Chapter 107: Feeding the Wild Dogs an Extra Meal

Tu Tu Kesiluo, whose chest heaved violently, grabbed the Poison Scorpion, who was covered in cold sweat, and lifted him up: "Beast, your day of death has arrived."

His thick eyebrows knitted tightly, his eyes bloodshot, his thick arms like cast steel, he held the frail Poison Scorpion high, his voice full of anger and hatred.

Seeing the Poison Scorpion's face turn ashen, the old man kneeling on the ground asked in surprise: "You... are truly the Imperial Envoy, my lord?"

His cloudy eyes widened, his face full of shock, his voice filled with disbelief. His emaciated fingers trembled as he pointed at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, as if seeing a ghost.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu snorted coldly: "It is indeed this official. Now, can you speak the truth?"

His eyes flashed like lightning as he stared at the old man, speaking coldly, his tone containing an authority that could not be defied. Beneath his hawk nose, his thin lips pressed tightly together, his whole body radiating an undeniable aura.

The old man's dry eye sockets instantly turned red: "My lord, everyone has finally waited for your arrival."

Tears suddenly burst from his eyes; he sobbed, his voice excited yet relieved. His face, covered in wrinkles, twisted together, and his frail body trembled violently.

"Ever since the Poison Scorpion came to Scorpion King Gully, we poor common people have not lived a human life."

As he spoke, his fists clenched tightly, radiating intense hatred. His voice was low and painful, as if every word tore at his heart.

"Over these years, this heaven-sent Poison Scorpion has killed how many of us, and harmed how many young Misses?"

Mentioning this, his voice and expression grew fierce, fire burning in his eyes. His face was streaked with tears, his eyes bloodshot, his whole body trembling, as if ready to turn hatred into substance.

"Even this old man's son died last winter at the hands of these beasts."

Speaking of this, tears burst from his eyes again; he closed his eyes in pain, his expression twisted, his heart pierced by a knife.

He bowed his head to the ground, his whole body trembling incessantly with hatred.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly helped the old man up from the ground: "Elder, do not grieve. This official will kill him now and avenge you."

His tone was sincere, his face filled with sympathy, his eyes revealing righteousness, looking as if he only wished to rid the people of harm.

The moment he spoke these words, the crowd present instantly grew furious.

"Kill the Poison Scorpion, kill this beast that eats people without spitting out bones."

Their anger surged, their voices terrifying, as if ready to turn hatred into substance and tear the Poison Scorpion apart.

"That's right. The bandits on Scorpion King Gully have committed every evil; each one deserves to be cut into ten thousand pieces."

"Kill him, kill him."

The air was thick with hatred and anger; the crowd shouted in waves, one rising higher than the last, wishing to tear the Poison Scorpion to pieces immediately.

"..."

Amidst the crowd's shouts, Tu Tu Kesiluo, expressionless, slowly drew the dagger from his body.

His hand moved slowly toward his waist; his rough fingers brushed the cold blade of the dagger. His eyes were cold, his face showing no regret, only the firmness of executing an order.

The Poison Scorpion's screams arrived as expected; the chunks of flesh falling like snowflakes made the common people present clap and cheer.

The Poison Scorpion's painful screams echoed through the clouds; flesh and blood flew, dripping onto the muddy ground.

The common people watched with great interest, their cheers rising wave after wave, their eyes revealing twisted excitement.

Compared to a professional executioner, Tu Tu Kesiluo, full of fiery temper, was clearly far less skilled in technique.

His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his teeth clenched; he executed without method, chopping with brute force, his movements rough and unrefined.

Before a thousand cuts were even made, the Poison Scorpion, whose upper body had already become a skeleton, had already breathed his last.

The Poison Scorpion had long been in agony beyond endurance; his heart-rending screams grew weak and faint, and soon he drew his final breath, dying with his eyes open.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand listlessly: "Throw him out of the city; give the wild dogs an extra meal." His face showed no pity; he waved coldly, ordering the body to be disposed of as if tossing out a dog corpse.

Tu Tu Kesiluo, whose white cloak was now stained red, asked coldly: "My lord, how should the remaining few hundred bandits be dealt with?" His body was splattered with blood, his tone calm and ruthless as he awaited orders.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke coldly: "Originally, this official wanted them to live a few more days, but now it seems there is no need for that." His eyes were cold and dark, his tone decisive and ruthless, clearly having lost all intention of sparing their lives.

"Bring them up and behead them in the street to avenge the deceased common people." When he gave the order, his tone was flat and cruel, showing no hint of mercy.

When leaving Qiuchuan Town, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's cart loaded with spoils of war carried over a hundred human heads.

The cart was piled with human heads that died with their eyes open; their hollow eyes gazed at the sky, chilling the heart and proclaiming his ruthlessness and iron will.

The common people, having taken their revenge, escorted Jiang Jiang Mingyu's army far away, showing a distinct reluctance to part.

They were extremely excited, warmly seeing them off, full of gratitude, following the convoy and refusing to leave.

