Human Martial Saint: Starting with Bajiquan

Chapter 96 Deliberation 2

Gao Huang's tone.

Gradually turning cold:

"The mutinous army is but a minor ailment, but behind them lies a powerful enemy of the human race, the Kang family, who willingly serve as a tool of the demon magistrate, harming their own kind. I believe that rather than waiting for them to become a threat when they rise up in the future, it is better to eliminate this menace now!"

Zhang Tianxing pondered for a moment and replied:

"Regarding the Kang family's affairs, I recall Cao Dahuang has already been secretly investigating, and your disciple Lin Yi is also assisting him. Let's wait for their news. This demon clan's chaotic army, plundering merchants, cannot be allowed to continue its rampage; it is only right to send troops to wipe them out!"

Wang Jingyi, who was standing nearby, heard this.

I couldn't help but try to dissuade them:

"General, it is certainly necessary to quell the rebel army, but you don't have many guards around you. Many experts from the clan are still secretly watching and waiting for the right opportunity to act. If we divide our forces now, what if..."

Zhang Tianxing raised his hand to stop Gao Huang, who was about to offer advice, and his gaze fell on his nephew who was standing to the side:

"Zhang Faqing".

"Your subordinate is here!"

Zhang Faqing stepped forward and responded with a fist salute.

"I hereby issue you a military order: select ten of my personal guards who are most skilled in reconnaissance, infiltration, and assassination, and you will lead them to investigate the size, composition, location of their hideout, and patterns of action of this rebel army."

Seemingly still worried, Zhang Tianxing specifically emphasized:

"Remember, it's an investigation, not an annihilation. Once you've ascertained the situation, report back immediately, and then we can discuss a plan for annihilation."

Each word was clear and logical; upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Zhang Faqing's eyes:

"This humble general obeys the order and will certainly not fail the commander-in-chief's trust!"

Seeing that Zhang Tianxing did not insist on immediately sending troops to wipe them out, but instead conducted reconnaissance first, Wang and Gao's expressions softened slightly, and they both felt that this was for the best.

The meeting has now come to a temporary close.

Wang Jingyi also bowed and withdrew, making the cave seem even more spacious. After a short while, Gao Huang led Lu You and Liu Sheng in.

"Grandmaster!"

The two bowed.

Zhang Tianxing's gaze fell on Liu Sheng, scrutinizing him closely, a genuine smile appearing on his face:

"Excellent! Your Qi and blood are abundant, and your body is strong. You've already reached the eighth rank of the Body Refining Realm. Very good!"

"It is all thanks to my senior brother's guidance that I have earned money and purchased precious medicine from Miss Yin, which is why I have reached my current level."

Hearing this, Zhang Tianxing nodded. He had wanted to do his best to cultivate this little grand-disciple before, but Gao Huang stopped him, saying that he should first get used to being self-reliant, so that he would know how to cherish the support he received later.

It seems that Liu Sheng has indeed reached the eighth rank so quickly through his own efforts without taking advantage of his sect, which is a good result.

However, once you reach the seventh rank or higher, it becomes virtually impossible to succeed solely through personal effort.

Therefore, Zhang Tianxing quickly came up with a plan:

"Being neither arrogant nor impatient is very good. There are still ten days left... Once you pass the martial arts examination and become a martial arts scholar, you can officially join my righteous army. You can start as a ninth-rank squad leader. I hope you will work hard and not waste what you have learned."

A warm feeling welled up in Liu Sheng's heart.

A ninth-rank squad leader!

Although he was only the lowest-ranking military officer, it meant that he could officially enter the rebel army system and have a real future and salary.

All you need to do is obtain the title of Wu Xiucai (a military scholar).

This is all you need to get started!

He took a deep breath and bowed solemnly:

"Disciple Liu Sheng will certainly do his utmost to thank the Ancestral Master for his guidance!"

Seeing Liu Sheng's reaction, Gao Huang and Lu You, who were standing to the side, also showed a look of satisfaction.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Liu Sheng secretly activated his spiritual eyes and looked at Gao Huang.

All Liu Sheng saw was his master still surrounded by a thick red light, so red it was almost black! Startled, Liu Sheng was about to look away when he noticed a particularly deep red dot of light flickering slightly in the center of his master's brow.

This is precisely the new function that the Spirit Eye unlocks in the Flesh Refining Realm: the ability to perceive weaknesses. Without a doubt, this area between the eyebrows is Master's Achilles' heel.

"At least this is getting serious..."

Liu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. He had been checking his senior brother's weaknesses, but his spiritual eyes had pointed directly to the silver his senior brother always carried.

As a result, his first impression of this new feature was not good.

Then he thought that his master always wore a demon mask, so maybe the mask also served to cover his weaknesses.

Then, he looked at his grandmaster, Zhang Tianxing.

As before, Zhang Tianxing did not emanate any light that indicated a comparison of strength, and his "Insight into Weaknesses" ability had no effect on his grandmaster.

It was as if Zhang Tianxing was not made of flesh and blood, nor a martial arts master, or perhaps he had already reached the pinnacle, exceeding the limits that the Spirit Eye could see.

Liu Sheng was deeply shocked, and felt that his master's cultivation level was even more unfathomable.

Next, Zhang Tianxing and Gao Huang asked each other a few questions about the current situation in Crescent Moon County.

Lu You then told them about the child abduction case he had solved some time ago. He also emphasized Liu Sheng's role in the scheme and his bravery in ultimately confronting the poison water team.

Liu Sheng then recounted how he had devised a series of strategies to help the Yan family overcome their predicament, including changing their flag and clothing, taking a detour through the Huangqu River, and abandoning their goods to save their lives.

Zhang Tianxing nodded repeatedly, his gaze towards Liu Sheng filled with even more admiration, as if he already had some new considerations in mind.

"Gao Huang, take Zhang Faqing to select the personnel first, and have Lu Youye go with him as a guide to familiarize himself with this exploration mission. Liu Sheng stays behind; I have some questions for him privately."

Gao Huang and Lu You exchanged a glance.

Although they were both puzzled as to why their grandmaster had kept their junior brother behind, they did not ask further questions. After bowing, they left the cave together with Zhang Faqing.

In the blink of an eye.

The huge grotto was then empty.

Only Zhang Tianxing and Liu Sheng remained, along with the silent Buddha and the bandits on the mural.

And the flickering shadows cast by the lamplight.

Liu Sheng was puzzled, wondering what his master had done by leaving him behind alone. He couldn't imagine what was so special about him.

Could it be that the proficiency panel was discovered?

He looked at Zhang Tianxing, only to find that after everyone left, Zhang Tianxing's straight back had almost slumped slightly, and the calm, composed, and dignified expression on his face had faded like the tide.

Instead, there was a deep, unmasked sense of exhaustion.

Zhang Tianxing raised his hand and rubbed his eyes. The movement was somewhat slow, and even his silver hair seemed to appear dimmer under the light.

Seeing all these scenes, Liu Sheng felt a pang of sorrow and his heart tightened.

It turns out that the composure and dignified bearing that Grandmaster usually displayed in front of others, the one that supported everyone's beliefs, required such effort to maintain.

You could even say that...

It was "acted out".

Even a true grandmaster, who has reached the pinnacle of martial arts, would still feel tired and pressured by the numerous affairs of the early stages of human cultivation.

It was as if he wasn't the number one martial artist, but just an old fisherman at sea, struggling to survive in a small boat amidst towering waves.

Using human strength to fight against natural disasters is fraught with danger; the slightest misstep could lead to capsizing and loss of life.