"Ghost! Ghost!"
Xu Qing's face darkened upon hearing this, and his aura suddenly spread. When Zhang Shi and Qin An regained their senses, they saw the surroundings were filled with the scene of the Blood Lake Dharma Realm.
"Who are you? Where is this place?"
Qin An, a bit braver than Zhang Shi, questioned Xu Qing with a facade of courage.
Xu Qing didn't even glance at Qin An. Holding the little girl's hand, he walked to the edge of the Blood Lake, looked at the reflection in the lake, and said:
"I am the deity of Lady Baosheng, people call me Lady Baosheng. Zhang Shi, do you still remember what you said when you committed murder, harming a mother and her daughter?"
Zhang Shi anxiously recalled, but she couldn't think of it.
Xu Qing reminded her: "You said that for the Ye mother and daughter to clear their names in this world, it would require divine intervention from Lady Baosheng, correct?"
"Now, I have come, your wish has come true."
Xu Qing withdrew his gaze, and continued: "That Ye was a kind person, she has already entered the celestial register. This little girl is well-behaved and sensible, taking her as my disciple, it won't be difficult for her to become immortal in the future."
Zhang Shi, hearing this, yelled hysterically: "How could that wretch become immortal! That little bitch must be up to some mischief..."
Swish! A cold light suddenly appeared as Xu Qing flicked out a Scorpion Tail Pin, which landed precisely on Zhang Shi.
A snake's mouth harbors harm, a bee's tail holds a sting.
The Scorpion Tail Pin was transformed from the heart of a venomous woman; anyone poisoned by this pin would experience unbearable pain but have no way to seek death.
Xu Qing let Zhang Shi suffer, then turned to Qin An and said: "Three feet above your head is a deity, what you have done is already known to the authorities. Once the truth is revealed to the world, you will not escape death and will be scorned by thousands!"
After retrieving the Scorpion Tail Pin and pricking Qin An with it, Xu Qing turned back to Zhang Shi and said: "The Ye mother and daughter have achieved immortality, but after you die, you will be reduced to an animal. Do you know the fate of a hen that doesn't lay eggs?"
Xu Qing laughed: "For all your scheming, others gain the fortune and longevity you sought. Too bad you won't see the scene of Qiao Fang enjoying the family estate with other wives."
"That's my estate!"
Zhang Shi spat out a mouthful of blood in defiance and fainted.
Such people will only suffer because they failed to harm others.
Xu Qing retrieved the Scorpion Tail Pin, still feeling unsatisfied.
If not for wanting to vent the little girl's grievance, he would have killed such people early to ease his mind!
...
At the Linjiang County Government Office, when Chief Zhao posted the images of Kong Youde and Guaiguai on Liu Qing Street, it wasn't long before someone identified them.
Chief Zhao rushed to the Qiao Family without delay, only to find Zhang Shi babbling incoherently upon entering.
"I am a deity, I am the deity! That little brat deserves to die, I want to strangle you!"
Zhang Shi shifted between claiming she was immortal and attacking the maid, intent on doing harm.
When she saw Zhao Zhonghe and others come in wearing their official constable attire, Zhang Shi exclaimed in terror: "Don't arrest me, don't arrest me, Qin An is the murderer, catch him!"
At this moment, Qin An, with glazed eyes, was running aimlessly at the street corner, trying to escape Jin Sect, unaware he was running circles around the old locust tree.
Zhao Zhonghe looked at the chaotic scene and ordered: "Take them all back to the Government Office!"
The Qiao family members lined up like criminals and were escorted out. Among them, only one cook, Zheng Bold, was the happiest, grinning, "Son, is your illness really cured?"
The one addressed as "son," in his twenties and dressed unusually, replied: "Yes, this morning, a young lady brought me a pill, and someone outside said that if I took it, I would become smart."
"Which young lady?"
"Of course, the young lady born to the second wife, she's the only miss in the estate."
Upon hearing this, even Zheng Bold, known for his courage, felt a chill down his spine.
Zheng Ersha continued, "That miss saved me, and I want to repay her. The situation in the woodshed was Kong Youde's doing; he tricked me with a roast chicken to take off my clothes, framing the second wife. It was wrong..."
As Zhao Zhonghe escorted the Qiao family past the grand locust tree, someone pointed at Qin An running circles underneath and said, "That's Qin An!"
Well! Even after a long search at the Qiao family, they found him here doing morning exercise!
Take him as well!
At the Government Office, they commenced the trial.
As Zhao Zhonghe escorted the Qiao family, many people witnessed it along the way. Jin Sect people love a good spectacle, and upon hearing of a big case, they followed as if watching a free drama.
Xu Qing stood nearby with the little Shiyue, now hidden again, accompanied by an attendant holding a child.
Shang Shaoyang, with Chen Liu'Er on his neck, asked: "Brother Xu, why not go in and watch the trial?"
Xu Qing shook his head: "The government office is too oppressive. I'm afraid of scaring the child, watching from here is fine."
Shang Shaoyang glanced up at Chen Liu'Er perched on his neck, the little troublemaker was eagerly watching his County Magistrate godfather conduct the trial.
When Chen Guangrui had heard all testimonies and understood the truth, he immediately threw the green-headed document and ordered Zhang Shi and Qin An to be stripped and flogged to appease the public anger.
"Look! That's my godfather!"
Outside the courtroom, Chen Liu'Er turned to look at Xu Qing with pride on his face.
Beside Shang Shaoyang, Xu Qing also had the little girl riding on his neck.
The little girl silently watched the County Magistrate handling the trial and the villains receiving their punishment on the stand.
As Zhang Shi and Qin An were sentenced to be paraded, then executed at the Vegetable Market, the injustice to the Qiao family was finally brought to light.