Human Martial Venerable: Starting from the Synthesis Technique

Chapter 3 Encountering Evil

In fact, this is also one of the reasons why Feng Xiu is unwilling to face him. His fear of the strict discipline that produced filial sons in his childhood is just one aspect of it.

More importantly, in the realm of martial arts and combat, eyesight is of utmost importance!

Especially Feng Ao's tiger-like eyes; even just looking at him quietly made Feng Xiu feel extremely uncomfortable.

Raising his eyes, Feng Ao's sharp gaze was fixed on Feng Xiu, but a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

Good, you know how to refute and think critically.

But not yet!

Immediately, Feng Ao's voice returned to its unquestionable coldness.

"This matter is settled, there's no need to discuss it further. Just do your job, appease the people, and replace them."

When it doesn't rain, we have to find other ways to survive, but the water in the ponds and reservoirs is not an option for us.

Feng Xiu lowered his head, rapidly considering all the possibilities in his mind.

Reservoirs and ponds are a type of public works project built to benefit the people due to the high-altitude geographical environment, providing water for the river valleys and basins.

When dealing with the Dendrobium Village matter, Feng Xiu made a special trip to Tangku. The iron ruler that guarded the river there was three times higher than the entire Qingyan City, and the area was filled with a vast expanse of water, much like a large lake.

Feng Xiu's thoughts flashed like lightning.

Our own granary, Golden Ear Wheat!

Golden wheat is unique to the Yunling Plateau and is the foundation of the Feng family and many other forces in Qingyan City.

But this makes even less sense. Capital might take risks for profits, but it would never sit idly by and watch core assets depreciate.

How could major grain merchants, including the Feng family, sit idly by and watch grain production decline?

Unless... opening the reservoir itself will cause something far more terrifying than a tenant riot or damage to their own interests?

Is there a problem with the water?

As soon as the thought crossed Feng Xiu's mind, he immediately rejected it.

Feng Ao's prestige was already deeply ingrained, and he dared not argue any further. He opened his mouth and replied, "Yes, Wenzheng obeys."

"Step down."

At this moment, Feng Ao calmly took a sip of his tea.

"Hmm~"

Feng Xiu bowed respectfully and left, but as he reached the threshold, he heard Feng Ao's voice ring out again.

"Wenzheng, you should also take care of your second brother's matter."

Sensing a hint of disappointment in Feng Ao's words, Feng Xiu was startled and asked, "What's wrong, Second Brother?"

"He's been cursed."

"Being possessed?"

"He insists on marrying a courtesan, as if he's been bewitched, and the matter has even reached me!" Feng Ao's brows furrowed.

"Do you know that your second brother has stopped eating because of that prostitute? Isn't that just being possessed?!"

Feng Ao snorted coldly, his anger barely contained, prompting Zhou Gang beside him to quickly try to dissuade him.

"Brother Feng, calm down, calm down."

Feng Xiu was startled after hearing this, but he took a deep breath and didn't ask for the specific reason.

Eldest son, eldest son, do you think I don't have enough work to do?

Feng Xiu was the eldest in the family and the only child born to Feng Ao and his deceased wife.

Overall, the Feng family is currently moving towards becoming a wealthy and prestigious family, but they may still have some of the characteristics of a nouveau riche.

This younger brother, all I can say is that he's a bit too flashy.

"I'll handle it," Feng Xiu replied, turning to walk out.

Is it evil spirits?

The moment he stepped out the door, a thought suddenly popped into his head.

But before he could think it through, Feng Ao's voice came from behind him again.

"I'll be going out in a couple of days, so I'll leave things at home to you for now. Give me an explanation when I get back."

Feng Xiu paused, replied "Yes," and then quickened his pace.

...

...

After leaving the reception room, Feng Xiu went back to his room to change into dry clothes and washed his face with cold water.

After the sweltering heat on his body subsided slightly, he wiped his face.

He then instructed the guards, "Go and invite Lord Zheng here."

"Yes."

