Ning Family

Name: Fang Xing

Cultivation: Mid-stage Transformation Force

Enhancement Level: Two Stars (32%)

Enhancement Points: 736.

"Only a little over seven hundred left..."

Looking at the panel, Fang Xing sighed.

More than ninety percent of his previous accumulation had been consumed.

Just advancing a single step had cost over three thousand Enhancement Points.

Advancing in martial arts required resources. Without a certain foundation, most martial artists could only rely on the accumulation of time to improve bit by bit.

After entering Transformation Force, if one wanted to advance faster, resources could not fall behind. Without his prior accumulation, let alone two months, even a year or half a year would hardly have brought such improvement.

Among those in the higher realms, age was a tremendous advantage.

Once one grew older and their qi and blood declined, advancing became vastly more difficult; they might not make another step forward for the rest of their lives.

Food supplements and Treasure Medicine—he had scarcely stopped taking them every day.

Though his strength had increased greatly, such progress was all built upon abundant resources.

Without sufficient resources, wanting to improve was pure nonsense.

"After the New Year... it should be about time."

Watching snowflakes drift down from the sky, a thought flashed through Fang Xing's mind.

After lying dormant for so long, it was time to make a move.

Though the five great powers could not be touched, the remaining factions ought to be cleared out.

Once those forces were swept away, Qingshan County's underworld powers would be more or less eradicated.

Clearing them out would also allow him to harvest another wave of Enhancement Points.

Drawing back his gaze, Fang Xing left the courtyard and headed for the County Yamen.

Snow blanketed the earth.

The heavy snowfall of three consecutive days was also the largest since winter began.

As he walked through the snow, there were no longer many refugees to be seen by the roadside or in the corners beneath walls.

Winter was a battle between life and death for refugees.

The bitterly cold climate was a catastrophic disaster to them.

Behind vermilion gates, wine and meat rotted; by the roadside lay the bones of those frozen to death!

This was hardly some rare occurrence. In a single winter, perhaps tens of thousands could die.

Fang Xing had previously divided out several areas and established refugee districts.

Yet he could only save a portion of them. The refugees within the city could still be looked after to some extent, but those outside the city would basically be unable to endure the harsh winter.

That was simply how the world was.

Even in prosperous times, common folk and refugees died, much less in an age of chaos.

"My lord."

"Lord Fang."

Upon arriving at the County Yamen, Fang Xing made a round through the various offices. The Yamen Runners he encountered all stepped forward to salute him.

After the four major offices were reorganized, their numbers had surged. But after several months, things had stabilized.

With more hands available, public order had become even more stable.

After making his inspection, Fang Xing left the County Yamen.

Showing his face occasionally was enough.

Just as he arrived at his doorstep, he saw a figure standing there: a middle-aged man in a long padded robe.

The moment the man saw Fang Xing, he immediately stepped forward.

"Greetings, Lord Fang."

The man in the long padded robe spoke with a beaming smile.

Fang Xing looked the man over. He wore a cashmere cap, and from his aura, Fang Xing could sense that this man was a Dark Force martial artist.

Having cultivated the Longevity Art, coupled with his powerful perception, he could roughly sense it even if the other party did not release his aura.

After examining him, Fang Xing said flatly, "Who are you?"

The man smiled. "My lord, I am Qin Shen, steward of the Ning Family. I have come today to deliver an invitation. Three days from now, my Ning Family's master wishes to invite you to gather at the Drunken Immortal Tower."

As he spoke, he took out an invitation and handed it to Fang Xing.

The Ning Family!

Hearing Qin Shen's words, Fang Xing looked at the invitation before him.

Other than receiving a gift from the Ning Family when he became Chief Constable, he had not had much contact with them.

"The master said that with the New Year approaching, he wishes to invite you for a gathering," Qin Shen said.

So they want to win me over... Still, there's no harm in making a trip.

After considering it, Fang Xing accepted the invitation. "Many thanks for the Ning Family's invitation. I will attend when the time comes."

At those words, Qin Shen's face broke into a smile. Looking at Fang Xing, he said, "Then I will not disturb you further, my lord. The Drunken Immortal Tower will await you in three days."

