After killing Zhang Chen, Li Changfeng searched through Zhang Chen's pockets and found several thousand taels of silver, his sword named Morning Light, and an invitation.
Li Changfeng slowly opened the invitation and discovered that it was actually an invitation from the auction house in the imperial city. Without saying a word, Li Changfeng put it away. The invitation was unsigned, so anyone could use it. He still needed to buy some medicinal herbs at the auction house.
Li Changfeng then slowly walked towards the imperial city and gradually disappeared from sight.
That night.
Li Changfeng arrived in Chen Family Town and stayed at a restaurant. Traveling at night was too dangerous, and although he was confident in his abilities, there was no need to rush.
At this moment, Li Changfeng lay on the bed, thinking to himself, "Forget it! I'd better not go see Tie Niu and the others. If someone finds out that they have connections with me, they might kidnap me and use me to threaten me!"
"However! I don't mind going to see him myself. I haven't seen them in so long, I wonder how they are doing!"
After thinking it over, Li Changfeng took advantage of the night to go out, jumping onto the roof and turning into a series of afterimages as he flew towards the Black Tiger Gang's territory.
As soon as Li Changfeng arrived at the Black Tiger Gang's territory, his ears twitched slightly, and he noticed some movement nearby. He quickly lowered his breath and hid to the side to listen carefully to their conversation.
"Ever since the Black Tiger Gang acquired three top-tier third-rate experts, their influence has grown exponentially, to the point that they don't even respect the government officials! It's infuriating our master!"
"Hmph! Aren't they facing certain death? Our master has already invited a peak second-rate expert to come and wipe them out under the cover of night!"
Li Changfeng overheard their conversation and said helplessly, "This guy is really something! He knows the Imperial Court is at its most powerful right now, yet he still did something like this. He's practically asking for death! Now I have to clean up the mess!"
Li Changfeng followed the two men slowly to a dilapidated temple, where he found a group of people gathered. "It seems they've come to attack the Black Tiger Gang's constables."
Inside the temple, the middle-aged man in the lead suddenly turned cold and shouted, "Who goes there! What are you doing sneaking around outside!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng smiled slightly, slowly walked into the hall, and cupped his hands, saying, "Please calm down, everyone! I have come here to reconcile with you!"
"How dare you! You're asking for death!"
Suddenly, the middle-aged man made a move, gathering streams of azure true energy in his palm, creating a whooshing sound, and slammed it fiercely towards Li Changfeng, his attack extremely decisive.
Seeing this, Li Changfeng chuckled lightly, too lazy to even use his true energy, and simply slapped out a palm to meet the middle-aged man's fierce palm strike.
"Bang"!
The two men suddenly exchanged blows. The middle-aged man felt a numbness in his hand and was jolted back seven or eight steps. He stared at Li Changfeng in shock and bowed, saying, "What domineering power! You actually managed to repel me with just force. Your strength is truly unfathomable! I admire you! I admire you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng shook his head, thinking to himself, "Sigh! When you're out in the world, everything depends on your strength!"
Li Changfeng cupped his hands in greeting, "Let's not beat around the bush! I know you are government officials, Black Tiger Gang is one of my brothers. They made a mistake this time, and I'm here to reconcile with you."
"Here's three thousand taels! Take this to your master to pay his taxes!" Li Changfeng slowly handed the money to the middle-aged man and smiled.
After accepting the money, the middle-aged man gave Li Changfeng a deep look, cupped his hands, and said, "We've made up. I'll tell the magistrate about your kindness. We'll take our leave now!"
After saying this, the middle-aged man led his entourage back to the yamen in a grand procession.
After Li Changfeng finished speaking, he went straight to Tie Niu's bedroom, threw a letter at him, and hit it directly on his bed, waking him up instantly.
Tie Niu solemnly opened the letter, read its contents, and rushed out. Finding Li Changfeng nowhere to be seen, he smiled wryly and said, "Brother! You've helped me again!"
He then went straight into the house and burned the letter, before taking a few sips of wine at the table. "Brother! As long as you're alright, that's all that matters!"
"Boss Yu! Why should we compromise with that guy when there are so many of us? If we kill him, what's on him will be ours!" A young constable beside the middle-aged man said greedily.
Upon hearing this, Yu Putou's face darkened considerably. He slapped him hard across the face, sending him flying. "Kill him? I'm afraid even if all of us attacked together, we wouldn't be a match for him. Are you blinded by money?"
"What! He's that strong!" The young constable covered his face in horror.
"Hmph! This kind of expert is only giving us face because of the Imperial Court; otherwise, we would have died at his hands long ago! Remember this: in this world, only your own strength is fundamental. Don't think about those other nonsense things!"
"We understand now!"
The next morning.
Li Changfeng set off early, heading towards the imperial city. As soon as Li Changfeng arrived at the town gate, he found Tie Niu and San Sha waiting there, carefully observing the villagers coming and going, which frightened them.
Seeing this, Li Changfeng gave a wry smile and transmitted his voice, "My identity is special now! Don't look for me, and don't make a fuss. I'm leaving. Take care, everyone!"
The four of them were startled upon hearing this, frantically looking around before suddenly calming down and returning to the Black Tiger Gang in a somewhat subdued manner.
Seeing this, Li Changfeng shook his head and continued on his way...
The Imperial City.
Li Changfeng returned to the city and sighed with emotion. The capital was now more prosperous and bustling than before. It seemed that after the Southern Emperor unified the country, he had reorganized all the forces, making the common people much more peaceful and happy.
Li Changfeng slowly walked into the city gate when suddenly two long spears blocked his way. Li Changfeng frowned upon seeing this. "Two soldiers! What do you mean by this?"
"What do you mean? The entrance fee is one tael of silver! What? Trying to play the fool and scam the toll?" the soldier mocked.
"Why don't you charge them and only charge me? Are you looking down on me?" Li Changfeng's face turned cold, and he said in a deep voice.
"Hmph! You, a short, plain-clothed bumpkin, dare to compare yourself to them? They are VIPs with auction house invitations, do you?"
Li Changfeng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and immediately took out an invitation to show them. The soldier was dumbfounded and immediately laughed, "So you're a distinguished guest! Please come in, sir!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng gave a wry smile and slowly walked into the imperial city.