Chapter 134: Returning to the Academy

Liu Yuming nodded after hearing Zhao Xu’s words and said, "Father-in-law, rest assured, I will act with caution and diligence."

"Father, we are leaving now. Please take care of your health!" Zhao Jing said.

"Grandfather, please take good care of yourself," Liu Feng added.

Zhao Xu smiled faintly. "Very well, enough with these farewell words. Cangyue City is not far from here; whenever you miss me, you can just come back for a visit."

Liu Feng and the others bade farewell to the Zhao family and set off for Cangyue City. The journey was uneventful, and three days later, Liu Feng and his parents arrived at their destination. After passing the inspections at the city gates, they entered Cangyue City.

"Cangyue City is quite impressive. It actually looks even more prosperous than Nanzhou City," Liu Feng remarked as they entered.

Liu Yuming’s gaze flickered as he said softly, "The more prosperous a place is, the more deeply rooted the major families are, and the harder it becomes to govern the city."

"In any case, Brother-in-law, you hold the official seal of authority. I doubt they would dare to do anything to you," Zhao Linfei said with a nonchalant expression.

"It is still better to be careful," Liu Yuming replied, his tone serious.

Liu Feng inquired about the location of the City Lord’s Mansion from a passerby, and the group headed there. After navigating through several bustling streets, they arrived before the gates of the City Lord’s Mansion.

Several guards, noticing the group lingering, approached them and asked, "What is your business here? Why are you loitering?"

Liu Yuming calmly produced the management seal of Cangyue City and said, "I am the new City Lord here to take charge. I am now moving into the mansion."

One of the guards took the seal, examined it, and immediately bowed, saying, "Greetings, Lord City Lord."

"Greetings, Lord City Lord." The other guards, hearing that the new leader had arrived, hurried over to pay their respects.

Liu Yuming waved his hand. "Everyone, rise. Which of you is most familiar with this place? Please brief me on the current situation."

"My name is Liu Li, and I have been here for three years. Allow me to guide you, my Lord," said a young man in his twenties of medium build.

Liu Feng smiled thinly. "Very well, that will be trouble for you, Liu Li."

"Not at all. It is my honor to serve you, my Lord," Liu Li quickly replied. "Please, follow me."

Liu Li led the way while Liu Yuming and the others followed. Along the way, he introduced the main offices, the guard arrangements, and the administrative conditions of the mansion.

"My Lord, this is where you will be staying," Liu Li said, pointing to a luxuriously decorated building.

Liu Yuming smiled slightly. "Liu Li, that will be all for now. You may go."

Liu Li acknowledged the order and departed. Liu Feng followed his parents into the residential quarters. Zhao Jing looked at the decor and the furniture, marveling, "The place where a City Lord resides is truly magnificent."

Liu Yuming smiled gently. "From now on, this is your home as well."

"That’s true! I never expected that I would one day live in the City Lord’s Mansion," Zhao Jing said with a smile.

"Father, should we go and pay our respects to the major families in the city?" Liu Feng asked.

Liu Yuming pondered this and replied, "You are right, we should." He paused before adding, "Let’s do this: I will review the mansion’s records to understand the situation with these families first, and then tomorrow, Xiaofeng and Linfei, you two can accompany me."

"Understood!" Zhao Linfei and Liu Feng both agreed.

Following this, Liu Yuming went to the former City Lord’s office, located the files on the major families, and began to analyze them carefully. The day passed quickly in this manner.

The next day, Liu Yuming, Liu Feng, and Zhao Linfei set out to visit the most prominent families in Cangyue City. When they arrived at the Sun family, one of the major houses, the head of the Sun family personally came out to greet the new City Lord.

Once they were ushered inside, the head of the Sun family asked, "I wonder what brings you to my humble home, my Lord?"

Liu Yuming smiled calmly. "Patriarch Sun, I have come simply to get better acquainted with you, so that we may reach a greater consensus in the future governance of Cangyue City."

"Excellent! The City Lord is truly thoughtful," the patriarch praised.

They spent the next while discussing business management in Cangyue City, the Sun family’s primary industries, and the regions where their trade routes extended. An hour later, Liu Yuming, Liu Feng, and Zhao Linfei left the Sun estate and headed toward the next major family. By the end of the day, they had visited all six of the most financially influential families in the city.

It was nearly dark when they returned to the mansion.

"Brother-in-law, what do you think of the attitude of these six families toward the City Lord’s office? Can their words be trusted?" Zhao Linfei asked.

Liu Yuming mused, "The heads of these families are all old foxes; they calculate their interests better than anyone. As for their words, there is a mix of truth and falsehood. These must be analyzed before we can decide on our next steps."

"Father has only been in office for one day; it is natural that he doesn't fully understand them yet. I believe that with your intelligence, Father, it won't be long before you uncover their true motives. By then, they will have to cooperate with you," Liu Feng said calmly.

"I hope so," Liu Yuming replied, rubbing his temples.

Just then, Zhao Jing walked over. "Yuming, Xiaofeng, Linfei, stop talking and come have dinner."

"Right! Let's eat; I’m already starving."

"Me too, my stomach is rumbling."

The three of them headed to the dining hall. During the meal, Liu Feng suddenly said, "Father, Mother, I intend to return to the academy tomorrow."

"So soon?" Zhao Jing asked in surprise.

Liu Yuming remarked, "Xiaofeng has been away from the academy for two months; it is time he returned."

Zhao Jing thought for a moment and said, "True, he has been out for long enough."

Seeing the reluctance in his parents' eyes, Liu Feng smiled gently. "Whenever you miss me, you can send me a message via communication talisman. I will come back to visit whenever I have time."

"Very well," Liu Yuming and Zhao Jing agreed.

The following day, Liu Feng bade his parents farewell and set off for the Yuanwu Academy in Chiyang City. The journey was uneventful, and three days later, he returned to the academy. After checking in with his instructor, he went straight to the training plaza to find Zhao Yang and the others.

"Liu Feng, you took first place in the Four-Nation Alliance Tournament; you’ve really done us proud!" Zhao Yang said with a smile upon seeing him.

"Wang Yang, how did your face get so badly bruised?" Liu Feng asked, noticing the injuries on Wang Yang's face.