C25

Most of the Tang Dynasty's officials did not retire before they reached their age, and most of them were controlled by their physical condition. When they retired at the age of eighty, they would be discharged at the age of fifty, depending on their health and the attitude of the emperor. The torture envoy, Zhou Ru, was already sixty years old. His body could be considered sturdy, but he had long since lost all his ambition. Cao Yi was promoted to the capital, and he came to take over. Although he was young, Zhang Zhou was a very sensible man. He was very filial and respectful, and managed a large group of criminals well. Thus, he decided to let him go through with it.

However, what was happening right now made Zhou Ru unable to sit still. Inwardly, he couldn't help but complain: This Zhang Zhou is normally fine, but today he has caused such a huge ruckus!

When he received the medallion from the head of the prison, he did not pay much attention to it. He thought to himself that it was just a misunderstanding on the part of the head of the prison. But when he arrived at the prison, his hair stood on end in fright. The old Daoist laid on the ground, breathing in and out. He looked like he was on the verge of death. He hurriedly went to get a doctor to treat him, and then sent someone to look for Zhang Zhou.

Zhou Ru saw that from the moment Zhang Zhou entered the room, he had always treated him with respect. Thinking of this young man's excellent performance, his anger slightly lessened, but when he saw the gold identity token on the table, his anger rose again.

Zhang Zhou did not understand what was going on, so he quickly stepped forward to massage Zhou Ru's back.

"Master Overseer, what's wrong with you? Who made you so angry? "

Zhou Junshun was angered and his angry rebuke turned into a crying sound.

"Who else? Who else could it be!? It's all because of you! "

Zhang Zhou scratched his head in puzzlement. Zhou Ru picked up the golden identity token and placed it near Zhang Zhou's eyes. He shook his head and asked, "Do you recognize this identity token?"

Zhang Zhou took it over and over again. A fist sized iron badge with a gold paint on the outside. Two words were carved on the back of the golden dragon: Pill Emperor!

"What is this?"

Zhou Ru's face twitched. What was the use of throwing a tantrum to this unfathomable subordinate of his?

"Zhang Zhou, Zhang Zhou!" You have stirred up a great mess, and I can do nothing about it, alas! This old man has probably succeeded in his part as well! You better pray for yourself! "

"My apologies, my lord. Please calm down first! So you have to let me know what's going on? "

Zhou Ru had been able to survive in the government for so many years, so he was quite mature and experienced. He also knew that in a sense, he and Zhang Zhou could be said to be grasshoppers on the same rope.

This is the Imperial Medallion of the Imperial Palace, a document bestowed by the Emperor to those people with special statuses. As proof of entering the Forbidden City, His Majesty believes in the Taoists, and the Forbidden City has an Imperial Pill Room built for the cultivators to refine the Imperial Pill. This cultivator is the Imperial Pill Room's person, do you not even think about asking before you make a move? "Now that things are like this, how exactly will this situation end? You better give me a solution!"

Zhang Zhou was also stunned. Impulse was the devil. This was true, but there was no time for regret. Some things were destined for fate. Since fate was preordained, then let fate fall upon the old Daoist himself! He made up his mind!

"My lord, please be at ease. This official will go and settle this matter now!"

He turned around and walked out. Zhou Ru had experienced so much, how could he not understand what Zhang Zhou meant? He was so scared that he almost sat down and shouted, "You little bastard, are you crazy?! Come back here!"

"Ah!" Zhang Zhou cried out and had to stop and return.

"My lord, are there any other ways?"

Zhou Ru shook his head. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Where can I find a way? "However..." Then, his voice lowered. "Those people talk like they are gods on the surface. There is nothing that they aren't greedy for! "Perhaps..."

Zhang Zhou shook his head. If this was settled with silver coins, it would be a bottomless pit. Seeing him shake his head, Zhou Ru also felt a little anxious.

"If it doesn't work, what else can we do? You can't do this kind of thing. After all, too many people know about this matter. "

Zhang Zhou nodded, thinking that the idea of silencing her was very impulsive. It was very likely that the situation would escalate to an unstoppable point. After all, this old Daoist had a special status, and Cao Yi might not be able to help him at that time!

Zhang Zhou suddenly thought of something and his eyes lit up. He turned to Zhou Ru and said, "Master, don't worry. This lowly one will take care of this matter!"

