Chapter Twenty-Five: The Dinner Gathering

County Officer Feng sat upright at his desk, reviewing official documents. Upon hearing that his servant had invited the guest in, he set aside his brush and paperwork, rising to greet him.

“Please, Master Qi!” Officer Feng smiled, gesturing toward the small round table placed in the center of his study.

“You are too kind, Lord Feng!” Qi Jun replied, saluting with the scholar’s gesture. He followed Officer Feng’s indication and saw a pot of wine and several elegantly prepared dishes arranged on the table.

As the fragrant aroma of wine and food reached him, Qi Jun’s stomach growled in response, which made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

“Haha, no need for formalities! Please, help yourself!” Officer Feng chuckled at Qi Jun’s discomfort, signaling that he could sit and eat.

Qi Jun had only eaten some wild vegetables and millet cakes at Liu Kui’s house, and after running around all day, his hunger made him dizzy and weak. With Officer Feng’s invitation, he wasted no time with further pleasantries, dragged a stool over, sat down, and eagerly began to eat.

Officer Feng took a seat across from Qi Jun, stroking his beard thoughtfully for a moment before picking up the wine pot and filling the two empty cups on the table.

“Master Qi, please put down your chopsticks. Shall we share a toast?” Officer Feng raised his cup and looked at Qi Jun.

“Ah…” Qi Jun quickly set down his chopsticks, swallowing the large piece of meat he was chewing, patting his chest as he accepted the cup from Officer Feng.

Officer Feng covered his face with his sleeve as he drank the clear brew, then showed Qi Jun the empty cup. Qi Jun, seeing this, drank his own in one gulp. The attending servant immediately stepped forward to refill both cups.

The wine was milder than those he had tasted in later years, with a faint fragrance of rice.

“Though Master Qi is a scholar, he displays quite the spirit of a man of the world!” Officer Feng was surprised by Qi Jun’s bold drinking, having assumed he was not skilled with wine.

He did not dwell on it, though, and placed a piece of meat in Qi Jun’s bowl, frowning slightly as he continued, “There is another matter at hand. I wonder if you might assist me?”

“Oh, how many crossbows do you need? I can start making them tomorrow.” Qi Jun, busy eating, assumed Officer Feng was referring again to the manufacture of crossbows and readily agreed.

“Not that matter. I have another important request.” Officer Feng paused, then waved his hand in denial. He glanced at the servant standing nearby, who nodded, withdrew from the study, and closed the door behind him.

Qi Jun sensed the gravity of what was about to be discussed and, feeling a bit anxious, set his chopsticks aside and looked at Officer Feng attentively.

“Do you know martial arts?” Officer Feng suddenly asked a question that left Qi Jun utterly bewildered.

“Why does Lord Feng ask? I have always been devoted to my studies and never practiced martial arts,” Qi Jun replied quickly, though his heart raced with anxiety.

He thought swiftly, recalling the conflict in the prison with the jailer Li Youtian. Perhaps the guards had reported this to Officer Feng, prompting his suspicion.

“Master Qi, I hope you will answer honestly,” Officer Feng stared into Qi Jun’s eyes, his gaze intimidating. “Do you think Li Youtian, whom you knocked unconscious, is an ordinary man?”

Qi Jun paused, a flicker of surprise and doubt in his eyes.

“A seasoned soldier, retired from the battlefield, was easily toppled by a scholar with no strength to bind a chicken. If that scholar knew nothing of martial arts, would it be possible?” Officer Feng, noticing the subtle change in Qi Jun’s expression, felt his suspicion confirmed. He stood and moved beside Qi Jun, intensifying his tone.

Qi Jun’s breathing quickened. He had presumed Li Youtian was merely a bully, unaware of his deeper background.

Reflecting further on their fight, Qi Jun realized he had indeed acted with lethal intent; his moves may have been crude, but he had used all his strength to fell Li Youtian in a single blow.

Qi Jun silently berated himself for his carelessness, regretting his impulsiveness and vowing to be more cautious with Officer Feng, whose cunning surpassed even that of Magistrate Song. With his limited experience, he knew working for such a man could lead to ruin without him even realizing it.

Officer Feng’s smile faded, and he set his cup heavily on the table. Qi Jun’s heart skipped a beat, sensing that Officer Feng was about to escalate matters.

He expected violence, but was mistaken.

Officer Feng clapped his hands, and the servant who had left earlier promptly re-entered, standing respectfully by the door.

“As County Officer of Anqiang, it is my duty to protect the people and root out bandits. Yet I am ashamed!” Officer Feng declared, producing a small medicine bottle from his sleeve and fixing his gaze on Qi Jun. “Today your family suffered a fright, and I feel deeply sorry. This is a calming pill, meant to soothe the heart, nourish the spirit, and strengthen the body. Consider it a token of my goodwill.”

As he spoke, the servant stepped forward, took the bottle from Officer Feng, nodded, and withdrew.

“Stop! What are you doing?!” Qi Jun slammed the table and sprang to his feet, eyes blazing with fury as he gritted his teeth and demanded an explanation.

It had never occurred to Qi Jun that Officer Feng would resort to targeting Yunfei to force him into confession.

To Qi Jun, Officer Feng’s so-called calming pill was nothing but poison.

“Master Qi, this is the County Officer’s residence. Do not forget your position!” Officer Feng lowered his voice, narrowed his eyes, and drained his cup in one gulp.

“Tell me! What do you want me to do?” Qi Jun clenched his fists, forcing himself to suppress his anger as he asked again.

He longed to seize Officer Feng by the throat and force him to hand over the antidote, but he knew he could not act rashly. If he did, not only he and Yunfei, but all of Dongling Village would be doomed.

“Very well! Let me ask you once more—do you know martial arts?” Officer Feng’s lips curled into a faint smile as he rose and stood beside Qi Jun, hands behind his back.

Qi Jun was silent for a moment, then nodded in reluctant admission.

Officer Feng turned, surprised, and examined Qi Jun closely, admiration evident in his eyes.

At that moment, the servant returned, handing the medicine bottle back to Officer Feng.

“Is it done?” Officer Feng asked, glancing sideways.

“Yes, Master. I watched her take the medicine,” the servant replied with a bow.

“Feng Qinian! You scoundrel, if you have the courage, come at me!” Qi Jun, hearing their exchange, felt a surge of blood and sorrow. Yunfei’s gentle figure flashed before his eyes, making him feel as if he were dreaming.

Officer Feng frowned but ignored Qi Jun, instead instructing the servant, “Axin, go fetch Deng Fang.”

Qi Jun stared at Officer Feng, weighing his options. At this point, perhaps it was best to seize Officer Feng and force out the antidote to save Yunfei.

Officer Feng seemed to see through his thoughts, shaking his head with a cold laugh. “Young man, do not act rashly. I mean you no harm. I merely wish to see your true abilities.”

“My true abilities?” Qi Jun was taken aback, gritting his teeth. “If that’s so, Lord, speak plainly. Why involve innocents?”

“Otherwise, how could I know the full measure of your strength?” Officer Feng stroked his beard, his eyes glinting with shrewdness.

Just then, footsteps sounded in the courtyard outside, growing closer. The servant Axin led in a tall, dark-skinned youth who entered briskly.

“Uncle, what’s so urgent this late? I was already in bed…” the youth complained, yawning and sounding a little annoyed. He also noticed Qi Jun, who was roughly his own age, standing across from Officer Feng—while Qi Jun was sizing him up in turn.