Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

"Perhaps it's not impossible."

After considering the idea, Li Fuxian immediately suppressed it.

No matter which path we take, it will not be accomplished overnight. There is no hope of success in sight. We need to plan carefully and wait for the right opportunity.

Restoring order to the entire world, like eliminating the Jinglong Society, will inevitably be a long-term and complex goal.

"It is said that the Jinglong Society existed before the establishment of the Great Zhao Dynasty. After the Great Zhao Dynasty established its rule over China for decades, the Jinglong Society did not weaken in the slightest and remained a powerful force."

It's hard to say which is easier: changing the emperor or eliminating the Jinglong Society.

Upon hearing the mention of the Dragon Shock Society, Li Fu composed himself, temporarily suppressing his desire for the Longevity Formula and his concerns about the state of the world.

He turned around and gave instructions to the constable who was standing by, not daring to breathe.

"Go, bring up those four old geezers I captured during the day."

"Yes, sir!"

The constable felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly bowed and withdrew.

Before long, four yamen runners carried the critically injured and dying Four Elders of Kongming on a door panel to the courtyard outside the side room.

Li deliberately held back during the daytime.

The four were severely injured, their meridians and internal organs were damaged, and their bones were shattered. They could no longer use any of their superb martial arts skills and were only kept alive by the pure true energy they had accumulated over decades of hard training.

He was now emaciated and barely breathing, a stark contrast to his sinister and intimidating appearance during the day.

Li Fu stepped out of the room and stood on the steps. The moonlight shone down, casting a cold glow on him, making him appear even more majestic and ruthless.

He looked down at the four people on the ground.

"Speak, tell us everything you know about the Dragon Shock Society."

"Pah! Don't even think about it!"

The Second Elder of the Void spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and glared angrily.

Having become a prisoner, the Fourth Elder looked dejected, coughing up blood as he spoke haltingly.

"You...it's no use asking us."

We're not exactly leaders at this meeting, so we don't know... much... cough cough...

Elder Kongming remained silent, his eyes closed, still retaining a touch of arrogance.

The third elder of the Kongming Sect stared at Li Fu with resentment in his eyes and hissed.

"You little beast...you wait...you've offended the Dragon Shock Society...no one in heaven or on earth can save you...you're doomed..."

Li Fu, instead of being angry, smiled and said calmly.

"Oh? That sounds familiar."

Someone once said that to me, and then I met you four old fogies.

What now?

"What can you do to me lying here?"

These words and facts left the four of them speechless, especially the Third Elder of the Void Realm, who was so angry that he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Li Fu paused for a moment, then asked with great interest.

"You have already witnessed my martial arts skills."

Do you really believe that anyone in the Dragon Shock Society... can stand against me?

He was indeed curious about just how deep the secrets of this mysterious organization were.

The four remained silent for a moment.

Elder Kongming slowly opened his eyes, glanced at Li Fu with a complicated look, and snorted coldly, his voice hoarse.

"Boy, don't get carried away... You are young but your martial arts skills are... unbelievable."

The Dragon Shock Society... has a long history and gathers extraordinary people from all over the world... some old monsters who have long been invincible in the martial arts world and have gone into seclusion... have all been recruited by the society.

...Among them...there might be someone who can control you!

His words lacked conviction and sounded more like a struggle and intimidation born of a refusal to admit defeat.

Li Fu sensed the superficiality in his words and stopped trying to argue.

What he wanted was intelligence, not pointless verbal sparring.

"Stop talking nonsense, won't you talk?" Li Fu's tone turned cold, and he waved his hand.

The head constable standing nearby understood and immediately stepped forward with several constables holding instruments of torture such as clamps and whips, grinning maliciously.

They might normally be afraid of these martial arts masters, but now that their opponent is crippled and they have the envoy backing them up, they are naturally full of courage.

Seeing this, the Four Elders of the Void could easily guess what was about to happen. Their faces showed humiliation and despair, and they trembled with anger.

They were once top masters in the martial arts world, respected elders of a sect. Who would have thought they would be humiliated by a group of yamen runners who knew nothing about martial arts?

The Grand Elder of the Kongming Sect smiled angrily, glanced at the other three, and said resolutely.

"Second brother, third brother, fourth brother... don't let him look down on you."

Don't let them humiliate you.

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly reversed the remaining true energy in his body and rushed it straight to his heart!

"Big brother!"

puff!

The Grand Elder of the Kongming Sect shuddered, blood spilled from his mouth, his head lolled to the side, and he died.

"Wait for us, Li Fu. We'll be waiting for you at the bottom of the Yellow Springs Road."

Upon seeing this, the other three cried out in grief and, without hesitation, followed suit, severing their own heart meridians.

In the blink of an eye, the four men died one after another, leaving only a few gradually cooling corpses in the courtyard.

Li Fu watched this scene calmly, showing little anger.

