Chapter 35: Each Harboring Their Own Secret Agendas

Hearing the other party answer this way, Feng Zi slowly put his hunting knife away.

After all, this was only a preliminary negotiation to establish positions; there was naturally no need to make things too rigid. It was best to stop while ahead.

Seeing him restrain his killing intent, the Martial Artist opposite him hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "Your Excellency is truly extraordinary."

Regarding this sort of idle chatter, Feng Zi lost his patience and said indifferently: "If you cannot speak properly, you can stay silent, lest you bring trouble upon your master."

"You are right to lecture me..." The other party nodded repeatedly and obediently shut his mouth.

Of course, had Feng Zi not keenly captured the trace of malice that flashed in his eyes, he might have truly been deceived—

Given his level of vigilance, this was naturally impossible.

The carriage drove slowly through the somewhat dilapidated street; people on both sides of the road saw this and subconsciously retreated a few steps, lowering their heads.

This was not respect, nor could it even be considered discipline; at most, it could only be called "fear."

Feng Zi sat in the carriage, seemingly closing his eyes to rest, but in reality, he was secretly taking in every scene.

Before long, the carriage stopped slowly in front of a mansion.

The Martial Artist sitting before him hurriedly got out of the carriage and said respectfully: "Your Excellency, the Young Master has prepared a banquet; please, you must do us the honor."

Feng Zi stepped down from the carriage slowly and scanned the surrounding scene without leaving a trace:

Just as the shopkeeper mentioned earlier, the main gate of the mansion looked normal, but it was actually full of the texture of hasty application.

Even in some corners, the walls had not been plastered, exposing the bricks of the wall.

Of course, if one were to speak of the most obvious flaw, it was indeed the bare screen wall behind the main gate:

As a wealthy family, the screen wall was their facade; how could they not pay attention to it?

But Feng Zi did not reveal his thoughts, only saying calmly: "Lead the way."

Upon hearing this, the Martial Artist hurriedly walked in front of him and said: "Please follow me."

If asked whether he still needed to be led, the answer was naturally no—

Even with his eyes closed, Feng Zi could perceive that surge of Qi and Blood Power that was almost ostentatious.

But he had no interest in testing the danger himself; if that eldest young master of the Sun Family truly wanted to be foolish, the Martial Artist before him was the perfect meat shield.

The scene inside the Sun Family did not need to be deliberately described; it was full of stereotypes of nouveau riche who had suddenly gained power, completely unaware of what style or restraint meant.

Along the way, Feng Zi would always "happen" to encounter different Martial Artists.

Even without using his brain, he could understand the intention behind the Sun Family eldest young master's arrangement.

But he did not care about this kind of clumsy intimidation.

After a journey that was truly not very interesting, Feng Zi met that rumored eldest young master of the Sun Family...

But that person, with such a fat body, looked like he had never suffered; to be honest, he doubted how the other party could have endured the pain of Broken Bone Rebirth.

But he said nothing, only watching the leading Martial Artist calmly.

The Martial Artist hurriedly bowed and said: "Young Master, that Martial Artist Excellency has arrived."

The Sun Family eldest young master looked at Feng Zi, who had not removed his martial equipment, subconsciously raised his eyebrows, and asked with displeasure: "What is this Excellency's name...?"

Hearing this question, the Martial Artist woke up as if from a dream, his body trembling uncontrollably: "I, I didn't ask."

Was it that the other party really didn't ask? Not at all; it was just that Feng Zi had seized the initiative a step earlier, making it impossible for him to ask.

Seeing Feng Zi fully armed and not even knowing his name, the Sun Family eldest young master flew into a rage and struck the Martial Artist to the ground with one palm:

"Useless thing! You didn't do a single thing I told you to do; what do I keep you for?!"

His joy and anger were visible on his face, he beat and scolded his servants at every turn, and he had no depth of character—

Just from the first meeting, Feng Zi had already seen through the other party's hollow nature.

Sensing Feng Zi's gaze, the Sun Family eldest young master put away his fists and feet and smiled: "My servant is ignorant; I have let you see a joke, Excellency."

"I am the eldest son of the Sun Family, with the single name 'Min'. May I ask how you, who have come from afar, are addressed?"

"Cun Xin," Feng Zi said casually—being out and about, he naturally kept his guard up; how could he expose his real name so easily?

But this name was far too casual, and Sun Min was not fooled: "This shouldn't be your real name, right?"

But he just retorted casually: "My surname is Cun; is that not allowed?"

Since Feng Zi said so, Sun Min naturally would not take it to heart and turned around, saying: "Someone, prepare the banquet!"

Under the lock of several Martial Artists, Feng Zi carried his precious bow and walked into the room in a dignified manner.

Seeing that the dishes had been served on the table, Sun Min got straight to the point: "As a Martial Artist, why must you travel around? Why not find a position in my Sun Family?"

The other party's intention had long been in Feng Zi's expectations; in fact, the simplicity of his thoughts even seemed a bit "cute."

Of course, thinking of the tragic state of Daishan County, this evaluation was merely sarcasm.

And regarding this long-anticipated question, Feng Zi picked up some food and answered casually:

"I like to challenge the strong and, incidentally, punish evil and promote good—I am used to being a free spirit and have no interest in being subordinate to others."

He had no interest in accompanying others in idle chatter, so he simply got to the point:

"Speaking of 'punishing evil and promoting good'... before I arrived here, I visited Bao Jia Zhuang."

Hearing the place name "Bao Jia Zhuang," the atmosphere in the room changed immediately.

Feng Zi could clearly perceive that the Martial Artists present subconsciously tensed their muscles, and even Sun Min's face, full of fat, twisted slightly.

But in just an instant, the atmosphere eased again, and Sun Min sighed slightly:

"Sigh, I have also heard of the tragedy at Bao Jia Zhuang; they were all honest and hardworking farmers. It is a pity... that they were slaughtered by mountain bandits without a single survivor."

Pretend, keep pretending.

Feng Zi just continued to eat, but he could not help but sneer in his heart:

If things were truly as the other party said, just a tragedy, why would they be so jittery?

Seeing the other party sighing and groaning in a pretentious manner, Feng Zi finally put down his chopsticks and said "sincerely":

"Since I have received the favor of a meal from Young Master Sun, although I cannot stay here for long, helping Daishan County eliminate harm for the people is more than enough."

"I wonder if Young Master Sun knows where those mountain bandits are entrenched? It would make it easier for me to round them all up in one go."

Upon hearing this question, Sun Min's face twisted slightly.

But after a moment, his chubby face was once again piled with smiles:

"Since Your Excellency Cun Xin has such an intention, I, as the heir of the Sun Family, am deeply moved and wish to fulfill this virtuous desire to punish evil and promote good."

"However, Your Excellency is, after all, only a Martial Artist, and your strength is isolated; if I were to truly let you go alone to face the swarm of bandits at Heizhu Mountain in the west, it would be truly unjust."

Having said this, Sun Min pondered for a moment, looking very "troubled," before slowly speaking:

"How about this... Your Excellency Cun Xin, please stay in Daishan County for three days, and allow me to gather men to enter the mountains with you to suppress the bandits, how does that sound?"