Chapter 458: The Deal with the Heimu Family III

Cheng Feng's Qi and Blood were also surging; that last move was already the limit of the power he could control.

If he were to use his trump card, he was truly afraid of something going wrong.

Wang Ji's full-force outburst could contend with the Gang Qi Realm.

Cheng Feng asked himself, his Flood Dragon Body, obtained through a stroke of luck, was not inferior to others, but if he really beat Heimu Canglong to death, then he was afraid that future matters would be difficult to handle.

He looked at Heimu Canglong, panting heavily as he said, "Patriarch Heimu, do you still want to fight?"

Heimu Canglong looked at Cheng Feng, his eyes filled with shock and unwillingness.

The opponent's Martial Dao realm was average, but his physical body was like diamond; his own internal force hitting it was like brushing off a bit of dust.

Seeing the few people behind him preparing to step forward, he waved his hand slightly, signaling them not to act rashly.

He had not expected that he would end up in such a state fighting a young man, which made him lose all face.

He was, after all, a Martial Artist at Organ Refining Peak.

He had originally thought that by taking action himself, he could subdue a wild genius.

Looking at Cheng Feng's young face, Heimu Canglong could not even summon a feeling of jealousy.

Such a young genius must have an extraordinary background.

He had seen many great winds and waves.

As for so-called fortuitous encounters, Heimu Canglong also knew how small the probability was.

He also knew that if he continued to fight, he would not gain any advantage; looking at Cheng Feng's appearance, he was afraid that he still had trump cards, and he might suffer a great loss then.

"Hmph, your methods are not weak, but I wonder how long you can hold on?" Heimu Canglong snorted coldly.

"There are quite a few people eyeing the water transport of Heimu Prefecture."

Cheng Feng smiled and said, "That won't require Patriarch Heimu's concern; I am just trying to make a living."

"Then everything shall proceed according to the rules?"

Heimu Canglong steadied his posture, his tone firm.

Cheng Feng nodded; before revealing his methods today, he had already made many contingency plans.

The matter of water transport benefits the country and the people, and can be called an exorbitant profit.

The government and local powerful clans all want to have a hand in it.

The government takes the lion's share, forty percent.

Local powerful clans exploit it for thirty percent.

Only the remainder is the profit for running the water transport.

If one encounters water bandits or floods in between, it all depends on one's own ability.

Outsiders see Cheng Feng as having smooth sailing and infinite potential, like a rising star.

Only one's own family knows one's own affairs.

If it weren't for a whole family and subordinates to support,

Cheng Feng would have long since embarked on the path of pursuing a higher realm.

The Martial Dao techniques of the Tieshan Martial Arts Hall had already been practiced to the peak by Cheng Feng; wanting to continue breaking through was simply impossible—this is the helplessness of a Martial Artist in a small place.

If he doesn't find a way out, he will stop advancing.

"Must be a bit faster." Cheng Feng muttered to himself, his gaze crossing the surging river water, looking toward the end of the horizon.

Heimu Canglong took a step back today, but that does not mean other forces in Heimu Prefecture will just let it go.

He had no bottom line in his heart as to how long the deterrent power of Organ Refining Peak could be effective.

He must become stronger and stand more firmly before the next storm arrives.

And the premise of all this is a new path.

A Martial Dao path that can allow him to break through Organ Refining and step into the ranks of true experts.

The river wind wailed, like a dormant giant beast growling low.

Having met with the local docks, the influence of the Hong Sect could be considered to have entered people's eyes.

Then, those that need to be moved should be moved, and those that need to be greased should be greased.

These were all things he was familiar with.

If the quality of the first round didn't pass, then the outcome would basically be acting as someone's dog.

Cheng Feng indicated he was not in a hurry, taking it slow.

Get on the gambling table first, then see.

The Red Lotus Sect is still stirring up trouble!

It is said that there are people making trouble in the south and west as well; Cheng Feng is increasingly pessimistic about the national destiny of Great Zhou.

