Chapter 527

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Chapter 527: Guigu

Cloud Mountain, a certain valley

Lin Jiang was fishing by a pond, while Mo Zhai and the others were farming in the valley. There were a dozen thatched houses nearby. It was already an abandoned village.

When they arrived, they found some skeletons in the village but no living person. Lin Jiang decided to stay temporarily.

"Sir, the fish is hooked."

After finishing his work, Mo Zhai walked up to Lin Jiang and reminded him that the fish had bitten the hook.

Lin Jiang snapped back to reality, grabbed the fishing rod, but the fish was quite big. The fishing line suddenly broke. Lin Jiang got angry and threw the fishing rod out, piercing the fish instantly. Mo Zhai chuckled and quickly jumped into the pool, pulling out a big, fat fish weighing three to four pounds.

"Sir, we have fish to eat tonight."

"Yes, let’s cook it properly when we get back, don’t eat raw fish."

Lin Jiang nodded. Even though they lived in the mountains and fuel was hard to come by, the people of Shihao Village enjoyed eating raw fish when they caught one. Lin Jiang stopped them, explaining that it wasn’t the ancient times of cultivating immortality, and if they got parasitic infections from eating raw fish, it would be difficult to cure.

"What are you thinking about, sir?"

Mo Zhai asked Lin Jiang, noticing that Lin Jiang had been absent-minded recently, worried that Lin Jiang might be beginning to have psychological problems.

"Nothing’s wrong."

Lin Jiang waved it off, although he was indeed feeling a bit lost. After a thousand years of slumber, the people he once knew were no longer around.

If the Xia Kingdom disappeared and a new dynasty took its place, Lin Jiang wouldn’t mind. But since the Xia Dynasty still exists during the Spring and Autumn period, Lin Jiang doesn’t know what to do.

Back at home, Mo Zhai and two others prepared the food. Lin Jiang had caught many animals for food these days, so they had more than enough to eat.

After dinner, Lin Jiang taught the three others martial arts. Lin Jiang wasn’t officially their master, so they called him "Mister" instead of "Master".

Lin Jiang didn’t know what kind of people he should train them to be. Should he groom them to be skilled managers or exceptional warriors? Initially, he had only brought them away from Shihao Village because he thought they were good-hearted and didn’t want them to be casualties in troubled times.

"Never mind, let’s just teach whatever."

Lin Jiang didn’t want to overthink things and decided to teach casually, covering whatever came to mind. He believed as long as they could protect themselves in the future, that would be enough. He didn’t expect them to achieve much.

······

Under the scorching sun, Mo Zhai and the others practiced sword fighting under a big tree. The previous owners of the village had cultivated some fields, but the group wasn’t interested in farming. They had a strong passion for martial arts.

The wooden swords they were using were carved by Lin Jiang, but the three of them treasured them dearly. They diligently practiced every day, and after learning for half a month, they had already made some progress.

"Three little brothers"

When the three of them rested, they heard a voice coming from the treetops. They looked up and saw a middle-aged man standing there.

"Who are you?"

Mo Zhai shielded his two younger brothers behind him and asked the man.

"Are you also a martial artist? Do you know there is a Martial Saint in these mountains?"

"I don’t know, I’ve never heard of it."

"Thank you anyway, little brother."

The middle-aged man was not angry. He gently floated down to the ground and then walked away into the distance, slowly disappearing from Mo Zhai and his brothers’ sight.

"Brother Zhai, was that person looking for the master?"

"Yes"

"Then why not say it?"

"Stupid, he doesn’t look like a good person. What if he’s here to take our master to the army?"

Mo Zhai said. There are so many bad people outside. What if they’re here to take our master?

The three were discussing, unaware that the middle-aged man who had just left was smiling above their heads.

Just as the man was about to appear again, he suddenly felt a cold breath. Turning around, he saw a masked man standing beside him, waving at him before leaving. The middle-aged man quickly followed until they reached a pond.

"Zhao KingdomZhao Zhi greets Your Excellency."

"Zhao KingdomDean of the Martial Arts Academy, how come you have time to stroll around the mountains?"

Lin Jiang touched the mask on his face, feeling strange that it didn’t match his face. He found this mask in the village, perhaps once belonged to a child in the village.

Lin Jiang felt he needed to wear a mask in the future. He didn’t want to show his true face to avoid trouble. Lin Jiang remembered when he was in power, the artists from Xia Kingdom painted many portraits. Just in case someone recognized him to avoid any trouble.

"I heard that Zheng Kingdom has a Martial Saint, so I came to pay my respects. May I know how to address you, sir?"

"Guigu, from now on, call me Mr. Guigu."

Thinking of the mask on his face making him look fierce like a demon, he decided to be called Guigu.

Zhao Zhi knew Lin Jiang was making up a name, but he wasn’t upset. He said. I wonder if Mr. Guigu would be interested in visiting my Zhao Kingdom. My Zhao Kingdom is the highest-ranking vassal state of Xia Kingdom, with vast territory, a million soldiers in armor, and countless warriors. If you come, our king can appoint you as the General of the Nation’s Protection, with title, residence, elegant attire, beautiful women…

Zhao Zhi stated his conditions, offering the finest pleasures of the present time, a chance to become one of the most revered nobles in Xia Kingdom, a lifelong pursuit of many.

"Not interested."

"As a Martial Saint, sir may not be interested in worldly possessions, but may sir have any interest in Emperor Xia’s divine martial arts?"

