Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Zhou Qingfeng casually tossed the collected manuals into his storage bag, intending to use them as bedtime reading during his free time at night. Then he reached for the bottle of highly poisonous medicine on the stone table, which had a small label attached to it.

[The "Five Steps to the Heart" poison causes the poison to attack the heart and cause sudden death after taking five steps. One bottle costs 50,000 coins and is only effective against cultivators below the Food Calamity Realm.]

After removing the stopper, Zhou Qingfeng looked at the venom inside the bottle. A foul, rotten smell assaulted his nostrils; it was truly unpleasant. Moreover, the amount was very small; if ingested, it would be gone in one gulp.

However, if you soak the crossbow bolts in water, even dozens of times, there shouldn't be any problem.

It's not that I hadn't considered acquiring a catastrophic poison, but it was pointless.

First, it can't break through the defenses, so the poison can't enter the body and is completely useless.

Even if poison enters the body, cultivators in the Calamity-Eating Realm will not take it seriously, because they consume the Qi of the Three Calamities: the Qi of Plague, the Qi of Famine, and the Qi of Bloodshed.

They are the most poisonous beings in the world, so how could they be afraid of poison entering their bodies?

"Thirty-three poisoned crossbow bolts should be enough in case of an emergency." Zhou Qingfeng put the poison into his storage bag, wondering why there was still no news from Ye Tingxiu and Xiao Hongyun after half a month.

Should we look into it?

Forget it, trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust.

Since we've entrusted it to them, we should trust them.

They must be even more anxious than I am, as they might recall me to the government office for a performance review at any time. I rescued dozens of citizens from the city and dismantled a criminal organization; although it wasn't perfect, it was still a great achievement.

Even if they are recalled to the manor for assessment tomorrow, I have nothing to worry about. On the contrary, Ye Tingxiu and Xiao Hongyun have few achievements. If they face the assessment like this, let alone winning first place, it is questionable whether they can even pass.

I should focus my time and energy on strengthening my capabilities, quietly leaving all competitors behind so that I can continue to dominate the top position and secure the best resources.

Moreover, there is no need to worry that Ye Tingxiu and Xiao Hongyun can achieve feats that surpass his own. If either of them makes a breakthrough and expands the results, he will only benefit more.

Since they investigated the case themselves, arrested the criminals themselves, and rescued the people themselves, even if Ye Tingxiu and Xiao Hongyun could leave a significant mark on the case, they would at most be supporting characters or icing on the cake.

Otherwise, how could I cultivate in peace and reap the rewards without effort?

Shaking his head to clear his mind of these distractions, he silently calculated the time.

It has been a month since I left the city.

It would be good to return to the manor to see Steward Qiu, present some gifts, and express my gratitude.

The reason why it was so easy to apply for the order to mobilize the city's garrison was probably because Steward Qiu had given the green light all the way. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy. Steward Qiu didn't say it, but he had to know it in his heart.

Whether it's a gift or not is secondary; it's just a vehicle.

The main purpose is to show my stance and take sides. I, Zhou Qingfeng, know that you, Butler Qiu, have helped and promoted me. I remember your kindness. I am one of your people. If you need anything in the future, just give me your orders, and I guarantee I will handle it perfectly.

If the message is delivered effectively, then that's fine.

Zhou Qingfeng left the Night Wanderer's Office alone and went to the Weaver Girl Shoe Shop. In the end, he picked out a pair of super expensive cloth shoes worth 12,000 coins. The cloth shoes were hand-woven from silkworm silk, and they would automatically fit anyone who wore them.

Furthermore, it is engraved with a magic circle that keeps your feet warm in spring and cool in summer, so you won't have smelly feet no matter how long you wear it.

Before returning to his residence to deliver the gifts, Zhou Qingfeng specially took off his general's uniform and put on servant's clothes.

As I said before, always keep your position in mind.

He could be arrogant and domineering in the Night Patrol Division, but back in the City Lord's Mansion, he was still just a newly recruited servant.

"Halt! Who are you!" The red-armored axemen of the city lord's mansion coldly shouted.

Zhou Qingfeng, carrying a shoebox, took out a pass from his waist and showed it, saying, "Madam grants me permission to come and go as I please."

The red-armored axeman glanced at the pass, slowly withdrew his gaze, gripped the axe handle, and planted the blade on the ground, reverting to a statue-like posture, seemingly having no intention of making things difficult for Zhou Qingfeng any further.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng put away the pass and slowly walked into the city lord's mansion. He greeted the familiar servants he encountered along the way with a smile and asked where Steward Qiu was.

He learned from the other servants that Steward Qiu had left the manor on important business, but no one knew what he was doing or when he would return. Zhou Qingfeng had no choice but to go to the small courtyard where Steward Qiu lived and wait quietly.

They waited from morning till late at night.

Such a long wait would have made most people give up and come back another day, but Zhou Qingfeng not only didn't leave, he also sat cross-legged in the courtyard to meditate and cultivate, taking this opportunity to hone his patience.

Until the next morning, the sun shone on Zhou Qingfeng.

Butler Qiu returned to the courtyard late, and when he saw Zhou Qingfeng, he was stunned.

The servant beside him explained, "Steward Qiu, he has been waiting since noon yesterday until today."

Butler Qiu nodded slightly, waved his hand to signal the servants following him to step back, and slowly walked up to Zhou Qingfeng.

Zhou Qingfeng seemed to sense something, his eyelids twitched, he slowly released the food-eating seal, exhaled, looked up and saw Butler Qiu, and smiled brightly: "Butler Qiu, you're back."

Butler Qiu looked Zhou Qingfeng up and down, then turned and walked into the room: "Come in with me. You've been waiting for me for so long, you must have something to say, so don't stay outside any longer."

Zhou Qingfeng patted his backside, got up, picked up the shoebox, and went into the house.

Butler Qiu walked back to his desk, patted his belt, took out the intelligence he had collected, organized and summarized it, and said without looking up, "Qingfeng, I'm very busy. Madam has important matters to ask me to handle. Just say what you need to say."

He was indeed very busy. The culprit behind the destruction of Yumi City was still under investigation, and the whereabouts of a large number of advancement materials needed to be investigated. He was extremely busy with this matter.

This was only because Zhou Qingfeng had waited at the door for a whole day and night, and because he was a talented contestant favored by Butler Qiu. If it were anyone else, Butler Qiu wouldn't have bothered with them at all.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng opened the shoebox, picked up the shoes and said, "Qingfeng has come here to thank Steward Qiu for his kindness and care. Although you don't say it, Qingfeng will remember it."

"I bought you a pair of shoes as soon as I received last month's wages."

Upon hearing this, Butler Qiu paused in his writing, placed the brush on the inkstone, looked up at Zhou Qingfeng, then glanced at the shoes, and expressionlessly hummed in agreement: "I understand. Is there anything else?"

Zhou Qingfeng smiled slightly: "No, but if you need anything in the future, just tell Qingfeng. Qingfeng will definitely handle it properly and won't let you down."

Butler Qiu was silent for a moment, then looked at Zhou Qingfeng with deep eyes, and suddenly smiled meaningfully: "Qingfeng, from now on, just call me Uncle De in private. Calling me Butler is too formal."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng promptly changed his tune: "Okay, Uncle De."