Cultivation Begins with Skill Points-Chapter 155: Respect for Mei County

Mei Hai Ming is now very anxious, his mind constantly echoing whether he had ever done anything outrageous that might have offended Zhong Lin.

Zhong Lin waved his right hand, an invisible force lifted Mei Hai Ming, while smiling he said, "Uncle Mei, there is no need for formalities. I have a deep friendship with Weixuan, and now we are even brothers, so I should call you Uncle Mei."

"I dare not, I dare not."

Mei Hai Ming was sincerely terrified, especially since Zhong Lin’s recent invisible lift confirmed his identity as an Upper Third Grade Martial Artist, while he himself is merely a County Magistrate, making it even less appropriate to act as Mei Weixuan’s uncle.

"I don’t know what brings Young Master Zhong here this time? Is there anything you need?" The County Magistrate cautiously asked.

Zhong Lin replied helplessly, "Uncle truly doesn’t need to be so formal, with Weixuan as a connection, we can call each other uncle and nephew."

The County Magistrate’s face showed delight, a touch of disbelief, as being able to form a connection with someone who is both an Upper Third Grade Martial Artist and a Fourth Grade Alchemist is like manna from heaven.

"Then... then I’ll take the liberty and call you Zhong... Zhong dear nephew."

"Uncle."

A single word ’uncle’ instantly drew the two closer, Mei Hai Ming even went forward to hold Zhong Lin’s hand and walk towards the inner hall, his face almost beaming with joy, quickly instructing servants to serve good tea.

"Dear nephew, taste this, it’s the Ice Mist Tea I’ve treasured for many years, even Weixuan that brat didn’t drink it when he came last time."

Zhong Lin didn’t stand on ceremony, picked up the teacup, and sipped gently, a sweet aftertaste filled his mouth, and a fresh fragrance rose straight through his chest to his nasal cavity.

"Good tea."

Zhong Lin sincerely praised.

"Haha, as long as dear nephew likes it, later I’ll have the servants pack two pounds for you." Mei Hai Ming said happily.

"Then thank you, Uncle."

Zhong Lin was exceedingly polite, and Mei Hai Ming also intended to cater, not long before the whole inner hall was filled with joy and laughter.

"Dear nephew, what brings you to Black Mountain County this time? If there is anything, feel free to instruct, within this small domain of Black Mountain County, your uncle still holds some weight."

Zhong Lin put down his teacup and nodded, "To say the least, I do have something to trouble Uncle with."

Zhong Lin briefly spoke about Uncle Taro’s matter.

Mei Hai Ming immediately patted his chest to assure, "Rest assured, dear nephew, such a small matter I will send someone to handle at once."

"Thank you, Uncle, Uncle Taro’s family has shown great kindness to me, when they come to Black Mountain County, please take good care of them, no need for special treatment, just don’t let them be bullied, after all, sudden wealth is not a good thing." Zhong Lin said.

Mei Hai Ming nodded, as the parental official of Black Mountain County, he is aware of this.

"Rest assured, dear nephew."

"Oh, and also the Xu’s Medical Hall, please also keep an eye on it for me, Uncle."

"Are you referring to Xu Le Wu Doctor, dear nephew?"

"Yes, I am deeply connected with Old Xu, to say the least, he was the one who persuaded me to follow my master back then." Zhong Lin said with a smile.

Mei Hai Ming felt a chill in his heart, and his emphasis on Old Xu increased by three points.

The two chatted for a while longer, then Mei Hai Ming sent someone to Shi Ding Lou to specially order a table of good dishes, and invited Du County Magistrate, Chief Clerk Zhang, and Chief Constable Xue for company. The scene was full of toasts and laughter.

At the banquet, both Du County Magistrate and Chief Constable Xue were full of emotions, who could have thought that a small painter in the government office back then would have turned into someone they couldn’t even aspire to reach.

Both of them were not ignorant commoners; they knew very well what an Upper Third Grade Martial Artist and a Fourth Grade Alchemist were, and knowing too much made them even more anxious.

Both Du County Magistrate and Chief Constable Xue kept toasting continuously, adding the phrase "I’ll drink up, you take your time," fearing to slight Zhong Lin.

After three rounds of drinking, Zhong Lin put down his wine cup and casually asked, "Uncle, I noticed there’s a bit too much patrol when I entered the government office just now, has something happened?"

Mei Hai Ming sighed with a bitter expression, "Saying it also makes one laugh, some time ago the government office received a threatening letter."

Zhong Lin raised an eyebrow, "A threatening letter? Who is so arrogant to provoke the Court."

In this world, where Martial Arts is revered, countless sects and noble families stand, but the greatest of them all, the greatest violent institution, undoubtedly belongs to the Court.

Though there are minor sores, it doesn’t matter greatly, didn’t you see even Upper Third Grade Martial Artist Wu Jingguang hiding deep in the mountain forests, not daring to show himself lightly.

"Dear nephew may not know, recently Great Chen has been... unstable."

Mei Hai Ming spoke with veiled words, but still extended his finger up towards the sky as he spoke.

Zhong Lin immediately understood, Mei Hai Ming was referring to a change in higher echelons, meaning matters of the royal family, His Sister Junior Jiang Yuan’s family affairs.

In a feudal society, every change in throne could cause turmoil in the entire country, let alone the Jiang family ancestor, that First Grade Martial Artist who is about to pass away, making the two other nations eye them covetously.

Zhong Lin had already noticed this while traveling outside, clearly observing that recently bandits and robbers became more frequent.

"Tell me in detail."

Zhong Lin became interested.

"Talking of it also makes one ashamed, last month a group of hemp bandits passed through, plundering and looting in Black Mountain County, committing all sorts of evil, as the County Magistrate I naturally could not turn a blind eye, so I sent Chief Constable Xue to apprehend them, losing dozens of good men to wipe them out. Originally planning to publicly execute them this month to establish justice."

"But who knew this leader of the hemp bandits has a brother, the famed Qi Feilong known as ’One Strike Sky’ in the south."

"This One Strike Sky is also a brazen existence, if he had secretly rescued his brother it wouldn’t matter, at most I would be charged with negligence of duty, they wouldn’t say much, after all, they know of this One Strike Sky’s strength."

"But who knew One Strike Sky blatantly sent a letter demanding I personally release his brother, and to compensate with thirty thousand taels of silver as reparation, huh! Not to mention I am a Court appointed official, representing the Court’s face, how can I easily yield to a bandit committing all sorts of evil, even if I did, the Court would no longer tolerate me, certainly executing me to quell public anger."

Zhong Lin stroked his chin, curiously asked, "One Strike Sky? What an arrogant title, what is this person’s cultivation?"

"Upper Third Grade Martial Artist, Second Grade Meridian Passage Realm cultivation."

"I see, no wonder he is so arrogant, what does the Court say?"

"The Court?"

Mei Hai Ming let out a bitter smile, shook his head, "His Majesty is gravely ill, all the Princes incessantly fighting, why would they bother with a small group of hemp bandits, moreover offending an Upper Third Grade Martial Artist, naturally it is left unsettled, some Princes even sent people over, wanting me to win over this One Strike Sky, I have already written to report to my elder brother, he advised me to resign and go home, handled by him, though there is no worry for life, my official path is hence ended."