Chương 79: Beating Zheng Junqing to Death

Qinghe County City. Song Que focused on his cultivation in his room, completely unaware of the torrential flood of chaos outside. That night, an unknown number of people in the city stayed awake. Even the city gates lifted their curfew. In the dead of night, it was as bustling as broad daylight, with countless people coming and going. When Song Que left his house the next morning, the streets were filled with people carrying swords and sabers, holding portrait sketches.

They hurriedly ate breakfast before rushing out the city gates to continue the manhunt. Grandee Song looked on in amazement, wondering what kind of communication methods they used in this era to rally friends and allies so quickly! If this drags on and more people gather, it will easily lead to trouble. Song Que decided that today, he had to send Old Zheng on his way openly and legitimately!

After filling his stomach, Grandee Song instructed his household to limit their time outdoors, grabbed his saber, and headed toward the County Yamen. The Yamen was also located in the East City district, very close to his home. After a short walk, he saw the imposing stone lions flanking the entrance. Looking at the two guards stationed in front, Song Que stepped forward, smiled, and cupped his hands:"Greetings, brothers. I wonder if Brother Guan Yu is in today?"

Having seen a steady stream of martial artists carrying various weapons pass by today, the two guards didn't find Song Que's arrival strange.

"Guan Yu? He seems to be inside. What business do you have with him?" Hearing that Old Guan was still around, Song Que was pleased. He discreetly slipped the two men some broken silver and requested:"Could I trouble you brothers to go in and tell him that Song Que is looking for him outside?"

"You're too polite! Wait here for a moment, brother; I'll run in and call him." Receiving a substantial tip, the guard was overjoyed and became exceptionally enthusiastic toward Grandee Song. After attentively telling him to wait, he sprinted off like the wind to find the man. Before long, he led Guan Yu out.

"Young Master Song, what brings you looking for me? Judging by your appearance, don't tell me you also plan to join the manhunt for the fugitive?"

"Brother Guan has sharp eyes. I am indeed planning to try my luck." Guan Yu was shocked. He hurriedly stepped forward, pulled Song Que into a corner, and advised in a low voice:"Young Master Song, don't listen to the rumors on the street! This Zheng Junqing is incredibly cunning and deceitful. He's been hunted for a month and is still roaming free!"

"Furthermore, according to the information I've received, he holds a massive, deadly weapon! It's called the Peacock Plume—an extremely dangerous hidden weapon mechanism! Forget about you and me, even my superior doesn't dare go hunting him alone!" It seemed Wu Tian and Lu Tianxiong had concealed the fact that Old Zheng possessed a hidden weapon, only spreading the news to bait people into searching for him. Brother Guan is truly a loyal friend! Song Que smiled happily:"Don't worry, Brother Guan.

I actually saw him outside the city yesterday morning. I'm just going to try my luck. If I'm fortunate enough to find him, I will be extremely careful."

"Young Master Song, as a brother, I have to tell you: so many people have been searching day and night without results, there's no need for you to harbor illusions. Besides, even if you go outside the city and manage to catch him, you might not make it back here alive." Song Que was slightly surprised:"You mean someone would intercept and rob me halfway?"

Glancing back at the Yamen, Guan Yu pulled him even further away before whispering:"I've only heard rumors, but aside from those actively searching, several gangs have stationed people waiting outside the city gates. If someone is lucky enough to return... you understand." Tsk tsk. Greed drives people mad. For the sake of claiming the reward, they've abandoned all scruples!

"Brother Guan, if you have time right now, I'd like to ask you for some information. Let's head over to the teahouse at the corner of the street to talk." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Weighing the matter for a few seconds, Guan Yu told him to wait in a low voice, returned to exchange a few words with his fellow guards, and then came back.

"I only have about fifteen to thirty minutes. If you have questions, Young Master Song, it's best to ask them quickly."

"That's enough time. Let's just sit at the teahouse and talk." Saying that, Song Que led Guan Yu to the nearby teahouse and began asking random questions left and right.... As they sat and chatted, Song Que gently nudged Old Guan and used his chin to point toward a dark-skinned, heavily bearded man sitting in the corner. He whispered suspiciously:"Brother Guan, that man over there has been stealing glances at us repeatedly. And his face... why does it feel so familiar, like I've seen him somewhere before?"

Hearing this, Guan Yu discreetly tilted his head to look over:"I haven't seen him before. Who does Young Master Song think he looks like?" Before Song Que could answer, the man, acting like a thief who had been spotted, hurriedly pulled his hat down and stood up to leave.

"Halt." The 'Great Heavenly Saber' Song stepped into the spotlight!

"Could this brother perhaps remove his hat so I can take a look?"

"Get lost!" the burly man shouted in a low, gravelly voice. This time, even Guan Yu, sitting nearby, began to feel suspicious.

