Promise!

Chapter 21, A Hill

It was on that night that Wang Rui attacked Bi Kai, Zhuang Jin rescued Bi Kai, and Wang Rui was shot dead.

Hou Yong's backer, Guo Jun, was working in the Internal Affairs Office of the Law Enforcement Department this month and was assigned to the outer courtyard. Naturally, he was alarmed by the big incident in Room 2 of Wu, with people dying and the bodies having to be dealt with. After learning about the incident, he carefully asked the names of two new breakthrough formal warriors involved in the incident and learned that one of them was named Zhuang Jin.

"That kid... succeeded?!" Guo Jun's wrist trembled when he heard the news, and a sense of fear inexplicably arose in his heart.

Zhuang Jin had just broken through to become a formal warrior, but was only a first-level warrior. He was already a second-level warrior. Logically, it shouldn't be like this, and the reaction shouldn't be so big, but that's not how things work.

Before the Shen family recruited external martial artists, they naturally had a need for them. How did they do that when they didn't have any? The Shen family's original retainers and servants recommended them. Those recommended were naturally related to them. The quality of the martial artists recruited internally was predictable; there wasn't much of a standout, and those with exceptional martial arts talent were rare.

At that time, the Shen family didn't care. It was enough for them to be able to break through to become formal warriors. There was no need to recruit, screen and train people with outstanding qualifications.

This moment, that moment.

Now, facing the pressure from the Medicine King Gang, the Shen family has begun to recruit martial artists from outside. After the test of time, true talents can be screened out, such as Xiang Qichen who became a formal martial artist in fourteen days, Xiong Lei who became a formal martial artist in sixteen days, and Zhuang Jin's breakthrough in seventeen days is naturally also included.

Guo Jun knew very well that he was a product of the old era and his talent was just average. It took him nearly thirty days to enter the Qi Condensation Realm and break through to the level of a formal warrior. It was a very difficult journey for him to enter the martial arts. Otherwise, he would not be a second-level warrior at the age of thirty or forty now.

But Zhuang Jin was different. Today was only the seventeenth day for this group of warriors! Martial arts were highly dependent on aptitude. Those with less aptitude would encounter bottlenecks and become stuck there, potentially making no progress in their entire lives. However, those with superior aptitude, like Zhuang Jin, might even reach the Second Scripture Realm after becoming a formal warrior and studying martial arts for the next month, becoming a Second-Mark Servant like him!

"It's better to offend an old man than to bully a poor young man!" Guo Jun felt an inexplicable sense of urgency in his heart: "We must find a way to resolve the feud we created when we brought Hou Yong here that day as soon as possible, the sooner the better!"

He made up his mind and took action immediately. He asked his colleagues for help to ask for leave, and went out to look for Hou Yong at night. He found him at Hou Yong's home. Hou Yong was also a cautious person. Although he said that the probability of Zhuang Jin breaking through to become a formal warrior was not high, he was still holding back while waiting for news these days. He did not go out to look for Hou Yong at night because the door was half-closed.

Hou Yong was woken up and was shaken awake by the news Guo Jun brought. He was still a little sleepy, his face full of disbelief. He muttered blankly, "How could it be? Don't I know how difficult it is to become a formal warrior? How could that kid be so lucky? Did he really make it? This is not right!"

Seeing Hou Yong's hopeless look, Guo Jun scolded him, "Why do you care how lucky he is? Success is success! What you need to do now is think about how to face Zhuang Jin and deal with this matter!"

Hou Yong came back to his senses after being scolded. He knew that no matter how much he didn't want to believe it, it was useless. This was already the fact. After accepting this fact, his face became extremely ugly. He had once done anything to Zhuang Jin... Oh, he had never had time to do anything to Zhuang Jin. When Zhuang Jin robbed the money, he originally wanted to find Zhuang Jin to settle accounts, but didn't he find him?

However, later on, he used Guo Jun's connections to go to the outer courtyard of the Shen family and caused a scene, which still offended Zhuang Jin quite a bit. Now that the other party has really become powerful and is about to turn things around, he should be worried about it.

Hou Yong begged for help: "Master Guo, help me!"

He knew the abilities of warriors, and knew that if he faced Zhuang Jin alone, he would be dead!

"You useless thing, why are you so flustered? Let me ask you something first. You must tell me the truth!" Guo Jun looked serious, staring into Hou Yong's eyes and asked, "How did you treat Zhuang Jin in the past? To what extent did you offend him?"

"To what extent?" Hou Yong suppressed his panic, thought carefully, and said, "To be honest, it doesn't seem to be that serious. I just collected the little mute... oh no, it was Zhuang Jin's monthly allowance for three or four months, and there was also that time we went there to find him. There's nothing else."

