155: Chapter 155 I can't beat them!

After riding his horse out of the city, Fan Jun couldn't help but sigh in relief.

But he did not head toward the Royal Capital; instead, he made a turn and headed in another direction.

In fact, after taking on the role of pavilion master of the Wanyan Pavilion, he had secretly prepared an escape route for himself.

Because he knew that having mastered too many of the Wei Family's secrets, he would likely not meet a good end, so he had to prepare a way out.

Therefore, he had long prepared several fake identities for himself.

As long as he could evade the pursuit of Marquis Weiwu, with the other Cultivation Techniques in his mind, it was still possible for him to recover some of his cultivation.

Although he could not reach the Blood Refining Realm again, reaching the Bone Refining Realm should not be a problem.

Indeed, the Copy Card had only taken away the Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, and memories of what he had cultivated, but it had not taken away his memories of Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills he had not cultivated.

On the other side.

Fan Jun's subordinate, Xia Zhong, suddenly came to his senses more than two hours after Fan Jun had left.

Since Marquis Weiwu had sent them to Linjiang Prefecture to investigate the killer, and had even let Fan Jun lead the team.

This showed that the Marquis attached great importance to this matter.

Since the Marquis valued this matter so much, why would he urgently recall Lord Fan Jun just one day after they arrived in Linjiang Prefecture?

"Forget it, perhaps I am overthinking, or maybe something major happened in the Royal Capital that requires Lord Fan Jun to handle!"

After all, in his heart, Fan Jun was a Blood Refining expert.

It was not something he, a mere Organ Refining Realm cultivator, could question.

Meanwhile.

At the Zhenwu Division.

Sun Lingyue came to request an audience with Luo Ningshuang, bringing Chen Hu's return gift.

"Chief, this is the return gift from that guy Chen Hu!"

Sun Lingyue presented a brocade box with both hands.

Because Luo Ningshuang had sent a monetary gift but did not attend the feast, Chen Hu had entrusted Sun Lingyue to bring her a return gift.

Luo Ningshuang took the brocade box, placed it on a side table, and asked, "How was the wedding?"

"Very lively!"

Sun Lingyue said, "That guy set up two hundred tables of flowing banquets outside his residence for people to eat. When I left, there were still many people queuing up, waiting to eat. I reckon it won't end even by nightfall."

"In that case, this Gang Leader Chen is indeed quite wealthy!" Luo Ningshuang teased, but a flash of envy flickered in her eyes before vanishing.

"Exactly!"

Sun Lingyue nodded. "That guy is now the gang leader, and he's also doing smuggled salt business with the Huang Family. How could he not be wealthy?"

They chatted for a bit longer.

Then, Luo Ningshuang dismissed Sun Lingyue.

Suddenly, Luo Ningshuang's gaze fell upon the brocade box on the table. She felt a sudden curiosity about what kind of return gift Chen Hu had prepared for her.

So, she opened the brocade box.

She found an object wrapped in yellow silk cloth.

As she unwrapped the yellow silk, a faint, exotic fragrance immediately wafted out.

Instantly, Luo Ningshuang's pupils contracted, and she muttered under her breath, "This is Grade Four exotic beast meat!"

She was, after all, the Chief of the Zhenwu Division, which barely made her a mid-level official. Although she was relatively poor and could not afford Grade Four exotic beast meat, she had still been treated to some by her colleagues.

Therefore, she recognized at a glance that the piece of meat lying in the box was Grade Four exotic beast meat.

Furthermore, this piece of meat was quite heavy, weighing a full five or six catties.

"What is this guy thinking, sending me so much Grade Four exotic beast meat?"

To bribe her?

But she immediately dismissed the idea.

Although the Fierce Tiger Gang's salt smuggling was illegal, such matters were the responsibility of the local government, not her Zhenwu Division.

Therefore, Chen Hu had absolutely no need to bribe her.

Besides, even if he wanted to bribe her, there was no need to use Grade Four exotic beast meat.

After all, a rare cultivation resource like Grade Four exotic beast meat was highly uncommon even in the Provincial Zhenwu Bureau.

