Gao Wu: My freshman internship was a battle on the front lines.

Chapter 114 I, Zhang Lizhuo, am convinced.

The wind is still blowing in front of the Nanshan Stele.

The blue dragon's head rests quietly beside the base of the monument, its eyes forever open, gazing southward.

In the incense burner shaped like a black dragon's head, wisps of smoke curled and drifted in the wind.

Three thousand soldiers have lined up, fully equipped and ready to return to Jiangcheng.

But Zhang Lizhuo did not move. He stood in front of the monument, looking at the black stone tablet made from the bones of a black dragon, and at the densely packed names on it, and remained silent for a long time.

Then he turned around, walked up to Ye Feng, and looked at the young man with a serious expression that no one present had ever seen before.

"Brother Ye Feng, I am truly impressed."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was forceful, as if every word had been carefully considered before being uttered.

Cao Keyuan, who was standing not far away, almost dropped his sword when he heard this.

The other two were also astonished.

He had heard of Zhang Lizhuo.

The Inspector of Shanhe Prefecture, who had served for more than a decade, was known for his smooth and worldly-wise nature.

This person speaks to people in a human way and to ghosts in a ghost way, and never easily reveals their true thoughts.

When has he ever been so open and honest with anyone?

Has the sun risen in the west?

Or is there another purpose?

Zhang Lizhuo ignored the three people's reactions and continued talking to himself.

"I came to Jiangcheng this time with a mission."

"The city lord asked me to investigate the matter of Cao Keyuan recommending a nineteen-year-old college freshman as the city lord."

"To be honest, when I first saw the official document, I was even less convinced than the Lord of the Prefecture."

"What?! He broke through from a quasi-martial artist to the fifth rank in just half a month?! What?! He single-handedly killed a peak sixth-rank Heavenly Demon Clan envoy with a single sword strike?"

"I don't believe it at all. Do you think I've never seen a genius? Those unparalleled prodigies from the main campus of the Dao Academy."

"Which one of them wasn't raised on elixirs and rare herbs from a young age? Which one didn't have renowned teachers to guide them, top-tier cultivation techniques to practice, and the best cultivation environment?"

"So, it took them at least three years to go from quasi-martial artists to the fifth rank. Three years versus half a month, how can you expect me to believe that?"

Speaking of it.

Zhang Lizhuo's eyes darted around.

He looked at Ye Feng beside him.

Ye Feng didn't speak, but listened quietly.

He had absolutely no interest in such boastful talk in official circles.

Zhang Lizhuo observed that Ye Feng had no expression.

He guessed that he hadn't flattered Ye Feng enough to win his favor.

So he continued.

"What I was thinking at the time was, these guys in Jiangcheng, they never even bother to think before they start bragging. When I get to Jiangcheng, I'm going to expose their hypocrisy."

"Let's see if they still dare to talk nonsense in front of the Lord of the Manor then."

Zhang Lizhuo laughed first when he said this, but the smile was somewhat bitter.

"And what happened? As soon as my airship arrived over Jiangcheng, I sensed three sixth-tier auras."

"Chief Cao, Director Zhou, and Elder Zhang all broke through to the sixth level at the same time. I stood on the airship, stunned."

"Breaking through to the sixth rank is something that can be attributed to one person's accumulated experience finally paying off, two people breaking through can be attributed to mutual encouragement, but three people breaking through at the same time, what else can I say but that Jiang Cheng's luck has turned around?"

Cao Keyuan coughed lightly and straightened his back.

Director Zhou straightened his crooked glasses and smiled slightly.

Old Zhang took the cigarette out of his mouth, twirled it between his fingers twice, and then put it back in.

They were embarrassed because Ye Feng had brought out the priceless "Yi" Fruit to break through to the sixth level.

"But this is just the beginning," Zhang Lizhuo continued.

"When I arrived at the city lord's mansion, I heard from the adjutant that Ye Feng had led three thousand new soldiers to recapture the fortresses and strongholds. I was immediately anxious."

"Ye Feng was too reckless. Young people don't know their own limitations. That's really what I thought at the time."

"What kind of place are the Southern Mountains? On the surface, there are only three half-step sixth-tier beast kings, but everyone knows that a half-step seventh-tier black dragon is behind them."

