Martial Saint through Reading

”Benefactor, the terrain at Yellow Sand Dune and Huaidong is complex, it’s very easy to get lost.”

Seeing Chu Ming approaching, Lix Yan propped up his body, seemingly anxious as he spoke.

”I don’t know what the benefactor intends to do, but I, Lix Yan, am willing to lend a hand.”

”...”

...

Late night.

White River Basin in Nanyu County, Pingzhong County, Yangjia Ferry.

The river at the ferry beat against the shores, carrying cold water vapor onto land.

The large water village surrounded the ferry in circles, arranged with disorder, without any planning.

Under the lamps, people gathered, either patrolling, drinking wine, guessing punches, or showing off waist skills.

This place, the White River Basin of Pingzhong County, is one of the most notorious gangs, the Yangjia Ferry Water Bandits, specializing in looting passing boats on the White River, sometimes even robbing those on land.

In the main hall at the back of the water village, above the hall head were the two crooked characters of ’Brotherhood’.

Inside the hall, among the smell of fish and wine sat two individuals.

One was wrapped in a tiger skin, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a face full of beard, just leaning on the chair gnawing on large meat, giving off an intangible sense of oppression.

Beside him was another person whose appearance and aura were extremely opposite.

This person wore black armor, with a stern face, and even his drinking and eating movements had a military manner.

But if observed closely, the actions and expressions of the armored individual appeared somewhat stiff, as if faked.

”Brother Zhao, you didn’t come all the way here, risking capture, just to drink and eat meat with me, did you?”

The leader of the Yangjia Ferry Water Bandits, Laang Li Xiong, tore off a big piece of meat, smiling insincerely at the armored person.

The person in front of him was named Zhao Qing, who was once a bandit like him, later became wanted by the Imperial Court for kidnapping the wife of a Fourth Grade official from Pingzhong County.

Disappearing for nearly a decade, Laang Li Xiong thought this person had died long ago, but unexpectedly reappearing now in armor, looking somewhat like a general.

”Brother Laang is as powerful as ever,” Zhao Qing raised his cup in tribute, then scanned the hall, with disdain in his eyes, ”It’s just a pity, this small water village does not match Brother Laang’s famed Broken Wave Water Bear.”

”How does it not match?” Laang Li Xiong sat up, toasted with a cup, ”Two thousand brothers call me big bro, even the Pingzhong County Mansion can’t do anything about it, living free and happy.”

The words carried a sarcasm towards Zhao Qing’s past demise at the hands of the county mansion’s forces.

Zhao Qing squinted, not angered, but rather more disdainful: ”Brother Laang, a Meridian Unlocking Realm strongman, you want to be a water bandit for life?”

”Meridian Unlocking Realm, enough to lead a region, be respected as a general by thousands.”

”What does Brother Zhao mean?”

Laang Li Xiong glanced at Zhao Qing’s armor, feeling slightly tempted.

Who would want to be a water bandit when they could be a general?

Zhao Qing put down the cup, folded his hands and said: ”I won’t waste Brother Laang’s time, I came tonight to propose a general’s position for Brother Laang.”

”General? Brother Zhao, are you saying?”

Ever since he saw Zhao Qing enter the village in armor, doubts arose in Laang Li Xiong’s heart.

Clearly a wanted criminal, how could he be wearing armor?

The armor looked of good quality, obviously not soldier armor, nor Great Qin Dynasty armor.

”I am now the Ink Crow Horde General of Nine Hordes Kingdom.” Zhao Qing slightly lifted his armor, pride evident.

”Ink Crow Horde General of Nine Hordes Kingdom? Since when did Nine Hordes Kingdom have an Ink Crow Horde?”

Even though Laang Li Xiong is a water bandit, he’s experienced enough to know that Nine Hordes Kingdom has nine major branches, like Kuirong Zhi and Xianyun Horde Branch, but never heard of Ink Crow Horde.

”It’s normal for Brother Laang not to have heard, Ink Crow Horde originally ranked among the nine, later jointly attacked by Kuirong Zhi and Xianyun Horde Branch, its status replaced by Kuirong Zhi.”

”Ink Crow Horde has been accumulating power, aiming to reclaim its position among the nine.”

”Now, Xianyun Horde Branch and Kuirong Zhi within the Nine Hordes Kingdom are at odds, attacking each other, it’s the best opportunity for Ink Crow Horde.”

”The border between Xirong County of Great Qin Dynasty and the southern Nine Hordes Kingdom has a city, named Zhengxi City, which is now occupied by my Ink Crow Horde.”

”Brother Laang should know what a city means, right?”

”As long as Brother Laang goes there, he’ll surely secure a general position.”

”Zhengxi City? I recall it being just a town?” Laang Li Xiong naturally wouldn’t believe Zhao Qing quickly, ”And wasn’t Zhengxi Town under Great Qin Dynasty’s rule these years?”

Implying that won’t Great Qin Dynasty intervene if Ink Crow Horde occupies Zhengxi Town?

”Ha ha, Brother Laang may not know, Zhengxi City was indeed a town originally, but after Ink Crow Horde occupied it, it’s developed into a city.”

”As for Brother Laang saying Zhengxi City is ruled by Great Qin Dynasty, that’s nothing to worry about either, Xirong County’s Tiger Armor Army is held up by the southern Jing Yue Kingdom, while the west resists Nine Hordes Kingdom, they can’t manage Zhengxi City.”

”Even taking a step back, if Tiger Armor Army and Kuirong Zhi from Nine Hordes Kingdom attack Zhengxi City, with Ink Crow Horde’s strength, we are not afraid.”

Zhao Qing’s tone was steady, sounding convincingly strong.

Laang Li Xiong listened, his gaze flickering, the wine and meat in hand lost their appeal.

According to Zhao Qing, if he joined Ink Crow Horde now, he could not only be a general but also become a future Kaizong general of the Nine Hordes Kingdom.

Despite trust issues, he was deeply tempted.

Being a water bandit leader here is indeed good, but bandit is bandit after all.

”Brother Zhao, does Ink Crow Horde accept anyone?” After much thought, he couldn’t help but ask.