he ten years ago? How could he become the general of Yili?"

Li Mubai frowned slightly when he heard that she didn't reveal her master, but when he heard the second half of her sentence, he felt that it made a lot of sense. He turned his head and looked at Hua Twelve in confusion:
"Sir, how can you prove that you are the Imperial Envoy Yu?"

Hua Twelve snorted coldly: "Li Mubai, are you questioning me? Do you have the qualifications? Do you believe that I can make all of you kneel down with just one word?"

Li Mubai naturally didn't believe it, and neither did Yu Jiaolong. She pointed her sword at Hua Twelve:
"Little thief, stop bragging. If you can make everyone here kneel down, I will kill myself right here!"

Hua Shier took out the imperial edict from Cixi to Yurui from his sleeve and unfolded it directly:

"The Buddha's will is here, and it is God's will."

With a loud noise, everyone knelt down. Even Li Mubai didn't dare to stand out and knelt obediently on the top of the city wall.

Yu Jiaolong did not kneel at first, but when she heard the contents of the imperial edict, she finally lost her composure. It was exactly the same as the contents of the edict her father received, which meant that the imperial edict was very likely to be true.

She didn't dare to gamble, her silver teeth were almost broken, and she knelt down reluctantly.

After Hua Twelve finished reading, he took the imperial edict and said, "The one who just said he would commit suicide, hurry up and cut your own throat to help this imperial envoy!"

Yu Jiaolong swung her sword and said, "I will fight you!"

Hua Twelve shouted at Li Mubai, "Li Mubai, I order you to capture her!"

Li Mubai sighed. This woman was using Wudang Kung Fu. If he didn't take action, it would bring disaster to Wudang. He immediately fought with Yu Jiaolong, but he didn't use his real skills. He could obviously defeat her in one move, but he ended up fighting on equal terms.

At this moment, Xu Baijiu shouted, "Sir, it's noon!"

The constable at the foot of the city shouted, "Sir, the criminal has been identified!"

Hua Shier grabbed the command arrow from the table on the tower and threw it toward the city:
"cut!"

Whoosh, an iron arrow shot out from somewhere and accurately nailed the command arrow to the city wall, preventing it from falling to the ground!

The city was suddenly in chaos, with people shouting that the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends were coming, and the crowds were dodging in all directions.

As the crowd dispersed, a few people emerged. They were obviously gangsters, all of them were extremely fierce. Among them was a woman who was tied up with ropes and had a black cloth covering her head. One of them shouted:
"Li Mubai, look who this is?" After saying that, he removed the black cloth on the woman's head, revealing the true face of the person inside.

When the situation suddenly occurred, Li Mubai casually knocked down Yu Jiaolong's sword. At this time, he turned around and looked at it, his eyes suddenly widened, and he said excitedly:

"Xiu Lian!"

The woman who was held hostage was none other than Yu Xiulian, the chief escort of Xiongyuan Escort Agency!
The hostage shouted, "If our people die, your beloved woman will pay for her life. Li Mubai, you can do whatever you want!" As he spoke, he removed the rag gag from Yu Xiulian's mouth. The latter began to shout out incredible words:
"Mu Bai, the ones who arrested me are the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends, and with them is the leader of the Forty Great Bandits, Yi Dao Xian. You have to be careful, that imperial envoy is a fake, he is the one who hurt me in Nanping!"

Li Mubai was shocked when he heard this. He looked at Hua Twelve with doubt and uncertainty. He secretly made a gesture with his left hand, asking his friends who were hiding in the crowd and preparing to take action to stop for the time being and wait and see what happens.

The seventy-two earthly demons laughed loudly upon hearing this:

"I didn't expect that the imperial envoy was fake. My friend, why are you, a fake imperial envoy, making things difficult for us? Are you tired of living?"

Hua Shier sneered at Yu Xiulian from the top of the city wall:
"Captain Yu, right? You said I was a fake, right? I also said you were colluding with the 72 Earthly Fiends, and that bunch of idiots. Do you think I will believe you if you play a trick on me? Why don't you kill me? I will kill this man today!"

As soon as he raised his hand, more than thirty archers appeared on the top of the city wall, half of them were Yu Rui's personal soldiers, and the other half were runners from the county government office:

"Whoever dares to approach the execution ground will be shot to death!"

Hua Twelve grabbed all the remaining command arrows from the command pot and threw them directly into the city:

"Continue the execution. Behead him!"

Thanks to: 08a, Xiao Xiaohu from the Demon World, Li Meng, the God of Death, and the Supreme Demon King for their rewards. Thanks to the brothers who voted for the monthly tickets and recommendation tickets. Thank you very much.