Chapter 61 - 60: Challenging Gao Jingxing

Chapter 61: Chapter 60: Challenging Gao Jingxing

"The head disciple of the Vast Sea Sect?"

Zheng Jun narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. "What is he here for? Revenge?"

At this thought, Zheng Jun subconsciously tightened his grip on his Beirong Saber, a look of disdain flashing across his face. The Vast Sea Sect had a total of three Outer Gang Martial Artists. However, none of them were this head disciple, Gao Jingxing. He figured the man was merely a Qi Storage Realm Martial Artist. Why would he fear anyone in the Qi Storage Realm now? He would use the Wave-Treading Saber to teach the Vast Sea Sect’s disciple a harsh lesson.

Zheng Jun was in high spirits, brimming with absolute confidence.

Watching Zheng Jun’s imposing aura, Cai Liu’s eyes flickered with a rather complicated expression. He thought to himself that Zheng San seemed to have grown stronger again, and his future was truly boundless at such a young age. Although he thought highly of this junior, the young man’s breakneck cultivation speed truly made Cai Liu jealous. Deep down, he even harbored a faint reluctance to see the youth achieve such meteoric success.

However, this dark thought vanished in the blink of an eye. He then explained to Zheng Jun, "Not at all. The Vast Sea Sect has come to apologize this time."

"Apologize?" Zheng Jun was taken aback, slightly surprised.

Something was wrong. He wondered if, according to standard tropes, beating the young one shouldn’t immediately draw out the old ones. Why were they showing up to apologize instead?

Seeing Zheng Jun’s astonishment, Cai Liu laughed and said, "The Vast Sea Sect got themselves into trouble with accusations of treason and is already overwhelmed. Furthermore, my master personally paid them a visit, so they naturally backed down.

"Gao Jingxing’s arrival this time is both to apologize to you, Sanlang, and to make their stance clear to the State and Commandery. They are confessing to the crime of being lax in taking disciples, proving they have absolutely nothing to do with the Qingshui Gang."

Hearing Cai Liu’s words, Zheng Jun nodded in understanding. It seemed this was just a formality. Apologizing to him wasn’t actually that important; the main point was to represent the Vast Sea Sect and make their stance clear. After all, since the master of the Cai family had stepped forward, he could naturally suppress the Vast Sea Sect.

Over the past ten days or so, Zheng Jun had gone to the Tongchun Building and spoken with a waiter named Sun Bu, naturally gathering a lot of intelligence. This was especially true regarding his mission target, the Cai family. The Patriarch of the Cai family was an Acupoint Opening Martial Artist and the current Assistant Governor of Bozhou. Whether in terms of strength in the Jianghu or status within the Court, he was in a league of his own, completely crushing the Vast Sea Sect.

The Vast Sea Sect had only been founded by the grandson of Grand General Yu from the Former Yu dynasty. Let alone the fact that they no longer had any ties, even if they did, they would never dare to clash with the current Assistant Governor. Therefore, under these circumstances, it was perfectly normal for the Vast Sea Sect to submit.

With this in mind, Zheng Jun hesitated no longer. He ceased his daily practice of the Wave-Treading Saber and followed Cai Liu toward the Military Department.

A light snow was falling from the sky.

Standing in the drill ground of the Military Department, Gao Jingxing exhaled a long breath. He was burly and broad-shouldered, dressed in a black martial outfit with a wide black belt tied around his waist. On his back rested a Wide-Backed Saber, highly iconic of the Vast Sea Sect. Its blade was thick and wide, its hilt long and sturdy, and the edge glinted with a cold light beneath the sun. One glance was enough to tell it was no ordinary weapon.

Behind Gao Jingxing stood an emaciated figure, leaning on a saber with his single arm. It was none other than Bian Kuang—the man who had come to avenge Lou Wei, only to lose an arm and brand the Vast Sea Sect with the label of treason.

He stood behind Gao Jingxing, his face pale. "Senior Brother Gao, I..."

"We must speak and act with caution here," Gao Jingxing interrupted, his expression indifferent. "When we see Zheng Jun later, just lower your head and apologize. Do not say too much or provoke any trouble. The Cai family is watching us at all times, so do not do anything to embarrass the Sect."

With that, he glanced at Cai Qi, who had been keeping a close eye on the two of them from a short distance away, and offered a polite, faint smile.

"Compared to our Vast Sea Sect, the Cai family is a true behemoth. We must not offend them too deeply. Everything is for the sake of the Sect," Gao Jingxing added.

Hearing Gao Jingxing’s words, a look of indignation crossed Bian Kuang’s face. He was the one who had an arm chopped off, ruining his future in Martial Arts, yet now he was being forced to apologize to his attacker. Naturally, this left him feeling resentful, his eyes turning bloodshot.

