Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 334 - 331 Sudden Change in the Situation

Chapter 334: Chapter 331 Sudden Change in the Situation

Yu State, on a stretch of official road at the border between Dengzhou Prefecture and Dongchang Mansion.

People and carriages were bustling about, but while many entered Dengzhou Prefecture, few left it.

Furthermore, one detail was significantly different from other days: among the endless stream of people entering Dengzhou Prefecture, aside from the commonly seen refugees, there were also many well-dressed, rich families without worry for food or clothing.

Moreover, once they stepped into Dengzhou Prefecture, the anxiety on their faces suddenly dispersed, as if they had breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Clearly, those affluent families who met the criteria for forced relocation to the Capital, each of them well-informed, had received early news of the various tragic incidents that befell others on the road to migration. Not only had their wealth been plundered by soldiers, but even their wives and daughters could potentially be lost.

So, who would wait for the government office to come and destroy their home?

Naturally, they hurriedly sold their properties at reduced prices, or even directly spent money to save their lives, seeking refuge as soon as possible.

Whether they were scholars or wealthy merchants, most of them had commercial businesses in their households, and the place they heard about most during this period was—Dengzhou Prefecture, controlled by Prince Zhou Jinghuan!

It was already the end of March, and last year’s report card of Dengzhou Prefecture successfully enduring the winter had long since spread far and wide through the local developed trade system.

In times of chaos, what is most precious?

Of course, it is the word "stability"!

If even safety isn’t assured, these proprietors of huge wealth are nothing more than fattened pigs waiting to be slaughtered.

Perhaps many merchants and scholars did not fully believe those seemingly fantastic rumors about Dengzhou Prefecture.

But with the thought of fleeing from disaster, it was still the first place that came to their mind.

Moreover, apart from Zhou Jinghuan, there was no one else who could help them withstand the pressure and avoid being relocated to the Capital by the government office.

Even if only thirty to forty percent were influenced by the rumors to move to Dengzhou Prefecture,

Old Master Zhou and Old Master Wang would still make a fortune and feast to their heart’s content.

By a mix of Yin morality and Yang mistake, quite a few seemed to be copying the scenario where the third prince caused trouble, and the second prince reaped the benefits.

Sitting at home, they had unwittingly picked up a great deal.

Of course, some who were used to being domineering outside were apparently still somewhat unfamiliar with the rules of Dengzhou upon their initial arrival.

Bang!

A emaciated figure in tattered clothes was suddenly kicked three steps away by someone.

The passersby around, not wanting to cause trouble, quickly avoided the scene and dared not get involved rashly.

After being kicked, the man, disregarding the pain on his body, rolled and crawled back, desperately shouting:

"Sir, please have mercy, return my daughter to me! I beg of you!"

But there was an official, clad in a satin robe with a face full of flesh, holding a thin little girl by the hand, who snorted coldly at him:

"What do you mean your daughter? She’s a maidservant I bought for two pieces of steamed bread! You already ate the bread, didn’t you? Trying to deny the transaction now?"

Passersby who had stopped in their tracks turned their attention to the noise.

The little refugee girl, who was being held by the official and crying in terror.

Even though she was dressed in very ragged clothes, with a pale face and some childish features yet to mature, on closer inspection, her features were somewhat delicately pretty.

She was a rare beauty among ordinary peasant girls.

Some well-informed passersby had by now realized that households of wealth often kept beautiful concubines and maidservants, who were essentially no different from house prostitutes.

If this young girl entered his household, she might not have to fear starving to death, but the life that was just beginning for her would be completely ruined.

Subject to beating, humiliation, abuse, and even being sold again by her master... such was the predictable future.

Hearing this, the girl’s father knelt on the ground and cried earnestly:

"Sir, you just said that the steamed bread was a reward for us; you didn’t say it was for my daughter!

Before she passed away, her mother entrusted our only child to me, asking me to take good care of her; even if I starved to death, I absolutely could not sell my child!

I beg you, please show some kindness and spare her!"

The official laughed uproariously as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world:

"Hahaha, what an amusing thing to say! Why would this old man give you, a stinking beggar, steamed bread if it weren’t for your daughter who still has some charms?

