Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

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Some people were indignant upon hearing this.

So what if I anger them?

Officer Li is acting on behalf of Heaven, avenging the hundreds of thousands of innocent victims who died unjustly!

If His Majesty were to blame Constable Li for this, that would be truly... Hmph!

Although the following words were not explicitly stated, their meaning was self-evident.

Many common people and martial arts practitioners have already come to regard Li Fu as a representative of chivalry. If the imperial court were to punish Li Fu, it would likely provoke great public outrage.

Since that day, Li Fu has lived a secluded life, rarely appearing in public.

However, various discussions, praises, and concerns from the outside world also reached his ears intermittently from Chen Tao and his close subordinates and associates.

"Boss, you're truly famous now!"

The storytellers on the street have all turned your tales of single-handedly venturing into the dragon's den, killing the golden Arhat with a single blow, and ridding the people of evil into stories!

The teahouse is packed every day, everyone's there to hear this!

Chen Tao spoke with great enthusiasm.

"There are also reports from Youzhou that people in many places have secretly set up longevity tablets for you in their homes!"

They say you're "Judge Li," sent by Heaven to save those in distress!

"Yes, Li Tou."

Another constable remarked.

"You solved such a sensational case and won praise from all over the world."

You are now a celebrated official, a renowned constable, and a great hero!

Li Fu listened to these words, often remaining silent, occasionally shaking his head slightly, and saying little.

Others only said that he was humble and did not take credit for himself.

Only he himself knew the heavy and cruel truth hidden behind the flood of praise.

The people praised him for resolving the disaster relief fund case and punishing the ringleader.

But the person he killed with his own hands was merely an executioner who guessed his superior's intentions and acted on their behalf.

The real culprit, the emperor who sits atop the nine heavens and decides the life and death of hundreds of thousands with a single thought, remains high in the dragon court, unharmed.

The name of this hero, this name of the upright official, sounds rather jarring than joyful.

After seven or eight days, the atmosphere in the government office suddenly became solemn.

A group of eunuchs and guards dressed in palace attire entered with their heads held high, carrying a bright yellow scroll.

The imperial edict has arrived.

The theft of three million taels of disaster relief funds was a major case. The results had been announced, naturally alarming the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and even reaching the Emperor's ears.

Li Fu and Feng Shaoting led the officials of the prefectural government to receive the imperial decree.

The eunuch's shrill voice echoed in the silent main hall of the government office as he proclaimed the imperial decree.

"...Li Fu, a sixth-rank constable in blue robes from Yanzhou, was loyal, brave, and decisive. He was keenly observant and solved long-standing cold cases, executed the ringleader, upheld the law, and pacified the people. His achievements were truly great..."

He was specially granted the title of Purple-Clad Constable, promoted to the fifth rank, and awarded a red-gold fish-shaped pouch as a commendation…

I hope you will continue your efforts, be loyal to the emperor and love your country, be diligent in serving the king, and not disappoint my expectations…

The imperial edict was lengthy and full of praise and commendation, but it made no mention of Li Fu's unauthorized killing of the chief eunuch, as if it were merely a matter of law and justice.

Even more unexpected was the reward.

The purple-clad constable had risen rapidly, and his rank of fifth grade was already quite prestigious among constables.

And this crimson gold fish pouch is no ordinary item!

According to the official system of the Great Zhao Dynasty, only officials of the third rank and above were allowed to wear vermilion robes and carry red gold fish-shaped pouches.

This crimson gold fish-shaped pouch was one of the symbols of a third-rank official, representing status and imperial favor.

The emperor exceptionally bestowed this item upon Li Fu, a mere fifth-rank official, the significance of which is self-evident.

This is an extraordinary favor, a testament to Jane's favor with the Emperor!

When he later travels through officialdom, even ordinary officials of higher rank who see this crimson gold fish-shaped pouch will have to show him respect!

With this item, even without the imperial edict plaque, Li Fu's status would be completely different.

The final part of the imperial edict, as usual, was the emperor's encouragement and expectations for his subjects, nothing more than clichés about loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, diligence in performing duties, and so on.

However, this part of the imperial edict was unusually long, taking up almost half of the document, repeatedly elaborating and earnestly admonishing the author.

Those who don't understand might think it's due to extremely high expectations, but they don't see anything wrong with it.

Li Fu listened with a blank expression and a bowed posture.

He always felt that these words, spoken between the lines, were a warning, a rebuke.

The high-ranking official was using these grand words to tell him that he knew what he might have heard, but to be loyal to the emperor, he had to know what to say and what to keep to himself.

To love one's country, one must understand that maintaining the dignity of the imperial court and ensuring the stability of the nation are the top priorities.

Let bygones be bygones.

"This official did not become enraged upon learning of his father-in-law's death, nor did he immediately entertain the idea of ​​killing him to silence him."

Such a reckless act would certainly not be the behavior of a monarch who is well-versed in the ways of the emperor.