It was already midnight.

It was no wonder why they acted so domineeringly during the day. It seemed that they would not be able to use their original framing methods. After all, those small tricks would only serve the purpose of short-term punishment. It went without saying what the consequences would be if they were to escape. Looking at Zhang Zhou's busy manner, he felt somewhat guilty for not being able to help.

After this incident, Zhang Zhou was afraid of getting into trouble. Other than letting You Nan and Lin Jiu investigate, he wanted them to see if they could find out the origin of these Taoists. He even asked the old man to prepare some perjury. When the time came, he would just clean up and intimidate them.

Now that he knew that this was indeed a huge problem and that he didn't have the time to lament over it, he could just think of a way to resolve it. He could see the worry on his face as he said, "Uncle, there's no need to worry. I already have a plan."

"Little Zhou, this is not a small problem. You mustn't be careless. If these old Taoists take revenge, I'm afraid …"

"I know that, but they have to have a chance to take revenge!" I still need to trouble you to do one more thing. "

After finishing his sentence, he told his idea to the old hunter, who immediately understood his intention. He was also looking for evidence, but Zhang Zhou's idea was much more insidious and effective. He nodded his head repeatedly, feeling indignant in his heart! His eyes and thoughts were indeed a little shallow.

"Rest assured, Little Boat. I'll be going now. I guarantee that everything will be alright!"

You Nan seven and Lin Jiu had also returned and found some information related to Taoists. These people had come from the Dragon Continent to the capital. Now that they knew each other's identity, they did not feel good about the aftermath.

But Zhang Zhou didn't seem to think much of it. Instead, he wanted You Nanke to continue explaining what she had learned.

The corners of Zhang Zhou's mouth curled up. He had an idea. He wasn't a wise man. If he couldn't do something that would leave no room for calculation, then he would be prepared. The more the better! After whispering a few words to Lin Ol'ninth, Lin Ol'ninth nodded seriously and turned to leave. He then said to You Nan seven, "Go immediately and bring a few of your trusted aides to the Dragon State. After that …"

"Don't worry big brother, I'll set off now!"

It was not yet dawn when Eustace returned.

"Uncle, is it done?"

"Un, I did as you said. In the end, I did ask a lot of questions! I have already isolated those two lads and there won't be any problems! "

Zhang Zhou looked at the confession given to him by the old hunter, and the corners of his mouth curled up into a smile.

It was unknown whether that old Daoist had profound cultivation or a tenacious life force, but he actually woke up after a night of feeding external medicine. His body's bones made the young man feel inferior.

The old Daoist opened his eyes and saw a smiling Zhang Zhou. If it was possible, he would have cursed and glared at her, or even pounced on her and bit her a few times. It was a pity that his face was swollen and black with pain, even a little bit of it caused him to gasp in pain. In the end, he could only suppress the tyrannical power within his heart and directly kill Zhang Zhou, as he gnashed his teeth to vent his anger.

"You … even if you kneel in front of the Dao Lord and die, the Dao Lord will never forgive you!"

Faced with the old Daoist's threats, Zhang Zhou did not get angry, but instead smiled.

"Hahaha, old man, where did your confidence come from? Why? Based on your status as a member of the Pill Emperor Hall? Or do you really think that you are an Earthly Immortal? "

The Earthly Immortal was the title that Zhang Zhou had read in a novel in his previous life. He had always liked it to the point where he wanted it to die. Now, he was giving it to this old Daoist.

"Since you know the identity of the Dao Lord, you should know what the consequences will be!" "It's a pity that it's too late to be afraid now. Hur hur, aiyo!"

He laughed so hard that half his face hurt.

"The heavens will not control you, so no matter how much effort you put in, it will be in vain. However, can you tell me why you're going to the Dragon State?"

"Does the Dao Lord need to tell you anything?"

"No need, no need, I can't condemn you, but the emperor does!"

The Daoist priest's eyes glazed over.

"What do you mean?"

"I feel that what you should be considering right now is not how to punish me, but how to wash yourself clean! "Because Taoist's crimes should be much bigger than mine!"

"This Penniless Priest can't understand a single word you say!"

"It doesn't matter, you will understand!"

