Nine Yang Life and Death Transformation

Everyone dispersed and returned to their rooms to rest. As soon as it was light, they hurriedly got up again and threw themselves back into the busy preparations. In this way, day after day, a whole month had passed without them realizing it.

During this period, their business grew bigger and bigger, and their shops expanded rapidly from one to three. As their income gradually increased, their living conditions also improved greatly. They left behind their dilapidated thatched huts and moved into a spacious and bright courtyard house.

A few days later, a new shop called Liu's Steamed Bun Shop opened directly opposite Sun's Steamed Bun Shop. On opening day, Liu's Steamed Bun Shop was bustling with people. A waiter stood at the door and shouted loudly, "Sun's Steamed Bun Shop sells for five coins each, but our Liu's Steamed Bun Shop only sells for three coins each!"

Upon hearing this, the people who were originally queuing to buy steamed buns at Sun's Steamed Bun Shop rushed over and swarmed towards Liu's Steamed Bun Shop. One of them bought a steamed bun, took a bite without waiting, and then spat out a disgusted "Pah!" and cursed, "What is this thing? It's as hard as a block of iron!" After saying that, he threw the half-eaten steamed bun on the ground and then turned around and ran back to Sun's Steamed Bun Shop.

Upon seeing this, Liu Zhu, the owner of Liu's Steamed Bun Shop, was stunned. He muttered to himself, "What... what's going on?" Puzzled, he picked up a steamed bun from his shop, took a bite, and immediately frowned, spitting it out with a "pui!" He complained, "This tastes as bland as water, like chewing wax!"

At that moment, a man in the crowd bought two steamed buns and began to eat them heartily. But after only a few bites, he suddenly clutched his stomach with both hands, groaning in pain, "Ah, my stomach hurts so much! Could these steamed buns be poisoned?" In an instant, the people around him were quite frightened and hesitated to enter Sun's Steamed Bun Shop.

Upon hearing the word "poison," the crowd erupted like a swarm of bees, scattering in panic for fear of being implicated. In the midst of this chaos, Liu Zhu seized the opportunity to slip away from the crowd and ran to report to the authorities.

Before long, several soldiers dressed in official uniforms and carrying long swords strode over with neat and powerful steps. Their expressions were serious, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings before finally fixing on Liu Zhu, Sun Gang, and the others. Without a word, they led them towards the county government office.

Upon arriving at the county government hall, Magistrate Wang Lun of Ankang County sat upright before his desk, his face ashen. He gripped the gavel, a symbol of power and authority, and slammed it down, shouting, "Who is the person kneeling before you? Speak out your grievances at once!"

At this moment, Liu Zhu took the lead and cried out, "My lord, you must do justice for me! My poor little brother bought two steamed buns from Sun's shop across the street this morning. Not long after eating them, he foamed at the mouth and collapsed. He is still lying unconscious in the pharmacy!" As he spoke, tears streamed down Liu Zhu's face, and his grief was palpable.

Upon seeing this, Sun Gang immediately knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly while loudly proclaiming his innocence: "Your Honor, please understand! I run a small business, always honest and fair to all, young and old. Everyone ate the same buns, so why was only his child poisoned? There must be something fishy about this. I beg Your Honor to investigate thoroughly and not wrong an innocent man!"

Wang Lun narrowed his eyes slightly, coldly glancing at Sun Gang before turning his gaze to Wu Feilong standing in the crowd. After a moment's thought, he waved his hand and shouted sternly, "Guards! Drag this man away and give him twenty strokes of the cane. Let's see if he dares to talk back!"

Seeing this, Liu Zhu couldn't help but reveal a subtle smile, thinking to himself, "Hmph, let's see how you deny it now! The lord is indeed wise and mighty."

Sun Gang turned pale with fright and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: "My lord, spare my life! I am truly innocent..." However, Wang Lun had already made up his mind and remained unmoved.

The two burly, serious-looking constables moved swiftly past like the wind. Their movements were practiced and decisive; each grabbed one of Liu Zhu's arms tightly, twisted them forcefully, and slammed him heavily onto the cold, hard ground.

Liu Zhu was dumbfounded, his face filled with astonishment and fear, repeatedly shouting, "Your Honor! There must be a mistake!" However, the official sitting upright in the hall remained expressionless, coldly replying, "How could I make a mistake? If you don't confess the truth, don't blame me for being ruthless. Guards, beat him!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhu trembled with fear, his face turning deathly pale. He desperately begged for mercy, "My lord, it's a mistake! Please spare my life!" However, the official remained unmoved and waved his hand, signaling for the execution.

Immediately afterward, the cane fell mercilessly onto Liu Zhu's buttocks, producing a series of dull, resounding thuds. Each strike felt like a heavy hammer blow to his heart, causing him excruciating pain. Liu Zhu couldn't help but let out a bloodcurdling scream, like a pig being slaughtered, the sound echoing throughout the courtroom, sending chills down everyone's spine. After only ten or so blows, his buttocks were torn open, blood gushing out and staining his once blue trousers red, a gruesome sight.

At this moment, Liu Zhu could no longer care about anything else. Tears streaming down his face, he cried out, "My lord, I'll tell you, I'll tell you! It was my son, Xiao Er, who somehow ate the poison first!" Upon hearing this, the official narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring intently at Liu Zhu, and pressed, "Did you secretly instigate this?"

Liu Zhu shook his head repeatedly, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face. He said in a sobbing voice, "My lord, spare me! It really wasn't me who ordered it! It was that waiter who acted on his own. I only saw it by chance and tried to stop him, but it was too late!"

The official remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering the veracity of Liu Zhu's words. After a while, he slowly spoke, "I will believe you for now, but further investigation is still needed. If it is later found that you indeed instigated this matter, you will be severely punished! Come, throw Liu Zhu into prison and keep him under strict guard; as for Sun Gang and the others, they will be released without charge. Court adjourned!" With a slam of the gavel, this thrilling interrogation temporarily came to an end.

Sun Gang kept kowtowing, his forehead hitting the ground with a "thud," while repeatedly muttering, "Thank you, Your Honor! Thank you, Your Honor..." His tearful gratitude evoked pity in people.

After everyone had left, Wu Feilong leisurely entered the back hall. He clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "Thank you for your help, Your Honor!" However, there was no real Your Honor here; it was simply because the money had already been delivered beforehand.

The magistrate waved his hand and said with a smile, "There's no need for such formalities between us. Besides, helping you is the same as helping myself. After all, if the steamed bun shop does well and makes a fortune, I'll naturally benefit as well."

Wu Feilong nodded, but then said with a worried look, "Your Excellency, this steamed bun shop is, after all, just a small-scale business. If we can successfully wipe out those bandits entrenched in the mountains, that would be a great achievement."