An hour passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Feng wiped the sweat from his body with clean water, then put on his constable uniform and headed to the yamen.
To improve his Martial Realm as quickly as possible, he planned to request a day off after his afternoon shift and spend all of tomorrow cultivating.
Having made up his mind, he went to the Captain's room and cupped his hands toward Captain Wang. "Your subordinate Lu Feng pays his respects to Captain Wang."
Captain Wang looked up at him, then asked, "Lu Feng, what do you need from me?"
"Captain Wang, I have some family business tomorrow and would like to request a day off. I hope you'll approve it."
Captain Wang didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked Lu Feng up and down before saying, "So you're asking for leave. That might be difficult. The yamen has been busy lately, and we're a little short-handed. It won't be easy for me to approve your sudden request."
At that, Lu Feng frowned slightly. Captain Wang usually treated his subordinates fairly well, and his words made it obvious he intended to reject the request.
But Lu Feng had never offended him. There had to be a reason for this treatment.
Seeing that asking Captain Wang was probably a dead end, Lu Feng cupped his hands and took his leave. "In that case, I won't trouble you, Captain Wang. Your subordinate will take his leave."
Lu Feng turned to leave, but Captain Wang suddenly called after him. "Lu Feng, actually, it's not that a leave request can't be approved. It's just that someone asked me to tell you something, and I hope you'll give it some serious thought."
Lu Feng turned back to face him. "What is it you wanted to tell me, Captain Wang?"
Captain Wang smiled faintly. "It's simple. Your cousin wants to buy your constable position for a hundred taels of silver. Think it over."
Lu Feng kept his expression calm, but a chill stirred in his heart.
So Captain Wang had already been bought off by his uncle's family.
"Captain Wang, I inherited my constable position from my father, as you know. So there's no way I'll sell it."
After saying that, Lu Feng left without looking back.
Captain Wang watched Lu Feng's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Leaving the Captain's room, Lu Feng headed straight for the Chief Clerk's room.
Although he was currently a constable under Captain Wang, the people who truly managed the County Yamen were the Chief Clerk, the County Lieutenant, and the county magistrate.
At the door of the Chief Clerk's room, Lu Feng straightened his clothes, then knocked. "Lord Chief Clerk, I have something to discuss with you."
A man's voice soon came from inside. "Mm, come in."
Lu Feng pushed the door open and saw a slightly plump, middle-aged man in official robes sitting behind a desk.
The man was none other than Lu Yan, the Chief Clerk of Qinglu County!
Seeing him, Lu Feng immediately cupped his hands. "Your subordinate Lu Feng pays his respects to Lord Chief Clerk."
"Oh, it's Lu Feng. What brings you to see me?" Lu Yan asked.
"Sir, I've come to request leave. I hope you'll approve it, Lord Chief Clerk."
Lu Yan studied him carefully, then raised an eyebrow. "Lu Feng, have you offended Captain Wang?"
Though he hadn't answered Lu Feng's question, he'd gone straight to the heart of the matter.
Lu Feng gave a helpless smile, then told Lu Yan everything about his uncle's family and Captain Wang.
After listening, Lu Yan stroked his beard and said, "This is your personal business, but since I knew your father, I'll help you this once. Only this once."
At that, Lu Feng was delighted. He clasped his hands again. "Thank you, Lord Chief Clerk. I won't forget your kindness."
Lu Yan waved a hand. "There's no need to call it kindness. Just take care of yourself."
"Yes, I understand."
Lu Feng was about to leave when Lu Yan suddenly asked, "Lu Feng, what rank Martial Artist are you now?"
At the question, Lu Feng stopped in his tracks and immediately wondered why Lu Yan was asking.
Still, to be safe, Lu Feng answered, "Sir, I'm currently a Third-Rank Martial Artist."
A trace of disappointment flashed in Lu Yan's eyes. "Third-Rank? All right. I approve your leave. Go about your business."
After leaving the Chief Clerk's room, Lu Feng resumed his afternoon patrol with Fan Tao.
Meanwhile, Captain Wang was summoned to the Chief Clerk's room. It was quite a while before he came back out.
When he did, his expression was rather gloomy.
At dusk, Lu Feng and Fan Tao returned to the County Yamen to sign in, and happened to run into Captain Wang.
The two cupped their hands in greeting. Captain Wang only gave Lu Feng a cold look, then snorted and swept away.
Lu Feng had already expected him to act this way, but Fan Tao was startled.
Only after Captain Wang had left did Fan Tao ask in a low voice, "Lu Feng, don't tell me you've provoked Captain Wang again?"
Lu Feng rolled his eyes. "What do you mean, 'again'? Besides, I'm just a little constable. How would I dare provoke Captain Wang? Don't go spreading nonsense."
Fan Tao looked unconvinced, then frowned. "Lu Feng, Captain Wang may look like a man of perfect integrity, but he isn't exactly broad-minded. And you work under him. Aren't you afraid he'll make your life difficult?"
Lu Feng spread his hands. "Some things are beyond my control. But if anyone wants to come after me, I won't just lie down and take it."
After saying that, Lu Feng went into the Yamen Room to sign in, then turned and left the yamen.
Fan Tao could only sigh helplessly at his words.
Lu Feng didn't hurry home after leaving the County Yamen. Instead, he went to the South Street District and bought ten jin of raw beef.
With the beef, once he broke through, he could eat it right away to replenish the nutrients his body lacked.
Raw beef was also much cheaper than what the restaurants sold. He was running low on silver, so he had to be careful with his spending.
After boiling the raw beef, Lu Feng began practicing Cloud-Dispelling Palm.
He practiced until late into the night, and his Cloud-Dispelling Palm proficiency rose to one hundred and eighty points.
Only when he saw the moonlight falling into the courtyard did Lu Feng stop cultivating.
"Right now, my uncle's family, Captain Wang, and the Great Chieftain of the Caobang Gang all bear me ill will. I may not be a match for any of the three forces yet, but given enough time, they'll be no problem!"
According to Lu Feng's deduction, the Caobang Gang had definitely arranged the attack that night. He had no grudge against them, so the one who wanted him dead was most likely his uncle's family.
His uncle's family had always coveted his constable position. If he died, his cousin Lu Qiming could inherit it fair and square.
It seemed his uncle's family had made plans for both eventualities to get their hands on Lu Feng's constable position.
At that thought, a wave of killing intent rose in Lu Feng's heart.
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