Butcher's Blade, The (2026)

[bunniefuu]

"SONG CRIMINAL CODE"

ADULTERY AND r*pe ARE PUNISHABLE

BY 18 MONTHS OF PENAL SERVITUDE

IF INJURY OCCURS, THE PENALTY

IS INCREASED BY ONE DEGREE

ATTEMPTED THEFT IS PUNISHABLE

BY 50 LASHES WITH THE CANE

DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT STOLEN,

THE PUNISHMENT MAY RANGE

FROM LASHINGS TO EXILE WITH HARD LABOR

THOSE WHO PRIVATELY MINT COINS

SHALL BE PUNISHED TO EXILE

OFFICIALS WHO ACCEPT BRIBES AND PERVERTHE LAW ARE PUNISHED TO A CANING

CONSPIRACY TO m*rder A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL

OR SUPERIOR IS PUNISHED BY EXILE

IF THE VICTIM IS INJURED,

THE SENTENCE IS EXECUTION BY HANGING

IF THE VICTIM IS k*lled,

THE SENTENCE IS EXECUTION BY BEHEADING

FOR OFFICIALS WHO EMBEZZLE OR STEAL

FROM THOSE UNDER THEIR SUPERVISION,

THE PENALTY IS THAT FOR ORDINARY THEFINCREASED BY TWO DEGREES

AT SUFFICIENT AMOUNTS,

THE PENALTY IS DEATH BY HANGING

THOSE WHO COMMIT m*rder SHALL BE BEHEADED

THOSE WHO k*ll INTENTIONALLY

OR WITH A BLADE SHALL BE HANGED

IF A WEAPON IS USED,

REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES,

IT SHALL BE TREATED AS m*rder WITH INTENThe officials have arrived.

And what difference does it make?

Her life is ruined anyway.

Getting involved with that scoundrel,

she could only consider herself unlucky.

Since you care about her,

why don't you help her?

Isn't he just a constable?

Who did this to her?

The scoundrel from the coffin shop.

Every woman here has been ruined by him.

This time,

can we expect justice?

With witnesses and evidence,

he can't escape.

I'm tired.

I'm not running anymore.

Chasing at my heels,

like a dog.

Now it's your turn to run.

Son of a b*tch.

Constable dog.

Dog...

Let me go!

Let me go!

Don't let him escape!

-Catch him!

-Catch him!

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

Catch him!

I work for the government.

Who would believe that?

-I work for the government!

-We can't let him take him away!

I work for the government!

What are you doing?!

What are you doing?!

My lord,

it's late and chilly.

Our humble shop has prepared some hot tea

for you to warm up.

I see.

Your son can stay here first.

Let's wait

until the case is cleared up.

Sir,

this isn't in accordance with the rules.

Rules?

What rules?

He has been accused of r*pe

and as*ault by the people.

According to the law, the suspect

should be arrested and detained.

Do I need you to teach me

how to handle a case?

Sir,

I'll bring the witnesses right now.

That courtesan wants an explanation.

Isn't this an explanation?

He really thinks too highly of himself.

Get out.

Get out!

My name is Xue Buyi.

I'm a constable.

I've been on duty for ten years,

and I've been a coward for ten years.

NOODLES

Here.

Erniang, let me help you.

You're here early today.

VINEGAR

You're always eating plain noodles.

Today, I made something different.

Do you want to try it?

I'm not used to anything else.

It's Bianliang style,

the taste of your hometown.

Erniang.

NOODLES

Landowner Wei,

here is the rent for you.

I'll move out in a few days.

Don't do it.

Where else can you go

without this noodle stand?

Your rent is too high.

I can't afford it.

It's not that I want

to make it difficult for you.

I truly care about you.

Look at your hands.

They're all calloused.

Wouldn't it be better

to live a good life with me?

You'd be much better off with...

You want to stand up for her?

Sure.

You...

can pay Erniang's rent

for the next few months.

-How much?

-Ten taels a month.

Give me three months' worth first.

Don't pick them up.

Don't say I didn't give you a chance.

That soy sauce.

For every flask you drink,

I'll subtract a tael of silver.

This is none of your business. Leave.

Please.

SOY SAUCE

SOY SAUCE

Cut it out!

