The afternoon sun blazed over the execution grounds in Yanzhou.
The streets were packed with people, and the air was stiflingly hot. Waves of heat shimmered in the air, but that did nothing to diminish the people's enthusiasm for watching the execution. For thousands of years, people have loved a spectacle, especially when they can kick someone who's already down without consequences.
Men and women, old and young, dressed in fine silks or ragged clothes, all gathered around the execution grounds.
Their noisy gossip was like countless invisible blades stabbing into the condemned man. It was as if beheading him in public were the lesser punishment, while enduring the world's scorn and humiliation was the true sentence.
"I heard he's a ruthless bandit."
"You bet. He killed nineteen people. What else would you call him?"
"Hmph! He used to hold an official post, too. Who would've thought he'd show his true colors over money?"
"The imperial court treated him well. Why betray Lord Xiao and become a bandit?"
"How would I know... Anyway, he's no good."
Theme: Ride the wind and break through the waves, until vengeance is finally served.
