Chapter 110: The Serpent Whip Technique

"Witchcraft Official Feng, why are you here?"

Shang Lu had heard a knock at the door early that morning and assumed it was Du Feng and the others. When he opened the gate and saw that the visitor was actually Feng Boyuan, he couldn't help but be surprised.

It seems the healing methods of the Witch Academy are indeed remarkable. Only two days ago, Du Feng and the others mentioned that Feng Boyuan’s condition had not improved and that he was lying in bed groaning all day. He never expected him to be up and walking today.

However, the scars left by the witchcraft were gruesome and terrifying to behold. He wondered if the Witch Academy had any methods for skin grafting or cosmetic treatment.

"What, am I not welcome?" Feng Boyuan joked, lifting the items he was carrying to show them off. "And here I was, worried that I’d brought a gift for nothing."

The gift he brought consisted of two boxes, tied together with a thin string for easy carrying. Shang Lu was no stranger to these boxes. When the yamen conducted its performance reviews, the spirit liquid and spirit fat awarded to outstanding officers were always packaged in such containers.

"Witchcraft Official Feng, you are too kind. Your presence is gift enough; you didn't need to bring anything."

Though Shang Lu said this, his movements were swift. He quickly took the gift and held it tightly, as if afraid Feng Boyuan might change his mind.

"Your arrival brings great honor to my humble abode. I couldn't be happier, so how could I not welcome you? I was just surprised."

"Surprised by what?" Feng Boyuan asked.

Shang Lu invited him through the gate and said with a smile, "I was actually planning to head to the yamen today to visit you. I never expected you to beat me to it."

Seeing that Shang Lu’s words were sincere, Feng Boyuan was delighted and laughed heartily. "It seems we share a great deal of rapport—truly kindred spirits."

Shang Lu responded politely, but inwardly, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Why does that sound so... suggestive?"

As Feng Boyuan crossed the threshold and walked past the screen wall into the courtyard, his gaze immediately fell upon the lush, towering old locust tree. His eyes narrowed, and he performed a hand seal; flickers of divine light began to shimmer in his eyes.

"I heard from my fellow disciples that there was a residential spirit in your home. No wonder you didn't want anyone from the yamen to stay and look after you when you were bedridden these past few days—it turns out you had this one looking out for you."

After studying it carefully for a moment, Feng Boyuan ended the seal, the light in his eyes fading. He nodded and said, "It is a well-behaved spirit, it seems. It appears the 'haunted house' reputation of this place has little to do with it."

Shang Lu had no doubt that if the old locust tree had ever done evil or harmed anyone, Feng Boyuan would have dragged his newly healed body over to destroy it on the spot.

He helped explain, "This house did indeed have many deaths and ghost sightings in the past. But ever since a sorcerer held a ritual here years ago, those occurrences stopped. The reputation of being a 'haunted house' has simply persisted because of the old rumors. This locust tree is also suffering from the stigma of this place; if it were truly a problem, the sorcerer would have burned it down long ago instead of leaving it until now."

At the same time, Shang Lu confirmed that Feng Boyuan could not see San Niang. She was standing right there in the courtyard, yet Feng Boyuan remained completely unaware, focused solely on the tree.

Though she remained unseen, San Niang still performed her duties as the lady of the house. With a gentle wave of her hand, a table and two chairs floated out from the main hall and settled softly beneath the old locust tree, followed by two bowls of freshly brewed hot tea.

Feng Boyuan simply assumed this was the work of the tree spirit and felt no suspicion. In the Witch Academy, many sorcerers liked to tame spirits and ghosts to help with chores; he was long accustomed to such sights.

Seeing that he didn't react, Shang Lu breathed a sigh of relief and invited him, "Witchcraft Official Feng, please."

After taking his seat, Shang Lu placed the gift on the table. Only then did he notice a book resting on top of the boxes containing the spirit liquid and fat. On the cover were four characters: *Spirit Snake Whip Technique*.

"A whip technique?" Shang Lu was stunned.

Seeing that he had finally noticed the book, Feng Boyuan explained with a smile, "I heard that you had been searching through several martial arts schools in the city for a whip technique over the past two days but hadn't found a suitable one. I managed to secure this *Spirit Snake Whip Technique* for you from a junior disciple who came to Luoshui County to develop a secret realm. Before entering the Witch Academy, he was a disciple of the Rice Granary Sect, and their whip techniques are legendary. While this isn't their closely guarded secret, its quality and power are exceptional—far beyond anything taught in the local schools. It will be more than enough to carry you through the Qi Refining stage."

"Thank you, Witchcraft Official Feng," Shang Lu said, bowing with genuine gratitude.

He had been planning to visit Feng Boyuan today to ask for help in finding a technique, but he never expected Feng Boyuan to come to him first, let alone provide exactly what he needed before he could even ask. Was Feng Boyuan secretly known as a "timely rain" in the martial world?

"We have stood together through life and death; there is no need for such formalities. Besides, you saved my life—if anyone should be thanking anyone, it is I who should be thanking you."

Feng Boyuan waved his hand dismissively and then added with a smile, "I came today not only to check on your recovery and bring you this manual, but also to share some good news."

He paused, holding back the rest of the information, and took a sip of tea.

Shang Lu played along, asking immediately, "What is this good news?"

"Your reward has been finalized," Feng Boyuan said, putting down his teacup. He looked truly happy for Shang Lu. "In recognition of your efforts in turning the tide and your great merits, the imperial court has decided that, in addition to rewards of gold, silver, and silk, they are granting you an official title. You are being promoted from an attendant to a formal official!"

"Promoted from an attendant to an official?"

This news came as a pleasant surprise. Shang Lu had expected nothing more than gold or spirit liquid. He never imagined he would bridge the gap between servant and official to become a member of the bureaucracy! This was the lifelong dream that Head Constable Ma had never been able to achieve.

Yet, Shang Lu was also puzzled. "I recall that for an attendant to become an official, besides accumulating sufficient merit, there is a strict requirement for cultivation—one must at least be at the Marrow Cleansing stage, right?"

Feng Boyuan nodded. "Normally, that is the case. But given your significant contributions and your outstanding performance in the review, they have made an exception."

"Thank you, Witchcraft Official Feng," Shang Lu bowed again. He understood perfectly well that Feng Boyuan must have pulled strings—or at the very least, exerted significant effort—to make this happen. Otherwise, for a low-ranking constable with no connections and no means to offer bribes, such an extraordinary promotion would have been a fantasy.

"I said, there is no need for such formality between us," Feng Boyuan waved his hand modestly. "Actually, I didn't do much; it was your own merit that carried the weight."

After some lighthearted mutual flattery, Shang Lu set aside his excitement and asked about the details, "Do you know what office I am being appointed to?"

"That is the third reason I came to see you today," Feng Boyuan said, looking at Shang Lu with a sincere invitation. "I want you to stay and serve as the County Lieutenant of Luoshui County!"

Shang Lu was stunned. "But there is no position of County Lieutenant in Luoshui County."