It's not like I have to stay here!

If you don't have the ability,

don't show off.

In the end,

you still have to rely on Erniang.

Don't take it to heart.

I may be useless.

But at least,

I want to keep this stand for Erniang.

Even if...

Excellent!

Lord Zhang is impressive!

Great footwork!

-Let's play another round!

-Come on!

Keep going!

Come on, sir!

Good!

Good-for-nothings.

Lord Zhang, have some water.

Sir, look.

Here.

Good!

Lord Zhang, fantastic!

Good!

Excellent!

Tell me, what do you want from me?

I want

to ask you to assign me a good job.

You've come to your senses.

I just want to earn some silver.

Wait for my word.

Take it to be washed.

TREASURY AND GRANARY

Did Jailer Zhang send you over?

For this flood disaster in Hedong City,

the court allocated

500,000 taels of relief funds,

all stored in our treasury.

You will split up into pairs

and start patrolling tonight

in shifts around the clock.

No mistakes are allowed.

That's all. Disperse.

Go back and prepare.

-All right.

-Let's go.

Foreman.

How is the pay

for guarding the treasury calculated?

You want more money?

Does the salary

from the state office not count?

You're quite handy.

I have no choice.

My kid keeps demanding it.

Which section are you from?

I was newly transferred

from the southern section.

You were in the outhouse for a long time.

I drank too much yesterday.

You really should drink less.

What did Jailer Zhang tell you?

Is there really no extra pay for this job?

Foreman,

this is a little token from our manager.

Enter.

Hey, here.

Who is this for?

Who do you think?

There are quite a few grain merchants

from Linzhou this time.

They all want to come out on top

to sell more stored grain.

Whoever pays more

naturally gets the business.

Taking this step

wasn't that hard after all.

Foreman.

Foreman.

Don't move!

This man broke into the treasury at night.

Tie him up quickly.

What are you doing? I'm one of you!

Sir.

Sir.

Stay put.

Make it quick.

Then you'll suffer less.

Sir,

what is the meaning of this?

Isn't it clear enough?

The prefect of Pingyang City, Zhang Yuzhi,

secretly colluded with grain merchants

and conspired with bandit leaders

to steal 30,000 taels

of disaster relief silver

and was caught red-handed.

Do you

confess?

Sir,

if I were the inside man,

why would I risk my life

to catch that thief?

All the guards are dead,

and only you survived.

You snake.

Snake!

You should

help him.

Who are you?

I am the Inspector of Hedong City,

Li Zhen.

This case has been handed over

to the Criminal Investigation Department.

The suspect stays here.

You can leave.

I can't make the decision on this matter.

Go back and wait.

The suspect has confessed

with a fingerprint,

which is an admission of guilt.

What else is there

to investigate in this case?

Didn't you hear?

The magistrate has already

made a decision.

Judicial Commissioner Huang is here!

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENJudicial Commissioner Huang.

Magistrate Yang.

I didn't know you were coming, Lord Huang.

I apologize for not coming out

to receive you.

Jailer Zhang,

prepare the wine.

Let's skip the wine.

I have some good tea.

Once the case is resolved,

I'll invite you for a cup of tea.

Then I will definitely accompany you

to investigate this case

and get to the bottom of it.

Lord Yang, you're busy

with official duties at the state office,

so there's no need

to trouble yourself with this case.

Lord Yang, please feel free to leave.

Do you admit your guilt?

I am being framed.

There are hidden sentries

outside the treasury.

Five miles north

is the military headquarters.

Once the signal arrow is fired,

reinforcements arrive in less than half

of an incense stick's time.

The sentry layout changes daily,

known only to the day's foreman.

Without an insider,

how could the bandits eliminate them all?

It was that bearded man.

Tell me more.

That bearded man claimed

to be a transferred constable.

I saw it with my own eyes.

He helped the bandits move

the relief silver.

He must have figured out the sentry layout

during patrols.

The person I caught

could easily handle the sentries,

given his agility.

I only

glimpsed the other person,

but he seemed strong,

as many guards had broken bones.

Only Jailer Zhang

could have planted the bearded man.

You're from Eagle Hall after all.

You kept your wits about you.

Buyi.

How have you been all these years?