"That black dragon has extensive connections, with several half-step seventh-tier clan brothers and quite a few sixth-tier beast kings under his command. Even seventh-tier Venerables dare not venture too deep, and a fifth-tier youth dares to go with three thousand new soldiers? Isn't that just suicide?"

"I was really worried about the safety of those three thousand soldiers!"

His voice became low.

"We searched all the way in the airship, but we couldn't find anyone. I thought you guys had already... you know."

Zhang Lizhuo paused.

"Then we saw the blue dragon."

He raised his head, looked into Ye Feng's eyes, and his voice was slightly tense.

"A blue dragon, half a step into the seventh rank, flew out from the depths of the southern mountains and headed towards Jiangcheng."

"I could sense that aura from dozens of miles away on the airship."

"I know I can't win against a mid-stage sixth-tier opponent who's halfway to the seventh tier. But I didn't hesitate, because behind me is Jiangcheng, and millions of lives."

"Zhou Shou, Director Zhou, and Old Zhang didn't hesitate either; they all rushed forward faster than the last."

"I'm still getting ready, but they've already opened the hatch and are just waiting for the airship to land so they can fight it out."

"Then you appeared. A flash of starlight, and the seventh-level blue dragon fell from the sky, without even a chance to fight back. You beat it so badly that it lay on the ground waiting to die."

Zhang Lizhuo took a deep breath.

"Only at that moment did I believe that everything written in the official documents was true. It wasn't boasting or exaggeration; it was all real."

"Your abilities are even greater than what's written in the official documents."

"And then?" Ye Feng asked.

"And then?" Zhang Lizhuo laughed, a hearty laugh.

He knew that his performance should have earned Ye Feng's approval.

"Later, right in front of me, you circled the airship and said, 'The weather is nice today,' and then you chopped off the Blue Dragon's head with one stroke. I thought to myself, this young man is someone you should never offend."

"It's not because he's strong, it's because he's too cunning. Strength isn't scary, but strength combined with cunning is. Strength combined with cunning and ruthless decisiveness is truly terrifying."

"If you can't treat this kind of person as a friend, are you going to treat them as an enemy?"

Cao Keyuan couldn't help but nod.

He felt the same way so much.

Zhang Lizhuo's expression became even more serious. He looked at Ye Feng and his voice became solemn.

"But what truly impressed me wasn't your ability, but the words you spoke in front of the monument."

"You said that those soldiers who died in battle should have their names engraved on them, and those who didn't have their numbers. You said they should be remembered."

"You said that the people of Jiangcheng have never been spineless. These words are not empty platitudes or hollow slogans, but the truth."

There aren't many people who speak the truth. And even fewer who can speak this kind of truth.

Zhang Lizhuo was silent for a moment, as if he was organizing his thoughts.

"Those so-called geniuses of the Great Summer Heaven and prodigies of the Dao Academy are nothing compared to you, Brother Ye."

"Not to mention that we are far ahead of them in terms of strength, they can practice these things, they can accumulate resources, and they can wait it out."

"But what about the war achievements? We recovered three hundred miles of land, killed three half-step seventh-tier beast kings, killed more than a dozen sixth-tier beast kings, and killed hundreds of thousands of exotic beasts."

"These military achievements are unique in the entire history of the Great Xia Dynasty."

"Of those geniuses and prodigies, how many have ever been on the battlefield? How many have slain alien beasts? How many have personally reclaimed lost territory?"

"While they were practicing their methods behind closed doors in the academy, Brother Ye, you were risking your life on the front lines. That's the difference."

He finished speaking his last sentence, word by word, with unwavering resolve.

"Brother Ye Feng, don't worry, you're going to be the city lord of Jiangcheng. This is my word!"

The wind blew from the direction of the Nanshan Stele, passing over the steles covered with names, making a whooshing sound.

The three thousand soldiers listened quietly, and no one spoke.

Cao Keyuan's eyes reddened again; this was the second time today.

Ye Feng looked at Zhang Lizhuo's face, which was slightly flushed with excitement.

Looking at this inspector from Shanhe Prefecture who had just been saying, "I'm convinced,"...

To be honest, he really appreciated it.

To be recognized, trusted, and followed.

It feels good.

