Chapter 1094

First Volume, Chapter 1094: Who Is Qin Feng?

No one knew who Qin Feng was, but the death of Wang Chi left them trembling with fear.

Wang Chi was the only son of the Wang Family; Beixi County is about to erupt.

"It's over! It's over! Whoever this person is, if he dared kill Wang Chi, he will never leave Beixi County alive."

"Heavens, doesn't he know Wang Chi is the eldest son of the Wang Family?"

"Even glancing at Wang Chi in Beixi County could get you beaten senseless—this man dared to murder him outright! He must be sick of living!"

As the crowd erupted in shocked cries, the man who had heard the news burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha, ignorance breeds boldness."

"Not even Wang Chi—entire Wang Family means nothing before this man."

"Have you truly never heard the name Qin Feng?"

The townsfolk exchanged uneasy glances; they spent every day struggling for livelihood, rarely leaving the County City, and knew little of the outside world.

The name Qin Feng was utterly foreign to them.

An old man could not help asking: "Could it be… a high official from the Zhou Fu?"

Hearing this, the man laughed again: "Hahaha, Zhou Fu? Zhou Fu is nothing!"

"Not even Beijing matters!"

"Qin Feng's name echoes throughout all of Liang—how is it you've never heard it? It's the greatest joke in the world."

"Let me tell you who Qin Feng is!"

"Qin Feng is the First Marquis Under Heaven, the King of the Northern Border, the warlord who shattered the Di tribes and overthrew their dynasty."

"If you still don't understand, let me be plainer: even His Majesty relies on the might of Lord Qin."

"The powerful clans of the Nan Jing, which generations of Liang emperors failed to subdue, tremble at the mere mention of Lord Qin's name."

"Now tell me—what is Wang Chi?"

The crowd felt as if they were listening to celestial scripture.

In their minds, a Yamen Runner was already someone they dared not offend; the County Magistrate and the Wang Family were emperors of Beixi County; officials of the Zhou Fu were like gods.

Above the Zhou Fu stood Beijing; above Beijing stood powerful ministers; and Qin Feng stood above even the ministers.

The gap between them was countless tiers…

The people of Beixi County could not comprehend what manner of man Qin Feng was.

But one thing they understood: the Wang Family was finished!

The long-oppressed townsfolk, freed from their gloom, erupted in excitement.

With burning eyes, they stared at Qin Feng; spurred by the bold, they raised their arms and cheered, welcoming Qin Feng's arrival.

"The Wang Family is finished!"

"Lord Qin has come to deliver justice for us!"

"We've finally waited for this day—we're saved!"

"Lord Qin, may you live a thousand years, a thousand thousand years!"

Qin Feng, greeted by the Heroes' Welcome of Beixi County's people, felt no joy; the more fervent their welcome, the heavier their oppression had been.

Beixi County was still one of the wealthier counties in the region—if other towns were any indication, conditions were far worse.

On a grand scale, Liang seemed to be thriving, its people's lives improving.

But only by stepping into the countryside or remote regions like this could one truly feel how many dark, hidden crimes still festered in the nation's corners.

And this was precisely where Qin Feng felt powerless.

Even if he were merely a Marquis, let alone Emperor of Liang, he could not change this reality.

The greater one's authority, the higher one's status, the less one sees the suffering of the People's Livelihood.

That was precisely why Qin Feng held deep aversion toward the throne.

At least now, Qin Feng could manage Beixi County with order, along with the Northern Border and Sangzhou…

As for broader territories—even Qin Feng was powerless.

Ma Fangyuan, the County Magistrate of Beixi County, already awaited outside the County Yamen, having received word.

Seeing Qin Feng's arrival, he hurried forward; even dozens of steps away, he bowed deeply, respectfully saluting.

"Your humble servant, Ma Fangyuan, pays homage to Lord Qin."

"I was unaware of your visit and failed to greet you properly—please forgive this servant's oversight."

Qin Feng looked at the old man before him, clad in official robes, his hair now streaked white, and his eyes showed no ripple.

He simply rode past Ma Fangyuan without so much as a glance.

Completely ignored, Ma Fangyuan felt no anger—only terror.

It meant Qin Feng had already taken a dislike to him; the next misstep, even a single wrong word or mistake, could cost him his life.

Ma Fangyuan followed the black cavalry on foot, slinking back in shame.

Seeing this, the gathered townsfolk grew even more excited.

Even the County Magistrate trembled before Lord Qin—clearly, the rumors were true: Lord Qin was a figure beyond reach.

Hope flickered in their eyes; they followed the procession toward the County Yamen.

At the entrance of the County Yamen, Qin Feng dismounted and stepped into the DaTang, sitting directly on the County Magistrate's seat.

The black cavalry stood guard outside the County Yamen; only Zhao Yulong remained by Qin Feng's side.

Ma Fangyuan, who had entered with them, bowed his head nervously: "Lord Qin, I've heard of the incident outside the city—I beg you, rest assured, I will spare no effort to handle this matter."

Qin Feng merely snorted at Ma Fangyuan's belated attempt to make amends.

"Why can you handle this only now that I've arrived? Why couldn't you handle it when I wasn't here?"

Ma Fangyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly protested: "It's not that I'm unable to handle it, but the case is complicated, after all…"

Before Ma Fangyuan could finish, Qin Feng calmly interrupted: "How complicated?"

"Liu Yunxia was forced by the Wang Family and fled out of desperation, only to be falsely accused as a fugitive."

"Leaving aside the Wang Family's evils, I merely wonder—who assigned this fugitive charge to her?"

"Ma county magistrate, don't tell me His Majesty that it was some squad leader or Yamen Runner who privately framed Liu Yunxia as a fugitive."

Ma Fangyuan trembled all over, unable to speak for a long while.

Just then, Qin Feng's voice sounded again: "You are a court-appointed official; you kneel only before His Majesty. I won't make you kneel."

"Just stand there and listen!"

Ma Fangyuan shuffled back, shivering, feeling as if he'd fallen into an ice cave, silently praying that the Wang family wouldn't cause any more trouble—or else…

Almost the instant Ma Fangyuan thought this, a barrage of curses erupted outside the County Yamen.

"You damned scum, you killed my son! I'll make you pay Blood Debt Paid in Blood!"

Ma Fangyuan recognized the voice as that of the Wang Family patriarch, and his heart sank halfway.

Under Qin Feng's gaze, Squad Leader Sun Yi led in a man around fifty, clad in a black long robe—the father of Wang Chi, Wang Yuanli.