Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

Having just performed a great service, Liu Qingyu shrank to the size of a thumb, jumped back into Fang Zheng's hand, and asked, "My benefactor, who is this person?"

Fang Zheng shook his head: "This person's identity is irrelevant."

But he was carrying my portrait, his target so clearly; someone must have hired him to harm me.

Liu Qingyu blurted out, "Could it be the Cao family?"

"That should be it."

I just refused their offer during the day, and tonight assassins showed up at my door. They're really ruthless.

Liu Qingyu's voice tightened, "My benefactor, what should we do now?"

"Report it to the authorities."

Soon, Fang Zheng summoned the constables on night patrol, led by Constable Chen.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw the corpse on the ground, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Qingxuanfeng Wang Meng?"

This is the notorious thief we've been trying to catch!

How could he have died here?

Fang Zheng took out his own portrait and said, "He found his way here by following the map."

He intended to kill me, but I don't know what method Li Gong set up, and I was killed by an ink soldier who jumped out of the painting.

When Constable Chen saw Fang Zheng's portrait, his expression changed drastically. The matter had escalated from a simple burglary into a murder-for-hire scheme.

Who would hire someone to kill Fang Zheng, this top student?

Could it be...?

Before he could think it through, Fang Zheng said again, "Officer Chen, this must be a case of someone hiring someone to kill us."

I implore the constable to report this to the authorities, investigate the murderer, and send men to protect me.

According to the laws of the Great Qian Dynasty, Fang Zheng's request is reasonable.

Officer Chen left two constables to guard the entrance of the courtyard, then led his men away carrying Wang Meng's body.

Fang Zheng cupped his hands in greeting to the two constables, who quickly returned the gesture with smiles.

"It's my duty, Young Master Fang, there's no need to be so polite."

You are the top student in the county; if you succeed in the future, don't forget to help the younger generation.

After thanking him, Fang Zheng turned to go back into the house. Liu Qingyu jumped out of his palm and said thoughtfully, "Is my benefactor trying to alert the enemy?"

Fang Zheng nodded and smiled, "That's right."

Although the Cao family was powerful, they were not the government and could not control everything.

Two constables were standing at the door; they'd better think twice before they made a move.

Liu Qingyu said with a happy expression, "Once my benefactor obtains an official position and becomes an official, his safety will certainly be guaranteed."

Fang Zheng shook his head, his expression darkening: "With the Cao family interfering, it won't be so easy to get an official position."

"Qingyu, tell me more about the officialdom in this county."

Liu Qingyu responded, transformed into a tiny person, sat on the edge of the table, and recounted what she knew in detail.

……

Deep within a grand courtyard in the south of the city, Steward Cao knelt before a stout figure.

"Sir, news has come from the county government that the assassin we hired has been killed by Fang Zheng."

This man was none other than Cao Jingde, the head of the Cao family. He was like a mountain of flesh wrapped in a brocade robe, slumped in a grand chair.

"How could a martial artist who had reached the minor stage of Body Tempering at the ninth rank be killed by a scholar?"

"It must be that old bastard Li Yuanshan who left some tricks for Fang Zheng."

Fang Zheng has already reported it to the authorities and requested two constables to guard the gate.

"Hmph, quite clever."

However, the officials can't protect him forever. Once things have calmed down, you can find a way to get rid of him.

"He won't listen to reason, so he'll have to drink the penalty cup. He still wants to be an official? I'll send him to be a ghost!"

"Yes, sir!"

……

The next morning, after contemplating the text, Fang Zheng flipped through the "Tiger-Taming Heaven-Reaching Fist" manual in his hand.

Taoist cultivation emphasizes tranquility, while martial arts cultivation emphasizes physical movement; the two cultivation methods naturally present a contradiction.

Only those with exceptional talent can cultivate both Taoism and martial arts.

Fang Zheng flipped through the boxing manual, not in a hurry to practice, but rather wanting to learn from the strengths of others.

