"That bastard's movement skill was actually a cut above mine. I chased him for dozens of miles, yet he vanished without a trace. What a pity—I let him get away."
"Those demonic cultists are always masters at running. Who knows, perhaps that bastard's movement skill has already reached Major Accomplishment."
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze swept through the tent. When he saw Long Teng's rosy complexion and steady breathing, he said in surprise,
"Huh? Old Long, your poison's been cured? Looks like the White Lotus Sect's potent poison isn't all that impressive. They just boast loudly. Or perhaps you old fellow simply have a tough constitution."
Long Teng gave a bitter smile and shook his head, pointing at Su Fei beside him.
"Don't mock me. It isn't because this old man is tough—it's because Little Friend Su's inner cultivation is unusual. He used his true qi to drive out my poison. If he hadn't acted, I fear I'd already be dead."
Upon hearing this, Commander Feng's gaze immediately turned strange as he sized Su Fei up several times.
"So you've got that kind of skill, brat? Ordinary inner cultivation doesn't have such miraculous detoxifying effects. Looks like your opportunities have been far from ordinary."
Su Fei smiled without replying.
He couldn't exactly tell him that it was a divine art rewarded by the system.
Even if he did, no one would believe him.
Commander Feng did not press Su Fei further and turned to Long Teng.
"Old Long, I'd say you owe us Imperial Guards a tremendous favor this time. If we hadn't arrived in time, your little life would've been gone. Never mind your position as Commander of the Qingzhou Army—it would probably have gone to that traitor Zhao Feiying."
A trace of guilt appeared on Long Teng's face, and he sighed.
"Fine, fine. I misjudged a man. Who could have imagined that Zhao Feiying, with his thick brows and big eyes, was actually an informant for the White Lotus Sect? I've utterly disgraced the Qingzhou Army."
He glanced at Zhao Feiying, who was tied up on the ground, his eyes filled with disgust.
"Once this is over, I'll submit a memorial to the court and clearly list every one of your Imperial Guard's contributions. I won't be vague about it."
"Now that sounds more like it."
Commander Feng immediately beamed and patted Long Teng on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I won't let you suffer for nothing either. Who are we to each other, brother? We found an account book at the White Lotus Sect's charity graveyard hideout. It contains records of Zhao Feiying selling military equipment, as well as the vermin in the army involved in it. I'll have the brothers quietly hand it over to you, leaving you some room to straighten out your ranks."
"Also, I'll have someone return the batch of military equipment Su Fei confiscated to the Qingzhou Army."
Gratitude flashed through Long Teng's eyes, and he nodded.
"Thank you."
Commander Feng did not linger. He gestured for his men to drag Zhao Feiying away.
"Let's go. Take this traitor back to the Heavenly Prison and interrogate him thoroughly. Find out what other dealings he had with the White Lotus Sect."
Su Fei followed along with Captain Li and the others. Before long, the group vanished into the night.
Only Long Teng and several personal guards who had hurried over remained in the tent. Seeing that their commander's expression had eased, one guard could not help asking,
"Commander, we've never exactly gotten along with the Imperial Guard. Are we really going to write in the memorial that all the credit belongs to them?"
Long Teng looked in the direction the Imperial Guard had left, a meaningful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Write it. Of course we must write it."
"But emphasize Su Fei's merits. That lad has such ability at such a young age—his future will be beyond measure. It's better to form a good connection with him than with that old fox Feng Changqing."
The guard suddenly understood and repeatedly praised his commander's wisdom.
The night grew deeper, but the candles in Long Teng's command tent burned without going out.
By the time they returned to the Thousand Households Office, it was already deep into the night.
Commander Feng went straight to the seat of honor and sat down, his gaze falling on Su Fei.
"Su Fei, you rendered the greatest service in this arms case. You've worked hard. Starting tomorrow, take three days off and get some proper rest."
He pointed at the piles of dossiers on the desk.
"As for the trivial matters—interrogating Zhao Feiying through the night, checking the inventory of military equipment—let the others handle them. You needn't concern yourself with any of it."
Su Fei froze for a moment. There was actually such a good thing? He then cupped his hands and said,
"Thank you, Commander."
Commander Feng smiled.
"What are you thanking me for? You've earned this."
"As for your reward, you know that this arms case has implicated far too many people. Once I finish the memorial and clearly record your merits, when the court's reply arrives, your reward certainly won't be small."
The several captains nearby listened with envy in their eyes, but they could only secretly admire him.
Su Fei had solved the arms case, uncovered the White Lotus Sect's conspiracy, and rooted out Zhao Feiying, the traitor within the Qingzhou Army.
It could be said that he had performed extraordinary merits one after another. Such capability truly commanded respect.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, go back and rest."
Su Fei acknowledged the order and took his leave, walking out of the duty room beneath everyone's complicated gazes.
After he left, Commander Feng's smile vanished.
"The task of interrogating Zhao Feiying is yours. Make sure to dig out as much information as possible about the White Lotus Sect in Qingzhou. The White Lotus Sect is the greatest thorn in the heart of our dynasty."
"Also, find out exactly how much military equipment Zhao Feiying sold to the White Lotus Sect."
The other captains nodded.
Once the duty room was left with Commander Feng alone,
Commander Feng sat by himself before the desk. He took out a blank official document, dipped his brush in the inkstone, yet did not write for a long while.
After pondering for a long time, he finally began to write.
Su Fei returned home and shut the door.
He walked over to the stone table in the courtyard and sat down.
He silently recited in his heart.
"System, extract the rewards: the Floating Light Shadowy Movement Skill and sixty years of cultivation."
Extracting rewards. Obtained the movement skill Fleeting Light Shadow (Beginner), and sixty years of cultivation.
In an instant, countless movement techniques flooded into Su Fei's mind.
They transformed into a small figure practicing the Fleeting Light Shadow movement art.
Next, he would improve the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms first.
"System, consume twenty years of cultivation to improve the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms."
In the first year, you practiced your palm technique beneath the moon and gradually gained insight into the art of gathering power for Dragon Ascending to Heaven.
In the tenth year, you integrated Nine Yang True Qi into your palm technique, and your understanding of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms grew ever deeper.
In the twentieth year, you struck out with a palm, and dragon roars seemed to echo between heaven and earth. The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms broke through to Perfection.
Cultivation results being returned... Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms—Perfection
A total of sixty years of cultivation had been consumed before this martial art finally entered the Perfection Realm—equivalent to Su Fei cultivating for sixty years without eating, drinking, or sleeping.
It consumed far more cultivation than the Perfection Realm Thunderbolt Saber and the Perfection Realm Dragon Catching Skill.
This showed just how difficult it was to cultivate.
Su Fei suddenly rose to his feet and pushed his palms forward. Golden dragon-shaped qi surged from his palms, circled the courtyard once, then silently dispersed.
He could clearly feel that every stance of the palm technique perfectly matched his own true essence. Every gesture carried the force to shatter mountains and split rocks.
The Perfection Realm Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms was considerably more powerful than it had been at the Major Accomplishment Realm.
"System, consume twenty years of cultivation to improve Fleeting Light Shadow."
In the first year, you stepped through the air, but your movements were still somewhat sluggish, every step requiring deliberate control of true qi.
In the fifth year, you darted through the forest like a wild goose. With a light tap of your toes upon the treetops, you could glide several zhang. You could already evade ordinary hidden weapons, and Fleeting Light Shadow broke through to Minor Accomplishment!
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