These senior masters, who were elders of their respective factions and held high positions for a long time, were proud and arrogant. It was not surprising that they would rather commit suicide than be humiliated and forced to confess.

I was just trying it out of resentment.

He waved his hand, signaling for his men to drag the body away and dispose of it.

"Drag him down and throw him into a mass grave to feed the stray dogs."

"Yes, sir."

……

The matter in Pingliang County was resolved; Wang Chongyu was executed, his injustice was redressed, and the people praised him.

Li Fu did not linger. He left all the follow-up matters to the trembling Pingliang County Magistrate, and then led his horse away from Pingliang.

He didn't make a fuss, which attracted the attention of the people who came to see him off. He didn't like that kind of scene, so he set off alone on horseback on the official road back to Yanzhou.

Li Fu couldn't help but recall the journey he took from Yanzhou to this place, his heart filled with murderous intent, carrying the bounty of twelve assassins on his back.

Now, going back, he not only possesses the full power of the Yi Jin Jing, but also gains the Dragon-Capturing Skill.

Of course, there is also the great power of a longevity technique waiting for him to acquire.

The autumn air was crisp and clear, but the journey was long.

Li traveled at dawn and stayed overnight, galloping on his horse at full speed.

That afternoon, the towering city gates of Yanzhou were already in sight.

For some reason, the checks at the city gate seemed stricter than usual.

Among the flow of people coming and going, there were noticeably more figures of martial arts practitioners carrying knives and swords, exchanging glances with each other, their eyes filled with wariness and curiosity.

"Officer Li is back!"

Li Fu showed his constable's badge and entered the city without attracting much attention.

Although he is now famous throughout the martial arts world, there are still very few people who have actually seen his face.

Upon entering the city, familiar street scenes come into view: bustling city life, everyday life.

However, within this familiarity, there was a restlessness and tension unlike anything seen before.

Li Fu led his horse slowly along the main street of Yanzhou.

The restaurants and teahouses on both sides of the street were busier than usual, and even the simple tea stalls by the roadside were filled with all sorts of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) figures.

These people either talked loudly, their voices shaking the rooftops; or drank silently alone, their eyes sharp; some even placed swords and weapons directly on the table, their cold gleaming without any restraint.

They drank heavily and ate large chunks of meat, but their eyes would frequently sweep across the street, scrutinizing every passerby and vehicle, their gazes a mixture of vigilance, scrutiny, searching, and even a hint of barely perceptible greed.

It was as if they were searching for a specific person, or as if they were scrutinizing every possible clue.

They occasionally made eye contact, but quickly looked away, and a subtle tension and competitive atmosphere filled the air.

"Something big seems to have happened in Yanzhou City, attracting people from all walks of life to gather here."

Such a scene is no ordinary occurrence in the martial arts world; there must be someone or something that is enough to alarm the entire martial arts community, appearing in the territory of Yanzhou.

Li Fu did not stop or inquire about it.

Such a widely publicized matter must have more accurate information within the government office.

He headed straight for the prefectural government office, first to report back on leave, and then to ask someone for directions.

……

In the prefectural and county government offices, in Feng Shaoting's study.

Autumn is deepening outside the window, and the sycamore leaves are falling.

The study was warm and cozy, with fine silver charcoal burning in the air. Tea was brewing, and wisps of smoke rose from the bronze incense burner, releasing a delicate sandalwood fragrance.

Li, having washed away the dust of his journey, came to report for duty after his leave.

He was dressed in a blue constable's uniform, with an upright posture and calm eyes. Compared to when he left Yan a few months ago, he had gained an indescribable depth and a restrained brilliance.

"Officer Li, hahaha, please have a seat!"

Upon seeing Li Fu, Feng Shaoting rose to greet him with a broad smile, displaying the refined and approachable demeanor of a superior. He personally led Li Fu to a guest seat and instructed his servants to serve him fragrant tea.

"It must have been a tough journey!"

Officer Li's departure from Yan this time has really caused quite a stir!

In the martial arts world today, who doesn't know the name of Li Fu, the valiant constable who wielded the Divine Dragon Palm?

He stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes filled with admiration and a hint of inquiry.

"The news has spread throughout the martial arts world. Who would have thought that you would travel with the daughter of the King of Chu and uproot the twelve villains who have plagued the martial arts world for many years in one fell swoop!"

I heard that you were the main reason for our journey.

The Snake, one of the twelve ominous signs, once poisoned a good official valued by Prince Xiang, causing the prince great distress.

When King Xiang heard the news, he was overjoyed and wrote a special letter saying that the daughter of the King of Yan had told him how calm he was in the face of danger, how he risked his life to save people, how brave and resourceful he was.

He praised you highly in his words and instructed me to reward you well, lest I disappoint a good official.

Feng Shaoting paused, then his smile widened.

