Zhang Tianyang (Thanks to book friend Chuisanle Yun Dui for the Alliance Leader reward)

Upon hearing the county yamen's constable address Li Jingzhong as "Teacher," Han Zheng was momentarily stunned.

Only disciples who had been taught the White Ape Through-Arm Fist would call Li Jingzhong "Teacher"—had this man once been a student of the Zhenwei Martial Arts School?

Li Jingzhong showed no arrogance and quickly replied, "Constable Zhang, you're too polite. You've just arrived in Black Stone County and have plenty of official duties—of course, business comes first."

Turning to Han Zheng, Li Jingzhong said, "This is our Black Stone County's newly appointed Chief Constable, Zhang Tianyang. He took office the very day you left Black Stone County."

"Greetings, Chief Constable Zhang." Han Zheng cupped his hands.

Zhang Tianyang sized up Han Zheng, and that chill once again emanated from him.

"Teacher, this disciple of yours has a solid foundation. Though he hasn't reached Xiantian, his bones are as sturdy as a tree and his blood and qi as vigorous as an ox. I'd say he has a ninety percent chance of shedding the mortal shell and stepping into Xiantian.

Is he the best disciple of this generation at the school? Has he already been taught the White Ape Through-Arm Fist?"

Li Jingzhong smiled and said, "Han Zheng is indeed impressive—whether in fundamentals or actual combat, he ranks among the top in the school.

But this batch of disciples hasn't yet undergone the final assessment, and no one has been taught the White Ape Through-Arm Fist."

"Tsk, with a foundation like this and he still hasn't reached first place in the school? Teacher, this batch of yours is truly remarkable."

Zhang Tianyang praised him, then turned to Han Zheng, his gaze turning slightly serious.

"Han Zheng, you said you had contact with the Incense Cult outside the city. Tell me the whole story in detail—don't leave out anything."

Han Zheng nodded and recounted everything from the moment he encountered the Incense Cult, laying it all out for Zhang Tianyang.

"You even drove off one of the Incense Cult's followers?"

Han Zheng nodded. "There were only two of them. I guessed they were worried that fighting would interfere with their proselytizing, so they let us go."

Zhang Tianyang gave Han Zheng a deep, meaningful look and smiled knowingly.

He knew all too well what the Incense Cult was like.

If they thought they could handle you, there was no way they'd let you off without drawing blood.

Yet they had voluntarily retreated—this proved that Han Zheng's combat strength made them feel they couldn't control him, so they gave up.

This kid was deliberately hiding his skill.

Li Jingzhong asked with some concern, "The Incense Cult has been causing such chaos in Huainan Dao, and now they've appeared not far from Black Stone County. Could they be planning to attack Shannan Dao?"

"A large-scale attack is unlikely. The Incense Cult is just a sect. The reason they could overrun Huainan Dao so quickly is that they'd been operating there for over a decade, plus the imperial court didn't take them seriously enough and was caught off guard—that's how the Incense Cult succeeded."

Zhang Tianyang stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Right now, there are still imperial forces in Huainan Dao locked in battle with the Incense Cult. They don't have the strength to launch a large-scale assault on Shannan Dao.

But even if they can't attack on a large scale, they'll definitely infiltrate and nibble away bit by bit.

Black Stone County sits between Shannan Dao and Huainan Dao—it's indeed a bit dangerous.

I'll report this to my superiors, Teacher, so don't worry.

Jingzhou Prefecture is the gateway to Shannan Dao, and Black Stone County is the gateway to Jingzhou Prefecture. The higher-ups won't let anything happen to Black Stone County."

With that, Zhang Tianyang stood up and cupped his hands to Li Jingzhong. "This information is very valuable. I must return immediately to report to my superiors, so I won't linger and reminisce with you, Teacher."

"Official business comes first. Take care, Constable Zhang."

Li Jingzhong rose and saw Zhang Tianyang out the door.

Watching Zhang Tianyang's retreating figure, Han Zheng asked with mild curiosity, "School Master, was this Chief Constable also a disciple of the school in the past?"

Li Jingzhong nodded. "Strictly speaking, Zhang Tianyang was only my student, not a disciple.

He studied at the school for less than a year. He was among the first batch of students I took in Black Stone County over a decade ago. His talent was only average back then, so he wasn't taught the White Ape Through-Arm Fist.

Later, Zhang Tianyang left to wander the martial world. I don't know where he went—I heard he joined the military.

The day you left, Zhang Tianyang returned to Black Stone County to take up the post of Chief Constable. I met him that same day and we discussed the general situation in Black Stone County."

At this point, Li Jingzhong suddenly sighed. "The skies over Black Stone County are about to change.

Before, the yamen was weak and incompetent. The County Magistrate, though a jinshi graduate, was a drunkard who did nothing but drink and write poetry every day. There was no one of substance in the yamen.

But Zhang Tianyang is no ordinary man.

Though he tries to hide it, I can still sense the astonishing Killing Intent and murderous aura on him. The number of lives on his hands definitely exceeds three digits!

I don't know what he's been through all these years, but even I wouldn't be confident in a fight with him now.

I cultivate the martial path, while Zhang Tianyang cultivates the art of killing.

This man is dangerous. He's no longer the ordinary, shy farm boy I remember. Try to have as little contact with him as possible from now on.

But even if Black Stone County's skies are about to change, all you can do for now is focus on training in martial arts.

Strength is your capital for surviving in this chaotic world."

Han Zheng said sincerely, "I will heed your teachings, Teacher."

Li Jingzhong was a thoroughly qualified School Master. He didn't just teach his disciples martial arts—he also taught them how to survive in the martial world.

After returning, Han Zheng slept straight from the afternoon until the next morning.

