"This time heading to Far Camel Mountain, you must restrain yourself and not stir up trouble, understand?" Zheng Gongxuan gently squeezed his thighs against his mount, speaking earnestly to Zheng Ming.
Riding on a cyan warhorse, Zheng Ming, despite his youthful appearance, still exuded the unique spiritedness of a young man as he galloped furiously.
"Father, you've said this five times; Mother reminded me three times before I left. I remember," said Zheng Ming, rolling his eyes at his father. "I will definitely soak calmly in the Jade Blood Pool and then obediently return home with you!"
As he spoke, Zheng Ming urged his warhorse forward, quickly galloping away.
Watching his son's frenzied ride, a gratified smile appeared on Zheng Gongxuan's face. He had always worried that his child was too kindhearted and had difficulties advancing in his martial arts skills. Now, those worries had vanished.
However, a new concern had emerged. Judging from his son's recent behavior, while Zheng Gongxuan didn't need to worry about his character, the boy's temper had indeed flared up significantly.
Especially his audacity in every undertaking, Zheng Ming even dared to challenge Zheng Hu.
Even though he defeated Zheng Hu, it was still far too audacious.
Despite finding his father's reminders somewhat nagging, Zheng Ming sensed the deep care behind them.
And the feeling of being cared for was actually quite nice.
While sprinting on his horse, Zheng Ming also stimulated the Inner Qi within his body, practicing the Nine Shaking Mountain Breaking Technique.
However, unlike when he had first started and gathered all nine Internal Energies at once — exhausting himself and consuming a great deal of time —
now he was practicing briefly gathering two Internal Energies. After several days of training, Zheng Ming could essentially gather twice the power in his palms within ten breaths.
But Zheng Ming was not satisfied. His goal, as stated in the Nine Shaking Mountain Breaking Secret Technique, was to instantly gather nine forces of power in his palm with just an intention.
"Swoosh"
A Flying Knife shot out from Zheng Ming's hand like a startled swan, embedding itself in a stone ahead in the blink of an eye.
Zheng Ming shook his head, not quite satisfied with his current performance. His Meteor Flying Dagger had already reached the pinnacle of Comprehension Stage, even touching the threshold of further intricacies, but this threshold seemed insurmountable.
However, using the Nine Shaking Mountain Breaking Technique to power the Meteor Flying Dagger had doubled its strength, which, for Zheng Ming, was a small consolation.
Zheng Ming, who had shattered a boulder-sized stone into a dozen fragments with a punch, retrieved the Flying Knife from within the stone and then spurred his horse to continue racing forward.
The horse's neighing echoed as distant mountains came into view!
Far Camel Mountain was not high and appeared even more desolate under the winter's cold winds. But now, on the slopes of Far Camel Mountain, over a hundred flags emblazoned with the large Zheng character proudly fluttered in the wind.
The flag in the center was a full ten feet long; below the black Zheng character was an image of a python with its head raised and tongue flicking out.
Beneath the clan flag, a python represented Clans below the Sixth Rank, a flood dragon (jiao) for those below the Third Rank, and a dragon for those above.
As a Ninth Grade Clan dominating Qingchuan County, the Zheng Family's flag could bear the image of a python, albeit the lowest-level one.
A python is judged by its head, a flood dragon by its horns, and a dragon by its claws. A clan with a single-headed python was a Ninth Grade Clan, a two-headed one an Eighth Rank Clan, and a three-headed one a Seventh Rank Clan.
Although the Zheng Family was just the lowest Ninth Grade Clan, their flag with the black python soaring upward represented boundless authority throughout Qingchuan County.
Therefore, at this moment, no outsiders were within ten miles of Far Camel Mountain; no one dared to disrupt what was ostensibly the Zheng Family's clan meeting!
"Zhongyun Brother, I didn't expect us to arrive together!" Zheng Ming, who was riding his horse and wielding a whip, encountered others also attending the Far Camel Mountain Clan Meeting at the foot of the mountain.
Zheng Gongxuan greeted them warmly with a beaming smile.
From the way his father greeted the others, Zheng Ming realized that this man wasn't just an acquaintance but also shared quite a good relationship with his father.
He, too, put on a slight smile as he looked at the man with a rugged complexion and a hint of sternness between his brows.
However, when he noticed a touch of misfortune in the man's eyes, he had a bad feeling.
"Haha, it's Gong Xuan Brother," the man greeted casually with a cupped fist salute.
Zheng Gongxuan replied with a hearty laugh, "It's better to meet by chance than by appointment. Since fate has brought us together here, why don't we go up the mountain together to meet the Family Head?"
"Gong Xuan Brother, I have some matters to attend to, so please go ahead to the mountain first!" Zheng Zhongyun said coldly, then waved his hand to his subordinates, signaling, "Dismount and rest."
At that moment, Zheng Ming could feel what his father was experiencing. Being faced with a cold shoulder when offering warm greetings was unpleasant for anyone.
Though he did not understand why this Zheng Zhongyun was targeting his father, Zheng Ming was not willing to swallow this slight.
"If Zhongyun Brother is busy, then we'll go on ahead!" Zheng Gongxuan held back Zheng Ming, who was ready to spur his horse forward, and said firmly.
"No need to send us off!" Zheng Zhongyun's expression was indifferent, showing not the slightest hint of warmth.
