Chapter 72 - 66: Tongzhou Association

Chapter 72: Chapter 66: Tongzhou Association

"Ah, so Xu Heng colluded with Zhao Da and Zhao Er to harm me?" Zheng Jun put on a look of shock.

Bo Zhangjiu was rendered speechless.

"I will handle this matter. I’ll frame Xu Heng as a spy for the Great Righteous King to evade the higher-ups’ scrutiny." Bo Zhangjiu took a deep breath and continued, "You need to be more careful with your actions. Don’t act recklessly and kill indiscriminately! The Garrison Command is extremely sensitive right now.

"The Emperor is dying, and the Garrison Command is hyper-aware of rebels across the world. Every Primordial Pill Martial Artist in the states is being closely watched. Some civilian Acupoint Opening Martial Artists are even being forcibly relocated to Zhili, right under the Emperor’s nose, to prevent them from causing trouble locally!

"The final madness of a dying Dharma Aspect is the hardest to endure! If you make a mistake and fall right before the dawn, no one will care about you!"

Hearing Bo Zhangjiu’s words, Zheng Jun nodded and replied, "Actually, I went to investigate the County Magistrate and just took the opportunity to get my revenge.

"I know a little about Meng Xian’s situation. His messenger pigeons always flew toward the Yan Mountain range."

Bo Zhangjiu said, "Ignore him. He has no impact on our grand plan. I didn’t come here today for Xu Heng either."

Zheng Jun’s mind stirred. "Then why did you come, Senior Brother? Please, tell me."

"The bandits on Black Mountain will descend to pillage Nansha Town in twelve days. Find an excuse to go there. There are over thirty bandits in total, and their leader is a guy who has completed his eighth Blood Refining."

Bo Zhangjiu casually tossed a ragged cloth map to Zheng Jun. "This marks their lair. After wiping out those thirty-something bandits, fight your way up the mountain. Their head chieftain recently entered Qi Storage. He used to be an Elder of the Pingsha Gang. After the gang was annihilated, he fled to Black Mountain to become a bandit."

"Got it." Zheng Jun caught the cloth map, nodded, and asked casually, "How many bandits are there on this Black Mountain?"

In the surrounding commanderies and counties, "Black Mountain Thieves" was the collective term for the bandits entrenched on Black Mountain. The strongest among them was also granted the title of the "Black Mountain Thief"—an Outer Gang Martial Artist named Lu Hao.

However, Zheng Jun didn’t know exactly how many bandit factions made up the group internally.

"There are nineteen bandit factions on Black Mountain. The strongest is the one Lu Hao commands," Bo Zhangjiu said offhandedly. "I have other matters to attend to and can’t stay here long. Look out for yourself."

With that, Bo Zhangjiu’s figure vanished like a phantom, leaving just as abruptly as he had arrived.

Watching him leave, Zheng Jun fell deep into thought.

There were nineteen bandit factions on Black Mountain. The strongest was merely an Outer Gang Martial Artist. In that case, it seemed the remnants of Southern Chu weren’t as formidable as he had imagined.

After Zhang Qingyu’s death, they had lost their foundation in the outside world. At least based on the level they displayed, the Outer Gang realm was already considered top-level.

As for this "Senior Brother Wang" of his, although he was a member of the Southern Chu Shattered Jade Sect, it was obvious he bore no ill will toward the Garrison Command. In fact, upon arriving, his first reaction was to demand why Zheng Jun was causing him trouble, and only after that did he issue the Southern Chu mission.

At least in Senior Brother Wang’s eyes, his identity as Bo Zhangjiu outweighed his identity as a Shattered Jade Sect member. The Shattered Jade Sect was an ideal; the Garrison Command was a livelihood.

It made perfect sense.

Zheng Jun thought to himself, "He’s probably just worried about the Court holding him accountable because he practices the Broken Jade Skill. Or perhaps, given how well-informed the Garrison Command is, he knows the world is about to descend into chaos and stays with the Southern Chu faction as a backup plan. Otherwise, this Senior Brother Wang would have cut ties with them a long time ago."

From this perspective, Bo Zhangjiu’s situation was very similar to his own. Neither of them were purely loyal subjects; they were just employees working for a paycheck.

But did Meng Xian’s messenger pigeons really fly toward the Yan Mountain range?

Zheng Jun made a mental note of this information, stretched lazily, and planned to invite his sister and her husband over to help furnish his new courtyard.

Stepping forward, Zheng Jun walked out through the main entrance. Just as he reached the gate, he spotted three somewhat timid figures lingering outside.

They looked familiar. Zheng Jun thought for a moment before remembering who they were.

It was the hall master of the Ma Family Fist, the old man Ma Zhiyuan. Along with him were Hall Master Ma’s granddaughter, Ma Rou’Er, and his head disciple, Du Ding.

"Captain Zheng!"

Seeing Zheng Jun willingly walk out of the residence, Ma Zhiyuan immediately stepped forward. Forcing a smile onto his wrinkled face, he flattered, "Captain Zheng is truly a young prodigy! I always knew you were destined for greatness. Seeing you today, it proves I was right!"

Standing behind Ma Zhiyuan, Ma Rou’Er and Du Ding appeared rather uneasy.

"Hall Master Ma." Zheng Jun cupped his fists, his tone relatively friendly. "Is there a reason you’ve come to see me today?"

"It’s like this," Ma Zhiyuan took a deep breath, continuing his sycophantic praise. "My unworthy disciple and granddaughter admire Captain Zheng’s prestigious name. We were wondering if they could possibly work under you..."

As soon as Ma Zhiyuan finished speaking, Du Ding stepped forward, bowed his head, and cupped his fists. "Captain Zheng, I don’t want to fade into obscurity in the countryside. I humbly ask Captain Zheng to grant me a position."

Previously, when Hall Master Ma had mentioned "pledging loyalty," Du Ding had been highly resentful. Who would want to work under someone their own age, forced to bow their head? If word got out, the Jianghu would only laugh at him!

But things were different now.

Zheng Jun was simply too fierce—so fierce that he didn’t even seem like a peer. He had stormed Xu Tianfang’s dojo three times. Completely unarmed, he had used their Ma Family Fist to beat Xu Tianfang until he scurried away with his hands over his head.

He had challenged the head disciple of a major sect and defeated him in just two slashes!

And now, at barely seventeen years old, he was already a county captain and a Qi Storage Martial Artist! In the future, he was destined to reach the pinnacle of civil and martial power!

A prodigy of this caliber had already won Du Ding over completely, making him more than willing to pledge his loyalty!