Chapter Thirteen: Uprising at the Execution Ground

Everyone dispersed to carry out their tasks.

Ye Feng made his way alone to the execution ground, only to find it already teeming with people, packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through. Standing amidst the crowd, he felt like a lone boat adrift on a vast sea.

On the scaffold, his family knelt, bound hand and foot, while several burly men in red robes stood nearby, each cradling a broad-bladed executioner’s sword. Dozens of soldiers armed with blades and spears formed a tight cordon around them.

Ye Feng’s gaze immediately found his father, who appeared gaunt and spiritless. Tears welled up and spilled from Ye Feng’s eyes.

“Father, your son has failed you, your son has brought disaster upon you. If I cannot save you today, I would rather die with you all!”

He silently recited these words, one hand reaching instinctively into the carriage, grasping the two iron hammers hidden within, which brought him a measure of comfort.

Just then, Wu Renfu swaggered up to the execution platform, his gait wide and self-assured. He wore a gleaming helmet and armor, twin whips hanging from his waist, and looked down upon the assembled crowd with an air of authority.

“Citizens, fellow villagers,” he proclaimed sternly, “Ye Xiaotian has raised a murderous son, slain imperial celestial soldiers, and harbored fugitives—a grave and unforgivable crime. Yet, I, your City Lord, am merciful and grant him one last chance. If Ye Feng surrenders himself, I will release his entire family, letting only him bear the punishment. Whoever finds and reports Ye Feng will be handsomely rewarded, and his family freed, I swear it.”

The crowd was silent. Ye Xiaotian, summoning strength from who knows where, suddenly struggled to his feet, his eyes blazing as he shouted to the crowd below, “Villagers, do not believe this villain’s lies—he seeks only to deceive you! Feng’er, do not come here—save yourself, do not worry for me. If you kill more demon soldiers, more traitors, that will avenge me. Even if I die, in the afterlife…”

Ye Xiaotian rambled on, his cries growing ever louder.

Wu Renfu’s anger flared, and he pointed at Ye Xiaotian, cursing, “Old scoundrel, silence! Shut your mouth!”

Unable to halt Ye Xiaotian’s outburst, he barked orders to the soldiers, “Quick! Seal this old scoundrel’s mouth—he is not to speak another word!”

Several soldiers stepped forward, forcing Ye Xiaotian down and stuffing his mouth with cloth. Unable to speak, Ye Xiaotian struggled, groaning painfully.

The townsfolk, who had long benefited from Ye Xiaotian’s kindness, were stirred to action upon seeing his suffering, shouting in unison, “Boss Ye! Boss Ye!” and surging toward the scaffold.

“Hold them back! Hold them back!” Wu Renfu, fearing the crowd’s fury, shouted urgently.

The soldiers guarding the scaffold raised their weapons, blocking the townsfolk’s advance. Clashes erupted, people pushing and shoving, neither side yielding.

“Anyone who assaults the scaffold is guilty alongside Ye Xiaotian!” Wu Renfu raised his whips, roaring at the crowd.

“Lord Wu, Ye Xiaotian is a good man—you cannot kill him!” Some citizens knelt, pleading with Wu Renfu.

Yet more voices rose, fists clenched, shouting in unison, “Boss Ye is innocent! Release them! Boss Ye is innocent! Release them!”

Their cries grew into a thunderous wave, quickly drowning out Wu Renfu’s voice.

Ye Feng was moved to tears, seeing such love and support for his father from so many people.

Wu Renfu, however, was infuriated. He bellowed, “Enough!”

His shout crashed like thunder, silencing the crowd below.

He calmly pointed at the townsfolk, threatening, “If you dare disturb the order of the execution ground or defy the imperial command, watch what happens!”

He whistled sharply.

A sudden commotion erupted—windows on all the surrounding tall buildings swung open, revealing countless archers, bows drawn, arrows aimed at the crowd below.

At a single command, ten thousand arrows would rain down—even immortals would not escape unscathed.

Seeing this, the citizens fell silent, many weeping quietly. Some knelt, burning incense and preparing to bid farewell to Ye Xiaotian’s soul. A few bold ones pleaded with the soldiers to let them ascend the scaffold and offer ritual wine to Ye Xiaotian.

Wu Renfu ignored them, sitting calmly, waiting for the hour of execution.

Suddenly, thick smoke billowed from the distant southern gate.

Soon, a messenger arrived, breathless, “Report! City Lord, disaster strikes! Rioters have set the southern gate ablaze. The captain requests reinforcements—if no help comes, the gate may fall!”

Wu Renfu frowned, snapping, “What are you panicking for? It’s Ye Feng’s diversion—hold your positions. Drive them off, then put out the fire.”

The messenger retreated, cowed.

Not long after, smoke rose again from the western gate. Another messenger rushed in, “Report! City Lord, dozens of rebels have forced the southern gate, set the guard post ablaze, and broken out of the city. The captain requests reinforcements—if no help comes, the enemy may seize the gate!”