Watching the small town gradually recede, Jiang Jiang Mingyu let out a long sigh: "The bandit trouble is settled; this official has one less worry on his mind." His brows relaxed, his voice revealing relief and satisfaction.

"Issue the order: return to Shangmu as soon as possible. We still have many things to do." He regained his energy, ordering the army to speed up and return to Huicheng.

After running for three days against wind and snow, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's troops finally entered Shangmu City.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, rushing into the county yamen, called for Wu Xiao'er, who was left in charge, as his first act: "Is there anything unusual in the city?"

He strode into the county yamen, asking Wu Xiao'er with urgent tone, his brows tightly furrowed, his expression solemn, sweat sliding down from his temples.

Wu Xiao'er thought for a moment: "Three days ago, the Inspector sent someone here, requesting the Great Lord to go to the prefectural yamen to discuss matters."

Stroking his white beard, he recalled the situation, speaking slowly; his tone was cautious and tinged with worry, his deep eye sockets holding a gloomy expression.

"It's bad." Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart skipped a beat: "Did they say what it was about?"

His face changed; his pupils suddenly contracted. He blurted it out, his speech rate quickening, his voice rising, and sweat instantly broke out all over his forehead.

Wu Xiao'er shook his head: "They didn't say. They only said it was a matter of great importance and requested the my lord to go straight to the prefectural city after returning to Huicheng."

His swaying white beard moved with the shaking of his head; his tone was calm and certain, yet his eyes also revealed worry.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed silently: "I understand. You may go." His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression solemn, his tone low. After watching Wu Xiao'er leave, he sighed involuntarily, his face full of sorrow.

Seeing Wu Xiao'er gradually walk away, he said with extreme worry: "It must be that Prince Qi has learned everything about Shangmu."

He murmured as if talking to himself, his expression solemn, his tone revealing anxiety, his fingers tapping the table restlessly.

"It seems this journey of this official will surely bring more misfortune than good; the outcome is very hard to predict."

His eyes dimmed, his face bearing worry; he seemed already despairing of the outlook, his mouth barely managing to pull a self-mocking smile.

Tu Tu Kesiluo, however, did not care: "My lord, are you thinking too much?"

He smiled, trying to express ease; his tone was comforting, yet his eyes hid worry.

"The Inspector is a man of Prime Minister He, and Prime Minister He and Prince Qi are at odds; you said so long ago."

He reminded Jiang Jiang Mingyu, his expression calm, trying to reassure him, yet his fingers gripped the hem of his robe tightly.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head and said, "Who knows if this isn't the Prince of Qi's scheme to kill with borrowed hands?"

His brows were tightly furrowed, his gaze solemn, worry permeating his tone, and his fist clenched involuntarily.

"What if he intends to use the Inspector's hand to kill me, and then use this to attack Prime Minister He? Wouldn't that make sense?"

He spoke faster, his tone becoming urgent as he analyzed possible conspiracies, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"In the struggles of these great figures, every move is fraught with peril and difficult to predict."

His expression turned gloomy, his tone sorrowful, as if despairing of the power struggle, and the corner of his mouth suddenly twitched.

"Perhaps killing me is, to the Prince of Qi, nothing more than killing a rabbit while gathering grass, a mere side effect."

He smiled self-deprecatingly, understanding that in the game of power, he was nothing more than an expendable pawn.

As the Prince of Qi, what kind of power he possessed, he knew better than anyone could.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu radiated a heavy aura, realizing what kind of formidable opponent he faced.

Tu Tu Kesiluo fell silent, and only after a long while asked, "Then what do we do now?"

His gaze was complex, his tone low; he too felt the severity of the situation, his body trembling slightly.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced slowly, finally making up his mind: "If it is fortune, it is no disaster; if it is disaster, it cannot be avoided."

He took a deep breath, his tone resolute, displaying a magnanimous spirit, yet his eyes revealed a tragic determination.

"Tomorrow at dawn, I, this official, will rush to the provincial capital. I want to see what schemes and tricks the Prince of Qi truly has."

His gaze was firm, his tone brimming with fighting spirit, preparing for a life-or-death gamble; his fist clenched quietly, his knuckles turning white.

There was one more thing he did not say in his heart: If pushed to the limit, this official might just rebel, damn it.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu clenched his fist in the dark, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, ready to fight the Prince of Qi to the death; the corner of his mouth curled slightly upward, revealing a faint cold smile.

Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately showed a worried expression: "Going to the provincial capital, facing danger alone, is this not too dangerous?" His thick eyebrows instantly furrowed tightly, his eyes widened, his tone urgent and worried, his voice full of anxiety.

"Even if this subordinate has some skill, it is impossible to protect my lord completely within such a vast provincial capital." He shook his head helplessly, his tone low, indicating his limited ability. His flat nose twitched weakly, and his lips pressed into a straight line.

"If something happens to you, what will Shang Mu do? The common people are still eagerly awaiting you to crush the Other Xi Xia people." He raised his voice, speaking faster, trying to use the people to urge Jiang Jiang Mingyu to reconsider. His eyes rolled, his voice and expression fierce.

