Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Intensifying Efforts (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Feng Jun planned, when the time came for conscripting the army, to gather intelligence through the Tian Family on one hand and, on the other, to strike at the assets of the Gu Family.

In the eyes of the Gu Family, they were legitimately using the rules to deal with Feng Jun, who had suddenly emerged.

As for directly challenging Feng Jun… the Gu Family weren’t fools, as two Innate had already perished at his hands.

Gu Maoyuan was a veteran Innate, but, even as a veteran, he was just an Innate, not an Immortal.

The Gu Family couldn’t afford to use their only strategic-level deterrent force lightly.

However, Feng Jun was particularly disgusted with such matters. You, the Gu Family, believe you’re acting within the rules, but when it comes to seizing by force… did you respect the rules then?

He didn’t know how the Gu Family dealt with others, but he was very clear about how they had once dealt with him.

For the mere price of a dozen copper coins, they tried to forcibly purchase items he brought from Earth… Is this respecting the rules?

Rules are not chamber pots to be picked up and used when convenient, then cast aside when they’re not.

So, to Feng Jun, this was a classic case of malicious retaliation. Also, the other side might be smugly thinking they’re employing justice and using open strategies, while he can only passively accept the situation.

He could even envision the Yangshan Gu Family, hundreds of miles away, sneering at him—Want to force the Gu Family to take action? With a few simple tricks, we can play you to death!

What Feng Jun disliked the most was his opponents’ smugness.

Two more days passed, and most of the Yu Family Members had left. Later, the Tian Family Disciples working on construction at Lord Beiyuan Mansion returned as well.

Feng Jun received an intelligence summary from the Mi Family, noting that the Wonderful Hand Pavilion had shown no reaction to the death of the Soul Capture Spike, so he couldn’t be bothered to speak of a ten-day ultimatum and handed over the corpse of the Soul Capture Spike to the Mi Family.

—As long as you act with integrity, my actions will be even more scrupulous.

The Mi Family, receiving the head of their enemy, were so overwhelmed with excitement that they hurried back to Yuanguang Prefecture during the night.

Feng Jun noticed fewer people around, and was about to search for Spirit Stones, when the next morning, Tian Family members reported: a unit of soldiers was approaching from the direction of the county town.

Soon after, Tian Yangni rushed over, bringing the latest news: not only County Soldiers but also Iron Guards had arrived.

The Iron Guards, managed by the Imperial Guards, were somewhat similar to a police force, directly responsible to the royal family. Along with the Imperial Forest Soldiers, they formed the two major defense forces of the capital city.

This news was quite troubling. Tian Yangni, with a worried frown, said, “Who could this important person be?”

The main responsibility of the Iron Guards was protection, but they provided security not only for the royal family. All high-ranking officials had Iron Guards with them, a form of protection from Donghua Country, considered a privilege from the Imperial Court.

For example, the Magistrate of Qingning Prefecture didn’t have Iron Guards by his side… he wasn’t qualified, but the Governor of Fushan County, his superior, should have ten Iron Guards with him. Even if there occasionally were vacancies, they would quickly be filled.

The Tian Family was just a local powerhouse, or one might even say a small rural Clan. The Disciples had limited vision and took a long time to realize that the County Soldiers were mixed with Iron Guards.

The Yu Family Members should have had keener eyesight than the Tian Family, but now only seven or eight of them were left, and even Yu Zhengqing had left. The one in charge was the second young master of the Yu Family, with the highest Cultivation Level being a High-Rank Martial Master Guest Elder.

The second young master of the Yu Family didn’t communicate much with Feng Jun and didn’t come to pass on any news today either.

Tian Yangni expressed his anxiousness with a troubled look: with Iron Guards present, it’s really not suitable to offend them, if anything happens we can only endure.

If we don’t want to endure, we could flee, but absolutely mustn’t resist—this involves the face of Donghua Country’s royal family and the Imperial Court.

Feng Jun wasn’t very afraid, having killed two Innates already, how would Iron Guards matter? So he casually suggested, let’s wait and see how things unfold.

It was around noon when that group of people reached Mount Zhige and headed straight for Feng Jun’s courtyard.

When these people were still more than ten miles away from the courtyard, the vanguard had already reached the courtyard.

The reason it was called the vanguard was that besides one Iron Guard, there were five County Soldiers and two runners.

Upon seeing County Soldiers arrive, Feng Jun couldn’t help but shake his head secretly: the Tian Family’s intelligence capabilities really need improvement.

Little did he know, it was his misunderstanding. It was customary in Donghua Country for Iron Guards to be accompanied by other protective forces, hence even runners were present.

Though the Tian Family Disciples were terrified of the Iron Guards, they still had to muster the courage to go up and inquire, “May I ask what business brings the gentlemen here?”

The two runners were locals from Zhige and had dealings with the Tian Family Disciples on a regular basis. However, at this time, they solemnly replied, “Do not ask too many questions. A dignitary has arrived and needs to requisition your courtyard temporarily. Please vacate it quickly.”

The Disciples of the Tian Family paled at these words, knowing that today’s matter could in no way be trivial, and could only grit their teeth in response, “We are but hired to do some odd jobs, and truly can’t presume to respond on behalf of our employers.”

