Chapter 48 - 47: Challenging the Dojo

Chapter 48: Chapter 47: Challenging the Dojo

In the north of the city at the Xu Family Martial Arts Hall, the biting cold wind blew ruthlessly.

Zheng Jun, wearing a common black Official’s Uniform and with a standard Ceremonial Saber hanging at his waist, swaggered up to the courtyard of the single-story compound.

Over a month ago, he had come here to knock on the door and ask for prices. Only after being secretly cursed as a "delusional, shabby pauper" did he leave. He never expected that over a month later, he would already be a Martial Artist of the Qi Storage Realm. Coming here again, he was here to challenge the Martial Arts Hall!

Zheng Jun calmed his breathing and stepped forward to knock.

"KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK."

Rhythmic knocking echoed. Before long, the courtyard door was pulled open, and a cold, ruthless, fierce-looking face poked out through the crack. The man glanced at Zheng Jun’s clothes. "Here to practice martial arts?"

The last time he was here, Zheng Jun had felt that this fierce-looking fat man was not to be trifled with, sensing a deep threat from him. Looking at him now, however, he realized the other party was nothing more than an ordinary Martial Artist who had undergone one or two rounds of Blood Refining.

Before Zheng Jun could speak, the fierce-looking fat man found the person in front of him somewhat familiar. He carefully sized up Zheng Jun and suddenly realized, "It’s you! Have you gathered enough money?" He actually recognized Zheng Jun, who had come to inquire about prices a month ago.

"I’ve gathered enough, but I’m not here to practice this time. I’m here to challenge the Martial Arts Hall." Zheng Jun revealed a faint smile.

"Huh?!" The fat man was instantly stunned, finding the claim utterly absurd. Before he could even say a word, he saw the Qi and Blood across Zheng Jun’s entire body erupt instantly like a bomb!

Surging, scalding Qi and Blood was instantly released outward. It swirled around his body, displaying itself before the fierce-looking fat man like a continuously burning Melting Furnace! There was even True Qi leaking out!

Seeing this terrifying scene, the fierce-looking fat man felt his ears buzzing. He thought, "Great Success in Qi and Blood... a Qi Storage Martial Artist?! How is this possible?! Over a month ago, he was clearly just a scrawny, shabby, dark-skinned pauper. How has he become a Qi Storage Martial Artist after just a month? Could it be that a month ago, this Qi Storage Martial Artist hid his identity just to amuse himself with me?"

For a moment, the fat man felt a sense of disbelief. Remembering the mocking words he had thrown out before, a wave of fear slowly welled up in his eyes. He began to stammer, "T-this... Senior, may I know your esteemed name? I will go and i-inform my master right away."

Zheng Jun thought, "I still prefer your rebellious and untamed look from earlier!" His mood was excellent. He was no saint; since they had mocked him before, he was going to ruthlessly flex on them now!

"My surname is Zheng, single name Jun." Although Zheng Jun was in a good mood, he still maintained a very cold and arrogant facade. "The current Squad Leader of the Strong Shift in Black Mountain County. I kindly ask Hall Master Xu Tianfang for his instruction."

"Zheng Jun!" It was actually Evil Star Zheng, Zheng Yama!

Zheng Jun’s prestige was known to absolutely everyone in the Martial Arts Realm of Black Mountain County! Apart from those Martial Artists living in remote villages and towns who might have delayed news, who in the county city didn’t know the Zheng Jun who had slashed Lou Wei, captured Tian Zhenyuan, killed Zhang Qingyu, and severed an arm from the closed-door disciple of the Vast Sea Sect?! Moreover, this was his battle record during his Blood Refining phase! Now, he had actually reached Qi Storage?!

Upon hearing this name, the fat man became even more terrified. With a trembling, large, and fleshy hand, he pushed the door. The courtyard gate instantly swung wide open. He respectfully led Zheng Jun to take a seat, then frantically ran off to inform his master. He felt that his master might just end up being beaten to death by Zheng Jun.

The fat man’s panicked running along the way drew a wave of surprise from the many full-time apprentices in the Martial Arts Hall.

"What’s wrong with Senior Brother Wu? Why is he in such a rush?"

"Perhaps something major has happened?!"

"I don’t know, I don’t know."

