Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 29 Arrest warrant (Please continue reading)

"Black Tiger Zen Temple is a branch temple of Fuhu Temple, a major sect in Qingzhou."

He was taught the lower-level martial art Black Tiger Fist, which was the foundational skill. Later, he was taught the intermediate-level martial arts Crouching Tiger Skill, Tiger Roar Saber, and Mighty Tiger Claw Hand...

If one awakens to one's Buddha-nature, one will be guided by the abbot to practice at Fuhu Temple…

A faint smile appeared on Wu Song's fierce face.

"So Master can smile after all? I thought all the muscles in his face had died..."

Liu Sheng rolled his eyes and glanced at the little tiger cub, who had almost drained the mother dog's milk.

As expected of a tiger of exceptional breed, it has a truly enormous appetite.

If Master has a lineage and a powerful sect backing him up, why is he in such a miserable state?

His arm was severed, his face was disfigured, and he had words tattooed on his face...

"...Because of my outstanding talent, I received a lot of care from my master, which aroused the jealousy of petty people."

One day, I was suffering from an insatiable craving for alcohol, so I went down the mountain to drink. But little did I know... the wine server had been bribed and tampered with the wine, which led me to accidentally kill a black tiger in the mountains.

That fellow even spread the word far and wide, calling me a "tiger-slaying hero," which was praised by believers and lauded by the government.

As everyone knows...

That black tiger was a friend of the patriarch, and had long since converted to Buddhism, observing a vegetarian diet and precepts for a hundred years. Even the master would have to call him "Brother Tiger" when he saw him.

That person seemed to be making me famous, but in reality, he ruined my future.

I was expelled from the sect and have been wandering the world ever since.

Wu Song lowered his head and sighed softly, his tone desolate.

Ah, this...

So, Master, are you a discarded disciple?
Liu Sheng's eyes flickered a few times, and he said in a deep voice:

"Could this be the enemy that Master ordered me to kill before?"

"Do not."

Wu Song gently stroked the white bone Buddhist beads on his chest and casually said:

"That man had been dead for over sixty years, and his entire family was on their way."

"..."

Liu Sheng licked his lips and obediently shut his mouth.

I must have been out of my mind just now to think that a ruthless person like my master would let his enemies live on!
"I wish to pass on to you the One Skill and Three Methods of Black Tiger Zen Temple, to continue the lineage."

Wu Song raised his head, his eyes sharp as knives, piercing straight to the heart, and asked in a questioning tone:
"If the opportunity arises in the future, we must rebuild the Zen monastery and continue this tradition. Are you willing?"

To continue the Dharma lineage and rebuild the Zen monastery?
Could it be that the Black Tiger Zen Temple on Jingyang Mountain is no longer there?

Could it be because…

Liu Sheng had a suspicion, and his gaze became somewhat evasive.

But I don't want to be a monk!
I'd rather die than do it!
Bald heads are too ugly!

For such an important task, Master, you should choose another capable disciple...

"Disciple is willing!"

Liu Sheng lowered his head, looking at Wu Song's hand resting on the hilt of his sword, completely convinced.

It's just about building a Zen temple in the future, finding a few people to become monks, and practicing martial arts on the side. What's so difficult about that?
Besides, the future is the future, next year is the future, and a hundred years from now is also the future…

Shakyamuni said that Maitreya will become a Buddha in the future. How long into the future is that?

Not much, just...

It's only 5.67 billion years.

But who dares to say that Maitreya is not a Buddha?

"good!"

Wu Song nodded, handed the tiger cub to Liu Sheng, picked up the mother dog, and disappeared.

After the little guy finished eating, he fell asleep again.

Liu Sheng had just made a nest for it when Wu Song returned, intending to impart his magic power overnight:
"You possess the 'tiger bone' and have extraordinary energy; you can go without sleep for several nights without any problem. Come and practice your skills!"

Liu Sheng: o(╥﹏╥)o——
The back garden of the Shanyang County Government Office.

Artificial hills and pavilions, small bridges and flowing water, and flowers vying for beauty.

On the stage, several actors are singing their hearts out.

The maids and servants below the stage stood silently with their hands clasped, their expressions solemn, even their breathing was carefully controlled.

Zheng Deqing was around forty years old, with a square face, bright eyes, and a three-strand beard reaching his chest, with slightly graying temples. He wore a plain-colored, narrow-sleeved casual suit and a black veil, his head bobbing as he hummed along with the singer on stage, completely absorbed in the performance…

The county magistrate is listening to music.

Ordinary people only need to pay taxes, grain, and perform corvée labor, but as the county magistrate, he has many more things to consider...

