Chapter 488: Tao Zui

The ancient county town was not large; within half a day, the county magistrate and his wife turning into pigs became the talk of the townsfolk.

That same day, the Prefect sent men to clean up the mess.

The gods had already proclaimed their crimes; the imperial court naturally would not whitewash them.

In the end, after the county magistrate became a pig, all his titles and honors were stripped away, erasing every achievement he had ever held in this world.

Outside the city.

The bamboo grove.

Due to an imperial edict, many townsfolk entered the bamboo grove, hoping to see the Bamboo Demon Tao Zui, but found nothing.

Immediately, local wealthy families proposed building a Bamboo Young Master Temple outside the grove for worship.

The people of this era were simple and naturally sympathetic to the weak.

Added to the heavenly fortune granted by the Underworld, this bamboo demon, born of the former county magistrate's son, might even prove more effective than so-called gods.

"I never thought my revenge would be settled so easily?"

At this moment, Tao Zui was naturally not in the bamboo grove.

Having received the heavenly fortune from the Underworld, his cultivation advanced dramatically, equivalent to having cultivated for several centuries; his original bamboo body had merged into his flesh, no longer needing to remain in the grove.

Moreover, he emitted not a trace of demonic aura, as if a celestial immortal walked among mortals.

This was the blessing of heaven and earth, directly altering his identity.

"Quick, come look! Butcher Zhang is about to slaughter that pair of fat pigs!"

"You mean the pigs the county magistrate turned into?"

"Of course! He killed his wife and child—worse than a pig or dog!"

Tao Zui's expression shifted; his feet unconsciously followed the crowd forward, soon arriving at a slaughter stall.

Before the stall stood a stout butcher, his fat jiggling, wearing a smug smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, these are the county magistrate and his wife. I paid a fortune to capture them—today, I, Zhang, am doing heaven's justice. Watch closely, how I send these two utterly wicked men to their doom!"

With that, he raised his cleaver.

"Wait."

At that moment, a loud voice rang out; a distinguished young gentleman pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.

"Master Zhang, would you be willing to sell me these two pigs?"

Butcher Zhang froze: "Sell them to you? Do you know who they are?!"

"I know perfectly well," Tao Zui replied calmly. "I believe no one in this world is unaware of their identity. But as a son, how can I stand by and watch my father die at another's hands?"

Even though they had murdered him, Tao Zui still could not bear to see them killed.

Though the county magistrate was worse than a pig or dog, his son Tao Zui possessed a heart as compassionate as a bodhisattva's.

"You're… the Bamboo Demon Tao Zui?!"

The butcher's hands trembled; he nearly dropped his cleaver.

Tao Zui smiled: "That's right."

He then bowed to the crowd: "My fellow townsfolk, I have watched my father's deeds these past years, powerless to stop them—I am sorry you have suffered because of him. Tao Zui apologizes to you all."

Turning to face the two pigs, he sighed deeply: "Though he was unkind, I cannot be unrighteous. Today, I wish to buy them and return them to the mountains and forests, to repay the debt of his giving me life."

"Hmph!"

Upon hearing this, one of the pigs suddenly began to cry.

The townsfolk watched, their expressions filled with emotion.