Chapter 372: Storming the Execution Ground

Luoxia Mountain.

Lotus Cave.

The mountain breeze blew gently, and fallen leaves drifted away.

Chen Che and Yang Simin looked at each other, and after a long while, Chen Che finally spoke: "Are you really not coming back to Xia with us?"

Yang Simin shook her head: "I have lost the Heavenly Book now, and my cultivation is only at the Pre-Heaven Earth Master level. You are going back to deal with Zanpu Dunzhu, and I wouldn't be of any help. It is better if I stay here."

Chen Che stared at Yang Simin for a while longer and said: "Alright, since you want to stay, then stay. I will come back to see you."

Yang Simin smiled faintly: "Okay, I will wait for you to come back to see me... Brother."

Chen Che's body trembled slightly, and after hesitating for a moment, he walked forward. Yang Simin looked at Chen Che in astonishment, feeling inexplicably nervous.

Chen Che slowly raised his right hand, stroked her head, and smiled: "You really have grown up."

Yang Simin looked at him blankly, her nose felt sore, and her eyes grew moist. She couldn't help but dive into his arms, hugging him tightly with both hands.

Chen Che stood still. The mountain breeze swept up a few green leaves, which drifted onto the top of Yang Simin's head. Chen Che carefully picked them off.

Yang Simin let go of Chen Che and pushed him slightly: "Alright, go quickly."

Chen Che stared at her in silence for a while longer: "Alright."

Chen Che turned and left. Xie Wanning, who had been guarding to the side and watching silently, waved at Yang Simin and followed in Chen Che's footsteps.

"What exactly are you thinking in your heart?" Xie Wanning looked back and found that Yang Simin was still watching them leave. The breeze blew her skirt, making her look somewhat lonely.

Chen Che lowered his head and pondered for a moment: "I don't know."

Xie Wanning shrugged: "Fine, I won't ask about your love and hatred anymore."

After the two left the back mountain, they arrived at the Taiyi Sect plaza, where Lv Hong and the others from the Taiyi Sect had been waiting respectfully for a long time.

"I said there was no need to see us off; everyone should go back to your work."

Chen Che said.

"Sect Master, you have only been back for such a short time, and you are leaving again. We are all reluctant to see you go."

"That's right, we are reluctant to see the Sect Master leave!"

"Sect Master, please stay for a few more days!"

The Disciples all said with great reluctance.

Xie Wanning put her hands on her hips: "Reluctant to see the Sect Master go, but what about me? I am leaving too, and I don't see any of you trying to keep me."

Yuan Ming glanced at Xie Wanning and said: "Senior Sister, if you really have things to do, then go ahead. The Taiyi Sect will always welcome you back."

"You brat!"

Xie Wanning angrily knocked Yuan Ming on the head, and Yuan Ming let out a cry of pain.

Lv Hong and the others all laughed and looked at Chen Che: "Sect Master, it is our incompetence that let Zanpu Dunzhu escape."

Chen Che shook his head: "Let's not talk about this matter anymore. Zanpu Dunzhu has always been cunning and possesses many Artisan Techniques he comprehended from the Heavenly Book. Although his physical body was severely damaged by me, his foundation remains, and catching him will not be simple."

"We know that the Sect Master is leaving this time to catch Zanpu Dunzhu. The Taiyi Sect is willing to follow the Sect Master."

"No need," Chen Che said. "Since the Taiyi Sect has been avoiding the world for so long, then continue to do so. Besides, you have suffered great damage to your Vital Energy during this encounter, so you should all recover well. Zanpu Dunzhu is already a defeated opponent; there is no need to make such a big fuss."

Lv Hong asked: "Then Sect Master, may I ask what plans you have after going down the mountain?"

"Zanpu Dunzhu is severely injured. If he wants to recover to his peak period, he must go to Xia to find the other half of the Heavenly Book. In his current state, the safest way to go to Xia is to use official channels."

Chen Che said:

"So I guess he will definitely go to Ansili to resolve his identity issue. After we go down the mountain, we will take a trip to the Ansili royal palace. Besides Zanpu Dunzhu, there are some other matters there that have not been resolved."

Lv Hong smiled and said: "During the few days you were recovering, Sect Master, I already sent people down the mountain to gather information, which just happens to be able to provide some help to you."

This actually surprised Chen Che: "That is truly great. What have you all found out?"

Lv Hong's expression suddenly became heavy and he said: "It is not good news. You and Wanning have already been listed as wanted criminals by Ansili."

Chen Che and Xie Wanning looked at each other and smiled: "We already knew that."

"But your crimes are... murdering the Du'e Cult Leader and... King Abdullah."

Lv Hong said cautiously.

Chen Che and Xie Wanning were shocked and looked at Lv Hong in disbelief.

"You mean... King Abdullah is dead?" Chen Che asked with a face full of shock.