Just listening to a little tune to relax, what's wrong?
As for the hundreds of cases that have been piling up over the past few months...

Wait a minute, take your time.

Anyway, we can't let it interfere with his listening to music!

"Sir, the Ministry of Justice has issued another arrest warrant..."

Just then, Master Gu came running over, holding an official document in his hand, looking worried.

Zheng Deqing's mood was dampened, and he looked displeased.
"This is the twenty-seventh arrest warrant I have received since I took office!"
"You can simply follow the rules and post notices at the government office, city gates, markets, and ferry crossings. Why make such a fuss?"

In recent years, demonic disturbances have occurred frequently in various places, causing heavy casualties. Some cults have taken advantage of this to spread evil and bewitch the people, resulting in a deep-seated resentment among the populace and frequent tragedies.

The slightest friction between neighbors leads to drawing knives and wiping out entire families at the drop of a hat. It's truly a sign that people's hearts have lost their ancient virtues and the world is going to the dogs!
Zheng Deqing received 27 arrest warrants in less than three months after taking office...

On average, we receive one case every four days, and each one is a major murder case!

As long as it doesn't happen under my jurisdiction, that's fine. And if something does happen, it can be suppressed. A few civilians dying is nothing serious.

In any case, he wouldn't report things to higher authorities like some of his colleagues, because that would make him look incompetent.
If you ruin your reputation, how will you get promoted in the future?
"My lord, this is an imperial order to apprehend him, sent with utmost urgency!"

Master Gu pointed to the two feathers on the cover, his face deathly pale.

The document delivery system in Dayu was divided into four levels according to the urgency of the matter.

The fourth tier, without feathers, is for delivering ordinary documents.

The third tier, single feather, urgent document, urgent dispatch from 800 li away.

The second tier, Twin Feathers, is for important and urgent documents, delivered by express courier from three thousand miles away, directly to the Emperor's ears.

The first category, the Three Feathers, involves major cases concerning treason, war, and the change of the throne, which threaten the safety of the nation.

The fact that this wanted poster has two feathers attached means...

The case involving this murderer is second only to treason, and has already reached the ears of the emperor!

Zheng Deqing waved his hand, signaling the opera troupe on stage to step down. He took the official document, opened it, and a menacing face immediately came into view—

He wore an iron headband, black monk's robes, and bone beads around his neck. He had a scar on his face that stretched from under his left eye to his right cheek.

The portrait alone exudes a palpable aura of menace, leaping vividly from the paper.

What a vicious person!
Zheng Deqing was startled and quickly looked at the text next to the portrait:
[Identity]: Wu Song, from Yanggu County, Qingzhou…

[Physical appearance]: He is six feet two inches tall, has a knife scar on his face, and is missing his right arm.

[Case]: On the third day of the third lunar month, Xie Zheng, the commander of Ciyang and Wei, dipped his finger in blood and left his name in his military tent.

They are suspected to have fled to Yanqing Prefecture, in the Black Wind Mountain area.

[Strict Order]: All post stations and passes must strictly investigate one-armed men; those without a warrant must be arrested on the spot.

Anyone who harbors a criminal shall be punished as an accomplice, and their entire family shall be held accountable!
The case must be solved before May 18th.

……

Bitter!

Zheng Deqing's nose was sweating, and his mouth was dry as he looked at the contents of the document.

The assassination of the commander of Yanghe Guard happened at the beginning of last month in the neighboring Yanghe Prefecture!

In broad daylight, the criminal broke into the military camp and, amidst thousands of soldiers, beheaded Commander Xie Zheng…

Afterwards, using the corpse as a pen and the blood as ink, he wrote the five blood-red characters "The killer is Wu Song" in the military tent, and then left triumphantly!

Don't ask him why he knows so much...

Because the concubine he took as his new wife ten days ago was Xie Zheng's daughter.

The dowry alone amounted to six large cartloads!

The underhanded methods involved are not for outsiders to know, but in short, it can be summed up in four words: "taking advantage of someone's misfortune".

But he never thought of avenging his father-in-law!
What a joke! That was a single man, wielding a single sword, who slaughtered thousands of soldiers and even killed a guard commander in his tent—a peerless ruthless killer!

He only got a portion of the Xie family's wealth and had some fun with a woman; why risk his life for her?

But why didn't the murderer flee elsewhere after succeeding? Why did he have to come to Black Wind Mountain...?

Is it possible that they're trying to play the victim?
At this moment, a doorman came to report:

"My lord, Captain Huang of the Demon Suppression Division requests an audience."

(End of this chapter)