Even if one spent a fortune, they might not necessarily get their hands on it.

"Could it be that the guy admires me and wants to curry favor with me?"

Luo Ningshuang thought of another possibility.

Back when she served in the Provincial Zhenwu Bureau, it wasn't that no one pursued her; in fact, there were quite a few.

Those people had also sent her precious gifts, but she had not accepted a single one.

But this time, when Chen Hu sent her Grade Four exotic beast meat, she felt no aversion at all, and even had a desire to accept it.

"Forget it, there's no need to overthink. Besides, this is his return gift. Though it's a bit precious, it's still justifiable!"

Furthermore, her cultivation was already close to Perfection. With this piece of Grade Four exotic beast meat, she would be able to quickly step into the Marrow Refining Realm.

"I'm going into secluded cultivation!"

Closing the brocade box, Luo Ningshuang called over a subordinate to give some instructions, and then entered her room to begin her secluded cultivation.

Time flew by, and it was soon past eight o'clock in the evening.

Outside the Chen Residence, however, it was exceptionally noisy.

At this moment, Ruyi ran in to report to Chen Hu, "Brother Hu, there are still many people waiting outside to eat the flowing banquet. It looks like it won't end even if we wait until midnight!"

Chen Hu swept his Spiritual Sense over the area.

He discovered that the people in the queue were not all poor.

Clearly, most of them had come with the mindset of taking advantage of a freebie.

In his previous life, he had heard such a story.

A certain place suffered a disaster, and the imperial court distributed porridge to relieve the victims.

However, many people who could well afford meals, as well as wealthy households, sent their servants to claim the porridge under false pretenses.

Out of options, the official in charge of disaster relief could only mix sand into the rice porridge.

Chen Hu's purpose in hosting the flowing banquet was simply to give his neighbors and the poor who couldn't afford food a good meal.

Clearly, this had now gone against his original intention.

Those who did not lack food had also rushed over with the mindset of taking advantage of the situation.

He did not want to be such a sucker, treating people to free food and drink only to receive not a shred of gratitude in return.

Thus, he instructed, "Find someone to announce that this is the final round of the flowing banquet. Then, arrange to send ten catties of grain and two catties of meat to every household of our neighbors on Yuquan Street!"

"Yes, Brother Hu. This servant will arrange it right away!"

That night.

Inside the bridal chamber.

Looking at Liu Xiangyue, who possessed a bit more elegance than before and appeared even more beautiful, Chen Hu no longer held back and pounced directly on her.

The next morning.

Chen Hu woke up a full two hours later than usual.

Moreover, after getting up, he felt a faint ache in his kidneys.

It had to be said that after Liu Xiangyue reached the Blood Refining Realm, when he practiced with her again, her combat strength had skyrocketed several times over.

Chen Hu simply could not hold his ground.

But for the sake of his dignity as a man, he could not admit defeat and could only brace himself and push on.

The result was that his kidneys ached faintly.

Hearing the sound of Chen Hu getting up.

Ruyi and Zhizhi knocked on the door and came in, beginning to serve Chen Hu by washing up and dressing him.

Once they finished serving him, Liu Xiangyue arrived carrying a bowl of chicken soup that wafted with the aroma of medicinal herbs. "Husband, this is chicken soup I brewed for you myself. It's very nourishing!"

"Does my body even need nourishing?" Chen Hu was still stubborn. "However, out of respect for my wife's intention, I will drink this bowl of chicken soup!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Hu took the chicken soup and gulped it down.

Seeing this scene, Liu Xiangyue, Ruyi, and Zhizhi all covered their mouths and giggled.

However, Liu Xiangyue indeed had not lied to him.

This bowl of chicken soup was indeed very nourishing.

After drinking it, he felt a warm sensation in both of his kidneys.

"Husband, do you want some more?"

Liu Xiangyue asked with a beaming smile.

"Give me another bowl!" Chen Hu said.

"Please wait a moment, Husband!"

After drinking three big bowls of chicken soup in a row, Chen Hu was finally satisfied.

Then, he got up and went to the study.

Last night, he had been too occupied with the bridal chamber and hadn't even had the time to draw his cards.