Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 45 - 43 Deceitful Heart

Chapter 45: Chapter 43 Deceitful Heart

"Military officer, you must be mistaken,"

"Look at me, a frail old man with barely any flesh on my bones; how could I possibly be a thief?"

Wang Yuan nodded and bowed like any ordinary citizen while shaking the cloth banner in his hand to make sure the officer saw the words "Miracle Healing" written on it.

To his surprise, the scarred-faced soldier did not care whether he had the capability to commit a crime.

The officer held out his large, dark hand, waving it impatiently back and forth in front of him, saying:

"It doesn’t matter whether you have flesh on your body or not; as long as you have silver, that’s fine. You, a barefoot doctor who often wanders through Jianghu, should know the rules.

"Pay the ’redemption silver’ in full and you’ll be released on the spot—ten taels for men, five for women.

"If you can’t produce the silver, just go to jail quietly and wait for your family to come redeem you."

Wang Yuan was immediately astonished, suspecting a problem with his hearing.

Both Cui Tong and Yu Sanliang were all too familiar with this "redemption silver."

"Redemption silver," also known as "bribery fine," was a way for officials at all levels in Great Yan to facilitate money-making by allowing people to pay to atone for their crimes, under the fancy name of "expiation through payment."

As long as it wasn’t a charge of conspiracy or high treason, one could be pardoned in this way.

’Were you not supposed to catch the thieves who attacked the third prince?

How can you release someone on the spot as soon as they pay the silver?’ Wang Yuan was rather puzzled.

However, at that moment, an arrest officer in the troop could be heard frankly discussing with Guard Commander Zheng Yong how to divide the "redemption silver":

"Master Zheng, let’s keep fifty percent of the silver we get for ourselves, offer forty percent to the Prince, and he’ll surely overlook our dereliction of duty for the sake of the silver.

"The remaining ten percent we’ll save for when the young prince returns. After all, it was just a horse that got startled causing the mishap; with a little benefit, I’m sure the young prince won’t say much."

"Hmm, alright, let’s do it that way.

"But we need to collect ten thousand taels as quickly as possible. If we’re short of that number, I’m afraid it won’t look good in front of the Prince."

The voice of the Mystic Armor Guard was harsh like grit and iron scrapings but very direct.

Hearing this, Wang Yuan finally came to a realization:

"Well, well, well, if First Hand Qin plucks feathers from passing geese, you all are simply taking liberty three feet above ground level. The prince’s supposed ambush is just a pretext to scrape off another layer of our land!"

As the saying goes: "Bandits comb through, soldiers rake through, and officials shave through;" today, he truly witnessed this firsthand.

In planning, Wang Yuan had almost considered every aspect from the government’s point of view; however, he completely missed the inherited greed and shamelessness of the Luoyang Royal Mansion and its lapdogs.

Anything that falls into their hands becomes a tool for siphoning off extra wealth.

Even a disaster like the young prince falling into the water.

They would stir up waves even when there’s no wind, let alone now with a perfect excuse at hand.

Moreover, if the incident was deemed to be the young prince falling into the water, then the responsibility would surely lie entirely with them, the guards. Claiming an ambush was the only way to shift the blame onto so-called "thieves."

Perhaps while they are collecting here, an unlucky soul who has offended them may already be neatly prepared as a "scapegoat."

’This is quite an education; so this is another trick of the officialdom?’

Ancient wisdom says, "No matter how clean an official you are, you can never escape the slippery nature of clerks." What more of this group of evil officials, whose direct superiors are the infamously wicked Luoyang Kings?

Who said that there are no dirty deeds like muddy-water fishing, deceiving superiors, and embezzlement within a criminal organization full of evildoers?

The situation could only get worse.

There has always been a saying that the clerks take seven parts while the officials take three. Giving the Prince four parts already showed considerable generosity on their part.

The contemporary Luoyang King, who indulged in pleasure and disregarded external affairs, was probably just a shield for these constables and petty officials, wasn’t he?

Wang Yuan, being astounded by this eye-opening experience, was somewhat lost in thought when the scarred-faced soldier urged him again, impatiently:

"I’m asking you, ten taels of silver—are you going to pay it or not?"

The constables following behind him also showed a menacing look, placing their hands on the hilts of their sabers, ready to make a move.

It was clear that the criterion for a suspect was—anyone who appeared well-dressed and wealthy.

