Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Arrogant at First, Respectful at Lastn/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Feng Jun was not at all surprised by the reaction of the Imperial Court; it would have been strange if they hadn’t acted this way.

However, he was still a bit puzzled, “Just because they demand an explanation, must I provide one?”

Magistrate Han had been wearing a sullen expression all this while but broke into a smile upon hearing this, “Whether or not you want to explain is up to you. Just don’t say it was the Official Government that told you to do it, and if he really threatens you, you can report it to the authorities… Divine Doctor, you are a citizen of my Zhige after all.”

Feng Jun pointed at him with a wry smile, “You lot…”

He was the type to own up to his actions and wasn’t inclined to waste words, “Let him in.”

Shi Feng Mountain walked in, a man of average build and nondescript appearance, the kind you couldn’t pick out in a crowd on the street.

No sooner had he stepped into the courtyard than he sneered, “Feng Upper-class, aren’t we putting on quite the airs, just waiting here for me?”

“I did think about going out to meet you,” Feng Jun looked at him indifferently, “are you sure… you can handle that?”

“Perhaps I do not have that level of face,” the middle-aged man replied unperturbed, “but as Shi Feng Mountain, if you are merely an Innate Expert, it wouldn’t be beneath you to greet me.”

Merely an Innate Expert… This statement was interesting; it proved that he had done his homework before coming here.

“Haha,” Feng Jun laughed upon hearing this, “You and I are both Innate Experts. You’re in my house, calling out loudly without the host’s permission. If I were to punish you lightly for this… wouldn’t that be appropriate?”

The middle-aged man became furious at these words, “I have already registered. I am Shi Feng Mountain, here to investigate the Gu Family’s collusion with the bandits of Yellow Maple Ridge… shouldn’t you explain yourself clearly?”

“Are you trying to abduct the Family Alliance?” Feng Jun extended his hand with a smile, “Want to fight? Please do! Just remember, swords and spears have no eyes!”

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then continued, “Is this how you treat the investigation of the Family Alliance?”

Feng Jun’s face darkened, “Did the Family Alliance instruct you to shout and yell on my territory?”

Both parties stood their ground, unable to engage in a dialogue, while Magistrate Han watched on with a grin: Squabble, squabble hard.

The middle-aged man caught sight of his expression and knew that the Official Government was just watching the show, but at this moment, for anyone, it would have been too embarrassing to back down, “Looks like we’re going to have to fight, aren’t we?”

Feng Jun bared his teeth in a smile, “A fight is fine… to the death?”

What grudges do I have with you! The middle-aged man felt truly uncomfortable. This is official business, isn’t it?

But words had already been exchanged, and he had no way to retreat. Thus, he nodded, “Yes, but even if I die, there will be others to continue the investigation.”

“I won’t die,” Feng Jun stated calmly, “If the Su Family is dissatisfied, I don’t mind adding a few thousand more lost souls to my blade.”

Ni ma… The middle-aged man wanted to curse. Even if you know your stuff, can you not say it outright?

The people carrying out the Family Alliance’s tasks were not fixed; they took turns serving. Shi Feng Mountain was simply a position. This time it was an ordinary middle-aged man, next time it might be an old man, and the time after that, a woman.

The middle-aged man’s own last name was indeed Su, but only a very few people knew that. Now, even his appearance was not real, yet his identity was called out by the opponent.

In truth, he was not worried about Magistrate Han knowing his identity. There were only so many clans in the Family Alliance. Whether today’s matter was handled by the Su Family or the Su Family, it made no fundamental difference; in any case, they had to voice their position to the Imperial Court.

But for Feng Jun to know, that was troublesome. No clan would want to be targeted by an Innate Expert, even those within the Family Alliance—this scoundrel had just ruined a Gu Family within the Alliance.

Not to mention, this person might also be an Immortal.

How did things end up like this? Shi Feng Mountain sighed inwardly and spoke seriously, “Alright, I admit defeat.”

He had the pride of an Innate Expert and did not fear a fight to the death—Experts were honed through combat.

But if it involved his family, he could not bear that responsibility. The Su Family was not intimidated into size, but… the Gu Family truly was destroyed by this man. Two Innate-level fighters died, and the clan was put on a wanted list.

In the terms of the Earth Realm: For the sake of public matters, to create personal enmity, is it worth it?

Feng Jun did not expect the man to concede so quickly and snorted coldly, “Then for yelling and shouting on my territory, punishing you for disrespect would not be a problem, right?”

“Let’s just forget about it,” Magistrate Han fanned the flames from the side, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “The Family Alliance always operates in this manner.”

Feng Jun glanced at him and spoke indifferently, “Lao Han, that’s enough from you. Believe it or not, I can pin this whole thing on you?”

Magistrate Han silently shut his mouth. He didn’t really believe that Feng Jun would do such a thing, but… it was better not to provoke him.

“It was indeed presumptuous of me,” the middle-aged man admitted straightforwardly, “Let’s discuss the punishment later, shall we?”

“Fine,” Feng Jun nodded crisply. He had intended to give the man a hard time, but Magistrate Han’s actions had irked him—no one liked to be used as a pawn, “I’m more reasonable than you.”

