Prologue

The official, fearing that a life might be lost before the execution, reluctantly approached to pull the woman away, impatiently advising her: "In a moment, there will be a waist-chop; it will be more satisfying than your knife. Just wait quietly and watch."

At that moment, the person finally stirred, slowly raising the originally lowered head. After the bloodstains dispersed, the eyes remained closed, yet the face was remarkably handsome, exuding a captivating beauty that left the onlookers in a state of astonishment

"Completion, completion... the execution has been carried out, you may do as you wish, but now you should hurry down and not delay the time of execution"

The common people were in an uproar, with countless stones and bricks flying towards the prisoners in the cart. The surrounding crowd, dense and oppressive like dark clouds, made it hard to breathe. The escorting officials, overwhelmed, hurriedly took cover in front, urging the cart to move forward quickly

Among the common people, there are indeed capable individuals. One picked up a sharp stone and aimed it at the head of the person exposed on the top of the prison cart, striking him squarely on the forehead. Bright red blood gushed out instantly, and immediately, some bystanders cheered loudly in approval

Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill this traitor!

He slowly opened his eyes, gazing up at the sky, his expression calm and serene, as if he had just awakened from a midday nap, oblivious to the surrounding noise.

The sky above is shattered into fragments by the snow-like lightning!

He lowered his head, looking at the knife, with a smile that was neither a smile nor a sneer that was not quite a sneer

The low-hanging clouds pressed down, and the lightning dazzled the eyes, while the rolling thunder from above came in waves, leaving no room for breath. The executioner sat restlessly, glancing at the sky above and then at the corner of the road, waiting for the prison cart that should have arrived at the Meridian Gate long ago

The woman paused for a moment, then swiftly thrust the knife towards his other leg

Due to the wooden fence, seven or eight out of ten stones and bricks fell short, yet there were still some that struck the person inside the prison cart. However, despite being covered in wounds, the person did not utter a sound, appearing completely devoid of sensation.

The thunder rumbled incessantly, as if an invisible drumstick was furiously striking between heaven and earth

As the pain intensified, the corner of his eye twitched slightly. He then lowered his head to glance at the woman, and there was no hatred in his gaze, but rather a sense of helpless resignation to fate.

The officials roughly pulled the woman down from the prison cart, yet the sharp knife remained embedded in his leg.

The crowd moved with the shouts, clamoring loudly, drowning out the creaking sound of the prison van as it rolled over the cobblestone road around the corner. The people inside the van had disheveled hair and were covered in blood, clearly having undergone severe torture.

"Xiao Yi, return my son's life to me!" A woman lunged at the prison cart, holding a sharp knife in her hand, stabbing directly at him. Unfortunately, the wooden bars obstructed her, and the knife could only pierce his leg, failing to reach a vital spot. The woman felt unsatisfied with her initial attempt, withdrew the knife, and relentlessly stabbed his leg again and again, blood flowing profusely and pooling on the ground

At that moment, the corners of his lips twitched slightly, making it difficult for one to discern whether he was smiling or twitching due to the pain in his leg

I want him to be torn to pieces! the woman said despairingly

"Auntie, the leg you poked is already broken," he said, his voice so gentle that it almost made one suspect he was kindly reminding her

After a series of muffled thunder, a loud clap of thunder followed, the sound of which seemed to explode from the depths of the human heart, causing discomfort. The executioner could not help but flinch, while the crowd of citizens already gathered in front of the Meridian Gate began to stir restlessly

The Meridian Gate of the capital, at two quarters past noon

They have arrived! They have arrived!" Someone is calling out.

Blood flowed down, spilling over the lips, carrying a faint metallic scent