In Fengxi County, when rumors were aiming at the Zhang Family, the announcement of work-for-relief from the Zhang Family immediately began to change public opinion.
A large number of commoners and refugees began to linger at the gates of the Zhang Family, eagerly awaiting news.
The drought approached, filling many commoners with a sense of crisis.
No one was willing to miss any news at this time.
As for the previous rumors, they clearly had nothing to do with them. The Zhang Family with its Rice Mountain and Flour Mountain, wasn't that proof of a solid foundation? In these times, only by relying on those with a solid foundation could a household avoid the ravages of hunger.
Hundreds of meters in front of the Zhang Family's gate stood the Golden Jade Tavern.
Some decidedly different figures also noticed this scene; these were some rangers of Fengxi County.
At this moment, these people were whispering amongst themselves, most gradually dispelling their hostility.
They had also inquired about the Zhang Family's reputation through their own channels.
The Zhang Family's reputation in Fengxi County had always been decent. Although the Zhang Family was powerful, under the constraint of Patriarch Zhang Yi, the Zhang Family's offspring never dared to act recklessly.
Rent prices on the Zhang Family's tenant land had always been lower than those of other large families.
Recently, they had also set up porridge sheds to aid refugees.
Most importantly, it was the 'House of Virtue' plaque that the County Government had sent over a few days ago.
No matter how one looked at it, the Zhang Family wasn't the unkind wealthy as depicted in rumors.
Moreover, the Zhang Family had employed quite a few manor guests recently, many of whom were skilled, prompting many rangers to weigh the pros and cons before dismissing any reckless ideas.
...
"Senior Brother, who would have thought that such a small place could raise a 'Flood Dragon'?"
On the second floor of the Golden Jade Tavern, a pair resembling a Golden Boy and Jade Girl leaned against the railing.
The man was clad in green brocade, holding a gleaming green blade, his figure tall and cold.
The woman had an enchanting figure, fair skin, and her face was shrouded in a light veil, looking quite beautiful. Her voice was soft and gentle.
It seemed they were a senior and junior disciple pair.
"'Flood Dragon' might be an overstatement, but their power isn't insignificant. They're likely not any weaker than the County's Noble Families. These local powers are always adept at finding opportunities!"
"The question is whether they can hold onto their wealth and power?"
The man gazed towards the Zhang Family with an indifferent expression.
"The Zhang Family has contributed the 'Large Water Wheel Diagram' at this time, benefiting the country and doing immense good for the people. In this era, conscientious local powers are becoming rare. Let's hope they can overcome this hurdle!"
Just then, the two disciples frowned, as they saw a few figures filing into the Golden Jade Tavern below, each carrying exotic weapons.
These five figures exuded a thick, blood-forged aura.
They were five External Refining Experts.
"The Five Heroes of the North!"
The two exchanged glances, eyes filled with a grave expression.
The Five Heroes of the North were renowned Body Refining Experts around Fengyang County, not without backing, as they were notable experts of the Sanhe Gang in Fengyang County. Why had they come to Fengxi County now?
In a private suite elsewhere in the Golden Jade Tavern, Zhang Jian was dressed in splendid attire, clothed in jade brocade with a hair crown atop his head, looking as refined as jade. Though not very old, he exuded an air of a gentleman, impeccable and pure.
Today, he had eluded Zhang Lu, taking the rare opportunity to sip a few drinks at the Golden Jade Tavern.
The Tavern's food and drink were quite famous in Fengxi County, but even more important were the various entertainment facilities inside, making it a paradise for literati and cultured individuals.
Zhang Jian, with his keen Five Senses Spiritual Sense, had long noticed a group of rangers gathering in the tavern. Their aura appeared to him like a candlelight in the dark night.
After consuming Fire Apricot, his Five Senses Spiritual Sense had become particularly acute, especially his eyes, which seemed to perceive things ordinary people couldn't see, quite mysterious.
His ears were also more sensitive than those of ordinary martial artists.
Particularly after the 'Celestial Spirit Child Skill' had achieved Great Success.
The muffled whispers of these rangers couldn't evade others' ears but were as loud as clear speech to him.
His gaze mainly fell on the pair of disciples on the second floor, their aura appearing extremely divine and profound, indicating they were Inner Cultivation Experts at the Nourishing Essence Stage.
He hadn't seen many Inner Refining Experts in Fengxi County; most were only at the Qi Sensing Stage.
Only Zhang Yi stood out, vastly surpassing his peers.
Beyond that, there were the five robust men in the main hall, exuding fierce energy and accompanied by two other groups, all External Martial Cultivators, with a dense aura of Evil Qi around them.
Zhang Jian overheard these rangers speaking of the Zhang Family with mixed emotions—fear, respect, and of course, some arrogance and hostility.
He felt somewhat relieved, knowing his strategy was correct; it seemed these rangers were indeed intimidated by the Zhang Family's power.
"However, there are always those who are outrageously arrogant, considering themselves omnipotent. It might still be necessary to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys!"
Zhang Jian sighed inwardly, but upon leaving the Golden Jade Tavern, he noticed a familiar figure entering the tavern.
"Yang Zhonghuai!"
He saw a thin figure entering from outside, heading directly towards the room of the five fierce men.
Yang Zhonghuai was also a peer of his, the son of County Magistrate Yang Qing.
However, due to bad luck, he had repeatedly failed in the provincial examination.
Zhang Jian became alert when Yang Zhonghuai interacted with those five fierce men.
But as he listened closely, he grew frustrated, for they were speaking in local dialect, something he couldn't understand...
Nonetheless, he vaguely caught a few words.
"Bandit suppression, Zhang Kui!"
Just a few words already led him to associate many things.
Rising to leave the Golden Jade Tavern, before departing, his attention was drawn to the pair of disciples at the window, who acknowledged him with slight surprise.
In return, Zhang Jian lightly nodded to the pair.
The two disciples, slightly surprised, lightly nodded back in greeting.
That night, Zhang Jian suddenly awoke from his dream.
Clanking sounds of metal rang in his ears.
"Someone entering the Zhang Family at night?"
Zhang Jian jolted awake instantly, a trace of a different color flickering in his eyes.
The sound wasn't far from his Fanglin Residence.
Fanglin Residence lay at the edge of the Zhang Family's core territory, not far from the courtyard of Zhang Yi and Madam Qi. Nearby stood the heavily guarded Zhang Family warehouse, where the concubines lived in the backyard, separated by a small courtyard where several of the Zhang brothers resided.
Zhang Jian wasn't worried about this foolish thief finding the warehouse, but was concerned about an intrusion into the quarters of his young siblings.
But his worries quickly dissipated as he heard a strong sound of something cutting through the air, abruptly halting the rapid footsteps.
"Dead?"
The thought flashed through his mind as he sensed an extremely cold aura manifesting around.
It was Zhang Yi!
Zhang Jian was highly familiar with Zhang Yi's Inner Breath, which was exceptionally cold, carrying a freezing power obstructing the heart vessels as cultivated from the 'Profound Jade Technique' Inner Cultivation Technique.
But the one who acted was not Zhang Yi, but a fiercely unmatched blade light.
It was Jian Yao of the Hundred Victory Saber.
Seeing all trouble resolved, Zhang Jian refrained from leaving his room.
He always disliked troublesome matters.
However, as he promptly rose again, sensing two familiar auras above Fanglin Residence.