"Brother Zhang." Ye Feng extended his hand.

Zhang Lizhuo was stunned for a moment, then quickly reached out and grasped it.

"If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know. Whether it's Jiangcheng or Shanhe Prefecture, I'll definitely help if I can," Ye Feng said.

Zhang Lizhuo's eyes lit up.

That's exactly what he was waiting for! Once we've established a connection, I'll have a genius little brother of mine too.

Once this little brother soars to great heights, it will be the time when his entire family and relatives rise to prominence.

With Ye Feng's current momentum, breaking through to the sixth, seventh, or even eighth rank is only a matter of time.

By then, Zhang Lizhuo will be "Ye Feng's elder brother".

This identity is much more useful than any kind of inspector's post.

"Don't worry, Brother Ye!" Zhang Lizhuo shook Ye Feng's hand firmly.

"Your business is my business! I'll report the city lord's recommendation to the prefectural lord as soon as I get back. If the prefectural lord disagrees, I'll camp outside his office every day until he agrees!"

Cao Keyuan's lips twitched as he listened.

Is this still the same slick and worldly inspector Shi?

Is this still the same Zhang Lizhuo who speaks to people in a way that suits them and never easily reveals his true thoughts?

Judging from his "heart-to-heart" attitude in front of Ye Feng, anyone who didn't know better would think he was Ye Feng's long-lost brother.

Director Zhou pushed up his glasses and said in a low voice, "This Lord Zhang's mood changes faster than turning the pages of a book."

Old Zhang took the cigarette out of his mouth: "What book are you flipping through? This is clearly Sichuan opera face-changing."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Ye Feng exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhang Lizhuo, then took out two jade boxes from his spatial ring, one white and one silver.

"Brother Zhang, this is a gift for you. This Blood Soul Fruit and these three Qi and Blood Fruits are just a small token of my appreciation."

Zhang Lizhuo was about to decline.

He has received a lot of gifts during his many years as an inspector.

But when he saw what was inside the jade box, he could no longer push it out.

Blood Soul Fruit is a rare treasure used by martial artists of the fourth rank and above to enhance their qi and blood. One fruit is worth at least hundreds of millions.

Although the Qi and Blood Fruit is cheaper, it still costs several million yuan per fruit.

These three things combined amount to four or five hundred million. He served as an inspector his entire life, saving every penny he could without eating or drinking, and he still hadn't accumulated four or five hundred million.

"This...this is too valuable..." Zhang Lizhuo's voice trembled slightly, unsure whether to accept it or not.

"This is a gift for Brother Zhang, not for Inspector Shi." Ye Feng stuffed the jade box into his hand.

"Brother Zhang has helped me so much, this little token is nothing."

Zhang Lizhuo looked at the jade box in his hand, his eyes reddening slightly.

Having spent so many years in officialdom, he had witnessed countless instances of the fickleness and warmth of human relationships.

Some people give him gifts to curry favor with him, some give him gifts to take advantage of him, and some give him gifts to shut him up.

But Ye Feng is not.

Ye Feng doesn't need to flatter him, doesn't need to use him, and doesn't need to shut him up.

This young man simply considered him a friend. He hadn't felt this way in many years.

"Brother Ye!" Zhang Lizhuo's voice was choked with emotion. "What am I supposed to say?"

"No need to say anything," Ye Feng smiled.

"Take care on your way back, Brother Zhang. Let me know you're safe when you get to Shanhe Prefecture."

Zhang Lizhuo nodded vigorously, carefully put the jade box into his bosom, and kept it close to his body.

"Don't worry, Brother Ye, I'll handle your matter perfectly!"

"Ten days later is the annual performance review meeting, where the city lords and garrison commanders of each city will go to Shanhe Prefecture City to report on their work."

Come when the time comes, I'll be waiting for you in the prefectural city.

Zhang Lizhuo looked at Ye Feng and Cao Keyuan with a mysterious smile, "I'll give the Lord a surprise then."

"What surprise?" Cao Keyuan asked.

Zhang Lizhuo smiled without saying a word, then turned and walked towards the airship. After taking a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Ye Feng.

"Brother Ye," he called out.

"Um?"

"See you in Shanhe Prefecture in ten days."

"See you at Shanhe Prefecture."