When he lost power due to a single guess, some officials in the court who took the opportunity to attack him were exiled or demoted. Perhaps many people later gleaned some truth from these clues, and the emperor did not exterminate everyone.

As long as that fig leaf isn't torn off in public, and as long as those in the know are sensible, some things can be overlooked without much harm.

The same seems to be true for Li Fu now.

"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

Li Fu calmly accepted the imperial edict and the heavy, golden fish-shaped pouch.

The atmosphere in the government office only relaxed after the eunuch delivering the imperial decree and his entourage left.

Feng Shaoting smiled broadly and offered his congratulations with clasped hands.

Congratulations, Officer Li!

A purple-clad constable, a fifth-rank official, and even bestowed with a crimson gold fish-shaped pouch—this is an immense honor!

I was worried at first... cough, it seems I was just worrying unnecessarily!

"It must be because of your bravery and exceptional wisdom in handling the case, Officer Li, and your current high reputation among the people, that your actions and fame have reached His Majesty's ears, greatly pleasing him and thus bestowing such a great favor!"

Feng Shaoting spoke eloquently, but Li Fu discerned the underlying meaning.

How could this Prefect Feng be so ignorant of the implications and dangers?

Although he was unaware of the horrifying secrets behind the disaster relief fund case, he knew the consequences of killing a eunuch without authorization.

Normally, one should consider the owner before beating a dog. The fact that a former close attendant of the emperor was arbitrarily executed by a constable is, to some extent, disrespectful to imperial authority and could easily anger the emperor.

But the emperor not only did not blame him, but also rewarded him handsomely.

Feng Shaoting estimated that this was probably related to Li Fu's current immense popularity among the people, especially among the people of the northwestern prefectures who had suffered greatly from the disasters of that year.

In the northwestern provinces, the people may not know the name of their local prefect, but the names "Li Fu" and "Li Qingtian" have recently become household names, and are even revered as deities.

If the emperor were to punish Li Fu at this time, it might incite unpredictable changes in public sentiment.

Therefore, not only should he not be punished, but he should also be rewarded in a grand manner to show the emperor's boundless grace and his unity with the people, and to further indicate that he was not aware of the eunuch's crimes before.

It was all because treacherous officials deceived the emperor; otherwise, the mastermind behind the robbery of disaster relief funds would have been apprehended long ago.

"Prefect Feng is too kind."

Li Fu understood Feng Shaoting's implied meaning but remained noncommittal.

Chen Tao and the other constables and yamen runners could no longer contain themselves. They rushed forward, surrounded Li Fu, and offered their congratulations in unison, their faces beaming with joy.

"Boss, quickly put this gold fish-shaped pouch on and let the brothers see it."

This is a rare item that only high-ranking officials of the third rank could possess!

"Yeah, boss!"

"Put them on and let us see!"

"Our Yanzhou government office has really made a name for itself this time!"

Looking at the excited faces of the crowd, Li Fu's gaze fell on the exquisitely crafted fish bag in his hand, which reflected a dazzling golden light in the sunlight.

He weighed it in his hand; it was icy cold to the touch.

This fish-shaped pouch represents the emperor's favor, a prestigious position, and a bright future—something that many officials dream of.

"No, it's just a waist ornament."

Li Fu did not put it on the spot as everyone expected. He shook his head and casually put it away.

The reason he didn't throw it away was to serve as a reminder, to remind him not to forget how he got this red gold fish pouch, and not to forget what it represented.

"It's good to put it away."

This is a gift from the Emperor; it must be kept safe and should not be shown to others lightly except on necessary occasions.

Feng Shaoting squinted and chuckled.

Just as Li Fu received the imperial edict and was promoted to Purple-Clad Constable, the entire government office was still immersed in a mood of celebration for him.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps and panicked shouts came from outside.

"Something terrible has happened!"

"My lords, my lords!"

A constable stumbled into the main hall of the government office, his face pale and breathless, clearly having run all the way there.

"What's wrong?"

You're already saying it's bad news when Officer Li has just been promoted and received a higher salary.

What's the matter that's causing this panic?

Feng Shaoting frowned and said in a deep voice.

"Boss Li, I...I don't know..."

The constable was terrified and hurriedly left, but Li Fu waved his hand to indicate that nothing was wrong.

"What's wrong? Catch your breath and tell me."

The man, having caught his breath, said urgently:

"Return to my lord!

Just now, just now someone came to report from outside the city... saying that he was visiting relatives and found that Stone Village, which is not far from their village, was being massacred by bandits!

The entire village... is in imminent danger!

We urgently need to send rescue personnel!

What?!

Are you sure?

Feng Shaoting's face was filled with shock and anger. "How could this be?!"

"Yes...yes, sir, that person looked terrifying; he didn't seem to be lying."

"Right under the noses of my Yanzhou City, in broad daylight, how dare bandits massacre a village?!"

This is utterly lawless and audacious!

