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"Yeah kid, take a good look at where you are. If you're planning on stirring up trouble here, you better first consider if you can handle the consequences." Li Jianping said, arms folded coldly over his chest.
Qi Tian reached over and grabbed the four silver bars. Watching him, Li Jianping finally said, "Those who know the time are brilliant. That's exactly right."
Qi Tian weighed the four silver bars in his hand and remarked, "Four thousand? Or forty?"
"Kid, take your silver and get out. Don't make trouble. Ah..." Li Jianping's henchman, who was busy expelling people, suddenly let out a scream. He held his mouth with his hand, and blood poured from between his fingers. At his feet lay a bloodstained silver ingot and a few bloody teeth.
"How dare you hurt people in the County Government Office." Li Jianping, furious, pointed and railed at Qi Tian.
Ignoring Li Jianping, Qi Tian moved swiftly. The remaining three bars flew out of his hands, each hit precise and brutal. The strong forces propelled the officers blocking the doors and windows, knocking them down to the ground. Their bones broken, they moaned in pain.
"You, you..." Liu Minxiong could not believe that Qi Tian would be so bold as to attack in front of them.
Smack...
Qi Tian turned around delivering a sharp slap across Liu Minxiong's left cheek, leaving a bright red handprint. Liu Minxiong spat out a few bloody teeth in response.
"You..." Liu Minxiong, one hand on his face and pointing at Qi Tian with the other, was about to launch into a threat when Qi Tian's foot found Liu Minxiong's belly, sending him flying into a table.
Liu Minxiong felt as if his intestines were kicked out of him by Qi Tian. Rolling around on the table in pain, he fell to the ground, he kept writhing.
"You, you have some nerve..." Li Jianping unsheathed the treasure sword from his waist, "you dare to strike an officer, it's treason. Killing you is by all means my duty."
"Tch, you sketchy bunch won't even bat an eye to rob people. Yet, you dare call yourselves officers, what a ridiculous joke." Qi Tian disdainfully comment.
Li Jianping's face turned ashen. If he could not resolve this incident today, not only would the Magistrate surely blame him when he found out, but even individuals like Liu Minxiong and the injured officers would expect some sort of compensation. At this point, he despised Qi Tian to the fullest and chided, "Kid, don't let your skills get to your head, making you act recklessly. Let me tell you, I'm an outer disciple from Brightness Mountain, a first level body cultivator of the day after. Today, I'll make you pay due respect to authoritative figures like myself."
Having said this, Li Jianping swung his sword toward Qi Tian. He poured all his cultivation skills he had worked on over the years into this stroke, swift and brutal. Li Jianping stored some hidden force so, even if Qi Tian managed to dodge the major force of the blow, he would be still able to make a quick turnaround, not leaving any escape for Qi Tian.
Li Jianping assumed that a stroke which concentrated all his power would subdue Qi Tian. But just as his treasure sword was about to touch Qi Tian, the same employed his yellow-rank lower class Chasing Wind Step. Swiftly accelerating, Qi Tian easily dodged Li Jianping's attack. Even Li Jianping's hidden force failed to catch up with Qi Tian's trail.
Li Jianping's stroke seemed too forceful, causing his body to step ahead Qi Tian.
An ominous light flashed in Qi Tian's eyes, he stepped the Chasing Wind Step, his fists swift as the wind. His fist, similar to a sledgehammer, brutally lashed at Li Jianping's right shoulder blade.
His impressive strength of more than 600 pounds passed through his body, all exploding on Li Jianping's shoulder blade.
Unlike the knight Qi Tian had encountered who wore protective gear, Li Jianping had nothing on him. This single strike instantly shattered his shoulder blade. Bones, blood vessels, and the fascia were all disrupted, reduced to a bloody mess.
Li Jianping screamed out in pain, his treasure sword falling to the ground. Using his good left hand, he held his shoulder, writhing in agony. He glared hatefully at Qi Tian. He knew his right arm would become useless unless he procured expensive Spiritual Elixir Miracle Medicine.
"Your gaze is truly irritating. It seems you haven't realized yet who you've offended. Have another punch on me." Qi Tian had no intention of letting Li Jianping off easily. If not for his official robes, Qi Tian's previous punch would've landed right on Li Jianping's back, completely blowing him away.
Li Jianping looked at the fist that Qi Tian was throwing at him, a touch of madness appearing on his face. He had just tried to hack at Qi Tian with his sword, but failed to hit him and instead was ambushed by Qi Tian, falling into his trap. Now, facing Qi Tian directly, he was going to show Qi Tian just how formidable he really was.