Wang Yuan had no doubts that many passersby, who now saw they could spend ten taels to avoid disaster, would be stabbed and stripped clean if they encountered this group of soldier-thieves in the wilderness.

However.

The most distinctive traits of the acclaimed doctor "First Hand Qin" were: "greedy" enough to pluck feathers from passing geese and too "stingy" to give even a hair away.

Asking him to hand over ten taels of silver was no different from asking him to drop dead.

Moreover, after changing clothes, he didn’t even have a copper coin, let alone ten taels of silver.

But if I were to simply surrender without a fight and be taken to Luoyang City, that would be even worse.

Being completely outside the influence range of Beimang Mountain and losing the protection of the darkness beneath the light, I would probably be exposed in the view of the Owl God Tomb immediately.

This is a completely different concept from when everyone discussed "tomb raiding" earlier and caught a mere glance from the Owl God Tomb.

Thinking of this, Wang Yuan realized that the only thing on his person that could be called valuable was the Rashamon Bone he had originally prepared to use on "Shadowless Rat" Wen Juncai or on those relatives from Daling Village.

’It’s a pity I haven’t had the chance to test it yet, so I’m not sure how dangerous it really is.

Even though the biography described it very clearly, this is after all an object that can kill on its own.’

I’ll just have to be careful and keep an eye on it, and if anything goes wrong, I’ll immediately take it back.’

So, with that decision made, Wang Yuan "subconsciously" clutched at the pouch in his sleeve as though afraid the only possession he had would be discovered by others.

However, his attempt to be subtle backfired, blatantly revealing his hidden wealth.

"What is that? Take it out!"

Seeing his subtle movement, the soldier forcefully tore open his sleeve.

Instantly, a streak of golden light shone through.

Especially under the golden glow of the setting sun, it was quite dazzling.

To these officials, their first sight seemed to be a piece of glittering gold bone, but at a second glance, it had all turned into a fist-sized golden ingot.

This ingot was at least fifty taels!

Suddenly, their eyes gleamed with specks of gold, and then quickly filled with a tint of blood.

"Mine! Get lost!"

The leader, with a scarred face, snatched the "golden ingot" into his hand, no longer bothering about the promise of ten taels of silver, and forcefully shoved Wang Yuan far away.

He stared at the golden bar in his hand with an intoxicated expression on his face.

"Mine, golden ingot, a fine treasure! Mine, and I’m not giving it to anyone!"

But at this time, a second hand, a third hand, a fourth hand... also uncontrollably reached for it.

"Give it to me! Let me guard it!"

"I manage the accounts, I understand numbers, it should be me who holds it!"

"..."

Clang!

A flash of cold light, and the scar-faced soldier mercilessly drew his sword to kill the colleague who was first to reach for it.

The other officials did not hesitate either, each drawing their swords to vie for the golden bar.

"Put it down!"

"Hand it over to me!!!"

In an instant, the place was filled with continuous screams, flying limbs, and blood spilled all over the ground.

Passersby nearby were screaming and scattering in all directions.

[Biography]

Name: Deceit Object·Rashamon Bone (Owner Wang Yuan)

Background: Residue left behind after the Small Book of Life and Death converted the Deceit Object·Human Face Painting, also a Deceit Object but retaining too much chaotic negative knowledge, unruly and difficult to control for personal use.

Its basic ability is: "Deceitful Heart".

1. Against ordinary people, the Rashamon Bone can magnify the desire in their hearts, turning into whatever they most yearn for.

It makes people want to obtain it at all costs, where even a glance from others becomes a sin, and they involuntarily become its puppets, with their fortune, status, and longevity being gradually drained away.

2. Against those skilled in magic, although it doesn’t drive them mad, it will be regarded as some kind of precious Magic Artifact, and they will never want to part with it for even a moment.

At first, the Rashamon Bone can even help its bearer stimulate the Luck Dao (enhance Qi Fortune), with an upper limit of three points, but in not too long a time, they will likewise be drained dry.

Note: Regardless of who the subject is, the speed of absorbing the three fires will be controlled by Wang Yuan as the master of the Book, but it can only be accelerated, not slowed down.

All gains shall be split, three parts to the Deceit Object, seven to the master of the Book.

[Precept Taboo (Sole): Intermittent revival and frenzy, which autonomously accelerates the absorption rate, must be sealed and kept away from light.

Under no circumstances should one covet the effects of increased luck and use it on oneself! Must not be used by oneself!]

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