"Emperor Xia’s divine martial arts?"

"Sir, are you not aware?"

"I don’t know, is there a problem?"

"No, Emperor Xia was the first ruler of Xia Kingdom, only he could be called emperor. At the entrance of the original Xia Palace, he erected three martial steles, which recorded six top-notch martial arts techniques for the people of Xia Palace to learn for free. However, in the year 335 of the Xia calendar, Xia Emperor Tang destroyed the martial steles, deeming it forbidden for other vassal states to pass them to their territories, restricting the learning solely to the Xia Palace Martial Arts Academy.

In the year 650 of the Xia calendar, floods destroyed the capital of Xia Kingdom, prompting the move of the capital and the abandonment of the old capital. From there, Zhao Kingdom dispatched one hundred and eighty royal members to search in the abandoned city and discovered the Taiyi Divine Sword among the six top-tier martial arts.

Mr. Guigu may not know the origins of Emperor Xia’s powerful skills. These six powerful skills are the strongest martial arts secrets in the world today, and they are widely considered the easiest way to become a Martial Saint.

"I am already a Martial Saint."

Lin Jiang shrugged, thinking it was nothing special. It was the martial arts he had engraved on the stone tablet back then. These were not the top-tier skills. These six skills were simplified by Lin Jiang from some immortal cultivation techniques, taking into consideration the situation of ordinary people at that time. The reference techniques were only of a profound level.

"Those who practice martial arts pursue the highest level of martial skills. The difference between Martial Saints is also significant. Doesn’t Mr. Guigu want to pursue the highest level of martial arts?"

Zhao Zhi said. There are no immortal ways in the world today. Ordinary people who practice martial arts either seek fame and fortune or pursue the highest level of martial skills. He didn’t believe he couldn’t defeat this person.

"Still not interested."

"Mr. Guigu, Zhao sincerely comes, don’t push people away from afar."

Zhao Zhi was a bit angry, refusing to drink the toast means drinking a penalty, anyway, he will not wait for this person to be recruited by the Zheng Kingdom.

"I am not interested in becoming a general in any sealed country right now, you can leave."

"Mr. Guigu, is it really so unkind?"

"Understood, you won’t be satisfied until we have a fight, go ahead."

"Then should Zhao politely obey?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi became even more angry, without wasting words, he drew his sword directly and fiercely aimed the sword energy at Lin Jiang.

Lin Jiang didn’t dodge, simply blocking Zhao Zhi’ sword energy with a blast of his own energy, then grabbing the tip of Zhao Zhi’ sword.

"You…"

"Pow"

Zhao Zhi was extremely shocked, then in his frightened eyes, Lin Jiang’s hand shook, and the valuable sword in his hand turned into pieces.

"Go"

Lin Jiang then slapped his hand, and the pieces flew towards Zhao Zhi. Zhao Zhi roared, gathering his energy, trying to defend against the flying pieces.

"Plop, plop…"

However, the pieces still pierced through his hand and shoulder, but miraculously avoided all vital points.

Zhao Zhi knelt halfway on the ground, raised his head, looked at Lin Jiang firmly, with a complex expression, and finally said in a defeated tone, "I lost, today I realized that there is such a skilled expert in this world. I leave it to you, Zhao."

"Did I say I would kill you?"

"This…"

"Find a place to sit by yourself."

Lin Jiang smiled, then picked up his fishing rod from the side and started fishing by the pond again.

"I will always remember the kindness you showed me, but I must say that you cannot serve the Zheng Kingdom. The Zheng Kingdom has been established for over two hundred years, and has had many incompetent rulers. Therefore…"

"Let’s not talk about that. If we chat, let’s talk about the Northern Land. Do you know what is happening in the Northern Land?"

"I know. The Demon Human nation has invaded, and the Immortal Sect, Wu Sect, and Clan Alliance of the Northern Land could not stop them. They have sought help from the Xia Kingdom multiple times, but given the situation in Xia Kingdom, they don’t have the strength to support the Northern Land."

"The Demon Human nation?"

"Yes, it’s the Demon Human nation. I don’t know how they came to be, but there was a vast world to the north of the Northern Land. There used to be some small countries there, but all of them were destroyed two hundred years ago, and then the Demon Human nation emerged."

"What are Demon Humans like?"

"Half human, half beast, like snake people with snake lower bodies and human upper bodies, tiger people with human bodies and tiger claws, and horse people with horse bodies and human heads. Some can travel thousands of miles in a day, while others look just like humans but lack human wisdom…"

"Are these Demon Humans very strong?"

Lin Jiang suddenly remembered the Human Demon Tribes from the far north of North State in the past. Could it be that in this era, these Human Demon Tribes have grown stronger?

"Very strong. These Demon Humans have extremely powerful bodies. Even our soldiers, who specialize in physical training, cannot match them. Most Demon Humans are incredibly strong, able to lift thousands of pounds. Moreover, many of them possess a strange inherent power similar to the internal strength we cultivate."

"Are there not many Demon Humans?"

"Indeed, they are not numerous. Otherwise, the forces in the Northern Land would have been wiped out long ago. However, Demon Humans have been continuously capturing women, seemingly relying on them to bear offspring. The people of the Northern Land have been losing ground continuously, with many women being captured. It’s possible that the number of Demon Humans will increase greatly in the future."

Zhao Zhi said, sparking Lin Jiang’s interest in a moment. He truly had no knowledge of this matter. It seems like he would have to go north for a closer look.