CLOP CLOP CLOP...
The sound of galloping hooves echoed in Zheng Jun's ears.
Although Zheng Jun had collapsed from exhaustion just moments ago, after catching his breath in the pool of blood, he forced himself to stand up. Looking at the armored man riding toward him, he cupped his hands, showing neither arrogance nor subservience. "This humble official greets you, My Lord. May I ask who you are...?"
The man on horseback cast an approving glance at Zheng Jun before dismounting and saying, "I am Cai Xun, the newly appointed County Captain of Black Mountain County. I have arrived tonight to take up my post.
"For a Blood Refining Martial Artist to fight against a Qi Storage thief for so long... Not bad, not bad at all. What is your name?"
Hearing County Captain Cai's inquiry, Zheng Jun ignored the burning pain in his hands and immediately cupped his hands again to bow. "So it is the County Captain. I, Zheng Jun, Squad Leader of the Strong Shift in Black Mountain County, Pingzhang Commandery, Bozhou, greet you, My Lord."
"Squad Leader of the Strong Shift, Zheng Jun. I will remember you." County Captain Cai nodded. He then looked at the old servant who had walked over and instructed casually, "Zhongfu, take this Squad Leader to heal and rest. I still have matters to attend to and must visit Magistrate Meng. Come find me at the County Government Office when you are done."
With that, County Captain Cai said no more. He spurred his horse and rode off.
After County Captain Cai rode away, the gloomy-looking old servant approached and said to Zheng Jun, "Squad Leader Zheng, please follow me."
"Sorry to trouble you, old man."
Even though he was merely an old servant who led the horse and held the stirrups, Zheng Jun still thanked him with great politeness.
His hands were currently bleeding profusely, the webbing between his thumbs and forefingers torn open.
That Slash just now had truly exhausted every last ounce of his strength.
But it was worth it since he had Slashed and killed Lou Wei!
Seeing that Zheng Jun's hands were bleeding endlessly, the old servant took out various ointments from the small box he carried and began to treat his wounds.
"Squad Leader Zheng, the Wide-Backed Saber that thief used just now seemed to be founded on Horizontal Training Pile Skills. You fought him for a long time, and every clash caused a shockwave. Your internal organs have been injured. You will need to practice your breathing techniques for three days, using the True Qi of heaven and earth to nourish your lungs and viscera. Only then can you eradicate any lingering issues," the old servant said unhurriedly as he bandaged the torn webbing of Zheng Jun's hands.
Zheng Jun was about to express his thanks when he suddenly felt a warm current surge through his hands, leaving him momentarily stunned.
"True Qi?" he thought in shock. "This... This old servant is a Qi Storage Martial Artist?!"
This discovery left Zheng Jun completely dumbfounded and in disbelief.
He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect.
After all, Qi Storage Martial Artists were renowned experts across the eight-hundred-li expanse of Black Mountain County.
The County Magistrate and the Chief Clerk were only at the Qi Storage realm.
Including the Qi Storage Captains and Ti Cavalry from the Military Department Government Office and the Garrison Command Government Office, along with one or two civilian Qi Storage Martial Artists, there were no more than twenty Qi Storage Martial Artists in the entire Black Mountain County.
These twenty Qi Storage Martial Artists were scattered across the eight-hundred-li Black Mountain County. From this alone, one could see just how terrifyingly powerful a Qi Storage Martial Artist was!
And yet, such a figure was merely leading a horse and holding stirrups for the County Captain?
At this moment, Zheng Jun finally understood just how formidable the background of this supposedly well-connected new County Captain truly was.
After bandaging Zheng Jun's wounds, the old servant methodically took out a small bottle of medicine from his box and handed it over. "Take one pill with water every day at 7:00 AM."
Seeing this, Zheng Jun quickly cupped his hands. "Thank you, senior."
Hearing this, the old servant revealed a smile full of yellow teeth with a missing front tooth, looking rather honest and simple-minded. "It's no trouble. It was all ordered by my Third Young Master. If you want to thank anyone, Squad Leader Zheng, thank my Third Young Master and work diligently in the County Government Office!"
Zheng Jun immediately replied, "Then please pass on a message for me, senior. The entire Strong Shift is willing to go through fire and water for the County Captain."
He also had to thank the County Captain named Cai Xun for today. If the County Captain hadn't intervened, he would have only ended up fleeing in panic.
It just so happened that his control over the Strong Shift was not perfect, and managing the Civilian Soldiers from the joint defense forces of various towns and villages was extremely troublesome. With the County Captain serving as his tiger banner, he would be able to take full control of the entire Strong Shift much faster!
