Chapter 259: Sealing the Mountain, a Storm is Coming

A military formation requires at least a hundred martial artists to compose, so local cities do not have Imperial Camp troops—they cannot afford them.

This is not just a matter of training so many martial artists; it also involves exotic beasts. Even without forming cavalry, at least a hundred sets of malevolent weapons are needed, which is something a local judicial court simply cannot afford.

Once a set of malevolent weapons is forged, it suffers wear and tear whenever used, and military formations must be practiced constantly, so the weapons require regular repair and replacement.

The two hundred Imperial Camp troops in Datong Prefecture City are only maintained by pooling the strength of all judicial courts in the entire Datong Prefecture, and each quarter, they still require subsidies from the capital for materials to forge malevolent weapons.

To make a very intuitive comparison, the investment to maintain one Imperial Camp soldier is more expensive than maintaining ten cavalrymen!

And according to the standards of the Great Lan Dynasty's iron cavalry, the cost of maintaining one cavalryman is enough to maintain six infantrymen.

Therefore, calculating it out, the cost for Datong Prefecture City to maintain these two hundred Imperial Camp troops is equivalent to maintaining over ten thousand soldiers, several times more than the City Guard!

However, besides the disadvantage of being expensive, everything else about them is an advantage.

If one hundred Imperial Camp cavalrymen charge head-on, they are enough to rout an iron cavalry force ten times their size!

When two hundred Imperial Camp cavalrymen are deployed, once the military formation is set and the military malevolence is unleashed, even a Martial Arts Master would not dare to face them head-on!

At Iron Blade Sect, Gu Vanguard Commander received the news immediately, knowing that both the City Guard and the Imperial Camp had mobilized and were heading his way.

This left him caught off guard, yet helpless.

"Sect Master!"

That Elder Wang, who had previously suffered a loss under Xu Jing, walked into the room with an anxious face and said to Gu Vanguard Commander:

"The Imperial Camp troops have already reached the foot of the mountain!"

"I know."

"Sect Master, what should we do now?"

"Wait."

"Wait?"

"."

Gu Vanguard Commander looked at him with an annoyed expression.

If he didn't wait now, was he supposed to count on him to kill his way down the mountain and clash head-on with those two hundred Imperial Camp troops?

If it were infantry, it would be fine, but against two hundred Imperial Camp cavalry, he could only use his Cloud-Stepping divine ability to protect himself.

"Bian Jingru is just putting on a show right now; he won't truly force the Iron Blade Sect into a dead end."

Gu Vanguard Commander's eyes revealed a murderous intent as he spoke in a cold, chilling tone.

If truly pushed to the edge, he had his Cloud-Stepping divine ability; he could leave whenever he wanted, and no one could keep him.

At that point, a Martial Arts Master with absolutely no concerns left—that was definitely something Bian Jingru and the other high-level officials of Datong Prefecture did not want to see.

"I understand, but what if they want to take the sect disciples away for investigation?"

Elder Wang asked worriedly.

"If they have solid evidence, then let them take people away. If they don't, they can only accept the investigation here on the mountain; people cannot be handed over to them!"

Gu Vanguard Commander said expressionlessly.

". lright."

Elder Wang hesitated, wanting to say more, but ultimately withdrew.

Gu Vanguard Commander turned and looked out the window.

This 'Blade King' had been the leader of the Datong Prefecture martial arts world for decades, yet he had suffered consecutive setbacks in the last two days.

First came a Xu Jing, and now it was even more ruthless—even the Imperial Camp troops had arrived.

On the morning of March 3rd, Iron Blade Mountain was surrounded.

The dignified major martial arts sect, Iron Blade Sect, could only wait on the mountain in frustration for the investigation.

This move by Bian Jingru showed everyone his determination to investigate to the very end!

That afternoon, news also came from the provincial capital:

The Feng Province Inspector Pei Cang was 'furious' and had already sent an investigation team to Datong Prefecture, simultaneously demanding that the Datong Prefecture Garrison Commander Bian Jingru must find the culprit as soon as possible to uphold the national prestige!

All along, because the Wu'an University was located here, Datong Prefecture's status was very special. Even if it was a notch lower in official rank than the provincial capital, even Inspector Pei Cang, as a 'high official with regional authority,' was very polite to Bian Jingru, the Garrison Commander.

This was the first time he had issued orders in such a reprimanding tone.

Not only that, Pei Cang also sent a high-level investigation team.

Previously, when a court official Wu Yihua died in Xingcheng, the provincial capital had sent an investigation team as per protocol, but the rank was not high. In the end, the entire incident was handled according to the wishes of the Datong Prefecture investigation team, and the case was closed by them as well, with Li Lei and the others not only suffering no punishment but actually being credited.

But this time it was different; the investigation team from the provincial capital was a 'luxury lineup,' led personally by a Deputy Inspector-General from the Ministry of Supervision!

