From the fusion of Tongbei Quan to the Longevity Martial Saint

After Li Zaotou had his concubine dragged away.

Their gaze returned to Fang Qing.

Deep down, he thought to himself, "Thank goodness!"

"That old bastard Li Laolai keeps telling me that this kid has only just broken through to the first level of Body Tempering."

"But I could tell from his overall presence, his thick arms, and his broad physique."

"This is clearly a characteristic of a veteran who has been immersed in the Body Tempering Realm for many years."

"Even if I haven't reached the second level of Body Tempering, I'm very close."

"There's no benefit in it, why risk sticking up for that old man!"

Although Li Zaotou, in his current state, cannot discern a stranger's cultivation level at a glance.

But Li Zaotou didn't just coast along in his position all these years.

In addition, although Li Zaotou did not come from a top-tier family like the Fang family of Huizhou merchants, his family had an ancestor to oversee things.

They were also a powerful clan in the local area.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be qualified to be the head of the saltworks.

They do have a good eye for people.

"This house of mine was originally newly built, and I recently took in several new concubines."

"If I were to fight this kid head-on, not only would I damage this newly built house."

"It wouldn't be worth delaying my journey to that wonderful new place."

"A concubine and a cheap father-in-law."

"It's not worth paying such a high price."

At the same time, Li Zaotou was also making plans in his mind.

"Fortunately, I had a backup plan and devised another design."

"Once that design is successfully implemented, I won't have to lift a finger with this kid."

"The officials would simply kill him."

Li Zaotou couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

"Using someone else to do the dirty work is what I should be doing right now."

Li Zaotou put down his chopsticks with a smug look on his face, only then noticing that Fang Qing had actually brought some things over.

Li Zaotou slowly spoke:

"You're not so stubborn after all; you actually managed to bring something over? What are you holding?"

Fang Qing had already heard Yang Zhi talk about Li Zaotou's reputation.

They were practically local tyrants in this salt field, always arrogant and domineering.

But today, he changed his ways and even beat his own concubine, all while acting as if he were upholding justice.

It's obvious that the other party has something to hide.

From the moment the other party entered and stared at his rather muscular arms, which were the result of practicing Tongbei Quan, Fang Qing had already deduced that Li Zaotou was probably somewhat wary of his cultivation level.

Although the two are at different levels, if Fang Qing were to fight to the death...

It's possible that they might actually manage to tear a piece of flesh from Li Zaotou.

"I didn't expect you to be someone who values ​​your reputation so much. That makes things easier!"

However, judging from Li Zaotou's calm and unhurried demeanor, Fang Qing vaguely sensed that this guy must have other plans.

"Fortunately, I have one too."

Everyone has a backup plan, so it's even!

Fang Qing decided to stop pretending with Li Zaotou.

Since the opponent has a backup plan and wants to deliver a fatal blow, he must play unconventionally.

Only then can a new life be created.

Thinking of this, Fang Qing lifted the turtle demon egg he was carrying.

"This is a gift I presented to the guests from the Fang family, the Hui merchants' household."

Upon hearing that Fang Qing hadn't given him the gift, Li Zaotou raised an eyebrow.

"You, a mere salt official, actually dare to want to meet the Fang family, the Huizhou merchants."

"Even though I've been a cook for ten years, I only have the chance to meet the master chef at the end of each year."

Li Zaotou snorted coldly, picked up his chopsticks again, cooked a piece of mutton, and put it in his mouth to chew.

"You are not qualified to meet with the people from the Fang family, who are from Huizhou."

"You won't see him today either."

"What I said..."

Fang Qing frowned but did not reply.

This is what he is most worried about.

Fang Qing had no idea when the Hui merchants, Fang family, would arrive, so he simply brought a small gift with him.

If Li Zaotou interferes or tries to stall me, then my plan to appeal to the emperor today will probably fail.

Next, Fang Qing had no choice but to fight his way out.

However, Fang Qing estimated that in that case, the chances of survival would be extremely slim.

Li Zaotou scalded another mouthful of beef, chewing it heartily while pointing at the turtle demon egg that Fang Qing was holding.

"Bring up that turtle demon egg."

Seeing that Fang Qing remained unmoved, Li Zaotou pointed in Yang Zhi's direction with his chopsticks.

"If you delay even a second longer, I'll break one of his legs."

Fang Qing sighed helplessly and placed the gifts he was carrying for the Fang family on Li Zaotou's table.

Seeing that Fang Qing had given in, Li Zaotou immediately felt very pleased with the feeling of forcibly forcing someone to submit.

You little salt fry, what makes you think you can fight me!

He nodded in satisfaction.

It doesn't matter whether it's a gift or not; what matters is the attitude.

Li Zao Tou casually grabbed the braised venison next to him and was about to stuff it into his mouth.

The next moment, he paused in his grip on the venison and turned to look at the turtle demon egg that Fang Qing had placed on the table.

Fang Qing's turtle demon egg was filled with mud.

In the morning, I squeezed and compacted the mud tightly before placing it under the eggshell.

Due to the center of gravity, the center of gravity of this empty turtle egg is now at the bottom of the eggshell.

After Fang Qing put down the turtle demon egg, which was now empty inside,

The turtle egg simply stood upright on the table by itself.

Li Zaotou let out a soft exclamation, having never seen an egg that could stand upright before.

I immediately became interested:

"Kid, this turtle demon egg of yours is unusual."

After saying that, he took out a turtle demon egg from somewhere and placed it on the table.

"The other turtle eggs are all lying flat on the table, how come your turtle egg is standing up?"

"Standing perfectly straight!"

He even picked it up and shook it, and found that there was indeed nothing else inside.

Then I circled the egg, but couldn't figure out what it was.

Egg whites have a certain stickiness; before glue was invented, egg whites were a natural glue.

Fang Qing used egg white as glue to seal the top of the eggshell, making it look perfectly sealed and without any visible problems.

Fang Qing cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the outside of the saltworks from a distance, and casually murmured, "Horses!"

I have long admired the masters of the Huizhou merchants.

The gifts we give them must be extraordinary items to express Fang Qing's unwavering loyalty.

Who knows when the Hui merchants' Fang family will arrive, or if they're even lurking in some corner around here right now?

That's what most skilled players like to do.

Fang Qing quickly offered a compliment, since it wouldn't waste his energy.

……

Neither Fang Qing nor Li Zaotou noticed that when Fang Qing made that flattering remark...

In a thatched hut far from the salt field, near the sea, a bronze gong lay casually on the ground.

At the same time, a bald wooden handle for striking a gong was being held in a large, filthy, black hand.

He gently tapped his old leg, intermittently.

An old man who looked like a beggar hummed a very old opera tune.

He paused slightly in the middle, then snorted coldly and said:

"You brat, your words are easier said than your actions!"

"Unwavering loyalty? A good phrase, quite interesting..."

……