Why do I have so many masters?

Wang Anfeng nodded, suddenly recalling the previous time when he had just defeated Xu Sixing. Tie Lin had suggested renting a cart to bring him back. Wang Anfeng felt like an old farmer delivering coal in winter. Now it seemed that this Fourth Rank master from the Famous Swords Organization couldn't escape the fate of becoming "human coal."

This is like being able to escape the First but not the Fifteenth.

While thinking, Hu Bu asked Wang Anfeng, then washed his hands with soap. Seemingly remembering something, he looked up and smiled, saying:

"Oh right, before I came here, Lord Wuxin entrusted me to tell you, Doctor, that if there's any means in this matter, you can use it freely without any reservations."

Wang Anfeng was slightly taken aback. In Hu Bu's opinion, this was referring to medical skills, specifically the means to treat Xu Sixing. However, in Wang Anfeng's ears, it didn't seem quite right. His mind inexplicably thought of underpaid laborers skimped on wages. Suppressing other thoughts, he calmly said:

"Just tell him, I know about this matter..."

Knowing is one thing, but whether to do it is another.

Hu Bu nodded and, after taking a few steps, suddenly exclaimed, slapped his forehead, then took a bag from the table where he had placed it upon arriving, handing it to Wang Anfeng. The latter accepted it, puzzled, weighed it, and noted it had some heft, hearing the patrol officer laugh:

"Luckily, luckily, I almost forgot."

"Lord Wuxin said this is a gift, pastries from the Seven Flavors Pavilion, which you, Doctor, might find useful."

The corner of Wang Anfeng's mouth twitched, then he fell silent but still accepted the package.

Then, allowing the patrol officer to wrap the corpses in white cloth and carry the three bodies downstairs, Wang Anfeng closed the door, looked outside the house through the window, and pondered a question silently.

How did that guy know there were no pastries left?

Also, does he really think pastries would make me do his bidding?

Wang Anfeng tapped the table, almost chuckling in exasperation.

How could he underestimate me so?

After all, I'm a Class B wanted criminal of the Great Qin—he must have heard of Yi Nanping, a notorious figure in Jianghu, future ancestor of bandits, trying to buy me off with just pastries, isn't that disregarding my dignity?!

Wang Anfeng casually tossed the pastries onto the table, deciding internally that although he was already involved in this matter to gain White Tiger Hall intelligence from Wuxin, this was not the way.

Another method of involvement should be taken.

Moreover, the foremost priority now, besides keeping Xu Sixing alive, is to prepare and await the news from Master Huai Die, then seize the opportunity to destroy 'Qiong Qi' who had ambushed him multiple times before.

Thinking time during, Wang Anfeng's gaze unconsciously drifted to the table; when he came to his senses, his well-trained hands had already deftly untied the small strings on the package, revealing the pastries inside.

"..."

Wang Anfeng paused in silence, looking up reflexively, murmuring to himself: "Eating a piece won't matter, just don't bother with it further; after all, it was a gift, originally mine."

Then, justified, he picked up a piece of pastry and put it in his mouth, feeling the delicate pastry dissolve, a sense of satisfaction arose. He thought that Wuxin was somewhat devious and cold yet had good taste; the pastries bore the flair of Jiangnan Road and the virtues of Xianping County, quite rare indeed.

His mind quickly turned to planning on how to bring down 'Qiong Qi.'

This was originally a test from the teacher, and 'Qiong Qi' had previously made two deadly attempts against him. The first was at Qingfeng Edge; if not for the intervention of his third master Hong Luoyu, he might have met his end there.

Back then, his martial arts were merely Sixth Rank, not yet at the level to utilize Divine Weapon directly.

The second time, they collaborated with manpower from the Supreme Emperor and others from the Heavenly Mountain Sword, nearly implicating friends like Gong Yu.

A true life-and-death grudge indeed.

This person had acted alongside Xu Sixing and was now coordinating in the surrounding cities, but now that their actions have been exposed, who knows when they might leave the Xianping County area? Once they are gone, it will be much harder to attack in disguise.

Right now, with two people here, the opportunity is rare.

Wang Anfeng decided that as soon as news arrived from Master Huai Die, he wouldn't delay a moment, heading straight to their hideout to part with these deep-seated hatreds from the two encounters, leaving the rest for later reckoning.

They say a gentleman's revenge is never too late.

But in this matter, Wang Anfeng did not want to be a gentleman in the least.

The opponent's martial arts seemed only around Fifth Rank, not adept at killing; with his own martial arts, he could defeat them, and once the Qi Mechanism of Divine Weapon was mobilized, it would be a crushing victory without hindrance.

Exchanging a few moves with that elder at dawn today, I have barely grasped the primary traits of that musical martial arts and vigorous palm technique; it might not be good for direct confrontation but is enough for intimidation, as long as I practice in Copper Man Lane for a while.

Utilizing a crude Lion's Roar to imitate those two notes should be even more formidable than the original.

As for Wuxin's commission, for now, it cannot distract...

Just have to be sorry for the moment.

With this thought, Wang Anfeng's heart settled down, he regained his composure, his gaze swept over, his actions slightly paused, suddenly looked at the pastry in his hand, set it down as if electrocuted, his right hand rising to cover his face.

Silent for a long while.

In the box, only the last piece tossed back remained.

The shame of accepting gifts and the guilt of not doing work churned in Wang Anfeng's heart; after a moment of silence, he seemed to resign himself, sighed, picked up the last piece, tossed it into his mouth and swallowed, a thought gradually clearing in his mind, becoming evident—

Wuxin, you plotted against me.

Wang Anfeng rubbed his brow, organizing his thoughts.

News from Master Huai Die would take some time; furthermore, to guard against unexpected events, it would be best to accumulate enough Qi Mechanism of the Divine Weapon, achieving peak readiness.

In the meantime, might as well help Wuxin a bit.

Ahem, out of moral principles.

However...

Wang Anfeng's thoughts momentarily paused, gazing upwards at the Liangzhou street scene; why did it feel like the night in Liangzhou was almost a different city from the day, filled with unfamiliarity?

Recalling what the patrol officer had said, if there are any means, don't hesitate, use them all, Wang Anfeng couldn't help but twitch his temple, having an almost irresistible urge to go straight to the Ministry of Punishment to question.

What, Wuxin, are your expectations for my visit to Liangzhou City this Mid-Autumn Festival?

PS: Today's update... five thousand two hundred words