Evening.
Dusk descended, painting the sky with vibrant clouds. Returning birds flew diagonally across the horizon as the evening wind howled.
Inside the earthen-walled courtyard, Zheng Jun tightly gripped the Ceremonial Saber in his hand, feeling a hot current surging within his body. Despite the howling evening wind, he felt boiling hot all over. He lunged forward, his footwork shifting and leaping. Under the coordination of his Saber Technique and Breathing Technique, he felt the Heart Fire within him growing increasingly distinct. Though he was sweating profusely, he felt no fatigue whatsoever; instead, he felt incredibly invigorated.
Once he started practicing his saber, he only grew stronger. Using the Ceremonial Saber to execute the Wave-Treading Saber felt absolutely exhilarating! Furthermore, by practicing it with the Ceremonial Saber, the essence of the Wave-Treading Saber had undergone slight changes, and the routines of the stances had also shifted. Executed in such a manner, unless they were saber masters who had reached Great Success or Perfection in the Wave-Treading Saber, or Martial Artists who had long mastered the arts and cultivated Outer Gang, ordinary Martial Artists would never be able to recognize his techniques and methods!
Moreover, after killing someone, even if a Forensic Doctor performed an autopsy, they would be completely unable to identify what Martial Arts caused the saber wounds based on their depth and location! This level of mastery and integration was entirely due to his "Sword Technique Foundation" trait. Otherwise, with his own comprehension skills, he wouldn't have been able to fuse the two even if he racked his brains.
[Modified the Wave-Treading Saber routines. Obtained fleeting Spiritual Lights and evolved traits. Current repayment progress: 680/3000.]
[Wave-Treading Saber (Minor Achievement)]
[Created by Yu Kai, the Upper Pillar and Duke Wei of the Great Yu Dynasty, by imitating ocean tides and waves. Upon reaching Perfection, one can comprehend the 'Lushui Flood Dragon Slayer Saber Military Art'.]
[Derived Wave-Treading Saber trait: Versatile and Agile Adaptation.]
Looking at the small ink-wash characters appearing before him, Zheng Jun let out a long breath, feeling thoroughly satisfied. After confirming the details, a bright white arc flashed in his hand as the Ceremonial Saber returned to its sheath. He then cast a sidelong glance toward the door, his gaze as piercing and intense as a falcon's. "Speak. What is it?"
"Squad Leader Zheng," stammered a Black Official who had come to deliver a message. Standing at the door, he couldn't help but shiver, a chill spreading through his heart. Cupping his hands toward Zheng Jun, he said, "Historian Xu asked me to check if you have rested well. If you have... the Strong Shift needs to patrol the county town all night."
The Black Official's legs were trembling. Today, he finally understood the true meaning of a ruthless, predatory gaze! This fierce intensity was truly terrifying.
"I understand." Hearing this, Zheng Jun slowly withdrew from his fierce, menacing cultivation state and nodded at the Black Official. "I will head over now." With that, he stepped out with his saber at his waist.
Although he had taken the entire afternoon off, he hadn't rested at all. Instead, he had been continuously practicing his saber, adjusting the Wave-Treading Saber to better suit himself. The exquisiteness of this Wave-Treading Saber was indeed a level higher than the Cloak and Dagger. Having mastered the Wave-Treading Saber, his combat power had genuinely increased significantly. Now that he could Slash out the Wave-Treading Saber using a Ceremonial Saber, Zheng Jun's confidence had surged, making him feel capable of holding his own against other Blood Refining Martial Artists.
However, Zheng Jun wondered what role Xu Heng played in the Zhao Family brothers' schemes. As he followed the Black Official toward the County Government Office, he secretly pondered about Historian Xu. There had to be some unknown connection between Xu Heng and the Zhao Family brothers. He needed to be careful about this.
Aside from Xu Heng, there was also Liang Fan's master, Lou Wei. Since he had Slashed Liang Fan, he might provoke Lou Wei into seeking revenge, which was another troublesome matter. There was only one best way to avoid danger—nip it in the bud! At this thought, Zheng Jun's eyes narrowed slightly, and a chilling aura seeped from his body. The Black Official walking in front of him felt as if he were being targeted by a ferocious beast, making his skin crawl. He thought to himself that Zheng Jun was indeed a ruthless figure capable of counter-killing a River Robber; just having the man walk behind him was enough to induce panic!