The guard turned and agreed.

The weather was hot, so the Feng family naturally had ways to cool off. Two basins of saltpeter ice were placed in the shady part of the room.

Just then, a knock came from outside the door.

"Young Master, you wanted to see me?"

The visitor knocked on the door first, and only entered after receiving Feng Xiu's permission.

Zheng Bonian was about fifty years old, with a thin face and his half-white hair was neatly combed and tied with an ordinary wooden hairpin.

He wasn't as burly as a warrior, but his steps were solid. His indigo shirt was faded from washing, revealing a composure honed by years of experience.

Feng Xiu raised his hand, leading him to a rosewood chair in the next room, gesturing for him to sit down, and said, "Uncle Zheng, please sit. Do you know what Shouzhuo has been doing lately?"

Uncle Zheng was an old man who had worked alongside Feng Ao for many years. He was still quite healthy, and Feng Xiu treated him with great courtesy.

Zheng Bo did not sit down immediately, but bowed slightly and sat on half of the chair.

After a moment's recollection, he replied, "Young Master, about eight days ago, the Second Young Master went to the Wenjin Society's ten-day gathering with several classmates from the city. After the gathering, they went to Xianghua Pavilion together."

The Wenjin Society was a refined gathering society formed by several private schools and Confucian scholars in the city, with a nice-sounding name.

In reality, it was a guise used by some wealthy young men with similar backgrounds to Feng Shouzhou to gather for fun and sightseeing.

He didn't write many articles, but he became proficient in fancy tricks like "beauty paper" and "meat inkstone".

"And then?"

Suppressing his helplessness, Feng Xiu continued to press for answers.

Right now, his most pressing concerns are not the rain-seeking ceremony in Bailiu Village, nor arranging for the village head to find new, respectable tenant farmers, or investigating what kind of shady dealings are going on with the ponds and reservoirs.

None of that matters. What matters is being the eldest son of the Feng family.

Feng Xiu must make it clear that he wants to maintain harmony within his family!

If you can't even take care of your own younger brother, how can you be expected to lead the family to prosperity?

Just now, Feng Xiu's lack of knowledge had already displeased Feng Ao, which is why he pretended to be angry and gave him a warning.

"According to the report from those who followed him," Zheng Bo said in a low voice, "the second young master spent two hundred taels of silver at the brothel's inner appreciation party to take the virginity of a newly arrived courtesan. The next day, he demanded that he redeem her and bring her out of the brothel."

With a hint of recollection in his expression, Zheng Bo said, "This woman's name is Su Wantang. According to the madam of Xianghualou, she came to Qingyan City alone three months ago to sell herself, and her contract is clean."

"She claimed to be an orphan girl who fled from Jinzhou, but the old servant sent people to investigate, and there was no record of this girl entering the country at any of the passes or post stations along the way."

"In just over a month, she rose to fame and became the top courtesan in the brothel."

The second young master's illness came on suddenly, and that was all he had investigated.

Immediately, Feng Xiu frowned. "Who were the people who went to the Wenjin Association with him?"

"There is the third son of Li Bu, a merchant in the north of the city, and the nephew of Wang, the criminal secretary of the yamen."

Zheng Bo named several people in succession. They were all wealthy and idle young men from Qingyan City, born out of wedlock, with no prospects of officialdom.

Ultimately, large families all share common methods for cultivating talent.

Your family can cover your lack of knowledge and skills, but you can't truly be ignorant and incompetent.

"The one leading the group is Liu Wenjun, the only son of Manager Liu of Juyuan Pawnshop."

"Liu Wenjun?"

A look of realization flashed across Feng Xiu's eyes. This man was a notorious playboy in the city, involved in gambling and prostitution. He had learned a lot of dirt on him from Blackie.

What good intentions could he possibly have had in taking Shouzhuo to such a place?

Since Su Wantang appeared out of nowhere three months ago and there are no records of her entry into the country along the way, she became the top courtesan in just a few months.

