Looking at the corpses scattered all over the ground, the martial arts instructors of Tieshan Martial Arts School had mixed feelings.
Yang Huai gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Hu, I spoke rudely to him before. I will apologize to him myself later. If he doesn't accept it, you don't need to worry about me."
"Uncle Yang, don't say that. Brother Fan isn't petty!"
Hu Fei stepped out from the crowd.
"Old Yang, don't overthink it. Let's talk about it when Li Fan comes back!"
Hu Yidao patted Yang Huai on the shoulder.
At this moment, Li Fan walked over from a distance, carrying Chen Qing's head.
"Brother Li Fan, I'm so sorry, I was blind these past few days!"
"fine!"
Li Fan went straight to Hu Yidao and asked, "Uncle Hu, how much is his head worth?"
"Three hundred taels of silver!"
"I'll give you the head. Do you have any silver notes on you?"
"some!"
Hu Yidao opened the escort box and took out silver notes and some loose silver.
"Li Fan, three hundred taels is a reward, and two hundred taels is to thank you for saving us. Please accept them!"
"Hu Fei has already paid the fee for the service!"
After taking the three hundred taels, Li Fan looked at Hu Fei and said, "Let's go!"
"If Brother Fan ever wants to have a drink with someone, he can come to Tieshan Martial Arts School to find me anytime."
......
"To accomplish one's task and then leave without a trace, concealing one's merits and fame—that is the true mark of a ruthless person!"
Watching Li Fan leave, Yang Huai couldn't help but sigh, "Xiao Fei, why didn't you try to stop him?"
"Even if it's just going back to the city with him, Tieshan Martial Arts School will benefit!"
"Uncle Yang, why be so calculating in your dealings with others!"
"You little rascal, you're lecturing me now, but I have to say, you've got a good eye for people."
"Alright, collect the brothers' bodies and cut off the heads of all these Qingfeng bandits and take them back!"
......
On the 21st day of the seventh month of the third year of Fengtian, at dawn.
Li Fan arrived in Guangnan County.
There weren't many merchants coming and going at the city gate.
The soldiers guarding the city were questioning passersby in detail.
"Name!"
"age."
"Where did you come from?"
What are you going into town for?
Do you have a travel permit?
"Why are you carrying a knife? Are you a martial artist?"
"Do you have any military records from the Zhenwu Division?"
"If you don't have a martial arts license, put down your sword and come back to retrieve it outside the city!"
The Great Zhou Dynasty was rich in martial virtue, and in order to govern its warriors...
The imperial court established a special Zhenwu Division.
The so-called martial arts register is no different from the household registration register, and is used to record the files of martial artists.
"Little River, repeat what I said!"
"Ask more questions and mind your own business; don't be greedy for bribes or kickbacks."
"See that guy with the knife? Go practice your skills!"
Lu Zhongyi pointed at Li Fan, and Feng He beckoned, "Hey you with the knife, come over here!"
......
"Name, household registration, military registration, travel permit, and what are you doing in the city!"
During the first interrogation, Feng He bombarded all the questions with them.
Lu Zhong stood at the back without saying a word.
"Li Fan, Guangnan County, Daniu Town, First-Rank Martial Artist, is in town on business!"
Li Fan took out a piece of broken silver and placed it on the table.
Glug!
Feng He swallowed hard. Without even weighing it, he knew that the piece of silver weighed one tael.
You should know that guarding this city, exposed to the wind and sun for a month, might only earn you one or two taels of silver.
Don't be greedy when it comes to taking bribes!
Feng He turned around and looked at Lü Zhong.
Lu Zhong calmly stepped forward and accepted the silver.
He leaned close to Li Fan's ear and whispered, "Rumors are circulating that the Lin family's young master has been kidnapped, and the city is under strict surveillance."
“It will be very troublesome if the brother doesn’t have travel permits or such.”
"I can get these things for you, but it will cost a lot of money."
"How many?"
"Ten taels!"
Lu Zhong continued, "Brother, don't worry about the price. Everything I do for you is genuine!"
"make a deal!"
......
Not far from the city gate, there is a small alley.
After an incense stick had burned, the travel permit, household registration, and military registration were all completed.
After Li Fan left, Feng He asked in a low voice, "Brother Zhong, didn't you say we shouldn't be greedy when it comes to taking things?"
"They gave it to me voluntarily, how can that be called greed!"