Wu Renfu remained unmoved. “Stand down! It’s Ye Feng’s ruse—let the rebels escape, then deal with the fire. If enemy troops attack, report to me.”

Soon, trouble flared at more than a dozen locations within the city, fires breaking out everywhere.

Yet Wu Renfu’s expression did not change; he did not stir.

Ye Feng grew increasingly anxious: this old villain was indeed cunning. If he could not be lured away, how could his family be rescued?

Just then, thick smoke poured from the direction of the City Lord’s mansion at the city center.

This time, Wu Renfu could not sit still. He sprang up, eyes fixed on the smoke, brow furrowed tightly.

He paced back and forth, restless as an ant on hot bricks.

The rapid clatter of hooves approached!

A soldier dismounted and rushed to Wu Renfu’s side.

“Report! City Lord, disaster! Bandits have stormed the mansion—they kill everyone they see, steal everything in sight. The guards cannot hold them off—they are about to breach the inner chambers!”

The messenger’s face was pale, his words barely coherent.

Wu Renfu was aghast. “How many enemy troops?”

“I do not know, City Lord, only that cries of battle echo everywhere—there must be thousands, perhaps tens of thousands.”

Furious, Wu Renfu kicked him. “Useless fool! All this slaughter and you don’t know the enemy’s numbers—what use are you?”

He shouted, “Bring my horse!”

He prepared to lead his troops back to the mansion.

After a few steps, he changed his mind and called to a deputy, “General Zhang, though the mansion is important, I cannot leave here. You take troops to drive off the enemy and protect my family. I will remain here and capture Ye Feng myself!”

General Zhang saluted, “Yes, City Lord. I will not fail—if I do, I will meet you with my head!”

He mounted up and led his troops away.

Wu Renfu returned to the execution platform, seething. He cursed at the crowd, “Ye Feng, what sort of hero are you? Using these tricks to lure me away—do you dare to show yourself?”

Ye Feng, seeing Wu Renfu unmoved, grew desperate, his mind racing for another plan to subdue or deceive Wu Renfu.

Wu Renfu, seeing Ye Feng still silent, shouted again, “Ye Feng, if you have no honor, do not blame me for being ruthless. Men! Prepare for execution!”

The soldiers on the scaffold were stunned: the appointed hour had not arrived—carrying out an execution before its time was a grave taboo.

An officer leaned in, whispering, “City Lord, the hour has not come—an early execution may be unwise.”

Wu Renfu’s face darkened, his eyes rolling. “I care not—kill them! Let it ease my rage!”

The men had no choice but to shout in unison, “Kill!”

Urged by their cries, the executioner raised his broad-bladed sword and slowly approached. Looking from Ye Xiaotian to the blade, grief and anger overwhelmed him. With a thud, he knelt.

“Boss Ye, do you remember me? I used to gamble away everything, even my wife and daughter. You paid my debts and redeemed my family. You are a good man. I cannot bring myself to execute you—I would rather die with you and join you in the afterlife.”

Tears streaming, he knelt and bowed repeatedly.

Wu Renfu cursed, “Treason! Treason!”

The executioner ignored him. After his bows, he glared at Wu Renfu and slashed his own throat.

Blood poured forth, his body collapsing to the ground.

Ye Xiaotian struggled fiercely, groaning, wanting to speak, but the cloth in his mouth prevented any words.

The crowd, witnessing this, was stirred to a frenzy. Some shouted, “Xu Qian was said to be ruthless, but even he refused to kill Boss Ye, preferring to die with him. Are we less than he?”

Others cried, “Boss Ye helped disaster victims and gave generously—how could such a good man face execution of his entire family? What point is there in living? Let’s rebel!”

“Rebel! Rebel!”

The shouts grew, wave upon wave.

Many citizens pushed past the guards and surged onto the scaffold to rescue Ye Xiaotian.

“Rebels! Rebels!” Wu Renfu, enraged and humiliated, called out, “Loose the arrows! Loose the arrows!”

Instantly, arrows rained from the surrounding rooftops. In the blink of an eye, a dozen citizens at the front fell, struck down.

Silence fell over the scene.

The crowd, angry but afraid, dared not speak.

The two sides faced off, the air thick with murderous intent.

“City Lord, this… this… surely is not right? These are unarmed civilians!” An officer, unable to bear the sight of so many deaths, pleaded with Wu Renfu.

“Damn you, disturbing my troops’ morale—you are unforgivable!” Wu Renfu, enraged that a lowly officer dared to contradict him, raised his steel whip.

With a deafening crack, he struck the officer’s skull, splitting it open.

“Anyone who defies orders will end up like this traitor! If you are loyal subjects, retreat now and I will forgive you. If not, you are rebels and will be pierced by a thousand arrows!”

Without waiting for a response from the crowd, he shouted again, “Loose the arrows!”

This time, only a few feeble arrows were shot from the rooftops, stopping quickly.

“Everyone has rebelled! Everyone has rebelled!” Wu Renfu, beside himself with rage, strode forward and seized the executioner’s broad-bladed sword.

He prepared to carry out the execution himself, to kill Ye Xiaotian.