Finished speaking, Zhang Zhou turned around and left, and shouted loudly at the entrance: "This is a felon from the imperial court, you must be held in custody! "Don't try to commit suicide out of fear of your crimes. That wouldn't be fun!"

The words "commit suicide out of guilt", which was clearly emphasized by the words, made the old Daoist's heart tremble. There were too many cases of criminals being apprehended. Would they just kill each other to keep their mouths shut? I don't think so, but what if these people do that without thinking about the consequences? From this moment onwards, the old Daoist did not close his eyes. Occasionally, the sound of the door opening would cause him to jump in fright.

Right now, Tian Tian really couldn't answer and couldn't. Other than a bit of regret and the fact that she shouldn't have forgotten that she was under a roof, there was only her heart dripping blood as she persisted, muttering to herself in her heart.

"Once This Penniless Priest has endured it, I will definitely skin you alive!"

Over the next day and night, Zhang Zhou came and went dozens of times. He didn't talk to him and only kept reminding the guards.

"Remember, you must eat more of this porridge!"

"Has this soup been added yet?"

"Don't be in such a hurry. Let's wait for him to fall asleep first!"

His voice was loud enough for him to hear. The old Daoist raised his guard: Refuse to eat, refuse to use medicine, refuse to sleep! He thought to himself, after cultivating for dozens of years, without eating or drinking for an entire month, how can I be afraid of you?

However, he had forgotten that he was severely injured! On the second day, the old Daoist felt his body begin to uncontrollably tremble! In the evening, he felt dizzy and his mouth was so dry that it was difficult to speak. He thought that it would be good to drink some water, but no one came to see him. It wasn't easy for him to endure until the third day, when he finally experienced what it meant to have a short life.

"As long as you let me go, this humble Taoist will not pursue this matter anymore!" The old Daoist, who was already on the verge of death, thought vaguely …

The old Daoist finally gave up on his personality. He should eat, drink, and not be scared to death by others.

On that day, he went to the place where Tang Yu'er met her fortune-telling Taoist and strolled around, trying to find something. Occasionally, he would fall into a trance, hoping that this girl would suddenly jump out and tell him that everything was just a joke!

All worlds were the same. As the lowest level of the masses, one's own destiny would often be unconsciously changed by the happy, angry, and sorrowful words of others. This was not unfair, but a rule of truth. Zhang Zhou didn't know how far he would go in the end, but in his heart, he was no longer willing to accept his fate like in his previous life! To be manipulated like this, there was only a monstrous rage and a desire to struggle! He had to be strong, strong enough to make any enemy tremble.

Suddenly, Zhang Zhou stopped in his tracks. A couple appeared in front of him, attracting his attention.

The man was in his thirties. He wore simple and unadorned clothes, but his posture was tall and straight. He had a calm and confident temperament to him. Behind him was a long object wrapped in linen cloth with a large bamboo hat hanging on its back.

Although the woman was dressed in coarse clothes and a hempen skirt, it was difficult to cover up her graceful charm and allure. She should be about the same age as the man and should walk with dignity and elegance, appearing noble and generous.

The man was somewhat tall, but the woman was no longer short. She only went up to his shoulder and the two walked side by side. Their steps were not fast, but they seemed to be in tune with each other and gave off a sense of elegance. To say that the heavens gave birth to a pair was not enough, but it was more so for a celestial couple.

The man would point at the things on the street and show them to the woman from time to time. He didn't know what to say, but the girl smiled like the spring wind.

Suddenly, Zhang Zhou stopped walking and turned around. He naturally landed behind the couple, separated by thirty to forty steps.

He could not help but observe the two's every move. The man pointed at a restaurant. The woman subconsciously pinched her sleeve and shook her head. The man scratched his head and lowered his head to say something as if he was trying to comfort Ye Xiao.

Zhang Zhou immediately guessed what was going on. After some thought, he instructed Erniu, who was standing beside him, in a low voice. Erniu nodded and ran over, politely stopping the two of them. He cupped his fists and conveyed Zhang Zhou's message. The man looked back at Zhang Zhou, as if hesitating. He lowered his head and whispered something to the woman.

Zhang Zhou knew that the other party had accepted his invitation, so he walked to a restaurant on the side of the street and waited quietly.

"The great martial arts world. I believe in fate. I finally got to know big brother. I wonder if big brother is willing to give me some face so that we can drink a few cups together?"

