Chapter 376 - 375: Secret Execution

Willow and Door Panel, who had also been promoted into the Great Wind Army, were naturally members of Hee Lingchuan's core team. Hu Min's squad had suffered casualties in their last mission, and his captain had been reassigned to other duties, so he simply came to join Hee Lingchuan, bringing Aluo with him.

The Great Wind Army's combat structure was rather flexible. A squad could have between five and ten members, decided at the captain's discretion, and could also temporarily take on additional people.

So, the team's roster was temporarily settled. There were actually only three new members, and all of them had a mission to carry out today.

Soon, Hee Lingchuan met up with Willow and Door Panel, under orders to head to the prison.

Panlong City had three major prisons. The highest-level and most heavily guarded one was located in the north of the city, not far from the north gate, and was named "Tiger's Mouth." Today, they were headed to the Tiger's Mouth prison. Access was extremely restricted; not only did one have to present a Society Command, but related Documents also had to be inspected.

The secret order Hee Lingchuan handed over had only two lines:

"Prisoner number twenty-seven. Carry out resolution number one."

It was signed by Deputy Commander Zhao Xianhe, with his seal affixed.

To be honest, Hee Lingchuan was also taken aback when he saw who had issued the secret order.

Zhao Xianhe. Not long ago, Skinny had gossiped that this Deputy Commander hadn't been seen in ages. Even the routine inspection at Yuewu Hall was handled by Wen Daolun in his place. It was feared he had been caught up in some major incident.

He never expected that his first mission after becoming a full-fledged member would be issued by this very same Deputy Commander.

'Does that mean Zhao Xianhe is fine now?'

The gate guard took the secret order, scrutinized every word, then said, "Go wait outside."

Hee Lingchuan's group of three waited outside for over a quarter of an hour. Three carriages rolled out from the prison, each one identical in appearance. They were unmarked wooden carriages drawn by two horses, their grey canvas covers pulled down tight so that no one could see inside.

In truth, they were just like the common carriages on the streets—very plain. You could look at them several times and still not remember what they looked like.

Then, another carriage came out. A prison guard said to Hee Lingchuan, "It's your turn. Get on."

Hee Lingchuan and Door Panel tied their own horses to the back of the carriage before leaping onto the driver's seat. Willow lifted the curtain and slipped into the carriage, and it slowly began to move.

They left Panlong City through the north gate and, as instructed, headed for the Divine Descent Platform in the northwestern highlands.

The Day of Divine Descent had already passed, and the Divine Descent Platform had become deserted once more. If it were inside Panlong City, people might still visit from time to time to pay their respects. But being dozens of li north of the city, its only permanent residents were the mountain winds and dense forests.

For the living, making a living was always what mattered most.

The three-man squad remained silent for the entire journey, as per their superiors' orders. Thus, Hee Lingchuan didn't know what was in the carriage. As long as Willow didn't make a sound, everything inside was fine.

He could only occasionally hear a clanking sound from within the carriage, like metal striking metal.

Upon reaching the Divine Descent Platform, the wind began to pick up.

The area was extremely open; anyone approaching would be spotted instantly.

Door Panel lifted the cloth curtain at the back, and Willow jumped down from the carriage, leading a person behind him.

This person was bound in Lock Chains at their hands and feet, making each step unusually heavy and loud.

This was likely the source of the metallic sounds Hee Lingchuan had heard.

Dark red runes flowed across the Lock Chains, which would be difficult to open without the correct method.

The person was also wearing a black hood. He couldn't see anyone, and no one could see his face.

Only then did Hee Lingchuan take out the second secret order.

It was a small, cyan jade bamboo tube sealed with wax. Hee Lingchuan now knew that this was the exclusive packaging for Beiga Kingdom's Chewing Tobacco.

'He really didn't understand the humor of Panlong City's leadership.' But it was true that a container for a secret order didn't need to be conspicuous.

He broke the wax seal and tipped out a note and a small Scroll.

