Conflict

"Rustle... rustle."

In the courtyard, the sound of sand and gravel constantly rubbing together echoed.

Because he woke up exceptionally early, Li Feng lay amidst the pile of sand and gravel from the crack of dawn, continuously rolling and tempering the skin all over his body.

Almost a month had passed since he began repaying the debt for the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method.

Seeing that it was about time, Li Feng also halted his morning tempering. With a single thought in his mind, he summoned the Heavenly Dao Advance Panel:

[Heavenly Dao Advance Panel]

[Advanced Project 1: Archery Mastery (100% fulfilled)]

[Advanced Project 2: Water-Cutting Saber Art Perfection (100% fulfilled)]

[Advanced Project 3: Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method Perfection (30% fulfilled)]

[Current Available Advance Projects: 0]

[Awaiting Unlock Advances: Calligraphy, Bedchamber Art, Culinary Arts...]

[Current Realm: Qi-Blood Second Level Perfection]

With 70% of the progress remaining, he only needed to temper for a little over two more months to completely pay off the debt for the Iron Robe Skin-Grinding Method.

By then, he could figure out a way to find a Body-Tempering Method for Flesh Training to continue his cultivation.

After washing up, Li Feng changed into the uniform of the City Guard Office, preparing to head to work.

Just as he walked near the home of Uncle Li from the neighborhood, he heard a burst of crude curses and the sound of heavy objects crashing down coming from inside the courtyard.

What was going on here?

Li Feng furrowed his brow, stepping forward with quick strides to see what had happened.

He saw the courtyard gates wide open, with three ruffians standing inside. Taking a closer look, wasn't the ringleader Ma San of the Green Bamboo Gang?

During the previous period, this Ma San had not only forcibly collected extra protection money from him, but later even tried to snatch his medicinal herbs.

Uncle Li was currently sitting weakly in the courtyard.

He made a living by carrying sand. When he was young, it was fine and his physique was robust-even if he suffered minor injuries, lying down for a few days would make them harmless. But now he was old; a few days ago while carrying sand, he accidentally sprained his waist, and all the savings he had accumulated over many years were taken out to buy medicine.

"Lord Ma, I beg you to grant me a few more days of grace. My waist is injured, and the money still needs to be kept for buying medicine. I truly don't have any extra money to pay the protection fee..." Uncle Li pleaded bitterly.

"No money? If you have no money, what is this little girl holding in her hand?" Ma San pointed at Uncle Li's granddaughter, Li Wan'er, and said.

"I don't care whether you're buying medicine or eating, the protection fee must be paid. Every household on this street is the same."

"The rule of my Green Bamboo Gang is one hundred cash per person, regardless of whether you are young or old, male or female. There are two of you in your family, so that's two hundred cash. Can't even cough up two hundred cash?"

Uncle Li sighed, looking helplessly at his granddaughter: "Wan'er, hand the money over to Lord Ma..."

"No!"

Li Wan'er's eye rims were red. She kept her hands behind her back, refusing to hand over the money: "Grandfather, this is money to buy your medicine. If I give it to him, what will happen to your injury!"

"Little wench, giving you face and you don't want it, huh!"

In a fit of anger, Ma San kicked over the medicinal pot boiling nearby. The medicinal decoction inside spilled out completely, leaving the ground in a total mess.

Looking at the overturned medicinal pot, a wave of comfort washed over Ma San's heart.

"That'll teach you not to pay the protection fee. On this street, nobody is allowed to skip paying protection money to the Green Bamboo Gang."

With that, Ma San reached out, wanting to snatch the silver cash clutched in Li Wan'er's hand.

Yet he never expected that the frail-looking girl in front of him would grip so tightly. His grab actually failed, and instead yanked Li Wan'er forward in a stumble.

"Heh, the little girl's got quite some strength."

Fierceness welled up in Ma San's heart. He exerted sudden force with his hand, pulling Li Wan'er and dragging her down to the ground. Li Wan'er's knees scraped against the floor, instantly tearing the skin and bleeding quite a bit.

Yet Li Wan'er cared nothing for any of this. She glared red-eyed at Ma San and shouted, "Give me back the money! This is the money for my grandfather to buy medicine!"

"The little wench is quite stubborn. Hahaha, bleeding, huh? Doesn't it hurt?" The two lackeys burst into loud laughter.

"Interesting." Ma San also let out a cold sneer, "Little girl, I reckon you're just asking for a thrashing!"

He stepped forward, grabbed Li Wan'er by the collar, and hauled her up. Raising his palm, he wanted to beat her to vent his anger. The exact moment the slap was about to descend, a hand firmly grasped Ma San's wrist.