"I have already petitioned the court for your commendation."

Although you have only been in office for a short time, you have solved several major cases and made such a remarkable contribution. In addition, you have the appreciation of Prince Xiang... It is not difficult for you to be promoted beyond the usual level.

I have already secured you the position of a sixth-rank constable in blue robes; the official document will arrive soon.

"Officer Li, congratulations! To have risen to the sixth rank at such a young age is extremely rare in our Great Zhao Dynasty."

Indeed, Li Fu had only been in office for less than a month. He hadn't even settled into his position as a seventh-rank constable before he was already a sixth-rank constable.

Li Fu said, "Thank you for your help, sir."

His tone was calm, revealing little joy.

Feng Shaoting then asked kindly:

It's quite strange, really.

I wonder how Officer Li got to know that... Miss Chu?

"Thinking back to how outstanding King Chu was in his prime, respected by everyone in the court and among the common people, it's a pity that after he was deposed, the Chu royal family virtually disappeared from the world."

Li Fu briefly explained, "By chance, we met on the road, and since we shared the same goal, we traveled together for a while."

Feng Shaoting nodded and said:

"I see.

Even more astonishingly, Officer Li actually gained Miss Song's trust and was presented with the imperial edict gold plaque!

This is no ordinary item.

His tone carried a hint of wistfulness.

"I heard that Officer Li, holding this gold medal, did something earth-shattering in Pingliang County!"

Wang Chongyu, the stone and flower commissioner of Pingliang County, was publicly tried in the street. The evidence was irrefutable, and the people witnessed it. In the end, he was sentenced to death.

This matter has spread throughout the court and the public, shaking the entire nation!

Officer Li rid the people of a scourge; he was truly swift and decisive.

Although he praised him, Li Fu keenly sensed that Feng Shaoting's attitude was slightly different from before.

Previously, Feng Shaoting had tried his best to win him over and was very eager to win him over.

Now, that fervor has faded considerably. The smile remains refined, the words polite, but there's a hint of businesslike detachment, as if… some original plans have been abandoned.

Instead, they viewed Li Fu as a subordinate who needed to be treated with caution, had a complex background, and was not someone they should get too close to, or... a potential problem.

Li Fuxin understood what it was about, but remained outwardly calm and only responded politely.

"The prefect is overrated."

Wang Chongyu deserved his punishment; I was merely acting in accordance with the law.

Feng Shaoting chuckled, no longer discussing the matter further, and then said...

"Officer Li has had a long journey and should rest well for a few days upon his return."

However… things have been quite turbulent in Yanzhou lately, and I'm afraid I'll soon have to trouble Constable Li again.”

Li Fu raised his eyes: "Oh? What you mean, sir..."

"A person from the martial arts world."

Feng Shaoting suppressed his smile and frowned slightly. "In recent months, the number of martial arts figures from all walks of life pouring into Yanzhou has suddenly increased, and they are a mixed bag."

These people used force to break the law, fought fiercely, and caused trouble and disturbed the people. The number of cases increased by several times compared to usual, and the government was exhausted from dealing with them.

On his way back, Constable Li must have seen quite a few men carrying swords and knives, right?

Li Fu nodded. When he returned to Yanzhou, he noticed that there were indeed many more people dressed as江湖客 (jianghu travelers, people of the martial arts world) at the inns and taverns than usual, and the atmosphere was slightly more restless.

There's a strong sense that a storm is brewing.

"I have indeed seen it."

Why have so many heroes from the martial arts world suddenly gathered in Yanzhou?

Li Fu asked.

Feng Shaoting sighed softly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked out the window, as if reminiscing.

"Officer Li is young. Have you ever heard of... the once-in-a-century drought that struck several prefectures in the Northwest twenty-three years ago?"

Li Fu paused for a moment to think.

I wasn't even born then.

However, I once heard my elders mention that twenty-three years ago, several northwestern prefectures, including Qin, Wei, Yan, Yan, Mo, and Jie, suffered a severe drought, leaving the land barren and yielding no harvest.

Qin Prefecture and Wei Prefecture were somewhat better off, but Mo Prefecture was the hardest hit, with corpses of the starving everywhere, and even... people resorting to cannibalism.

I heard that in the end, the number of people who starved and died of disease in those areas reached as high as three or four hundred thousand, a truly horrific tragedy.

His face turned solemn when such a tragedy was mentioned.

Feng Shaoting nodded slowly.

"That's right, three or four hundred thousand lives... just like that, they were gone."

Exchanging children to eat is a tragedy beyond compare.

But actually... so many people shouldn't have died back then.

The Imperial Revenue Department urgently allocated three million taels of silver for disaster relief!

"Three million taels?" Li Fu raised an eyebrow. "Such a huge sum of money, if used properly, could have saved countless disaster victims. Why did it end up like this..."

"Because this money never reached the disaster victims."