Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

"Hmph! I am a sixth-rank county magistrate appointed by the imperial court. What cannot I judge? Guards, take them away!"

"promise!"

A group of constables stepped forward and quickly bound Liu Daye and the soldiers behind him tightly.

Liu Dayan stared wide-eyed, looking utterly aggrieved. Before leaving, he could only whisper instructions to Ma Su.

"Young Master Ma, we don't know what's gotten into Zhao Tongchuan. We need to be careful in Fuxing County today. Also, please inform Ma Zhai about this matter. The general will surely seek justice for us!"

Ma Su gave Liu Daye a look, and then watched as he and a dozen or so soldiers were taken away.

"Uncle Zhao, my father will certainly seek an explanation for this matter in the future. Farewell!"

Ma Su bowed slightly to Zhao Tongchuan, then glared fiercely at Qi Feng, and looked at the Ye sisters and Yu Yourong with resentment before turning and leaving.

Seeing this, He Wen dared not linger any longer and immediately followed Ma Su away in a flash.

Qi Feng narrowed his eyes as he watched the two figures leave. If he didn't get rid of these two, they would definitely continue to cause him trouble in the future.

Zhong Shao smiled slightly at Qi Feng, "Brother Qi, it's been a long time. Why don't we go to your residence for a chat?"

Since Zhong Shao had stepped in to help him resolve the matter, Qi Feng did not refuse.

Furthermore, even the magistrate of Fuxing County treated Zhong Shao with great courtesy, leading Qi Feng to realize that Zhong Shao might have other matters to discuss with him.

......

At the entrance of Fuxing County, Ma Su turned back to look in the direction of Ye Family Restaurant, his expression sinister.

He Wen glanced cautiously at Ma Su and whispered:

"Young Master Ma, how about we go to Piaoxiang Pavilion later to relax?"

Ma Su's face turned cold, and he glared at He Wen, angrily saying:

"Hmph! My father's men are all locked up! What reason do I have to relax!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's hurry back to Duma Village then! We can report this matter to the general!"

Ma Su shook his head and began to analyze the situation on his own.

"Zhao Tongchuan is usually very respectful to my father, and he always turns a blind eye to what the people from Duma Village do in the city. Why is he suddenly being so heartless today?"

He Wen's eyes darted around. "Perhaps Zhao Tongchuan felt that things had gotten too out of hand, and in order to save face for the county magistrate."

Ma Su looked at He Wen with disdain. "How many people have I kidnapped on the streets every day?"

Thinking of the young man standing next to Zhao Tongchuan, Ma Su narrowed his eyes.

"Do you recognize that person following Zhao Tongchuan?"

He Wen raised his head in confusion, "I don't know him. Maybe he's a nephew or niece of Magistrate Zhao."

Ma Su shook his head. "No, Zhao Tongchuan was clearly trying to impress that person, which is why he ordered Liu Daye to be arrested!"

"That must be it! That person is probably someone important!"

"For Zhao Tongchuan to treat him like this, that person must either come from a very wealthy family or be a high-ranking official. However, judging from his age, the former is probably more likely!"

Thinking of this, Ma Su remembered that the man actually had connections with Qi Feng, and immediately looked at He Wen.

"You put that..."

"Qi Feng?"

"Yes! Tell me in detail about Qi Feng's matter!"

He Wen scratched his head, somewhat puzzled as to why Ma Su would pay attention to Qi Feng, but a look of disdain appeared on his face.

"That Qi Feng is just a gambling addict from Qi Family Village! He's addicted to gambling, and he even gambled away the only two acres of land his family had left. He still owes my He Village five taels of silver!"

"The woman beside him, I don't know when he got her, perhaps she was a criminal whom the government arranged for him to marry."

Upon hearing this, Ma Su slapped He Wen across the face.

"Gambler? What nonsense are you spouting! How could someone with those skills be a gambler!"

Upon hearing this, He Wen immediately slapped himself several times and bowed obsequiously to Ma Su, saying:

"Yes, yes, yes! Young Master Ma is right. But Qi Feng used to be a gambling addict. Since he met that woman, I haven't seen him gamble anymore... Now he's just a hunter in Qi Family Village..."

"A hunter?" Ma Su narrowed his eyes. He couldn't understand how Qi Feng, who was just a hunter, could be associated with that young man.

"Alright, just behave yourself these days. It seems like someone from the Great Rong in the west has infiltrated us. Quite a few people have gone missing in Duma Village recently, and my father is having a huge headache over this. Now this guy has come to Fuxing County. It's best not to cause any trouble."

Upon hearing this, He Wen had a sudden inspiration and clapped his hands.

"Young Master Ma! Do you think Qi Feng might really be a spy sent by the Great Rong? Otherwise, how could he have gone from a gambler to such a skilled hunter!"

"Of all the gamblers who have entered my Hezhuangfang, I've never seen one who has ever given up gambling!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Su's eyes lit up. "What you said makes some sense. If that's the case, things will be much easier!"

"I need to hurry back and report to my father. You take some men to Qijia Village and find out if that kid has changed completely. Then tell Qijia Village to wait! I don't believe that kid can stay in Fuxing County forever!"

He Wen patted his chest, "Don't worry, Young Master Ma! Leave this to me!"

......

Qi Feng followed Zhong Shao to the magistrate's residence in Fuxing County, while Yu Yourong stayed at the Ye Family Restaurant.

Throughout the journey, Zhao Tongchuan acted as if he were accompanying Zhong Shao, rather than as if he were the head of a county.

Zhong Shao chatted with Qi Feng on his own. Qi Feng would occasionally chime in, but most of the time he was just listening.

Upon arriving at the magistrate's residence, servants quickly prepared tea and brought it over. Zhao Tongchuan waved his hand, and the servants left, leaving only the three of them.

Qi Feng didn't wait for Zhong Shao to ask, but instead cupped his hands in greeting to Zhong Shao.

"Young Master Zhong, I, Qi Feng, am merely a hunter in the mountains. May I ask what brings you here? Please speak freely."

Zhong Shao and Zhao Tongchuan were both taken aback upon hearing this, then exchanged a glance, somewhat surprised.

Zhong Shao put down his teacup and looked at Qi Feng.

"I didn't expect Brother Qi to be not only exceptionally skilled but also so quick-witted. In that case, I'll be frank."

"Brother Qi, do you know who Liu Daye is today, and who Ma Su is?"

Qi Feng shook his head.

"Liu Daye is the head of Duma Village. Although he has not been officially appointed by the imperial court, he still has about a hundred men under his command. As for Ma Su, he is the son of Ma Shuo, the head of Duma Village."

Qi Feng looked at Zhong Shao, his gaze lingering on the iron pendant at his waist.

Zhong Shao met his gaze and then smiled slightly.

"Actually, I am currently serving as the Military Advisor of Shuofeng County. I came to Fuxing County this time to investigate the affairs of Duma Village, Ma Shuo."

Qi Feng narrowed his eyes, thinking of the border soldier Ma Hu he had encountered when he first transmigrated, and then of the bandits who attacked Ye Ling Shuang.

Although Ma Shuo was only an eighth-rank official in charge of the village of Duma, he commanded a total of eight hundred men, which earned him the respect of even Zhao Tongchuan, a sixth-rank county magistrate.

"What's wrong with him?"