Going to the Countryside

Clearly, Feng Dahu had achieved success in cultivating the Wind God Leg Technique himself, so he gave the leg technique to his younger brother, Feng Second Tiger, to practice.

Feng Second Tiger specialized in Eagle Claw Skill, which, like Eight Extremes Fist, was a hard-style fist art. He had probably thought the same as Zhao Feng: he needed a movement technique to make up for his shortcomings. But clearly, his mastery of the Wind God Leg Technique fell short of his brother's.

"The Wind God Leg Technique may not be the best fit for Eight Extremes Fist, but it can still be of great use."

After several real battles, he had clearly felt that speed was his weakness. This Wind God Leg Technique could at least make up for that shortcoming.

And if it was paired with the Cloak Saber Technique, then once he attained a certain level of mastery, it would become another trump card besides his bow and arrows.

With that thought, he began studying the Wind God Leg Technique's basics according to the diagrams and annotations in the booklet. He then began practicing it. So absorbed was he that he forgot to sleep.

It was not until dawn the next day.

A flash of white light appeared before his eyes.

[Wind God Leg Technique Beginner (1/500)]

He had officially gotten started.

Inside the Huo Family Martial Arts School.

After casually giving Sun Qing some pointers, Zhao Feng resumed practicing his fistwork when he suddenly saw his Third Senior Brother, Wang Yu, and Fourth Senior Sister, Zhou Xue, returning to the school. Both wore dark expressions, especially Wang Yu, whose face was flushed purple-red with barely concealed fury.

"Didn't Third Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister just go on patrol? Why are they back?"

As the disciples wondered among themselves.

Chu Fan also strolled in from outside with one hand behind his back, a sneer on his face.

"What happened? The atmosphere feels off."

The disciples exchanged looks, unable to make sense of it, yet unable to suppress their curiosity.

It was not until that evening, when Wei Yuan and Zhao Feng headed out, that Wei Yuan told him, "While they were out patrolling today, Wang Yu made jokes about Chu Fan and Zhou Xue in front of disciples from the other martial arts schools. Who knew Chu Fan would turn on him right away and punch Wang Yu? It got ugly, and Zhou Xue was humiliated too."

"This Junior Brother Chu is getting more and more arrogant, relying on his talent and reputation." Wei Yuan shook his head. Before, he had regretted not sponsoring Chu Fan, and his elder sister had blamed him more than once for failing to build a relationship with him. Now, though, it seemed that had been a good thing.

Zhao Feng remained calm. He was not surprised. Having spent years navigating workplaces on Earth, he had predicted this day from Chu Fan's earlier change in attitude toward Wu Tiezhu. Besides, Chu Fan had always been interested in their master's only daughter, Huo Yao, who was studying martial arts in the prefectural city. Many disciples could see it.

"Still, even if Junior Brother Chu falls out with the Wang Family and Zhou Family, he won't lack resources. Not only is he valued by the county magistrate, but I hear he has also connected with the Zhu Family. I've seen it several times already—after he comes off duty with the patrol, the Zhu Family's carriage picks him up. Supposedly, the Zhu Family even gave him a residence in the inner city," Wei Yuan said.

Zhao Feng knew that the Zhu Family was the most powerful family in Big Stone County. But according to Wei Yuan, the Zhu Family had not originally been the foremost family. That had been the Han Family. Later, someone from the Zhu Family became an official in the prefectural city, and even the county magistrate treated them with great courtesy and opened every door for them. Their power had thus risen rapidly, and they had monopolized many businesses.

So now that Chu Fan had connected with the Zhu Family, the resources he gained were far beyond what the Wang Family and Zhou Family could offer. He no longer needed to cater to Wang Yu and Zhou Xue either. Given his temperament, publicly humiliating them was perfectly normal. Ultimately, Chu Fan had latched onto the county magistrate's line.

However, considering that a commandant had been sent down from the prefectural city to take over military affairs, Zhao Feng felt there were deep waters here. Picking sides at a time like this was unwise.

But none of that had anything to do with him.

In the rear courtyard of Treasure Brocade Workshop.

