Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Chapter 101 Escorting the Thieves and Confiscating Their Property (Seeking First Subscriptions!!!)

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Zhao Xian remained as he was in the countryside, getting up early to wash and do his morning exercises.

Before long, Zhao Hong and the other two also came out of the room one after another, stood in the courtyard, and began to practice their boxing techniques.

After Zhao Xian finished demonstrating his fist technique, he noticed a figure peeking out from inside the room.

"You blond-haired brat, come out here and practice your boxing with us!"

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xian immediately called out.

Upon hearing this, the blond-haired youth's face immediately lit up with joy, and he strode out of the room.

"Thank you very much for teaching me the fist techniques, sir!"

He then went to Zhao Xian first and respectfully bowed.

Have you ever practiced the "Pine and Crane Nourishing Vitality Boxing"?

Zhao Xian nodded slightly, then asked with a smile.

"Reporting back to Your Majesty, I only know one or two moves!"

The blond-haired boy immediately scratched his head and smiled.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian took it as mere modesty and immediately ordered him to strike once.

After the blond-haired boy finished performing the "Pine and Crane Nourishing Yuan Fist" once, Zhao Hong and the others burst out laughing.

The "Pine and Crane Nourishing Vitality Boxing" has a total of eighteen forms. This blond-haired boy's practice of this boxing style can only be described as a pitiful sight!

Of the eighteen styles, at least three or five have been forgotten.

Seeing Zhao Hong and the others laughing, the blond-haired man's face also turned bright red. He rubbed the hem of his clothes with both hands, not daring to look at Zhao Xian.

"You blond-haired boy, come forward!"

Zhao Xian gave a wry smile and immediately began to teach him move by move, carefully instructing him.

As the sun rises in the east, the blond-haired boy is already practicing the "Pine and Crane Nourishing Vitality Boxing" with considerable skill.

This progress also greatly surprised Zhao Xian.

While Zhao Xian and the others were practicing their boxing techniques, the thin girl secretly watched from behind the door.

Although Zhao Xian caught a glimpse of him, he did not summon him to teach him boxing techniques like the blond-haired boy did.

There's no other reason than that they are not related by blood or marriage, and men and women should not touch each other.

There's no rush anyway. Once we get home, I'll have my younger sister, Zhao Yu, teach her the boxing techniques.

After the morning exercise, Zuo Yuan also sent his soldiers to bring food to the group.

The food served in the pavilion was not particularly delicious; it was merely rice porridge and fermented soybeans.

Compared to usual, there was more horse meat in today's rice porridge.

Zhao Xian was not the kind of person who would eat alone; he was very thoughtful and naturally left a large piece of horse meat for the officials and staff of the pavilion.

The addition of horse meat to the millet porridge made it even more tempting.

Each of them filled a bowl to the brim and began to eat heartily.

There were naturally few bowls and chopsticks for a few people in the pavilion, but the villagers didn't care about that; a bowl made of wood would suffice.

What surprised Zhao Xian, Zhao Hong and the others was the amount of food the blond-haired boy ate; he ate most of a full earthenware pot of millet porridge.

Seeing the surprised looks on Zhao Xian and the others' faces as they looked at the blond boy, the thin girl's face also turned bright red, clutching her clothes, feeling extremely ashamed.

This scene left Zhao Duan, Zhao Hong, and Zhao Bing completely stunned.

"Ahem!"

Zhao Xian coughed lightly, and the three of them came back to their senses, their faces flushing with embarrassment.

The blond-haired boy, however, was so focused on the porridge in his bowl that he didn't notice what was happening!

"Both of you are quite weak and need proper nourishment!"

Zhao Xian smiled slightly and looked at the thin girl, "Eat more!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, the thin girl immediately replied, then picked up her wooden bowl and went to the side.

In this world, the concept of men and women not sitting together is still very important, and even ordinary people in rural areas naturally know this etiquette.

After breakfast, Zhao Xian took out a pill of essence and ordered Zhao Hong to bring a bowl of warm soup. He dissolved the pill in the bowl and gave it to the five young men and women.

Zhao Hong and the other two had already entered the Dao, so they could withstand the Essence Pill. However, the blond-haired boy and the girl had not yet entered the Dao, and their faces immediately turned extremely red after drinking the Essence Pill.

Zhao Xian immediately ordered the blond-haired boy to practice boxing in the courtyard, while the thin girl was only made to walk briskly around the courtyard for an hour.

