If handled well, Wang Ji would certainly be heavily relied upon by the Vermilion Bird Emperor in the days to come, so long as he makes no major mistakes. If handled poorly, I’m afraid his official career might have reached its peak.
Having received the Holy Decree, Wang Ji now had backing and confidence.
Even the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he could knock down like a dead dog.
Worried that Chu Feng might suffer torment in prison, Wang Ji dared not delay and immediately rushed to the government prison with the Holy Decree to rescue him.
Chu Feng achieved a complete victory in the Alchemy Battle against Pang Ancestor Alchemy Pavilion, becoming famous throughout Vermilion Bird Imperial City. With his newfound fame, there were indeed many who sought his help in Alchemy.
The Xiong Family is a major clan within the Vermilion Bird Empire, and they are engaged in the business of medicinal materials.
They were considered part of the same circle as Longevity Hall.
Miss Xiong had always wanted to save her mother, and had previously gone to the Wan Jian Sect Main Lineage with a high-and-mighty attitude, hoping to have Chu Feng save her mother. But she was proudly rejected by Chu Feng.
She had been holding back her anger, brooding over it, and her annoyance with Chu Feng had reached an extreme.
When she learned that a new Longevity Hall had opened up in Vermilion Bird Imperial City and had defeated the most formidable Pang Ancestor Alchemy Pavilion, she was immediately ecstatic.
"Hmph, I always said there are countless skilled Pill Masters in the world. There are even more who are more powerful than the Eternal Life Pill Master. This Longevity Hall is indeed very impressive!"
Upon receiving the news, Xiong Guansui immediately sent her personal Maid, carrying her visiting card, to Longevity Hall, hoping to invite the distinguished Pill Master of Longevity Hall back to treat her mother.
Not long after, however, the servant she had sent ran back in a panic.
"Qiuxiang, why have you come back alone? Where is the Pill Master from Longevity Hall?" Xiong Guansui’s face looked somewhat displeased.
She muttered to herself, wondering if those Pill Masters, who were all so prideful, had refused to come so easily.
"Miss, don’t mention it. As soon as this maid arrived at Longevity Hall, I saw that a bunch of government officers had arrested the Pill Master of Longevity Hall and taken them away."
Hearing this astonishing news, Xiong Guansui was extremely shocked.
"What was the reason for arresting the Pill Master of Longevity Hall? Did you find out which government officers it was from which government office?" The Xiong Family still wielded some power in Vermilion Bird Imperial City. Xiong Guansui thought this was an excellent opportunity.
As long as she could bail out that Pill Master from Longevity Hall, he would owe her a favor, and would naturally be ready to fulfill any request she had in turn.
"It is said that Pang Ancestor Alchemy Pavilion used its influence on official channels to suppress Longevity Hall, their competitor. As for those government officers, they claimed they were from the Ministry of Revenue. It’s very likely they were underlings of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."
Qiuxiang reported all the intelligence she knew in detail.
"Just as I expected. Pang Ancestor Alchemy Pavilion has a close relationship with the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Using this connection to pressure Longevity Hall this time doesn’t come as a surprise."
Xiong Guansui was not just an ornamental piece, she was well-informed about the various powers within the Imperial City.
"Qiuxiang, go and summon Gongsun’s Housekeeper right away, tell him to accompany me to the government office! I will personally ensure that the Pill Master from Longevity Hall is bailed out."
Xiong Guansui, accompanied by Gongsun’s Housekeeper, found out which government office Chu Feng was detained in and immediately set out for the rescue.
Because Chu Feng was merely a commoner and, despite being esteemed as a Pill Master, his status in the Vermilion Bird Imperial City was extremely low.
Mainly because he had only arrived a few days ago and had shallow roots.
The government office that detained him was the lowly North City Government Office, which was equivalent to a local police station.
In the dim and cramped prison cell, Chu Feng was shackled by heavy Mysterious Iron chains, locked to the wall. His buttocks had been struck thirty times with a heavy plank, the flesh a bloody blur, nearly shattering his hip bones, causing him to shiver in pain.
What’s more, he was bound to the wall by these wolf-like government officers, forced to stand on tiptoes, the agony easily imaginable.
"This kid’s bones are indeed tough! He took thirty strikes and was locked up by us against the wall, yet he didn’t make a peep!"
"Hehe, having offended the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, even if his bones were made of steel, he’d still turn into a pile of mud!"
The two prison guards were drinking outside, looking at Chu Feng with cold eyes.
Just then, footsteps approached from outside.
The two guards straightened up, rising to their feet to look outside.
"It’s Manager Pang from the Pang Ancestor Alchemy Pavilion and the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue themselves! Let’s hurry to greet them!" The two guards immediately lowered their posture, bowed and stooped, with a flattering smile on their faces.
"Greetings, Lord Zhang! Governor Bai!"
The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue’s name was Zhang Fugui, which was an excellent name, and as befitting his name, he prospered and lived an exceedingly comfortable life.
Zhang Fugui was a Third-rank official of the court, while Governor Bai was the boss of this government office. The guards were performing the rites of kneeling. Manager Pang, however, did not hold an official position and was a person of influence in society. Hence, the two guards only gave a slight bow and a salute.
"You may dispense with the formalities!"
Zhang Fugui appeared to be around fifty years old, an age considered the peak for men. He was secure in his career, steady in disposition, and had a wealth of experience.
If nothing unexpected happened, after another two years, Zhang Fugui would simply wait for the Minister of Revenue to retire, and he could advance further and ascend to the Minister’s seat.
Occupied with an important position and wielding much power, a natural aura of officialdom exuded effortlessly from Zhang Fugui.
With a supercilious gaze that swept around, his eyes sharp, he looked down upon all living beings.
"Old Pang, we have been old friends for a long time. This lad from the Longevity Hall dared to compete with you. Today, I, this Vice Minister, will decide for you. If you want him dead, he will die. If you want him alive, he can live."
Zhang Fugui’s gaze landed on Chu Feng inside the cell.
Looking as if he was staring at an insignificant ant that he could easily crush to death.
Indeed, a commoner, in front of this Third-rank official, really wasn’t much different from an ant.
Since ancient times, there is a saying, "Commoners must not contend with officials."
For officials belong to the privileged class, holding power in their hands.
To grant life or to take it away, they can easily decide the fate and life or death of a commoner.
"Haha, thank you very much! With Vice Minister Zhang here to support me, a mere Pill Master from the Longevity Hall really isn’t anything. You’ve done me a great favor this time, and if you need any Elixir or precious medicine materials in the future, just say the word and I will present them with both hands."
Manager Pang, having successfully imprisoned his competitor Chu Feng, was over the moon and extremely proud.
"Open the prison door!"
He wore a hint of twisted Killing Intent on his face, determined to harshly teach Chu Feng, this insolent young man, a lesson today.
The prison guards hurriedly opened the prison door. "Manager Pang, if you need any torture instruments, we have them all here. Iron brands, flesh-slicing knives, whips, spiked beds... Just give the word, and we will fetch them immediately."
The two prison guards were eagerly pleasing Manager Pang.
By getting on good terms, they could call in a favor from the Pang Ancestor Alchemy Pavilion when needed in the future.