Zhao Youfang and Qiao'er were working overtime, weaving and mending without rest. Both had bloodshot eyes, and their hands were covered in bloody needle pricks.

Meanwhile, Granny Wang, the steward, stood outside the workroom, her wrinkled face full of malice.

"If you won't agree, then work until you die. Let's see how many days you can hold out."

The other female workers at the workshop were packing up to leave. Seeing this, they could not help whispering among themselves.

"Ah, that mother and daughter are truly pitiful."

"Granny Wang is bullying them. She assigns them so much work, then often claims it doesn't match up and makes them redo it, taking advantage of the fact that they can't read."

"She's trying to drive them to their deaths."

"Exactly. Granny Wang wants to arrange for Qiao'er to be sold as a maid to Master Hu's estate in the neighboring county, and she can get eight taels of silver as an introduction fee. Qiao'er's father already agreed. But Youfang refused, so she's tormenting them to death."

"Master Hu from the neighboring county? If he wants to buy Qiao'er, he's probably up to no good."

"Isn't that so? He's an old lecher, and Qiao'er is only twelve. She'd be jumping into a fire pit."

The female workers all looked sympathetically at the mother and daughter.

Just then, the owner of Treasure Brocade Workshop hurried in. When the female workers saw his frantic appearance, they quickly made way.

"Master, why have you come?" The moment Granny Wang saw the owner, she hurriedly bent over and greeted him obsequiously.

"Get out!" The owner stepped forward and slapped her.

The blow left her seeing stars. "You blind old fool!"

The owner was so furious that smoke practically rose from his seven orifices. Only now had he learned that the biological aunt and cousin of Martial Master Zhao, who had just advanced to Dark Force at Huo Shan Martial Arts School, were working here. Worse still, he had just heard about Granny Wang's vile scheme.

He had been so frightened that he rushed over from his residence at once.

"Drag this old fool out. Starting today, Zhao Youfang will be your new steward," he told all the female workers.

"Huh?" The sudden change left all the female workers completely baffled. They exchanged confused glances.

"What happened?"

Zhao Youfang and Qiao'er were equally bewildered. The owner did not even know most of the female workers, much less concern himself with matters in the rear courtyard.

"Youfang, when you see Martial Master Zhao, tell him that Treasure Brocade Workshop welcomes him to visit anytime," the owner said with a broad smile.

The next day, when Zhao Feng came to see them, Zhao Youfang told him about it, still unable to understand. Feng'er had become a martial master long ago, so why had the owner's attitude changed so drastically?

Zhao Feng understood perfectly. The gap between Dark Force and Bright Force was like a chasm. A Bright Force martial master could support a family, but a Dark Force martial master was already a renowned expert. Some well-informed people had learned of his breakthrough to Dark Force, so the owner's reaction was entirely normal.

"Aunt, was it Uncle who agreed to sell Cousin Qiao'er?" he asked slowly.

At the mention of this, Zhao Youfang covered her face in pain, tears streaming through her fingers.

Zhao Feng's expression turned cold. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"Aunt, you and Qiao'er wait at the workshop tomorrow. I'll come get you then."

Greenhouse Township, Jiazi Ravine Village. "You damn dogs! Our Three Harmonies Gang collects residence security fees to protect mud-legged peasants like you, and you dare resist paying?"

Bang! Along with vicious shouts came miserable cries and pleading voices.

One villager's door after another was kicked open. Men, women, old, and young—anyone without money to pay the residence security fee was beaten viciously, and anything valuable in their homes was taken away.

"Good sir, the government already raised the spring tax this year. The village truly can't afford this. Could you lower it a little? Two mace of silver per person is simply too much," Village Chief Old Chen begged Wang Kui, the deputy leader of the Three Harmonies Gang.

"Old Chen, take a look at the times. Bandits and refugees are running rampant. Our Three Harmonies Gang came down here to protect farming households like yours, and you're still haggling? If bandits really come, it'll be too late for you to cry," Wang Kui sneered.

"But two mace of silver really is too much."

"Children under eight get half off, don't they? Old Chen, tell these mudlegs not to refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. We're all neighbors here. I don't want to make things difficult either," Wang Kui threatened.