A thunderous shout suddenly rang out, echoing in everyone's ears!
Hearing that voice, Wang Xuan was instantly overjoyed!
Sun Fu, Manager Qian, and the others immediately frowned and looked over!
"Who dares obstruct official business!"
Sun Fu barked coldly.
But the moment he turned his head, his expression changed drastically!
Beside him, Qian Tong's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly!
If he remembered correctly, Hou Feng had fallen into the hands of the newcomer yesterday!
Chen Feng was riding a warhorse, leading more than a dozen soldiers toward them!
"Men from the army!"
"Isn't that the Chen family's third son? Why has he come back!"
Quite a few villagers immediately recognized Chen Feng.
It really was the Chen family's third son!
He had gone to the city to enlist two years ago and had only returned a few times since!
"Third!"
"Why are you back?"
Chen Shan stepped forward and asked.
Chen Feng rode his warhorse to the outside of the courtyard, then swung down from the saddle. "Father, I've returned this time on official business."
"I'll tell you about it later!"
After giving that instruction, Chen Feng turned and looked at Sun Fu and the others again!
"What are you trying to do!"
"Are you trying to beat someone up!"
Chen Feng shouted coldly.
Sun Fu did not recognize Chen Feng, but he knew that men from the army were not to be provoked.
"Brother, we are tax officials here to collect taxes!"
"This family can't pay their taxes, so we were just about to arrest someone!"
Sun Fu said politely.
Chen Feng gave an acknowledging sound.
"They can't pay their taxes? Is that so, Little Stone?"
Wang Xuan replied, "This official said that this year's head tax and hunting tax have both gone up, and he wants us to pay eighteen taels of silver!"
The moment those words came out, Chen Feng's face darkened sharply!
"Eighteen taels?"
"I remember that although this year's taxes have increased somewhat, they shouldn't be this high!"
"Could it be that you're levying taxes at will?"
The moment those words were spoken, Sun Fu inwardly cursed his bad luck!
Amid the crowd, Shi Qian's brows knitted tightly.
Chen Feng continued, "Wang Xuan was personally invited into the camp by the Centurion. Do you still dare levy taxes at will and lay hands on people!"
"What an imposing official air!"
"I will definitely report this matter to the Centurion!"
His voice grew heavier toward the end.
Buzz!
Sun Fu's expression changed dramatically.
The Centurion!
That was a great figure they could not afford to offend!
"Sir, this is a misunderstanding!"
"It's a misunderstanding!"
"Little brother, we made a mistake regarding this year's matter. Please don't take it to heart!"
"We are willing to exempt you from this year's taxes as an apology. How does that sound?"
Sun Fu completely changed his attitude.
He immediately cupped his hands toward Wang Xuan in apology.
It was no wonder he bowed his head. The Centurion was simply someone they could not afford to provoke. He had only taken a few taels of silver from Shi Qian; there was no need to offend the Centurion over Shi Qian.
At the side.
Qian Tong's expression shifted slightly, his face complicated.
He had come here today to take Wang Xuan's sister-in-law back with him!
But who could have expected something like this to happen!
And this man beside them was the soldier who had killed Hou Feng yesterday!
Qian Tong did not dare make trouble. Chuckling, he said, "As long as the money has been repaid, that's enough. Let's go."
Qian Tong had come quickly, and he left just as quickly.
In the distance.
Shi Qian, Liu San, and the others wore ugly expressions, their eyes full of disbelief.
They simply could not understand how Wang Xuan, a mere hunter, had caught the Centurion's eye.
And at that moment, killing intent surged through Shi Qian's heart!
"It was him. My elder brother's death must have had something to do with him!"
He did not know why Wang Xuan had won the Centurion's favor, but judging from Wang Xuan's conduct just now, his elder brother's death was most likely connected to Wang Xuan!
However, he also knew that he absolutely could not deal with Wang Xuan right now.
Shi Qian clenched his fists and left unwillingly, while Liu San and the others hurried after him.
"Little Stone, are you all right?"
Only after Sun Fu and Qian Tong had both left did Chen Feng finally ask.
Wang Xuan shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Good thing you came in time, Brother Feng. Otherwise, we might have come to blows!"
Chen Feng shook his head. "These times are getting more and more chaotic. These people are everywhere, beating the autumn wind. This isn't the first time I've encountered something like this."
"But it's good that nothing happened in the end."
"Right, the Centurion told you to head over early."
"What do you think now..."
Wang Xuan turned back to look at his sister-in-law, Lu Yao, who still had not quite recovered from the shock. "Sister-in-law, I was actually going to the military camp when I entered the city today."
"I'll be leaving right away."
"Stay at home and don't wander around. Don't open the door for people casually."
Lu Yao nodded. "I understand."
"Then go early and come back early."
Wang Xuan answered, then followed Chen Feng out the door.
At that moment.
Chen Shan walked over and looked at his son. "Third, what is going on? Why did you suddenly come back?"
Chen Feng explained, "Something happened in the county city recently, so I came back for a trip."
"I was originally going to return yesterday, but some things happened. I've come back now to take Little Stone into the city and consider the matter of him becoming a soldier."
"We'll be back this afternoon."
Hearing this, Chen Shan knew his son had matters to handle and did not ask further.
"Uncle Chen, while I'm not home, please help look after my sister-in-law. She's a woman alone at home, and I'm afraid someone might come looking to make trouble for her!"
Wang Xuan gave this instruction.
Chen Shan replied, "Go without worry."
"I'll have your sister-in-law come to my house later and keep your aunt company."
Wang Xuan nodded.
"Little Stone, get on the horse."
"I'll take you into the military camp. The Centurion is already waiting!"
Soon after, Wang Xuan and Chen Feng shared one horse and rode straight toward the county city.
The surrounding villagers watched Wang Xuan leave with Chen Feng, their eyes filled with envy.
The Centurion!
To mountain village commoners like them, he was a towering figure!
An hour later.
Wang Xuan arrived at the military camp in the county city with Chen Feng.
The military camp of White Water County was quite large.
There were a full five thousand troops stationed there permanently.
Adding in the recruits from the new soldier camp, the total was likely close to ten thousand men.
Wang Xuan followed behind Chen Feng into the military camp. Along the way, he saw many soldiers patrolling and training.
Most of them wore simple armor. Though their bodies carried fluctuations of qi and blood, most were ordinary people or martial artists at the Ox Hide level.
There were not many like Chen Feng, who had reached the Iron Skin level.
Very soon.
Wang Xuan followed Chen Feng to the front of a military tent.
"Centurion!"
"Wang Xuan has been brought here!"
The words entered the tent, and soon a deep, powerful voice came from within.
"Enter!"
Chen Feng cupped his hands slightly, then straightened and said to Wang Xuan, "Little Stone, whatever the Centurion tells you to do, do it."
"Remember not to hold anything back!"
"The stronger you show yourself to be, the more highly you'll be valued!"
Before you continue