Chapter 5

The little maid Lingdang ran into the room with a smile and said, "Of course it is true"

With a light cough, Master Wang entered the room, "Brothers, thank you for your patience. I am here to introduce to you our new chief constable, Yun Feiyang." The room was filled with scattered voices of greetings, expressions of long-awaited acquaintance, and welcomes.

He Biao, expressionless, extended his hand and grasped the outstretched right hand of Yun Feiyang, saying, "I have long admired you!" Yet, he suddenly tightened his grip, intending to make this young man cry out in pain and embarrass him on the spot. Yun Feiyang felt as if the other party's hand had suddenly clamped down like a vice, immediately realizing that He Biao was trying to assert dominance over him, indicating that he harbored resentment. He couldn't help but smile slightly, wanting to teach the other a lesson, but also fearing to damage the cordiality between them. Thus, he shook his right hand, slipping away like a fish, leaving He Biao feeling as if he was gripping a slippery piece of grease. He couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart; it seemed this young man had some skills after all, and his face involuntarily displayed a bit more politeness.

Yun Feiyang coldly laughed to himself: "One truly does not give up until reaching the Yellow River; one does not shed tears until seeing the coffin." With a wave of his hand, he said, 'Please!'

Indeed! The original chief constable was He Biao, who was skilled in the Shaolin Luohan Fist. It is said that he was a lay disciple of Shaolin.

Feiyang stopped in his tracks, "Are you saying that this county originally had a chief catcher?"

Seeing He Biao's relentless approach, Yun Feiyang could not help but feel a growing anger within. I have given you enough face, yet you refuse to accept it. As He Biao launched another attack with the Five Flower Cannon, Feiyang no longer held back. He executed a counter with the same technique, transforming a punch into a palm strike, seizing He Biao and lifting him up. He thought to himself, this person does not know what is good for him; if I do not show him some strength, he will truly believe I am easy to bully. The force penetrated He Biao's entire body, throwing him far away. He Biao desperately tried to flip in the air to land, but Feiyang's internal energy completely sealed off He Biao's own internal strength in that instant. With a loud bang, he crashed heavily into the corner of the room. A gasp of surprise arose from the crowd, and several constables who were friendly with him hurried over to help him up.

Lin Fuzun's enthusiasm took Feiyang by surprise. Upon hearing that Feiyang was coming to take up the position of Chief Constable, Lin Fuzun actually ran to the front courtyard wearing only his underwear and a pair of slippers. Seeing how much Lin Fuzun valued him, Feiyang couldn't help but feel a bit moved

Feiyang felt an immense sense of injustice, constantly cursing in his heart the lingering presence of Yue Ke, who seemed to be finding various ways to torment him

With a toss of his left hand, the wooden block flew upwards, and the gazes of the crowd immediately followed. Feiyang let out a light shout, and with his right hand, the knife drew a white arc as it slashed towards the wooden block in the air.

Yun Feiyang laughed heartily, giving Huang Gesheng a thumbs up, "Able to take it and let it go, truly a man!"

Yun Feiyang raised a hand to stop Wang Shiye's words and smiled, "Brother Huang, you are straightforward and direct; it is clear that you are a person of integrity. I admire such men the most. May I ask, Captain Huang, what is your greatest skill?"

In the center of the room, a middle-aged man sat there with a dark expression, remaining silent. He was presumably the former chief constable, He Biao.

"Shh, keep your voices down. I heard that this person is a relative of the Lord of the Manor. Be careful, there may be ears on the other side of the wall!" a constable interjected.

Yun Feiyang observed the constantly changing expressions of the crowd, secretly amused. He understood that if he did not reveal some of his true abilities today, it would likely be difficult to manage these people in the future

Huang Gesheng was taken aback, and his dislike for Yun Feiyang diminished somewhat in his heart: "I am a named disciple of the Five Tigers Breaking the Door Blade, and naturally, I excel in blade techniques"

The old man Yun extended his hand to touch the spring palace painting that fluttered in his grasp, then reached up to touch his own forehead, standing up with a beaming smile as he walked towards the door

A head constable exclaimed, "Chief He, you were doing just fine, why suddenly send someone to forcibly push you aside? I heard this new chief constable is just a wet-behind-the-ears kid, isn't that a bit too far-fetched?"

