Leng Aofu was stunned.
What?! My brother gave the sect leader's token to this damned guy?
"Xiao Kang, is this sect leader's token fake?"
Zheng Ankang smiled wryly: "How dare I fake the Pixiu Gate? If you don't believe me, Aunt Leng, come and see for yourself."
Leng Aofu had actually come to the conclusion that the sect leader's token was genuine.
Based on her understanding of Zheng Ankang, she knew he wouldn't fabricate this.
But brother, why did you give the sect leader's token to this fool?
"Xiaokang, you can't abandon your aunt for the sake of your superior!"
“Aunt Leng, it’s because I care about you. Think about it, there are many benefits to staying with the commander.”
"What's the benefit? You've lost your freedom."
It's better for her to die than to have no freedom!
“Aunt Leng, no matter what, you must stay by the leader’s side for protection these next few days. This is the sect leader’s order.”
"What? My brother not only gave you the sect leader's token, but also the sect leader position? Is he dead?"
Zheng Ankang's lips twitched. How could someone curse their own brother to death like that?
“My master is in good health. However, I haven’t seen him for two years. I guess he’s off having fun again.”
Chen Xi was stunned. What was this Pixiu sect? Pixiu is one of the four fierce beasts, whose hobbies are eating and fighting.
However, Zheng Ankang did not fit the characteristics of this sect at all. But Pixiu has the effects of attracting wealth, warding off evil spirits, and protecting the home. Was this a lucky accident?
She appointed the head of the Pixiu sect as her chief guard, haha, to attract wealth, ward off evil spirits, and protect the home.
"What are you playing around with? You're probably off to pick a fight again."
"However, Xiao Kangzi, it's not that your aunt looks down on you, but with your abilities, you're not even thirty percent as good as me. How can you be the sect leader?"
Zheng Ankang was immediately discouraged; compared to Leng Aofu, he was indeed no match for her.
“But my master said that I received his true teachings.”
"My brother is mediocre, but he loves to fight everywhere. When he can't win, he comes back and secludes himself for a few months, but he still goes out to fight. With his closed-door approach, how good can he be?"
Zheng Ankang had heard these words more than once, yet he still remained fiercely protective of his master.
"Aunt Leng, Master is researching a unique martial art."
"I've been researching this for decades. Alright, Xiao Kangzi, your aunt will stay here for a few days for the sake of the sect leader's token. But let's make it clear, you can't push your luck any further."
"good."
As for a few days later, I guess the leader will have the ability to keep people here!
Zheng Ankang worked so hard for two reasons: firstly, Shenxi really needed someone capable to accompany her when she went out; secondly, he had figured out what Shenxi was thinking.
Chenxi wanted to keep Aunt Leng, and Zheng Ankang could tell that.
“Aunt Leng, could you please stop calling me Xiao Kang or Xiao Kangzi? I’m married now and I’m the chief’s bodyguard. It’s not appropriate to call me that.”
“What’s inappropriate about it? I’m your aunt.”
Shenxi hurriedly said, "Ankang, don't argue about how you address each other for now. Take your people and come with me immediately."
"Yes, sir." Zheng Ankang immediately shut up and stopped arguing with Leng Aofu. He replied very solemnly and then went to count the men.
Zheng Ankang was able to become the head guard for one reason: he was exceptionally obedient.
Shenxi's words were practically imperial edicts.
Leng Aofu clicked her tongue in amazement: "My nephew, don't let his honest appearance fool you, he's not someone you can just get to respect and obey so much. How did you do it?"
Shen Xi's brows did not relax; she had no mind to think about this. She was considering how to send troops and attack Linchuan County first.
"His admiration for me is like a never-ending river; he's completely captivated by my personal charm."
Chenxi casually replied with a common phrase from the new century.
But to Leng Aofu's ears, it sounded quite novel.
She looked at Chenxi with curiosity: she was clearly a pretty young girl, but her brows were full of arrogance, forming a unique character.
His majestic and unique demeanor is evident between his brows; his noble spirit still lives on among men.
But when she speaks, she has a different kind of charm.
"Haha," Leng Aofu's lips curled into a grin, her eyes and brows full of laughter.
"Chief Shen is really humorous."
Shen Xi smirked slightly. Humor? Isn't that a common phrase in the new century?
"Aunt Leng, thank you for the compliment, but I'll have to trouble you to protect me these next few days."
Leng Aofu looked up, wanting to gaze at the sky, but unfortunately, she was indoors and could only look at the ceiling.
“Since I promised my unfilial nephew, I will not go back on my word.”
With such a skilled female warrior protecting him, Shenxi felt even more at ease.
She didn't know how many bandits were left from the last time. Although only about twenty escaped, Ge Liang's confession and the confessions of the captured bandits said that was all there were, and there were no others.
Even if all twenty-odd bandits were gathered together, they wouldn't be enough to persuade Cao Sen, the magistrate of Linchuan County.
Cao Sen would not openly send troops over several mountains to cause trouble in her territory just for a little bit of the people's food and property.
It seems that the four groups of people who came this time are here to test the waters.
What are they testing?
Of course, it was a test to see if Bian'ai County was worth capturing.
No matter how much people spread rumors that Bian'ai County is wealthy and its people live well, those are just legends.
Very few people come to investigate in person like Ge Congshan, especially since they need to undergo a week of quarantine before they can enter.
Cao Sen is greedy but impractical; he would never properly care for the common people before squeezing even more money out of them.
It's not that the common people have already been squeezed dry, but he still wants to squeeze out every last drop of oil.
Taoyuan Township is a model township carefully developed by Chenxi County. It is backed by mountains, but the people there are the poorest. It is located on the very edge of Bian'ai County.
If such impoverished rural areas can be improved, the demonstration effect on other places will be enormous.
If even the poorest people in the poorest areas can live a prosperous and peaceful life, then how can any place not be good?
Given its geographical location, being close to Linchuan County and being a model township, it's understandable that Cao Sen would set his sights on this place.
Based on normal reasoning, these bandits must have had some connection with Cao Sen before, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to hide in the border area between Bian'ai County and Linchuan County without Cao Sen knowing.
What could possibly lure Cao Sen was gold and silver jewelry.
It seems these bandits have invested quite a bit this time.
This actually led Cao Sen to set his sights on Bian'ai County.
Shenxi had already investigated the backgrounds of officials in various places. Cao Sen was not an ordinary citizen, but a branch of the Cao family, the largest noble family in Jianming Prefecture.
In his youth, he was a scholar and passed the imperial examinations to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). Unfortunately, he failed the Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest-level imperial examinations) three times. Under the influence of his family, he became a county magistrate.
Although he was from a branch of a great noble family, Cao Sen's family was not wealthy, and was even somewhat poor. His ability to take the imperial examination was also due to the support of his clan. Therefore, he had ambitions from a young age: to become the Prefect of Xuan in three years and earn 100,000 taels of silver.
The governor of the Great Xuan Dynasty, serving for three years, would earn far more than 100,000; 100,000 was already the minimum.
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