Chapter 242 - 170: Also Paying a Visit
"Yes, don’t worry."
Fang Yue glanced coolly at County Magistrate Lin and took the silver banknote.
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!" Seeing Fang Yue accept the silver banknote, County Magistrate Lin’s face broke into a wide smile as he bowed repeatedly.
Fang Yue found it amusing. He had taken County Magistrate Lin’s silver, and yet the man was acting eternally grateful to him.
’Isn’t it just because of power? Isn’t it because a single word from me can change his destiny?’
Fang Yue shook his head internally, but the thought also served as a warning to himself.
In the past, he had practiced the Martial Dao to survive and to live a better life.
Now, that goal remained unchanged.
’If I want a better life, I can’t be bowing and scraping to everyone. I might unknowingly offend someone powerful and bring disaster upon myself.’
It was just as someone in his memories had once said: he wanted to climb, to climb to the very top, to a point where no one in the world would dare to bully him at will.
In this world, that meant continuously climbing the path of cultivation.
’The only reason I was able to join the Observatory this time was because of my Talent. If they had judged me as someone with no future, how could I possibly have today’s opportunity?’
Soon, Fang Yue arrived at the inner hall and met Zheng Changsheng, the City Lord of Denglai City.
City Lord of Denglai City, Zheng Changsheng.
His rank was Junior Fifth Grade, nearly two full ranks higher than a typical County Magistrate.
He was considered a high-ranking official in all of Shanyang Prefecture.
"This junior pays his respects to the City Lord." Fang Yue stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed.
"Fang, dispense with the formalities. No need to be so stiff." Zheng Changsheng smiled familiarly, though a trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.
’This man’s cultivation level?’
’He’s actually at the Qi Sensing stage. And it seems he doesn’t practice the Secret Medicine Martial Dao. The Primordial Qi fluctuations from his body are more vibrant and sharp, possessing a keen edge that the reserved power of a Secret Medicine Martial Artist lacks.’
’Even I feel a faint sense of crisis when facing him.’
’This proves that this person is enough of a threat to me!’
’As expected of someone from a great noble family in Yujing City.’
As for what was written on the official documents—a farm boy from a small county in Shanyang Prefecture—he didn’t believe a single word of it.
For a farm boy to even be able to practice the Martial Dao was a tall tale, let alone reaching such a level of cultivation.
Not to mention, Fang Yue wasn’t on the path of the Secret Medicine Martial Dao, but the cultivation path of a Qi Refiner.
The difference between the two was simply immeasurable.
’However, it seems there isn’t a major family with the surname Fang in Yujing City, is there?’
But when the name Da Liushu Village in Xiahe County came to mind, a long-forgotten matter surfaced in the Denglai City Lord’s thoughts.
His heart suddenly went cold, and he quickly suppressed the sliver of doubt in his mind.
He immediately became even more enthusiastic, striking up a casual conversation with Fang Yue. As for the travel documents Fang Yue wanted, of course, someone was sent to handle them.
The two talked for a long time, only stopping when evening approached.
"Younger Brother, take these things. If you don’t take them, you’re not giving your old brother face."
After their conversation, since Zheng Changsheng harbored suspicions about Fang Yue’s background, he didn’t dare act arrogantly and began addressing him as a brother.
"Very well. Thank you for your generosity, Zheng. I will accept."
"Haha, it’s nothing. From now on, if you need anything in Denglai City, just say the word. Don’t be a stranger."
"Alright, you have my word."
Seeing Zheng Changsheng’s enthusiastic demeanor, Fang Yue found it hard to refuse. In the end, he was even warmly escorted out of the City Lord’s Mansion.
County Magistrate Lin naturally saw this scene and felt even more relieved that he had made the right choice. ’That silver was well spent. If I hadn’t done that, and Lord Fang had said a single bad word about me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to keep my position.’
~~~~~~
By the time Fang Yue returned to the inn where he was staying.
He was just in time for dinner. Being on the road, Ms. Chen didn’t have to cook. As a major client who had rented several of the inn’s best courtyards, Fang Yue naturally enjoyed corresponding services for the silver coins he paid.
This included three meals a day.
After dinner, Fang Yue began to sort through the gifts he had brought back from the City Lord’s Mansion.
