Chapter 230: Chapter 112: Senior Sister’s Strangeness, Touching Huajin
Qi Kang slapped his thigh, a flash of excitement in his eyes. "I’ve got it! How about I go talk to Hall Master Sun and have him arrange another marriage between you and Yang Jing? With the Hall Master mediating, maybe it could still work out between you two."
"No!" Qi Yun waved her hands frantically, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red. "I already embarrassed Master by rejecting him in public last time. If I go to him about this again now, wouldn’t I just be asking for more embarrassment? Absolutely not!"
Qi Kang tried again, "Then... how about you take the initiative and show Yang Jing some goodwill? He’s fond of you. Even if it’s just to build a connection, it would be good for our Qi Family."
Qi Yun shook her head vigorously. "I’m a girl, how could I possibly take the initiative to seek him out? What would people say if word got out?"
Qi Kang sighed helplessly and began pacing around the room again, his brows tightly furrowed.
’Given Yang Jing’s current momentum, getting him on the Qi Family’s side would be a massive boon. But how to make that connection is the problem.’
...
「 Chengping Square, in the front courtyard of Sun’s Martial Arts Hall. 」
Yang Jing was focused on practicing his Mountain-Shattering Fist. The wind from his punches howled, carrying a dull, tearing sound as they cut through the air.
Every punch he threw seemed to carry the force of a collapsing mountain. His Inner Strength flowed ever more smoothly through his meridians; he was not far from the Peak of Dark Energy.
’Once my Mountain-Shattering Fist reaches the Peak of Dark Energy...’
Yang Jing thought to himself, his fists striking with even greater ferocity.
He had never encountered a bottleneck when breaking through realms. As long as he reached the Peak of Dark Energy, breaking through to Transforming Strength would be a natural progression.
The thought of stepping into that legendary realm filled him with energy, and the momentum behind his Punching Techniques grew even sharper.
The surrounding disciples watched from a distance, their eyes filled with awe.
Just then, a servant disciple came running frantically from the main gate. He jogged all the way to Yang Jing’s side and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother Yang, there’s... there’s a housekeeper from the County Government outside looking for you."
Yang Jing’s punches paused. He was a bit surprised.
’Someone from the County Government is looking for me?’
’Did I even alert the County Magistrate?’
He stopped his movements and stood still, wiped the sweat from his brow, and nodded. "I understand. I’ll go right now."
Stepping outside the Martial Arts Hall’s main gate, Yang Jing saw an elegantly decorated carriage parked by the roadside. Standing beside it was a shrewd-looking middle-aged man in a long blue robe—it was Housekeeper Zhou Zhong from the County Magistrate’s Mansion.
Zhou Zhong had set out from the County Magistrate’s Mansion early that morning. He first went to Yang Jing’s residence in Tongyi Square, and upon learning he had gone to the Martial Arts Hall, he rushed over without stopping.
Seeing Yang Jing emerge, his face immediately broke into a warm smile as he hurried forward to greet him, cupping his hands in a salute. "I am Zhou Zhong, housekeeper for the County Government. It is an honor to meet Young Hero Yang."
"You’re too kind, Housekeeper Zhou." Yang Jing quickly returned the salute with a humble attitude.
He knew the saying about even a prime minister’s doorman holding rank, so a housekeeper from the County Magistrate’s Mansion was not to be underestimated.
Seeing Yang Jing act so politely, without any of the arrogance of a youth who had found early success, Zhou Zhong immediately felt a greater sense of goodwill toward him.
He had originally worried that this newly risen young expert might be difficult to deal with, but it seemed he was a man who understood courtesy.
"May I ask what brings you here, Housekeeper Zhou?" Yang Jing asked, getting straight to the point.
At the gatehouse, two servant disciples stood at a distance, craning their necks to watch Yang Jing and Zhou Zhong converse, their eyes filled with curiosity and awe.
From their perspective, the County Government’s head housekeeper was a major figure who could make the entire neighborhood nervous with a single stomp of his foot. It was rare for common folk to even catch a glimpse of him, yet here he was, seeking out Senior Brother Yang and acting so cordially. This deepened their reverence for Yang Jing even more.
A smile plastered on his face, Zhou Zhong spoke with a sincere tone, "Young Hero Yang, you may not be aware, but the Lord County Magistrate was overjoyed to learn that you eliminated the Flying Horse Thieves. These bandits have been entrenched in the county for years, wreaking havoc in the region. Their menace has been especially grave in recent years, and the government’s attempts to suppress them have all failed. You have removed a great menace from Yuhe County."
He paused, then cupped his hands again. "Therefore, his lordship has given special orders to host a humble banquet at the County Government tonight to celebrate your achievement. I hope Young Hero Yang will grace us with your presence."
Hearing this, Yang Jing understood.
’Eliminating the Flying Horse Thieves was indeed a great achievement. It made sense for the County Magistrate to host a banquet.’
After a moment’s thought, he cupped his hands and replied, "I am unworthy of the Lord County Magistrate’s high regard. Eliminating the Flying Horse Thieves was simply my duty. Since his lordship has invited me, this junior will certainly attend the banquet on time tonight."
"Excellent, excellent."
Zhou Zhong’s smile widened. He offered a few more pleasantries, such as "Young Hero Yang is so young and promising," and "Your future is truly limitless," before cupping his hands in farewell and turning to board his carriage.
The driver cracked the whip with a soft shout, and the carriage wheels began to turn, slowly merging into the flow of traffic on the street.
Yang Jing watched until the carriage disappeared around a corner before turning back into the Martial Arts Hall.
As he passed the gatehouse, the two servant disciples hastily bowed, their eyes practically overflowing with reverence.
Yang Jing gave a slight nod and walked straight toward the front courtyard.
’I should start planning for tonight’s banquet.’
’This will be my first time meeting the County Magistrate. Although I have some strength now, I can’t afford to be impolite.’
’After I finish my practice, I should head back early to clean up and change into some fresh clothes. At the very least, my appearance should be proper.’
Pushing these thoughts aside, Yang Jing took his stance once more in the center of the training grounds. He took a deep breath and began practicing Mountain-Shattering Fist again.
The wind from his punches howled as his Inner Strength circulated. Each strike was more stable than the last, bringing him ever closer to the threshold of the Peak of Dark Energy.
「 Not long after. 」
The news that "the County Government’s head housekeeper personally came to invite Senior Brother Yang to a celebratory banquet hosted by the County Magistrate tonight" quietly spread among the disciples in the front courtyard, courtesy of the two servant disciples from the gatehouse.
It was still early, so there weren’t many people in the Martial Arts Hall—mostly just ordinary disciples and servant disciples.
