Chapter 802

A number of village elders, trembling, walked up to the pile of heads, wanting to see if they could recognize any of them as people from Liucheng.

But they were old, and apart from the fact that these were heads of Liucheng people, the flesh and blood were all blurred, making them extremely hard to tell apart.

Even if a living person stood before them, they probably still couldn't tell who it was for a good while.

Watching these venerable village elders dawdle like this, unable to speak a single word for a long time.

Fu Qingzhu's brow furrowed deeply; he was just about to speak.

But Wu Yuanying tugged at his arm and shook her head at him.

At this moment, Qiu Dongluo spoke again,

"Big brother, these heads are a blur of flesh and blood. Forgive my poor eyes—I really can't tell if these are the good brothers from Liucheng."

"Right! I don't recognize a single one of these heads either!"

"Exactly, exactly—where did these heads even come from? Don't tell me you're trying to fool us?"

As Qiu Dongluo spoke, a group of people behind him immediately chimed in and put on a show of backing him up.

Truth be told, the heads had been carted around with Fu Qingzhu for a whole day, and he hadn't done any preservation work on them.

Along the way, bumping and jostling, they really had become completely unrecognizable.

On top of that, as luck would have it, among this pile of heads there really wasn't anyone from Liucheng that Liu Jingyi knew.

So when he heard Qiu Dongluo say this, he couldn't help but be taken aback for a moment.

"This…"

"What do you mean by that?"

Fu Qingzhu could hold back no longer; he stepped forward and demanded an answer.

"What do you mean, what do you mean? Huh? Who are you?"

Qiu Dongluo didn't speak; one of the men behind him got a clear look at Fu Qingzhu, found him unfamiliar, and couldn't help but ask.

"I am Liusheng Wuji, Fu Qingzhu!"

Although Fu Qingzhu didn't want to reveal his identity here, he really had no choice.

"Fu Qingzhu? Why does that sound so familiar?"

"Familiar, my ass! Isn't this the very same Ministry of Justice military officer, that hawk of the imperial court, who wiped out the Tiandihui Society's Zhending branch in Hebei!"

Sure enough, the moment Fu Qingzhu announced his name.

Someone over here recognized his past "glorious deeds"!

It turned out that the Tiandihui Society's Zhending branch had been hiding a wanted criminal the new dynasty was after.

When negotiations failed, Fu Qingzhu had no choice but to lead the charge in.

Although along the way he rarely took anyone's life.

The name of Liusheng Wuji was, after all, extremely well known throughout the Great Qing.

So everyone took it as given that the Tiandihui Society's Zhending branch had been taken down under Fu Qingzhu's lead.

This was also the greatest grievance between Fu Qingzhu and the Tiandihui Society.

"So it's you, you rotten bastard. Back then I received a kindness from Third Master Qi, who taught me a set of saber techniques.

I never thought that once we parted that year, it would be forever. You court hawk, prepare to die!"

Hearing Fu Qingzhu's true identity, a member of the Tiandihui Society immediately raised a large saber and brought it down on Fu Qingzhu's head.

His saber technique was, in truth, sloppy and ordinary.

Even if Fu Qingzhu didn't dodge or evade, a casual move would be enough to force him back.

But right now they were inside Wu Zhuang; if he were to publicly knock down another Tiandihui Society member, he was afraid he'd never be able to clear his name again.

Just as Fu Qingzhu hesitated, unsure whether to dodge or strike back.

Suddenly a figure darted out from the side, and with a light raise of the hand, caught the great saber.

"Wu Madman, have you truly gone mad?"

The one who caught the saber was none other than the manor lord, Liu Jingyi.

One could see him, dignified without anger, rebuking the man whose nickname was Wu Madman.

"Ah? Manor lord…"

Wu Madman had been furious a moment ago, but seeing it was the manor lord who had caught his saber, he was somewhat startled.

Then, catching sight of Fu Qingzhu behind Liu Jingyi, his stubborn temper flared up again,

"Manor lord, step aside! I'm avenging Third Master Qi—you shouldn't stop me!"

"Boom!"

Liu Jingyi gave a light push, and the great saber reversed its blade and sank heavily into the bluestone.

No matter how hard Wu Madman strained, he couldn't pull it out.

"Wu Madman, and all you fellow villagers."

Liu Jingyi held Wu Madman in check with one hand, and pointing at Fu Qingzhu, began explaining to the assembled village elders,

"This Liusheng Wuji, Fu Qingzhu, Hero Fu, does indeed have a small misunderstanding with the Tiandihui Society.

But right now is precisely the moment of life and death for Wu Zhuang—Hero Fu has come to deliver a warning!

How can we, over such a small misunderstanding, do something that pains our own and pleases our enemies?"

"A misunderstanding? Big brother, isn't that putting it a bit lightly!"

Qiu Dongluo jumped out, also pointing at Fu Qingzhu as he said,

"The lives of over a hundred brothers at the Zhending branch were all lost because of this court hawk.

How can a blood feud like that be written off as a small misunderstanding?"

"Exactly! Manor lord, Third Master Qi taught me back then, but he also taught you!"

The mad martial artist tugged for a long time but couldn't pull out the great blade, so he gave up and said to Liu Jingyi,

"Besides, can we trust the news brought by these imperial hounds?"

Didn't Master Qi and the others fall for these hounds' lies back then, leading to the destruction of the Zhengding branch?"

This argument held some merit.

The village elders who had been silent all along nodded in agreement.

Many others chimed in, saying imperial hounds could not be trusted.

Hearing Fu Qingzhu was so provoked by these words he nearly drew his sword to kill someone.

His Wusheng Wuji sword reputation might be like dust across the Nine Provinces, ignored by all.

But within the Great Qing's borders, in this lawless land, it was a golden signboard.

The strongest expert in your Zhengding branch was Master Qi—he wasn't even a Cultivation Master, was he?"

Would I, Hearing Fu Qingzhu, need to resort to deceit to defeat someone like him?"

Moreover, Hearing Fu Qingzhu had deep Confucian learning and was upright and honorable.

Even though he once served as a martial officer in the Ministry of Justice, every martial artist in the Jianghu would raise a thumb when speaking of Hearing Fu Qingzhu.

Haven't you seen that Feng Huo Liancheng, upon confirming my Wusheng Wuji identity, immediately ordered the Twelve Gate Generals to pursue me?"

If Feng Huo Liancheng hadn't been occupied with urgent matters, he would have come after me himself!"

And yet, I risked my life to deliver this message.

And now these men of Wu Village call me an imperial hound at every turn—how humiliating!"

Just as he was filled with righteous fury and about to explode—

Liu Jingyi, equally desperate, whispered to him,

"Master Fu, I, Liu, have a hundred reasons to admire your character and martial skill.

But the elders and villagers of Wu Village are blinded by past events—please forgive their disrespect."

Before meeting Liu Jingyi, Hearing Fu Qingzhu had no idea of his background.

When he saw Liu Jingyi's fist form just now, Hearing Fu Qingzhu already knew Liu Jingyi's ties to the Qinglong Society.

Moreover, from start to finish, Liu Jingyi had treated him with utmost respect.

Even when Qiu Dongluo and the elders attacked him, Liu Jingyi did his best to defend him.

Now, hearing him apologize, Hearing Fu Qingzhu's fury vanished entirely, and he sighed deeply,

"Village Head Liu, this is truly an urgent crisis—please make a decision soon.

But I can see that as long as I'm here, you won't need to make any decision at all."