At that time, Zhuang Jin was quite discreet among the other beggars, and he was quite tactful. Besides, it was only three or four months, and he didn't even find an excuse to beat or scold him. Then? As mentioned before, Zhuang Jin broke the taboo by stealing the regular money, and he originally planned to punish him severely, but didn't he fail?
"That's good." Guo Jun stared at Hou Yong's expression and confirmed that he was not lying. Then he breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that Hou Yong had bullied him too harshly and created a deep hatred that would last until one of them died... If what Hou Yong said was not too harsh, then things would be much easier.

He pondered for a moment and said, "Just like we planned before, now that Zhuang Jin has become a beggar, he is definitely not your beggar. Remember this clearly. Also, carefully prepare a gift and apologize for the offense that day. The sooner this is done, the better. It would be best if we could clear up this misunderstanding tomorrow."

"Mr. Guo is right." Hou Yong felt relieved after hearing this, but he was still a little nervous. He asked cautiously, "Mr. Guo, I mean, what if, what if Zhuang Jin doesn't agree to reconcile?"

Now that Zhuang Jin has risen to prominence and become a formal warrior, he might be feeling arrogant. He has seen people who rise to prominence overnight and whose personalities change drastically, becoming arrogant. He is afraid that Zhuang Jin is that kind of person!

"It shouldn't be. After all, you didn't cause any real harm to the other party, and we're the ones who voluntarily surrendered... Besides, I have some connections in the Shen family's outer courtyard, and I can hire a middleman of sufficient weight. With all these factors, I think it's unlikely that Zhuang Jin would refuse to give me face."

"If you really don't give me face..." A gloomy look flashed in Guo Jun's eyes. If he really doesn't give me face, then he can only give up Hou Yong!

Yes, you heard it right. It’s not about confronting Zhuang Jin head-on, but about giving up Hou Yong.

As mentioned before, Zhuang Jin has already become a formal warrior and will join the Shen family tomorrow. He can't kill him. Given his talent, he will grow quickly. In this case, even if Hou Yong is capable and worry-free, he is reluctant and uncomfortable. But if the price is to make Zhuang Jin bear a grudge, then it's better to give up Hou Yong! He still knows what is more important!

This is the reality. It is all about interests and values. It is impossible for them to be like the brainless villains in novels. For the sake of their subordinates and face, they will fight to the death over the slightest conflict. They will rush to the pole one by one like the Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather, until they sacrifice themselves and the forces behind them.

Guo Jun glanced at Hou Yong and thought to himself, "If the worst happens, don't blame me. Blame yourself for being blind and offending Zhuang Jin!"

"Thank you, Master Guo! Thank you, Master Guo!" Hou Yong didn't notice what Guo Jun was thinking. He breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. He kept thanking him, and then began to think about what gift to prepare carefully.

"Zhuang Jin paid me three or four months' salary, which is two or three hundred coins. My apology should show my sincerity. I will pay it back tenfold, so I'll give you three taels of silver!"

Hou Yong thought about this, and although he felt extremely painful, he still gritted his teeth and decided to give the money. He was afraid that Zhuang Jin would be dissatisfied. Thinking of Tan San and Xiao Erduo, who had a grudge against him, he secretly planned: "I will also deal with these two people as a bonus."

Tan San had been stabbed in the hand by Zhuang Jin with a dog-beating stick. The tip of Zhuang Jin's stick had been soaked in feces and urine, so it was enchanted with tetanus. He'd heard that Tan San's wound had festered, and Xiao Erduo's leg had been broken by Tan San, leaving him half-crippled. He'd heard they hadn't been able to collect much money in recent days. "Tan San and Xiao Erduo, these two worthless creatures were doomed anyway. Why not give them to me as a favor while they still have some use... When you two get to the underworld, don't blame me. Blame yourselves for offending Zhuang Jin!"

It can only be said that Guo Jun and Hou Yong are birds of a feather. When faced with the sudden rise of Zhuang Jin, they both thought, "I would rather die than let my friend die."

……

The next day, after breakfast, Zhuang Jin came to the martial arts field and once again felt the strange looks from others. However, unlike the last beggar incident, this time the strange looks in others' eyes were filled with amazement and admiration.

This was naturally because he broke through to become a formal warrior last night and saved Bi Kai from Wang Rui with a single blow. This matter had spread out. The martial artists in Room 2 of Wu couldn't sleep last night because of Zhuang Jin's matter. Today, with the idea that they shouldn't be the only ones shocked, they told others about what happened last night during breakfast. Sure enough, the martial artists in other dormitories were amazed and shocked. These reactions made the martial artists in the same dormitory talk about it with relish, and they exaggerated it. Now, no one knows how many versions of the story have been spread.