’Sigh, other people go to the City Lord’s Mansion to give gifts, but when I left, I ended up taking a huge pile of them with me.’
And from the looks of it, many of the gifts were clearly things that others had given to the City Lord of Denglai City.
"Sigh, the City Lord of Denglai City is truly a good person. These items are quite valuable; all together, they must be worth nearly ten thousand taels of silver."
A quick glance revealed that these gifts were anything but simple. In terms of value, they were worth at least seven to eight thousand taels of silver.
Moreover, there were many tonics among them that were very useful for a Martial Artist’s cultivation.
After putting everything away, Fang Yue resumed his cultivation.
Meanwhile.
Somewhere in Denglai City.
"Well? Have you found out what Fang Yue’s group is escorting?" Xue Bing, completely shrouded in shadow, stared at the burly man before him and asked in a cold voice.
"My lord, this subordinate has been useless. I haven’t found anything yet. It just looks like a normal evacuation," the burly man answered in a booming voice.
’But that’s definitely impossible. Hui Hengli, the Director of the Observatory in Shanyang Prefecture, pulled major strings. He wouldn’t have done all that just to help the family of a Martial Artist he barely has ties with move house, would he?’
’Therefore, they must be hiding a great secret.’
"Hmph. Then go back and continue your investigation. When the time is right, I will arrange for someone to help you," Xue Bing snorted and waved a hand at the man.
"Yes, my lord."
The burly man retreated respectfully.
"Hmph. This time, I must see for myself what kind of sacred cow this Fang Yue is, to be taken so seriously by the Observatory!" Xue Bing clenched his fists, a savage look on his face.
~~~~~~
Early the next morning, as the sun rose.
A squad of fully armed government constables appeared outside the gate of the courtyard Fang Yue was renting.
"Is this the place? Suspected Rebel Army spies?" The lead government constable surveyed the surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard Fang Yue was renting, before asking in a cold voice.
"That’s right. This is it. Yesterday, I saw the people in this courtyard moving a large, suspicious-looking chest. They’re definitely up to no good," another constable immediately chimed in.
They claimed it was about spies, but in reality, they just knew that the tenants here were likely a "fat sheep" and had come today to shake them down.
These days, many officials in Denglai City had made a fortune using this method.
Naturally, they weren’t about to give it up now.
What’s more, their actions this time were actually on the orders of a superior.
"Alright, search the place!" the constable sneered, then swung the whip in his hand, lashing it directly at the door.
CRASH.
With a loud sound, the door was smashed open with a staff, and a group of government constables rushed in.
At that very moment, Fang Yue was practicing his techniques in the courtyard.
Father Fang and Ms. Chen were chatting idly, and their conversation naturally revolved around Bai Li. Although the girl couldn’t see...
...she was, after all, the first girl their son had ever brought home. And after spending the past few days with her, they found her to be gentle and good-natured—a truly good match.
As for Little Tie Dan, he was playing with a rolling iron hoop.
And as the government constables rushed in like a pack of wolves...
The first thing that happened was Little Tie Dan burst into tears, terrified.
"WAAAAH... Daddy, Mommy, bad uncles are here!" Little Tie Dan cried out, throwing himself into the arms of Fang Cheng and his wife.
"Who are you people? What are you doing?" Ms. Chen cried out in alarm, quickly standing up.
But Fang Yue had already stepped forward, positioning himself between the government constables and his family.
"Heh, we received a tip that there are Rebel Army spies here. We’re conducting a routine inspection, so we hope you’ll all cooperate," the lead constable snarled, flicking the long whip in his hand.
At the same time,
outside the courtyard, County Magistrate Lin was accompanying the Observatory’s Inspector from Denglai City, and they were heading this way.
"Lord Qi, when my men escorted Lord Fang back yesterday, I followed along. The esteemed Lord Fang is staying just ahead," County Magistrate Lin said in a fawning, obsequious tone.
He felt more and more certain that he had made the right decision. ’This Lord Fang really is no ordinary person.’
’Yesterday, he was warmly received by the City Lord. Today, Lord Qi from the Observatory is personally paying a visit, and with gifts no less.’
’This level of treatment is extraordinary!’
’It just goes to show that the man’s status and position are absolutely exceptional!’