Return to Yong'an City

The heavy rain stopped, the dark clouds dispersed, and a rainbow appeared in the clear sky.

Just like Chu Feng's life, after the storm, the road ahead will surely be smooth sailing.

With a thought, Chu Feng's facial muscles changed, and his originally delicate features became plain and unremarkable.

At the same time, his body muscles contracted, turning him into a skinny, emaciated figure.

If he were to put on a set of ragged clothes and mix with the beggars, even his closest relatives wouldn't recognize him.

This was the muscle control he had gained by spending five years of his lifespan.

Chu Feng could also inflate his muscles and become a burly man, but in this era of widespread famine and continuous disasters at the end of the dynasty, a strong physique would be too conspicuous. It was better to be thin and unnoticeable.

With the power of the Fang Manor, his portrait might have already been plastered all over the streets and alleys. Now, with the ability to change his appearance, he could develop in secret from the shadows, which suited his intentions perfectly.

Thinking of this, Chu Feng leaped down and returned the way he came.

Most of the people chasing him were only at the Late Skin Grinding Stage. Now that many were dead or injured, the remaining ones had likely already fled back to the Fang Manor.

Furthermore, with Chu Feng's appearance greatly altered, he walked without any fear.

He wanted to play a game of "hiding in plain sight." The Fang family would never imagine that a mere household servant would dare to return to Yong'an City!

Yong'an City, Fang Manor.

"Young Master, that Chu Feng is truly formidable. He actually killed Steward Chen and more than a dozen brothers," a panicked guard reported as he knelt before a young man in luxurious attire.

This person was none other than the Eldest Young Master Fang, Fang Jian Xing, the Fang Family's Sole Heir of Three Generations.

Fang Jian Xing had handsome features, inheriting the good looks of a wealthy family.

At this moment, his eyebrows were raised high, and his expression was extremely cold.

With a wave of his hand, the reporting guard was lifted as if by a strong wind and slammed heavily against the wall. He fainted without even a chance to cry out.

He hadn't even considered him important, just a mere household servant. He thought his subordinates would bring back the servant's head within the hour.

He never expected to hear news of his guards being killed. How could he not be angry?

"Where is Gao Han?" Fang Jian Xing asked coldly.

"Young Master," a middle-aged man with a sturdy build and bright, piercing eyes stepped forward.

He was originally the chief constable of Yong'an City, known for his violent temper.

He had once gotten drunk, caused trouble, and killed a restaurant owner's family of five. He was about to be executed by the authorities in the autumn, but the Fang family patriarch, valuing his talent, had pulled strings and saved him, making him an elder in the Fang family.

Now, this famous hot-tempered constable of Yong'an City was remarkably subservient in front of the young master of the Fang family.

"Within three days, I want the head of the servant who stole treasures from the Fang Manor. Elder Gao, can you do it?"

Fang Jian Xing looked directly into Gao Han's eyes and said seriously.

To cover up his secret affair, he had casually fabricated a lie. It was just a servant, and no one would care about the truth.

"Young Master, rest assured. Within three days, I will bring back the head of that traitorous slave!" Gao Han said, patting his chest as he made a military pledge.

He was originally a constable, and pursuing fugitives was his specialty, so he naturally dared to make such a bold promise!

Fang Jian Xing nodded with satisfaction and said, "This is just a small matter. Your performance in the Fang family over the years has been evident. Our Fang family will not mistreat those who have rendered meritorious service!"

As he spoke, he took out a pill from his pocket. "I heard you have already reached the Muscle Tendon Realm. This is a Muscle Tendon Pill, which can greatly increase your cultivation speed."

"Thank you, Young Family Master. I will do my utmost for the Fang family until my death!"

Gao Han knelt on one knee, trembling as he took the pill, a flash of ecstasy in his eyes.

"The kindness of being recognized is hard to repay. I can only grind that traitorous slave to dust to appease your anger, Young Family Master," Gao Han said excitedly.

The last time he was this excited was two years ago when he was bestowed the Tiger Demon Body Tempering Art and the Muscle Tendon Chapter.

Without the aid of pills, cultivation was too difficult. With this Muscle Tendon Pill, he was confident he could reach the middle stage of the Muscle Tendon Realm within three months.

Seeing Gao Han's expression, Fang Jian Xing was very pleased.

Gao Han was only in his thirties, and reaching the Muscle Tendon Realm could be considered talented.

This move would surely make him loyal to him. In the future, when he inherited the Fang family, Gao Han would be a great general under his command.

The closer Chu Feng got to the city gate, the more people there were.

Many refugees appeared, their clothes tattered, their faces sallow and thin, staggering towards the city gate.

A couple held their newborn infant, looking at the city walls within reach with hope in their eyes.

The crying infant's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, as it tried to suckle the long-dry milk and lull itself to sleep.

Chu Feng's expression was calm. He had seen countless similar scenes.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had stood for a thousand years, and its court system had long since decayed. Various bureaucratic interest groups unscrupulously exploited and oppressed the common people. If this were not a world of extraordinary martial arts, the dynasty would have been overthrown by the refugees countless times.

He heard that an earthquake in the north had caused rivers to collapse and change course, resulting in many people being unable to fill their stomachs and forced to flee their homes. These must be those people.

Chu Feng casually found a refugee's corpse by the roadside and changed his household servant uniform for ragged burlap.

He walked with the flow of people, step by step, towards the city gate.

"Get your travel permits ready in advance, don't waste time..."

On both sides of the city gate, soldiers leaned on their spears, dozing off. They had been standing for five to six hours and were already exhausted.

They were listless, checking travel permits perfunctorily, sometimes letting people pass without even looking.

Chu Feng casually found a piece of yellow paper that looked somewhat official and prepared to go through.

"Wait..."

Just then, the older soldier, still groggy, opened his eyes and immediately called out to Chu Feng.

Seeing this, Chu Feng cursed inwardly, "This dog's eyes are sharp indeed!"

However, Chu Feng wasn't flustered; he had a backup plan.

He calmly walked up to the soldier and secretly slipped one or two taels of silver into his palm.

The older soldier weighed it in his hand and chuckled, "You can go in. Make sure you find lodging before the curfew tonight, or you'll be treated as a rebel!"

He mistook Chu Feng for a refugee coming to Yong'an City to join relatives. There were many like him, and they brought him a lot of extra income.

Chu Feng nodded slightly and strode into the city.

Behind Chu Feng was the couple holding a baby. As expected, they were stopped.

"Sir, please help us. My baby has been hungry for a long time," the woman cried, holding up her weak infant.

"Go... go. No one without a travel permit is allowed in. Do you want me to break the law?"

The older soldier remained unmoved. His face was stern as he ordered two younger soldiers to drag them aside.

The two young soldiers were unaccustomed to such scenes and felt a pang of sympathy, their movements hesitant.

The older soldier's face turned fierce, and he immediately kicked the man of the couple aside.

Seeing her husband being beaten, the woman no longer dared to argue. She cried out and pulled her husband away.

After order was restored, the older soldier called his two subordinates over and said sternly:

"Are you trying to get yourselves killed? Letting them pass so openly, what will the other refugees think? Do you want them to storm the city gate?"

"At that time, even ten heads wouldn't be enough to lose!"

Chu Feng didn't look back. There were too many suffering people in this world.

Wasn't he one of them?

He was in no position to pity others!