Master,

I've disgraced you.

I know it's not easy for you.

But the court established Eagle Hall

to train iron-willed officers.

The current you

is indeed disappointing.

Master,

please give me another chance.

You caught the man.

Do you want to interrogate him?

Fei Erlang,

the Criminal Investigation Department

uncovered your identity,

so they can also find out

about the other two.

Confess quickly.

You officers

only have these tricks.

High-ranking officer,

I pulled off such a big job.

Why don't we

have a chat?

Let me try.

You're no good either.

Mister,

be careful when breaking ribs.

You could easily pierce the organs.

It's effective.

Buyi,

the Eagle Hall Code includes three tests,

capture, interrogation, and execution.

How many did you pass?

Master,

I only passed the "capture" test.

I don't believe

it's because you're incapable.

It's just that you have sentimental mercy.

So many years have passed.

I thought

you would have matured.

Seven-faced Fox

and Nine-patterned Dragon.

Are they your accomplices?

They asked me

to handle the sentries.

How much each earns

depends on our own ability.

Who is the bearded man?

Fox.

Was he sent by Jailer Zhang?

I don't know.

Did Yang Shouxin instruct you?

I...

Master, he's just a small fry.

The other two are key.

If I intervene in this case,

Magistrate Yang will definitely

seek assistance from above.

Catch those two bandits quickly.

Yes.

You can participate too.

Remember,

a thunderous approach is

the same as a compassionate heart.

The treasury theft case

requires thorough

and appropriate handling.

You're doing well.

Stop joking. I'm just an underling.

One word from above,

and we're running ourselves ragged.

Did you get married?

If I got married, wouldn't I tell you?

You didn't get married, did you?

Me?

When I'm like this?

Buyi,

no offense,

but you were amazing before.

Without you, there wouldn't be me.

You were just too stubborn.

If you had pleaded with the master,

you could have stayed at Eagle Hall.

This time, the master is testing you,

and it's an opportunity for you.

Take my advice.

Don't be as foolish as before.

How should we investigate further?

The silver isn't something

they can spend just as they wish.

They will definitely find someone

to fence the silver.

And it's not a small amount.

There aren't many places

that can melt it down.

Do you mean

the underground bank?

Who are you?

We're officials investigating a case.

You're government officials?

Do you know whose place this is?

I'll go check over there.

What are you doing?

Illegally minting copper coins

is a serious crime.

I'll give you a chance.

Have you seen him?

I haven't.

Have you heard of Nine-patterned Dragon

and Seven-faced Fox?

ACCOUNT BOOK

What's going on?

Sir,

we are all disaster victims,

just trying to find some work to survive.

Please, let us go.

The case is more urgent.

To hell with you!

Screw you!

-Who told you to speak?

-Stop, please!

I was wrong!

-Blabbermouth!

-Stop it!

I've had enough of these miscreants.

You knew about the underground bank

all along, didn't you?

Yes, I knew.

What did you find?

Just wait.

The clues will come to us.

Oh, you!

It's all with your blessing.

Hey, here they come.

Have a seat.

Sit.

Let me introduce them to you.

These are my disciples.

Li Zhen and Xue Buyi.

Landowner Wei.

Do you know each other?

Quite well.

What a coincidence!

The underground bank you just searched

belongs to Landowner Wei.

Tell Landowner Wei what you think.

Look familiar?

ACCOUNT BOOK

Lord Huang, didn't you say earlier

that today isn't about official business,

only friends?

That depends on

whether you want to be my friend.

Please, Lord Huang.

Our master doesn't drink.

Today,

I just want some information.

Your underground banks

are all over Pingyang City.

The clues to the treasury theft

might be there.

Please write down the locations

of all the underground banks.

Lord Huang,

I just help with bookkeeping

and have never been involved

in the underground bank business.

I don't know about these things.

Landowner Wei, don't fret.

Drink this cup of liquor.

Perhaps

you will remember something.

I don't drink either.

Why don't you let me...

Then drink soy sauce.

-Waiter.

-No need.

I remember now.

I remember now.

What do you think

we are working for?

Just follow our master.

-Take a look over here.

-Yes.

Power will come.

Officer, this is a gift for you.

Wealth will come.

