Chapter 58 - 57: Mission Impossible

Chapter 58: Chapter 57: Mission Impossible

The voice rang out. Before Zheng Jun could even open the door, the person outside had already pushed it open, stepped into the courtyard, and stood right in front of him.

The visitor was clad in a black Flying Fish Robe and wore a ferociously styled, iron-black mask. His entire figure seemed shrouded in a gloomy haze. Although the grim mask obscured his features, Zheng Jun could faintly sense that a smile was tugging at the corners of the man’s mouth.

Zheng Jun’s immediate reaction was that a Soul Hall Protector had arrived, but he quickly realized otherwise, his expression turning somewhat odd. He had assumed the person seeking him out would be the Southern Chu remnant Tian Zhenyuan had mentioned. To his surprise, it was someone from the Garrison Command Government Office!

"This humble subordinate greets Your Excellency." Zheng Jun could sense that the man’s strength was clearly vastly superior to his own—an Outer Gang Martial Artist. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "If Your Excellency needed something, you only had to summon this humble subordinate to the Garrison Command. There was no need for you to make the trip personally."

"I am not the Commander of your Black Mountain County Garrison Command," the figure beneath the black mask said coolly. He continued, "I came from the commandery specifically for you. Zheng San, you are an Official under the rule of our Great Zhou. Are you willing to serve my Garrison Command?"

Hearing this, Zheng Jun was immediately confused. He cupped his hands and replied, "Your Excellency, this lower official is naturally willing to serve the Garrison Command. However, I have already joined the Black Mountain Guard as an acting Captain. I am merely waiting for the Court’s official appointment to come down..."

"As long as you have the intent, that is enough. When I return to the commandery tomorrow, I will add your name to the Garrison Command Government Office’s records as a Small Banner of the Garrison Command," the Garrison Command Jinyi Guard said. "You can simply continue serving as a Captain in the Black Mountain Guard."

Zheng Jun was thoroughly bewildered by this. Was he supposed to draw two salaries and collect double the pay?

"Our Garrison Command forces are in need of Dark Scouts. I came here this time specifically to recruit you as a Dark Guard," the Garrison Command’s Outer Gang Martial Artist continued. "The Cai family’s recent actions have been highly unusual. The Court needs you to keep a close eye on Cai Xun’s movements at all times. If Cai Xun harbors any disloyal intentions, report it immediately. I am your contact, and my code name is ’Bo Zhangjiu.’

"In the future, if you have any information, go to the Tongchun Building in Shunyi Square, Black Mountain County. Look for a worker named ’Sun Bu’ and pass the intelligence to him."

Having said that, Bo Zhangjiu added, "Your code name is ’Zhang Heieryi.’"

Bozhou, Pingzhang Commandery, Ninth.

I am Pingzhang Commandery, Black Mountain County, Twenty-First.

Zheng Jun realized that there were actually twenty Dark Guards just in Black Mountain County!

He kept these thoughts to himself, waiting in silence for Bo Zhangjiu to state the benefits of being a Dark Guard. Why do the work without any benefits? Did they really think he was a die-hard loyalist of the Great Zhou, constantly praying for His Majesty the Emperor to live for tens of thousands of years?

"From now on, on the first day of every month, you will go to Sun Bu at the Tongchun Building to collect thirty taels of silver, one Qi Storage Pill, one Leopard Tendon Pill, and three Blood Nourishing Pills."

Without any hesitation, Bo Zhangjiu pulled a prepared bundle from his sleeve and tossed it to Zheng Jun. "Inside, apart from the complete manual of the Eagle-Hawk Force, there is also the Dragon and Tiger Grappling, which is a first-rate grappling martial art. Additionally, there is a Token and a mask to prove your identity as a Dark Guard. In the future, if there are any Dark Guard operations, you must follow orders.

"The Court provides generous rewards for all intelligence provided and operations completed."

Holding the cloth sack, Zheng Jun listened to Bo Zhangjiu’s words and momentarily felt that these benefits were almost too good to be true. Even drawing an empty salary hadn’t yielded this much monthly reward. Thus, Zheng Jun didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He cupped his hands on the spot and declared, "I am willing to fight to the death for His Majesty! I am willing to fight to the death for the Garrison Command!"

