Chen Han and Fan Tao merely smiled and nodded. Seeing their expressions, Lu Feng immediately realized this was a chance to make money.
With his current strength as an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist, there was little doubt he could claim the New Captain position.
If he bet on himself to win the election, he could make a killing.
Thinking this, Lu Feng didn't hesitate. He immediately asked Fan Tao to take him to place a bet.
Soon, the three of them arrived at the Yamen Room. Several constables were placing bets at a desk inside.
The man sitting behind the desk was Old Li, the bookkeeper and yamen runner at the County Yamen.
Seeing him, Lu Feng walked over and said to Old Li, "Old Li, I'd like to place a bet too. What are the odds?"
Old Li looked up at him, then said, "So it's Constable Lu. Since you want to join in, I'll explain how it works."
"There are currently four candidates on the betting board. The first is Li Hu, at odds of one to two. The second is Chen Yu, at one to three. The last two are Jia Hongyi and Wang Dahai, both at one to four!"
After hearing Old Li's explanation, Lu Feng furrowed his brow slightly.
Eleven people from the County Yamen had signed up to compete for the New Captain position, but only four were on the betting board.
In other words, these four were the favorites to become the New Captain.
That meant he couldn't bet on himself.
After thinking it over, he asked, "Old Li, can I bet on someone other than those four?"
Old Li paused in surprise, then nodded. "You can, but who are you planning to bet on?"
Lu Feng smiled and replied, "I'm betting on myself, of course! What are my odds?"
"Yourself?!" Old Li exclaimed in surprise. "You're sure you want to bet on yourself?"
Lu Feng nodded firmly. "Yes, that's right!"
"Ah, it's good for young people to be confident, but too much confidence isn't a good thing. Since you want to bet on yourself, I'll set your odds at one to five." Old Li sighed helplessly.
Instead of getting angry, Lu Feng smiled.
Then he pulled out a thousand-tael banknote and slapped it on the desk. "Old Li, I'll put a thousand taels on myself, then."
Seeing the ten hundred-tael banknotes on the desk, Old Li was stunned.
Even Fan Tao and Chen Han, standing behind Lu Feng, were startled by what he'd done.
But a moment later, they understood: the thousand taels he'd put down must have been compensation from the Caobang Gang.
Old Li looked Lu Feng over again, then cautioned him, "Lu Feng, I advise you to think it through. A thousand taels is no small sum. If you lose, I won't give it back."
The Qinglu County Yamen had held betting pools like this a few times before, and the constables and yamen runners would put down a little silver for fun.
But the bets were never very large. No one had ever put down a thousand taels like Lu Feng.
At Old Li's warning, Lu Feng simply smiled and replied, "Thanks for the reminder, Old Li. Since I dared to place the bet, I know the rules."
Old Li nodded, accepted the thousand-tael banknotes, and handed him a wooden token.
"Fine, then. Keep this betting token safe."
Lu Feng took the token and looked it over. The character Lu was written on the front, and the amount, one thousand taels, on the back.
Just as he put the token away and prepared to leave, Fan Tao suddenly said behind him, "Lu Feng, have you lost your mind? You finally got your hands on a thousand taels, and you're betting the whole lot?"
Lu Feng merely smiled and didn't explain.
Seeing this, Fan Tao gritted his teeth and put down five taels on Lu Feng, too.
Before long, it was nearing the end of the Chen hour. Lu Feng arrived at the Martial Arts Arena behind the County Yamen.
Quite a crowd of yamen runners and constables had gathered there, and all eleven constables competing that day had arrived as well.
As Lu Feng sized up his competitors, several figures slowly entered the arena.
Everyone immediately clasped their hands in salute. "We pay our respects to the County Magistrate!"
The newcomers were none other than County Magistrate Wang Lichuan, County Assistant Zhou Yongsi, Chief Clerk Lu Yan, and the three captains.
