Chapter 625: A Request for a Duel

January 20th.

Li Fei took twenty-seven people and left Lanling City by train.

Among these twenty-seven people were six "clerks" including Liang Chen, as well as Lu Wenxing, and ten people he had pulled over from the Stop-War Pavilion, including three Foundation Establishment-stage seat officials and seven regular-register martial masters.

The remaining ten were all assigned to Li Fei by the Supervision Pavilion:

One Foundation Establishment-stage seat official, one Spirit Transformation-stage mage, two Qi Transformation-stage imperial court officials, and six second-rank subordinate officials, including ordinary people with no cultivation base at all.

The function of these ten people was not to fight or provide protection, but to investigate cases.

Li Fei was nominally going to Gan Province to investigate a case this time, so naturally, he had to bring professionals along.

Having him, this Blue Patrol Special Envoy, draw his blade and charge in to hack people to death was a piece of cake, but when it came to investigating cases, he was completely a layman.

Therefore, the Supervision Pavilion equipped him with a ten-person team to assist him in the investigation.

Three days later.

"Lord Li, this is the complete record of Wei Hongwen's step-by-step rise from Cui City, including everyone he has had contact with. I have selected some candidates from it who are worth investigating in depth; please have a look, my lord."

Inside the private compartment, an old man wearing a dark gray robe with some gray hair handed the booklet in his hand to Li Fei.

The old man was named He Jian, Director of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Supervision Pavilion, a level 15 seat official.

His talent for martial arts was average; he was sixty-seven years old this year and had only incorporated two implants. He was a second-tier Foundation Establishment-stage cultivator, and his combat power was of the bottom-tier variety among those in the Foundation Establishment stage.

He was able to walk step by step to the pinnacle of seat officials and become the Director of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Supervision Pavilion by relying on his insightful and sharp investigative methods.

The old man was a famous master detective with the nickname "Ghost Crane."

The Ghost Crane was merely a fourth-rank exotic beast, but it had excellent eyesight and could see an ant on the ground from over a thousand meters away in the dark!

The old man had once cracked several major cases that shocked the Imperial Capital, which was how he earned this nickname.

He was one of the most experienced and formidable master detectives in the Supervision Pavilion. The Supervision Pavilion arranging for this person to be with Li Fei was absolutely a sign of full support for Li Fei's investigation, without the slightest bit of shirking.

From the moment they boarded the train, He Jian had been working day and night with his team members to organize data and case files. It took three days, but they finally had a preliminary result.

Li Fei took the booklet from the old man's hand: "Thank you for your hard work, Lord He."

He flipped open the booklet in his hand, which was densely packed with names and their life stories.

"So many people?"

Li Fei was somewhat surprised.

This booklet recorded at least a hundred people!

And this was the result after He Jian had already made a selection.

The old man looked at Li Fei with an expressionless face: "Lord Li, investigating cases is just like this. It is not like what is written in storybooks where a master detective has a flash of inspiration and can find clues, thereby deducing the truth all the way to the end.

The more difficult a case is to investigate, the more manpower and resources need to be invested, and it requires a massive amount of time and energy to peel the cocoon and extract the silk from countless pieces of information."

His tone was not polite; it was a bit like he was lecturing someone.

But through his contact with him over the past few days, Li Fei knew that the old man just had this kind of personality.

He was strictly professional with everyone; he only saw the case in his eyes, not human sentiment, like a cold and hard stone.

Lu Wenxing had mentioned this person to Li Fei in private:

"If this person weren't truly very capable, and if the Supervision Pavilion didn't truly need to use him, he would never have been able to rise to this point. But with his ability, if he were even a little more slick and worldly, given the major cases he has cracked, he would have long since had the opportunity to leap over the dragon gate and become a Pavilion Elder."

This was He Jian.

Even when facing the youngest Marquis in history, the most sought-after new favorite in the entire imperial court today, he remained cold and rigid.

Li Fei was not angry; he knew very well that He Jian was telling the truth.

Even in the information age of the 21st century, with surveillance, the internet, and big data, there were still cases that could not be solved.

Let alone in this current era?

Even though this world had sorcery and certain extraordinary abilities that could be used to solve cases, the clearance rate was generally very low.

Li Fei nodded:

"Lord He is right. When the train arrives at the next stop, we will issue a document to the Gan Province Supervision Department and let them begin investigating these people."

He Jian's expression softened slightly: "Please use your seal, Lord Li."

So Li Fei took out a small seal from his bosom; this was his gold seal.

As the Blue Patrol Special Envoy, he could directly mobilize personnel from local Supervision Courts and the Prefecture Supervision General Courts, and even the provincial-level Supervision Departments had an obligation to cooperate.

Since the Son of Heaven had ordered him to be responsible for the "Heavenly Altar Assassination Case," no matter what the request was, as long as it was not too excessive, once he stamped this gold seal, the Supervision Departments everywhere would cooperate with all their might!

