It was already the end of August.

Summer had gone and autumn had come; the cool breeze was refreshing. The leaves hadn't fallen, but the fruits were ripe. It was harvest season. The life of the common people was laborious, yet with rice at home, their faces beamed with smiles and joy.

Li Xian's repeated defeat of the evil bandits had spread his renown far and wide. The county magistrate of Qingning County feared his might. Remembering that day at the banquet, when Li Xian said, "Let the skies of Qingning be a shade bluer."

Thus, during the month of grain collection and taxation, the major landlord families, gangs, and yamen runners dared not act recklessly. The chaotic and arbitrary tax collections were somewhat restrained.

The people were grateful and aware of Li Xian's contributions, hoping for the long tenure of the Martial Captain. Li Xian never sought influence but acted on his own will, listening to the praises of the people, yet his heart remained calm:

"Within my ability, I help the weak, doing as the moment dictates. While I seem to have influence in Qingning County, it's not stable. The lives of these common people still depend on their fate. I have my path to walk; I can't carry the people on my shoulders."

Whether it's criticism or praise, he acts only according to his heart. Criticism cannot shake his resolve, nor can praise sway his intent.

Yihetang Manor.

Uncle Xiang was responsible for managing the accounts within the manor and the various enterprises in the prefecture city and its counties, effectively handling everything. Thus, he was well-informed.

"How have things been recently?"

Madam Wen, draped in a yellow gown, had an elegance unseen by others. She delicately used porcelain chopsticks to feed the goldfish, one piece at a time.

"Business is doing well." Uncle Xiang knelt, bowing his head with both palms together, pressing his forehead to the ground, sincerely respectful.

Madam Wen waved her hand gently, saying, "No need for such formality."

Uncle Xiang said, "How could I not, facing…"

Madam Wen impatiently interrupted, "How is he?"

"He?" Uncle Xiang was momentarily confused but quickly realized that Madam Wen was referring to Li Xian. Having kept himself informed, he relayed the truth.

"Li Xian has recently dealt with red-listed criminals, his influence unmatched in the county. With over thirty yamen runners under the Martial Captain Hall and ten shops in Qingning County, mostly clothing stores, but also some rice shops and food stores."

"Just yesterday, two martial arts schools had a dispute, and Li Xian went to mediate. With his considerable reputation, the conflict ceased with just a few words."

...

Madam Wen set down her porcelain chopsticks, lightly tapping the table with her fingers, producing a crisp "clack" sound. Gazing into the distance, she listened intently with interest.

"I gave him space, and he indeed made a name for himself. Well done, well done, he is certainly not mediocre."

"Have him summoned here."

Uncle Xiang followed the instructions, immediately going to summon him. Li Xian was in the Commander's Courtyard, and it didn't take long before he was brought.

As Uncle Xiang left, he couldn't help but think, "Madam summons Li Xian more and more frequently these days."

...

...

A member of the Cao family, Cao Kai, took office at the end of summer. Seeing the city gates deserted with no one to greet him, his brow furrowed deeply. Though aware of the rise of the military officer's influence, his upbringing as a Cao, highly regarded since childhood, made him indignant at such neglect.

"Cao Yun, just a mediocre talent, tainted the name of my Cao family here. With me, Cao Kai, personally handling this, will I not have him obediently submit?"

The family convened a meeting, sending him to Qingning. He intentionally feigned weakness, seeking more support from within the clan. As a legitimate scion, how could he fear local officials?

Once outside the prefecture city, he saw that everywhere was tainted with dirt and mud, his arrogance grew stronger:

"Outside the prefecture city, it's all of this sort of quality. Only the leaders of the gangs barely catch my eye. Those so-called big fish in small ponds are no more than slightly larger ants."

Inside the government office.

As soon as Cao Kai took office, he inspected the layout of the office.

He knew that Cao Yun had perished within the yamen and was cautious, sealing off the well and assigning several servants of similar build to wear the same official attire for disguise.

"Even if the Martial Captain attacks, I have nothing to fear. Cao Yun, though having studied since youth, had only shallow involvement in martial arts, unable even to bind a chicken. Yet I, Cao Kai, trained in martial arts since childhood, reached the Food Essence level in my teens, and though I switched to studying, I never neglected my martial practice."