Don’t piss on your face and look yourself in the mirror. Are you worthy?!"

The man who brought misfortune upon himself for two pieces of bread, his face now showing deep shame as he looked at his daughter, turned pale with distress.

He then clenched his teeth fiercely, picked up a sharp piece of stone from the ground, ripped off his tattered clothing, and aimed at his stomach.

"I... I’ll give these two steamed bread back to you!"

Saying this, he was about to fiercely slash his own stomach with the stone.

However, before the stone could even graze his emaciated chest and abdomen, it was blocked by a staff with a bird-shaped head in someone’s hand.

The refugee looked up and saw an elderly man with white hair and beard, giving him a kind smile:

"Hold on! Young man, Dengzhou Prefecture is different from other places; it’s not where unreasonableness reigns."

The staff he held was no ordinary cane, but a [Pigeon Staff] issued by Zhou Jinghuan to all the elderly over seventy years old within Dengzhou Prefecture.

It was not only a sign of respect for the elderly but also a symbol of certain privileges.

Thereafter.

The old man who had stepped forward looked at the official who was forcibly trafficking people with an expressionless face, turned to the sky, and bowed three times, solemnly saying:

"A commoner from Dongping County, old Li Sandou, requests the [Living Yama] to uphold justice!"

No sooner had the words fallen.

Clang!

With the sound of a gong opening the way.

The people saw a flash of golden light before them, and a [Black-Faced Judge] in a black robe, a [Day Patrol Deity] in a red robe, accompanied by a troop of [Yin Soldiers], tore through the Yin Road and descended upon this place.

With a faint divine light on their bodies and an air of solemn majesty.

Overwhelmed with shock, the people on the official road knelt to the ground one after another.

In the territory of Dengzhou Prefecture, devout believers who call out the divine name of Old Master Wang could summon deities from the City God Temple—those absolutely just [Judges], [Day Patrol Deities], and [Night Patrol Deities] under his command.

When encountering significant issues, they would judge between Yin and Yang and see justice done for the people.

With the [Black Law Judge Method] to help, the truth would be clear at a glance, and no detail could escape their eyes.

The Black-Faced Judge, with a pair of Dharma Eyes that flashed like lightning, glanced at the Official, who stood with eyes wide in disbelief, and said coldly:

"Under the broad daylight, trafficking people!

According to the Great Yan Law, I decree... be executed immediately! Furthermore, according to the Yin Department Black Law, his soul will be pressed into the Ghost Prison to suffer punishment!"

The Official, who had been high and mighty just moments ago, finally changed his expression.

"No, no, no, I am a fellow townsman of the Dongping County Magistrate, you... you can’t do this to me!"

Because of the existence of the Killing Banquet, throughout the history of Red County Shenzhou, it has always been stipulated that anyone who traffics people shall be put to death without exception!

And those who buy and sell are equally guilty, all sentenced to immediate execution!

After the founding of Great Yan, these rules were all clearly written in the Great Yan laws.

Regrettably, "having laws but not following them" has almost always been a chronic problem of governmental collapse at the end of Dynasties.

In Great Yan, this law had become no different from worthless paper for over a hundred years, with some high officials and Wealthy Merchants keeping hordes of slaves and maidservants, basically unchecked.

He had not expected that, in the territory of this second Prince, the Great Yan Law would still be strictly enforced. Were they serious?

The Official, who had been committing numerous misdeeds and felt guilty, realized that things were gravely amiss. He immediately abandoned his carriage, turned, and fled.

But how could he outrun a host of Ghost Gods?

The Black-Faced Judge shouted coldly:

"Since there are no Yang Officials present, we, the Yin Officials, shall execute in their stead.

Soul Confinement! Imperial Decree!"

Bam!

The Official, who had obviously practiced Taoist Military Skill, didn’t get far before he collapsed to the ground, already breathless.

His soul was wrested from his body and held in the hands of the Yin Soldiers.

This scene’s power to shock and awe was simply terrifying in the eyes of those from out of town. Whilst they felt uneasy, they were also immediately filled with joy.

Most of them were common people who wouldn’t, and didn’t have the means to, bully others.