"Town Chief, didn't you say that you admired Zheng Zhongxuan as one of the few among the chiefs of Qingchuan County's 36 towns? You used to tell us to get closer to the people from Luming Town, so why today..." The burly man standing behind Zheng Zhongyun said with a trace of confusion in his eyes.
Zheng Zhongyun, watching the departing figure of Zheng Zhongxuan and the others, smiled lightly and said, "Zheng Gongxuan is a decent man, but he has offended someone he shouldn't have."
"His son defeated the Great Elder's grandson, and the Great Elder hates him to the bone. How can I associate myself with them at this time?"
"As a person, he is not foolish, but sometimes, he is just too emotional. He thinks he has helped his son secure an opportunity to soak in the Jade Blood Pool, but can he really secure such an opportunity?"
"Issue the order; we'll go up the mountain half an hour later, to avoid being seen by the Great Elder and stirring up unnecessary trouble."
Zheng Ming followed behind Zheng Zhongxuan, thinking to himself that if he ever had the chance, he must teach Zheng Zhongyun a lesson.
"Seeking fortune and avoiding disaster is human nature; Ming Er, you don't need to take it too much to heart," Zheng Zhongxuan said to Zheng Ming with a smile.
Although Zheng Zhongxuan looked nonchalant, Zheng Ming did not believe that his father was completely unconcerned.
And Zheng Zhongxuan's behavior was probably meant to comfort him.
"Father, I must make some people realize how wrong their choices are!" Zheng Ming, looking at the Zheng banner fluttering atop the mountain, said in a deep voice.
Zheng Zhongxuan looked at his spirited son and felt the last bit of depression in his heart vanish completely. With a light flick of his riding crop, he laughed heartily, "Ming Er, there's a long road ahead, and I believe you will certainly make it."
The coming days, Zheng Ming muttered to himself, his face revealing a trace of a smile.
"Is that Uncle Gongxuan from Luming Town arriving? Little nephew Zheng Jingren is here to welcome you!" At a bend on a hillside, a skinny young man leaped into view and saluted Zheng Gongxuan.
Hearing this name, Zheng Ming almost laughed out loud. This person's name was indeed unique.
Zheng Ming's urge to laugh ultimately did not go unnoticed, not only because of this "Upright Person" and his name, but also because of his appearance.
Regarding other aspects of Upright Person's facial features, they were acceptable, but his eyes were indeed astonishing.
Having one eye larger than the other was not something Zheng Ming had never seen before, but the difference between Upright Person's eyes was a bit too great.
Saying one was the size of a quail egg and the other was like a soybean wouldn't be too far off.
"Haha, this little brother must be Little Brother Zheng Ming. Aren't you feeling the urge to bow down in the presence of my peerless banner?" Zheng Jingren bared his teeth in a grin and said, "Remember, brother shares the same surname as you. As for Jingren, it's the first two characters of 'Yiming Jingren' (startling everyone with a single success)."
"Although our old man's intention was for me to 'startle everyone with a single success,' the name he chose for me truly fits my nature."
"I am a genuinely upright person! A really good guy!"
Zheng Jingren smiled with bared teeth, making his larger eye appear even bigger, while the smaller one seemed to vanish into his face.
A good guy, my ass! If you were a good guy, how could you have so many Prestige Points? The red Prestige Points exceed ten thousand, while there are more than three hundred yellow ones.
According to Zheng Ming's calculations these past days, the yellow Prestige Points should be from Rank martial artists; only respect from Rank martial artists would result in yellow Prestige Points.
Putting aside Fu Yuqing for a moment, this Zheng Jingren, who was not much older than himself and revered by more than three hundred Rank martial artists, was definitely not, as he claimed, a genuinely upright person, a really good guy!
"Uncle Gongxuan, my father asked me to tell you that the Great Elder and the Third Elder, among others, forcibly changed the rules for entering the Jade Blood Pool this time."
"They say that the strong should become stronger and that all clan youths aiming to enter the Jade Blood Pool must determine their order of entry through martial competition."
"The Great Elder's grandson, Zheng Jinbin, has even spread the word that he intends to severely injure Little Brother Zheng Ming, ensuring that even if you qualify for the Jade Blood Pool, you won't benefit from it."
As he spoke, Zheng Jingren forcefully slapped his palm on his thigh and said, "That Zheng Jinbin is really troublesome. Not only is his cultivation level higher than mine, but he also has brought his Fierce Tiger Fist to an extremely precise level."
"I've tried so many times to beat him until he's searching for his teeth on the ground, but unfortunately, I just can't beat the bastard!"
"However, that kid isn't too sharp. He's taken more than a few losses at my hands; Little Brother Zheng Ming, just endure it this time. Brother will definitely take care of that kid for you one day!"
Zheng Gongxuan tightly clenched his fists, fine lines of blood cracking around his eye sockets!
"This is too much to bear!"
These four words were filled with endless resentment. He had fought tooth and nail for a chance to change his destiny for himself and his family.
But this hard-earned opportunity, which should have been his, not only put him and his family through ordeal after ordeal, but in the end still...
However, Zheng Gongxuan was after all a man who had experienced vicissitudes of life. After being agitated for a while, he finally calmed down.
"Thank you, wise nephew, I know what to do!" Zheng Gongxuan bowed to Zheng Jingren, his voice low!