Chapter 127: Sense of Crisis Again, Teasing Old Wang Again, Decapitation

Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Sense of Crisis Again, Teasing Old Wang Again, Decapitation

Night fell, and all was quiet.

In the rear residence of the County Government Office.

Old Wang was in his study, working at his desk.

In order to advance the Profound Sect’s plan of overthrowing the Great Zhou Court by taking control of local governments, he worked diligently, handling every case with scrupulous fairness to win the hearts of the people.

’I wonder how much longer I’ll have to wait for the plan to be set in motion.’

He had a premonition that if this kept up, his political achievements and excellent reputation from the past two years would likely get him promoted by the Court, taking him away from his grassroots work!

Although the paths to advancement in the Great Zhou were largely monopolized by the rich and powerful, rife with corrupt dealings, there were still a few upright and honest officials who cherished true talent.

As it happened, the Prefect of Shuzhou, Xu Lian, was one such official. He had expressed his admiration and approval for Old Wang on multiple occasions.

Xu Lian believed an honest and capable official like Old Wang must have been demoted from the Capital City because his righteousness had led to him being suppressed by treacherous ministers. Valuing talent and loyal to the emperor, Xu Lian wanted to help Old Wang get promoted so he could return to the Capital City and put his skills to greater use.

Old Wang had only managed to temporarily dissuade Xu Lian by repeatedly insisting, "I’m just taking this opportunity to understand the hardships of the common people. This way, when I hold a higher office in the future, I’ll be better equipped to bring them prosperity."

This attitude of loving the people more than his own position only made Xu Lian admire him more, increasing his desire to see him promoted.

This was why Old Wang constantly felt a sense of crisis.

He was terrified that he would suddenly be promoted.

That was why he was so eager for the Holy Sect’s world-changing plan to commence. However, as a mere Sub-Squad Leader, he had no idea how the plan was progressing overall and could only wait silently for instructions from the Holy Hall.

TING-A-LING... TING-A-LING...

Suddenly, he heard the chiming of bells.

He instinctively looked up toward the sound.

BANG! The tightly shut door suddenly swung open.

A cool breeze from outside instantly rushed in.

The graceful Saintess Yaoguang glided into the room.

"This subordinate greets the Saintess!" County Magistrate Wang immediately stopped his work, hurried forward, and prostrated himself on the floor.

He keenly observed that the Saintess, who had been barefoot for many years, now wore a pair of Ice Silk stockings. The thin, white silk clung tightly to the curves of her feet, outlining their delicate, full, and supple contours—so perfect they seemed as if they could be held in a single grasp.

Though she wore no shoes, just as when she used to be barefoot, the smooth silk was spotless and immaculately white, making one yearn to feel its delicate texture.

Yaoguang’s voice was cold as she said, "Rise."

"Thank you, Saintess." As he rose, Old Wang seized the opportunity to sneak a quick glance at her face before lowering his head again.

’The Saintess is as breathtakingly beautiful as ever.’

Feeling Old Wang’s furtive gaze, Saintess Yaoguang knew he was simply awestruck by her beauty and bearing and had not noticed anything strange. Even so, being in the unprecedented and likely unrepeatable situation of having sprouted a tail, she couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty.

At the same time, she felt a strange sense of excitement and thrill.

She stood perfectly still, her posture erect and her curves graceful, her face holding its usual expression of aloof indifference. Inwardly, however, her heart was a raging storm.

Old Wang asked with the utmost respect, "May I ask what instructions the Saintess has for me, gracing my humble abode with your sudden presence?"

The great Saintess had been utterly humble and subservient before Pei Shaoqing and his wife, but that didn’t stop her from adopting an impossibly arrogant posture before County Magistrate Wang now.

Saintess Yaoguang placed her hands before her stomach and said in a calm tone, "The Holy Hall has resolved to temporarily set aside vengeance for the murder of the Kaiyang Saint Heir and will not retaliate against Pei Shaoqing. I was passing through this area and came to remind Captain Wang not to act on his own and jeopardize the Holy Sect’s grand plan."