NOODLES

Previously, the rent was too high.

From now on, it's one tael per month.

Dignity will come too.

This was found in the underground bank.

The other half has already been melted.

Did you find the source?

The coffin shop in the east section.

Bring the culprit to see me

within three days.

What are you doing here again?

I'll ask only once.

Where did this come from?

Official silver

naturally came from the court.

Official silver.

Tell us!

The dye house.

The man had a strong dye smell.

What did he look like?

He deliberately covered his face.

How would I know what he looks like?

Think again.

That man has a powerful grip.

He broke one of the workers' arms

with his bare hands.

Buyi.

Seven-faced Fox.

Nine-patterned Dragon.

Let's go.

Wait.

Every woman here has been ruined by him.

This time,

can we expect justice?

Take it.

Are you resisting arrest?

Did you see it?

Of course.

My face!

You two,

go check over there.

That man has a powerful grip.

Nine-patterned Dragon.

Run!

Catch!

Buyi,

you were slow.

It's been too long without practice.

I'm rusty.

Go!

Not here.

Not here.

GOOD FORTUNE FIREWORKS AND FIRECRACKERS

So this

is what Seven-faced Fox means.

Is there any benefit

from this task?

No.

Erniang,

everyone says your noodles are delicious,

and they'll be coming back often.

If you ever need anything,

just ask...

So delicious.

Everyone, dig in.

-Sure.

-Of course.

NOODLES

Leave them.

They can handle it themselves.

This landlady is a good cook

and has a kind heart.

Give it to me.

She just doesn't smile.

The noodles are good.

But she doesn't treat you very well.

-Let's not talk about it.

-Oh, you're blushing.

All right.

I was just thinking.

First, it was a bearded man,

then a young lady.

This Seven-faced Fox

must have at least five more faces.

The escalating treasury embezzlement case

now demands urgent resolution.

As long as he's a human,

he can't escape.

How do you plan to catch him?

Sir, may I have a word

with you in private?

Just say it.

This is my brother.

The message is from above.

You guys eat.

I'm going to relieve myself.

That night, I realized

that the respect others gave me

was because of Li Zhen.

I wanted to prove to everyone

that I

deserve their respect.

Have you seen this sachet before?

No, I haven't.

RUYI BROCADE SHOP

MASTER SHOULIU

NANCHENG TAILOR SHOP

NANCHENG TAILOR SHOP

Shopkeeper.

This is mine.

Kid,

I found this at the door.

Is it yours?

No, it's not. Mine is here.

Xiao Chong.

Xiao Chong!

Xiao Chong!

You're back.

Sorry, I used your outhouse.

Where's my child?

Is that your child?

What have you done to him?

He's fine for now.

Have all the underground banks

been searched?

Yes.

But no clues

about the Seven-faced Fox were found.

Where did Xue Buyi go?

We've been acting separately lately,

so I'm not sure.

Acting separately?

Master.

He's the Seven-faced Fox.

Are you sure?

I've interrogated him.

The mastermind is Yang Shouxin.

Yes.

How was he caught?

I'm slow-witted,

unlike my junior,

so it took more time.

I went door to door to find him.

As long as Seven-faced Fox testifies

against Yang Shouxin,

it will be ironclad evidence.

How can you ensure

he won't recant in court

and put us in a perilous position?

Master,

I remembered everything you taught me.

I have my ways

to make him comply.

Yang Shouxin has gathered

a group of loyal warriors in his mansion.

He must know

that Seven-faced Fox has been caught.

Those who resist,

k*ll without mercy!

-Yes!

-Yes!

I've long heard

that Lord Huang's guards are brave

and decisive in battle.

Today, I see

that it's true.

Lord Yang, are you implying

that I used my guards

to k*ll innocents indiscriminately?

Isn't that so?

Lord Yang, you've misunderstood.

I always comply with legal reasoning.

The Judicial Censor is here!

Lord Yang is the city magistrate.

I am the Judicial Commissioner

of the Hedong Circuit.

The theft of disaster relief silver

is a major issue.

Lord Yang and I are responsible

for explaining it to the court.

Since the Judicial Censor is here

to inspect the eight prefectures,

I will clear this case

in front of him.

Bring the person up.