Danger. Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled helplessly: "Danger, and then what? What can this official do?" He pulled at the corner of his mouth self-deprecatingly, his gaze dim, his tone full of despair, his pale fingers resting weakly on the table edge.

"Under the whole sky, all is the King's land; even if I flee, where can this official run to?" He asked rhetorically, his voice sorrowful, realizing escape was not the solution, his shoulders collapsing weakly.

Tu Tu Kesiluo looked extremely unwilling: "But..." He still wanted to persuade, but the words died on his lips; his brows were tightly furrowed, full of reluctance, his fist clenching and then unclenching.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu directly waved his hand to cut him off: "This official has made up his mind; you need not persuade further." His tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt, his gaze revealing determination, his palm chopping down resolutely.

"Placing oneself in a desperate situation leads to survival; when the matter comes to a head, perhaps there is still some turning point?" He forced a smile, trying to inject hope into himself, the smile revealing desolation.

Tu Tu Kesiluo, whose face was soft yet cold, indeed said nothing more: "Very well, this subordinate will go prepare immediately." He remained silent, his face expressionless, his tone cold; he simply nodded silently, turned, and left, his back stiff.

Seeing him about to leave, Jiang Jiang Mingyu said calmly: "This time, when going to the provincial capital, you need not go." His tone was calm, yet hiding determination; his gaze was sorrowful but left no room for doubt.

"Need not go?" Tu Tu Kesiluo's body shuddered: "My lord, what does this mean?" He turned around abruptly, his face pale, his eyes full of shock and confusion, his voice trembling.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu chuckled softly: "It means this official does not wish to burden you, and you need not accompany this official to take risks." He explained with a bitter smile, his gaze warm yet sorrowful, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deep.

Unexpectedly, Tu Tu Kesiluo, who had always respected him greatly, left without looking back: "Tomorrow morning, this subordinate will wait at the gate." His tone was certain, leaving no room for doubt; his back was firm and stubborn as he strode away.

Watching his slowly receding back, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's lips moved for a long time, yet he said nothing. His gaze was complex, wanting to speak but holding back; in the end, he said nothing, simply silently watching Tu Tu Kesiluo leave, the corners of his eyes drooping slightly.

Everything need no longer be said. Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed desolately, understanding the established fact; words were powerless to change it, his hands sweeping weakly over the table surface.

Although his heart was in turmoil, life must go on. He took a deep breath, reminding himself there were more important matters to attend to; he could not be depressed at this moment, his gaze refocusing with a determined light.

After a brief moment of thought, Jiang Jiang Mingyu called for Wu Xiaoer: "Immediately take men to Scorpion King Gully to mine the iron ore; Zhu Ge Yu will go with you." His tone was certain, his gaze resolute as he issued the order. His lips pressed tightly into a straight line, his brow gathering a look of determination.

"This matter is of great importance; you must return the iron ore I need at the fastest speed." He emphasized his tone, indicating the importance of the mission. His hands were clasped tightly behind his back, his shoulders held rigid.

"Additionally, tell Liu Dagang at the coal mine to accelerate the coal mining speed; this official needs it urgently." His pace of speech was neither fast nor slow, listing the important matters one by one. His gaze was focused, arranging everything meticulously.

"Conscript the blacksmiths in the city; they are to remain on standby at the City Defense Camp. Once Zhu Ge Yu escorts the ore back, work immediately to smelt iron and cast weapons." His gaze was focused, his face expressionless, his mind entirely on the deployment.

"Issue orders for the City Defense Camp to prepare; the entire army is to rest with weapons ready, and all must act according to this official's commands." His voice was low, his tone serious, displaying an authority that could not be disobeyed. The corners of his mouth were tight, his sharpness fully revealed.

"But for any who slacken, count them one by one; do not blame this official for the merciless military law." He enunciated this final sentence clearly, full of warning. A fierce killing intent shot from his eyes, his tone chilling to the bone.

To cope with various possible emergencies, he must make all preparations. Jiang Jiang Mingyu furrowed his brows tightly, his gaze solemn, knowing the situation was severe and he must plan ahead. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he clenched his fist in the dark.

Once the Prince of Qi reveals his true intentions, the fifty thousand troops of the City Defense Camp will be Jiang Jiang Mingyu's only reliance. He clenched his fist in the dark; the fifty thousand soldiers were his final bargaining chip. His fingernails dug deep into his palm, blood winding its way.

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu issue so many orders in a row, Wu Xiaoer asked in utter confusion: "My lord, what has happened?" He was filled with doubt and confusion. His thick brows knitted together, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

"Why so tense? Have the other Xi Xia people arrived?" He was nervous, his voice even trembling. His neck shrank into his shoulders, sitting on pins and needles.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu had no mind to explain: "You will understand later; go quickly." He waved his hand impatiently, his brows tightly furrowed, unwilling to say more. His gaze was gloomy, appearing restless and agitated.

Just as Wu Xiaoer was preparing to leave, a guard outside suddenly reported: "My lord, Miss Liu has arrived." The guard's voice sounded outside the door, and Wu Xiaoer's figure froze instantly. The footsteps stopped abruptly, his body stiff.