"That small-town Martial Captain might not be my match."

Cao Kai set up a boxing stance, practicing a set of Cao family's Boxing Manual. The air was filled with fierceness as his punch force was vigorous. Though his martial arts mastery wasn't as impeccable as the prodigies in the clan, it was still far from poor.

In addition to receiving family rewards, adorned in golden threaded armor, unafraid of blades. Having strategies all set, there was truly nothing to fear.

His confidence was overwhelming.

"The family is undoubtedly watching me. With such a situation, I must strike with thunderous momentum, breaking through in one blow, to showcase the might of the Cao family."

The matter of the "Red List conspiracy" was orchestrated by the family. Seeing the ten-day period had passed, he immediately accused on the charge of "collusion with the bandits, aiding their escape" and set out with a formation to attack the Martial Captain Hall.

This time, he brought fifty Cao soldiers, and three hundred government soldiers. The Cao soldiers were elite private troops raised by the Cao family, while the government soldiers were secretly transferred via authority.

In front of Martial Captain Hall.

Cao Kai learned from Cao Yun's lesson. Without saying much, he waved his hand, and the private troops of the Cao family and the government soldiers broke in.

In the outer courtyard hall, the constables were having lunch and chatting. Suddenly hearing commotion, Zhang Hou exclaimed, "There's an external enemy!" The crowd reacted swiftly, taking up arms for defense.

The sound of weapons clashing echoed.

They were heavily outnumbered. After a fierce battle, they retreated step by step, forced into a corner.

Wang Wu saw that there was no retreat left. These bandit soldiers, in broad daylight, dared to barge into the Martial Captain Hall. A fierce intent rose within him, an evil intention surged. It aligned with the key to the sword technique.

He swung his large sword, advancing instead of retreating, and charged into the crowd.

The worn sword sought not to be complete, but to break the enemy! The sword path was full of risky moves, battling life for life, blood for blood!

When outnumbered, those with complete bodies might hesitate to protect themselves, harboring reservations. Facing an attack from others, they would defend themselves seventy percent, injure the enemy thirty percent.

Wang Wu was the exact opposite, aiming solely to injure the enemy without caring about his own injuries.

Moreover, he was innately loyal, with a fierce temperament, never yielding. Once convinced, he would follow wholeheartedly.

Wang Wu shouted, "I'll break a path, brothers follow me!" charging into the enemy ranks. The young and ambitious of the Martial Captain Hall were all spirited and full of zeal.

This loud shout received a hundred responses.

"Kill!" Zhang Hou immediately followed.

A trapped beast still fights, burning bridges behind, the momentum was overwhelming.

Just as the battle was at its peak, the voice of Cao Kai came: "Step aside, all of you!" Cao soldiers and government soldiers obeyed, immediately dividing to the sides.

The constables were overjoyed, rushing out quickly. After turning two corners and arriving at an open space, their hearts suddenly sank. The opponent was prepared; archers were stationed neatly on top of pavilions and inside houses, ready to attack!

They were already like fish in a barrel, meat on a chopping board.

"Bastards!" Wang Wu still wanted to fight.

Zhang Hou patted Wang Wu on the shoulder, signaling him to stop.

Cao Kai smiled and said, "You rebels, drop your weapons quickly!"

"I'll count to three. If you don't drop them, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Without hesitation, he counted to three. Zhang Hou, being of steady temperament, was unafraid of death but seeing the sudden encirclement by the government soldiers, he wanted to understand the situation.

So he laid down his weapon. Wang Wu, not understanding, intended to fight to the death, but meeting Zhang Hou's eyes, he also laid down his long saber.

"That's more like it."

Cao Kai smiled gleefully.

With his hands behind his back, full of spirit, he called out to the crowd, "Where is Li Xian? Among you, who is Li Xian?"

Zhang Hou angrily said, "Who are you to dare surround the Martial Captain Hall? Who gave you the courage!"

Cao Kai laughed and said, "Who am I? I am the County Magistrate of Qingning County."

