Chapter 172: Detaining Officials

Gold Pig said that when he left Bu Nian Mountain, he never looked back and had not believed anyone since then. This vast Si Li Jian was like a Gu cage, and those raised within it were surely the most poisonous insects.

Chen Ji did not expect that a person as smart as Gold Pig, with just one moment of carelessness, would be pushed by his colleagues into an abyss from which he could never recover.

At this moment, the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry were using an iron chain to shackle the ankles of the unconscious Gold Pig, dragging him behind a horse.

Chen Ji's expression was hidden beneath his face armor: "Mister Feng, it's several dozen li from here to the Liu Family manor. If you drag him like this, he'll be dead before tomorrow's drumming and flag-raising ceremony."

Mister Feng smiled: "How can an Innate realm expert be so easily dragged to death? Don't be soft-hearted. If I show even a hint of pity for Gold Pig, I won't escape the scrutiny of Elder Liu. The rest of the Liu Family army is stationed in the north of the city, only waiting to set off after the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow. Only this Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry remains by Elder Liu's side; their military power is extremely important and must not be lost."

Chen Ji silently watched Gold Pig being roughly dragged out of the city, dragged to the gate of the Liu Family manor, dragged for more than ten li. Along the way, he gripped the handle of his knife tightly, his thumb lightly pushing the guard to open the scabbard.

Mister Feng glanced at him sideways and said casually: "Don't do anything impulsive. It's good for young people to have some vitality, and many things in this world are accomplished with that bit of vitality. But if you disrupt my plan, I will be the first to kill you."

Chen Ji took a deep breath and silently sheathed his knife again.

By the time they arrived at the Liu Family manor, the clothes on Gold Pig's back were all worn away, leaving a long bloodstain on the official road.

The gray high walls of the Liu Family manor were like a city. Only after the armored soldiers on the watchtower confirmed everyone's identity did they wave the red command flag and order the large gates opened.

The creaking red lacquer large gates opened. A thin middle-aged person emerged from inside to greet them. He squatted beside Gold Pig, checked the skin and injuries on his face, then smiled and cupped his hands towards Mister Feng: "Congratulations, Mister Feng, for achieving another great merit. Tomorrow we can sacrifice twelve zodiac heads to the flag, which is a great auspicious sign."

Mister Feng responded casually: "Master Liu, this is a great merit that General Qian and I achieved together. General Qian is also injured because of this; it cannot be counted solely on my head."

"Oh?" Master Liu was surprised: "General Qian is injured?"

"Yes, just in the back carriage."

Master Liu lifted the hem of his clothes with one hand and carried a lantern with the other as he walked to the carriage and lifted the door curtain.

He climbed into the carriage, first touching the wound under General Qian's ribs, then rubbing his finger near the base of his nose to smell it, before getting off the carriage and commanding a group of armored soldiers: "Quickly carry General Qian in for treatment!"

Having said that, Master Liu turned back to Mister Feng and said: "Mister Feng, come with me to the ancestral temple to see the old master; he is still waiting for you. Oh, and carry Gold Pig in too, to let him take a look."

Mister Feng smiled and replied: "As Master Liu arranges."

The Liu Family manor was dark. No lanterns hung from the roof eaves.

Chen Ji watched as four armored soldiers used a stretcher to carry Gold Pig, following behind Mister Feng through a long alley. He saw white mourning banners still hanging under the roof eaves on both sides of the road, long mourning banners extending like curtains into the depths of the manor.

Liu Xian Ming had not yet been buried, his coffin was simply stopped in this manor.

Ordinary families only stop the coffin for three days, some large households stop it for seven days, and some families wait for officials from outside to return home for mourning, which can take over ten days, even several months.

But the Liu Family was not waiting for someone to return home, but for the heads and fresh blood of their enemies.

As they passed the spirit hall of Liu Xian Ming, Chen Ji turned his head and saw Liu Xian Ming's coffin in the empty center of the hall.

Beside the coffin, women dressed in white mourning clothes were hanging by white silk from the beams of the spirit hall.

When the wind outside the hall blew, the female corpses swayed back and forth, like a string of silent wind chimes. Chen Ji's pupils contracted, and he felt his hair stand on end. Even the experienced armored soldiers beside him cried out in shock.

The leading Master Liu did not turn his head back, but said slowly and methodically: "These women are all my family's second master's concubines. They couldn't cry in front of the spirit hall, so they had to be sent to accompany the second master on the path to the Yellow Springs. I suppose several of you are entering this manor for the first time; don't be surprised."