At the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), a series of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the pavilion.

Zhao Xianling Zhao Hong and the others continued practicing their boxing techniques in the backyard, while he himself walked briskly towards the front yard.

Upon entering the front courtyard, several figures strode in from outside the pavilion.

"Greetings, Lord Xu and Lord Wang!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhao Xian immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

The two men in the lead were both dressed in black robes and red turbans. They were old acquaintances of Zhao Xian: Xu Dekun, a subordinate of the bandit chief, and Wang Jia, a subordinate of the patrol officers.

"Greetings, Lord Zhao!"

The two returned the greeting, their expressions quite solemn.

"Lord Zhao, we two have rushed here from the county overnight. We first went to the village to pay our respects to Lord Chen, who ordered us to come here to arrest Huang Wen and Huang Liang!"

Xu Dekun held a higher position, and the group was led by him. He didn't exchange any pleasantries with Zhao Xian before speaking directly.

"Do you have the county's official seal?"

Zhao Xian's expression also turned serious, and he asked first.

Xu Dekun immediately took out a token from his sleeve and showed it to Zhao Xian.

Zhao Xian took the token, examined it carefully, and then returned it to Xu Dekun.

"Did Chen Jun give any explanation?"

"There has been absolutely no explanation!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian looked at Xu Dekun, only to see Xu Dekun nod slightly at Zhao Xian and give him a meaningful look.

Zhao Xian and Xu Dekun were not familiar with each other, but after the tiger hunt, they had gone through thick and thin together and naturally became much more familiar with each other.

Seeing Xu Dekun's reaction, Zhao Xian nodded slightly.

He immediately looked at Zuo Yuan, the head of the Hedong Pavilion, and said solemnly, "I would like to trouble you, Lord Zuo, to open the prison gates and bring out Huang Wen and Huang Liang!"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Yuan immediately signaled the guards beside him to step forward and carry out the task.

Before long, Huang Wen and his brother were loaded into a prison cart. As the group stepped out of the pavilion, Xu Dekun and Wang Jia immediately mounted their horses.

"The journey to the county seat is long; you two must be extremely careful!"

Zhao Xian stood by the roadside and gave instructions to Xu Dekun and Wang Jia.

"I know Qi Yuan's abilities perfectly well, and I will not allow him a chance to make a move!"

Hearing Zhao Xian's instructions, Xu Dekun nodded slightly and said in a low voice.

"May you both have a safe journey!"

Zhao Xian bowed to the two men, and Zuo Yuan and the others also bowed in unison.

Watching the group disappear onto the official road, Zhao Xian heard all the officials of Hedong Pavilion behind him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Gentlemen, you can sleep soundly tonight!"

Zhao Xian turned around, glanced at everyone, and then smiled faintly.

Upon hearing this, everyone blushed but did not refute it.

That's just how it is. The Yan family is powerful and famous throughout the county. How could they, as minor officials, possibly provoke them?

After seeing Xu Dekun and his group off, Zhao Xian let Zhao Hong and the other two, along with the blond-haired boy, practice their boxing techniques in the backyard. He then chose a pavilion soldier and ordered him to take him to the Hexi Pavilion.

Yesterday, Chen Yuancheng instructed Zhao Xian to visit each of the families of Daoist people who had received relief from the county government, and Zhao Xian naturally agreed to do so.

The West River Pavilion and the East River Pavilion are separated by only a river. Before long, Zhao Xian arrived at the West River Pavilion.

In Hexi Pavilion, there was a Taoist family who received relief from the county government. Zhao Xian was led by a pavilion soldier to the home of this Taoist family.

There was no embezzlement; the villagers were all aware of the talisman money and the exemption from land taxes.

Zhao Xian left a thousand coins for this Taoist family, and only after the family expressed their deepest gratitude did they leave Hexi Pavilion.

He then visited the other two pavilions, leaving behind a thousand coins before returning to the Hedong Pavilion.

Having completed his visit, Zhao Xian could have left Hedong Pavilion, but he did not.

This is because we still need to wait a few more days.

There was no other reason than that the fact that Huang Wen and Huang Liang had hired someone to commit murder could not be kept secret from the senior officials in the county.

Once the two confess and accept their punishment, officials from the county will come in a few days to seal up the Huang family's property!

Sure enough, within three days, Chen Yuancheng and the county officials arrived at Hedong Pavilion.