The criminal, Seven-faced Fox,

broke into the treasury at night,

k*lled the guards,

and stole the disaster relief silver.

Am I correct?

It's what I did.

Who instructed you?

Yang Shouxin.

Are you referring to the magistrate here?

Exactly.

He has been secretly fighting

with the prefect for a long time.

He sent me to steal the silver

to frame the prefect

and bring him down.

Do you have any evidence?

The luminous glass lamp

lost at Yanchi Pavilion three months ago,

the Golden Buddha statue

lost at Xiaoyun Tower a year ago,

and the coiled dragon jade

excavated from the Han King's tomb

three years ago

were all stolen by me.

He likes to collect rare items.

They should all be in his mansion.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENLord Yang,

how do you explain this?

My lord, what do you think?

I must trouble you, Lord Huang,

to escort him back to the capital.

The Court of Judicial Review has ways

to make him confess to the crime.

Thank you for your efforts.

Lord Huang,

you and I serve in the same court.

You should know the rules

of the officialdom.

In this matter,

I am just a pawn.

My words don't count.

As for the hand that moves the pawns...

I've heard Lord Huang is skilled in chess.

Which pawns to take and which not to,

I need not say.

Excellent Xiaofengtuan.

Superior tea.

Lord Huang, we can discuss any terms

you have.

The main culprit, Yang Shouxin,

committed suicide out of guilt.

And his accomplice, the Seven-faced Fox,

seized a blade during the chaos

and was k*lled on the spot.

-How is it?

-This is done.

What's wrong, Buyi?

Are we solving a case or dividing spoils?

Only if you take it

are you one of us.

I've never seen so much.

Buyi.

You handled this case well.

Come back to Bianliang City with me.

Thanks for your guidance, Master.

Even a small place like Pingyang City

has so much strife.

Bianliang City

will be even more dangerous.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

From now on,

I'll follow your instructions.

Now that the Seven-faced Fox

has been brought to justice,

there's no need

to keep the child, is there?

Find an abandoned body of similar size,

preferably from the last two days.

You've come this far.

Buyi,

don't be foolish.

He's just a child.

All right.

You need to get used to it.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to help you.

We've been brothers for so many years.

Can you let me off

just this once?

That's why I can't let you do this.

Buyi,

this isn't that hard.

Li Zhen!

I beg you to let the child go!

Buyi,

have you forgotten?

How many brothers

did we k*ll at his age

to stay at Eagle Hall?

Our hands

are already stained with blood.

I had no choice in the past.

We still have no choice now!

I will tell Master

that you k*lled the child.

From now on,

don't be foolish anymore.

What did the child do wrong?

Wake up, Li Zhen!

It was an accident.

I didn't mean to k*ll him.

I just wanted him to understand

that I couldn't follow

his path.

NOTICE FROM PINGYANG PREFECTURAL OFFICE

It's him.

Looking like this?

You said he k*lled a court official?

That's what the wanted notice says.

Isn't that him in the drawing?

Take him away!

What's wrong?

He's the one who saved you?

Isn't he an officer?

Let's go.

He's a troublemaker.

Let's go.

All right.

Sorry.

So you're not dead yet.

When you were swaggering

behind Huang Shining,

did you ever think of today?

Erniang should see what you look like now.

Look at you!

Let's go.

He won't die.

Don't delay the government's work.

These disaster victims are quite loyal.

It's a pity.

They don't even know

they're at death's door.

What do you mean?

Let me tell you,

dozens of people in the Yang household

were k*lled by Huang Shining and his men.

But Huang Shining thought

that wasn't enough.

Just getting rid of Yang Shouxin

wasn't enough!

He wants a great achievement!

What nonsense are you talking about?

Nonsense?

Yang Shouxin was labeled a rebel,

and I suffered because of it.

You probably don't know, do you?

All those people in the underground banks

of Pingyang City were silenced!

The fact that Huang Shining

has reached where he is today

is inseparable from you!

You still dare to kick me?

Huang Shining wants

to use the heads of those disaster victims

to cement the charge

of inciting rebellion!

Those victims are being sent

to their deaths!

You've fallen to this state

and have no other way out.

You might as well leave the city with me.

I'll find someone to treat your injuries.