After stamping the seal, Li Fei returned the booklet to He Jian, and He Jian stood up and left.

The old man walked out of the private compartment and came into the carriage.

An entire carriage had been chartered, and nine men and women were busy organizing a large number of case files.

They were He Jian's team members.

Every Director of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Supervision Pavilion would have their own independent team. The nine men and women present were able to enter He Jian's team, so they were naturally experts and elites at investigating cases.

"Master."

A young girl with a lively temperament, sounding like an oriole, stood up to greet He Jian.

Seeing this woman, a trace of a smile appeared on the old man's stern face.

He handed the booklet in his hand to the other party: "Lord Li has already used his seal. We will issue the document to the Gan Province Supervision Department at the next stop."

Yuan Mengfei took the booklet and said with a hint of playfulness: "Master, next time, just leave this kind of thing to me."

"Fine, next time if you need to use the seal, I will let you go."

He Jian said.

"Master, the Junior Sister isn't trying to help you with work; she clearly wants to go see that Marquis."

A man in front of a desk laughed.

"Hey, it seems our Junior Sister has had a change of heart."

"Hahaha."

Several of He Jian's disciples teased her together.

Yuan Mengfei put her hands on her hips, not feeling shy in the slightest:

"So what? I dare say, ninety-nine percent of the young ladies in Lanling City have had a change of heart now!"

This remark made everyone else have no choice but to nod:

"Indeed, just on the day we set off, there were dozens of young ladies from noble families who came!"

After the morning court session ended that day, the news of Li Fei being enfeoffed as a Marquis before the throne and the Son of Heaven gifting him robes spread rapidly throughout Lanling City.

Although Li Fei was already quite famous before, his official position was too low, and he had no title, so some young ladies from noble families were not that interested.

Now this link had also been filled in, and in such a dazzling way.

Now, in everyone's eyes, Li Fei was nearly perfect!

For such a perfect marriage partner, many people had been moved.

Before setting off, Li Fei's imperial-bestowed mansion had received a large number of calling cards, all inviting him to banquets.

These cards included most of the princes, nobles, high-ranking court officials, and great noble families in Lanling City!

It was just that Li Fei had Lu Wenxing arrange for people to reply to the cards, using the investigation of the case as an excuse to decline them all.

Three days ago, when he took his people to board the train, many young ladies from noble families heard the news and rushed to see him off, just to catch a glimpse of this legendary Marquis.

When Yuan Mengfei learned that she would be going to investigate the case with him, she was so excited that she hadn't slept well for three days!

As a result, after boarding the train, she had never seen Li Fei again.

In the past three days, Li Fei had not even stepped out of that private compartment; it was said that he was cultivating.

"Alright, back to work."

He Jian interrupted everyone and signaled for them to continue organizing the case files.

There was still a lot for them to do.

He Jian had only met Li Fei a few times, but he could see at a glance that the other party's mind was not on the investigation at all.

However, when it came to investigating cases, the old man had never counted on anyone else.

He only hoped that this Marquis would not hold them back.

Ande Province, Lingshou Prefecture City.

Early in the morning, the prefecture city's train station was cleared.

Over a hundred armed inspectors were maintaining order, and martial artists from the Stop-War General Court were guarding every major intersection.

The Garrison Commander of Lingshou Prefecture, the Head of the Stop-War General Court, the Dean of the Justice Court, the Inspector General of the Inspection General Court, and other big shots were all present!

It was only because the train Li Fei was riding would be stopping temporarily at the prefecture city's train station in a moment.

If it were just to say hello to the Marquis of Jing'an who was passing through here briefly, the big shots of Lingshou Prefecture would not have lowered their status to this extent.

They were gathered here today to witness a martial arts duel.

In a lounge on the second floor of the train station, a woman sat quietly.

She was wrapped in blue gauze, her slender eyebrows were like willows, her eyes were like autumn water, and her black hair was like clouds, draped over her shoulders.

Her delicate features were like works of art carefully carved by the heavens, perfectly setting off her beauty and liveliness.

A long sword was placed in front of her knees, and a total of seven blue gemstones were inlaid on the hilt and scabbard, making the long sword look like a silhouette of the sky.

The woman sat here stroking the long sword, like a white crane in the blue sky, making people feel captivated.

"Ruoyun."

The door to the lounge was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in with a smile, "How is the preparation?"

The woman stood up and bowed: "Father."

"If it is a martial arts duel, I am ready at any time. If it is to win, my preparation is not enough."

She said in an indifferent tone.

The middle-aged man's smile did not change: "In today's battle, winning or losing is not important; what is important is that you meet as friends through martial arts and can become friends with each other."

The young lady looked at him and said earnestly: "As long as it is a martial arts competition, winning or losing is always very important."

