Chapter 25: Youthful Arrogance (Please Vote and Add to Favorites)

The mountain wind howled, the banner half unfurled!

The entire hillside fell into complete silence at this moment. Gaze after gaze was fixed tightly on Zheng Ming, their minds still echoing with the words he had just spoken.

When the youth spoke out against the martial contest ranking, they merely sneered. They knew the youth would disagree, after all, this was intended for the youth.

But what the youth said next left them dumbfounded.

As the Family Head, Zheng Zhongwang stared intently at the speaking Zheng Ming, somewhat unable to believe these words were true.

And the smile on the face of the Zheng Family Great Elder also vanished significantly at this moment. His eyes began to reassess the youth.

As for the Second Elder and others, they found it all inconceivable. The current situation had clearly exceeded their expectations. They had thought that the youth would feel utterly aggrieved. Zhao Ba had even prepared the words to comfort the youth in his mind.

Yet to their surprise, the youth actually spoke the words he had just now.

Among them, whether shocked or puzzled, the one who felt the most uncomfortable was Zheng Jinbin. In his eyes, what was merely an insect that he could easily crush by reaching out his hand, now had the audacity to challenge himself at this time.

And it was such a blatant challenge at that!

He did not speak to anyone, but leaped into the air, charging towards Zheng Ming, "Kid, since you're seeking death, I'll fulfill your wish."

Zheng Ming, looking at the face that bore a three-parts resemblance to Zheng Jinlong, immediately confirmed the man's identity: Zheng Jinbin, the strongest of his generation in the Zheng Family.

He was also touted as the person in this generation of the Zheng Family most likely to break through to Seventh-Rank Warrior.

On the road to Far Camel Mountain, Zheng Ming's heart was somewhat hesitant: Should he listen to his father's words and humbly use the Azure Blood Pond Body Refining, or should he beat up a few unsightly fellows to earn some Prestige Points?

On the one hand was his father's expectation, on the other was the temptation of extracting a Hero Card with Prestige Points, leaving Zheng Ming in a quandary.

But as the words from Zheng Jingren came, Zheng Ming had made up his mind, this time, not only would he disrupt the plans of those people, but he would also make some people lose more than they bargained for in trying to trick him.

And when these people righteously tried to block his last way out, Zheng Ming couldn't hold back anymore.

He wanted to stomp each and every one of their pompous faces underfoot, he wanted to let them know the consequences of offending him.

"I do not fight nameless rats, name yourself!" Zheng Ming said, sneering at Zheng Jinbin while quickly invoking the Nine Shaking Mountain Breaking Technique.

One stream of Power of Inner Strength, two streams of Power of Inner Strength...

Zheng Gongxuan was likewise stunned, having been prepared to make an uncomfortable compromise, he never expected his son, who was normally quite docile, to issue a direct challenge.

No, this was not a challenge, this was a ruthless sweep!

Though he found these words very comforting, as a father, he was more worried.

"Ming Er, come back to me!" Zheng Gongxuan said, reaching out to pull Zheng Ming back, but as he extended his hand, a figure had already blocked his way.

Zheng Yuniang, the only woman among the Town Chiefs of the Qingchuan County 36 Towns and also a trusted favorite of the Great Elder.

She twisted her still charming figure, smiling, "Gongxuan, truly a case of a tiger father having no canine son! "

"Sweeping across our Zheng Family's younger generation, tsk tsk, such grandeur, but since you've said such words before the Family Head and all the Town Chiefs, you must keep your word."

"According to our Zheng Family rules, disrespecting and deceiving your superiors is an unforgivable crime!"

Zheng Gongxuan's face changed color. He knew the Zheng Family rules well enough, but no matter how important the rules were, he couldn't just abandon his own son.

Just as he was about to grit his teeth, determined to stop being a Town Chief if necessary to call Zheng Ming back, the Second Elder stood up and said, "A gentleman's word, heavy as a white re-whitened with lye, Gongxuan, youthful arrogance is understandable. As long as he pays a little for his arrogance, and does not continue to be so in the future, it's fine."

The Second Elder's words were in support of Zheng Ming, his mention of youthful recklessness subdued some of the anger that Zheng Ming's words had stirred.

However, this mention of youthful recklessness, though it relieved a lot of pressure for Zheng Ming, also made many people look at Zheng Ming with even more disdain.

"Youthful arrogance, huh!" The big man in purple robes imitated the phrase in a strange voice, eliciting a burst of laughter all at once.

And as for Zheng Zhongwang, the Zheng Family Patriarch, there was also a hint of disappointment in his eyes at this moment.

Zheng Ming's initial words had stirred a bit of excitement in his heart.

As the Patriarch of the Zheng Family, he was frustrated by being suppressed by a Great Elder, and Zheng Ming's words had raised a sense of expectation in his heart.

But this expectation, with the Second Elder's youthful recklessness, vanished completely.

Zheng Gongxuan's heart, though relieved by the Second Elder's mention of youthful recklessness, still did not want Zheng Ming to go out and fight to the death.

Just as he was about to speak again, Zheng Ming stepped forward to him, and said with a deep voice, "Father, you must believe in your son!"

The look of determination in Zheng Ming's eyes moved Zheng Gongxuan's heart. He felt the steadfastness in his son's gaze, solid as rock.

