Chapter 87 Slaughtering Corpses on the City Wall

Hearing the County Magistrate's order, a nearby attendant froze for a moment before quickly unbuckling the saber at his waist and offering it with both hands.

Xu Changze snatched it, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he stepped forward.

"As an official of the Imperial Court and a Squad Leader of the Demon Suppression Division, to actually collude with demons and evil spirits to murder your superior—you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

"Even though you are my brother-in-law, I will show no mercy. Today, I shall place righteousness above family, uphold the laws of the nation, and make an example of you!"

Before the words had even faded, a cold gleam flashed as the official saber in his hand struck down fiercely.

"Squelch!" "Squelch!" "Squelch!"

It was not just one strike, but several in succession, hacking ruthlessly into Head Constable Wang's corpse.

The blade bit into flesh, blood splattered, and a few drops even landed on Xu Changze's cheek and official robes, yet he seemed not to notice, continuing to hack while cursing.

"This strike is for your dereliction of duty!"

"This strike is for your collusion with demons!"

"This strike is for your attempted murder of a superior!"

"This strike is to rid the people of Yunmeng of a scourge!"

Every strike was fierce and heavy, as if he harbored an irreconcilable hatred for the corpse on the ground. That impassioned display of placing righteousness above family could practically be written into a biography of loyal ministers.

Even the few early-rising commoners were drawn by the scene, pointing and whispering at the corpse.

Chen Mu and the others were completely baffled by this sudden, exaggerated spectacle. They had anticipated many reactions from Xu Changze, but never expected him to stage a public mutilation of a corpse.

What the hell kind of tactic was this?

Xu Changze hacked seven or eight times until Head Constable Wang's corpse was unrecognizable, then stopped, panting heavily, and tossed the blood-stained steel saber to the pale-faced attendant nearby.

"Young Hero Chen, Officer Qi, this scoundrel deserved his fate; his death is no loss. I will certainly record his collusion with Ghostly Creatures to attack a superior in detail and report it to the Prefecture."

"Not only will I seek justice for those he harmed, but I will also ensure your innocence is cleared!"

With this performance, standing before so many people, he had personally hacked his brother-in-law's corpse, effectively pinning the charges of colluding with demons and murdering a superior onto the dead man.

At the same time, he had completely absolved himself, even crafting an image of an impartial, righteous, and incorruptible official.

Qi Huan watched the scene, a chill running through his heart, accompanied by a deep sense of powerlessness.

They had originally intended to bring Head Constable Wang's corpse back as evidence that Xu Changze had condoned, or even ordered, his subordinate to commit murder, intending to seize the opportunity to confront him.

But they had not expected Xu Changze to use such an extreme method to personally dispose of the corpse.

The arguments they had prepared and the confrontation they had planned seemed so pale and feeble in the face of Xu Changze's frantic hacking.

After all, the man was dead by your hand, I've helped you punish the corpse, and I've publicly drawn a line in the sand—what more could you want?

Chen Mu's gaze also turned icy, his assessment of the danger posed by this Yunmeng County Magistrate skyrocketing.

This was a terrifying opponent who, for the sake of self-preservation and his own ends, would sacrifice his own kin without hesitation and was highly skilled at turning disadvantages into advantages.

Both men fell silent, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Xu Changze was very satisfied with their reaction, a warm smile reappearing on his face as if he were not the one who had just been hacking a corpse with a blade.

He then pulled out a white handkerchief and wiped his hands in a leisurely manner, his face returning to that expression of solemn grief.

"I have failed in my governance, nearly leading to a great disaster, and I am deeply ashamed. However, the priority right now is that you have returned from exterminating demons, exhausted in body and mind, and are in urgent need of rest."

"I have already prepared some wine in the city to soothe your nerves. Please, follow me into the city quickly, so that the people of Yunmeng may properly thank you for your efforts in turning the tide."

After speaking, without waiting for their response, he made a gesture of invitation, his attitude bordering on obsequious.

This combination of moves—first flattering them to cement their credit, then sacrificing his own kin to clear his name, and finally offering a warm invitation to block any attempt at confrontation—was perfectly interlocking.

If they were to pursue the matter or refuse now, it would only make them appear heartless and ungrateful.

They might even be branded as arrogant due to their achievements, disregarding the bigger picture.

The situation was stronger than the people; at least here at the city gate, in full view of everyone, they were indeed at a disadvantage.

Chen Mu finally sighed and gave an imperceptible nod.

Xu Changze's smile grew even wider, and he personally led the way.

"Please, everyone! Constable Liu is injured—quick! Someone come and support him!"

The sound of gongs and drums started up again at the perfect moment; although not as boisterous as before, it still carried a faint, awkward air of celebration.

The group passed through the open city gate and entered Yunmeng.

The sky was gradually brightening, but the streets remained quiet, with only a few vendors packing up or pedestrians hurrying past, looking curiously at this strange procession.

The County Magistrate was welcoming them in person with gongs and drums, while in the middle were three people covered in blood and looking wretched, with a severed head being carried on a tray by a bailiff as evidence.

The atmosphere was bizarre and inexplicable.

Chen Mu's gaze swept across both sides of the street, and his pupils constricted slightly once more.

On the walls lining the street, in prominent locations, and even on bulletin boards at the entrances of alleys, many brand-new notices had been posted.

The paper was still damp and the ink was reflecting light, clearly posted only moments ago.

The content of the notices was faintly discernible in the morning light.

"Chen Mu of the Demon Suppression Division is gifted and exceptionally valiant. He fought the demons alone at the Zhao Estate, slaying the peerless evil spirit raised by Zhao Qinghe, thereby averting a catastrophic disaster that would have destroyed Yunmeng. For his outstanding meritorious service, a special commendation is hereby awarded."

"The wealthy merchant Zhao Qinghe was heartless, secretly colluding with Ghostly Creatures, using the evil art of Ghost Marriages to harm lives and harvest living souls, bringing disaster upon Yunmeng. He has now been executed, and his assets have been confiscated."

Chen Mu's eyes quickly scanned the notices; the content was largely similar, with the core aim being to definitively characterize the events at the Zhao Estate.

Zhao Qinghe was the mastermind colluding with Ghostly Creatures, the Ghostly Creature was a great scourge about to become a Ghost King, and Chen Mu was the great hero who single-handedly eradicated the Ghost King and saved the people.

He had forcibly simplified a confrontation filled with conspiracy and peril into a classic story of justice triumphing over evil.

What swift action, what clean methods.

Chen Mu felt a chill in his heart; while they were still struggling to make their way back from outside the city, Xu Changze had already arranged everything overnight.

Not only was there a welcome at the city gate, but public opinion had also been prepared. This was an attempt to roast him alive on the fire of being a "hero."

He also intended to use these empty titles and established facts to block their path in investigating the truth and pursuing accountability.

Qi Huan had clearly noticed these notices as well; his face turned ashen, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his chest heaved, but he could only force himself to suppress his anger.

Xu Changze, however, seemed not to notice their expressions, continuing to introduce things enthusiastically.

"Everyone, although the commoners have not yet risen, I have already ordered people to widely proclaim your heroic deeds, letting the people know who protected their peace."

He then turned his head, looking at the three of them, his smile appearing somewhat meaningful.

"After all, heroes should be treated like heroes, shouldn't they?"