Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 70: They are All Thousand-Year-Old Foxes

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: They are All Thousand-Year-Old Foxes

His eyes concealed barely perceptible anger; to think he was being fooled with lies so absurd not even children would believe them. Did they really take him for a fool?

Ever since he arrived at Qingshui County, this was the first time he had been so disgraced. Such an ungrateful wretch, after all the kindness he had shown!

Human nature is just like this. While the County Magistrate pondered these issues, he would only remember how he once spoke favorably of Jiang Feng, how he sided with Jiang Feng, but never would he consider that without his indulgence, how could Xue Wuwei have been so lawless in Qingshui County?

How could the young man in front of him have almost lost his life? If he had intervened more, how could he have fallen to this outcome?

Corruption, greed, selfishness, everything revolving around self-interest—this is the world today, no, perhaps it’s the unspoken rule tacitly accepted by those in power.

Just because indulging Xue Wuwei brought benefits and wealth from the Yan Family without tarnishing their reputation, they indulged him. As for the victims?

Buried in the earth, who would remember who lies beneath the tombstones?

Even the victims’ families would only remember the shiny silver compensations and the pretentious care and condolences from the authorities, who conveniently took some coins from the hefty fines to buy some trifling gifts to present at the door.

If you wish to accept them, good. If not...

You will never get another chance in this lifetime.

Thus, in the end, everything would always seem to result in everyone’s joyous satisfaction.

But what happens when this tacit rule is ruthlessly shattered, and when no one can do anything about the one who broke the rule?

It’s exactly like County Magistrate Sun right now.

Paranoid, crazed, furious, his face livid as if he were the victim.

All Jiang Feng did was lift a finger, and whoosh—a brand-new teacup flew straight over from the next table!

"Foundation Establishment!?"

This scene caused a sudden change in the faces of everyone present, but the person in the middle seemed to have some discernment and quickly signaled the two people beside him to remain calm.

"No, that’s not right, it’s around Qi Refinement Level Six, but how is he doing this?"

Yet, this intimidation was already sufficient. To be honest, Jiang Feng wasn’t taking these three very seriously; aside from the person in the middle who might be a little difficult to handle, the other two were no different from wooden stakes.

He didn’t continue the pretense, or to put it another way, Jiang Feng couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore.

They were all old foxes who had lived for a millennium; what’s the point of playing with ghost stories? Right now, the only thing puzzling him was why County Magistrate Sun was so certain it was his doing.

You should know that he has always been meticulous every time he made a move, and ordinary people would never suspect he had already embarked on the Cultivation path.

He didn’t dwell further on this topic, instead directly steering the conversation back to the original issue.

"Lord County Magistrate, in your view, how should personal grudges be resolved? Should one appeal to the authorities?"

"..."

Faced with the young man’s blatant mockery, he didn’t know how to respond.

If it were anyone else, he could puff out his chest and say righteously, "Why not report to the authorities? I have always enforced the law impartially. What grievances could not be settled by me?"

But he dared not say these words to Jiang Feng, because he had always known that Jiang Feng’s brushes with death were all attempts by Xue Wuwei, and even now, he had more than enough evidence in his hand.

But.

To use this evidence to bring Mr. Xue to justice, or to use it to extort even more from the Yan Family, he did not hesitate to choose the latter.

"Lord County Magistrate, be assured, I hold no grudge whatsoever."

"Sacrificing such a small figure in exchange for a large amount of wealth and resources, I too would make that deal without hesitation, acting as if nothing had happened is quite normal."

"But..."

The youth’s tone grew colder by the word.

"When it happens to me, Lord County Magistrate pretends nothing has happened; when it falls upon the Xue Family, troops are rallied to bring charges. It seems Lord County Magistrate finds his official duties too leisurely."

Sun, the County Magistrate, found himself utterly unable to argue with the seemingly young boy before him.

Especially since the other party was staring straight at him, through those pitch-black eyes he felt as though he could see the many people murdered by Xue Wuwei lunging at him with bared teeth and claws, cursing him, sending shivers down his spine.

Even a faint killing intent seemed to emanate from the other side.

"Indeed, if the Xue Family really did hire someone to commit murder, then they have brought the consequences upon themselves."

Under tremendous pressure, Sun, the County Magistrate, ultimately chose to soften his stance.

It wasn’t that he was particularly fearful of the boy before him, because no matter what, he was an official of the government. You, Jiang Feng, may have learned a thing or two, but if you kill me, no, if you dare touch anyone in this government office,

All the masters from the State City would come to take your life.

The reason for his relenting was actually in line with what Jiang Feng had just said: what’s done is done, those who are dead cannot offer him any value.

Now to continue to press this young man would only drive him further to the opposing side, and even push the Yan Family to become adversaries as well.

"Your insight is commendable, my Lord."

Since the other party had offered a way out, he, Jiang, not being an unreasonable person, displayed a hypocritical smile. Now it was his turn to take the initiative to pick up the teapot and fill the teacup.

This is why he desired to pursue the Immortal Path.

As you can see, this is an era where the powerless are at the mercy of others; only when one has sufficient strength can one earn the respect of others.

With a slight cough, Sun, the County Magistrate, continued: "I have questioned everyone from top to bottom at Ethereal Violet Pavilion, and most of them encountered Young Master Jiang last night. This morning they saw Young Master Jiang rise from the Su Yi Pavilion Master’s bed, so it seems this matter has nothing to do with you."

"Yes, my Lord indeed has the wisdom of an oracle; had it not been for what you’ve said, I wouldn’t have even known of Xue Ming’s death. Although I do not know who delivered the fatal blow, ultimately it has avenged me."

"Well, that settles a worry of Young Master Jiang. I knew long ago that the Xue Family harbored ill intentions, and I have been covertly searching for their evidence, but to little avail."

Suddenly, they began to play a dual tune.

The three constables standing behind consciously stepped back; having followed the Lord County Magistrate for many years, they knew his temperament well.

Yet they hadn’t expected this young man to wield such great influence.

"Now, it seems the murderer is someone else, but I don’t know who. Alas, if this murderer is not apprehended, what will become of Qingshui County, and what shall I do..."

Faced with the Lord County Magistrate’s predicament, the youth immediately knew this was his cue to help find an excuse, thus after ruminating for a moment.

"Lord County Magistrate, I might have a clue."

"Oh? Let’s hear it?"

"It’s like this, I heard that the old master of the Xue Family recently acquired a Body Tempering Pill for his son. Considering the recent deaths of so many masters, could it be they murdered out of covetousness for the Body Tempering Pill?"

"That’s indeed possible."

"First, kill the sole heir of the Xue Family, and upon discovering that the Body Tempering Pill isn’t on him, shift the focus on Xue Ming, intentionally luring him out of the city to kill him and snatch the treasure before making an escape. The culprit’s cultivation must be unfathomably deep."

"It must be so!"