As a local official, the occurrence of such a heinous incident under his jurisdiction is undoubtedly a grave dereliction of duty and a disgrace.

Li Fu lifted his eyelids, and Chen Tao and the other constables were stunned upon hearing this.

"Boss,"

Chen Tao said in a low voice.

"Although our Yanzhou region is not absolutely peaceful, it is rare to see such rampant bandits."

To dare to massacre an entire village in broad daylight, so close to the capital... who are these people?

Li Fu also had many doubts.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

"No matter what, saving lives is the priority."

"Chen Tao, take your men, we're heading to Stone Village immediately!"

Feng Shaoting said.

"To dare to massacre a village in broad daylight, this is definitely not an ordinary bandit."

"Officer Li, if needed, you may send someone back to inform me. I can mobilize the garrison from the prefecture to provide support at any time!"

Without hesitation, Li Fu immediately selected Chen Tao and dozens of other elite constables, each armed with weapons, mounted their horses, and charged out of the government office like arrows, heading straight for Stone Village outside the city.

Stone Village is only about 20 li away from Yanzhou City. With a fast horse, we arrived at the village entrance in less than half an hour.

However, the scene that came into view made even these constables, who were used to seeing crime scenes, gasp in shock.

Many people turned pale, and some young constables even bent over and vomited on the spot.

The houses are neatly arranged, and the paths crisscross the fields, showing that this was originally a small village with some pastoral scenery and isolated from the world.

But now the village is filled with an overwhelming, pungent stench of blood, making people want to vomit.

Corpses lay strewn everywhere—on the village roads, between houses, and in the fields.

Men, women, young and old, all have it.

Blood stained the yellow earth, forming dark red streams that meandered along the ground.

Limbs and severed bodies were scattered everywhere, and some corpses were unrecognizable, their deaths extremely gruesome.

There was no sound of chickens or dogs; the ground was covered with blood and corpses.

It was a scene straight out of hell on earth!

"There really were bandits massacring the entire village in broad daylight!"

Li reined in his horse, his eyes flashing like lightning as he quickly scanned the entire village.

He had handled many murder cases, but he was also shocked by the horrific scene of slaughter. His brows furrowed, and he suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, giving the order in a deep voice.

The village was quiet and still; it seemed the people who massacred the village had fled after committing the atrocity.

"Chen Tao, lead your men to spread out and search carefully to see if there are any survivors!"

"Yes, boss!"

Despite his discomfort, Chen Tao waved and led his men to split up and act separately.

Li Fu dismounted and walked to the corpses. He squatted down to examine them closely, and the more he looked, the more suspicious he became.

"Boss,"

A constable approached, his mouth and nose covered, his voice trembling.

"This... bandits massacred the village, there must have been several hundred dead... it's simply horrifying!"

Such a massive bloodbath will not only shock Yanzhou Prefecture, but will probably become famous throughout the entire north!

"This is not a simple massacre of a village."

Li Fu glanced at them and noticed many things were amiss. There were no signs of ransacking or robbing the money and clothes on these people.

Valuable livestock and grain in the village have not been lost on a large scale.

"Ordinary bandits massacre villages for nothing more than money and sex. After killing people, they will plunder everything, rape women, and the scene will be chaotic."

But this village is different.

The dead women, though their clothes were disheveled from the fighting and fleeing, showed no signs of having been violated.

As the saying goes, soldiers are like combs, while bandits are like fine combs.

Li Fu slowly stood up, his sharp gaze sweeping over the desolate village.

"But everything in front of me was frighteningly neat."

This doesn't look like looting.

Let alone the rabble of bandits, even ordinary soldiers of the imperial court would find it difficult to be so ruthless and disciplined.

Slaughter, only cold-blooded slaughter.

With a clear objective, swift action, no survivors, and no lust for money or women.

This was the work of a group of highly trained killers.

Moreover, this Stone Village is not a wealthy place; the gains from slaughtering the entire village are completely disproportionate to the risks involved.

There must be other reasons behind this.

What could drive someone to such madness as to slaughter an entire village?

Just then, a constable's shout came from afar: "Chief Li! Over here, we've found one alive!"

Li Fu's spirits lifted, and he immediately hurried over.

Beside a collapsed earthen wall, there was a makeshift entrance to a vegetable cellar. Two constables were carefully carrying a blood-covered, barely breathing farmer out of it.

The farmer was about forty years old. He had a gruesome knife wound on his chest, deep enough to expose the bone. He had lost too much blood, and his face was ashen. He was on the verge of death.

But a faint glimmer of light remained in his eyes. When he saw the officials, his lips moved, but he could not speak. Tears mixed with blood flowed incessantly.

Clearly, he witnessed the tragedy that befell the entire village and was seriously injured himself, so he was filled with extreme fear and grief.

Li Fu squatted down, channeled a wisp of true energy into him to protect his heart meridian, and said gently.

"Don't be afraid, we are constables from the Yanzhou government."

Do you remember what happened?

Did you see the murderers? Who were they?