The armored soldier from just now quickly turned his head back and said flustered: "This humble official will go receive twenty military sticks later."

Master Liu smiled: "General Qian's subordinate general, indeed sensible."

Gradually, a warm light shone out from the front of the green stone alley. They saw the eight large vermilion red doors of the ancestral temple were open. Inside, on the main shrine, spirit tablets of Liu Family ancestors stood like a forest, the highest being Liu Family founder Liu Xu Ning, who once held the rank of one of the Three Dukes, and whose position had not moved for a hundred generations.

On the purple sandalwood table case beneath the main shrine were placed dishes of offerings, over twenty incense candles, and over a hundred continuously burning lamps, illuminating the ancestral temple as bright as day.

Elder Liu knelt on a cushion in front of the table case, lowering his head and praying about something, like a devout believer in front of a green lamp and ancient Buddha.

Three zhang from the doorway, Master Liu turned to instruct Mister Feng: "Mister Feng, please wait here for a moment while I report to the old master."

Having said that, he quickly stepped into the ancestral temple, bending his body to whisper in Elder Liu's ear: "Old master, Mister Feng has returned, bringing the half-dead Gold Pig, and the severely injured General Qian."

Elder Liu did not lift his eyelids: "It is indeed Gold Pig himself?"

Master Liu said in a low voice: "Confirmed, no human skin mask was used. He was chained by Mister Feng and dragged back hard from inside the city. The ribs on his left half are all broken; someone must have kicked him."

Elder Liu slowly opened his eyes: "He is finally brought back. My son can finally rest in peace tomorrow."

Master Liu made a sound of understanding: "Old master, rest assured. It's just that General Qian's injury is a bit ill-timed. Tomorrow we will open the hall and raise the flag. The Liu Family clan will all gather together, and we still need someone to lead the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry to guard the surroundings."

Elder Liu thought for a moment and suddenly asked: "Can Mister Feng treat General Qian's injury?"

Master Liu replied: "He has treated him."

Elder Liu asked again: "Is there a problem with the medicine used?"

Master Liu smiled obsequiously: "I smelled it; Mister Feng used medicine from the Daoist Court on Lao Jun Mountain. There is no problem. Old master, rest assured. If he tampered with it, I could smell it. How many people have wanted to poison you over the years, none of them have escaped my nose."

Elder Liu slowly closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking. After a long time, he exhaled a long breath: "Call Mister Feng in."

Master Liu went out to lead Mister Feng in, and then withdrew from the doorway.

Mister Feng stood behind Elder Liu, bending at the waist and cupping his hands: "Old master, I have brought Gold Pig back to you."

Elder Liu supported his knee and slowly stood up, raising his head to gaze at the spirit tablets in the ancestral temple, but did not continue Mister Feng's topic: "Mister Feng, the ancestors handed the Liu Family over to me, yet I did not expect the Liu Family might decline in my hands."

Mister Feng smiled and said: "How could that be? The Shen Wu Army of the Jing Dynasty has already crossed the Spring Thunder River, taking advantage of the frozen ice. Four of the five major camps in the capital have set off for Chong Li Pass. We will drive straight in. The Ren Shou Palace is basically undefended. This time, when we clear the monarch's side in the capital, if we win, King Jing's position will not be legitimate, and his foundation will not be stable. He can only rely on you and Elder Qi."

Elder Liu sighed: "The reason why worldly families can become worldly families is that they seek from the beginning not to 'win', but to 'not lose'. But now the Liu Clan has gone wrong step by step, falling into a situation where they have to rebel. I have been reflecting on the past ten years tonight and don't know exactly who to blame... Should I blame my foolish and ignorant sister? Or should I blame my arrogant and presumptuous son?"

"I've been thinking all night," Elder Liu looked at the ancestor spirit tablets on the main shrine, his eyes somewhat lost: "King Jing showed signs of rebellion in his early years, but now he puts on an appearance of embracing the world. Is it that he has also become gradually indecisive due to his age? Or, is this in itself a carefully prepared trap for the Liu Family?"

The wrinkles beside Elder Liu's eyes tightened: "If this is truly a huge heaven-sent maze, the Liu Family is in danger."

Mister Feng thought for a moment: "Perhaps he is worried about the Shi Family's written condemnation, so he wants to push the charge of rebellion onto the Liu Family's head. At that time, the Shi Family's records will say that the Liu Family supported him, not that it was his original intention."