As the saying goes, it's good to lean against a big tree for shade!
"It is good that you have the right intentions." The old servant nodded. He then dug out another small porcelain bottle and said, "County Captain Cai is very satisfied with your performance in capturing and killing the Pingzhang Commandery bandit, Lou Wei, tonight. He specifically bestows upon you a bottle of Blood Nourishing Pills! He hopes you will continue your efforts and achieve further merits for the Court!"
"Yes," Zheng Jun respectfully accepted it. After taking a look at these so-called Blood Nourishing Pills, he noticed they looked very similar to the brown pill he had found in the porcelain bottle at Zhao Da's house. He immediately asked, "Senior, may I ask what this Blood Nourishing Pill is for...?"
"Hmm?" The old servant looked at Zheng Jun in surprise. "You actually don't know about Blood Nourishing Pills?"
Zheng Jun nodded.
Seeing this, the old servant found it rather unusual and explained, "It is a Great Pill refined from Great Medicines of blood food. Taking it and circulating your Pile Skill will completely open up your bones and muscles, causing your Blood Qi to surge. This facilitates Blood Refining. It is the most common supplementary Great Medicine for Blood Refining Martial Artists."
"So that's how it is!" Zheng Jun thought, overjoyed.
He had previously looted a similar pill from Zhao Da's house. While he had felt it was a good item, he hadn't known its exact effects and hadn't dared to take it rashly.
Now that he knew what it did, he felt incredibly at ease!
"Squad Leader Zheng, you should go back and rest." The old servant smiled gently and spoke in a rather amiable tone, "The Lord has ordered that you may rest and recuperate for ten days. After ten days, come to the County Government Office for roll call, and you can pay your respects to the County Captain."
With that, the old servant packed up his medicine box, ready to leave.
Seeing that the old servant was about to depart, Zheng Jun hurriedly asked, "May I know how to address you, senior?"
The old servant didn't stop. He walked unhurriedly toward the County Government Office, yet his pace was surprisingly fast. In the blink of an eye, he had already covered a distance of ten to twenty feet.
Just as Zheng Jun thought the old servant wouldn't reply, his leisurely voice suddenly echoed in Zheng Jun's ears.
"This old servant can't remember his former name. However, the old Patriarch once bestowed the name Zhongfu upon my father. After his death, the name Zhongfu fell to me. Everyone in the manor calls this old man Cai Liu, and Squad Leader Zheng can just follow suit."
Cai Liu. Cai Zhongfu.
Zheng Jun took a deep breath and watched the old servant leave.
Only after Cai Liu left did Zheng Jun turn around and walk toward the Black Officials of the Strong Shift at the street corner.
"Boss!" Wang Lai saw Zheng Jun walking over and displayed extreme enthusiasm. He immediately stepped forward and started flattering him, "Divine might, truly divine might! That Lou Wei claimed to run rampant across Pingzhang Commandery, but wasn't he still Slashed by you? I see this Lou Wei was nothing special. Squad Leader, you just used a little..."
However, before he could even finish his sentence, he caught sight of Zheng Jun's fierce glare.
Seeing that look, Wang Lai's words came to an abrupt halt.
Zheng Jun didn't speak to Wang Lai. Instead, he glanced around. Seeing the two corpses of the Black Officials on the ground, Zheng Jun steadied his breathing, took out a pouch of silver, and handed it to the nearest constable. "Here are ten taels of silver. Please pass them to the families of these two brothers on my behalf.
"They will still receive the official compensation from the County Government Office; this is just a personal token of my appreciation."
He continued, "Every single injured brother will also receive money for medicine... All the brothers on night patrol tonight, go back and rest as well."
Hearing Zheng Jun's words, one Black Official sounded tempted but still hesitated. "Squad Leader, the Historian said we should patrol all night..."
"Lou Wei has already been killed by me, leaving only that thief practicing Demon Skills. After what happened tonight, that Demon Skill thief probably won't dare to show his face," Zheng Jun said. "Besides, the Military Department and Garrison Command are also patrolling, so they aren't short of us Black Officials.
"You've all worked hard tonight. Go back and rest."
Zheng Jun sheathed his Ceremonial Saber, his cold eyes sweeping over them. "If Historian Xu assigns blame, I, Zheng Jun, will bear it alone! It has nothing to do with any of you!"
With that, he cupped his hands toward the Black Officials who had been thoroughly subdued by his sheer presence, dragged his injured body, and turned to leave.
Seeing Zheng Jun leave, one of the Black Officials hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He thought helplessly, "Squad Leader, your saber is broken. The one you took with you... is my saber!"