In return, you protect me,

and you'll have a meal to eat.

WANTED

NOODLES

VINEGAR

Don't push! One at a time!

Let me have a look.

What's your name?

-I'll do any work.

-I can too.

I've got plenty of strength.

Stop looking. Don't cause trouble for me.

Hurry up.

How many people are there below?

There are already over 100.

That's enough.

Let's do it tonight.

The remnants

of Yang Shouxin's rebel faction

gathered 1,000 people on the evening

of the Dingmao day in the Shen month,

intending to stage a rebellion.

Huang Shining,

the judicial commissioner

of the Hedong Circuit,

personally led the guards

to suppress the rebellion

and beheaded 100 bandits,

vowing to ensure local peace.

The medicine might hurt,

but it works.

Leaving

might not be shameful.

But I can't get past

that hurdle in my heart.

I...

don't want to hide anymore.

If you want to go to your death,

I won't stop you.

It's always unpleasant

when I see you anyway.

This time,

don't let that old scoundrel

have his way either!

Go!

Huang Shining!

You are here.

Come.

Have a drink with me.

Stop pretending!

All of Pingyang City will know

what kind of person you are.

People only care about themselves.

No one cares about the truth.

The truth

is the story told by the victors.

If you leave,

you'll just be an ordinary fugitive.

But you came back.

That makes you the rebel leader.

The story is perfect.

For your own selfish gain,

you harm the innocent.

-Do you still consider yourself a human?

-And you?

Ten years in service,

and you have nothing.

You live worse than a dog!

Do you consider yourself a human?

Filthy old b*stard!

That's not how I taught you.

Too light!

Too slow!

Too obvious!

Now that looks a bit more like it.

Instead of being an eagle in the sky,

you insist on being a dog!

Eagle or dog,

a beast is just a beast!

I am Huang Shining, judicial commissioner

of the Hedong Circuit!

Tonight, there was a rebellion,

and I brought people here to fight!

This person is the rebel leader.

Arrest him!

Buyi,

watch closely.

This is

the last lesson I will give you.

It's not that I don't understand.

It's that I'm different from you.

Where did the suspect go?

Search thoroughly!

It seems someone in the court

couldn't stand it anymore.

In the end, Huang Shining was just a pawn.

The court has withdrawn

the warrant for your arrest.

There's also news

that you'll be rewarded soon.

Anyway, I'm going back.

Say something, will you?

Huang Shining, the judicial commissioner

of the Hedong Circuit,

held a high position,

but instead of serving the country

and caring for the people,

he sought to m*ssacre disaster victims

and fabricate signs of rebellion

for personal gain.

Yang Shouxin, the magistrate of Pingyang,

was loyal and brave

and saw through the treachery,

-but unfortunately, he met his demise.

-What's over there?

-Fortunately, heaven does not.

-There's a notice.

Abandon the loyal.

The court established Eagle Hall

to train iron-willed officers.

The Eagle Hall Code includes three tests.

Capture.

Cast the net wide

to capture the mastermind.

Better harsh than too forgiving.

Interrogation.

Master the art of cunning.

Strike with thunderous force.

Expose their treachery.

Execution.

Hold fast to the path of righteousness.

Root out evil to its core.

There is no room

for sentiment before the law.

Buyi,

how many did you pass?

I only passed the "capture" test.

I don't believe

it's because you're incapable.

Get out!

It's just that you have sentimental mercy.

EAST SIDE COFFIN SHOP

Did you get married?

You didn't get married, did you?

Me?

When I'm like this?

You were just too stubborn.

If you had pleaded with the master,

you could have stayed at Eagle Hall.

Come back to Bianliang City with me.

In the past, so many descendants

of noble families

and meritorious generals

were named.

Buyi.

Do not forget your past.

Eagle Hall is your foundation.

NOODLES

And Bianliang City is your true home.

PLAIN NOODLES

It's Bianliang style,

the taste of your hometown.

But even so, it's nothing more

than using power to oppress others.

Bianliang

or Pingyang,

what difference does that make?

Have you forgotten?

Our hands

are already stained with blood.

I had no choice in the past.

Do you truly wish to return?

One, two, three.

One, two, three, go.

Go.

One, two, three.