Catching sight of Bian Kuang’s resentment, Gao Jingxing frowned. A moment later, the aura of crashing ocean waves erupted from him, causing his robes to billow. He slightly lifted his eyelids and said, "You lost a hand. I can sympathize with you looking like this.

"But if you stir up trouble later, don’t blame me for slashing you down right here. Do you understand?"

Gao Jingxing’s voice was very soft, but upon hearing those words, Bian Kuang’s pale face violently twitched. Taking a deep breath, he lowered his head. "Understood, First Senior Brother."

Seeing Bian Kuang yield, Gao Jingxing said, "Good."

Ever since the Divine Martial Emperor of the Great Zhou ascended the throne, he had ruthlessly suppressed the Sects under the pretext that "vigilantes use Martial Arts to break the law." Within the first century of the Great Zhou’s founding, countless Sects had been trampled by the Great Zhou’s Iron Cavalry. Since then, the Sects had submitted to the Court and no longer dared to vie against it. The Southern Chu Rebellion two hundred years ago had been the final resistance of the southern Sects.

This Zheng Jun had offended the Vast Sea Sect. Once he broke through to the Acupoint Opening realm, Gao Jingxing would personally pay him a visit and slash him down. But for now, he couldn’t.

Gao Jingxing exhaled a puff of white mist and was just about to say something else when he suddenly paused. Looking toward the gate not far away, he calmly stated, "The man of the hour has arrived."

Hearing his First Senior Brother’s voice, Bian Kuang looked up, just in time to see a young Martial Artist wearing an Eighth Grade Military Officer uniform step into the Military Department. The young Military Officer had a tall, straight posture and a striking appearance. Yet in Bian Kuang’s eyes, he wished for nothing more than to flay the man alive and tear that face to shreds!

But for the sake of the Sect, he had to endure this grudge of a severed arm!

Zheng Jun also keenly sensed Bian Kuang’s hateful glare. He immediately looked up, meeting the eyes of the one-armed Bian Kuang and the black-clad Gao Jingxing. Catching Zheng Jun’s gaze, Gao Jingxing smiled in acknowledgment. Although Bian Kuang’s face was filled with indignation, he did not do anything drastic.

"Zheng San is here." Seeing Zheng Jun arrive, Cai Xun stood up directly from the County Captain’s Mansion within the Military Department and walked toward him with a smile, taking the initiative to welcome him.

Seeing Cai Xun actually come out to greet him personally instantly put Gao Jingxing on high alert. "The relationship between Zheng Jun and the Cai family isn’t as simple as the Sect imagined. For the third master of the Cai family to value Zheng Jun this much, it seems I need to elevate my assessment of him..." he thought to himself.

Rumor had it that the Patriarch of the Cai family had personally visited the Vast Sea Sect, but that was not true. It had merely been the Cai family’s Chief Steward paying a visit. Yet the Chief Steward alone was enough to force the Vast Sea Sect to bow their heads.

"Your subordinate greets the County Captain," Zheng Jun said, immediately cupping his hands. "What virtue or ability do I possess to warrant the County Captain welcoming me in person? I am truly humbled."

"It’s no matter. We may be family in the future," Cai Xun said gently, grabbing Zheng Jun’s hand and leading him toward the drill ground.

Hearing Cai Xun’s words, Zheng Jun was slightly startled. Family? He wondered if it could be related to what he suspected...

Zheng Jun had a vague guess in mind, but before he could dwell on it, Cai Xun continued, "Zheng San, this is the prized disciple of the Vast Sea Sect, Young Hero Gao Jingxing, known in the Jianghu as the ’Vast Sea One Slash’. Both of you are outstanding young talents of our Pingzhang Commandery, so you should get to know each other."

"Gao Jingxing greets Captain Zheng. As the saying goes, a smile can erase all past grudges. The scum of our Sect, Lou Wei, caused trouble for Captain Zheng, and I hope you will not hold it against us. On behalf of the Vast Sea Sect, I apologize to Captain Zheng." With that, Gao Jingxing proactively stepped forward and offered a respectful bow to Zheng Jun. Then, he glanced at Bian Kuang behind him.

Seeing this, Bian Kuang took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said in a low voice, "Captain Zheng, I am here to apologize to you. I hope you can forgive my previous reckless actions."

Zheng Jun looked at Gao Jingxing. A sudden thought crossed his mind, and he said, "Forgiveness is certainly possible. However, I have recently been studying the Wave-Treading Saber and have reached Minor Achievement. I would like to seek some guidance from Young Hero Gao. I wonder if you would be willing to spar?"

With that, Zheng Jun stared at Gao Jingxing, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. He hadn’t been able to practice his saber this morning. Since that was the case, he would use this man for target practice! He wanted to see just what level the current number one figure of the Vast Sea Sect was at.

Hearing Zheng Jun’s words, Gao Jingxing broke into a radiant smile. Without a moment of hesitation, Gao Jingxing agreed, "Alright.

"I was just hoping to experience Captain Zheng’s brilliant moves."