Headless Immortal

Chapter 118 Taking office
Wutongshen!

Over the past year, Gao Qingzhi has also carried out many local government tasks.

If we're talking about memorable characters, the Five Gods of Profound Truth would definitely be in the top three.

Of course, it wasn't just the Five Gods; there was also the unknown monster that could transform from a cat into a tiger. Without this monster, defeating the Five Gods wouldn't have been so easy.

After that, he wanted to ask Zhao Jia about the monsters, but Zhao Jia gave him vague answers and brushed him off, so he didn't press the matter further.

Monsters are no different from humans, and sometimes they are even more reliable.

Gao Qingzhi didn't want to ruin Zhao Jia's opportunity.

I never expected to meet him again in the county town.

He had already made up his mind that after saying goodbye to Zhao Jia, he would go to the capital. Even if he was punished, he wouldn't lose his life.

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, Old Man Song from the Ministry of Justice was standing right in front of him, exactly as he had appeared.

Even the well-informed Gao Qingzhi was utterly horrified when the monster transformed into Song Zhan, and he struck the wooden box with the demon-slaying sword in its sheath.

Now it all makes sense.

The monster is Wutong Mountain Lord, but Wutong Mountain Lord is not a monster.

With his swallow-like jaw, leopard-like eyes, and bristling beard, Gao Qingzhi re-examined the Five Gods before him.

Gone was the arrogance of a demon, replaced by composure; his aura was completely different from years ago, now a violent and raging mist. This made him wonder if he could still easily subdue the great demon.

Zhao Jia smoothed things over, laughing heartily, "Master, isn't the problem solved? As long as Brother Cat goes to Zhang County as the executioner and cuts off the magistrate's head, Master will be promoted to the rank of centurion and captain!"

Gao Qingzhi cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist."

Wu Tong Lu Xun sat down and waved his hand to indicate that it was a trivial matter, and he found that the executioner's purpose was very simple.

It's true that you can't find anything without wearing iron shoes, and it doesn't take any effort to get it.

He and the high school captain went to Zhang County, and once they killed the county magistrate, they would be done, and then he could return to the modern world.

Lu Xun asked, "How far?"

"It's not far, only six hundred li from here to Zhang County, but..."

The high school officer looked troubled, but still explained the risks: "This trip may be dangerous. Old Man Song executed the White Lotus Sect disciple in the capital, so he is likely to face retaliation."

"Furthermore, Zhang County suffered from disaster and rampant epidemics."

Zhao Jia's expression also turned serious as he said, "The prefect summoned me this afternoon for this very matter."

“Zhangzhou is suffering from a large drought. The crops cannot be planted at all because they are eaten by locusts. Many people have fled, and there are still hundreds of refugees crowded in the county town without being properly resettled.”

Lu Xun nodded and said, "Perhaps it's the work of a demon."

He felt that given Jiujiang's weather, drought was unlikely; floods and typhoons were more common.

Gao Qingzhi sighed, "When disaster strikes, monsters are more likely to emerge."

Zhao Jia wasn't very clear about the situation in Zhang County either, having mostly heard about it from the prefectural government. After a moment's thought, he said, "There are people calling themselves the 'Jingshi Army' who are helping the disaster victims. The prefect is worried about an uprising and has told us to be careful in our investigation. The situation in Zhangzhou is probably not optimistic."

Gao Qingzhi keenly noticed the problem and pondered, "Jingshi Army? That sounds familiar..."

Lu Xun didn't want to get involved in the intricacies of the situation and said directly, "Let's get going without delay."

"Brother Zhao, please find me a set of clothes."

"it is good!"

Zhao Jia went back to the backyard to get his clothes.

Sui Er.

Song Zhan appeared before the two of them, put on his clothes, and nodded in satisfaction.

"great!"

……

The carriage is waiting.

We have to wait.

The driver was hired; he could drive.

The servant boy, dressed in short clothes, couldn't walk.

Under heaven, all land belongs to the emperor.

With his master dead, where could he possibly run to? He might as well just wait here and hope that this heroic senior captain can find a solution.

Human life is as worthless as grass. Little Bean used to take it for granted, but now he trembles like a leaf.

Indeed, only when the blade of death falls on one's own neck does one realize how worthless death truly is.

He waited and waited...

The coachman's question rang in my ears.

"Is your master that ill?" The driver's bright eyes shone like candlelight in the darkness.

He was mixing hay and grains and sifting out water for the horses to drink. As a 'cart mechanic,' all his skills were in the carriage, and he had to take good care of these three precious horses, treating them even better than his own sons.

The red-maned horse flicked its head and rushed over to snatch the food.

The driver's three "precious horses" not only didn't move forward but also gave up their seats, which made the driver helplessly say, "What's there to be afraid of?"

Then, gazing longingly at the red-maned horse, she said sourly, "The Akhal-Teke horse of the Earthly Bureau is said to have demon blood. I wonder what kind of demon it is. I hope it's not just a hoax."

Little Bean ignored the driver's sarcastic remarks. He dared not reveal a word about his master's condition, so he could only force a smile that looked worse than a grimace: "It's alright."

