Han Zheng had considered Zheng Zhishan's purpose for coming, but the one thing he hadn't expected was that the other party had actually come to bribe him into bowing out of his own volition.
Moreover, the other party had the look of someone bestowing charity, which Han Zheng couldn't help but laugh at.
"What are you laughing at?"
Zheng Zhishan frowned and said, "Do you think one thousand taels is too little? With your background, one thousand taels is enough for you to live a comfortable life in Black Stone County for a lifetime!"
Actually, Zheng Zhishan wasn't wrong.
In a small county like Black Stone County, one thousand taels was indeed enough for an ordinary person to live rather comfortably.
One thousand taels could buy a residence with three rooms, plus ten acres of land, and the remaining money could even open a small shop for business.
The escort masters of the escort agencies could work for several years risking their lives and still might not earn a thousand taels of silver.
If it had been Han Zheng before his transmigration, he might have been tempted.
But the current Han Zheng wanted something more than silver; he wanted power.
"One thousand taels of silver can indeed make for a comfortable life in Black Stone County, but the problem is I have never thought about spending my entire life in Black Stone County."
Han Zheng looked at Zheng Zhishan with a mocking smile, "Did Song Tianqing really send you to bribe me into conceding defeat, or does he lack confidence in tomorrow's competition?"
"How dare you insult our Young Master! Ungrateful!"
Zheng Zhishan was immediately enraged and scolded Han Zheng with a pointed finger.
Han Zheng's smile faded, and he coldly said, "Old man, you were the one who insulted me first with silver!
Refusing silver is ungrateful, is it? If Guo Mingyuan wins today, do you also plan to bribe him with a thousand taels?"
As soon as Han Zheng finished speaking, he took a sudden step forward, a cold and fierce evil Qi emanating from his body.
Zheng Zhishan suddenly felt a chill all over, and his face turned pale in an instant.
Han Zheng was someone who had killed and seen blood.
To mistake him for one of those martial arts disciples who had never seen the ways of the world was a grave error.
"Uncle Zheng, I've said it before, you need not worry about my affairs."
From the back of the alley, Song Tianqing strode forward, standing in front of Zheng Zhishan.
Narrowing his eyes as he sized up Han Zheng, Song Tianqing indifferently said, "I was not aware of today's incident, and if I had known, I wouldn't have let Uncle Zheng come.
Uncle Zheng isn't worried about me losing, just that I'd waste energy on you. My rival has never been the likes of you.
Han Zheng, if you were sensible and took the money today, I would not have said anything after finding out, considering it a favor owed to you.
But what a pity, you don't know your place. You won't get the money, nor will you ever get the White Ape Extended Arm Fist!"
Song Tianqing's words were not to stir up trouble; he genuinely never considered the disciples within the martial arts hall as his competitors.
Even Lin Qing, who had joined the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, was regarded the same.
In his eyes, the lifetime achievements of disciples like Han Zheng and Chen Zhao, with their commoner backgrounds, were evident at a glance; they were destined to always look up at them.
Guo Mingyuan was nothing more than a straw man, who could barely maintain his cultivation by immersing himself in medicine baths day in and day out, devoid of anything else but money.
Lin Qing was just lucky, smoothly sailing through life without setbacks. What was he compared to himself?
Song Tianqing was fully aware that he had never considered the disciples from the martial arts hall as his enemies; they were, at best, only stepping stones for himself!
The position of Young Master of the Song Family, and eventually that of Family Head, were what he had always aspired to.
"Coincidentally, I have never considered you a rival either.
One can be confident, but should not be arrogant. The truth of victory and defeat will be clear tomorrow."
Han Zheng couldn't be bothered to waste further words with Song Tianqing, and turned around to leave.
Watching Han Zheng's departing figure, Zheng Zhishan lowered his head and said, "My apologies, Young Master, I took the liberty of arranging this myself. I did not expect Han Zheng to be so ungrateful."