You call that reasonable? The middle-aged man complained inwardly but kept a poker face, “I am here on behalf of the Family Alliance to inquire about some matters from you.”

He thought he had been sufficiently polite, but Feng Jun just smiled indifferently, “Just because you want to ask… must I necessarily answer?”

This… The middle-aged man felt the urge to curse again. When handling matters for the Family Alliance, he had never seen such a defiant Innate Expert.

The usual script was that upon hearing that people from the Family Alliance were looking for them, Innate Experts would treat them with courtesy, with many even eagerly buttering them up. Even the most arrogant would maintain an equal footing in conversation.

Keep in mind that every clan with an Innate Expert was racking their brains to squeeze into the Family Alliance—even those with clearly insufficient qualifications didn’t want to leave a bad reputation within the Alliance.

In fact, for non-Family Alliance clans that possessed Innate Experts, if the Official Government deliberately made things difficult, they could also ask the Alliance for help—at least it was an option.

That’s precisely why the air of superiority when Alliance members arrived had nobody thinking there was anything wrong with it.

The middle-aged man had come to realize the difficulty in dealing with Feng Jun, so he spoke with a grave voice, “If you answer, I have a private token of appreciation.”

Feng Jun paused for a moment, and his expression finally softened, “Fine, I won’t make it tough for you… ask quickly, I have other matters to attend to.”

“First question, when you and the Gu Family had your falling out, did the Official Government intervene?”

The question was well-asked. He clearly wanted to ask if the Official Government had instigated the issue, but the words that came out were “intervened.”

Feng Jun knew what he meant, so he simply shook his head, “No, the Official Government’s attitude towards me wasn’t good either, I’ve been deliberately hassled by people, and I haven’t heard of any connections between the Gu Family and the Official Government.”

“Then why did you bring County Soldiers when you went to the Gu Family’s place?”

“For my Innate celebration, the Official Government granted me land, and the Gu Family sent people to poison me, which was a vile act… so the government lent me the troops. Besides, I am a lone man, and if I don’t wish to commit a massacre, it is better to borrow the troops.”

The middle-aged man had inquired about all this before, and now it was just to confirm. But following this, he asked a more suggestive question, “Are you certain the poison came from the Gu Family? To my knowledge, the Gu people are not adept at poisoning.”

From his words, he still seemed eager to pin the blame on the Official Government.

Feng Jun gave him a deep look with an unemotional voice, “I believe it was the Gu Family’s doing, just as I believe… your surname is Su.”

The middle-aged man was rendered speechless.

After a while, he spoke solemnly, “My questions are over, might Master Feng lend a place for a private conversation?”

Feng Jun was waiting for this very sentence. He glanced indifferently at Magistrate Han, sending a warning look.

What could Magistrate Han do but wait obediently?

Following Feng Jun into the hall, the middle-aged man spoke bluntly, “I won’t mention past offenses… There are rumors now saying Master Feng has been poisoned by the Gu Family’s Qi Dissipating Powder, is it true?”

“Your questions have been asked,” Feng Jun was quite dissatisfied with his tone, “Let’s talk about something else.”

“You gained greatly from the Gu Family,” the middle-aged man spoke up with dignity, “Disciples of the Gu Family are lobbying some within the Alliance to intervene on their behalf, and the price is those things you took from the Gu Family.”

This brand of communication was a blatant show of goodwill, and indeed it could be considered as “I have intentions.”

“Hmm,” Feng Jun nodded indifferently as he was proud enough not to twist his words, saying he got nothing from the Gu Family, and simply asked, “Then what?”

“Then they say that Gu Maoyuan has the Qi Dissipating Powder and that you’ve been affected,” the middle-aged man looked at him, “so dealing with you shouldn’t be difficult, and some are tempted… You should be cautious.”

A strange smile appeared on Feng Jun’s face, “Among those who are tempted, that includes you, right?”

“Not at all, only that I am the representative for this year’s Shi Feng Mountain,” the middle-aged man shook his head and answered straightforwardly, “But as for my stance, you understand… I ultimately represent the Family Alliance, not my personal intentions.”

Feng Jun regarded him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, and said nothing.

Knowing he couldn’t deceive Feng Jun, the middle-aged man spoke frankly, “But since the Gu Family claims you’ve been poisoned with Qi Dissipating Powder, some in the Alliance are curious to see if you really have been afflicted.”

“I am satisfied with that answer,” Feng Jun nodded and asked with a heavy tone, “Who within the Alliance?”

“All of them within the Alliance, I suppose,” the middle-aged man gave a wry smile, “The name Qi Dissipating Powder is too ancient, so old that nobody dares to believe something like it exists… Of course, many are just curious.”

Feng Jun accepted the answer, but he was still puzzled, “Don’t you take into account… the reaction of Cultivators?”

The middle-aged man replied without hesitation, “That’s for the Gu Family to consider, not the Alliance, which is simply curious.”

“Too much curiosity can be lethal,” Feng Jun commented nonchalantly, “Do I look like someone afflicted by Qi Dissipating Powder to you?”

“You do not,” the middle-aged man shook his head, “Logically, you shouldn’t have any combat strength left by now, but currently, you remain an Innate left. Still… maybe what some want to know isn’t related to your martial cultivation level.”

(Updated to, calling for double monthly tickets.)