Chapter 418: Chapter 170: Twelve Years in the Blink of an Eye_2
After another dozen times.
It settled into a position with both palms facing up, a posture known as Five Qi Facing the Origin.
Though during its breaths or small movements, there were still some irregularities.
But it was much improved.
"I wonder when you’ll be able to awaken your spirit,"
Zhang Feng tapped its nape with his finger, channeling spiritual qi, "Once you awaken your spirit, based on your concrete thoughts, I can attempt to refine my system and explore neurology."
"Roar... Roar..." The black bear didn’t understand human speech but dared not move, trying its best to maintain its cultivation posture.
...
In the days that followed.
A strange scene unfolded in the deep old forest.
A man and a bear hunting during the day, practicing martial arts at night.
The black bear followed this man like a pet all day long.
Yet, whenever it was time to practice, the black bear was clumsy.
It needed constant correction from this man.
Until half a year passed.
The black bear could meditate on its own, regulating its breath.
Though it still couldn’t channel spiritual qi to cultivate on its own.
Zhang Feng felt gratified, at least having managed to teach it some minor achievements.
And in those six months.
Tales from Huailiang County had spread to dozens of counties and reached some major cities.
In the corners of the Jianghu, the name ’Zhang Feng’ began to circulate.
This led many to admire Zhang Feng or harbor curiosity about him.
Some even sought to find Zhang Feng, the hero who rid the people of harm, to join him in a companionship of justice.
Others wished to challenge Zhang Feng to see his martial arts skills.
By contrast, Lord Jin was, after all, an official of the imperial court.
Nearby cities posted notices, offering rewards for ’Huailiang, Zhang Feng.’
Moreover, two overseers of the mines, who were fortunate to be outside and escaped the mine disaster,
fearing Zhang Feng’s revenge, actively went to the surrounding prefectures to restore some of Zhang Feng’s appearance.
This prevented many from randomly presenting a head, claiming it was ’Huailiang Zhang Feng.’
Incidentally, the matter of appealing to other officials and the deeds of their Lord Jin were brought to light.
These two overseers began a prison sentence spanning dozens of years, the only salvation being a ’general pardon.’
In this era, labor was comparatively abundant, and the Emperor was strict, offering pardons once every fifteen years.
...
In the blink of an eye, another year passed.
The reputation of Zhang Feng in Jianghu grew increasingly small.
Overshadowed by more heroes and intriguing tales.
Yet, a few well-meaning folk would occasionally bring him up.
Some audacious storytellers, with an adventurous outlook, compiled this affair into a book named ’Young Hero Zhang Feng of Huailiang.’
This was due to Zhang Feng being merely sixteen years old, with an insignificant status as a miner, and the astonishing incident of nearly annihilating Lord Jin’s entire county precinct.
In this entertainment-starved era, storytelling was indeed a pastime.
Quite a number of young wanderers in their teens favored listening to the tale of ’Young Hero Zhang Feng of Huailiang.’
They sometimes imagined themselves in the story, feeling an overwhelming surge of heroism.
Eager to meet Young Hero Zhang, share a few bowls of wine, and become blood brothers.
Meanwhile, in the distant border forest.
The second year of feeding the pet.
Efficient feeding combined with the operation of spiritual qi,
the black bear had reached two meters and forty centimeters tall, forty centimeters taller than before.
But it was too fat, almost like a rolling ball.
Zhang Feng felt he might have been overfeeding it, so he began to moderate its feeding and started teaching it some body-tempering fist skills.
In fist skills, it didn’t need to understand, just imitate faithfully.
This was purely about forging power.
Well then, let’s continue.
...
Unknowingly, two years had passed.
Huailiang County.
In the side hall of the prefecture.
The current County Magistrate of Huailiang was a short-statured middle-aged man with an academic air.
At this moment.
He looked at one sturdy man combing through records and enquired probing questions: "Brother Ling, regarding the matter of Young Zhang a few years back..."
He initially wanted to habitually say Young Hero Zhang since everyone here called Zhang Feng a young hero.
Being acclimatized to the local customs, he followed suit.
Moreover, he felt Zhang Feng did the right thing.
However, facing a bounty hunter from two provinces,
He quickly corrected himself: "Brother Ling, Brother Ling, do we really have to investigate Zhang Feng?"
"If you and I weren’t acquainted..." A fierce scar at the corner of Brother Ling’s eye made his aura extremely menacing, "Just based on your words ’must investigate?’ and the unfinished sentence ’Young Hero Zhang.’
I would suspect you were involved with a bandit and first scrutinize you."
"But Young Hero Zhang committed no wrongdoing," the magistrate argued logically, "Years ago, that old prefect and the magistrate secretly colluded; even if someone reported it, no one dared investigate.
If you truly rely on the office doing things, capturing and charging Lord Jin would be a distant hope."
"Yet it’s not Zhang Feng’s place to decide," Brother Ling snorted with a laugh, "Whether County Magistrate Jin is to be executed or investigated, it should be determined by the dynasty’s laws.
Moreover, the matter of County Magistrate Jin is indeed a concern of our imperial court.
He, a Jianghu person, is unnecessarily meddling."
At this point, Brother Ling added, "Now, a censuring envoy from the court has arrived, wanting a thorough investigation of all matters concerning officials from the Jianghu.
Huailiang Zhang Feng, being notably ruthless, naturally needs to be investigated.
Today, I solely handle this case.
Do not disrupt my investigation process."
"This humble official dares not," the magistrate could only clasp hands in compliance.
Brother Ling nodded and began enjoying his tea quietly.
And so, minutes passed.
Though the magistrate knew Brother Ling spoke reasonably, he found it odd when seeing him still sipping tea instead of investigating.
"Brother Ling, when will the investigation begin? From where will you start? Are there any areas requiring my assistance? Please clarify, Brother Ling!"
"Alright!" Brother Ling nodded, "Not wasted my breath for a few sentences, you finally caught on, then just wait, you’ll be called upon when needed."