Song Tianqing narrowed his eyes, replying lightly, "No matter, Uncle Zheng. Since Han Zheng does not know his place, won't blame me for being ruthless tomorrow!
I've never considered these disciples from the martial arts hall as competitors. You don't think I can't defeat them, do you?"
"Of course, this old servant has complete trust in the Young Master. However, the Family Head will soon be assessing all the young disciples of the Song Family, and I worry that if you exert yourself or get injured in the martial arts hall competition, it could disadvantage you in the family assessment."
"Uncle Zheng, rest assured, dealing with a commoner-born martial arts disciple won't take much effort.
Moreover, the White Ape Extended Arm Fist is no longer a necessity for me now; it would only be icing on the cake at most.
I have already made contact with an Outer Door Steward of the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, who has agreed to help me enter into the inner ranks of the Sword Sect.
If nothing unexpected happens, when the Sect's Elder in charge of passing down teachings comes to Black Stone County next time, not only will they admit Lin Qing but will take me as well.
Chief Clerk Lin has no idea how much effort and wealth he has spent just for this opportunity, and yet now it's ultimately just preparing the wedding dress for me."
With that, Song Tianqing could not help but reveal a smug smile.
Sects like the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, top-tier major sects, would each year venture out to recruit disciples with good talent into their ranks, though they only visited larger State Mansions and rarely small places like Black Stone County.
Chief Clerk Lin had gone to considerable lengths to get the Outer Door Steward of the Cang Mountain Sword Sect to come to Black Stone County.
Song Tianqing seized this opportunity precisely, paving his way with plenty of gold and jewels, easily making the steward agree to admit him to the Cang Mountain Sword Sect as well.
Even though the Sword Sect was renowned and its disciples' cultivation exceptional, the Outer Door Stewards were usually those disciples who were older and whose cultivation had stagnated for some time.
As their path in martial arts had reached its limit, they naturally pursued various worldly assets; it was obviously advantageous for Song Tianqing to pave his way with money.
However, this was provided that your talent and constitution were also passable; otherwise, the other party wouldn't dare to admit you into the Cang Mountain Sword Sect on their own accord.
Otherwise, if they couldn't pass the test of the Elder in charge of imparting techniques, the Outer Door Steward would also be disciplined—any Tom, Dick, or Harry shouldn't dare to waltz into the sect.
Hearing this, Zheng Zhishan was immediately overjoyed, "Congratulations, Young Master! Cheers to you, Young Master!
As long as you enter the Cang Mountain Sword Sect, who among the younger generation of the Song Family would be qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with you?
Even if the Family Head dislikes you, he would still have to hold his nose and give you the position of heir!"
"What I want is not just the position of heir!"
A trace of chilliness flashed in Song Tianqing's eyes, "But to take back everything I've lost over the years!"
At this moment, Han Zheng didn't know that he had been marked by Song Tianqing as a stepping stone on his path, clearly deemed as part of the plan.
Returning home, Han Zheng opened the Taotie Furnace to check, and he still had 30 points of Hunger Level left.
Previously, Han Zheng had deliberately reserved these points for emergency needs, for a sudden breakthrough.
After hesitating, Han Zheng still did not use these 30 points of Hunger Level.
30 points weren't a lot, but nor were they few—they could strengthen Han Zheng a bit but wouldn't allow him to make leaps and bounds.
Moreover, the only Martial Arts Han Zheng could use to improve his Skill Level now were Dragon Elephant Wisdom and Vajra Demon Suppression Seal.
Of these two Cultivation Techniques, he could only employ the power amplification that came with Dragon Elephant Wisdom; the others, he did not wish to expose to outsiders.
So, consuming the Hunger Level would only unblock a few more acupoints and augment some strength, without too significant of an improvement.
It would be better to keep these points of Hunger Level for a time of need.
After deciding, Han Zheng took out the Blood Slaughter Saber Technique and began to delve into it.
Although he couldn't use weapons in tomorrow's contest, learning one more Martial Skill meant having an additional trump card.