Fang Xing nodded and watched Qin Shen leave, then looked at the invitation in his hand.

He then entered the courtyard.

Since the Ning Family had sent an invitation, he naturally had to give them this courtesy.

Of the three great families, the Ning Family was the most powerful.

According to what he knew, the Ning Family had connections even in the prefectural capital.

To have taken root in Qingshan for a hundred years, their foundation was certainly no joke.

Still, he did not think too much of it.

It was merely a meal.

Given his status, inviting him was perfectly normal. After all, he oversaw the Yamen Runners and public order throughout all of Qingshan.

This was not the first time.

The other two great families had also invited him a few days ago.

Three days passed quickly.

As promised, Fang Xing arrived at the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Inside a private room on the top floor, he saw the person in control of the Ning Family, Ning Jiangbo.

Not only was he the head of the Ning Family, he was also a peak Transformation Force martial artist.

Besides Ning Jiangbo, there was a beautiful married woman at his side.

She had a dignified bearing!

There was also a girl of seventeen or eighteen.

She could not be called breathtakingly beautiful, but she was quite pretty, with the appearance of a young lady from a distinguished family.

Seeing the girl and the beautiful woman, Fang Xing was somewhat surprised.

What was this supposed to be?

"Lord Fang, please take a seat."

Ning Jiangbo spoke with a smile. Fang Xing nodded and took a seat.

Ning Jiangbo immediately instructed the servants to serve the dishes.

Then he turned his gaze back to Fang Xing and said with a beaming smile, "Lord Fang, I had long heard of your name. Now that I see you today, you truly are an outstanding young hero."

Fang Xing looked at him and smiled faintly. "Patriarch Ning overpraises me."

"Let me introduce you. This is my wife, Zhuang Jie, and this is my daughter, Ning Xiaoqian."

"Greetings, Madam. Greetings, Miss Ning."

Fang Xing offered his greetings, his expression calm.

Zhuang Jie smiled. Looking at Fang Xing with a gentle expression, she said, "Lord Fang is truly young and accomplished. To become Chief Constable at nineteen is quite rare."

"You overpraise me, Madam. It is only because those above think highly of me," Fang Xing said blandly.

Ning Jiangbo laughed. "Haha, but only someone capable can be held in such high regard. Lord Fang's future is boundless."

Fang Xing merely smiled and said nothing more.

At that moment, the dishes were served, and the group began eating.

They drank some wine.

The atmosphere soon became harmonious.

They ate and chatted.

Fang Xing had handled many such occasions and was completely at ease.

Even when facing Ning Jiangbo, a peak Transformation Force martial artist, he remained composed.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, the meal was drawing to an end.

Ning Jiangbo set down his chopsticks and looked at Fang Xing.

"What does Lord Fang think of my daughter?"

Hm?

The instant Ning Jiangbo asked that, Fang Xing detected a hint of something unusual.

At his side, Ning Xiaoqian lowered her head slightly. Perhaps because she had drunk some wine, her pretty face was faintly flushed.

What did this mean?

Could it be that he wants to introduce his daughter to me?

Fang Xing was startled inwardly, but quickly reacted. Looking at Ning Jiangbo, he said, "Your daughter is a young lady from a distinguished family, a rare beauty."

At those words, bright smiles appeared on Ning Jiangbo's and his wife's faces.

"Lord Fang, you have not yet married, have you?" Ning Jiangbo asked with a smile.

Hearing that, Fang Xing immediately confirmed his guess.

No wonder they had brought their daughter along. So this was what they had been waiting for.

Fang Xing looked at Ning Jiangbo, his expression indifferent. "I have been busy with official duties and have not considered such matters."

"Then what does Lord Fang think of my daughter?"

Ning Jiangbo asked with a beaming smile.

"I am not considering this matter for now. I hope Patriarch Ning will forgive me," Fang Xing replied.

Hearing this, Ning Jiangbo still looked at him with a smile.

"When a man comes of age, he should marry; when a woman comes of age, she should wed. Why must Lord Fang refuse? You can first spend time together and build some feelings."