Wang Lichuan glanced around, then raised a hand. "There's no need for formalities. Today is a fine day for Qinglu County Yamen to elect a New Captain. I hope you'll all perform beyond your usual level. I won't waste time with more words. Strategist Wang, announce the rules."
After the County Magistrate finished speaking, Strategist Wang Jun stepped forward and announced the rules for the election.
The rules for this New Captain election were simple: all the contestants would draw lots and fight in pairs. Whoever placed first in the martial arts competition would be promoted to Captain.
When the Strategist finished, he brought out a wooden box and called the contestants forward to draw lots.
Lu Feng went up and drew a lot, getting number five.
The person who drew the same number was Wang Dahai, one of the favorites.
Lu Feng knew him, of course. Wang Dahai had reached the Sixth-Rank Martial Artist realm six months ago, but Lu Feng didn't know what realm he'd reached since.
Lu Feng turned to look at Wang Dahai, sizing up his first opponent. Wang Dahai looked over at him at the same moment.
A disdainful smile tugged at Wang Dahai's lips. He clearly didn't take Lu Feng seriously.
Lu Feng's expression didn't change.
By Lu Feng's estimate, Wang Dahai had probably reached the Seventh-Rank Martial Artist realm.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have worn that expression just now. After all, only two days earlier, Lu Feng had gravely wounded Li An, the Great Chieftain of the Caobang Gang, and hauled him back to the County Yamen.
Li An was a veteran Seventh-Rank Martial Artist. If Wang Dahai dared to look down on Lu Feng, that meant his strength was no worse than Li An's.
But so what if Wang Dahai had reached the Seventh-Rank Martial Artist realm?
Lu Feng was now an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist, and he had mastered Cloud-Dispelling Palm. He wouldn't fear even a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist.
Once the lots had been drawn, the competition began immediately.
The first match was between the contestants who had drawn number one. Both of them were only Sixth-Rank Martial Artists.
The County Magistrate, County Assistant, and Chief Clerk seated among the judges weren't particularly interested in contestants of this level.
The two fighters settled the match in just thirty exchanges.
Then the second match began.
This time, Li Hu was among the contestants. He was one of the favorites to become the New Captain.
The County Magistrate and the others all looked interested.
Li Hu's opponent was only a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist. As soon as they crossed hands, Li Hu overwhelmed him with his superior strength.
In fewer than ten exchanges, Li Hu punched his opponent right out of the Martial Arts Arena.
At the sight, the County Magistrate and the others nodded in approval. They were all satisfied with Li Hu's performance.
Just like that, the competition quickly reached the fifth match.
Lu Feng and Wang Dahai stood in the arena.
Lu Feng looked up at his opponent and clasped his hands. "Constable Wang, please!"
Wang Dahai casually returned the salute. "Please!"
As soon as the words fell, Wang Dahai blurred forward and attacked first.
In the next instant, he was right in front of Lu Feng, a punch hurtling toward his face.
Facing Wang Dahai's sudden attack, Lu Feng remained calm. He turned his right hand into a palm and slapped it forward.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, Wang Dahai staggered back six or seven steps before stopping.
The sight not only shocked Wang Dahai, but also caught the County Magistrate and the others' attention.
County Assistant Zhou Yongsi, seated to the County Magistrate's left, narrowed his eyes and said in surprise, "Huh?! Lu Feng actually managed to knock Wang Dahai back head-on. This man's no ordinary fighter!"
Wang Lichuan merely smiled without comment.
Wang Dahai had been knocked back by Lu Feng's palm. He was not only stunned, but his right hand was trembling slightly, too.
But Wang Dahai wasn't frightened by that single palm. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he charged at Lu Feng again.
Just as they closed in, Wang Dahai suddenly shouted, "Tongbei Fist! Break!"
As he spoke, his fist came whistling toward Lu Feng's face, carrying a powerful surge of Internal Force.
At the sight, Lu Feng said nothing and thrust his palm forward to meet it.
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