After handling the affairs of the Hong Sect, Cheng Feng closed his doors and adjusted his breath in his own residence for two days.

Calling it adjusting his breath, it was also having a good time with the wives and Concubines at home.

Fortune Points are good things.

The recovery ability brought by the Flood Dragon Body far exceeds that of ordinary people.

Cheng Feng fought once, fought twice, and stood a third time.

After venting his little emotions, he felt refreshed.

After finishing the daily homework, the wives and Concubines had all fallen asleep with rosy complexions.

Cheng Feng instead brewed a cup of tea, preparing to sort out the situation before him.

Cheng Feng was as clear as a mirror in his heart—relying on fists can only guarantee temporary peace; to last long, one must rely on rules, on human relationships, and even more on the protection of the officialdom.

In the Martial Dao world, one must also navigate human relationships!

If one has nothing and still wants more, then in this Great Zhou Dynasty, there is only one best place to go if one wants protection from the officialdom.

The Pacification Office.

The Great Zhou Pacification Office is ostensibly in charge of the empire's criminal justice and arrests, while secretly monitoring the outlaws of the Jianghu. This place does not recognize silver, nor does it recognize personal favors; it only recognizes one thing—merit.

Killing bandits brings rewards, solving cases brings merit, and the merit earned with one's life can be exchanged for Silver, land, official titles, and even Martial Dao techniques that are worth a thousand gold in the Jianghu.

For a Martial Artist like Cheng Feng who came from a small place, the Pacification Office is almost the only path for advancement.

This requires risking one's life to carve out a future.

The path at Tieshan Martial Arts Hall is broken; the Pacification Office is that new path.

And Cheng Feng heard that the Pacification Office in Heimu Prefecture is currently recruiting...

Early the next morning, Cheng Feng changed into a clean and sharp dark-colored martial outfit and went out alone.

The Yamen of the Pacification Office is located on East City Street in the Prefecture City, a drab three-courtyard compound; there are not even stone lions at the entrance, only two strongmen with long blades at their waists standing on the left and right.

Hanging on the lintel is a plaque with gold characters on a black background, inscribed with the three large characters "Pacification Office," the brushstrokes cold, hard, and murderous.

Cheng Feng stood at the entrance for a moment, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

"Halt, the Pacification Office is a restricted area, no idlers allowed." The strongman on the left raised a hand, his scabbard blocking the way.

Cheng Feng remained calm and unhurried: "I heard the Pacification Office is recruiting, and I have come to take the examination."

The strongman looked him up and down, his gaze lingering on Cheng Feng's relatively fair and tender hands, his expression turning slightly cold.

In their line of work, a sharp eye is paramount; one look at those hands and he knew this was likely another young master from some family.

He did not bother with pleasantries.

"Wait here."

The strongman turned and entered the gate, returning after about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, followed by a middle-aged scholar wearing a green official robe with a three-strand long beard.

The scholar looked at Cheng Feng with a smile and cupped his hands: "I am Chen Wenjing, an Administrator of the Pacification Office. Brave warrior, please follow me."

Cheng Feng followed Chen Wenjing through the front courtyard, bypassed a screen wall a zhang high, and the view suddenly opened up.

There were quite a few people standing in groups of two or three in the courtyard; some were sparring in the Martial Arts Arena, their fists and kicks whistling with wind; others were leaning against pillars with their blades in their arms, dozing off, their bodies exuding an indescribable aura of ferocity.

On the north side of the courtyard was a row of public offices with green bricks and gray tiles, with a plaque hanging in the center—"Merit Hall."

Chen Wenjing led Cheng Feng into the Merit Hall, invited him to sit in the guest seat, and then went behind a wide rosewood desk to sit down.

On the desk were several neatly stacked files, with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone all present, and a small copper burner placed to the side, with high-quality sandalwood burning inside, the smoke curling upward.