The two figures moved swiftly along the stone-paved main road of Black Mountain County, though their inner thoughts were vastly different. Upon arriving at the County Government Office, the Black Official didn't dare linger around Zheng Jun. After a quick report, he hastily took his leave. Once the Black Official was gone, Zheng Jun stepped into the County Government Office and headed down the corridor, intending to enter the shift room. But just as he took a step, he suddenly remembered that he was no longer a constable of the Fast Shift, but the Squad Leader of the Strong Shift. He immediately pulled his foot back and walked toward the Strong Shift's room instead.
Before he even crossed the threshold, Zheng Jun heard the sound of conversation coming from the Strong Shift's room. As a Blood Refining Martial Artist, his senses were sharp. The Eagle-Hawk Force was exceptionally good at Chasing Shadows. Pricking up his ears, the faint, mosquito-like whispers clearly entered his mind.
"Brother Zhao is dead, but why should this outsider be put in charge of our Strong Shift? It's not like everyone in the Strong Shift is dead!"
"Yeah! That punk named Zheng has only been at the County Government Office for a few days, so how can he just ride roughshod over us? When he gets here, I'm going to show him exactly how formidable Second Master Wang of the Strong Shift is! If he knows what's good for him, he'll tuck his tail between his legs and scram, saving Second Master Wang the trouble of teaching him a lesson!"
"Wang Lai, get out of here! Even if that punk scrams on his own, it still wouldn't be your turn to be the Squad Leader!"
Inside the room, the Black Officials of the Strong Shift discussed the matter brazenly. They were quite different from the officials of other shifts. Each of them was heavy-set and rotund, the flab on their faces trembling with every movement. They possessed a fierce, menacing demeanor that gave an immediate impression of being not to be trifled with. Among them, a few had already crossed the threshold into Blood Refining, though they had not yet completed their first refinement, so they couldn't be called true Blood Refining Martial Artists.
Still, they were much stronger than ordinary people. They sat there openly badmouthing their newly appointed Squad Leader Zheng, seemingly deeply resentful that Zheng Jun had been given the position. The veteran Black Officials who had stepped into the Blood Refining threshold were especially bitter, feeling that Zheng Jun had stolen a position that rightfully belonged to them.
Listening to the vile, contemptuous words inside the room, Zheng Jun remained completely unfazed. Just as their discussion reached its most heated climax, he kicked the door open.
BANG!
The door smashed open. Zheng Jun's tall, straight figure appeared inside the room. With his saber strapped to his waist and clad in his black Official's Uniform, he stood there commandingly, instantly plunging the previously rowdy room of Black Officials into dead silence. A ruthless, menacing aura suddenly spread throughout the entire space.
"Where did..." Second Master Wang, who had been speaking the most passionately, shuddered in fright. He had just been about to curse, "Where did this bastard come from, daring to ruin my mood," when he saw that the newcomer was none other than Zheng Jun. He immediately swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
Standing at the door, Zheng Jun Swept his cold, piercing gaze over the Black Officials in the room like a predatory falcon. "I heard from outside just now that someone wanted to show me how formidable they are." He took a step forward and drew his Ceremonial Saber, slamming it straight into the wooden tea table in front of him. He looked at one of the fat men. "Second Master Wang, I'm here today. Let me see it."
In an instant, killing intent permeated the air!
The "Second Master Wang" whom Zheng Jun had singled out went weak in the knees. Trembling, he stammered, "Squad... Squad Leader, I, I... you flatter me, you flatter me! Just call me Wang Lai! I was only joking just now! I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"
Saying that, Wang Lai hurriedly raised his hand and viciously slapped his own face. He slapped himself five or six times in a row.
Zheng Jun didn't even look at the terrified Wang Lai. Instead, he Swept his cold, harsh gaze over the group of Officials and continued, "If any of you are unconvinced, you can come forward and fight me. If you defeat me, I will naturally resign from this Squad Leader position to the County Magistrate and the Historian!
"If you don't have the guts, then get out of my way! I haven't even taken a seat as the Squad Leader yet, and you dare to remain seated?!"
As Zheng Jun's icy words fell, the sound of scraping stools suddenly erupted in the room. The Black Officials of the Strong Shift hastily stood up and retreated to the corners of the walls. Standing there like children who had made a mistake, none of them dared to raise their heads to look at Zheng Jun.