One of the runners gave a subtle hint with his eyes, but his voice was sharp, “You are not in a position to decide, why not quickly inform someone who is?”

The Tian Family disciples steeled their heart and spoke firmly, “To inform our main house, we need to know the background of the honored one… I hope Big Brother can understand.”

For the Tian Family members, a person with iron guards was surely noble, but someone who could kill two innate Divine Doctors wouldn’t have a low status either. You wish to requisition the Divine Doctor’s courtyard without revealing your identity?

“Dammit,” the servant who had been gesturing earlier couldn’t help but curse aloud, “Is an honored person’s identity something you can know?”

While cursing, he carefully watched the iron guard’s expression—it was not his duty to care about such matters, and he had no interest in them.

However, the Tian Family disciple replied without subservience or arrogance, “Perhaps I’m not qualified to know, but I can’t report to the main house without any clarity… I am just doing my duty.”

“Why don’t you just step aside then?” The servant said with a cold sneer, desperately gesturing.

Just as the words left his mouth, a County Soldier’s expression changed. He took out a steel whip, lashed out with a flick of his hand, and struck at the Tian Family disciple, shouting fiercely, “How dare you pry into military secrets? Seeking death!”

The Tian Family disciple didn’t dare resist and could only retreat abruptly. However, the opponent’s whipping technique was exquisite; the steel whip flew out of his hand, knocking the disciple over, before he swiftly retrieved it with a flick of his wrist.

At the end of the steel whip was a very thin rope lasso, which the County Soldier held in his hand.

Caught off guard, the Tian Family disciple suffered a heavy blow, and with his mouth agape, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, “Puh~”

Tian Lewen had just arrived not far away and witnessed the scene, boiling with rage he couldn’t hold back, “Why did you hit someone?”

“Get lost!” The County Soldier barked, “Clear out the courtyard immediately, clean it up, or you’ll regret it!”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a muffled thump, and the County Soldier’s shoulder shook, his steel whip falling to the ground. Right after, bright red blood seeped through the seams of his shoulder armor.

The man was quite fierce. He clutched his right shoulder with his left hand and shouted through clenched teeth, “Who dares to ambush me?”

Another muffled thump resonated, the man’s horse staggered and collapsed, never to rise again.

The man dismounted to find a bloody wound on his beloved horse’s forehead from which fresh blood was profusely pouring.

The horse slowly lay on its side, its eyes gradually dimming, its hind legs sporadically twitching—a sure sign it would not survive.

His face darkened, and he was about to curse when he suddenly realized that something was amiss.

Looking around, he was shocked to find that two servants had already taken cover at a distance, and even the four County Soldiers had created some space between them and him—it was clear that the death of his mount was collateral damage, and no one wanted to be the second victim.

The County Soldier grew angrier, but he realized that the assailant was audacious, not only daring to injure a County Soldier but also to kill a military horse.

Though furiously angry, he didn’t dare to curse recklessly and could only scan around, shouting with intense rage, “Who took action? Have the guts to show yourself?”

A voice rang out from above, indifferent yet authoritative, “You want me to show myself… are you worthy?”

That attitude was exactly how the County Soldier had treated Tian Lewen earlier. It was indeed instant karma.

However, the County Soldier didn’t dwell on that point. Instead, his expression changed, and he spoke sharply, “I am here to requisition the property. Are you sure you want to confront the iron guard?”

“There are many houses around,” the voice continued nonchalantly, “I do not accept the requisition. You can leave now!”

Enraged, the County Soldier retorted, “Do you know who is requisitioning your courtyard?”

He had already guessed that the speaker was the so-called Divine Doctor, although he had pretended not to know until now, when his anger got the better of him and he blurted it out.

In fact, with things having progressed to this stage, it didn’t matter if it was out in the open.

“I don’t know who is requisitioning it,” Feng Jun’s voice drifted lazily, “I asked you earlier, and you refused to say.”

“Revealing the whereabouts of an honored person is a responsibility no one can bear,” the County Soldier sneered, “If you resist the requisition by force, wait for the Official Government to imprison you!”

No sooner had he spoken than the air fell silent. While everyone wondered whether the Divine Doctor had been intimidated, the voice spoke again, “Are you sure you understand who you are provoking?”

The County Soldier’s face changed once more. Of course, he knew because Feng Jun’s true identity was uncertain, so even those above dared not suggest a course of action. What if they provoked someone untouchable?

Therefore, they could only probe bit by bit, and he was at the forefront because his comrades entrusted him.

But at this moment, he couldn’t retreat and could only grit his teeth and respond, “You will regret it. The army will arrive any moment now and will grind you into dust.”

“Whether or not I’ll regret it is my concern,” Feng Jun’s tone remained unruffled, “but let me tell you, if you don’t leave now, I will take your life.”

(Turns out there are four more patrons; with numerous administrative tasks in March, the stockpile of chapters is dwindling. Allow Feng Xiao a couple of days to catch up. As for the monthly tickets, they’re still requested, as they motivate Feng Xiao to write additional chapters.)