"No identity, carries a knife, and you just give him a tael of silver. Brother Zhong, do you think his background isn't exactly clean?"
"In this world, how many people have a clean past?"
Lu Zhong glanced at Feng He and continued, "You'll encounter many people like this in the future. Remember, don't meddle in other people's business, or you won't even know how you died!"
......
"Sir, please come in!"
"One guest room, for a five-night stay."
"Also, prepare the food and hot water!"
"Distinguished guest, a superior room is provided!"
The servant announced the order and ushered Li Fan inside.
......
After the meal, hot water was ready.
Li Fan soaked in the tub, applying a bath towel to his forehead.
"Thump!"
The little silver wolf also launched itself into the bathtub.
It picked up a bath towel and started pawing at Li Fan.
"You bastard, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself!"
Li Fan dampened a bath towel and covered the little silver wolf's head with it.
......
In Guangnan County, at the Lin family's residence, a middle-aged man sped over.
In the courtyard, Lin Kaitai was pacing back and forth.
Seven days ago, rumors began circulating in the martial arts world of Guangnan County that his son had been kidnapped by Black Wind Village.
He didn't completely believe it.
Just a month ago, Li Feiyu, the chief constable of Guangnan County, led his men to break through Black Wind Village.
Li Yuan, a seventh-grade innate mid-stage cultivator, was seriously injured, while Liu Hu and He Bao were only sixth-grade cultivators.
The group that accompanied Yu Fu into the mountains this time consisted of three sixth-rank officials and three fifth-rank officials.
Even if Liu Hu and He Bao were to attack at the same time, they still wouldn't be able to defeat such a lineup.
"Master, something terrible has happened!"
"Chief Constable Li found the body in the mountains."
"Except for the young master and Miss Wang, all the other guards are dead!"
"Judging from the traces at the scene, it was probably a sneak attack when the young master and his men were fighting the monsters."
"Get out of here immediately and spread the word that I want to see Li Yuan!"
Lin Kaitai's face was contorted with rage.
He had many children, but Lin Yufu was the most important to him.
Because he has a high talent for martial arts.
If the Lin family wants to expand beyond Guangnan County, they must cultivate a direct descendant who is a martial arts expert.
......
"Jiarong, what kind of behavior is this, all flustered and in such a hurry!"
"Father, Hu Yidao and the others have returned to the city!"
"Not only that, they also took the heads of all the Qingfeng bandits to the county government to collect the reward money!"
Zhang Hu was slightly taken aback upon hearing Zhang Jiarong's words.
"That's impossible!"
"With Hu Tieshan in charge of the martial arts school, how could Hu Yidao possibly be a match for Chen Qing?"
"Go and find out what's going on right away."
"Yes, Father!"
......
"Master Zhang, this way please!"
Zhang Hu followed his servant through the corridor to a courtyard.
Upon seeing Zhang Hu arrive, Yan Mingshu put down the book he was holding.
"Zhang Hu pays his respects to Lord Yan!"
Zhang Hu looked respectful.
The young man before me, in his early twenties, had already become the chief official of Guangnan County in Zhenwu Division. In addition, he was born into Jixia Academy, the highest institution of learning in the Great Zhou Dynasty, so his future was limitless.
That's why he was willing to join him.
Even if people call me a lackey of the imperial court, it's worth it.
"Get up!"
"Lord Yan, all the Qingfeng bandits have been killed, and the people from the Tieshan Martial Arts School have successfully returned to Guangnan County!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Yan Mingshu's eyes, but he calmly said, "Go and investigate who is behind this!"
"Yes, sir!"
After Zhang Hu left, Yan Mingshu fell into deep thought.
Who is behind this in the shadows?
There are only a few families with the strength to wipe out the Qingfeng bandits.
The Lin family is currently overwhelmed with problems and has no time to intervene.
The Blood Sword Hall and the Great Saber Sect are locked in a fierce battle, so neither can intervene.
Besides them, could it be that forces in the county town are involved?
I'm so worried!
Yan Mingshu put down his pen, deciding to wait until the matter was investigated thoroughly before inquiring about the situation in the prefecture.
It seems that the establishment of the Martial Arts Alliance is indeed a long and arduous task!
So many strange things can happen in such a small county as Guangnan.
One can imagine how complicated the situation must have been in the county seat and the prefecture seat.
...
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