She was unaware of the cooperation between Pei Shaoqing and County Magistrate Wang; she was merely delivering an order as instructed by the Holy Hall.

At present, only the two of them knew about the cooperation between Old Wang and Pei Shaoqing. No one else was aware.

"May I be so bold as to ask why?" County Magistrate Wang asked, momentarily stunned. He was both confused and curious.

In his eyes, this defied all logic.

Saintess Yaoguang simply shot him a cold glance.

County Magistrate Wang immediately bowed his head in apology. "This subordinate knows his place. I should not have presumed to inquire about the decisions of our superiors."

"Know your place. Don’t let it happen again."

To the crisp chiming of bells, Saintess Yaoguang departed without a backward glance. Once in the courtyard, she tapped her toes lightly on the ground and, with sleeves fluttering, soared into the air.

She looked like a Moon Palace Fairy returning to the heavens.

The night wind blew, making her feel rather drafty.

"This subordinate respectfully sees the Saintess off!" said County Magistrate Wang.

Only after the sound of the bells faded completely did he raise his head, his brow furrowed in deep confusion.

After a long moment, he slowly exhaled.

’Regardless, this is good news for Brother Pei.’

’I’ll tell him the good news tomorrow.’

...

The next morning, Pei Shaoqing was at work in the Hundred Households when he was suddenly informed that County Magistrate Wang had come to visit.

He immediately had his subordinate show him in.

County Magistrate Wang strode in, laughing heartily as he clasped his hands in greeting. "Brother Pei, long time no see! You’re looking as dashing as ever."

"And you still look vaguely human, Old Wang," Pei Shaoqing replied with a brilliant smile of his own, rising to return the salute.

County Magistrate Wang was long since immune to this level of banter. He calmly found a seat and said, "I have some good news for you today."

A cup of tea was placed on the table beside him.

"What good news?" Pei Shaoqing asked.

County Magistrate Wang didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he picked up his teacup and blew on the surface of the tea.

His strong moral compass made him a terrible liar, so he used the act of drinking tea to hide his guilt. His eyes darted about as he said, "Thanks to my... efforts, the Holy Sect leadership has decided to temporarily set aside their grudge regarding the death of the Kaiyang Saint Heir. They’re letting you off the hook."

His heart was in his throat as the words left his mouth.

His other hand, which was free, was clenched into a fist.

Its palm was slick with sweat.

He stole a glance at Pei Shaoqing out of the corner of his eye.

’Well, well, Old Wang! Who knew an earnest-looking guy like you could learn to lie? I thought that sort of thing was reserved for handsome, dashing men like myself.’

’Trying to pull one over on me? Just watch how I mess with you!’

"Oh?" Pei Shaoqing put on an expression of being utterly overjoyed. His face filled with gratitude, he rushed forward and gave County Magistrate Wang a deep bow. "Thank you, Brother Wang!"

"Brother Pei, there’s no need for this." Seeing him act with such gravity, County Magistrate Wang felt a pang of guilt. Knowing he didn’t deserve such a gesture, he quickly reached out to help him up.

"No!" Pei Shaoqing refused to rise, gripping County Magistrate Wang’s hands tightly. His voice trembled as he said, "Brother Wang, you’ve saved my life! And not just my life, but my wife’s life, and the lives of all the men and their families who follow me! For such a monumental kindness, I must kowtow to you. Then, I’ll call my subordinates in to kowtow with me!"

With that, he made a move to drop to his knees and kowtow.

"No, no, no!" County Magistrate Wang hurriedly stopped Pei Shaoqing from kneeling, breaking out in an anxious sweat. "How could I possibly accept such an honor? You’ve helped me before too, Brother Pei! Get up, please, get up!"

"It’s not the same, Brother Wang! I sincerely want to kowtow to you, but you won’t let me. Are you looking down on me?" Pei Shaoqing asked, pretending to be offended.