The driver shook his head and said, "Oh no, the smell of blood is overwhelming."

A hint of regret flashed in his eyes.

It seems like Lao Gao is going to mess up this job he's taken on.

Such a healthy person, terminally ill, was like an old dog digging its own grave, howling weakly. Coupled with the strong smell of blood coming from the carriage, those who knew would think it was being taken to a hospital, while those who didn't would think it was being prepared to be buried on the spot.

How could someone like that possibly survive?
"The captain took my master to the city for medical treatment."

Little Bean had a completely mournful face.

"Disaster……"

The driver clicked his tongue. Being that sick was practically like the King of Hell using his soul-summoning pen. Trying to save someone was like breaking into the King of Hell's palace and snatching the roster—something no ordinary person could do.

Little Bean knew the inside story; how could someone who had been beheaded possibly be reattached?

Sudden.

Two figures appeared before me.

The coachman cautiously boarded the carriage, pushing the lantern forward further, as if trying to see more clearly by the dim light.

Little Bean crouched down and hid behind the bicycle frame.

His strength is too weak; he has only broken through the first level of martial arts and is only slightly stronger than an ordinary thug. He can't be of any help.

"Old Deng, it's me."

Hearing the familiar voice, Deng Youfu relaxed slightly. The red-maned horse hanging beside the carriage came forward affectionately and nudged the seven-foot-tall, bear-like man.

Beside the burly man was an old man with deep-set eyes and a pair of wolf-like eyes, his gray hair tied up and tucked under the rich man's hat.

Deng Youfu cupped his hands in greeting and exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Song!"

A pair of bright eyes scanned Song Zhan, marveling, "Lord Gao, what kind of medical practitioners are there in the county town? Even those waiting to die..."

Seemingly realizing his slip of the tongue, he quickly tried to make amends: "Please don't be offended, sir. I think you were already exhaling more than inhaling back then."

The executioner, Lu Xun, remained calm, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his wolf-like eyes searching for something.

He remembered the senior captain saying that the executioner had a young apprentice.

it's here.

When Xiaodouzi saw those eyes, he felt as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss, as if he were on a precipice. He gripped the frame tightly with both hands, his arms stiffened, and he was terrified.

She opened her mouth and burst into tears.

Deng Youfu looked back and said with a laugh, "It's normal for a child to be scared when he hasn't experienced anything big. But he's been saved."

Gao Qingzhi's expression was slightly strange. Xiaodouzi had seen him end Song Zhan's pain with a single strike, and it was already a good thing that he wasn't scared out of his wits.

With the arrow already on the bowstring, Gao Qingzhi said, "Get in the carriage and head to Zhang County."

Deng Youfu stopped him, saying, "Zhang County is in disaster, I'm not capable of repairing this car..."

"Old Deng, just drop us off on the official road."

“No problem.” The two boarded the carriage one after the other.

Little Bean curled up tightly, his little eyes constantly scrutinizing his master.

Like.

so similar.

They are practically identical.

Even his apprentice couldn't see any flaws. He hesitated, then quietly asked, "Lord Gao, my...my master..."

The senior officer solemnly said, "Douzi, your master has been healed. Now, your life is in your own hands."

Little Bean can hang around in the Ministry of Justice, so he's definitely obedient and perceptive.

Yes.

Regardless of whether the person in front of me is my master or not, the important thing is that my master is 'not dead'.

If his master didn't die, then he wouldn't have to die.

He immediately rose from his seat, prostrated himself on the ground, and said sadly, "Master!" He couldn't help but feel grief welling up from the bottom of his heart, not knowing whether it was a lament for his own short life or heartache for his master's current state.

Lu Xun helped Xiao Douzi up without saying a word.

He had no idea what kind of voice or tone 'Song Zhan' usually used, whether he had any unique way of speaking, or whether he used slang or dialect, so he might as well just stay silent.

Compared to human heads, Lu Xun preferred monster heads, as they didn't require so much consideration and didn't need to interact with people.

Lu Xun returned to his seat and drifted off into his own thoughts.

The head of Song Zhan, the executioner of the Ministry of Justice.

Type: Snake (people - human)

Quality: Rare (Green)
Spell: Decapitation

evil spirit
符律
Breaking the Law
Commentary: A reckless man wielding a long, gleaming sword; a cold-faced butcher who subdues ghosts and spirits. If one lives upright and righteously, what fear is there of becoming a soul beneath the blade?

[Complete the task without diminishing the prestige of the Ministry of Justice]

All four spells, at a glance, are related to killing.

Of course, this killing was not a battle, but the killing of people being led to the execution platform.

It's normal for executioners from the Ministry of Justice in the capital to be of rare quality, but in terms of combat power, they should not be as good as Mr. Ni, let alone compared to Wutong Mountain Lord, who has now mastered all five kinds of magic.

On the other side, Captain Gao instructed, "Your master will become confused after he is cured, so you must be careful."

Little Bean clasped his hands in a respectful bow: "Please rest assured, sir."