The apprentices discussed animatedly, but soon, they suddenly saw their master, Xu Tianfang, forcefully push open his room door and step out. His eyes were filled with strict seriousness.

Xu Tianfang wore a short mandarin jacket. He was only in his early thirties, with sturdy muscles all over his body, possessing deep skills in Horizontal Training. His palms were covered in calluses, looking as if he had Mastery over a Palm Technique.

Seeing Xu Tianfang exit his room, the apprentices instantly erupted in a buzz. Before they could discuss it privately, they saw Xu Tianfang had already walked briskly to the courtyard gate.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Zheng Jun sitting on a chair. Upon seeing Zheng Jun, Xu Tianfang clasped his fists in a Ritual greeting and said politely, "I am Xu Tianfang. Greetings, Squad Leader Zheng. For Squad Leader Zheng to visit this time, has my Xu Family Martial Arts Hall offended you?"

"Not at all." Zheng Jun stood up and returned the greeting. "I just have an itch for a spar and want to exchange pointers with someone. If you insist on finding a grievance, it can hardly count as one, merely that two of Hall Master Xu’s former disciples once spoke disrespectfully to me."

Hearing this sentence, the fat man couldn’t help but tense up.

Xu Tianfang narrowed his eyes. "May I ask who..."

"Zhao Da and Zhao Er, but they’re already dead. They died at the hands of the Vast Sea Sect, so there’s no need to mention them." Zheng Jun’s sudden shift in tone instantly allowed the fat man to breathe a sigh of relief.

Those two, Zhao Da and Zhao Er, had practiced martial arts right here at the Xu Family Martial Arts Hall. Moreover, Zhao Da frequently gave money to Xu Tianfang, so he was considered somewhat of a figure in the hall. Naturally, Xu Tianfang remembered him.

Zheng Jun chuckled softly. "Hall Master Xu, do you dare to accept my challenge?"

"Since that’s the case, then I will spar with Squad Leader Zheng. It just so happens that I also wish to experience Squad Leader Zheng’s brilliant moves." Xu Tianfang exhaled a breath of stale air and clasped his fists toward Zheng Jun in a greeting.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to see exactly how capable Zheng Jun was. After all, the recent rumors in the county were a bit too frightening. The feat of Blood Refining Slash Qi Storage, and killing two in one go at that, along with capturing one alive. This kind of thing was usually only heard in storytellers’ tales!

"However, I have one point of confusion and must trouble Squad Leader Zheng to clarify," Xu Tianfang said. "Has Squad Leader Zheng reached Qi Storage?"

"Yes." Zheng Jun nodded.

This couldn’t be faked. After all, once they started fighting and True Qi was released, the truth would be obvious. Moreover, there was no need to fake it. Only by proving oneself valuable enough could one attract investment.

Hearing Zheng Jun’s confirmation, an expression of shocking surprise appeared in Xu Tianfang’s eyes. Seeing this, Zheng Jun couldn’t help but wave his sleeve and chuckle. "Why is everyone so surprised that I’ve reached Qi Storage? For me, isn’t achieving Qi Storage just a trivial, everyday matter?"

He thought, "Withdrawing Martial Arts in advance and taking out a small loan was entirely for pretending to be a peerless genius! If I don’t show off, wouldn’t my loan have been taken out in vain?"

Hearing Zheng Jun’s words, Xu Tianfang instantly fell silent. Then, without a word, he led Zheng Jun toward the arena.

Seeing this, the surrounding apprentices halted their martial forms and unanimously began to ask about the situation. Upon learning that their master was going to fight the currently famous Zheng Jun in Black Mountain County, they instantly grew thrilled and gathered to observe.

Standing on the arena, Zheng Jun wore a smile and said to the rather nervous Xu Tianfang in front of him, "Hall Master Xu, this spar won’t involve weapons, just Fists and Feet. Should we wager something on the outcome?"

"What does Squad Leader Zheng want to do?" Xu Tianfang asked in a low voice.

"If I lose, I will respectfully present two hundred taels of patterned silver," Zheng Jun said. "If you lose, could you copy the Secret Manual of your hall’s Iron Sand Demon Suppression Skill and give it to me?"

Hearing Zheng Jun’s words, Xu Tianfang only pondered for a moment before nodding. "Alright!"