The Ministry of Supervision manages the supervisory affairs of a province, and the Deputy Inspector-General is one person below ten thousand, also a fourth-rank official, and a level 15 official, two levels higher than the deceased Zhang Zongyang, and on the same level as the Garrison Commander Bian Jingru.

This meant that this Deputy Inspector-General who came to lead the team even had the authority to directly investigate the Garrison Commander Bian Jingru!

If he wanted to, he could investigate the entire Datong Prefecture from top to bottom!

For a time, the entire Datong Prefecture felt like a storm was coming.

Li Fei learned of Zhang Zongyang's death on the night of March 3rd.

A fifth-year male student stopped him on the road.

"Li Fei, my name is Zhang Xintian, I am from the Zhang family."

The male student's face was somewhat pale, and he looked very uneasy.

"Hello."

Li Fei looked at him with some curiosity.

He had just finished his last class of the day and was preparing to return to his dormitory to take an elixir to provide energy for the 【Phantom Leaf】, not expecting to be suddenly stopped by someone from the Zhang family.

"Is something the matter?"

"Can you contact Zhang Xiao?"

"Zhang Xiao?"

"I mean Shangguan Xiao, your Master's aunt."

"Is there something going on?"

"My second grandfather is dead. He was attacked and killed last night in a villa in the Jinsha District of Datong Prefecture City! My second grandfather was named Zhang Zongyang, he was the head of the Zhang family, and he was your Master's aunt's father!"

Zhang Xintian said at a rapid pace.

Li Fei's expression changed at this.

He pulled Zhang Xintian over and dragged him under a banyan tree by the side of the road.

"Tell me everything you know in detail!"

Li Fei said with a serious gaze.

Zhang Xintian was stunned for a moment; Li Fei's eyes and aura at this moment were extremely similar to the way some of the dignified elders in his family looked when they were being serious.

He did not hesitate and told him everything he knew:

Zhang Zongyang was attacked and killed, his remains were sent to the main headquarters of the Stop-Conflict Academy for an 'autopsy,' Garrison Commander Bian Jingru dispatched the City Guard and Imperial Camp to seal off Iron Blade Mountain, the provincial capital was about to send an investigation team down...

"I hope you can contact Zhang... Shangguan Xiao and have her rush back here!"

Zhang Xintian said to Li Fei with an anxious face.

"Do you want her to come back, or does someone else want her to come back?"

Li Fei asked calmly.

"My second grandfather, while alive, overcame all opposition and used a large amount of the family's connections to have your Master's aunt directly become the head of the Xingcheng Stop-Conflict Academy. This was clearly meant to groom her as the next family head! Now that my second grandfather has passed away unexpectedly, the Zhang family is facing a crisis, and she should be the one to return and preside over the big picture! Furthermore, the one who died is not someone else, it is her father!"

Zhang Xintian said with some agitation.

"Hmm."

Li Fei nodded calmly.

He actually didn't care at all about talk of the next family head or anything like that. If Shangguan Xiao returned at this time, she would simply be plunging into a storm, and there was no telling how many crises and schemes she would encounter!

But Shangguan Xiao would know about this sooner or later, and Zhang Xintian was right about one thing:

The one who died was Shangguan Xiao's father; what reason did she have not to return?

"I will pass the message along."

Li Fei said to Zhang Xintian.

Hearing this, Zhang Xintian's expression softened. He looked at Li Fei and continued:

"Junior brother, the Zhang family is currently in a precarious situation. If possible, I hope you can also help us."

"Me?"

Li Fei smiled, "I am just a first-year freshman at the Martial Arts University; what can I do to help you?"

"Junior brother, you are being too modest."

Zhang Xintian shook his head, "You are now a peerless prodigy famous throughout Datong Prefecture City. Just based on the importance the Martial Arts University places on you, if you were willing to put in a word for the Zhang family at a critical moment, the Zhang family might just be able to overcome this crisis! To take a step back, setting aside these identities, I heard that you have already passed the heart trial and broken through to the mid-stage of Qi Transformation. A Qi-Refining Martial Master is an important combat force anywhere!"

He took a step forward and said earnestly:

"Junior brother, if your Master's aunt's relationship is not enough to make you offer your help, we can also talk about something more practical. Although the Zhang family has encountered difficulties, please believe that a dying camel is still bigger than a horse. My Zhang family has been rooted in Datong Prefecture for nearly a hundred years and has a deep foundation. As long as we can overcome this crisis, there will definitely be a generous reward in the future! Even now, if there is anything you want, you can tell me directly."

Li Fei nodded: "I will consider it carefully."

Zhang Xintian was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Good, I will wait for your news, junior brother."

As he spoke, he took a slip of paper out of his pocket with a string of phone numbers written on it:

"If you have any thoughts, junior brother, feel free to call and contact me."

"Alright."

Li Fei took the slip of paper, said goodbye to him, and then returned to his dormitory.

After returning to the dormitory, he sat quietly and pondered for a while before making a phone call to Shangguan Xiao.

