Master Lin had lived for decades without ever imagining he would witness someone being flayed alive... But unexpectedly, leaning against the wall, watching this act of pure savagery, and hearing the inhuman screams, this scholar from a family of poets and books, who had experienced almost the entire era of 'Abundant Prosperity,' was surprisingly not overwhelmed.

If a reason had to be given, it could only be said that in the previous six months, this naturally wealthy and honored Master Lin had a vague but not yet fully formed idea, and it was this idea that gave him enough mental preparation – the chaotic world of cannibalistic savagery described in history books had really arrived, and it was impossible to avoid it just because he, Lin Jingmo, had a good family background and a high official position!

In fact, since Caizhou, Master Lin had volunteered three times... The first time he volunteered to go to Wuguan was a misunderstanding. He had noticed that the Emperor seemed particularly interested in Niu Gao, so he wanted to request to go to Ruzhou, but he was too slow to react, and ended up going to Wuguan with Liu Yan by mistake.

However, that aborted mission brought Lin Jingmo a great shock. Because he was separated from the main force and the imperial entourage, he witnessed the horrific scenes of the war that far exceeded Emperor Zhao's imagination, and he even became confused and失态 (shī tài - lost composure), and was laughed at by the soldiers, and even given a nickname by Grand Commandant Han.

However, he finally persevered, and later, Master Lin volunteered to go down to the city to appease Zhai Chong, and after that failed, he volunteered to come to Xiangzhou for the third time a few days ago, all of which were decisions he had made long ago, and not by accident.

The sky was dim, the rain was incessant, and the executioner soldiers were gradually becoming flustered in the midst of the screams – even though they were used to life and death matters, and were professional killers, how could they have ever experienced such a thing?

Doesn't flaying require skill and experience?

Many people around were frightened pale, and some even covered their faces and mouths, but didn't the executioners themselves feel terrified?

When the skin was peeled down to the chest, one of the generals' hands slipped, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, he directly cut open the throat of the humanoid object in front of him, making it impossible for the latter to make any more sound.

And without the screams, the rain outside the hall was pouring down, but the atmosphere inside the hall was even more eerie.

When Fan Qiong saw this scene, he was about to show his anger, but as soon as he stood up and looked around, seeing everyone looking at him in silence, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and an inexplicable panic arose... In the end, Fan Baozhen took advantage of the situation to order the man to be executed, and then he left with a flick of his sleeves.

With Fan Qiong gone, the hall was a mess, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but they were still horrified.

However, although the execution was over, Master Lin and Wang Jun did not meet again until the evening... This was mainly because Fan Qiong summoned Wang Jun, Han Li, and several key military officers to the backyard of the prefectural government again, with wine and food, and added gold and silver rewards.

And just in case, the former was sent back by Wang Jun early in the day.

"The Master is a true man."

The sky was completely dark, and the rain outside was still incessant. Wang Jun entered the room with a body full of alcohol and dampness, and was suddenly stunned to see that Master Lin was still calmly reading. Then, he sincerely cupped his hands and sighed with emotion. "But please forgive me, Master. I really didn't expect today's events..."

"Is that so?" Master Lin lay on his side on the couch, staring at the book in his hand, without even looking at the other person. "I only realized today that you, Commander Wang, are so familiar with the soldiers of your Lord Grand Commandant Fan... Perhaps you really don't know, but if anyone else knows about today's events, you must be the first to know, right?"

Wang Jun opened his mouth, revealing two gap-toothed holes, but he couldn't refute. After a moment, he found a small stool in front of the couch, carefully gathered his hands and sat down. "If the Master says so, I can't do anything... But I was really scared today. Sitting here now, I can only praise the Master as a true man again."

"A true man what?"

Master Lin turned a page and continued to read while responding. "I also vomited after I came back... But that must not be fear, but just disgust."

"Indeed, disgusting." Wang Jun echoed.

"However, if you think I haven't seen a dead person before, and you intend to use Fan Qiong to scare me into losing my mind, and then be manipulated and coaxed by you, then you don't need to think too much." Master Lin said calmly while looking at the book. "As far as I'm concerned... think of Liu Guangshi of Bagong Mountain and Ding Jin of Huaixi, each of whom had tens of thousands of soldiers when they were alive, and were invincible. When they died, they were just piles of rotten meat. Do you think I haven't seen it with my own eyes? As far as today's events in the hall are concerned... think of those deserters, they are not vicious people. If you want to kill someone, just kill them. What's the point of flaying them alive? Does your Lord Grand Commandant Fan think that by doing this, he can escape with his life in a few days?"

Wang Jun was silent for a moment, then nodded in response: "The Master is right."

"And if today's events really have some consequences, in my opinion, it's not a good result." Master Lin continued casually. "Buddhists say that there is karma, and Taoists say that blessings and misfortunes are invited by oneself. This Lord Grand Commandant Fan flays people alive today. When he dies, no one will say anything about what punishment the Emperor uses... You're right?"

"The Master is a dignified scholar, so the principles are naturally extremely correct." Wang Jun said carefully, pursing his gap-toothed mouth. "But no matter what, the Master should have seen the ferocity of Lord Grand Commandant Fan today... The Master may not be afraid, but I am a little afraid of this kind of thing. Master, I only hope that you can understand. Even if I have the intention, how dare I easily start a move now, and be the one to step forward?"

"Where is there any ferocity? Today I only saw that your Lord Grand Commandant Fan is outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, and there is a lack of harmony." Master Lin finally put down his book, and then looked at the person in front of him with his hands clasped. "Commander Wang, I don't want to say much to you... Today I will only tell you one principle and one explanation. Listen if you want to, and don't regret it in the future."

Wang Jun opened his mouth to speak, but finally stood up, as if a student listening to a teacher.

"Speaking of principles, Fan Qiong's perverse actions have reached this point, and you can't delay any longer, because you, this loach, can slip away with me, a reasonable person, but you must not continue to slip away with a madman holding a knife. Today he flayed people alive for no reason. Will he go crazy and chop you and Han Li to pieces tomorrow?" Master Lin stared at the person in front of him coldly. "And to explain, I only realized today that you haven't been indecisive these past few days, but you want to sit on the ground and bargain. But now, I am already disgusted with you. Therefore, the words about retaining your position and military power are all invalid..."

Wang Jun was suddenly shocked and looked up abruptly.

"And today I won't let you raise troops to capture Fan Qiong. I only need you to agree to open the city as soon as the Imperial Camp troops arrive..." Master Lin picked up the book again and said. "Right here, under this lamp, if you agree, I will guarantee the lives and private property of your whole family; if you don't agree, please leave. I don't have the strength to restrain a chicken, and I will never go out to find Han Li and others, but when the royal army arrives, I won't even protect the lives of your whole family! That's it!"

Wang Jun stood there, silent for a long time, with fear, anger, helplessness, and regret intertwined, but after a long time, watching the person in front of him continue to lie on the couch, holding the book with undiminished grace, his momentum finally gradually dissipated, and then he prostrated himself on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing:

"Thank you, Master, for leaving me a way out... Please give me a token, and I will send someone out of the city overnight to send a message to Nanyang!"