The martial artists at the Huangzi No. 1 Martial Arts Training Ground knew Zhuang Jin. He took the initiative to go on stage on the first day and received instruction from Ping Yongfeng. He practiced extra classes morning and night from the first day. There was also the beggar incident... After hearing today that Zhuang Jin had broken through to become a formal martial artist, they felt less jealous and more respectful towards him than towards Xiang Qichen and Xiong Lei.

Just as Zhuang Jin thought, because of his self-discipline and diligence since the first day, even if it suddenly broke out today, others would just think that he was keeping a low profile before.

Zhuang Jin listened to the discussions and exclamations of others in the martial arts training ground, and felt the admiring gazes. His face was as calm as he was after the beggar incident and in the face of rumors. He also responded calmly to the martial artists who came forward to congratulate him and wanted to make friends with him. His attitude was neither arrogant nor approachable.

He was indeed calm and not at all intoxicated by the praise of others, because he knew that compared to these martial artists, he had indeed entered a new world, but on the road of martial arts, his current level was just the starting point.

Qian Wende also came over. When this guy wants to please or curry favor with someone, his words are really nice.

Don't hit someone who smiles at you, and Zhuang Jin didn't treat him differently. He was just polite and distant.

It wasn't until Ping Yongfeng came over that the other martial artists all looked at Zhuang Jin. He then raised his hand and said, "Master Ping, I have broken through to become a formal martial artist."

After that, he went on stage to demonstrate.

"Oh?" Ping Yongfeng looked at the clear palm print left by Zhuang Jin on the wooden board, his face full of surprise, and then turned into joy: another five cents of silver was in hand!
In fact, compared to Xiang Qichen and Xiong Lei, this joy was even stronger. After all, those two told him about it after they controlled their qi and blood, so he was mentally prepared. But this surprise for Zhuang Jin was a completely unexpected one.

"This kid, after controlling the Qi and blood, kept quiet. Maybe he saw Xiang Qichen and Xiong Lei spread the news and everyone got jealous? This cautious, low-key, and thoughtful person is really good!"

"Also, I've checked Zhuang Jin's bones and found him to be somewhat weak, which is not conducive to the first step of controlling his Qi and blood. However, the time it will take for him to break through to become a full-fledged warrior is only two or three days later than those two."

Ping Yongfeng's mind moved: "This boy probably mastered the Qi and Blood later than the other two, which means that it took him very little time to break through the bottleneck of being a warrior. This means that if we put aside the influence of physical deficiency, this Zhuang Jin may be the first to become a formal warrior. Who knows, his true aptitude may be better than Xiang Qichen!"

"With such talent and character, if nothing unexpected happens, he will definitely be a great figure in the future!"

When he thought of this, the smile on his face became more friendly. Under the envious gazes of the other martial artists, he took Zhuang Jin out of the training ground and helped move the bedding.

You know, the last person to enjoy such treatment was Xiang Qichen, and even Xiong Lei didn’t have it!
……

When they arrived at the dormitory, Ping Yongfeng wanted to help Zhuang Jin move the bedding. Zhuang Jin naturally didn't watch and rushed forward to pick up the bedding. When it was time to go out, he asked the other party to go first. Such a respectful attitude made Ping Yongfeng feel comfortable and at the same time sighed with admiration.

He had seen a lot of people, so he naturally saw that everything Zhuang Jin did was from the heart, without any hypocrisy, and that he truly respected him.

"Compared to that, Xiang Qichen is a bit inferior." When Ping Yongfeng helped Xiang Qichen carry his bedding out, he made a move to take it, but at Ping Yongfeng's request, he gave in. He could see that Xiang Qichen, while seemingly respectful, was actually somewhat arrogant, perhaps even dismissive. Perhaps he thought he'd soon be able to break through to the Second Martial Arts level as well? In short, he wasn't entirely sincere.

On the other hand, Zhuang Jin remained calm when he was scolded to death on the first day on stage. Later, when he heard some beggars talking about it in the training ground, he was also not affected... Now he has rebounded from the bottom and become a formal warrior, but he has not become arrogant and has maintained his original intention, which is really commendable.

"With such a character and talent, even with a lesser background, his potential is limitless!" Let's not talk about others, just Ping Yongfeng. Faced with a figure like Zhuang Jin, he was very willing to make a good relationship with him. If he didn't have more connections and resources, he would even want to invest more.

This is what it means to have many supporters when you are righteous!

The question is, why didn’t Ping Yongfeng have this attitude before?

Of course, Zhuang Jin had never shown any talent in martial arts before.

In this extraordinary world, talent determines the upper limit. If you don't have the talent for martial arts, the upper limit is locked, and no matter how hard you try, you can only sigh in vain. But even in this extraordinary world, your character and how you behave determine the lower limit. With such a character, at least you won't live too badly.

What if one possesses both talent and character? That means he is like a dormant dragon in the abyss, but once the storm arrives, he will soar into the sky!

……

This chapter is difficult to separate, it is two-in-one.



(End of this chapter)