Master Wang, from today onwards, Brother Yun will be the chief constable of our county. Please take Chief Constable Yun to the government office to meet the other constables. From now on, you will be colleagues, so let’s get to know each other better. Inform everyone that I will be hosting a banquet in the backyard tonight to welcome the chief constable. Also, notify the constables from all towns to return tonight.

Huang Gesheng's face turned ashen, and he sheathed the knife with a reverse motion, clasping his hands together and said: "I cannot do it! I concede to you."

The two walked into the inner hall, chatting and laughing, watching Feiyang take out the gifts prepared by his parents from the basket. Lin Fuzun couldn't help but say, "Your esteemed mother is too gracious"

The group of constables nearby originally intended to see how He Biao would react to Yun Feiyang, as they were all too familiar with He Biao, who had never been one to suffer losses quietly. Today, having inexplicably lost his position as the chief constable, how could he not seek revenge? Seeing Yun Feiyang's nonchalant demeanor, everyone found it strange; when had Chief He changed his temperament?

He Biao stood tall, his energy sinking into his dantian, as Yun Feiyang remained calm and composed. With his hands hanging at his sides, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. After a moment of confrontation, He Biao shouted loudly and stepped forward, executing the move "Changing Steps to Strike with a Punch," charging towards Yun Feiyang. Yun Feiyang also stepped forward, mirroring the exact same move, but arriving first. He lightly pressed against He Biao's chest and then withdrew, the speed so swift that everyone in the room, except for He Biao, failed to notice. They only saw the two make contact and then withdraw, leaving everyone puzzled. He Biao's face flushed red and then pale, and suddenly he let out a loud roar, charging forward again. The sequence continued with moves like "Arhat Strikes the Bell," "Moon Plucked from the Sky," "Urgent Offering of the Diamond Fist," "Arhat Steps on Clouds," "Sitting and Striking the Seven Stars," "Dragon and Tiger Intersecting Heart-Shaking Fist," and "Leaping Steps Searching for Roots," all coming at Yun Feiyang like a torrential storm. Yun Feiyang did not speak, each move a perfect imitation, yet every strike arrived first, forcing He Biao to change his moves continuously, leaving him in a state of utter disarray. The spectators could see everything clearly now and could not help but exclaim in astonishment.

So it is. Feiyang felt a faint sense of unease in his heart

Father! Feiyang still wishes to defend himself once more

Happy days always seem fleeting; in the blink of an eye, spring has arrived. Watching the wild peach blossoms bloom in succession across the mountains, Feiyang knows he must leave. After seventeen years, having never been away from his parents, Feiyang suddenly feels a sense of melancholy and reluctance, burdened by too many things he cannot let go. His parents, however, are in high spirits, busy gathering this and that for him. "This is a local specialty for Old Master Lin, and that is wild game for your colleagues," they say, filling a large basket to the brim. Feiyang cannot help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation: "Father, Mother, I am going to be an official; this looks more like I am going to the city to sell goods." The old man Yun, however, replied earnestly, "Little Yun, going to the city to be an official, building good relationships with your colleagues is the most important thing; do not underestimate this!" Feiyang had no words to respond and could only go along with them. That night, his parents were busy until the early hours of the morning before finally settling down. Feiyang, too, tossed and turned, finding it hard to fall asleep.

Feiyang fell heavily onto the bed, realizing that he was destined to bear this blame. In a moment of reflection, he couldn't help but laugh, surprised to recall that his seemingly honest father had such an intriguing story from his past. As he laughed, the enchanting figure of Lin Yu suddenly appeared before his eyes. With a gulp, our little Feiyang involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva

Old Man Yun walked to the door, then turned his head back, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously: "Son, let me tell you, when you see a woman you like, you must go for it boldly, otherwise, she will be taken by someone else. Back in the day, I made the first move with your mother; otherwise, she was a well-known beauty in the area, and how could she have ended up with a poor guy like me." After saying this, he laughed heartily and walked out.