Beihuangli.

As the village head, Huang Wen has relied on the prestige of his younger brother Huang Liang to occupy a large area of ​​land in the village over the years.

A grand house was built, with two courtyards, blue bricks and white walls, four steps, and a vermilion gate.

However, since Huang Wen and Huang Liang were arrested, the vermilion gate has remained closed for several days.

As the group walked to the courtyard gate, a guard stepped forward and knocked on the door.

He knocked more than ten times, but still no one answered the door!

Seeing this, Chen Yuancheng looked at Zuo Yuan, the head of the Hedong Pavilion, who immediately nodded slightly, drew his sword from his waist, and stepped forward.

Zhao Xian slowly drew his sword from his waist and, along with Zhao Cheng and the others, stood in front of Chen Yuancheng and several county officials.

The county officials, being seasoned veterans, showed no fear upon witnessing this scene; on the contrary, they were quite excited.

If there are indeed thieves hiding in the Huang family, then this trip will not only be about checking the family property, but also about making a contribution!

Zuo Yuan slowly stepped forward, drew his sword, inserted the ring blade into the crack in the door, raised it high, and slashed down with all his might!

"Snap!"

A crisp sound came from inside the gate. Zuo Yuan dodged to the side of the gate, reached out and pushed hard, and the gate opened immediately.

There was nothing unusual reported!

Seeing this, Zuo Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Chen Yuancheng.

However, Zhao Xian and Chen Yuancheng both twitched their noses a few times, and then their expressions changed slightly.

"Master Zuo, the Huang family is probably all dead. Let's go in and investigate!"

Chen Yuancheng gave a wry smile, waved his hand, and gestured for Zuo Yuan to be admitted to the hospital.

"What?!"

Apart from Zhao Xian, everyone else's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.

After a few breaths, everyone realized what was happening, and a complex expression appeared on their faces.

"This must have been done by the Yan family!"

Wang Cong whispered from the side.

Upon hearing this, no one showed any unusual reaction on their faces.

Apart from the Yan family, no one else would dare to do such a thing.

A moment later, everyone gathered in the main hall of the Huang family. Eleven corpses were neatly arranged outside the hall, all of them killed with a single blow!

"Chen Jun did not leave any clues, and the Huang family had already been searched by thieves beforehand."

Zuo Yuan strode in from outside the hall, then looked at Chen Yuancheng and said solemnly.

"In that case, please have a thorough investigation of the Huang family's assets," Chen Yuancheng said calmly after glancing around, his expression showing no sign of anything amiss.

"Once the inventory of the family's assets is complete, Zuo Jun, you and the others in Ting She will report the massacre of the Huang family to the county authorities!"

"We will obey Lord Chen's orders!"

Zuo Yuan immediately accepted the order, and several county officials also began to investigate the Huang family's property.

Zhao Cheng was meticulous. Seeing that Chen Yuancheng hadn't spoken but had glanced at him, he immediately led Zhao Ji and the others to investigate the family's assets.

A short while later, the family property had been inventoried.

It consists of a two-courtyard house, a well, a stable, several beds and wooden poles, two granaries containing 100 shi of millet, and 50 mu of farmland.

The Huang family, being so large, possessed far more than just these assets, but everyone who had worked hard for half a day deserved some reward.

The county officials traveled light and simply, taking only some talismans, coins, and wine vessels.

Zhao Cheng and his men acted swiftly, taking away all the swords, bows, and arrows, and also leading away a sturdy horse.

Zuo Yuan and several other officials from the pavilion were all locals, so they took a portion of the millet from one of the granaries, not much, only about a hundred bushels.

The group then collected some fine copper lamps, utensils, and clothing to take home.

Chen Yuancheng pocketed a small box of spirit stones.

Zhao Xian didn't stand on ceremony. He harnessed the two oxen in the pen to the cart shafts and loaded them with more than two shi of rice.

Zhao Hong and the other boys packed all the surviving poultry in the yard into bamboo baskets and placed them on another oxcart.

The four also collected a lot of farm tools and utensils, and filled several baskets with clothes.

Don't underestimate the value of clothing; it can be quite expensive.

After everyone left the Huang family's house, several county officials sealed the gate, and only then did everyone slowly depart.

The group did not forget that the family still had dozens of acres of hidden farmland.

Since Zuo Yuan spread the news, it is likely that within a few days, someone will deliver the talisman money to the village.