Chapter 3: The Mistake of the Fierce and Swift Wind

  The four words "Tight Arhat's Cap" have become a true mantra, clearly the gift of Guanyin to Sun Wukong, looking beautiful but actually a hardware device for the Tightening Spell.

  Headache, really headache.

  King Xuan of Zhou no longer has the spirit to fight against the Rong and Di at this moment. These confusing prophecies are already annoying enough. In fact, it's still because he doesn't have enough confidence in his own abilities, strength, and combat power. So a children's rhyme, a strange event that is hard to distinguish between true and false, has caused him great confusion.

  Can one just sit and wait for death?

  Zhou Xuan Wang gritted his teeth and made up his mind, launching a series of moves in succession.

  First, both inside and outside the city, launch a dragnet search. The target of the search is naturally that strange *. Don't worry about what kind of deity she is for now, just catch her first and ask questions later. Let's see how powerful this witch really is! Order Grand Master Du Bo to oversee this matter personally.

  Secondly, the commander ordered the lower officials to supervise the market officials and search the markets. They were not allowed to manufacture or sell wooden bows and arrow bags made of grass. Those who violated this order would be put to death. You are not frequently appearing with your bow and arrow, now I will cut you off from the source of production, no one will produce them, what can you do? The common people in the city were furious, it seems that this rumor is true, can't we just mobilize the masses like this? At that time, people's hearts were in a state of panic.

  Man proposes, God disposes.

  The villagers, as the broad masses at the grassroots level, had not yet received the news that the production and sale of mountain mulberry bows and arrow bags were prohibited. On this day, a villager happened to bring his wife and some bows and arrows, as well as an arrow bag he made himself, to sell in the city. Before they even entered the city gate, the market official was sharp-eyed and shouted for them to be caught, immediately seizing the woman. The man didn't know why they were being arrested, saw these people looking fierce and evil, and hastily fled in panic!

  The woman was taken to Zuo Ru without asking whether she was innocent or guilty. At this time, Zuo Ru made a subjective mistake and only thought that the woman and the goods matched the rumor, without considering that there was also a man involved. He directly reported to King Zhou Xuan, saying that the woman was selling contraband and should be put to death. The mulberry bow and arrow bag were like poison at this moment, and anyone who touched them would die. King Zhou Xuan was now at ease and ordered the woman to be executed and the mulberry bow and arrow bag to be burned.

  Alas, sacrificing people's lives can't save the Zhou Dynasty from its impending doom.

  As for the escaped man, while escaping with his life, he secretly returned to the city to gather information, thinking that he hadn't done anything illegal or disorderly, so why were people being randomly arrested? But then he found out that his wife had already been executed. With a panicked and disordered heart, he didn't know where to go, but somehow ended up at the Qing Shui River bank.

  By the river, he saw hundreds of birds flying, and upon closer inspection, a bundle of reeds was floating on the water's surface. The birds were working together to drag it towards the shore with their beaks. The man pulled out the bundle and heard a faint cry. It turned out to be a baby boy. Since this child had been rescued by hundreds of birds, he must not be an ordinary person. So the man wrapped up the child and went to seek refuge with his fellow villagers.

  This matter made King Xuan of Zhou feel anxious, but as the farce unfolded, it seemed to have passed. The king's heart was somewhat at ease. However, these prophecies were like seeds buried in the earth, and no one knew when they would sprout.

  It was not until four years later, in the 43rd year of King Xuan of Zhou.