Lv Hong nodded: "It has been almost ten days. Counting it up, it is about the same time as when you went up the mountain, Sect Master. In two more days, he will be buried, and after that, the new king will ascend the throne."

"Who is the new king?" Chen Che pressed.

Lv Hong shook his head: "The former Ansili general, Hogan."

"It really is him."

Xie Wanning glanced at Second Elder Shi Ning, "It seems the one who covered for Zanpu Dunzhu and Leiji to harm Princess Laila back then was him."

Second Elder Shi Ning's expression changed, and he was about to kneel down, but Chen Che supported him in time: "Second Elder, I said before that the matter regarding Adili ends here; do not mention it again."

"The Sect Master has a broad mind, I... I am ashamed!"

The Second Elder bowed respectfully.

"Alright, regardless, this Ansili must be visited. Great Elder, this information is very useful; you have put in the effort." Chen Che said to Lv Hong.

"Being able to share the burden for the Sect Master is our duty." Lv Hong bowed with cupped hands.

Chen Che smiled: "Since that is the case, you all take good care of the Taiyi Sect. Once I have resolved everything, I will come back to see you all."

Lv Hong and the others stood in an orderly fashion, bowed together with cupped hands, and said in unison: "Respectfully send off the Sect Master!"

………

Chen Che and Xie Wanning walked on the streets of the Ansili capital; the entire city was still filled with a heavy atmosphere.

The two arrived outside the huge mourning hall in front of the royal palace. The atmosphere here, besides being heavy, had a bit of strangeness added to it.

Around the mourning hall, many high platforms had been erected, with one dead person after another hanging from them.

Chen Che recognized what that was: a gallows.

"Executing criminals around the King's mourning hall—what is Hogan thinking?"

Xie Wanning also recognized the terrifying instrument of torture, knitting her brows in confusion.

Chen Che glanced at Xie Wanning's disguised face, which bore the distinct features of the Ansili people: "What if those criminals aren't ordinary people?"

"What do you mean?" Xie Wanning looked at Chen Che in astonishment; his face had also been disguised using the Ghost Gate Needle, making him appear rugged and weathered.

Chen Che tilted his chin and said, "Look over there."

Xie Wanning followed Chen Che's gaze to a gallows at the end of the mourning hall, where a burly soldier was dragging a frail woman up onto it.

The surrounding crowd of onlookers shouted one after another: "Kill her! Kill her!"

The woman had her eyes covered with a black cloth and could not see the situation, but upon hearing the voices around her, she realized something, and her body could not stop trembling.

The soldier raised his thick arm to signal the crowd, then grabbed the woman, pulling her up and slipping the noose over her fair neck.

"Accomplices of the sinner, your crimes are unforgivable! Avenge the King! Avenge the Cult Leader!"

The soldier shouted at the top of his lungs.

The surrounding crowd raised their fists and followed the soldier in shouting: "Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!"

Xie Wanning's face was full of anger: "So these people are being executed in the name of being our accomplices, and by executing them outside the King's mourning hall, he can euphemistically call it a tribute to the King. This Hogan's intentions are truly vicious!"

"Should we save her?!" Xie Wanning looked at Chen Che.

Chen Che's face was grave as he said: "But why would Hogan do this? Looking at these people's attire, they all seem to be members of the Due Sect. The Cult Leader is already dead; what is the point of killing them?"

"Hogan must be crazy about wanting to be King; perhaps he just wants to use this method to establish his authority. After all, he isn't of legitimate royal blood."

Xie Wanning saw that the soldier was already prepared to pull the lever. Once the lever on the gallows was pulled, the platform beneath the woman's feet would open, and after she fell, the rope around her neck would snap her cervical spine.

"Setting Hogan aside, are we going to save her or not? In a sense, they were implicated because of us."

Xie Wanning said anxiously.

Chen Che, however, shook his head and said: "It is better not to create extra complications. Even if we save one, we cannot save everyone. Besides, haven't you noticed? These soldiers guarding outside the mourning hall, apart from their standard sabers, each carry a gun."

"It seems Hogan values firearms more than the former King Abdullah, and uses them with even fewer scruples."

Chen Che turned around, "Let's go. We cannot expose ourselves now; we will wait until nightfall to sneak into the mourning hall or the palace to take a look."

Xie Wanning looked at the trembling woman on the gallows, turned around unwillingly, and followed Chen Che's footsteps.

"Bang!"

An abrupt gunshot rang out.

Chen Che and Xie Wanning turned around at the same time and discovered that a blood hole had appeared in the center of the forehead of the soldier who was preparing to carry out the execution. He fell off the platform, and an agile figure rushed out from the crowd.

That person was wearing a nun's habit, and as she collided with others, her headscarf fell off. Chen Che saw her face clearly.

It was Yuri!

………