The son has grown up! This thought flashed through Zheng Gongxuan's mind and could not be erased.

"Alright, then try it, but don't push yourself too hard!" Zheng Gongxuan said, patting Zheng Ming's shoulder.

Zheng Ming nodded, his gaze once again falling upon Zheng Jinbin's face. Just as he was about to make his move, someone said, "Big Brother Jinbin, wasting your time with someone who only knows how to talk big is beneath you. Leave him to me!"

Accompanying this voice, a young man wearing green martial attire dashed out. His features were fairly handsome, but his eyes were like those of a venomous snake.

It could be said that most people felt an involuntary sense of fear when making eye contact with this young man.

"Zheng Tong!" Standing to the side, Zheng Jingren's face, originally smiling, now bore a thick killing intent as he saw the youth leap forward.

He stared fixedly at the youth in green, barely restraining himself from stepping forward.

However, an ancient hand, wrinkled like tree bark, pressed heavily upon him, rendering him immobile for a moment.

"What do you think you're doing?" A faint voice rang in Zheng Jingren's ear.

"Grandfather, that Zheng Tong is ranked fourth in our Zheng Family Martial Arts Academy, and his Snake Shadow Hand has reached the peak of the Comprehension Stage. Zheng Ming is no match for him," Zheng Jingren blinked his large and small eye as he spoke, "Your grandson... has long wanted to teach this kid a lesson!"

"No, you cannot go up there. You can afford to lose to Zheng Jinbin, but you cannot waste your strength on this meaningless matter."

"After all, the efficacy of the Jade Blood Pool diminishes as it is used."

Although Zheng Jingren was somewhat unwilling, seeing the Second Elder's face darken, he dared not say more.

Zheng Jinbin was somewhat unhappy with Zheng Tong's forwardness, but when he looked in the direction of the Great Elder and saw him nod, he replied, "In that case, you give him a good lesson for me!"

"Don't worry, Big Brother Jinbin, I'll take good care of Brother Zheng Ming and show him just how high the sky and how thick the earth is in Qingchuan County!"

"So he won't spend every day cooped up in a small place like Luming Town thinking he's watching the sky from the bottom of a well!"

Watching the sky from the bottom of a well, naturally, refers to a frog!

Many people in the audience at that moment thought of what Zheng Ming had just said. A burst of laughter erupted.

"Hahaha, Zheng Tong is really mischievous! Just as someone yawns like a toad, he accuses them of watching the sky from the bottom of a well!"

"Perfect match! That's how it should be, why give face to those collateral branch members who only bluff, as if such a person from the collateral branch deserves our respect?"

"He was the first to boast. No wonder Zheng Tong doesn't spare him any face."

Hearing the discussions around him, Zheng Tong's eyes shone even brighter as he fixed his gaze on Zheng Ming like a venomous snake.

In his eyes, Zheng Ming was his prey, a means to ingratiate himself with the Great Elder, a stepping stone to make a name for himself within the family.

He intended to climb over Zheng Ming's head and become one of the most outstanding members of this generation in the Zheng Family!

"Kid, considering your youth and ignorance, I'll give you a three-move advantage," Zheng Tong beckoned Zheng Ming with a wave.

Zheng Ming paid no heed to the discussions around him. Facing Zheng Tong, who stood five steps away, he leaped into the air and performed the Black Bear Heaven-Breaking move from the Bear King Fist, striking at Zheng Tong.

As the punch was thrown, Zheng Ming had already dissipated the force of the Nine Shaking Mountain Breaking Technique.

It wasn't that he was soft-hearted; it was because this Zheng Tong wasn't worth him employing the Nine Shaking Mountain Breaking Technique.

"Heh heh, Bear King Fist, that's really just brute strength, using Bear King Fist against Snake Shadow Hand is asking for punishment!"

"Snake Shadow Hand is a Rank 10 high-level martial arts skill, known for counterattacking later. It is best at breaking through the likes of Bear King Fist."

"I just thought Zheng Gongxuan had a capable son, but it turns out he's just a big talker with nothing to show, such a shame for Zheng Gongxuan's lifetime reputation!"

Zheng Tong, watching Zheng Ming's incoming punch, revealed a cold smirk in his eyes. For him, there were seven ways to counter such a fist technique.

This time, he decided to use the most thrilling one. Snake Shadow Hand was not just a martial arts technique; it also concealed a basic Wandering Snake Body Technique.

His body flickered, avoiding Zheng Ming's punch at the last second, and he lunged towards Zheng Ming. This time, he aimed to get behind Zheng Ming.

As for what he would do once behind Zheng Ming, he didn't plan to physically attack him but intended to meddle with Zheng Ming's clothes, leaving him embarrassed.

However, just as he was about to close in on Zheng Ming, he suddenly discovered a fist, eerily close, just a foot away from his head.

How is this possible?

He had already executed his technique perfectly; how could he possibly have managed this move so unexpectedly? This... This isn't right!

In a moment of shock, Zheng Tong rapidly ducked to avoid his forehead being hit, but the fist stuck close to him.

"Bang!"

Zheng Ming's fist struck heavily on Zheng Tong's nose!

Zheng Tong's body, like a broken sack, flew backward and then crashed heavily onto the ground.