Chapter Thirty-Four: The Actor's Entrance in the Play Within a Play

  Lu Da Hai led the Feng Dang crowd into Huayin County, and Kui Er looked at the prosperous appearance of this place with envy, expressing to Lu Da Hai that he would complete the task with guaranteed quality and quantity.

  Lu Daihai was very pleased with what he heard and smiled: "That's great! After the matter is settled, we'll meet at Luoxing Slope!"

  Kui Er responded and waved his hand towards the back, immediately several teams of people divided into dozens of groups, quietly and soundlessly stepped onto the roof and went ahead.

  Kui Er was just about to ride his horse and lead the troops away, but after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped and turned around to face Lu Dahai: "General Jia, there is one more thing that I must ask clearly, otherwise my heart will not be at ease..."

  "You're asking how to avoid implicating Director Meng."

  "It is precisely this matter, I am foolish and ignorant, and hope that you, sir, will clearly instruct me."

  "Don't worry, I won't let Liu County Magistrate say anything. Now it's just a trouble for you to ask the people of Fengdiao to think more and not let the people at Xicheng Gate say anything!" Lü Da Hai said with a mysterious smile.

  Kui Er looked at this smile full of deep meaning, and his heart suddenly lit up, knowing the meaning behind it. He also said in a subtle tone: "The supervisor is wise, dead people will never leak secrets." Then, he left a few good hands to protect Lu Da Hai and led the troops away with a pull on the reins.

  In an instant, the sound of horseshoes like thunder echoed on this bluestone-paved road.

  At this moment, Lu Dahai suddenly remembered something and looked at his back as he rode away, shouting loudly: "Don't forget the treasury here!"

  Liu Zhixian and two county lieutenants rushed up on horseback. As they approached the halfway point to the prefectural yamen, they saw Chui Er leading a crowd over, so they hastily cupped their hands in greeting and asked: "General, where are you going?" But unexpectedly, Chui Er did not acknowledge his courtesy, instead treating him like thin air, without even returning a greeting as he rushed past.

  Liu County Magistrate's face was slapped with a cold buttock, and he was very unhappy in his heart. He secretly scolded: "The dog-raising thing is indeed the guest becoming the host." Then he rode his horse and left, and soon arrived at the gate of the prefectural government office.

  Liu County Magistrate dismounted at the gate, but only saw that the gate of the mansion was open, and no one came out to hold the horse. When he looked up again, the two lanterns hanging under the eaves of the government office were also extinguished for some reason.

  The county magistrate was just about to shout, but seeing the horses in front of the prefectural government gate, he knew that Generalissimo must be inside, so he awkwardly threw the reins to the two county captains and let them go Tie up the horse, and then he hurried into the government office alone.

  But unexpectedly, what he saw now was vastly different from when he left. The lanterns in the yamen had all been extinguished, and not a single servant or official could be seen anywhere, only a faint shadow of candlelight seeping through the paper windows of the front hall. Magistrate Liu felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at this eerie scene. But he was also afraid that this might just be General Zhou's eccentric way of living, so he steeled himself and forced himself to walk forward.

  At this moment, Liu County Magistrate was very unhappy in his heart. Although the general from the state came down to the local area and was higher than him in terms of official rank, he had never seen anyone who didn't consider himself an outsider after doing so many years of official business. Whether it was a visit or a tour, the most taboo thing on this official path was to reverse host and guest.

  Liu County Magistrate was now full of grievances, but there was nothing he could do about it. He sighed and knocked on the door with his hands clasped together, saying respectfully: "Huayin County Magistrate, I request an audience with Your Excellency!"

  County Magistrate Liu felt very awkward and stifled in his heart. However, there was no sound of opening the door inside, only a gentle voice came out "Come in".

  Liu County Magistrate thought to himself, "Could it be that just now I didn't open the city gate for him, and now he's taking revenge on me? This General is quite a strange temper." Thinking this, he quietly pushed the door open.

  Only one person was seen in the house, General, sitting at the top of the hall, holding a teacup and savoring it carefully.

  County Magistrate Liu saw him and hastily came over to pay his respects with a bow.

  The general glanced at him and said: "Lord Liu, how dare I ask you to bow down to me?"

  Magistrate Liu heard the voice and felt very familiar, but couldn't think of who it was for a moment. Just as he was about to slightly raise his head to glance at General Zhang, an unknown hand had already taken off his official hat. Magistrate Liu instinctively turned his head back to look, only to find that there was no one behind him, yet his official hat was gone.

  The county magistrate Liu had not yet come to his senses, and at this moment the general spoke again: "Magistrate Liu, Magistrate Liu, I didn't expect that on my father's seventh day of mourning, you would still be able to see him off. It's truly a blessing from three lifetimes!"

  County Magistrate Liu heard this and was immediately frightened out of his wits, stuttering: "Could it be that you are..."

  "Haha" Shi Jin jumped up and let out a cold laugh.

  Before Liu County Magistrate could say his name, a loud "swish" sound was heard, followed by Liu County Magistrate's pained cry.

  A black-feathered short arrow had already pierced through Liu County Magistrate's shoulder blade in an instant, the cold light flashing on the arrowhead was dripping with blood.

  County Magistrate Liu covered the wound with his right hand, got up and rushed out of the door, running wildly while shouting: "Someone come! Come quickly!"

  Shi Jin didn't stop him at this moment, but slowly put down the cup and plate, and stood up leisurely. Looking at Liu County's terrified appearance, a strange sense of pleasure flashed in his heart. It can't be said to be pleasant, it just feels that this person is really wasting his life in this world. Tonight, I will come to send you on your way! You can't escape...

  Shi Jin thought to himself and followed him out the door. At this moment, Liu County Magistrate stood in the courtyard, completely stunned. The large gate of the government office had been locked at some point, and on those two black lacquered gates, two people were nailed dead.

  Although they were covered in blood, it was still possible to clearly identify them from their uniforms - these two men were the county officials from Huayin County. More than a dozen large iron nails had pierced through their bodies, and the blood flowed down their bodies, staining the door red.

  Magistrate Liu was at a loss for what to do, and Shi Jin had swaggered out of the front hall, step by step, slowly walking towards him. The terror in Magistrate Liu's heart could no longer be expressed in words, he simply turned around, his eyes extremely panicked as he stared at Shi Jin.

  "Director Liu, how did my father die?" Shi Jin asked expressionlessly.

  "I...I..." Liu County Magistrate stuttered, his words unclear.

  "How did my father die!" Shi took another step closer, his right hand slowly drawing out a sharp blade from behind his waist, gripping it tightly.

  Another piercing sound, "Ah——! I... said, I said!" County Magistrate Liu fell to the ground, his body twisted, and another black feathered arrow pierced through his calf, bright red blood dripping, spattering on the brick floor, along the texture, flowing out a bloody pattern.

  "It was your dad who got killed by that camel. None of my business, really has nothing to do with me..."

  Shi Jin stepped down from the stone steps one step at a time, holding his blade and saying coldly: "Really has nothing to do with you?"

  At this moment, the person hiding in the dark loosened his fingers on the bowstring, and the arrow shot out silently...