**[Yamen Task]: Magistrate Lou's Entrustment**
**[Task Content]: Retrieve the stolen official silver and capture the thief within five days.**
**[Task Difficulty]: Hard**
**[Task Reward]: Government Identity Token*1, Custom Government Equipment*1 set, Jianghu Reputation +500 points**
Seeing the task details, Lin Feng knew it was going to be challenging.
After all, retrieving the official silver within five days and capturing the culprit was undoubtedly a daunting task.
But he also understood that if he didn't accept, Magistrate Lou would arrest him for murder.
He had no choice unless he wanted to escape the control of the Imperial Court and develop in the wild, but that was the last resort.
"Alright, I'll take it."
"Very well, I await your good news."
Leaving the yamen, Lin Feng pondered continuously on how to find the official silver.
But he quickly had an idea, which was to ask Bai Zhantang for help.
As the Saint of Thieves, he had a natural insight and expertise in dealing with thieves.
But would Bai Zhantang be willing to help him?
"No way! Brat, you're dreaming if you think I'll help you! I'd rather die than help you!"
Sure enough, as soon as Lin Feng returned to the inn and made the request, Bai Zhantang mercilessly refused.
"What conditions do you have? You can state them." Lin Feng was still unwilling to give up.
Bai Zhantang's attitude remained unchanged: "Nothing you say will make me help you."
"Helping me is also helping the yamen. I'm doing a good deed. Think about it."
"Heh, helping others, sure, but helping you, no way. Don't think you can threaten me with your status. If you push me, I'll take you down first and then go on the run."
Bai Zhantang even started humming a tune happily.
Lin Feng was amused and frustrated, not expecting to have caused him such psychological harm.
"Brother Bai, please help Big Brother Lin. He's doing this to catch the thief and benefit the people."
Guo Qiangwei, although aware of Lin Feng's past actions, still had a favorable impression of him.
Strangely, she seemed to like him even more, proving that women are indeed mysterious creatures.
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Unfortunately, Guo Qiangwei's words had no effect. Bai Zhantang was determined not to help, and even Tong Xiangyu's persuasion was useless.
Others merely watched coldly, some even gloating at Lin Feng's predicament.
Bai Zhantang was convinced that Lin Feng couldn't hold anything over him anymore, and his singing grew louder, "Waves in the waves~~"
Lin Feng wasn't discouraged by this.
He then presented an irresistible temptation to Bai Zhantang.
"If you help me with this task, I'll give you a pardon token, so you won't have to worry about your identity anymore."
Bai Zhantang, who had been singing, suddenly stopped, but the next second, he burst into laughter.
"Brat, aren't you afraid of spraining your back with such big talk? How could you possibly get a pardon token?"
Lin Feng didn't forget his previous bluffing and said seriously, "I can't get a death exemption token, but a pardon token is entirely possible. Don't forget, Department Six has that authority. If you don't believe me, you can ask Little Guo. Her father also has the power to issue pardon tokens."
Bai Zhantang immediately looked at Guo Furong.
Guo Furong nodded unexpectedly, "You know about this?"
"Little Guo, is he telling the truth?"
"Uh, it's true. My father does have that authority, but there's only one token available each year, and the criminal can't have committed heinous crimes like murder or arson."
"Oh my, why didn't you say so earlier? Little Guo, can you ask your father to issue one for me?"
"What are you thinking? My father doesn't even know where I am. How could I dare to provoke him? Besides, do you want my father to know your identity?"
"This..."
Bai Zhantang was momentarily speechless, then looked at Lin Feng, "Are you sure you can get it?"
"I can definitely get you a pardon token."
Lin Feng's tone was firm.
Though his promise seemed like an empty check, he knew exactly what the other party wanted.
If Lin Feng offered him Heaven Grade martial arts, divine weapons, or a fortune in gold and silver, Bai Zhantang would scoff.
But mention a pardon token, and his eyes would light up with excitement.
Having watched "My Own Swordsman," Lin Feng knew how much Bai Zhantang treasured the pardon token once he got it, even valuing it more than Tong Xiangyu.
Lin Feng's words hit him right in the heart.
Strike where it hurts, catch the adulterer in the act.
"The Grand Martial World" was different from ordinary online games, which were rigid and mechanical. Its charm lay in its realism, not necessarily completing objectives through repetitive tasks.
You could use any means to achieve your goals.
Because every NPC here had flesh, blood, and thoughts.
Grasping the opponent's weaknesses and desires, even getting something for nothing wasn't impossible.
Didn't Lin Feng previously bluff his way to two Profound Grade secret manuals with just his words?
"Why should I trust you? What if you go back on your word?"
Bai Zhantang was still uneasy.
Though he hadn't agreed yet, Lin Feng knew he was more than halfway to success. This was the advantage of knowing the plot, heh heh heh~
"First, my father now has power comparable to Hero Guo, so he has the capability. Second, helping me is also helping the people and the yamen, so you won't lose out. Third, with your lightness skill and abilities, if I go back on my word, you can always hunt me down."
Lin Feng added, "Imagine, once you have the pardon token, you'll no longer live in fear, worrying about being imprisoned and unable to give Shopkeeper Tong happiness. You can boldly pursue her, live together until old age, and retire from the martial world as a couple of immortals. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
These words completely broke down Bai Zhantang's inner defenses. Wasn't this the life he had always dreamed of?
Moreover, Lin Feng was right. Helping him was also doing a good deed for the people, and even if Lin Feng broke his promise, he wouldn't lose anything.
Besides, if he bet correctly, he could live worry-free from then on!
"Alright, I'll help you this time!"
Hearing this, Lin Feng responded happily, "This is the wisest choice you'll ever make. I, Lin, guarantee you'll get the pardon token."
He said Bai Zhantang would definitely get it because he knew the subsequent plot.
Bai Sanniang would ask for the token for her son, so his words weren't wrong, though it had nothing to do with him...
Night fell.
Lin Feng and Bai Zhantang appeared in the yamen's storeroom.
Lin Feng's ability to freely enter and exit the yamen, even the storeroom, made Bai Zhantang more convinced of his strong background, boosting his confidence in getting the pardon token.
**[Ding! Bai Zhantang's dislike for you -20 points! Current relationship: -10 Disdain!]**
Lin Feng almost laughed out loud at this unexpected effect.
Old Bai, oh Old Bai, handling you is a piece of cake.
"So, did you find anything?"
After Bai Zhantang's search, he bit his finger, furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, then suddenly relaxed.
"This storeroom has no traces of thieves, the locks are intact, there's no tunnel, and the roof shows no signs of tampering. It's highly likely an inside job, maybe a thief crying 'stop thief.'"
"Are you sure?" Lin Feng was skeptical.
Bai Zhantang sneered, "Don't doubt my expertise. Besides, this isn't anything new. Years ago, I set my sights on a Nine Dragons Cup at a general's residence, left a note saying I'd steal it, but before I even went, the cup was already stolen."
"Later, I found out the general himself hid the cup and falsely claimed I stole it, reporting it to the Imperial Court and demanding compensation. I was wrongfully blamed."
"You didn't defend yourself?" Lin Feng asked amusedly.
Bai Zhantang rolled his eyes, "I'm a thief, he's a general. How could I defend myself? Would the court believe him or me? I'd probably end up in the dungeon if I showed up."
"No worries, you only steal. At most, you'd be jailed for thirty to fifty years."
"Get lost!"
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