Martial Saint through Reading

Feng Yuan watched Chu Ming rise from a patient, enduring illegitimate son step by step to his current position, his revealed talent nothing short of extraordinary. He truly could not bear to see such a stunningly brilliant youth die young, wronged and unavenged.

This action of Feng Yuan’s instantly left Liu Sitong and Fu Chang beside him secretly shocked at heart.

It was clear that today’s events were deliberately targeted at Chu Ming—Feng Yuan speaking up now was no longer a matter of just risking his official’s hat, but could also bring trouble upon himself, even landing him a charge of rebellion!

Liu Sitong’s thoughts spun furiously, struggling within himself several times, yet in the end, he could not bring himself to speak out.

Fu Chang had come to a decision in his heart after his meeting with Captain Qiu Li yesterday.

The two men fell silent, sighing inwardly.

Chu Ming turned his gaze to this Lord of the Classics, waves stirring in his heart.

He hadn’t expected that Feng Yuan would step forward at such a moment.

He and Housekeeper Fang could remain this calm only because they had the support of the Tiger Armor Army’s Commander’s Personal Attendant behind them.

But what did Feng Yuan have?

At this moment, Feng Yuan was also gazing at Chu Ming, and in his eyes was even a hint that Chu Ming should not speak out.

Could it be that this Lord of the Classics, who had served as an official for years, would not know that with just this step, he would very likely invite a beheading disaster upon himself?

Chu Ming’s heart was faintly moved. What Feng Yuan was doing truly touched him.

Housekeeper Fang and Little Shan were his family; Shen Yu and Mr. Shen had the grace of gifting him scriptures. And now, Feng Yuan’s deed was an ’act of pleading for mercy at the risk of death’ for his sake.

To stand up at such a moment—this favor, he would remember it well.

In the hall, Lv Jinhui lowered his gaze, looking at Feng Yuan: "Feng Dianji, in view of your meritorious service, this official will pretend not to have heard this."

But Feng Yuan stood motionless, still maintaining a bowed posture, his tone resolute: "Lord, I beseech you to see with clarity!"

It’s over!

As soon as the words left his mouth, the deeply world-wise Fu Chang and Liu Sitong’s expressions changed dramatically.

The hidden meaning of ’see with clarity’ was that the Eighth-Grade Scripture Feng Yuan was doubting the Senior Fifth-Grade Merit Officer himself!

As expected!

"See with clarity?" Lv Jinhui slowly rose to his feet, his tone icy as frost: "Feng Dianji, are you saying this official is wronging Chu Librarian?!"

"Feng Dianji, you’ve repeatedly interfered with this official’s investigation—now I suspect you to be colluding with the Chu Family and the Blood Evil Sect. Captain Qiu, arrest him!"

"Seize Chu Ming and Fang Xiao as well—I will personally interrogate them!" He was truly furious now.

"Yes!" At Qiu Li’s wave, several people behind him immediately strode forward menacingly.

Just as they were about to seize them, Lin Zhenwu and Shao Pengshu hurried to stand in front of Feng Yuan, Fang Xiao, and Chu Ming, faces grave.

"My lord, there must be a misunderstanding here!" Lin Zhenwu bowed deeply in court, his words anxious: "Feng Dianji has no connection with the Blood Evil Sect, nor do Fang Xing Captain and Chu Librarian. As Prison Chief Instructor of Baiyuan County Criminal Defense Bureau, I am willing to vouch for them!"

"I too am willing to vouch for them as Criminal Defense Officer!" Shao Pengshu followed up.

For a moment, the atmosphere became all the more subtle.

Fu Chang and Liu Sitong exchanged glances, their hearts racing—seemingly making some incredibly difficult decision.

The two of them also stepped forward and bowed to Lv Jinhui: "We too, as Baiyuan County Magistrate and County Magistrate, are willing to vouch for Feng Dianji, Fang Xing Captain, and Chu Librarian—they have no connection with the Blood Evil Sect."

Lv Jinhui sat atop the hall, his gaze cold as he swept over all present, wordless.

Inspectorate’s Qiu Li looked at Fu Chang and the others blocking the way, his expression growing uglier by the second.

He had never expected that little Baiyuan County would stand so united—even the County Magistrate Fu Chang was willing to step forward personally.

