County Yamen Factions!

Lu Feng had heard about the factions within the county yamen, but he didn't know the specifics.

After all, he was just an ordinary constable, far too lowly to get involved in the yamen's factional struggles.

Lu Yan gave a helpless smile. "Heh, wherever there are people, there will be strife, and naturally, people will band together for warmth."

Lu Feng showed a look of understanding, then continued asking, "Lord Lu, today I observed that the County Magistrate seems to favor the County Assistant. Could they be in the same faction?"

Lu Yan shook his head slightly. "No! The County Magistrate was sent down by the Imperial Court; he's not in cahoots with Zhou Yongsi. As for what you call favor, it's merely a temporary expedient."

Hearing this, Lu Feng roughly understood. Li An not only managed the vast Caobang Gang but also had the backing of County Assistant Zhou Yongsi.

If the County Magistrate truly executed Li An according to the law, it would be a clear move against the County Assistant. Then the County Assistant, having nothing left to lose, would directly incite the Caobang Gang to cause trouble, and the ones who would suffer would be the people of Qinglu County.

Worse, if the matter escalated, it would also damage the County Magistrate's reputation.

Having figured this out, Lu Feng realized that his own status and strength were still too low, which was why the County Magistrate wanted to smooth things over.

"Lord Lu, may I ask what factions exist within the yamen?" Lu Feng pressed on.

Lu Yan slowly raised three fingers. "There are three factions in the yamen. County Assistant Zhou Yongsi and Captain Wang and his men form one faction. County Lieutenant Li Muyuan and Captain Fang form the second. As for the third, it's the County Magistrate, Strategist Wang Jun, and Captain Qin."

After hearing this explanation, Lu Feng finally understood completely.

"Lord Lu, are you telling me this because you want me to join one of them?"

Lu Yan shook his head. "I'm telling you this because I see you as promising material. Whether you choose to join a faction or remain neutral is entirely up to you."

Hearing this, Lu Feng understood Lu Yan's intention.

Helping him was a kind of investment. If Lu Feng's status and strength rose in the future, Lu Yan would gain an ally.

"Yes, I understand." Lu Feng cupped his hands in salute again.

After their conversation, Lu Feng headed to the yamen room to sign in. As soon as he entered, he saw two familiar figures.

They were none other than Fan Tao and Chen Han.

The two quickly approached him. Fan Tao spoke first, "Lu Feng, you're something! Not only did you come back unscathed, but you also took down Li An!"

Chen Han also looked at him with disbelief. "Lu Feng, tell us quickly, how did you catch Li An?"

Seeing their excited expressions, Lu Feng just smiled faintly. "Heh, why make such a fuss, you two? It was just catching a villain."

Before Fan Tao and Chen Han could say more, a mocking voice suddenly came from outside the yamen room. "Hmph, some people are already at death's door and still spouting nonsense. I wonder if that's fearlessness or ignorance."

The three turned to look at the door, and saw that the speaker was Captain Wang.

After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and left, but the look he gave Lu Feng was like looking at a dead man.

Seeing this, Fan Tao and Chen Han exchanged meaningful glances at Lu Feng.

Lu Feng himself didn't care. Even if Captain Wang was displeased with him, what did it matter? Give him a few more days, and his martial realm would be no weaker than the other's.

If he could also win the position of captain, he could completely ignore him.

So the three signed in and left the yamen. Lu Feng returned home to continue practicing Cloud-Dispelling Palm.

His proficiency in Cloud-Dispelling Palm had now reached one thousand points, and it would still take considerable time to max it out.

After practicing in the courtyard for a while, Lu Feng moved his mind and called up the Proficiency Panel to check.

[Name: Lu Feng]

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[Age: 19/50]

[Realm: Seventh-Rank Martial Artist]

[Cultivation Method: None]

[Martial Skill: Cloud-Dispelling Palm (High-Grade, Lower-Tier, Perfection 258/1000)]

Looking at the changes on the panel, Lu Feng fell into thought, pondering to himself.

"My current martial realm is Seventh-Rank Martial Artist. Logically, Li An shouldn't have lost so badly. How could he not even withstand one strike of my Cloud-Dispelling Palm?"

Both of their martial realms were Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, but Li An's performance today was lackluster.

Lu Feng suspected that the gap in their combat power was mostly because he had cultivated Cloud-Dispelling Palm to the Perfection level.

When martial artists fight, first comes the martial realm, then the cultivation methods and martial skills they've learned.

When both sides have the same martial realm, the deciding factor in victory is only martial skills and cultivation methods.

And a Perfection-level Cloud-Dispelling Palm was clearly far superior to Li An's signature boxing technique.

According to Lu Feng's estimation, Li An's boxing technique had at most been cultivated to Lesser Completion.

Against his Cloud-Dispelling Palm, he naturally had no chance.

Having figured this out, Lu Feng rubbed his chin. "Mm, if that's the case, then the competition for the new captain position in the yamen should be no problem."

From what he knew, none of the current constables had cultivated any martial skill to the Perfection level.

In that case, his chances of competing for the captain position would be greatly reduced.

Having said that, Lu Feng straightened his clothes and rose to head toward the County Yamen.

When he arrived at the County Yamen, he saw Captain Wang chatting with two men dressed in Caobang attire.

As Lu Feng entered the County Yamen, Captain Wang noticed him and slowly walked over with the Caobang men.

"Lu Feng, you're finally here! These two are the Caobang Stewards—they've brought the thousand-tael silver compensation. Make sure you handle the handover properly," Captain Wang said with a sarcastic tone.

At his words, the two Caobang Stewards fixed Lu Feng with icy stares, though their words were polite. "So this is Constable Lu! We've heard much about you!"

Hearing this, Lu Feng's expression remained calm as he looked at them and said, "I wouldn't dare claim such renown. Since you're here to deliver the compensation, bring it out."

With that, he extended his right hand to demand the payment.

Seeing him like this, the two men's faces immediately darkened, but since they were at the County Yamen, they dared not openly break ties.

One of them slowly pulled ten hundred-tael banknotes from his robe and slapped them into Lu Feng's hand, saying, "Constable Lu, here's your compensation. Make sure you hold onto it well!"

Lu Feng took the banknotes and even began counting them right in front of them.

His actions made the two Caobang Stewards' faces grow even more sour.

After finishing the count, Lu Feng finally smiled and said, "Mm, the amount is correct! Since this matter is settled, Lu won't keep you two company!"

With that, he turned and left. The two Caobang Stewards watched him go, filled with both anger and resentment.

Their Great Chieftain had not only been beaten severely by Lu Feng and thrown into jail, but they also had to compensate him a thousand taels of silver—truly a case of losing both the battle and the ransom.

As for Lu Feng, he wore a broad smile. With this thousand taels of silver, he wouldn't have to worry about money for the short term.