Not being bullied themselves and thus avoiding their families being torn apart was the greatest sense of security for them.

"Good and evil will in the end be repaid," and in Dengzhou Prefecture, it was no longer just empty words.

The locals, on the other hand, were kneeling on the ground and worshipping earnestly, chanting in unison:

"Protect the nation, support the society, descend mercy to save the people. Command the troops to patrol the world, reward the good and punish the evil as bright as day. Judge life and death with uprightness and loyalty, bring fortune to the virtuous and manifest divine might!

Respect the Living Yama!"

The man who had fled hardship with his daughter was kowtowing repeatedly on the ground, his forehead bruising. Tears streamed from his eyes:

"Justice! I, Fourth Gao, have lived for thirty years, and I have finally seen justice!

This place has Qingtian, it has Qingtian!"

An unparalleled sense of recognition and belonging welled up within them.

At once, a mighty Wishing Power arose from the crowd and soared into the sky above Dengzhou Prefecture, merging into that section of the Dragon Qi Prohibition that shone with golden brilliance in every Cultivator’s eyes.

The busy worshippers didn’t notice.

The Judge and the Day Patrol Deity, however, led a group of Yin Soldiers, deeply bowing towards the woods behind the crowd. They then respectfully retreated, hands folded, and disappeared into the Yin Road.

Within that grove.

The youth in the green shirt and the girl in the red dress were sitting side by side on a slender branch, invisible to anyone other than the Judge and Day Patrol Deity.

"Not bad, even when we’re not at home, the system runs very well.

It might be a bit of a stretch against Demons and Deceit Monsters, but it’s sufficient to exercise law enforcement in the Mortal World.

Yin Morality is tallied after death, the retribution coming too slowly to deter the wicked.

Setting a red line that must not be crossed, making the worldly retribution swift, is the only way to truly shape an era of great peace!"

Yin Morality or whatever totally doesn’t matter, I just want everyone to be a good person like me!

Facing a million points of merit and a deficit of over five hundred thousand, Old Master Wang finally realized that he was still, in fact, a poor man.

He then bid farewell to that embodiment of Great Fate, who looked at him with a similarly strange expression, and left the Pongxuan Grotto Heaven.

Resolved to quickly make money... cough, that is, do good deeds and accrue virtue!

The two didn’t rush on their way; two months away from home gave them a perfect opportunity to reacquaint themselves with Great Yan’s situation.

And also to witness such a scene.

The new governance system had evidently begun to take root deeply in people’s hearts.

Mencius said in ’Gaozi I’:

"There are heavenly ranks and human ranks. Benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, the delight in doing good without weariness, these are heavenly ranks; dukes, ministers, and high officials, these are human ranks. In ancient times, people cultivated their heavenly ranks, and the human ranks followed."

The Judges and the Day and Night Wandering Gods had in life been just and smart individuals who fully embodied benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness.

After cultivating the Black Law Judge Method, they fundamentally eliminated the possibility of bending the law for personal gain.

Under their supervision, Dengzhou Prefecture was transformed into the most virtuous place in the world.

Quietly accumulating power, there will be a day when a single spark will start a prairie fire!

Nevertheless, seeing the increasingly powerful "Dragon Qi Prohibition," Wang Yuan was happy but also couldn’t help feeling puzzled.

"Forcing warlords into the Capital isn’t anything new; people, wealth, goods, taxes... are all carriers of the Dragon Energy. Concentrating the powerful means concentrating the Dragon Energy.

Even if it’s a matter of pruning the weak branches, gentler methods could be used.

Why do Xue Jiexi and Marquis Wu Yi Zhou Xinglou, who now hold power in Court, seem more and more impatient?

And what exactly is this ’No-Life Dao,’ a gathering of demons and monstrous tricks, trying to achieve by accumulating Dragon Energy?

Something is fishy! And whether Great Fate knows about this matter or not is another question."

At that moment, Huang Wu suddenly exclaimed:

"Xiao Yuan, look quick!"

Wang Yuan turned to look and saw that the refugee who had nearly flayed him open had a faint purple-black bruise developing on his waist.

His heart instantly skipped a beat.