"Who the hell..." Ma San flew into a towering rage. Turning his head to look, it was actually Li Feng, the white runner from the Li family.

Ma San instinctively wanted to jerk his wrist back. He gave a fierce tug, only to discover that his wrist felt as though it had been clamped securely by an iron pincer, unmoving.

Refusing to believe it, he clenched his teeth, exerted all his strength, veins bulging on his arm while his face turned red, yet he still failed to break free from Li Feng's grasp.

Seeing that he could not wrench it away no matter what, he simply stopped struggling and gave a cold smile: "I was wondering who it was. So it's Constable Li of the City Guard Office. What, do you want to meddle in other people's business? Why aren't you letting go of me right now?"

Li Feng said nothing, only gazing coldly at him before releasing the wrist.

Ma San pulled back his arm, rubbing his faintly aching wrist.

"Damn it, truly demonic..."

Ma San muttered inwardly.

He refused to believe that the destitute punk before him could possess any real ability. Not long ago, when this kid paid his protection fee, he still looked like a coward who didn't even dare to let out a fart.

How much time had passed since then? How could his strength become so great?

Right at that moment, Ma San suddenly felt a soreness and weakness in his lower back.

Wait, could it be because...

Ma San suddenly recalled that over the past few days, owing to collecting the protection money, he was relatively flush with cash and had frequented the Spring Breeze House a bit too often.

No wonder when he set out this morning, he had felt his footsteps were somewhat floating.

"Right, it must be this!" The more Ma San thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, "I've been overdoing it with women these past few days, leaving my body weak. And just now I wasn't paying attention, which is why this punk managed to take advantage of me."

Having figured this out, the trace of apprehension in Ma San's heart instantly vanished into thin air. His habitual arrogance and boldness returned to him once more.

Ma San sneered, "Constable Li, this little wench owes protection money to our Green Bamboo Gang. Paying debts is only right and proper by heavenly law-are you going to meddle in this too?"

With that, he stepped forward, attempting to bypass Li Feng once again to grab Li Wan'er on the ground.

Li Feng stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Constable brother..." Li Wan'er said with reddened eyes.

"Wan'er, don't be afraid." Li Feng spoke to soothe Li Wan'er, then looked toward Ma San, saying coldly: "Article one hundred and thirty of the Great Yan Statute: Those who break into a door and act violently shall receive fifty heavy cane strikes and five years of penal servitude. If there are casualties, one hundred heavy cane strikes and ten years of penal servitude."

"Surname Li, don't try to scare your grandfather with the Great Yan Law!" Ma San raised his voice, attempting to regain lost ground through sheer momentum.

Li Feng's expression remained unchanged as he uttered every word clearly: "If it causes grievous bodily injury or death, execute them under the cane on the spot!"

"Beat me to death? You can beat me to death? That is the absolute height of absurdity!"

Hearing what seemed like the most preposterous joke in the world, Ma San pointed at his own face and laughed out of extreme anger: "My Green Bamboo Gang collects money according to the rules. How does that implicate breaking into doors and acting violently? Beat me to death? By relying on you?"

"By relying on the ironclad laws of the Great Yan Dynasty, and by relying on this official uniform!"

Li Feng did not yield an inch, staring fixedly at Ma San. The intangible pressure of Qi-Blood Second Level Perfection unconsciously leaked out, causing Ma San's heart to skip a beat inexplicably, and for a split second, he actually conceived a notion of backing down.

"Don't try to suppress me with the City Guard Office. What kind of thing are you-merely a worthless white runner without even a rank." Ma San blustered with a bold front concealing a weak spirit.

"You are quite welcome to try and make a move."

Li Feng's tone was calm.

Ma San's gaze flickered. Looking at the surrounding neighborhood residents gathering in increasing numbers, and weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately did not dare to burn his bridges on the spot.

"Damn it, truly bad luck! I've got no time to waste idling here with you lot today!"

Cursing as he shook his arms, he waved a hand at his subordinates: "We'll let this old thing off for today. Let's go!"

"Lord Ma, just letting it go like this?"

The two subordinates looked at each other in dismay. They had originally expected that next they would fiercely teach this ignorant white runner a lesson, never imagining that their boss would actually beat a retreat.

"Cut the crap, move!"

With a darkened face, Ma San strode out of the courtyard without looking back, and his two lackeys hurriedly followed.

Before leaving, one of them didn't forget to hurl a harsh threat: "Consider yourselves lucky today!"