If he still insisted on arresting them, that would mean that from top to bottom, this entire Baiyuan County must be connected to the Blood Evil Sect—including those like Fu Chang and Lin Zhenwu who had been awarded for eradicating the sect.

Qiu Li knew he could not do so, for the honors were determined by the Xirong County Government. If he arrested everyone, it would not just be Feng Yuan questioning Merit Officer Lv Jinhui, but he and the Merit Officer openly questioning the Commandery Mansion’s meritacknowledgement.

Lv Jinhui’s silence at this moment was also due to this consideration.

Yet only a moment later, a cold and sinister light flickered between his brows.

"Since County Magistrate Fu, County Magistrate Liuu, and Chief Instructor Lin personally vouch for Feng Dianji and Chu Librarian, this official believes there may indeed be something suspicious here."

"This official is not unreasonable. Chu Librarian, Feng Dianji, and Fang Xing Captain, you will accompany this official to Xirong County to be questioned by the County Governor himself."

Lv Jinhui’s gaze shifted, sweeping over each present, including Chu Ming himself.

He had come to Baiyuan County for two things: first, to announce the meritorious awards, and second... to find a way to take Chu Ming away.

As for Feng Yuan and Fang Xiao, they were merely meant as a smokescreen.

Go to Xirong County?

Fang Xiao and Chu Ming’s expressions did not change.

But Feng Yuan’s face tightened; if certain high-ranking figures truly had targeted Chu Ming, then staying in Baiyuan County would be preferable—going to Xirong County would only put Chu Ming in even greater danger.

In his view, for the Inspectorate’s Captain Qiu Li and Merit Officer to go to such lengths, there could be only one goal: to see this youth of extraordinary talent in deciphering the Mountain Scripture perish halfway along his journey.

The deciphering of the Mountain Scripture was of utmost importance—there were those who studied it day and night, wholeheartedly for the nation, and those who used it merely as a tool for wealth, status, and power!

The appearance of Chu Ming made these parasites feel threatened.

"Lord Lv, Chu Librarian has nothing to do with the Blood Evil Sect; why must he go to Xirong County?"

Once again, Feng Yuan spoke steadily, as if unfaced by those above him.

After brief contemplation, he had made his decision: he must keep Chu Ming in Baiyuan County, even if he himself was accused of insubordination or even treason.

He wanted to draw the Merit Officer’s rage upon himself and buy Mr. Shen’s party some time, though he could not be certain whether Shen Yu’s background was impressive enough to truly protect Chu Ming.

But in Feng Yuan’s view, Shen Yu was now the only one left who could save Chu Ming.

As these words fell, the tension in the hall, which had just eased, tightened once more.

Fu Chang and Liu Sitong’s faces showed their anxiety—they too knew that if Chu Ming went to Xirong County, his situation would be even worse than now.

But neither could act as Feng Yuan had done.

Chu Ming looked at Feng Yuan’s not-so-tall back and made up his mind.

What Feng Yuan had done today clearly showed his regard for him...

Fang Xiao was also deeply moved, not expecting that Feng Yuan would take the risk of defying the Merit Officer to protect the young master.

He turned to Chu Ming, his right hand resting on his sleeve, as if ready to take out the Tiger obeying Talisman of the Commander’s Personal Attendant.

Yet Chu Ming gave a slight shake of his head.

The time was not yet right.

The Tiger Armor Army Commander had, to this day, only three personal attendants, few outsiders knew them.

Not to mention if anyone present recognized the Tiger obeying Talisman—even if someone did, they might well assume Fang Xiao had forged it.

Because no one would believe—nor had any reason to believe—that Fang Xiao would be the Commander’s Personal Attendant of the Tiger Armor Army.

Among all present, only that Inspectorate Captain was at the Strong Bone Realm—if it came to a fight, he would not shy from it.

But such a move would expose himself, and Chu Ming had no intention of acting rashly.

Before arriving at the County Government, he had already ordered Fang Xiao to send word to Tiger Armor Army Commander Huo Buyan hunting beasts outside the city.

No need to use the Tiger obeying Talisman, nor act with force—today’s matter would resolve itself.

Feng Yuan’s repeated words had, at last, utterly enraged Lv Jinhui.