Elder Liu sighed again: "That's the only way to guess. Mister Feng, you and I have been master and servant for many years. The Liu Family has treated you well, and you have also charged into battle for my Liu Family and achieved great merit. Now General Qian is severely injured, and the other generals have already led their soldiers. I will hand over these six thousand Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry to you, and don't disappoint them."

Outside the ancestral temple, Chen Ji watched Mister Feng lift the hem of his clothes with both hands and sincerely kneel on the ground to kowtow: "Receiving the family master's trust, this humble servant is grateful to tears. Please family master grant the surname Liu. From now on, I Feng Wen Zheng and the descendants of the Feng Family will change our surname to Liu, and for generations to come, we will go through fire and water for the Liu Family without hesitation."

When he looked up again, Mister Feng's face was already covered in tears.

Elder Liu immediately supported Mister Feng and sighed: "Mister Feng has great talent, how can he be my Liu Family's family slave? In the future, when we conquer the rivers and mountains, with Mister Feng's talent, you can be appointed a general and enter the prime minister's office."

Having said that, he took out a tiger tally from his sleeve and handed it into Mister Feng's palm: "Go to the Tiger Armor camp to take over and lead the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry to arrange the defense. It's already Yin time. In another hour, we will beat the drums and appoint generals. Don't delay the matter."

Mister Feng tightly grasped the tiger tally and kowtowed again: "Thank you for the family master's trust."

Mister Feng left in a hurry, having achieved his wish.

Chen Ji lifted Gold Pig and stood outside the ancestral temple door, watching his back, still not knowing what Si Li Jian planned to do next. And Gold Pig had already become a true abandoned piece.

This long night, who knows when it will pass.

Elder Liu came to the stretcher and quietly gazed at Gold Pig: "Wake him up."

Master Liu took out a small porcelain bottle from his bosom and shook it under Gold Pig's nose.

Gold Pig suddenly opened his eyes and immediately tried to struggle and fight. However, Master Liu just lightly pointed at the center of his eyebrows, and he was immediately unable to move.

Chen Ji's heart was shocked. This ordinary-looking Master Liu was actually a hidden, powerful official. No wonder Elder Liu only kept him by his side. Not even a single guard was seen near the ancestral temple.

Elder Liu looked at Gold Pig with pity: "In this furnace of a chaotic world, you and I are both not our own masters. Don't blame me. If you must blame someone, you can only blame your Si Li Jian for never thinking about leaving my Liu Family a way out. Master Liu, take him to let my son take a look. Dismember Gold Pig in front of his coffin and then cut off his head. My son will be able to rest in peace on his journey."

As he spoke, it was as if it wasn't he who decided to kill Liu Xian Ming, but the eunuch party that was at fault.

Master Liu hesitated and said: "Old master, shouldn't we wait until the flag-raising ceremony to behead him?"

Elder Liu waved his hand wearily: "Go, my son has waited too long. We can place his head there tomorrow."

Master Liu waved his hand at Chen Ji and the others: "Lift him, follow me."

Several people lifted Gold Pig and came in front of Liu Xian Ming's spirit hall. All the armored soldiers lowered their heads, unwilling to look at the female corpses above them. They held their breath, not wanting to smell the foul odor inside the spirit hall.

Master Liu, however, acted as if nothing was amiss. He drew a silver short knife from his sleeve, and while humming a small tune, he severed Gold Pig's hand and foot tendons, then sliced away Gold Pig's flesh with knife after knife.

Chen Ji watched as Gold Pig's eyes cracked and he struggled, wanting to split, but in the end, he said nothing and did nothing. He only gazed at Master Liu from behind his face armor, gripping the knife handle tightly, firmly remembering the other party's voice and appearance.

He did not know how long had passed when Master Liu suddenly asked: "How many knives to dismember him?"

The armored soldiers looked at each other, no one could answer.

Master Liu smiled: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, three hundred sixty knives should be enough."

The next moment, he drew the knife from Chen Ji's waist and swung it towards Gold Pig's neck.

However, just as this knife was about to strike Gold Pig's body, Chen Ji saw a strange smile appear on Gold Pig's face. Under the knife, no blood sprayed out, and no head fell.

Gold Pig's entire body suddenly transformed into countless copper coins and silver ingots, scattering onto the ground with a crash.

It was as if before, there wasn't Gold Pig lying in these clothes, but a puppet filled with money!

Master Liu was startled at first, then angrily cursed: "It's actually the Method of Concealing Official Gates! Quickly, quickly, quickly, go chase that man surnamed Feng!"