"Zheng Junqing, you've got some nerve! Good thing I ran into you outside the city yesterday, otherwise I never would have guessed that the fugitive wanted by the entire city would be sitting right next to the County Yamen!" The moment the words fell, the surroundings plunged into deathly silence. Immediately after, everyone leaped backward in shock! The martial arts heroes had long since left the city to search for the man; the people left here were just ordinary commoners.

Hearing that a vicious criminal was here, how could they remain calm?! Zheng Junqing is sitting right next to me?! Guan Yu was also completely stunned, finding it hard to believe. But the subsequent events forced him to believe it! Hearing Song Que's words, the man flew into a rage and tried to bolt. Upon being blocked, he immediately struck out, engaging in a life-and-death struggle! Guan Yu finally snapped out of his daze like waking from a dream.

He hurriedly drew his saber and stepped forward to assist, shouting loudly:"Zheng Junqing is here!" Old Guan's heart was actually trembling in fear; he knew this criminal's capabilities. He originally just wanted to shout and scare him away! But for some reason, this guy seemed to have taken the wrong medicine today, dead set on fighting Song Que to the bitter end! Bound by his duty, Guan Yu had no choice but to grit his teeth and charge in.

"Brother Guan, there's no need to approach! Just help me keep watch and make sure he doesn't escape!" Despite being fully immersed in his acting, Grandee Song still observed his surroundings, shouting loudly out of fear that he might accidentally injure Old Guan. Seeing the two men fighting to a standstill, although Guan Yu was astonished by Song Que's martial arts, he gradually felt relieved. Obeying the command, he stood at a distance, keeping watch. This place was not far from the Yamen.

After Old Guan roared at the top of his lungs, a squad of city guards carrying sabers soon rushed over from the distance. The timing is just about right. Song Que shouted loudly:"Surrender your life, thief!" The Black Iron Saber in his hand swung out, executing the continuous Wind-Cleaving Saber technique—a set of moves the city guards were very familiar with—giving Old Guan a live demonstration! The saber light flashed like lightning and thunder, tearing through the air and creating howling shrieks.

Opposite him, 'Zheng Junqing' could only desperately defend for a few moves before gloriously clutching his throat and collapsing into a pool of blood! So what if you're a Second-Tier expert?! So what if you're a renowned martial world thief?! Nothing much to look at! Top-Tier Expert Song wore an indifferent expression, as if he had just done something completely trivial. Only then did he proudly survey the area and casually sheathe his saber.

The city guards arrived leisurely, right on cue, as if rehearsing for a play. They prepared to clean up the scene. Dumbfounded, it took a long while for Old Guan to snap out of it. He stammered:"Young Master Song, is this... truly Zheng Junqing?"

"It can't be fake. I saw him with my own eyes yesterday." Then how could you kill him?! Since when were you this incredibly badass?! Before Guan Yu, whose belly was full of questions, could ask anything, a loud shout echoed.

"Where is Zheng Junqing?!" It turned out that Old Wu, who had been resting with his eyes closed in the Yamen, heard the news of the thief and hurriedly rushed over.

"Lord Constable, the thief has already surrendered his life under my saber."

'Lord' Song casually dropped a single sentence to draw a conclusive end to the massive manhunt. Looking at the corpse sprawled on the ground, Wu Tian frowned, his suspicions deepening. Without asking further questions, he crouched beside the body and began to examine it. Wiping away the disguise on the face, it was indeed Zheng Junqing without a doubt! He hurriedly reached into the dead man's robes and began searching.

Seeing Old Wu pull a cloth sack from Old Zheng's chest, he secretly rejoiced and hastily dumped all its contents onto the ground. An iron tube resembling the Peacock Plume, banknotes, broken silver... and that was it. Just a few items. Searching the entire corpse and finding nothing else, Wu Tian finally looked up and asked:"Did anyone touch the body before me?"

As the first constable on the scene, Guan Yu naturally didn't hesitate to answer:"Reporting to the Lord Constable, the thief was struck down by Brother Song Que here just as you arrived. No one else has touched the body." Glancing at the surrounding guards and seeing them all nod in confirmation, Old Wu finally sighed and stood up. It seemed the secret manual wasn't hidden on his person.

Feeling slightly disappointed, Wu Tian then scrutinized Song Que and interrogated him:"Brother Song Que, this matter is of great importance. I must trouble you to accompany me back to the Yamen and provide a detailed account of what happened." The relationship between officials and civilians should be like water and fish; cooperating was perfectly normal. Grandee Song didn't put on airs and readily agreed. At that moment, Guan Yu stepped up beside Wu Tian and whispered in his ear.

Very quickly, Old Wu looked at Song Que with surprise, and his gaze gradually softened. He smiled and said:"So it is Worthy Nephew Song! You don't need to worry, it's just a routine record." Since when were they this close? Well, considering his relationship with Wu Yi, calling him that wasn't exactly wrong.

"With Uncle here, I am naturally at ease. Cooperating with the authorities is the duty of us commoners!" The atmosphere suddenly turned as warm as a family gathering. The group laughed and joked, completely unlike a murder scene. Just then, another person arrived.

"Where is Zheng Junqing?!"