The three of them huddled together, six eyes fixed on the note, which bore only a simple, eight-word command in red:

Prisoner to kneel at Divine Pillar. Execute immediately.

'Their first mission after becoming official members was to secretly execute a prisoner?'

This was no joke, because the note also bore Zhao Xianhe's signature and seal at the bottom.

The other Scroll was a portrait, to be used to confirm the prisoner's identity and avoid any mistakes.

Hee Lingchuan looked up at the Divine Descent Pillar.

It pointed straight to the high heavens, as spotless as ever.

Door Panel, being the strongest, dragged the man, Lock Chains and all, before the Divine Descent Pillar and kicked the back of his knees.

With a THUD, the prisoner fell to his knees, facing the pillar.

Door Panel looked at Hee Lingchuan. "Broken Blade?"

Hee Lingchuan nodded. Door Panel yanked off the prisoner's black hood.

He was a man of about twenty-four or twenty-five. His face was scruffy with stubble and his eyes were bloodshot. Though his clothes were filthy, the material was high-quality—a rare and expensive type that commoners in Panlong City could never afford.

Willow compared the portrait to the prisoner, confirmed the match, and then said:

"Let's give him a quick death."

Hearing this, the prisoner shook his head frantically and let out muffled, desperate cries.

With a POP, the gag in his mouth fell out.

"You're executing the wrong man!" the man yelled. "I am Zhao Rong! My father is Deputy Commander Zhao Xianhe!"

The three of them were startled.

'This prisoner was actually Zhao Xianhe's son?'

"This is a huge misunderstanding! Tiger's Mouth prison made a mistake!" Zhao Rong seized the limited time he had, his words spilling out in a torrent. "Don't kill me! Just go pass a message to Lord Zhao. He can clear up this misunderstanding. It'll only take you half a day, and I promise you'll each get a Gold House afterward!"

In Panlong City, luxury residences were divided into four grades: Jadeite, Jade, Crimson, and Gold. A Gold House was the entry-level luxury home and also the only type that could be freely traded within the city.

One could imagine the price tag.

Willow held the secret order in front of his face. "No need to pass any messages. This is Lord Zhao's personal order."

Zhao Rong's eyes nearly bulged out of his head when he saw it, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"No, it can't be, it's impossible!"

Willow then showed him the portrait. "If this isn't you, is it your long-lost twin?"

It had to be said, the portrait was a striking likeness of Zhao Rong. It had captured his essence perfectly, making him recognizable at a glance.

Hee Lingchuan grabbed the back of his neck and forced his head down toward the Divine Descent Pillar.

"There isn't much time. Repent."

'What did the order mean by having the prisoner kneel at the pillar? It was for repentance, of course. Otherwise, they could have just found any old spot to behead him. Why bother bringing him all the way to the Divine Descent Platform?'

There was a technique to his grip. Pressing a major tendon on the back of the neck, he made the prisoner's whole body go numb. Only his mouth could still move.

"My father would never want me dead!" he suddenly broke down, screaming wildly. "Someone is trying to frame me! Someone is trying to frame Lord Zhao! Believe me, don't kill me..."

He wanted to make one last struggle, but deep down he knew his end had come. He twisted and thrashed, refusing to kneel properly.

Willow suddenly said, "He pissed himself."

The other two looked and saw that the prisoner's pants were indeed wet.

The three were a little speechless. 'Lord Zhao's son was this pathetic?'

Zhao Rong shrieked again, "My father supplies all the weapons and armor for the entire city! I'm the one who got the formula for the White Steel Spear from Fuhe Castle! The son inherits the father's merits just as he pays his debts! We've worked hard and achieved great things, what's wrong with enjoying a little luxury! My father and I have done so much for Panlong City! Without us, would anyone in this city be living so well?" Spittle flew from his mouth as he turned and tried to bite Hee Lingchuan's hand. "You despicable worms! Ungrateful worms! I curse you all to die a horrible death!"