Weapons are an extension of the body.
Without a sword in hand, one can join fingers to form a sword.
Without a saber in hand, one can also turn a palm into a saber.
Li Jingzhong said that the power of the Blood Slaughter Saber Technique falls between Postnatal and Innate—the only flaw is worrying about Evil Qi entering the body and affecting one's Mental State.
Han Zheng read through the entire Saber Technique and indeed felt the sinister aspect of this Martial Skill.
The blade moves of the Blood Slaughter Saber Technique were ruthless and unparalleled, solely offensive with no defense, extreme in every sense.
Furthermore, its essence doesn't rely on activating meridians to exert force but rather on drawing the Evil Qi in the body to overlay on the blade moves, enhancing lethality.
Evil Qi is not Inner Strength, invisible and intangible, only perceived by feeling.
The method to condense Evil Qi is simple—just kill.
However, some can gather Evil Qi by killing one person, while others might not manage to do so even after killing ten.
What if one never manages to condense Evil Qi?
The Saber Technique states it explicitly—keep on killing!
Even if you are a compassionate monk, continuing such killing will turn you into a Buddha wrapped in murderous intent.
Han Zheng calmed his heart and breath according to the descriptions in the Blood Slaughter Saber Technique, sensing the Evil Qi inside himself.
It was unknown if Han Zheng was naturally suited to life-and-death battles, but up to now, he had only killed Wang Xiong and a pig demon, and yet he managed to sense the Evil Qi coursing through his body in an instant.
Chillingly cold and wildly fierce.
Before learning the Blood Slaughter Saber Technique, Han Zheng would only subconsciously tap into this thread of Evil Qi when angered, as he had been when he berated Zheng Zhishan before.
But now, Han Zheng could actively condense this thread of Evil Qi to confront his enemies.
Throughout the night, Han Zheng didn't spend too much time practicing the Saber Technique but on refining how to condense Evil Qi.
Blood Slaughter Saber Technique—the Saber Technique aspect was secondary, the primary being the method of condensing Evil Qi.
He practiced till midnight, and then Han Zheng began to circulate Dragon Elephant Wisdom while falling into sleep for rest.
Early the next morning, Han Zheng chewed on two steamed buns as he arrived at the Martial Arts Hall, immediately attracting the gaze of a group of disciples.
Previously, Han Zheng only had a modest reputation in the Martial Arts Hall, similar to that of Chen Zhao.
It wasn't until today that people realized that Han Zheng, who had always been low-key and silent, might be the strongest among their generation of disciples.
Chen Zhao, who had been sent flying and vomiting blood by Song Tianqing yesterday, also arrived at the Martial Arts Hall today, albeit still looking a little pale.
He approached Han Zheng and whispered, "Brother Han, be careful of Song Tianqing; he's definitely learned other Martial Skills outside, just like Guo Mingyuan!
It's just that my strength wasn't up to par; I didn't manage to force his real trump card out.
His strikes are extremely fast, each move vicious beyond compare, totally different from the bold and forceful style of Vajra Fist, it must be another kind of Martial Skill.
However, Song Tianqing indeed possesses extraordinary talent; he's actually managed to fuse these two completely different styles of Martial Skills, making it impossible for others to detect the slightest discrepancy."
"Thank you for the warning."
Han Zheng expressed his gratitude.
He had witnessed the battle yesterday, but after all, he hadn't truly fought against Song Tianqing himself; there were details he couldn't possibly understand better than Chen Zhao.
This information was derived from Chen Zhao's own experience through failure, which was very useful to Han Zheng.
Staring at Han Zheng, Chen Zhao said, "Before my parents died, their greatest wish was to see me succeed, so I regarded all of you as rivals while training in the Martial Arts Hall.
Unfortunately, I'm not competent, losing in a most pitiful and wretched manner.
But compared to Song Tianqing, I would much rather the person who gets the White Ape Extended Arm Fist be you."
After speaking, Chen Zhao turned and walked away.