December 28th, sunny
Yongzhou is located in the central-western part of Shenzhou. The region isn't very mountainous, with a vast plain known as Xingye Plain accounting for nearly three-quarters of its territory, rendering the landscape relatively flat.
Due to the scarcity of rainfall and the absence of large rivers or lakes, the climate throughout Yongzhou is generally dry and hot, which has led the local populace to adopt the habit of wearing tight, short garments.
In the Demon Path counties, such attire is nothing unusual, but within the territories of the Zhengdao Seven States, which self-claim to be the Central Plains, this is considered disrespectful in dress and conduct, and a disregard for the proprieties and rites.
Moreover, as Xuzhou neighbors Yongzhou, the people of Xuzhou often point out the short attire of Yongzhou with derision, saying, "Such indecent attire offends the eyes and ears; the people of Yong Rong find no shame in it."
...
Zhaoyang County Town, the official road at the West Gate, five miles away.
Leading were Ren Feng, Tie Budong, Tan Gang, and Gao Cheng. A total of around a hundred and ten martial artists from three families stood along both sides of the road, their expressions solemn and the atmosphere quite sober.
"We've arrived!"
Ren Feng had the highest cultivation and the sharpest eyesight. Before anyone else noticed any activity on the official road, he had already verbally alerted everyone.
Tie Budong and the other two turned their heads to look. It was the time of the year when the official road was silent, with not even a single passerby in sight, let alone the new protector Cheng Yue. This confusion made them wonder if Ren Feng was mistaken.
However, in just over a dozen breaths' time, the sound of horse hooves could be heard on the road, causing everyone to look up in shock.
About three or four miles away, at the end of the road within sight, a cloud of dust rose first, followed by a group of ten horse riders speeding towards their location.
The leader was a young man in his early twenties. He wore black clothes with a half-moon symbol on his right sleeve and a faint smile on his lips. Even as he leaned over the horse's back, his robust muscles were prominent.
Noticing the figures on the official road, the young man raised his head and glanced in their direction. Everyone was instantly shaken and couldn't help but lower their heads, including Ren Feng, the County Lord!
Although the young man carried no weapons, the coldness in his eyes was sharper than any sword or spear, intensifying the fear of everyone present.
The nine followers behind him wore dark cyan tight clothing, similar to the leader's but with bright silver crescent-shaped decorations on their sleeves. As they regarded the martial artists waiting by the road, their faces unconsciously showed contempt.
In an instant, the group was less than a mile away. Tie Budong, realizing the cultivation level of the nine followers, exchanged a look of alarm with Tan Gang next to him.
Among them were five warriors at the ninth level, and the remaining four were at the tenth!
In all of Zhaoyang County, there were only seven or eight warriors at the tenth level of Body Opening, yet this new protector Cheng Yue had brought four with him...
"That crescent symbol denotes the Rakshasa Holy Sect, and the dark cyan uniform signifies peripheral followers. Black attire indicates full discipleship. Protector Cheng is so young to have reached the Gathering Malevolence Phase, and also trained under Ding Sicheng. It's no wonder he has achieved formal discipleship so quickly in the Holy Sect, which truly deserves its place among the top ten forces in the world...too powerful..."
Ren Feng suddenly muttered in a low voice, shocking everyone who heard, their astonishment intensifying, their faces a picture of disbelief.
Those martial artists at the ninth and tenth levels were merely peripheral followers... Cheng Yue, who had merely attained the second realm of Gang Qi, a Cultivation Realm at the Gathering Malevolence Phase in the Holy Sect... was just a formal disciple?
What kind of cultivation level, then, must Cheng Yue's master, the real transmitter of the Holy Sect teachings from Tongling County, the Warden Chief and Religious Protector King Ding Dian, possess? Above the Gang Qi Realm?
Possessing a cultivation level above the Gang Qi Realm was something they didn't even know about!
Everyone at once became even more humble, keeping their heads bowed low as Cheng Yue and his entourage drew near.
Ren Feng alone managed to maintain some composure, but even his expression changed when Cheng Yue rode up to him on his horse.