The fear of death had completely overwhelmed him, and everything on his mind came pouring out.

"Worked hard and achieved great things?" Hee Lingchuan suddenly grabbed the back of his neck and slammed his face against the pillar. "This is what's called working hard and achieving great things!"

"Do you think the credit belongs to you? Wasn't it earned by the four hundred thousand heroic martyrs now sleeping eternally in the Wilderness?"

"What's so great about you and your father? Just because you survived to the end, you dare to claim all the credit for yourselves?"

With each question, Hee Lingchuan smashed the man's head against the pillar.

His words were unhurried, but the force of each impact was greater than the last.

Zhao Rong's face was covered in blood, and he screamed in agony.

Willow and Door Panel exchanged a look. Hee Lingchuan's words made their blood boil and their eyes sting, yet they were also shocked by the sheer ruthlessness and fury contained within them.

Broken Blade had never been this furious.

"Should we..." Willow began to ask, but Hee Lingchuan had already drawn his saber and plunged it into Zhao Rong's back, right through the heart.

The Floating Life Blade was so sharp that Zhao Rong was halfway through a babbling scream before he noticed the gleaming tip of the blade protruding from his chest. He froze, stunned.

Hee Lingchuan gripped the hilt and gave it another twist to the left. Zhao Rong tried to say something, but only choked on blood.

Door Panel silently counted two beats, and the prisoner breathed his last.

Hee Lingchuan pulled out his Long Saber and said coolly, "He wasn't going to repent properly anyway." 'No point wasting any more time.'

He wiped the blood from the blade on the back of the prisoner's tunic and sheathed his weapon.

Door Panel shrugged. "You still left him an intact corpse."

"We have no personal grudge against him." A single, fatal stab was the greatest mercy he could offer.

The execution was complete, without a hitch. The three of them moved the body back onto the carriage. Hee Lingchuan reminded the other two, "This matter must not be spoken of. Let it rot in your bellies."

"We know," Door Panel and Willow both said.

Only then did the squad drive the carriage slowly back down the mountain.

There were people waiting at the foot of the mountain. The man in the lead was in his fifties, his hair graying, and he was craning his neck in anticipation.

Hee Lingchuan's squad untied their own mounts, handed the carriage over to them, and left.

They must have been people from the Zhao Family, because before they had gone more than a few dozen feet, they heard crying from behind them.

Willow let out a soft breath.

But soon, the gray-haired old man spurred his horse, caught up to them, and blocked their path. "Why is our Young Master's face covered in blood? Why is there a wound on his forehead! Did you do something to him...?"

'Zhao Rong's forehead was so swollen from the impacts; it couldn't be hidden.'

Hee Lingchuan said coolly, "Young Master Zhao knelt before the Divine Descent Pillar and bashed his head against it, weeping bitter tears. I believe his repentance was very deep."

The old man was furious. "You—You dared to torture him!"

"We followed Lord Zhao's orders strictly and meticulously." Hee Lingchuan unfolded Zhao Xianhe's note in front of him, his tone chilling. "If you have any objections, take them up with the Red General."

...

Mission complete.

On the journey back, wildflowers covered the hillsides.

Bees buzzed and butterflies fluttered. A gentle breeze blew through this peaceful world. In a small village not far away, children played in the fields, their faces full of innocent joy.

Hee Lingchuan stared at the brilliant reds and purples, lost in a Trance.

For years, someone had been secretly mining gold in the Red Peak Mine Cave, and Hu Village Chief chose not to report it.

The one in charge of mountains and mines in Panlong City was Deputy Commander Zhao Xianhe.

A while ago, Zhao Xianhe had seemingly vanished without a trace.

Today, Lord Zhao had suddenly issued a single secret order to have his son brought to the Divine Descent Pillar for on-the-spot execution.

Zhao Rong's death had not even gone through a public trial or conviction; he had been secretly executed by them.