This time, he did not cultivate the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill while sleeping.

The nerves had been wound too tight before. Time to relax a bit.

He pushed open the door, and the sunlight outside was a little harsh.

Han Zheng washed his face, planning to buy a few steamed buns at the alley entrance to fill his stomach before heading to the martial arts school.

"Boss, five meat buns."

The stall owner skillfully picked out five piping-hot, juice-dripping large meat buns, wrapped them in oil paper, and handed them to Han Zheng.

"Here you go. Careful, they just came out of the steamer. That'll be a hundred coppers."

Han Zheng's hand, holding the buns, paused. "A hundred coppers? Weren't meat buns ten coppers each before?"

The stall owner smiled bitterly. "That was days ago. Prices went up long ago."

Han Zheng didn't have that many copper coins on him, so he pulled out a piece of碎银子 and handed it to the boss.

"This price is ridiculous. Two buns cost almost as much as a catty of rice."

The stall owner counted out change as he spoke. "Before, you could buy a catty of rice with that. Now rice has gone up to over a hundred coppers a catty.

And it's not just rice—meat is hard to come by now.

You can still eat meat buns today, but in a little while, you might only be able to afford vegetable buns."

Han Zheng ate his buns, frowning slightly.

The Incense Cult's influence was strong over Shannan Dao, but even stronger over Black Stone County. Prices were about to take off.

Good thing he'd earned a hundred and fifty taels of silver escorting that merchant convoy, or he might not even be able to afford food.

Han Zheng was a bit late today. By the time he arrived at the martial arts school, most of the disciples were already there, gathered in small groups, discussing something.

"You think, in this final assessment, who'll end up as the top disciple of our batch and get taught the White Ape Through-Arm Fist?"

"I'd say Song Tianqing. After all, he's got the blood of the 'Heavenly Blade' Song Family. His talent is naturally a cut above ours.

Song Tianqing never studied any cultivation technique before, but look how long he's been at the school? They say he's already opened eight Meridians.

"Lin Qing is strong too. He's also opened eight Meridians, and his swordsmanship is outstanding. During practice a few days ago, the master said his sword skill is the best among all the disciples!"

"I think it should be Chen Zhao. Song Tianqing and Lin Qing both have backgrounds, but Chen Zhao comes from a similar place as us, and his cultivation hasn't fallen behind either.

We all thought Chen Zhao learning the Iron Whip was just to curry favor with the master, but the guy actually has real talent in whip techniques.

The master even said that at Chen Zhao's age, his own whip skill wasn't as good as Chen Zhao's. Chen Zhao's compatibility with the Iron Whip is no less than Lin Qing's with the sword!"

"What about Guo Mingyuan? I heard his cultivation is number one in the school now—he's opened two hundred and sixty Acupoints and nine Meridians!"

"Pah! A guy who got where he is by soaking in medicinal baths dares to act tough?"

"Exactly. A normal martial artist soaks one batch of medicine for three days; he soaks three batches in one day. He practically drinks the stuff. No wonder his cultivation is high."

"That bastard Guo Mingyuan's family grain store is the worst at jacking up prices! Rice is a hundred and twenty coppers a catty, and even black rye flour with pebbles in it is twenty coppers! The medicinal baths he uses are paid for with our blood and sweat!"

When others were mentioned, everyone argued back and forth.

But the moment Guo Mingyuan's name came up, everyone cursed him out, practically wanting to swallow him alive.

The surge in grain prices in Black Stone County hit everyone hard—everyone except Guo Mingyuan's family grain store, which profited hugely.

"Song Tianqing? Chen Zhao? Lin Qing? My brother Han Zheng is the one who can really fight!"

Li Sancheng swaggered over with Wang Bao and Zhao Jinming.

"Ever seen a Pig Demon over ten feet tall? Like a giant, with boundless strength. One slap sends a person flying. Its tusks are sharper than spears, and it eats people without spitting out bones.

That kind of Demon was nothing but a pig waiting to be slaughtered in my brother's hands. He killed it in a few moves.

And you've all heard of the Incense Cult, right? That evil sect that's thrown the entire Huainan Dao into chaos. Its followers are all top-tier experts.

When we were escorting the convoy back, the Incense Cult stopped us. My brother made a move and stunned them on the spot.

Those Incense Cult bastards didn't even dare to fart. They immediately let us pass."

Li Sancheng shook his head smugly, as if he were the one who killed the Pig Demon and drove off the Incense Cult.

Someone asked doubtfully, "Is Han Zheng really that fierce? He always seemed pretty ordinary to me."

"If you don't believe me, ask Zhao Jinming and Wang Bao. They saw it with their own eyes."

Although Li Sancheng's story was a bit off from the facts, the outcome was indeed the same.

They'd all ridden on Han Zheng's coattails to get an extra hundred taels of silver. You could even say that without Han Zheng, they wouldn't have made it back to Black Stone County safely.

So at a time like this, it was hard for them to explain too much. They just nodded.

Everyone knew Li Sancheng liked to brag and shoot the breeze. You only believed half of what he said.

But Zhao Jinming and Wang Bao were honest men. People couldn't help wondering—was Han Zheng really that fierce?

There were also those who didn't like Li Sancheng.

"The Pig Demon was killed by Han Zheng, and the Incense Cult was driven off by Han Zheng. What are you so proud of?"

Li Sancheng was about to snap back when Han Zheng arrived and pulled him away.

If he let him keep bragging, Han Zheng would end up kicking two families, punching three gangs, and ruling Black Stone County.

Thanks to the reader "Blown Away the Cloud Pile" for the generous patronage as a patron, congratulations on becoming the second patron of this book (^ω^)