From a distance, he hadn't noticed the horses these people rode. Now that they were close, he observed that the horse ridden by Cheng Yue had a blazing red coat like flames, surpassing in size and height the Black Cloud Colt he had prepared today.
He realized he couldn't even recognize the breed of the horse...
Indeed, as a disciple of the King, thinking of forging a connection through a mere Black Cloud Colt was somewhat wishful thinking!
Ren Feng sighed inwardly, acknowledging his age. Since his carefully prepared Black Cloud Colt proved useless, he no longer pursued his original plan but stepped forward respectfully to greet Cheng Yue, saying, "This old man is Ren Feng, the County Lord of Zhaoyang. May I dare to ask if this is Protector Cheng in person?"
While the Holy Sect governed Yongzhou with a dual system of prefectures and prison administrations, Cheng Yue's identities were as a protector of the sect and the Warden Chief of Zhaoyang County, which should have made him equal in status to the County Lord. Nevertheless, Ren Feng bowed as protocol dictated.
This was due to the significant differences in their ages, identities, and origins, which placed them in starkly different positions despite holding the same rank.
Cheng Yue still wore that faint smile, nodding his head as he said, "County Lord Ren, there's no need for such formality. We are equals. From now on, just call me 'Magistrate'!"
This young man was unexpectedly easy to talk to.
Realizing this, a hint of joy rose in Ren Feng's heart. He was about to speak when Cheng Yue suddenly brightened up, walked over to the Black Cloud Colt, and spoke first.
"The Black Cloud Colt from Xuzhou, though not listed among the top nine breeds, is still considered a fine horse. Is this horse yours, County Lord Ren?"
Pleased, Ren Feng quickly stepped forward and said, "I heard that Magistrate Cheng is a horse lover. I didn't expect your expertise in horses to be so profound. This horse is a fortuitous acquisition of mine. As the saying goes, a fine horse belongs to a hero. Magistrate Cheng, despite your young age, has taken on such a significant responsibility – no one could be more fitting. I boldly offer this horse as a gift, hoping the Magistrate will kindly accept it!"
In Zhaoyang County, Ren Feng was undoubtedly a major figure, but facing the barely thirty-year-old Cheng Yue, he could only flatter with a smile, using words like "boldly" and "kindly accept" even while offering a gift.
Tie Budong, Tan Gang, Gao Cheng, and even those martial artists who had come along couldn't recall ever seeing Ren Feng act so humbly, and they were all wide-eyed in astonishment.
However, Cheng Yue's words left them all momentarily stunned.
"If you had sent it half a month earlier, I might have accepted it, but now... hahaha, come, take a look at this horse of mine!"
The joy that had just arisen in Ren Feng's heart instantly sank, but he still managed to maintain a normal facade, showing no reaction.
Knowing Cheng Yue intended to show off, Ren Feng looked towards his horse and immediately displayed a look of astonishment, clicking his tongue in wonder for a long while before reluctantly clasping his hands in apology, "Such a magnificent breed, I have never even seen before. When the warden chief arrived just now, I saw from afar and knew that my Black Cloud Colt would not catch his eye today.
I truly have poor sight, if any of you can recognize it, feel free to speak up!"
While flattering, Ren Feng did not forget to take the opportunity to introduce Cheng Yue to the other individuals, deliberately letting the three nearby have a look as well.
"These three are the leaders of the local powers of Zhaoyang County, namely Tie Budong, the Sect Leader of the Flying Eagle Sect, Tan Gang, the Gang Leader of the Green Wolf Gang, and Elder Sister Gao from the Happy Forest. You will all be under the control of Warden Chief Cheng in the future, hurry up and greet him!"
The three of them showed a trace of happiness and rushed forward to pay their respects to Cheng Yue respectfully.
Cheng Yue watched the three men and did not take them seriously, simply waving his hand for them to continue inspecting the horse, evidently more interested in whether the three could identify the breed of his horse than in mingling with them.
Before he took office in Zhaoyang County, he had already investigated that there were only four insignificant powers in the entire county. To someone like him, a formal disciple of the Holy Sect, these powers weren't even worth noticing, easily dismissed with a wave of his hand, so it was natural that he wouldn't be interested in the three men.
