In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 75 A Startling Statement

"Young Master Chen, you've made good progress in martial arts lately!"

At this moment, Li Hu, who had finished his boxing match, walked over and carefully observed Chen Dao while saying something thoughtfully.

Li Ying was only a ninth-rank martial artist, so he could only observe the surface of Chen Dao's changes. However, Li Hu, who had already advanced to the seventh-rank martial artist, could sense the remarkable power of Chen Dao's blood and qi.

Such powerful blood and qi is something that ordinary people cannot possess. Moreover... when we last met, Chen Dao's body was not even as strong as an ordinary person's.

In less than twenty days, Chen Dao had transformed from a skinny boy into a ninth-rank martial artist. Li Hu was shocked and almost thought that Chen Dao was a martial arts genius.

However, upon further reflection, Li Hu dismissed this guess. The reason Chen Dao was able to advance to the ninth rank so quickly was probably related to the Blood Feather Chicken, and had little to do with his own talent.

"It's just a little progress, the curator is too kind."

Chen Dao responded with a smile, placing the chicken coop he was carrying on the table: "Master Li, I brought three Blood Feather Chickens this time."

Li Hu's eyes lit up quickly. He had personally tested the effects of the Blood Feather Chicken, and it was even better than he had imagined. In less than twenty days, it had allowed him to break through his limits and become one of the top seventh-rank martial artists in Taiping County. Its effects were many times better than those of medicinal herbs.

Therefore, Li Hu's excitement upon seeing Chen Dao take out the Blood Feather Chicken was beyond words.

"Young Master Chen."

Li Hu tentatively asked, "Isn't the number of Bloodfeathered Chickens we brought this time a bit too small?"

"Master, I have no choice!"

Chen Dao feigned distress, saying, "These Blood Feather Chickens were caught in the Cangmang Mountains. The owner knows that the Cangmang Mountains are extremely dangerous and prey is hard to find. Being able to catch three Blood Feather Chickens at once is already very lucky."

Li Hu only believed half of what Chen Dao said. It was true that Cangmang Mountain was dangerous and that prey was hard to find, but to say that Chen Dao only had three Blood Feather Chickens was nonsense.

It's a very simple principle: if the number of Blood Feather Chickens is really that small, then how did Chen Dao become a martial artist?

We can't possibly rely on buying medicinal herbs, can we?

Even if Chen Dao could afford the exorbitant price, the effects of the medicinal herbs wouldn't allow him to progress in martial arts so quickly.

"That's fine."

Li Hu thought for a moment, but didn't press for details. Instead, he said, "Xiao Ying, go and get 60 taels of silver and give it to Chen Xiaoyou. We'll buy all three of these Blood Feather Chickens."

"Okay, Dad."

Before long, 60 taels of silver were handed to Chen Dao, and the transaction was completed smoothly. Chen Dao declined Li Hu and his daughter's invitation to stay for dinner and left the Fuhu Martial Arts School directly.

As soon as he stepped out of the martial arts school, a middle-aged man in a long robe walked towards him. Chen Dao glanced at the man casually, seemingly lost in thought.

The middle-aged man had a refined appearance and possessed a very special aura...

Chen Dao didn't know how to describe this kind of temperament, he just felt... it was a bit like some leaders he had seen in the news in his previous life.

The middle-aged man had obviously noticed Chen Dao as well. After nodding, he said directly to Wei Ge, who was guarding the gate, "Please inform Master Li that Xu Zhiwen has come to visit."

Wei Ge glanced at the distinguished-looking middle-aged man, then turned and went inside to report.

Chen Dao boarded a donkey cart and left the Fuhu Martial Arts School with Chen Da and the others.

Not long after Chen Dao and the others left, Wei Ge hurriedly returned and respectfully said to Xu Zhiwen, "Your Excellency, please come in."

Clearly, Wei Ge had already learned Xu Zhiwen's identity from Li Hu, which is why his attitude changed drastically and he became respectful.

Xu Zhiwen nodded to Wei Ge, walked straight into the martial arts hall, and after passing through the main hall, he saw Li Hu and his daughter in the backyard.

"Please forgive me for not being able to come out to greet the magistrate upon his arrival."

Li Hu apologized, saying that the county magistrate's status was definitely higher than his, the owner of the Fuhu Pavilion, and that he should have gone out to greet him. However, he had been busy hiding the Blood Feather Chicken and it was not appropriate for him to go out directly to greet him.

"It doesn't matter."

Xu Zhiwen didn't seem to care about this. He sat down at the stone table with Li Hu and said, "I want to eliminate the Zhu family. I wonder if the master can lend me a hand?"

"!"

A huge exclamation mark flashed through Li Hu's mind. He was shocked, never expecting that the county magistrate would utter such astonishing words upon his arrival.

Even Li Ying, standing next to the two, was stunned. The elimination of the Zhu family…

The Zhu family has existed in Taiping County for a century. A family that has survived for a century and is deeply rooted in Taiping County is not something that can be easily eradicated. In fact, the previous magistrate, Xu Zhiwen, had also thought about taking action against the three major families, but the result was that the magistrate died suddenly, and then it was Xu Zhiwen's turn to take office.

"Your Excellency must be joking."

Li Hu said with a serious expression, "If this gets out, neither of us will be able to live in peace."

Li Hu didn't have much affection for the three major families in Taiping County; in fact, he disliked them more than he liked them. But that didn't mean he wanted to be their enemy.

It's important to understand that within the small territory of Taiping County, the three major families have far greater influence than the Fuhu Boxing Gym. Although the three families occasionally have minor conflicts, they are ultimately united. If the Zhu family is harmed...

The other two will definitely help, and then not only will his Fuhu Boxing Gym be unable to continue operating, but he and Li Ying will also be in danger.

"I never imagined that Master Li would be so cowardly."

Xu Zhiwen used a provocation tactic.

Li Hu remained unmoved: "Your Excellency, there's no need to provoke me. I am certainly bold, but I dare not make an enemy of the three great families!"

"Is it?"

Xu Zhiwen gave Li Hu a deep look. The earlier probing had made him realize that Li Hu was not of one mind with the three major families: "What if I said I was confident that I could eliminate the Zhu family?"

"Where did the county magistrate get his confidence?"

Li Hu shook his head, not believing Xu Zhiwen's words. Xu Zhiwen, the seemingly noble county magistrate, was just a figurehead. He couldn't even control the clerks and constables in the county government, so how could he have the ability to eliminate the Zhu family?

"Is this table, Master, made of bluestone?"

Xu Zhiwen did not directly answer Li Hu's question. Instead, he looked at the table and suddenly grabbed one corner of the round table and exerted force!

"Crack!"

A piece of the table made of bluestone broke off instantly.

This scene immediately widened the eyes of Li Hu and Li Ying.

Bluestone is a precious stone in the Xia Kingdom. It is not only beautiful in color, but also extremely hard. Even if you hit it with an iron hammer, it may not be easily damaged. However, Xu Zhiwen simply broke off a corner of the table made of the polished bluestone with a casual flick of his wrist...