Yun Feiyang no longer engaged in conversation about books, and coldly said: "Master Wang, where is my room? I am tired and wish to rest!" He turned and walked out.

The door opened gently, and the old man Yun entered quietly.

As the blade retracted, the clouds dispersed, and he sheathed his sword, handing it to Huang Gesheng, saying: "Captain Huang, please!" Just as the words were finished, the wooden block in the air fell to the ground. Everyone looked down in astonishment, for that single strike had split the wooden block into eight neat pieces, which landed on the ground arranged in a tidy row

Standing by the door of the room, listening to the discussions inside, both Wang Shiye and Yun Feiyang felt quite awkward

Lin Yumeng suddenly realized his loss of composure, his face flushed with embarrassment as he sat down, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the neatly stacked items on the bedside and a piece of coarse linen clothing.

Hmph, what am I, Huang Gesheng, afraid of? I have been a constable for nearly twenty years, and the scars on my body are countless. How could the magistrate dismiss me? A chief constable must possess real skills. Otherwise, wouldn't everyone following him be seeking their own doom? How can it be that He, the chief constable, was doing well and was suddenly replaced? This is simply unacceptable.

Mysteriously, he pulled out a small booklet from his bosom and handed it to Feiyang with a strange expression. Feiyang, filled with confusion, took it and upon looking at it, his face turned crimson; was this not the spring palace diagram he had taken from Yue Ke?

Feiyang quickly got up and said, "Not yet, Dad, please come in!"

With his arm raised high, Lin Fu laughed heartily and said, "I have been waiting for the stars and the moon, and finally, my little brother has come. I was truly worried that my little brother would not be willing to come and humble himself."

Old Yun did not wait for Feiyang to finish speaking and interjected, "It's nothing!" He reached out to stroke Feiyang's head and sighed, "My son has grown up; it's time for you to leave the nest and, like the eagle in the sky, seek your own space. Child, both your mother and I are getting old, and we are looking forward to you growing up soon so that we can hold our grandson!"

The farewell of loved ones is always poignant, as one walks along the winding mountain path in front of the door, glancing back every three steps. In front of the courtyard gate, the mother leans weakly against the father's shoulder, tears streaming down her face. The father raises his right hand, reluctant to let it drop for a long time. The family's large yellow dog persistently follows behind Feiyang, seemingly aware that Feiyang will not be returning soon, no matter how much it is urged away. Feiyang wipes the tears from his face, hardens his heart, and strides forward. He must bring his parents to the city as soon as possible, Feiyang thinks to himself.

This year, even the big yellow dog has benefited quite a bit, having gnawed on too many meat bones, making it difficult for him to run a few steps, let alone guard the house. He spends his days lazily lounging indoors, dozing by the stove, and cannot be driven away. It seems that the usual meals are indeed not very good, and having caught a break this time, he has completely lost all restraint

Feiyang, moved, said: "How can I not comply with such favor from Your Excellency!"

Turn around, "I appreciate your guidance, Master Wang!"

Oh! Wang Shiye said: "I forgot to inform the Chief Constable that the Governor has appointed He Biao as the Deputy Chief Constable. This position is a slight demotion, but the salary remains unchanged!"

Master Wang was furious: "Huang Gesheng, do not think that just because you have seniority, you are above reproach. You must understand that Chief Yun was invited by the master."

Feiyang stood up and said, "Such a humble position, I shall take my leave now!"

As spring approaches and the prospect of becoming an official in the city looms, Feiyang cannot help but cherish the remaining time even more. Once he becomes an official, he imagines he will no longer enjoy such freedom. Practicing martial arts also presents many inconveniences, so he decides to take advantage of the current free time to train more. As a chief constable, he will presumably be responsible for maintaining public order and dealing with criminals, so honing his skills will provide him with more leverage. His master forbids him from using his techniques for now, but the Lightning Blade and the Lingyun Crossing are quite good, so he will focus on mastering those first. As for the Feng Lai Yi technique, bah, to hell with it; I have no need for the martial arts of the Divine Sword Manor! Feiyang thought resentfully. One day, I will pay them a visit.