Li Jianping's left hand, which was covering his shattered scapula, clenched into a fist. Power surged from within him into his fist, causing a faint glow to emerge around it. He let out a loud roar and met Qi Tian's incoming fist with his own.
Qi Tian's eyes narrowed. The Heavenly Dao Engine kicked into gear, causing the power concentrated on his fist to explode.
With a bang, the two fists, one large and one small, collided fiercely. Qi Tian was pushed back three steps before he managed to steady his stance. On the other hand, Li Jianping was sent flying, crashing into a wall before sliding to the ground. His left arm contorted into an unnatural position, apparently broken by Qi Tian's punch.
Qi Tian took a deep breath. Comparing raw strength with a body cultivator was indeed challenging. Thankfully, the timely activation of the Heavenly Dao Engine gave him a fortunate victory. Otherwise, he would have lost badly in that exchange. Regardless, he held the upper hand this time.
Qi Tian took a few steps forward, picked up Li Jianping's precious sword that had fallen to the ground, and approached Li Jianping, who was now trembling. He stammered, "What... what do you want? I am the chief constable of the police station in Guangfu City. Killing me is akin to mutiny."
"Killing you would dirty my hands." Qi Tian spoke casually as he grabbed Li Jianping like he was picking up a dead dog. With the sword against Li Jianping's neck, he forced him to walk outside.
By now, other watchmen on duty with swords and sticks, including two who brought bows and arrows, had heard the commotion and hurried over, surrounding the house.
Qi Tian, forcing Li Jianping to walk out of the house, shouted, "Listen everyone, I'm not known for my steady hand. If you all value Li Jianping's life, don't provoke me. Otherwise, I can send Li Jianping to the Ghost Gate within minutes. Even if it's you guys, I'm confident I can kill you all to accompany him."
An officer who looked like a secretary hid behind a bailiff, calling out to Qi Tian, "Young brother, please calm down a bit. Could you please let go of Li Jianping first? We can discuss things calmly. We can accommodate any requests you have. Let's talk it over."
"Where is your County Magistrate? Bring him to me." Qi Tian knew that everyone present was just a low-level follower. There wasn't a decision-maker in sight. Initially, he just wanted to collect his reward and leave quickly, avoiding unnecessary trouble. But things had escalated to such an extent that now, it would be better to deal directly with the County Magistrate.
"The Magistrate is busy with..." The secretary protested, but Qi Tian interrupted him before he could finish explaining their County Magistrate's absence.
"Save your breath. You have one hundred breaths' time. If, by that time, the County Magistrate hasn't arrived, I will kill Li Jianping and then fight my way out from among you." Qi Tian's words were steeped in murderous intent.
Left with no choice, the secretary had to call upon County Magistrate Chen Gufang to try and mediate.
Actually, Chen Gufang had been nearby the whole time. With a situation this significant happening in the County Government Office, he couldn't possibly turn a blind eye. If word got out, he'd be accused of dereliction of duty. Now, hearing that Qi Tian demanded to see him, or else Li Jianping would be killed, he had no choice. Under the protection of a group of bailiffs, he arrived outside the house. However, fearing for his life more than the secretary, he hid behind him.
"I am here. May I ask why you insisted on seeing me?" Chen Gufang forced himself to act nonchalant and retained his official demeanor, despite the circumstances.
Qi Tian slipped a hand into his chest pocket and fetched a token. He waved it in Chen Gufang's direction. "County Magistrate Chen, do you recognize this token?"
The distance made it a bit difficult for Chen Gufang to see clearly. Nevertheless, he was able to make out some details that caused his body to shake and his voice to tremble. "May I ask how you would like to be addressed?"
"Qi Tian, from the National Master Manor." Qi Tian pronounced the words "National Master Manor" with a heavy air of solemnity.
The place immediately fell silent, save for the collective gasp from the crowd. The mention of the "National Master Manor" hit Chen Gufang and his fellows like a ton of bricks, causing their spirits to scatter and their hearts to race in fear.
In the Great Zhao, there were three branches of the National Master Manor each with varying degrees of power and influence. Even the branch with the least power had a National Master capable of wielding supernatural power, conferred by the imperial court and receiving abundant offerings. Their power was extremely formidable. To officials of Chen Gufang's caliber, they had the authority to execute first and report later. This Qi Tian, coming from the National Master Manor, regardless of his status there, his origins alone assured that he could not be harmed in Guangfu County. It was not that Qi Tian was invincible, but that no one dared to offend the National Master Manor.
"So it's Master Qi. My apologies for the oversight." No longer hiding behind the secretary, Chen Gufang emerged and bowed to Qi Tian from a distance, displaying the utmost courtesy.