Now, with the Spirit Painting Dao inheritance left by Li Yuanshan and the Painting Dao Spring and Autumn Card Pool, he has decided to focus his main energy on cultivating the Spirit Painting Dao.

If one has the opportunity to obtain advanced martial arts techniques later, it is not too late to activate the card pool that can assist in cultivation and then cultivate martial arts.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. When they opened it, they found it was Chen Moxuan, the scholar.

He said urgently, "Fang Zheng, something terrible has happened!"

The county government has already decided on the allocation of places for you batch of successful candidates.

You were assigned to the Sweeping Office to work as a sweeping official.

The top student in the imperial examination is appointed as a road maintenance official?

Upon hearing this, the two constables at the door immediately changed their expressions.

What kind of official is a Qingdao Li?

To put it nicely, they were called "clerks," but to put it bluntly, they were just the heads of the street sweepers and water dispensers, without any official rank—the lowest-ranking job in the county government.

The top student in the college entrance exam has ended up like this; his life is over.

The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously leaned against the doorframe, hands in their pockets, refusing to look at Fang Zheng again.

Fang Zheng, however, remained calm as he stepped forward to support the panting Chen Moxuan, saying in a steady voice, "Thank you for coming to inform me, Lord Chen."

Chen Moxuan followed him into the courtyard, shaking his head repeatedly and lowering his voice: "I heard that the county originally planned to grant you a ninth-rank official position, but the county magistrate interfered and forced you into the Qingdao Bureau."

The official document will be issued tomorrow.

Fang Zheng smiled slightly. He had long expected the Cao family to make a move, and he was completely unfazed.

Most importantly, he still had a backup plan with Li Yuanshan, so he didn't take it too seriously.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it."

Fang Zheng took the painting "Rising Sun" from the table and slowly unfolded it. "Master Chen, please take a look at this painting."

Chen Moxuan wanted to persuade him again, but when his gaze fell on the painting, he was stunned.

The sun bursts forth, the sea of ​​clouds surges, and a vibrant energy washes over you.

He examined it closely, and the more he looked, the more astonished he became.

"The brushstrokes are powerful and vivid, creating a sense of being there in person."

The distant mountains are shrouded in a somber twilight; no painting could capture their grandeur.

He looked up abruptly. "Fang Zheng, did you draw this?"

Fang Zheng nodded with a smile: "After studying Li Gong's insights day and night, I had a sudden realization, which led to this painting."

"Master Chen, in your opinion, what is the value of this painting?"

Chen Moxuan stroked his beard and said regretfully, "Such a masterpiece, you actually want to sell it?"

Well, what's most precious about this painting is its spirit, like the rising sun, full of fighting spirit.

If it were sent to Lanxiu Tower in the county, it would cost at least twenty taels of silver.

Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow, surprised that his painting was quite valuable.

Of course, this painting, "Rising Sun," was inspired by his inspiration during this period and required a great deal of effort; it was not something he could paint anytime, anywhere.

He cupped his hands and said, "Please introduce me, Lord Chen."

Chen Moxuan readily agreed, and then said earnestly, "Leave the painting to me."

But your most pressing task right now is to find a way to change jobs.

The road maintenance official was constantly busy, with almost no chance of promotion; it was truly not a good place to work.

Fang Zheng smiled and said, "Don't worry about it, Mr. Chen. I have a way to handle this."

Let's see tomorrow.

After seeing Chen Moxuan off, Fang Zheng turned around and nodded to the two constables at the door.

The two ignored them, not even bothering to put on a perfunctory smile.

Clearly, Fang Zheng, who ranked first in the imperial examination, had been reduced to a lowly official, and his value in their eyes had greatly diminished.

Fang Zheng didn't mind and walked straight through the courtyard to the old locust tree.

He lit three sticks of incense in front of Li Yuanshan's grave and closed his eyes to recite Li Yuanshan's name.

Wisps of smoke rose and slowly condensed into the character "night" in mid-air.

Fang Zheng nodded to himself and went back to his room to meditate and read, as usual.

……