Wang Wu said coldly, "Even if you are the County Magistrate, you have no right to surround the Martial Captain Hall! When Martial Captain returns, you'll regret this!"

Cao Kai slapped Wang Wu twice, swelling his cheeks immediately.

"Ridiculous, if he dared to return, it would actually suit my intention. Why would I fear him?" Cao Kai saw the constables filled with righteous indignation, glaring angrily, yet he was not afraid.

Cao Kai said, "Are you very unconvinced?"

"Although I and Cao Yun are of the same clan, we are as different as heaven and earth. Let me tell you, I can be both County Magistrate and Martial Captain. Don't believe it..."

With a flash of fierceness, he grabbed a nearby constable, lightly pushed him, sending him flying onto the roof, with a "crack," his spine broke, his body bent, and he fell from the height, lifeless.

"You!"

The constables were shocked, angry, and fearful. Having only just entered the martial arts, they couldn't see the subtlety but knew it was extremely formidable, beyond mortal capacity.

Cao Kai said proudly, "Well, can your lowly Martial Captain achieve this level?"

"Of course..." Wang Wu swore not to be humiliated, retorting defiantly. Zhang Hou covered his mouth, knowing the vast difference in strength would lead to casualties if they resisted rashly. The urgent task was to understand the situation before planning any action.

Zhang Hou said, "County Magistrate, having just taken office, why did you surround the Martial Captain Mansion?"

"Do you really not know?" Cao Kai teased.

"I truly don't know," Zhang Hou replied.

"Naturally, it's because your Martial Captain colluded with criminals, letting them escape to harm the locals," Cao Kai said. "As County Magistrate, I cannot sit idly by; I must kill a chicken to warn the monkey."

"Nonsense." Zhang Hou suppressed his anger: "When did we collude with criminals!"

"Hehe." Cao Kai said, "Some time ago, did you receive the Red List of the Martial World? It records the vicious outlaws of the Jianghu."

"That's right." Zhang Hou nodded.

Cao Kai spoke with conviction:

"That Old Swallowing Demon appeared in Qingning. This demon is heinously guilty, stealing children to eat, an act that infuriates both people and deities. He's been on the run for a year."

"Barely managed to trace his exact whereabouts. The criminal was right before you, yet your Martial Captain took no action against the bandits!?"

"Allowing him to continue his evil deeds, even helping him escape. Isn't such behavior collusion with the criminal?"

Zhang Hou said, "And how do you know that our Captain didn't slay that Old Swallowing Demon?"

"Oh?" Cao Kai was taken aback: "Could it be the Old Swallowing Demon has died at the hands of your Martial Captain?"

"Correct!" Zhang Hou said, "Recently, the Martial Captain led us in a joint encirclement and extermination of the Old Swallowing Demon. The wicked one has been slain."

"Now that the truth is clear, it's all a misunderstanding. County Magistrate, with everything cleared up, you have no reason to besiege our Martial Captain Hall!"

Cao Kai stroked his chin, "If what you say is true, then it seems I have misunderstood your Martial Captain. However, evidence is necessary for everything; I can't just take your word for it."

Zhang Hou said, "It's simple, the corpse of the Old Swallowing Demon is stored in the basement. The evidence is irrefutable; the County Magistrate can verify it!"

Cao Kai gestured. His attendant immediately searched and quickly found several corpses in the basement, matching each to the Red List outlaws.

The head of the Old Swallowing Demon was among them.

The constables seeing this, all secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Today's humiliation will be avenged in the future; the priority now is to get through this ordeal.

Cao Kai frowned, "It really is the corpse of the Old Swallowing Demon."

"Naturally." Zhang Hou said, "The misunderstanding is cleared, we ask the County Magistrate to leave now."

Cao Kai sneered, took out a wine jug, pouring wine over the corpses, and struck a palm, a flare of Palm Qi igniting a fire instantly upon contact with the wine.

"County Magistrate, you..." Zhang Hou's pupils contracted.

Cao Kai said calmly, "The Martial Captain Hall colluded with the Old Swallowing Demon, letting him escape. All the hall's constables are to be imprisoned and severely interrogated!"

"Martial Captain Li Xian is listed as a wanted criminal!"

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