The woman slightly bowed without saying anything, but the man smiled and said, "Little brother is too polite. I had wanted to dispel the gluttony in my mouth a long time ago.

"Brother, please be straightforward!"

"Please!"

On the street, there was no one who didn't know about Zhang Zhou. The boss of the restaurant personally came out to receive them and escorted them to the second floor to arrange the best seats. Zhang Zhuo ordered a few dishes and specifically ordered Hezhou Lie. The hotel owner's face was filled with regret. The production of Hezhou Lie was too little. Zhang Zhou did not blame him at all. He asked Erniu to bring two jars to him.

"He Zhou Lie is the most refreshing wine I've ever tasted. I never thought that a place like He Zhou could produce such fine wine!"

"Big Bro shouldn't be from Hezhou, right? Have you even tasted Hezhou Lie before?"

"You're not afraid of your brother making fun of you, so you drank a bowl of wine. Because it was too expensive, your sister-in-law wouldn't allow you to drink any more!"

Seeing that the two of them were husband and wife, Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Sister-in-law should have a moral character. A man's pocket should be managed by a woman. Otherwise, how can it be so popular these days?"

"Hahaha, your words are not wrong, it is not under your sister-in-law's control. I think we will have to join the Beggar Gang and roam around for a while now!"

"It's not shameful for a man to listen to his wife at home. Very good!" Zhang Zhou thought of something and felt his nose ache!

The woman smiled and said softly, "I don't care about him. You can drink wine, but you can't be greedy!" "Injuries!"

The man said confidently to the woman, "Madam is right!" Then she giggled and deliberately whispered to Zhang Zhou, "What does a woman know? "Who knows how enjoyable it is to drink wine!"

In the end, the woman gave him a hard pinch. This scene was considered normal in his previous life, but it was extremely difficult to see it in this one.

… ….

"Big brother, was there really such a gang in the martial arts world when you mentioned the Beggar Gang just now?" This was Zhang Zhou's first time hearing someone mention the 'Beggar's Gang' in this life.

"Yes, there are. However, they can't be considered to be any sort of gang. A few beggars, in order to survive, have gathered in groups and set up their own territory. "I've never seen it here in Hezhou. It's quite common to have many hardships in the region of Su Zhou and have many refugees."

… ….

"What is Big Brother thinking?"

"To tell you the truth, I'm from Mingzhou. I've learned some martial arts since I was young, and I have no sense of direction. I plan to join the army and find a job."

"Ming Province? This journey is really far! "

"That's right!" It's been a full two months! "

"Then sister-in-law will stay with you forever?" Aren't you afraid of getting tired and destroying such a good daughter-in-law? "

The man's eyes dimmed for some unknown reason, and instantly became bright again.

"Haha, such a good wife. If I don't keep her by my side, how can I be at ease?"

"Then when the time comes, how will sister-in-law be placed? Could it be that you will join our Big Bro's army? "

"Haha, brother, you're joking. Since ancient times, there has never been a woman joining the army. Your sister-in-law is here to send me off. When that time comes, she'll return!"

The man did not reply. Instead, Zhang Zhou took off a wooden token from his waist and handed it to the man.

"I'm not much of a character, but I should have some face in the Hezhou region. This is for sister-in-law. Come, come, come. It might be a lot easier with this!"

The man took the token and saw that it read "Arrest in Hezhou". Unlike other medallions, Zhang Zhou also had a bronze tiger head inlaid in the middle of his medallion. The man did not hesitate as he placed the identity token into his wife's hands.

"Then, thank you brother!"

Cuisine Qi was full. Zhang Zhou asked Erniu to sit with him. Unless it was an important occasion, he did not have the habit of having people stand behind his back and wait on him.

"We've met by chance, it's an honor to meet each other for three lifetimes. Let me toast my big brother and sister-in-law!"

Zhang Zhou raised his glass while the man raised his bowl.

"Then let's have one?"

"F * ck!"

Zhang Zhou was still not strong enough to drink. He could no longer afford to drink anymore. After that man drank the last bowl of the strong He Zhou, he felt intoxicated. He held his wife's hand and said, "You are the one I love the most in my life!"

Zhang Zhou listened without saying a word, and then his tears began to fall like rain.

How could Cheng be compared to death? He was willing to be a mandarin duck without envy.