Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 222 - 215: Governor of Lingzhou, Hu Feipan

Chapter 222: Chapter 215: Governor of Lingzhou, Hu Feipan

Zhang San gave some money to the beggars around him along the way, simply handing out ten or eight copper coins to each beggar. Moments later, the two thousand copper coins he had just taken out were all gone.

Then, he had no choice but to ask Big Head Wang to give some more, before he himself walked towards a small beggar occupying a spot alone in the distance.

Meanwhile, Zhang San also noticed that these beggars who came up to beg from him, took the money and left, with almost none of them turning back pretending to have just seen him and reaching out for more money.

This beggar had higher morals than some people.

As Zhang San thought this, he reached the small beggar, crouched down to look at the pale-faced child, and placed nine copper coins in his bowl.

"Why are you alone here?"

"I am not alone."

The small beggar’s tone was very indifferent and even when speaking, a chill seemed to emanate from him.

Zhang San took out nine more copper coins and asked, "May I inquire about something? The governor of Fuling City is called Hu Feipan, right? What kind of person is he?"

The small beggar glanced at a skinny dog sitting at the entrance of a pharmacy in the distance but did not speak.

Zhang San laughed and counter-asked, "A corrupt official?"

"He is worse than a dog."

The small beggar’s voice remained cold, his words piercingly chill.

Zhang San smiled and nodded, stood up, and placed another nine copper coins in the small beggar’s bowl.

"Go get something to eat; you look pale."

With that, Zhang San turned and walked away.

Zhang San knew that perhaps other beggars might be timid and say nothing, but that child probably would not have any reservations.

But no sooner had Zhang San taken a few steps than Big Head Wang, having finished distributing the money, came up and asked, "Brother San, what were you doing squatting there talking to yourself just now?"

Zhang San was startled, turned around, and saw the small beggar looking down at the twenty-seven copper coins in his bowl, then turned his head to look at Big Head Wang again.

"There was a small beggar over there, didn’t you see him?"

"There wasn’t anyone! Just a wall and an empty, broken bowl on the ground."

Zhang San was startled again, turned back to confirm, but indeed found only an empty, broken bowl on the ground.

Zhang San’s eyebrows knitted together, feeling increasingly that something was off about Fuling City.

Soon, Zhang San led his men to the Governor Mansion.

They had hardly reached the main entrance when they were stopped by the guards.

"Where are you from? Do you know what place this is and yet you dare to enter? Do you have legs long enough to walk in here?"

Although the guard at the door had a face full of pockmarks, these pockmarks seemed to form small characters, each either depicting disdain or rejection.

Zhang San bowed and saluted, "Acting Military Chief Zhang San from the Town Martial Office, requesting to see Governor Hu."

At these words, the guard burst into laughter.

"What status does our master have, and you think you, an acting chief from the Town Martial Office, can just see him? Forget about acting or not, even if you were a principal officer or an officer, it wouldn’t work, you know?"

Seeing such arrogance from the other side, Zhang San no longer continued discussing and turned to ask Big Head Wang, "These two should also be martial artists, right?"

Big Head Wang nodded at the head and whispered, "Since they can serve as guards, naturally they are martial artists."

The guard overheard this and couldn’t help but laugh.

"Although we haven’t entered the Primordial Qi Realm, we are still quite flattered by your compliment. But even so, you can’t just walk in here."

As the other party spoke, a hand gently patted the money pouch at their waist.

Clearly, entering the Governor Mansion was also a matter of buying a "ticket".

Zhang San ignored the two guards and continued speaking to Big Head Wang, "Since they are martial artists, they are under the jurisdiction of the Town Martial Office, so I let you take down these two. Any problems with that?"

Big Head Wang nodded with a smile, "No problem at all, it’s just... their strength and realm are vastly different, I’m worried that during the process we might accidentally kill them."

Zhang San waved his hand and said, "No problem, I am the chief here, I can testify that they were killed because they resisted fiercely."

Meanwhile, numerous martial artists from the Town Martial Office also rested their hands on the horizontal blades at their waists.

Seeing this, both guards were terrified.

One of them, the smarter one, patted his fellow guard and immediately rushed in to report.

Zhang San smirked and did not bother with the other guard, leading his men into the Governor Mansion.

Soon, the steward inside came out to greet them, immediately ushering Zhang San and his group into the living room.

"Please wait a moment, our Governor is currently handling official duties and will join you shortly."

Zhang San thanked the steward with a smile, then glanced around the richly decorated living room.

It must be said, this living room stood in stark contrast to the throngs of beggars within the city.

At the same time, Zhang San also worried whether the other party would leave them hanging.

Unexpectedly, in less than a quarter of an hour, Hu Feipan arrived.

"I apologize, very sorry. I’m exceedingly occupied with public duties and couldn’t get away!"

Zhang San, who was admiring the living room, heard the voice at the door and immediately turned around to greet the newcomer with a bow.

What he saw, however, was Governor Hu, dressed in casual clothes patched in many places and with slightly curly hair, stepping inside and greeting everyone in the living room.

At that moment, the patches on Governor Hu’s clothes contrasted sharply with the gold-plated cranes carved on the pillars of the living room.

As an official, Lu Qingquan gave Zhang San the impression of being foolish.

Although Lu Qingquan was a petty person, he could not hide it, and just one glance made it obvious. Perhaps, this was because most people in the Town Martial Office were martial artists, rarely engaging in scheming, making Lu Qingquan’s considerations somewhat naive.

Yet at this moment, Hu Feipan, appearing flushed and oily-lipped, likely changed into this patchwork outfit specifically to meet them.

With such attire, whatever the Town Martial Office wanted to force him into, he would be able to negotiate his position.

After a round of insincere pleasantries with Hu Feipan, Zhang San got straight to the point.

"We are here to capture a criminal. This person’s surname is Lv, skilled in disguise, and is a hefty man, hiding somewhere within Fuling City. However, we are unclear about his exact location, which is why we’ve specifically come to disturb Governor Hu, seeking assistance."

Hu Feipan appeared to suddenly understand, but Zhang San keenly noticed, right when he mentioned the surname Lv, a flash of panic appeared in Hu Feipan’s eyes, but it was quickly masked with a fake smile.

Did Hu Feipan know that Lv Dagen was in Fuling City?

Or was Lv Dagen in his custody?

After Zhang San finished speaking, he smiled broadly, awaiting Hu Feipan’s response.

Meanwhile, he secretly employed a technique from the Name Punishment Technique — Xiezhi’s Questioning.

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[Note 69]Divine Beast Trivia

Xiezhi (xiè zhì), a mythological creature from ancient Chinese lore.

Xiezhi is capable of discerning wrong from right, symbolizing bravery and justice. It emblemizes judiciary transparency, fairness, and enlightenment of the world.