"Good child, when you go to the city, look for a good woman and arrange a marriage for yourself. We Feiyang are now respectable people, and there will surely be someone in the city who will like you," the old man Yun continued.

Feiyang stopped in his tracks without hesitation, "What about him now?"

The door was gently knocked a few times, and Old Man Yun asked, "Little Yun'er, are you asleep?"

In the spacious room, dozens of constables were either standing or sitting, engaged in lively discussions.

Yun Feiyang extended his hand and said, "May I kindly ask Captain Huang to lend me a knife for a moment!" Huang Gesheng, taken aback, drew the dagger from his waist and handed it over.

With another dry cough, Master Wang pulled the hand of the standing He Biao and said to Yun Feiyang: "Chief Yun, this is Deputy Chief He. You two will be colleagues from now on, so you should get to know each other well."

"I dare not, I dare not!" Wang Shiye humbly declined.

In the days to come, Feiyang found himself exceedingly busy. During the day, he would go up the mountain to gather firewood, then split the wood into neat little pieces and stack them into piles. At night, he would secretly practice martial arts, managing to keep a relentless pace, with little sleep. However, the internal skills taught by the person in the green attire were remarkably profound. Although Feiyang did not rest well, he remained spirited and did not feel fatigued. It seems that while the Hunyuan Divine Skill is indeed quite troublesome, it is not without its merits.

The one who shouted the loudest earlier, Huang Gesheng, strode forward and said, "Director Yun, I am a straightforward and *illustrative* person. The ones I admire the most are those with real ability, and Director He is one of them. However, today you have just arrived and have taken Director He's position. I, as your brother, am not convinced and would like to challenge you to see if you truly possess some real skills"

This Spring Festival was truly delightful, with money in the house, making the celebration quite prosperous. The last time there was such a lavish New Year's Eve dinner, Feiyang has already forgotten; perhaps it has never been this good! Watching his father smilingly pin a silver hairpin into his mother's hair, Feiyang noticed that his mother even blushed, and he couldn't help but feel happy as well. Once they move to the city and find a place, he plans to bring his parents to live there. They have worked hard all their lives, and it is time for them to enjoy some comfort.

Applause gently echoed, and everyone raised their heads to look at He Biao, who was softly clapping. "Excellent skills! We have already witnessed Captain Yun's swordsmanship, but I would like to inquire about Captain Yun's martial arts techniques! I wonder if Captain Yun would be so kind as to impart some knowledge to us"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries between the two, Master Lin summoned Steward Wang to come in

In Meixian, we are considered the largest county within Datong Prefecture, overseeing eight towns. Each town has one head constable and five constables. The county seat is of great importance, thus there is currently one chief constable, five head constables, and fifty constables in the county seat. As Wang Shiye walked, he introduced his subordinates to Feiyang. "Generally, at this time, half of the constables are patrolling various areas of the city, while the other half are on standby in the prefectural office. However, since Chief Constable Yun is here today, I have taken the initiative to call them all back while he is conversing with the prefect. Now, everyone is waiting in the side room of the prefectural office."

"This is not mine, it is..." Feiyang defended himself

Inside the house, He Biao suddenly shouted, which unexpectedly made him faint from anger

Just as Yun Feiyang was engaged in a fierce fight in the side room of the yamen, a delicate figure bounced into a room in the inner courtyard of the yamen, exclaiming loudly: "Miss, Miss, that Yun Feiyang has come to the yamen as the chief constable!"

Fei Yang paid no attention to the jeers of the crowd. With his left hand, he grasped the back of a chair beside him and gently pulled. With a crisp sound, a section of the chair's back was separated from the seat. The room instantly fell silent. The surrounding constables, accustomed to martial arts, were taken aback. Fei Yang's calm demeanor and effortless technique immediately silenced everyone, leading them to secretly think: It seems this young man indeed possesses some real skill.

Father, I am still young!" Feiyang had no choice but to speak out in resistance

Feiyang held a knife in his right hand and laughed, saying: "I will use one move, and if Captain Huang can replicate it, I will immediately pack my things and leave!" The people in the room were instantly in an uproar

Lin Yujiao, sitting by the window, trembled slightly, stood up, and exclaimed: "Is it true? Is it really true?"