Selling itself out of the market, with no record of entry into customs, its goal is clear: to be honest and unassuming.

He had read about the "pig butchering scam"—no, the kind of tricks used by swindlers—in his notes.

Judging from what I'm seeing now, it's probably pretty close to the truth.

The conclusion was somewhat arbitrary, but that was all he could think of.

As for whether it's true love or not, that's not something Feng Xiu considered at all. The Feng family has strict rules, and Feng Shouzhu couldn't possibly be unaware of the consequences of doing this.

"Investigate two things," Feng Xiu said decisively after a moment's thought.

"First, thoroughly investigate everything about Su Wantang, including everyone she has come into contact with, her daily routine, and her preferences. I need to know all of that."

"Secondly, prepare a small gift and send it in my name to Manager Liu of Juyuan Pawnshop, saying that I am grateful for his son's care for Shouzhuo."

Zheng Bo's expression hardened. "Yes, this old servant understands."

"Also, make arrangements for me to go and see Shouzhuo."

If it really is a swindling scheme, the other side must have a backup plan. As long as we can see Feng Shouzhuo as soon as possible, we can confirm his condition.

On the other hand, let's see if we can get some details about Su Wantang out of him.

Afterwards, Zheng Bo went to the stable and drove the carriage himself. Soon after, a carriage stopped at the gate of the mansion.

After boarding the carriage, it slowly headed towards the outer city.

To avoid damaging family harmony and to prevent Feng Shouzhuo from having any other thoughts of vying for power, his residence was not located in the inner city.

Frankly, the revivalists couldn't understand this.

The status of the eldest son of the legitimate wife and the eldest son of a concubine, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate sons, are completely different.

His given name was Xiu, and he underwent a coming-of-age ceremony; his courtesy name was Wenzheng.

He was named Shouzhuo, and had no given name.

Judging from the name given to him and the permissive attitude towards Feng Shouzhuo, unless Feng Xiu dies, he will never be the head of the family.

So, how exactly did Yuan Shen rise from the son of a concubine to become the head of the Yuan family?

on the street.

Street vendors shouted loudly, and the crowds of people, including commoners in coarse clothes and warriors carrying knives and swords, mingled together.

Accompanied by the laughter of several women in plain clothes, three or five warriors with slightly sunken temples stood beside the corner shop.

He was using a straw hat to shield his face and fan himself to cool off, while drinking a large bowl of cool tea in the other hand.

After traveling for about half a cup of tea's time, the carriage slowly came to a stop in front of a secluded villa in the eastern part of the outer city. Uncle Zheng spoke up to remind him.

"Young master, we've arrived."

Feng Xiu and Zheng Bo pushed open the door and entered together. The courtyard was simple in general, with not much architectural decoration. Only two guards, one male and one female, accompanied Feng Shouzhuo.

"Young Master."

Upon seeing Feng Xiu, the young guard was taken aback, then greeted him respectfully.

"Take me to see him."

Feng Xiu's expression was cold, his brows furrowed with barely suppressed anger.

The guard trembled upon hearing this; the purpose of the young master's visit was self-evident.

Immediately, they hurriedly led the two to a side room.

Beside the bed, a pretty maid was patiently wiping the fine sweat from the forehead of the thin man with a towel.

"How is the second young master's health?"

The room was filled with a slightly pungent smell of Chinese medicine. Before Feng Xiu could speak, Zheng Bo asked.

"The second young master has taken a calming medicine and has just fallen asleep." The maid was very afraid of the old man and stammered as she spoke.

Feng Xiu looked at Feng Shouzhuo on the bed, who looked completely different from the one he remembered.

He was thin and frail, not skin and bones, but he had long lost his former richness and nobility. His face was as pale as paper, and he trembled all over, sweating profusely.

Feng Xiu was suddenly startled; the last time they met was ten days ago.

In just ten days, he's completely unrecognizable?

This isn't some kind of evil spirit attack; it's someone trying to seal Shouzhuo's fate!