The man shook his head: "You... since you value winning and losing so much, then give it your all in a moment. The ancestor once said that as long as you have mastered that sword technique, within the Dao Foundation realm, no matter who you face, you can always fight for a ten percent chance of victory."

The young lady nodded, her eyes bright: "I shall naturally give it my all."

Being evaluated as "within the Dao Foundation realm, having at least a ten percent chance of victory against anyone," she was naturally no ordinary person.

Lan Ruoyun, 27 years old, fifth on the Wind and Cloud General Ranking!

Before Li Fei emerged and rose to the top of the general ranking in one fell swoop, she was ranked fourth, the youngest one besides Shentu Yue.

The reason why a crowd of big figures in Lingshou Prefecture could be stirred to come and watch the battle today is not only because this is a duel between those on the Wind and Cloud General Ranking, but also because both sides of the duel have extraordinary backgrounds.

Li Fei naturally goes without saying, while Lan Ruoyun is the most outstanding descendant of the younger generation of the Lan family!

In martial arts, there are the Seven Great Families; in literature, there are the Ten Great Clans.

The "Lingshou Lan Family" is one of the Seven Great Families of the martial path, a martial arts family with over three hundred years of history, with a Grandmaster holding the fort!

There are no universities in Ande Province; the highest mountain peak in the martial arts world there is the Lan family.

The Lan family has operated in Lingshou Prefecture for over three hundred years and holds a pivotal position. Among those big figures who rushed over to watch the battle today, many come from the Lan family.

Standing before Lan Ruoyun at this moment is the current head of the Lan family, Lan Mingqian, a master of the martial path!

It was he who personally came forward to facilitate today's battle, which is why the train station was cleared and why so many big figures came.

Lan Mingqian wanting his daughter to battle Li Fei was not just to make a name for his daughter.

It was also because he sincerely wanted to see if there was a chance to facilitate a marriage!

Lan Ruoyun is not only astonishing in her martial arts talent, but her appearance is also equally astonishing; she is a famous beauty in Lingshou Prefecture and even the entire Ande Province.

Previously, some even rated her as the number one beauty in Ande Province, and Lan Ruoyun is also frequently on lists such as the Top Ten Fairies of the Jianghu.

Being similarly young, similarly gifted in martial arts, plus having an outstanding appearance and a good family background.

Lan Mingqian felt that his daughter was completely worthy of Li Fei.

Although Lan Ruoyun is 27 this year, 8 years older than Li Fei.

But for those who practice martial arts, a difference of a dozen years is simply not a problem.

If one could really make that young Marquis's heart flutter through this competition, perhaps the Lan family would have a chance to usher in a leap forward!

Of course, Lan Ruoyun herself had no such thoughts at all; she simply wanted to have a match with Li Fei.

Lan Mingqian did not force this either; some things are not good if they are too deliberate.

Perhaps once his daughter sees that Marquis, she will be moved instantly?

After all, that is a young man who is far too stunning!

Beep—

The long whistle of a steam train came from afar.

Lan Mingqian turned to look out the window, a smile appearing on his face, and he turned back to say to his daughter:

"Let's go, the train is entering the station."

Thus, the two walked out of the lounge together.

On the same floor, many people also walked out of other lounges; they were all big figures of Lingshou Prefecture.

Lan Mingqian greeted them, and then they went downstairs together.

Lan Ruoyun held her sword in one hand, walking quietly amidst the crowd.

The ground began to shake, and a train slowly pulled into the platform and then came to a stop.

Teams of inspectors rushed up first, quickly guiding the ordinary commoners getting off the train to one side.

An official holding a name card came to the door of a carriage and quickly walked inside.

"Marquis."

A moment later, Lu Wenxing walked into Li Fei's private cabin.

Li Fei was reading the "Practical Examination of Dharma and Martial Dual Cultivation" in his hands.

He put down the book and turned to look at Lu Wenxing: "What is it?"

Lu Wenxing handed over a name card:

"Someone is inviting you."

"Just like before, decline it."

Li Fei said casually.

Nowadays, his deeds have spread throughout the world from Lanling City, so every time he stops at a station along this journey, someone will send a name card, inviting him to get off the train for a meeting or sending gifts.

But Li Fei had Lu Wenxing politely decline them all.

"You should take a look at this one yourself."

"Oh?"

"It was sent by the Lan family."

"The Lan family of the Seven Great Families?"

"Yes, the Garrison Commander of Lingshou Prefecture and a crowd of officials are waiting outside."

Li Fei took the name card, opened it, and saw two lines of elegant handwriting written on it:

"Having heard of your name, my heart yearns for you. Meeting on the path of the Dao, I invite you to a battle."

"Lan Ruoyun."

Only one update today, will make up for it tomorrow.

(End of chapter)