He didn't care who was impersonating his master. As long as he finished this job, his master could return home and wouldn't have to go back to the capital.

Thinking of the intricate complexities of the capital, Xiaodouzi sighed inwardly, thinking, 'Thank goodness.'

Fortunately, his 'master' didn't have to pay attention to those things, otherwise he alone wouldn't have been able to get away with it.

……

Inn.

The shopkeeper behind the counter was dead.

The waiter crashed through the railing and fell headfirst out, bleeding profusely; he was clearly not going to survive.

Screams and a man's beastly laughter came from the backyard.

In my childhood.

Only the man's panting could be heard; no more woman's moans could be heard.

lobby.

The masked woman in tight-fitting clothes frowned, her gaze sweeping over the four distinct figures.

"That old bastard Song Zhan actually withstood the triple backlash from the Dao Child and didn't die?!"

The woman in the tight-fitting clothes suddenly raised her voice.

As he shouted, he slammed his hand on the table, stood up angrily, and said loudly, "Even if he doesn't die, he won't be able to fight back. I'd like to see how Gao Qingzhi will get away with such a burden."

The burly man, wearing a straw hat, a black shirt, and carrying a single sword, sneered.

“That’s right, that guy surnamed Gao killed so many of our best men, he deserves to die. Now, the Holy Church is uniting with the Jing Shi Army, we can’t let this bastard ruin things.”

Another man, whose face was covered by an iron-cast mask and who looked refined, spoke up: "Gao Qingzhi, the Demon-Suppressing Captain of the Earthly Division, is not so easy to deal with."

The hunched old man was rubbing tobacco into his pipe, a gong hanging from his body, and a hemp rope wrapped around his waist.

At the end of the rope was a yellow monkey about half a person's height. The monkey scratched its ears and cheeks, opened its mouth wide and yawned. Its sharp fangs were no less fierce than those of a tiger, and its breath smelled very fishy.

The old monkey trainer said, "I think we should disguise ourselves as an inn."

"Why go through all that trouble? Just find the carriages and horses, and charge straight there! How much more satisfying!"

A hearty laugh rang out.

A burly man, seven and a half feet tall, walked out while adjusting his belt, dragging a spiked club in one hand. He spat out in dissatisfaction, "Pah, it died after only playing for a short while."

The man in the iron mask said, "This place is a necessary stop on the way from Jiujiang to Zhangxian. People and horses need to eat and rest here."

The woman in the tight-fitting clothes nodded: "Okay, let's do it that way."

"Get rid of them first."

The burly man with hardly any hair on his head hurriedly dragged the dead body off the ground: "Wait! I'll set up the pot, there's so much good meat here."

……

noon.

"drive!"

Deng Youfu flicked his whip in the air, making it crackle. The three horses galloped leisurely, and the further south they went, the hotter the air became.

What was once a scene of lush green mountains, clear waters, and ancient forests now feels like being in the sweltering heat of summer, with dust even appearing in the trees and meadows.

"This weather is really strange."

If it weren't for the blue sky and white clouds still visible, Deng Youfu would have thought he was under the scorching sun of midsummer.

Gao Qingzhi, who was riding a horse, grabbed the water bag and drank several mouthfuls of water. He then handed the water bag over and said, "It is indeed unusually hot."

The red-maned horse snatched it in its mouth, raised its head to drink, and then tossed it back with a snort.

"Let's rest a bit before we go on. Your horse can handle it, but mine can't," Deng Youfu said, his eyes filled with concern.

This trip from Beijing to Jiujiang covered an unknown distance. Even the finest horse shouldn't be used like this. Now that the weather is getting hot, the horse needs a rest.

Gao Qingzhi didn't make things difficult for Lao Deng: "Alright, there should be an inn on the narrow path ahead."

The carriage sped by.

Turn down the side road and you'll see a two-story inn.

Gao Qingzhi called out to the shopkeeper a few times.

Two people emerged: a refined-looking young man and a slightly hunched old man. The young man led the way, while the old man went to fetch the horse.

Deng Youfu jumped off the vehicle and said, "Mr. Song."

The pale-skinned old man and Xiaodouzi stepped off the carriage.

Deng Youfu removed the frame of the car to let the three BMWs relax.

Gao Qingzhi came forward with a smile and said, "Shopkeeper, please prepare some wine and dishes."

After sending the young man away, Gao Qingzhi's face darkened, and he said, "Something's not right."

Lu Xun asked, "What?"

"We've been through so much along the way, and everywhere we go, there are refugees everywhere. Even small, dilapidated temples are crowded with people. But this inn, which is so big, doesn't have a single refugee. Where are they?"

Gao Qingzhi slowly withdrew his gaze and reminded him, "Be careful, let me check the food before you eat."

Little Bean said nervously, "Should we leave quickly?"

Gao Qingzhi shook his head: "If it really is a shady business, selling meat for free, I'll shut them down."

Deng Youfu jogged over: "What's wrong? Let's go into the inn."

The four of them stepped into the inn.

(End of this chapter)