They were paying a lot, so he would listen to them. As for Cai Xun? If the man rebelled later, Zheng Jun simply wouldn’t take the initiative to expose him. Loyalty to the monarch was impossible. Having come to this great world, Zheng Jun refused to acknowledge anyone as his "monarch." He had no desire to bow beneath another person!

But just at that moment, Bo Zhangjiu suddenly chuckled. "If you were truly willing to fight to the death for His Majesty, you wouldn’t be cultivating the Broken Jade Skill."

Hearing this, Zheng Jun froze. A chill surged up his spine as he unhesitatingly rested his hand on his saber hilt, locking his gaze onto Bo Zhangjiu. What were his odds of winning? The other party likely couldn’t possibly predict that his Broken Jade Skill had already reached such a realm. Once channeled, it could transform into Broken Jade True Qi, which was enough to contend against Gang Qi. If a fight broke out, he could escape, but the aftermath would be quite disastrous.

Zheng Jun took a deep breath, stopping himself from rushing into a fight. Since the man knew he was cultivating the Broken Jade Skill and had just listed off a massive pile of Dark Guard benefits, it was unlikely he actually intended to attack him.

"Now, we can talk about other matters," Bo Zhangjiu said with a light chuckle. He flicked his sleeve, outwardly projecting his True Qi.

Zheng Jun stared at Bo Zhangjiu’s outwardly projected True Qi, suddenly taken aback. Broken Jade True Qi! The Garrison Command Commander in front of him, the Pingzhang Commandery’s number nine Jinyi Guard, was actually cultivating the Broken Jade Skill as well! This...

"I am a disciple of the Shattered Jade Sect’s Zhaoyang Lineage. My Ancestral Master was the Zhaoyang Martial Saint, who fought to the bitter end without retreating when the Great Chu was destroyed," Bo Zhangjiu said, introducing his true identity. "Do you have the will to serve my Great Chu?"

Zheng Jun didn’t reply. What the hell was this now? A spy within a spy within a spy? Was this a test, or was he genuinely a fucking Southern Chu remnant? Zheng Jun was somewhat dumbfounded, unsure of what to say.

"Relax, it is not a test. Since you have cultivated the Broken Jade Skill, surely you can tell that my Broken Jade Cultivation is entirely genuine, can’t you?" Seeing Zheng Jun’s silence, Bo Zhangjiu smiled. "You killed Nephew Zhang, but we do not blame you. He exposed his own flaws while conducting his business, so who else is there to blame? However, with Nephew Zhang dead, we no longer have anyone in Black Mountain County. Furthermore, the fact that he actually let the Broken Jade Skill leak out is quite a troublesome matter.

"Coincidentally, when I arrived, I saw that you, Zheng San, had cultivated the orthodox Broken Jade Skill, and your entry was extremely rapid. You are practically meant to be a member of our Shattered Jade Sect! If you have the desire, I can accept you as a disciple on behalf of my master, allowing you to enter the Shattered Jade Sect and learn our sect’s Supreme True Skill!"

Bo Zhangjiu’s tone gradually grew a bit excited. "You could also join me in serving the Regent and destroy this Great Zhou empire!"

It seemed he really was a Southern Chu remnant. Zheng Jun thought silently to himself. He then cupped his hands and said, "I wonder about this..."

"Since you have cultivated the Broken Jade Skill, you no longer have a choice," Bo Zhangjiu said. "Cai Xun also obtained the Pile Skill Secret Manual, but he is a member of the Cai family. They block out the sky with one hand in Bozhou. If he is exposed, he will be fine. But if you are exposed, it will be the capital crime of being a remnant.

"Back when Nephew Zhang came here to establish whatever that Qingshui Gang was, although he claimed it was the Broken Jade Skill, what he actually displayed to outsiders was a different Inner Power Heart Method meant for Outer Sect disciples of our sect. Combined with my maneuvering as a Dark Guard from the shadows, he managed to survive unscathed. But what can you do?"

Bo Zhangjiu spoke with a beaming smile, before adding, "Moreover, our Great Chu will not mistreat you. I deliberately gifted you this ’Dark Guard’ quota. Beyond that, we can also offer you the most crucial thing of all—

"Our help in ensuring you enjoy a meteoric, smooth-sailing rise within the Great Zhou!"