Tie Budong and Tan Gang approached the red steed and observed it for quite some time, yet they were unable to discern its breed and ultimately could only flatteringly confess their inability to recognize such a treasure.
Only Gao Cheng, after looking for a while longer, spoke up: "If I'm not mistaken, could this horse be a Ji Luminous Mane from Jizhou?"
At his words, Ren Feng, Tie Budong, and Tan Gang were all momentarily stunned, suddenly recalling the Luminous Mane, one of the top breeds in Shenzhou, known for its fiery red mane, and upon further inspection of its appearance, they started to believe it was indeed so.
"Hahahaha, not bad, not bad, you do have some good insight!"
Seeing that someone had guessed correctly, a barely perceptible gleam flashed deep in Cheng Yue's pupils, followed by a few loud laughs in praise of Gao Cheng before he continued.
"Jizhou is located in the far north; these Luminous Manes sell for 5,000 silver in that region. Add to that the long journey and difficulties in transportation, it's rare for anyone in Yongzhou to sell them. Three years ago, one was offered in the city of Xingnan Prefecture and its price was driven up to 130,000 taels.
I've been coveting it for too long, though I have some wealth, I've suffered from lack of a purchasing channel. Speaking of which, I owe the acquisition of this Luminous Mane to a beauty from Zhaoyang County!"
Just as Ren Feng was about to flatteringly follow up, a sudden sound of horse hooves came from behind, prompting him and everyone else to turn their heads. At that sight, their expressions immediately turned grim.
"Why have Hou Yuling and Hou Yuxiao come too?"
"Someone must have told them about Warden Chief Cheng's arrival today."
...
The exceedingly beautiful young girl in a purple dress, splendidly smiling, whose every glance exuded charm, galloping swiftly on an ordinary Black Scaled Colt, was none other than Hou Yuling, the third child of the Hou family!
And following her, a handsome young man in green attire, wearing a smile, was none other than Hou Yuxiao!
Remembering Cheng Yue's last comment about owing the acquisition of the Luminous Mane to a beauty from Zhaoyang County, Ren Feng suddenly felt a chill, a bad suspicion forming in his mind.
"Just talking about the beauty, and here she arrives, hahaha!"
The subsequent remark by Cheng Yue instantly confirmed his suspicion, and Ren Feng's face immediately darkened.
Hou Yuling had not even dismounted yet when her exquisite face showed a hint of distress, her moving eyes almost speaking as they quickly misted over.
"Elder Brother Cheng has taken office today, how could he not notify Ling Er beforehand? Doesn't he consider Ling Er a friend?"
This melodious voice, tinged with a sobbing tone, was so pitiable that it made everyone's bones go soft.
Upon hearing Hou Yuling's words, Cheng Yue rushed forward to explain: "Don't cry, Ling Er. Elder Brother Cheng originally wanted to surprise you; who knew it would backfire? Isn't it enough for Elder Brother Cheng to admit his mistake..."
With that explanation, the mist in Hou Yuling's eyes instantly withdrew, and the distressed expression on her face gradually eased. Her exceedingly beautiful face slowly broke into a smile, seemingly accepting Cheng Yue's explanation, and she obediently said, "Ling Er knew it; Elder Brother Cheng must care about me. Ling Er was wrong to blame you!"
Relief spread across Cheng Yue's face, and he said with some pity: "It was my thoughtlessness; it has nothing to do with Ling Er. From now on, Elder Brother Cheng will make sure to clear things with Ling Er in advance."
"Then Ling Er thanks Elder Brother Cheng."
......
Hou Yuxiao well knew that his youngest sister really had no love for men, watching this scene unfold with an indescribable feeling in his heart.
Meanwhile, Ren Feng watched this scene with an extremely sinister look in his eyes.
And just then, quite coincidentally, Hou Yuxiao quietly approached him, coming within a meter and whispering a phrase.
"That gold mine, I'm taking it."
This sentence, laden with an ominous tone, caused Ren Feng's already sinister gaze to be filled with murderous intent!