Huailiang, fifty miles southwest of the mining site.
When Zhang Feng was engaged in some killings inside the hut, he inquired a bit and learned the direction, the names of the county magistrate and the mine owner, and some things to be cautious about.
Once out of the mountains, he crossed through the woods.
Zhang Feng killed a wild deer along the way and ate it raw.
Long hours of travel require a significant amount of energy and food intake.
His powerful organs and Spiritual Qi were at work.
This made eating raw not a problem for Zhang Feng.
On the contrary, the bloody food that entered his stomach could be quickly converted into energy for traveling.
Back on the road again.
Zhang Feng was still practicing.
One could say he practiced ’whether resting or on the move’.
At this moment, his Spiritual Thought split into two, speeding up his cultivation.
In just three short hours.
Even with a brief pause for breath, Zhang Feng crossed the fifty-mile distance, arriving on the small dirt road outside Huailiang County. Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱
At this moment, dressed in coarse cloth and hemp clothing, stained with splattered blood from raw food, Zhang Feng looked rather disheveled.
Zhang Feng took deep breaths to adjust his Inner Qi, his chest and abdomen swelling and contracting violently.
From a distance, he hardly seemed ’human’ anymore.
But Zhang Feng was accustomed to this, believing that after reaching a certain level of cultivation, this was only natural.
Contrarily, he still considered himself a normal person.
However, Zhang Feng had undergone a tremendous transformation compared to the ’himself’ of ten hours ago.
This is the effect of knowledge and memory.
Allowing one to ’remake oneself’ in just half a day.
Zhang Feng understood what being a ’normal person’ meant, so he didn’t rush into the county with such an appearance.
Otherwise, causing too much commotion could affect his subsequent plans.
Such as making others a bit wary.
After all, this is the Martial World, and if ’Lord Jin’ and his brother, the ’mine owner’, were to hear that a ’wild man’ had entered the county, they might become cautious and gather a group of experts.
Things wouldn’t be so smooth then.
Zhang Feng preferred smoothness.
And Zhang Feng suspected that these two brothers would be his first crisis.
After killing them, there shouldn’t be any more problems.
Their ownership contracts, including handprints and portraits, were preserved here, acting as ’indentures’.
Reports even suggested they were absurdly stored within the Yamen.
Thus, destroying these records was a top priority before freely practicing martial arts.
Zhang Feng stripped off his clothes, found some rags and grass ropes nearby, and wrapped them around himself, transforming into a beggar to disguise his appearance at first.
To avoid being recognized upon entering the county, which might lead to tedious troubles.
While people might not recognize someone as insignificant as him, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
As for whether the grass ropes and rags were dirty, it didn’t matter.
Since he’d spent several months in the mining site, his body was dirty and grimy anyway, and he could easily rub off the grime.
Zhang Feng estimated a bit, then smeared some mud on his face, feeling satisfied with his disguise.
Hiding a pair of swords within his robes, he walked straight toward the distant county.
Upon reaching the county gate.
There were two city gate soldiers.
They occasionally inspected passing cargo vehicles.
Some cargo owners secretly slipped them some copper coins or small pieces of silver.
But when they saw Zhang Feng approaching, they gave him a glance and showed no disgust or scrutiny, completely ignoring him.
Zhang Feng smoothly entered inside, hearing the vendors’ cries on both sides.
Even in this era, there were fried dough sticks, a change since the Southern Song Dynasty.
Now it’s around the 13th century.
Smelling the aroma of food, he walked along the street ahead.
Upon reaching the corner.
Zhang Feng paused, looking at an old man by the roadside, and politely inquired with clasped hands, "Old man, may I ask where the Yamen is located?"
’This beggar?’ The old man had intended to shoo Zhang Feng away but smiled and replied, "Just follow this path, two streets ahead," upon noting Zhang Feng’s inexplicable manners and demeanor.
"Thank you." Zhang Feng nodded, having learned the location.
After crossing two streets.
The Yamen came into Zhang Feng’s sight.
He quickened his pace slightly, covering the final distance.
Facing the curious Yamen Runners at the entrance, Zhang Feng, unsure of Lord Jin’s whereabouts in the Yamen, feared bursting in might alert them unnecessarily.
Thus, Zhang Feng bluffed, pretending to be a ’disguised inspector’, and spoke out:
"Not bad, not bad, you are diligent and observant, showing how well this county magistrate manages the place."
"You..." The two runners were momentarily stunned, hearing a beggar speak so articulately and exuding an inexplicable official demeanor.
’This person seems not tall, though his face is unclear, he appears a bit young?
Yet... his mannerisms and speech are even more scholarly than those private school teachers in the county... and more dignified than the county magistrate...’
Both mulled over similar thoughts, uncertain about Zhang Feng’s identity.
As they prepared to ask Zhang Feng for credentials or tokens.
"Where is Lord Jin Heng in your county?" Zhang Feng followed with Lord Jin’s name, wanting to catch them off guard.
"The lord... is inside processing affairs." One Yamen Runner replied truthfully, cupping his hands, thinking it no big deal to divulge a location.
"Please, sir!" The other Yamen Runner, taking Zhang Feng for a significant figure, fawned, "Sir, please enter first for tea, while I inform my master."