He made it seem as if he would turn hostile if Wang refused again.

If County Magistrate Wang’s moral compass were even slightly weaker, or if he held himself to a lower standard, he would have let Pei Shaoqing kneel and express his thanks, gloating in the success of his lie.

But he was a man of principle. He couldn’t go through with it.

Seeing Pei Shaoqing so deeply moved, he instead felt overcome with guilt. He absolutely could not let him kneel, let alone have him bring his subordinates to do the same.

Left with no choice, he confessed. "Brother Pei, I was just joking with you. How could a mere Sub-Squad Leader like me have that kind of influence? The Holy Hall made this decision for some unknown reason; it had absolutely nothing to do with me."

"Really? Brother Wang, you’re not just saying that to stop me from kowtowing, are you?" Pei Shaoqing asked, feigning suspicion.

County Magistrate Wang almost burst into tears when he heard that.

’Look at that! Brother Pei trusts me so much!’

’He didn’t doubt me at all when I was lying, but now that I’m telling the truth, he suspects me of lying!’

County Magistrate Wang felt even more guilty and ashamed, assuring him again and again, "Brother Pei, it really had nothing to do with me."

Pei Shaoqing’s expression suddenly turned cold.

"Brother Pei?" County Magistrate Wang felt a vague sense of unease.

Pei Shaoqing shook his hand away and said with a dark expression, "Brother Wang, you have betrayed my trust. Why do you think I never questioned how a mere Sub-Squad Leader could pull something like this off? It’s because I believe in you!

But you lied to me! You tried to take credit that wasn’t yours, to make me owe you a favor! Brother Wang, oh, Brother Wang... I may not be a man of principle myself, but I’ve always admired men of principle like you..."

"Brother Pei, stop, please, say no more." County Magistrate Wang was drenched in sweat and full of regret. "I know I was wrong, I really do. I wasn’t trying to make you owe me a favor, I was just playing a joke."

"Alright, then, we’ll just pretend none of that happened." The gloom on Pei Shaoqing’s face instantly vanished, replaced by a hearty laugh as he clapped Wang on the shoulder.

The sudden change in attitude stunned County Magistrate Wang. He couldn’t help but ask, "You don’t suspect me of feigning remorse? Of actually wanting you to owe me a favor and just being too afraid to admit it now that I’ve been exposed?"

"Brother Wang, I just told you, I believe you! Since you say it was a joke, I’ll treat it as a joke. After all, in my eyes, you truly aren’t the kind of person who would do something like that," Pei Shaoqing said with a sincere expression.

County Magistrate Wang froze as if struck by lightning.

Waves of guilt, shame, and profound emotion washed over him. He pressed his lips together, silent, and simply gave Pei Shaoqing a solemn bow, his face a mask of apology.

That night, County Magistrate Wang was lying in his bed.

The day’s events replayed in his mind. He suddenly opened his eyes, sat up, and slapped himself twice across the face, muttering, "Brother Pei trusts me so much... I’m such a piece of shit."

’Sigh... this is the second time I’ve betrayed Brother Pei’s trust. There absolutely cannot be a third time!’

「Two days passed in the blink of an eye.」

At dawn on this day, gongs and drums sounded throughout Tongzhou City, announcing that Pei Shaoqing would personally oversee the execution of a scoundrel who had impersonated a member of the Southern Garrison Jing’an Guard. The execution was to take place at noon.

This instantly piqued the interest of countless citizens.

"Son of a bitch! Someone actually dared to impersonate a Jing’an Guard? The balls on that guy must be sky-high."

"What a fucking idiot. A total moron."

"A daredevil like that... I bet eating a bun dipped in his blood would be an aphrodisiac. Gotta make sure I get a good spot to grab some."

"I’m just gonna bring a basin to catch it all and cook some blood pudding stew back home."

Having never heard of such an audacious criminal before, the entertainment-starved common folk were incredibly interested. Long before noon, the execution grounds were already packed, a veritable sea of people.