Chapter Forty-Three: Subtle Use

As he spoke, Magistrate Zhang slowly approached.

“Do you know how envious a mere mortal like myself feels, looking up at people like you, so high above?” he said. “In terms of competence, I’ve managed Meng County with precision—our people are well-fed and prosperous. As for talent, I earned my rank step by step, from nothing to where I am today. Yet, just because of this damned supernatural power, I’m supposed to call you ‘lord’!”

“Why? Just because you were lucky enough to be born with it? Well, now I have it too. I possess this once-unreachable strength, and I am very satisfied!”

“Today is the day you die. I’ll show you the true might of someone at the peak of the Dragon Gate realm!”

By now, Magistrate Zhang had come within ten paces of Fang Mu and the others, the many heads sprouting from his body letting out bizarre cries.

Hmm… What? Fang Mu was dumbfounded. All this fuss, and you’re only at the peak of the Dragon Gate realm?

Dragon Gate—the key words here.

Frankly, Fang Mu wanted to say, “Young man, you have gone astray.”

But glancing at Deng Zheng’s pale face beside him, a plan formed in Fang Mu’s mind. He kept his thoughts to himself.

Why not borrow a knife to kill another? This was a heaven-sent opportunity—wasting it would be a crime.

With that, Fang Mu’s expression grew exceedingly serious, as if facing not an equal opponent, but an overwhelmingly powerful enemy.

Magistrate Zhang said no more. Striding forward, eyes filled with mockery, he approached Fang Mu and his companions.

He resembled a hunter toying with his prey, relishing the game before finally pouncing.

Fang Mu stepped back, gravely declaring, “Qing Ruowu, I don’t think we can fight him head-on.”

This sudden statement left Qing Ruowu utterly confused.

“There’s no time to explain!” Fang Mu seized her hand, pulling her as he dashed away.

Caught off guard, Qing Ruowu stumbled after him, unable to react.

Fang Mu flashed something in his hand, showing it to her.

It was a bloodstained dudou, the strings still tied as before.

In an instant, Qing Ruowu understood—Fang Mu meant to use this to escape.

The peak of Dragon Gate was not a power they could contend with. But there was a pressing problem: if they fled, what would become of Meng County’s people?

There was no time to think. For now, Qing Ruowu could only stagger along, still holding Fang Mu’s hand.

Not only her—even Deng Zheng and Magistrate Zhang were bewildered.

Deng Zheng, however, quickly composed himself and joined the flight. Secretly, he was pleased. Good, run, run! You two said to flee first, so you can’t blame me. When I report back, I’ll make sure to mention Qing Ruowu as well.

Abandoning the people in the face of a powerful fiend and leading the escape—when the time comes, not only will Fang Mu be finished, but Qing Ruowu will be in trouble too.

Thinking of the aftermath, Deng Zheng felt delighted and ran as fast as he could.

Just then, he glimpsed something red and rectangular flying toward him—it seemed to be covered in blood.

Smack!

The bloodstained dudou landed squarely on Deng Zheng’s head, and he froze instantly.

“What’s happening? Why can’t I move?” Deng Zheng screamed inwardly.

Now, at the most critical moment of escape, even a second’s delay could mean death—and he couldn’t move at all.

Terror flooded his heart as he sensed the chilling aura surging behind him. Death was closing in.

At the other end of the string, Fang Mu pulled Qing Ruowu forward, neither of them paying attention to what was happening behind.

With a jerk of the string, the bloodstained dudou flew back into Fang Mu’s hand.

Deng Zheng regained movement and was about to run again when a sharp pain pierced his chest.

A blood-soaked hand thrust through him. In despair, Deng Zheng looked back to see Magistrate Zhang, his body covered in heads, grinning menacingly as he approached.

In that instant, Deng Zheng realized Fang Mu had set him up. The thing that froze him was a trap meant specifically for him.

But… was this really necessary? To deal with me, you even tied a string to retrieve the dudou? Is my life worth less than a scrap of underwear?

That was the last thought Deng Zheng ever had.

Magistrate Zhang opened the mouth at the top of his head, a cruel smile on his face, and devoured Deng Zheng piece by piece until nothing remained.

“You can’t escape! None of you can escape!” The voices of the many heads on Magistrate Zhang’s body mingled together, chasing in Fang Mu’s direction.

…

“Wait!” After running a while, Qing Ruowu finally came to her senses. Looking back at the dense forest, she said gravely, “We can’t just run. Running won’t solve anything. It’ll take time to get help from above, and we… wait, where’s Chief Deng Zheng?”

She paused mid-sentence, staring at the empty forest behind them, momentarily at a loss.

Fang Mu untied the string and tucked the bloodstained dudou into his shirt, replying in a low voice, “I could only stall Magistrate Zhang for a while. I suppose Deng Zheng didn’t outrun us.”

“Didn’t outrun us?” Qing Ruowu didn’t understand.

Fang Mu explained, “Think of it this way: a wild beast is chasing the three of us. If we all run, will it catch and eat all of us at once, or will it devour the slowest first?”

This time, Qing Ruowu understood and fell silent.

By Fang Mu’s logic, Deng Zheng had already met a grim fate.

“Run out of this forest, as far as you can,” Qing Ruowu said through clenched teeth. She took a jade pendant from her neck and handed it over. “Take this to the tailor shop in the neighboring county. It’s proof of my identity—someone will come.”

Fang Mu accepted it. The jade was still faintly warm and fragrant, with a smooth texture.

“What about you?” he asked.

“I’ll stay and hold him off,” Qing Ruowu answered grimly. “I just hope I can last until help arrives… You’re not from the Celestial Surveillance Bureau, so run for your life.”

A deep roar echoed from the forest—not far off, a towering figure emerged.

“You can’t run!” Magistrate Zhang’s voice sounded like dozens of people speaking at once, dizzying and oppressive.

On his shoulder, Deng Zheng’s head was embedded, emitting a chilling howl.

“It worked,” Fang Mu thought to himself.

Clearly, Magistrate Zhang had lived up to expectations and taken care of Deng Zheng.

Qing Ruowu gritted her teeth. “Go! I’ll try to hold him… ah!”

Her words cut off abruptly. She looked up, confused by what she saw ahead.

A figure leapt high overhead, passing above her.

Trailing behind was a dazzling arc of blade light.

The blade light was dense and brilliant.

A net of gleaming blades enveloped Magistrate Zhang from above, then sliced downward…

His roar ceased instantly, and he stood there like a wooden statue, completely motionless.

“What… is this?” Qing Ruowu stood dumbstruck, unable to believe the scene before her eyes.