Free Web NovelChapter 56: Chapter 56: Assisting in Defense
In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed.
During this time, Fang Cheng married the daughter of the Fuquan Family from their village, adding another person to the Fang Family.
However, Ms. Chen had thought that Fang Yue, now out of excuses, would obediently let her arrange a match for him.
But Fang Yue still found a reason to put her off, claiming he had to participate in the Martial Scholar examination this year.
He insisted he had to focus on his preparations and training. If he neglected his Martial Dao cultivation, not only would he fail the combat assessment, but he might even get injured.
His words finally frightened Ms. Chen into submission.
And so, Fang Yue was finally left in peace.
He focused on his Martial Dao cultivation, and over the past six months, Fang Yue’s skills had advanced remarkably.
Under the vibrations of his Fist Force, his skin had developed a faint metallic texture to the touch, already showing signs of the "copper skin" stage.
A small knife drawn across it left only a faint white line, failing to break the skin.
’Intermediate Boxing Mastery... the description only said it would provide a slight boost, but the actual effect is astonishing.’
Fang Yue reflected on his experiences cultivating the Martial Dao all this time. Although he had no one to compare himself to and no guidance from Fang Hu...
...he was no longer a clueless beginner. Based on the training speed of people with similar Martial Dao Talent, he calculated that his own progress was at least twice as fast.
Therefore, the second stage of the Martial Dao, copper skin, which would normally take three to five years to achieve, he had now preliminarily mastered.
At his current pace, he could fully master it in another two months.
This speed was not slow at all. It seemed he might actually be able to make it to the Martial Scholar examination this year.
At this thought, even Fang Yue couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
One day, he was practicing his Martial Arts in the backyard.
Two middle-aged government constables, dressed in black uniforms with broadswords hanging from their waists, came to his door.
"Scholar Fang, this is an official dispatch from the Government Office. We hope you can assist in apprehending a fugitive."
The man in the lead handed Fang Yue a document stamped with the official seal of the Government Office.
Fang Yue lowered his head and quickly read the dispatch. He made a point of checking the seal to confirm its authenticity before looking up at the two men and cupping his hands in a salute.
"I will keep an eye on the area around Da Liushu Village. If I see the man, I will be sure to inform you both."
The two government constables nodded. They then gave Fang Yue a description of the man’s appearance, the Martial Arts he practiced, and other details.
Finally, however, they warned him, "If you find the fugitive, you must engage him and not let him escape under any circumstances."
"I understand," Fang Yue said, cupping his hands again.
The two parties exchanged a few more pleasantries before Fang Yue saw them off.
Only after the two men were completely out of sight did he think,
’To think that Chen Cheng’an actually killed a tax collector from the County Magistrate’s Office and fled.’
A sigh escaped Fang Yue. Chen Cheng’an had so aggressively pressured the County Magistrate, Lord Liu, during the assessment.
He had angered Lord Liu and was assigned to collect taxes as a result. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
’This was a test designed for Chen Cheng’an. If he remained benevolent, he would never be able to collect the full land tax.’
’That would give Lord Liu the perfect excuse to punish him.’
’But if he did manage to collect it all, Chen Cheng’an would inevitably have to become no different from the ruthless officials he despised.’
’So, either he would be punished for failing to collect the taxes, or he would succeed and become the very person he hated most.’
’The County Magistrate may be a Martial Artist, but his methods are truly masterful.’
’Success or failure, Chen Cheng’an’s state of mind was bound to suffer a massive blow.’
’A psychological attack, designed to utterly destroy him.’
’And now, as expected, Chen Cheng’an had ended up a wanted fugitive.’
Fang Yue couldn’t help but sigh again.
He inwardly warned himself not to stick his neck out when he lacked the strength, and to always think carefully before acting.
He must never get arrogant and overconfident just because he had a little bit of martial prowess.
’Using the Martial Dao to earn a title and improve my status is the right path for now. But I must avoid conflict at all costs. Self-preservation comes first.’
Fang Yue set this as a firm rule for himself.
He wasn’t alone in this world; he had parents, a brother, and a sister.
He couldn’t afford to take foolish risks or waste his life. That would be the height of stupidity.
Just look at Chen Cheng’an. He had a bright future, yet he’d thrown it all away and ended up in this sorry state over things he couldn’t possibly change.
He would surely implicate his family and become a burden to his parents.
’Utterly foolish!’
Having made up his mind, Fang Yue finally relaxed.
In any case, he had no intention of clashing head-on with Chen Cheng’an for this Government Office task.
After all, Chen Cheng’an’s strength was not to be underestimated. Although he probably wasn’t Fang Yue’s match, in a life-or-death battle, there were countless cases of the weak defeating the strong.
He couldn’t afford to be careless.
’My life is my own, but the credit might not be.’
* * *
More than ten days passed after the Government Office issued its notice requesting assistance.
The area around Da Liushu Village remained as calm as ever.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened, leading Fang Yue, who had been on edge for days, to believe that perhaps Chen Cheng’an hadn’t fled in the direction of Da Liushu Village after all.
"Young Master! Young Master! This is terrible! We’ve been robbed! We’ve really been robbed!"
That day, after finishing his martial practice, Fang Yue was taking a leisurely stroll through the fields with nothing else to do.
It was then that a panicked voice called out from a distance.
He looked up to see a farmer running over from the direction of the village.
"My two chickens, I don’t know which goddamned thief stole them! Young Master, you have to help me!"
Upon seeing Fang Yue, the man immediately dropped to his knees.
His face was filled with anxiety, and sweat dripped continuously from his forehead.
Ever since entrusting his land to Fang Yue’s Family last year, Fang Atong had felt that life was about to get better.
He and his wife were planning to have another child, so he had gritted his teeth and bought two chickens to raise.
They could lay eggs, which would help nourish his wife.
Who would have thought that after finishing his farm work today, he would return home to find his two chickens had been stolen.
He had asked all his neighbors, but no one had seen the thief.
He went to the clan elder to seek justice, but after four hours of investigation and searching several households, they still found nothing.
With no other options, he had no choice but to run and find Fang Yue.
Fang Yue was a Martial Scholar, and in the eyes of these villagers, that meant he was a capable person.
He was truly at his wit’s end; otherwise, he would never have dared to trouble Fang Yue.
"Alright, let’s go to your house and take a look first."
Fang Yue nodded and followed Fang Atong to his home to inspect the scene.
For an ordinary farming household, two chickens were definitely a significant asset.
After all, his family used to be lucky to eat even one egg a month.
Soon, the two arrived at Fang Atong’s house.
Quite a few people were still there, obviously waiting for Fang Yue, curious to see how Fang Atong’s chickens had been stolen.
"Hm?"
The moment Fang Yue stepped into the yard and approached the chicken coop, he immediately spotted a faint shoe print on an inconspicuous patch of ground.
’A Martial Artist stole the chickens?’
In the next moment, Fang Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly.
