Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Life-taking and Mutilation

“Woo woo woo~!”

Behind Chen Gou’er, the little beast that resembled a wolfdog crawled out, raised its head, and emitted a series of howling sounds.

“Your Majesty, please look. This is the spirit beast cultivated by this humble citizen. It’s called the ’Nine-eared Dog’. Legend has it that it was born with nine ears, allowing it to understand human speech and affairs…”

Chen Gou’er boldly introduced, and the black dog also sat in place, nodding approvingly.

Zheng Yi looked at the wolfdog, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

Is this truly a spirit beast?

He circled around the wolfdog once, as Chen Gou’er stood beside him, nervous and sweating profusely.

Several concubines nearby also gathered around.

Lu Lin’er spoke first, “This dog is so ugly~ Its body is so small, and its head is so big.”

Xu Qingluan also asked in confusion, “Why do I smell a scent of blood?”

Li Changle said, “Dogs eat meat, of course there’s a smell of blood.”

“Mother~ This dog looks so fierce!”

“Big doggy~”

“The smell of blood…?”

Zheng Yi’s heart stirred, finally reacting.

Indeed, there was a scent of blood on the dog.

But, this is the Imperial Palace. Chen Gou’er and his ’Nine-eared Dog’, when entering the palace to meet the Emperor, must have been cleaned by the palace eunuchs to avoid offending the nobles.

Why does this Nine-eared Dog still have a scent of blood after being cleaned?

Unless…

“Chen Gou’er, have your Nine-eared Dog walk twice!”

“Walk twice?”

Chen Gou’er was momentarily dumbfounded, but still said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Doggy, walk twice!”

As soon as the words were spoken, the wolfdog stood up and walked twice around him.

Its walking posture was very peculiar, head down, backside up high, staggered with each step.

Compared to ordinary dogs, this Nine-eared Dog looked nothing like a dog.

It rather seemed… like…

At this moment, Zheng Yi finally realized, a flash of murderous intent passed through his eyes.

“Your Majesty~…”

Behind him, Zhao Suling seemed to recall something and softly said, “This thing appears to be…”

“How dare you!”

Zheng Yi shouted angrily, scaring Chen Gou’er into kneeling instinctively.

“Your Majesty, what… what’s wrong?”

“You have some nerve…!”

Zheng Yi shouted angrily, “How dare you practice life-taking and mutilation right under my nose!”

Indeed.

This so-called ’Nine-eared Dog’ wolfdog is not a spirit beast at all.

But a child crafted by him!

The so-called life-taking and mutilation is the most vicious and evil among professional beggars.

Humans are made into some disabled or “monsters” to garner sympathy and earn generous donations from passersby.

For example, cutting off limbs, gouging out eyes, or chopping off the nose.

Even worse, bending or twisting a child’s limbs into monstrosities to earn huge sympathy coins.

This ’Nine-eared Dog’ is undoubtedly the most vicious method among them.

The child’s skin is peeled to ensure survival, while the skin of a wolfdog is prepared.

While the blood from both parties hasn’t dried, the dog skin is placed over the child, forming what’s now called ’Humanoid Dog’.

Then trained in various ways to swindle wealth through juggling or animal training.

The technique is brutal and inhumane.

These children, peeled and covered with dog skin, rarely survive beyond three to five years before their entire body rots away.

This man… deserves death!

“Life-taking and mutilation?”

Lu Lin’er asked curiously, “What does it mean?”

Xu Qingluan’s face turned pale.

Having briefly mingled in martial arts circles, she knew about life-taking and mutilation, hurriedly pulling Lu Lin’er aside and whispering, “Empress, you really shouldn’t know about this.”

“Why? I insist on knowing! Humph!”

“You…!”

Li Changle chuckled softly beside them, whispering, “Life-taking and mutilation involves breaking a child’s limbs…”

After a few breaths, Lu Lin’er’s face suddenly paled, looking extremely unpleasant, quickly turning to the nearby pond to retch.

Xu Qingluan frowned, “Changle, why provoke her?”

“Humph! I can’t stand her domineering face~!”

The women whispered among themselves, while on the other side, Chen Gou’er collapsed on the ground, trembling in fear, losing control of his bowels.

His entire family was involved in this, forming a sizable organization.

He was especially outstanding among them.

He could guarantee that the ’humanoid dogs’ they crafted wouldn’t die within ten years, earning them substantial ill-gotten gains.

This time, coaxed by subordinates and those around him, he decided to expose the Immortal Seeking Order.

To swindle some wealth first, and escape quickly before being caught.

Unexpectedly, he was discovered within moments of seeing the Emperor.

Zheng Yi couldn’t be bothered to hear his excuses, coldly ordered, “Take him away, execute by slow slicing!”

“Wife, children, and household, though unaware, exile to Nanyue County. As for followers, behead!”

Lu Lian knelt and said, “Yes!”

“Spare… spare my life…!”

Chen Gou’er truly broke down now, lying on the ground, tears and snot flowing, while everyone around looked at him with deep disgust.

Two Embroidered Uniform Guards stepped forward and dragged him away.

Slow slicing.

“Additionally, summon the Imperial Physician to examine… him.”

“Yes!”

Zheng Yi referred to the child concocted by Chen Gou’er.

He wondered whether the Imperial Physician’s skills would keep him alive.

“And also.”

Zheng Yi continued, “This man surely has accomplices. Bring Embroidered Uniform Guards to investigate and arrest all parties involved.”

“Those who dare resist, kill without mercy!”

“Yes!”

Lu Lian accepted the orders and left, while Zheng Yi turned and fixed his gaze on the last person.

“Hu Bafeng, you better say something that interests me. Otherwise…”

Before he finished speaking, Hu Bafeng ’thumped’ and knelt on the ground.

“Spare me, Your Majesty! Spare me, Your Majesty!”

“This humble citizen can indeed perform Dragon Seeking and Gold Pointing and explore Feng Shui. But… but I’m not a Feng Shui Master, actually…”

“A tomb raider, right.”

Zhao Suling casually said, “Your Majesty, I already discerned this person’s identity upon first sight.”

“With Water-Fire Shoes and the scent of Soft Corpse Fragrance and rotting corpse on him. To deceive Your Majesty… truly deserves death!”

“Spare me, Your Majesty! Spare me, Your Majesty…!”

Hu Bafeng kowtowed repeatedly, saying nothing, merely pleading for his life restlessly.

“Tomb raider?”

Tomb raider?

Mountain mover?

Xieling Ridge?

Zheng Yi had some interest in tomb raiding.

But considering his identity, he soon dismissed the thought.

Across the heavens, he lacked nothing aside from the Cultivation Secret Manual, why seek fortune through tomb raiding?

Unless…

It’s a cultivator’s tomb!

Zheng Yi immediately said, “Confine him first, don’t let him go.”

“Yes!”

The three were all taken away, and Zheng Yi shook his head in resignation.

Originally, he thought a real cultivator might answer the call, but it turned out to be three frauds!

However, these three frauds did bring him a bit of surprise.

Fire.

Tomb raiding.

As for Chen Gou’er’s life-taking and mutilation, death was warranted!

At this moment, an eunuch hurriedly approached.

“Your Majesty! Binzhou battle report!”

“Xu Mujun?”

Zheng Yi’s eyes brightened, quickly taking the battle report from the eunuch’s hands.

Xu Qingluan also hurried over, “Your Majesty, how is Father?”

Zheng Yi swiftly scanned the report, eyes showing an unusual expression, “Xu Qing, actually killed a cultivator?!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep