"Did you kill the Tiger Demon in Five Miles Village?"
When Squad Leader Luo Wen heard that the tiger head in his hands was from the Tiger Demon in Five Miles Village, he was so scared that he almost threw the head away.
The government office was aware of the situation in Five Miles Village. The Tiger Demon there was just at the First Grade of the Initial Realm, and sending a few constables would be enough to surround and kill it.
The reason the Tiger Demon was allowed to stay and prey on humans was because they feared the Tiger King behind it.
Luo Wen's face turned green.
There was actually a tacit understanding between the government office and the Tiger Demon. The Tiger Demon wouldn't rampage and eat people, making it a widespread issue, and the government office wouldn't send people to annihilate it, turning a blind eye, maintaining a mutual understanding.
Now that the Tiger Demon in Five Miles Village had been killed, the consequences could be severe.
Wei Fan corrected, "It wasn't just me who killed it. Governmental officers Wang Gui and Qiu Ping helped me, and both of them have died in battle!"
He looked grief-stricken, "Sir, I want to exchange for martial arts!"
"You... sigh!"
Luo Wen sighed deeply. He already knew that the newcomer Wei Fan was upright and forthright, and some people in the government office didn't like him.
However, he thought it was fine because, after all, this was the government office, and if everyone colluded, it wouldn't be good. Some people needed to do good deeds to uphold the office's reputation.
Who would've thought that today, Wei Fan would bring him the head of the Tiger Demon from Five Miles Village? A lot of people might die next.
He didn't know how to teach Wei Fan. Should he tell him not to kill the Tiger Demon? Wouldn't that mean letting him offer his life to be eaten by it?
"These are the manuals ordinary governmental officers can exchange for. Choose whichever you like?"
Sighing again, Luo Wen took out a few secret manuals and placed them on the table.
Wei Fan didn't care about Luo Wen's expression; his gaze turned to the secret manuals.
Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step!
Iron Body Skill!
Iron Sand Palm!
...
Five Tigers Soul-breaking Saber!
There were probably about a dozen manuals, covering fist, palm, saber, sword techniques, and lightweight skills. He had heard of most of their names.
But he was at a loss over which ones to choose.
At present, he had the Blood Evil Saber Technique, which was barely enough, but he had no skills in fists or feet, nor any lightweight skills.
Moreover, he wanted to dual cultivate some horizontal martial arts training to enhance his physical strength.
"Considering you saved that girl this morning, you can choose two manuals!"
Just as Wei Fan was contemplating which one to choose, Luo Wen suddenly spoke.
Demon Beasts of the First Grade of the Initial Realm were actually not much different from other beasts, except they could speak human language.
Wei Fan, able to kill a First Grade Initial Realm Tiger Demon, likely had his Golden Bell Shield reach the Second Layer, and his Blood Evil Saber Technique at least at a Master Level, undoubtedly a martial arts genius.
Though he caused big trouble, it wasn't necessarily a death sentence. Luo Wen wouldn't help Wei Fan, but giving him an extra secret manual was doable.
If he could grow, it would be best; if he died, there would be no loss.
Wei Fan's eyes brightened, "Thank you, Squad Leader!"
With an extra choice, he didn't have so many dilemmas!
Lightweight skills were a must, and he would temporarily forego fists and feet to choose another horizontal martial arts manual.
Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step!
Iron Body Skill!
In the end, Wei Fan chose these two martial arts and returned to his place to read.
An hour later, his interface changed:
[Iron Body Skill (Uninitiated)]
[Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step (Uninitiated)]
[Current Power Level: 3 years]
Wei Fan showed delight. The Golden Finger had such a function; he thought he would have to practice both martial arts for a while before they'd appear on the interface, saving him a lot of time this way.
"Three years of power added to Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step!"
Without hesitation, he added the remaining three years of power to Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step; his biggest weakness now was his speed. If he could only choose one martial arts type earlier, he would definitely pick a lightweight skill.
[Deducting three years of power!]
[Your True Qi is at the Ninth Layer, and your power is abundant. In one year, you open the meridians in both your feet, mastering Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step]
[After two years of power, your Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step reaches Great Success, stepping on snow without leaving traces.]
[After three years of power, Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step is at Perfection, making you elusive and as fast as thunder.]
[Flowing Cloud Chasing Wind Step (Perfection)]
[Current Power Level: 0]
...
Wei Fan felt True Qi gushing from his Dantian, his legs heating up, his body becoming lighter, as if he could float to the skies with a mere push off the ground.
"It's a pity there's no more power left; otherwise, I'd test the effect of Iron Body Skill!"
Indeed, Iron Body Skill and Golden Bell Shield are not the same type of martial arts. Iron Body Skill is a horizontal martial arts training and doesn't involve any True Qi circulation.
Horizontal martial arts training is hard to practice, but once mastered, it's said that one can easily defeat those training True Qi at the same realm.
However, since horizontal martial arts training only strengthens the body and lacks things like True Qi, it's powerless against demon fiends without a physical body, much like how the Blood Evil Saber Technique requires risking one's life. Thus, not many people ordinarily practice it, or if they do, it's usually as a secondary discipline, not the focus.
Wei Fan also intended to dual cultivate. Horizontal martial arts training is formidable against humans, but against some demon fiends without a physical body, it's powerless.
"Jiang Incense Master agreed to talk with you, let's go!"
As the time to leave came, Li Shen returned, speaking to Wei Fan in a tone of mixed emotions!
Wei Fan looked at him, noticing he seemed unwell, "Thank you, Captain Li. I'd trouble you to take me over to apologize to Jiang Incense Master. Once it's over, I'll personally thank you!"
Tying his saber to his waist, he followed Li Shen out of the government office.
"Is Wei Fan really going to apologize to Jiang Chuan?"
Zhou Qi was somewhat dumbfounded. Except for honestly apologizing, he couldn't fathom Wei Fan's true purpose for seeking out Jiang Chuan.
He wanted to call Wei Fan back but feared offending Li Shen.
Someone's likely plotting your demise, possibly having already set up an ambush.
"Wei Fan, come back!"
Hu Qing had no such scruples and called out from behind.
She was simply naive, not stupid. After a bit of inquiry, she discovered it was actually Li Shen who arranged for Wei Fan to go to Five Miles Village.
"No, I must save Wei Fan!"
Stomping her foot, Hu Qing ran out of the government office.
...
"We're here!"
Wei Fan followed Li Shen and soon reached in front of an courtyard. It seemed they had been expecting Wei Fan and Li Shen, as the courtyard gate was already open.
"Thank you, Captain Li!"
Wei Fan gave a quick word of thanks and then directly lifted his leg to walk inside, with Li Shen following behind.
After stepping into the yard, the first sight was three bright red coffins placed in the center, with several burly men standing a short distance away and a large, robust man sitting on a chair.
[Jiang Chuan: True Qi Fourth Layer, Incense Master of the Fierce Tiger Gang, feeding demons for ten years, murderously proficient, notorious and vile]
[Killing him can earn you ten years of power]
Only ten years?
Wei Fan felt a bit disappointed. Yang Jun, who hadn't practiced martial arts, could provide three years of power, and Jiang Chuan, a True Qi Fourth Layer martial artist, could only provide ten years.
Bang!
Li Shen slammed the door shut before following inside, faintly blocking Wei Fan's retreat, while his hand hovered over the saber, ready to unsheath it at any moment.
"You killed Master Hu Jiu, you little brat! You dare to come here!"
Jiang Chuan suddenly stood up from the chair, his eyes cold, "Get him, and deliver him to the Tiger King! Otherwise, we'll all die!"
Though Wei Fan had killed his brother-in-law, whether or not to kill Wei Fan was no longer within his purview.
He could only capture Wei Fan and deliver him to the Tiger King, hoping to earn the Tiger King's mercy.
"If I didn't come, how could I send you beasts to meet that Tiger Demon!"
Wei Fan slowly drew his battle saber, "If I didn't come, how could I explode your power!"