Chapter 60 - 59: Head Disciple of the Vast Sea Sect

Chapter 60: Chapter 59: Head Disciple of the Vast Sea Sect

Over the next dozen days, Zheng Jun devoted himself entirely to cultivation.

During the day, he drilled at the military camp, and at night, he trained in his courtyard.

In the past dozen days, his official appointment from the Court also arrived. To no one’s surprise, Zheng Jun officially became a Captain of the Black Mountain Guard.

His brother-in-law, Zhou Pu, had also taken up the post of Strong Shift Squad Leader. Since then, he cultivated even more diligently, adopting a daily routine highly similar to Zheng Jun’s.

Seeing Zhou Pu so industrious, Zheng Jun was deeply gratified and supplied him with as many Blood Nourishing Pills as he needed. Even if Zhou Pu’s talent was merely average, Zheng Jun was determined to forcibly pile on the Blood Nourishing Pills until he reached Blood Refining.

By now, it was the dead of winter.

A thin layer of snow had gathered on the eaves. Outside Zheng Jun’s courtyard, Wang Lai and three Black Officials from the Strong Shift stood with brooms in hand. Wang Lai respectfully stepped up and knocked on the door. "Captain Zheng, it snowed a little last night. We’re here to help you sweep the snow. Is it a good time?"

After speaking, Wang Lai felt incredibly anxious.

Although he had "kowtowed and sworn allegiance" the other day, that damned bastard from the Vast Sea Sect had interrupted him. Since then, neither he nor Captain Zheng had brought the matter up again. Therefore, Wang Lai had no idea if he currently counted as Zheng Jun’s loyal hound.

Ever since Zhou Pu became Squad Leader, Wang Lai had frequently shown goodwill, yet Zhou Pu’s attitude toward him wasn’t particularly close either. Thus, Wang Lai didn’t know what to say now. He figured he would take advantage of the year’s first snow to sweep Captain Zheng’s courtyard and test the waters.

Just as Wang Lai was tangled in internal conflict, unsure if this visit was appropriate, he heard Zheng Jun’s cold, clear voice from inside. "Come in."

Hearing this, Wang Lai felt a surge of secret joy. He quickly and quietly pushed the door open and slipped inside.

As soon as he entered, he froze in shock.

Captain Zheng stood in the center of the courtyard, wearing only a pair of brown shorts. Bare-chested in the freezing weather, he didn’t seem to feel the cold at all. Instead, with every breath he took, scorching air billowed from his nose and mouth. An indescribable current of air circulated all around his body.

This airflow seemed to transform into a rising cloud of heat, continuously melting the surrounding ice and snow! Within several inches of Zheng Jun, nothing was left but melted snow!

Zheng Jun was merely standing there, his muscles pulled taut, but just one glance filled Wang Lai with dread. He felt that a single punch from Zheng Jun could send him straight to meet his ancestors.

"Captain Zheng." Wang Lai swallowed hard and said respectfully, "The brothers saw the snow today and figured you didn’t have any servants to clean the courtyard. We voluntarily agreed to come over and help you clear it."

"That’s very thoughtful of you."

Zheng Jun nodded and withdrew his stance as small, ink-wash characters appeared before his eyes.

[Practiced the Broken Jade Skill. Repayment Progress +21. Current Repayment Progress: 794/3000.]

Looking at the repayment progress, Zheng Jun let out a breath. He glanced at Wang Lai, who was preparing to sweep, and said, "Good job. Have you gone to my brother-in-law’s place yet?"

"Not yet." Wang Lai snapped to attention and immediately replied, "We’ll head there as soon as we finish sweeping here!"

"You don’t need to sweep here. Go straight to my brother-in-law’s house," Zheng Jun said casually. "I still need to practice my saber."

"Yes, sir."

Wang Lai felt a slight twinge of disappointment. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Zheng Jun pull out two taels of silver. Zheng Jun handed it over and said, "Once you’re done sweeping, treat the brothers from the Strong Shift to some tea and drinks on me.

"Stick with me, and you’ll never be short on silver coins."

Zheng Jun’s voice was resolute and resounding. Hearing this promise, Wang Lai was immediately overjoyed. He bowed deeply and declared, "Thank you for the silver, Captain! This humble official is willing to dash his brains upon the earth and serve you until death!"

"Then work hard on your Blood Refining." Zheng Jun said offhandedly, "Right, tell Wang Qi and Zhao San to resign from their positions as Black Officials and transfer into the Black Mountain Guard. The Guard is short over seventy men, and we need to fill the quota soon."

Hearing this, Wang Lai hurriedly replied, "Captain, if you need manpower, this humble official will pack up and join the army right now! Why bother with Wang Qi and Zhao San...?"

"There is no need." Zheng Jun gave Wang Lai a meaningful look. "In a few days, we might be going on a bandit suppression campaign."

Upon hearing this, Wang Lai immediately snapped his mouth shut.

He understood.

Wang Qi and Zhao San were the unruly Black Officials and lackeys Wang Lai had mentioned before—the ones who terrorized the streets and bullied the common folk. With Captain Zheng putting it this way, Wang Lai instantly caught on.

"You don’t need to serve under my command directly. Work diligently in the Strong Shift, and you’ll be helping me just the same," Zheng Jun concluded, falling silent afterward.

Having grasped the full picture, Wang Lai said no more. He took his three trusted lackeys and respectfully took his leave.

After Wang Lai departed, Zheng Jun resumed his morning routine, preparing to practice his saber.

Over the past dozen days, apart from the single snowfall, nothing significant had happened. The only thing that could be considered a major event was Zheng Jun’s official promotion. As for the Shattered Jade Sect and the Garrison Command, they all seemed like a passing pipe dream.

Zheng Jun gripped his Beirong Saber and was about to continue practicing when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside again. Hearing the footsteps, he couldn’t help but sigh. "What is it this time?"

"Hmm?"

Standing outside the door, Cai Liu was taken aback. He then replied, "Zheng San, the County Captain invites you over."

Hearing the voice, Zheng Jun finally realized the person outside wasn’t Wang Lai, but Cai Liu.

So it was Cai Liu? Zheng Jun was somewhat stunned.

In the past, Cai Liu’s footsteps had always sounded incredibly light to him—so faint they were barely noticeable, allowing him only to vaguely distinguish them. Yet this time, he felt that Cai Liu’s footsteps sounded no different from Wang Lai’s earlier. That was why he hadn’t recognized the old man.

"Lord County Captain sent for me?" Zheng Jun stopped his saber practice. As he draped his Official Robe over his shoulders, he asked curiously, "May I ask, senior, what is the reason for the County Captain’s summons?"

"Don’t call me senior. In the way of Martial Artists, the master is honored first. Your current strength already far surpasses this old man’s. Perhaps in a few months, I’ll be the one calling you senior," Cai Liu sighed.

"You are older and far more experienced. Calling you senior is only natural," Zheng Jun said. "Even if I become a Primordial Pill Martial Saint in the future, I will never forget how you aided and saved me back then."

Hearing Zheng Jun say this, Cai Liu smiled. "The Young Master summoned you because of the Vast Sea Sect.

"The chief disciple of the Vast Sea Sect’s seventeenth generation and their future Sect Leader, ’Vast Sea One Slash’ Gao Jingxing, has arrived."