The call waited for a moment before it was connected:

"Hello?"

On the other end of the phone, Shangguan Xiao's voice sounded somewhat weary.

"Aunt-Master, it's me."

"Xiao Fei, is something the matter?"

"The situation here in Datong Prefecture..."

"I already know."

As expected, the speed at which Shangguan Xiao received information was even faster than Li Fei's.

Zhang Xintian had specifically sought him out before, but in truth, it was mainly to win Li Fei over.

"Aunt-Master, do you intend to come to the Prefecture City?"

"Of course."

"When?"

Li Fei did not try to persuade her otherwise; he simply asked for the time.

Zhang Xintian had come on behalf of the Zhang family to win him over, wanting him to help the Zhang family.

But from beginning to end, he only cared about Shangguan Xiao; if he could help, he would only respect Shangguan Xiao's wishes.

"After all, I am currently the Head of the Stop-Goe Academy; I cannot just leave whenever I want. Handing over my work will take some time, and furthermore, I must submit a report and obtain approval from my superiors."

Shangguan Xiao said in a cold, clear voice.

Li Fei could hear the sorrow within it.

"What do you need me to do?"

Li Fei asked directly.

"Not for now. The waters of this matter are too deep; do not easily wade into them."

"Aunt-Master, in this world, only you know my true strength. I want to tell you that the current me is even stronger than when I killed Yu Hu! So, this is not a momentary impulse; I am truly capable of helping you."

Li Fei said calmly.

On the other end of the phone, a smile appeared on Shangguan Xiao's face.

The Li Fei of the past was already able to engage in head-on combat with a Dao Foundation realm expert; even if he couldn't win, he could at least hold them off.

Now that Li Fei had broken through his realm, his true combat power could likely rival that of a Dao Foundation realm expert.

No one would dare call a Dao Foundation realm combatant a burden!

This was absolutely a rare and valuable source of assistance.

"I know. If there is truly a need, Aunt-Master will not stand on ceremony with you."

Shangguan Xiao said.

"Good. Will Master come?"

Li Fei asked a key question.

"Senior Brother wants to come, but I stopped him. His coming to Datong Prefecture City would only make the situation more complicated."

Shangguan Xiao said.

Li Fei immediately thought of that perverted serial killer Xu Jing and understood Shangguan Xiao's concerns.

Indeed, if Hao Yi came to Datong Prefecture City, the situation might become even more difficult.

"Today, the Datong Prefecture City Garrison and the Imperial Guard Army were mobilized and sealed the mountain gate of the Iron Blade Sect."

Li Fei suddenly said, "The Iron Blade Sect was previously suspected of colluding with spies from the Meijia Kingdom. Looking at it this way, your father's death might be related to Western spies. I currently hold the status of a secret inspector for the General Supervisory Academy, so I can investigate and make inquiries first."

"Good, then I will leave it to you, Xiao Fei."

Shangguan Xiao did not act coy, "But you must pay attention to your safety. Those people even dared to kill the helmsman of the Stop-Goe General Academy; they have reached a point of utter madness!"

"Rest assured, Aunt-Master, I have a sense of proportion. Besides, I am not so easily killed."

Li Fei said.

Afterward, the two hung up the phone.

He immediately made another call.

This time, the call was connected quickly, and a man's voice came from the other end:

"Hello?"

"Liu Saner, it's me."

Li Fei changed his voice, reverting to the low, deep voice of the Green-Faced Ghost.

Nowadays, Liu Saner was the one officially in charge of the Qingyuan City Management Company; for many matters, Li Fei would remotely direct Liu Saner to carry them out.

"Ghost Master?"

Liu Saner was startled, "Do you have any instructions?"

"Without affecting the company's normal operations, how many men can be mobilized at most right now?"

Li Fei asked.

Liu Saner had not yet received news from Datong Prefecture City, so he found the question strange, but he answered without hesitation:

"If you want men who can fight, we can currently only pull out eleven Body-Breaking realm martial artists and two Martial Masters at most."

Previously, the combat strength of the Tiger Blade Gang had either died or fled. After the Qingyuan City Management Company was founded, they could only cultivate martial artists themselves while recruiting from the pugilistic world.

Nowadays, most of the martial artists they cultivated themselves were still in the Embryo-Nurturing realm, so there was not much combat strength that could be utilized.

"Besides that, I can pull out about fifty gunmen for you; they have all seen blood, killed people, have decent marksmanship, and possess practical combat experience."

Liu Saner continued.

"Good."

Li Fei was relatively satisfied with this number:

"Besides those who can fight, I also need some clever ones who can gather information. Prepare about fifty people for me as well."

"No problem."

"Have these people come to the Prefecture City in batches tonight, and have the weapons and equipment smuggled over using our channels."

"Good, I will go arrange it immediately."

Liu Saner did not ask why and chose to execute the order very straightforwardly.

Li Fei was very satisfied with this and finally asked:

"How much capital do I have available to use right now?"

Requesting monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)