Chapter 45: a silver tael

Yes, Jun Changxiao said. And your family is the one at fault.

Ai Shankes face looked calm, but his eyes were filled with anger. He had been out working for the past two days, but received a pigeon message last night and learned that Ai Zuo had been beaten. He rushed over without knowing much about the actual details. 

If it was an Ironbone disciple, he could still understand. After all, youths were headstrong, so a bit of confrontation was inevitable. 

But a sect head had beaten up Ai Zou without fear of losing face?

Oh, right. 

A garbage sects head was worth less than dirt. Why should he care about identity? It would be weirder if he cared. 

Thinking like that, Ai Shankes eyes were intense. Sect Head Jun, for a sect head to hit my familys young master, don’t you think it was a little excessive?

Jun Changxiao shrugged. He was making trouble in front of my sect, trying to fight with my disciples. Is it not reasonable for me to teach him a lesson?

So the guy who stole the familys medicinal pills was also from your Ironbone Sect? Ai Shankes face was growing darker and darker. 

Correct.

Ai Shangke coldly said, Sect Head Jun, your disciple stole my familys medicine and beat up our young master. That is two accounts.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. 

Elder Ai is here to settle the bill? Jun Changxiao was still smiling, but he looked a little tired. 

If there was no side mission, he might have chosen to be rational and talk it out, so as to resolve all grievances. But now, he could only live or die with indifference. 

Ai Shanke calmly said, Sect Head Jun has hurt my family and stolen my medicinal pills, you must give me an explanation.

Sure.

Jun Changxiao smiled and threw a tael of silver at him. Take this as compensation. This will count as my attempt to clear up the grievances.

Ai Shanke did not accept the silver, leaving it to fall at his feet. Sect Head Jun, are you humiliating Ai Zou, humiliating my Ai Family?

One tael of silver may be a lot of money for the poor, but Elder Ai didnt put it in his eyes at all. 

Jun Changxiao laughed it off. This Lord is sincere in wanting to give you an explanation. If you feel humiliated, that is on you. He shrugged, expressing helplessness. 

Ai Shangke felt the situation was even more embarrassing now and could no longer hold back his anger. For the sake of the Hundred Sect Alliance, the Ai Family has treated you as a sect head. Do you really see yourself as some kind of lord?

Cut the crap. Do you want to fight?

In the end, Ai Shangke was an elder of the Ai Family, so he was undoubtedly strong. I heard that Sect Head Jun fought against Elder Wei back in Qingyang City. I would like to exchange some pointers.

Then come on, laughed Jun Changxiao.

Ai Shangke smiled lightly. This is not the place. Why dont we enter the martial arts stage?

Is this gonna teach me a lesson in front of the disciples? Jun Changxiao guessed the mans thoughts and laughed. He raised a hand to gesture to the side, Please.

I guess he doesnt want that tael of silver?

On the martial arts stage, Jun Changxiao and Ai Shangke stood 10 zhang (3.33m) from each other, atmosphere tense and filled with fighting spirit. 

Thats the Ai Family elder?

From his qi, he has to be a  Martial Apprentice!

Outside the stage, the disciples not sent on tasks discussed in low voices, eyes filled with concern. 

Though Martial Apprentice was only the second realm on Starfall Continent and not much in front of a powerhouse, it was a behemoth in front of Meridian Opening. 

Can Sect Head defeat him?

The leader of the Black Mountain bandits was also a Martial Apprentice, but all of them were killed by our sect head. There should be no problem.

Thats good.

Everyone was relieved. 

Hearing their discussion, Elder Hai was momentarily startled. Did you defeat the bandits on Black Mountain?

Is there a problem? Jun Changxiao asked. 

Was there a problem?

There was a huge problem!

Some time ago, the government officials and various sects had gathered some forces to attack the Black Wind Stronghold. 

The results?

After reaching the base, they found the burnt remains of the building and more than 200 rotting corpses. 

At that moment, everyone had been shocked into a daze. 

Only after some time did they realize that the Black Wind Stronghold had been extinguished!

The news of the eradication had travelled to Qingyang County, causing a great sensation. People in all the towns and villages paraded through the streets, banging drums and hitting gongs to celebrate. 

Everyone was also rushing to find out just who had eliminated the Black Wind Stronghold, which had troubled the people for many years. 

Some cultivators speculated it was a major force, but this idea was overruled when the government and sects verified that no large groups had travelled through the Black Mountain Range. 

One person or several people, the investigation was inconclusive.

After just a few days, many different rumors appeared. 

For example, some others thought that an absolute powerhouse had passed through Black Mountain, wiping out the bandits with a single thought. 

Others thought that the Black Wing Stronghold had committed too many atrocities, angering the Heavens, who sent immortals to descend and kill them all. 

These rumors spread wildly through Qingyang country, soon becoming a dinner table conversation between cultivators and ordinary people. 

The Qingyang City Lord, after learning that the stronghold had been eliminated, even issues a notice, hoping that the righteous persons would show up and accept the reward of 1000 taels of gold. 

1 tael of gold was equal to 10 taels of silver. 1000 taels of gold, that was 10,000 taels of silver!

Many cultivators were blinded by the large sum of money and pretended to be the righteous man in question, but were caught and imprisoned one after another. 

The destruction of the Black Wing Stronghold was a huge matter. 

Ai Shangke naturally had heard the rumors and talked about it with the other elders. He believed that whoever did it had to have a cultivation realm of above Martial Apprentice. 

But now?

The Ironbone disciples unexpectedly said that it was their sect head?

Humph. Ai Shangke coldly said, Sect Head Jun, this sort of this matter, you really dare say that it was you? Are you so desperate for money that you will lie to your disciples?

It was natural for a normal person to not believe that Jun Changxiao, with his Meridian Opening cultivation, could easily destroy the Black Wind Stronghold.

Fraudulently receive a thousand taels of gold? Jun Changxiao asked, What do you mean?

Ai Shangke responded, Sect Head Jun, everyone is sensible, do not pretend.

Jun Changxiao was speechless. 

What did I pretend?

However, thinking quickly, he guessed that the annihilation of the bandits had helped the community get rid of a threat. The so-called 1000 taels of gold was probably a reward given by the government. 

Time to visit Qingyang City. 

Jun Changxiao needed to develop his set. Although the system could provide a lot of help, money was equally important the more, the better. 

Shua!

With a single motion, Ai Shangke pulled out a three chi (0.33m) long sword. I have heard that Sect Head Jun has high-quality swords. This Hai would like to experience it.

On his blade was inscribed a lifelike dragon, the blade sharp and durable. From a glance, it was obviously a quality blade. 

As you wish.

Jun Changxiao waved his hand and the original Cold Edge Sword appeared, as a chill suddenly filled the martial arts stage. 

Good sword!

Not as cheap as you. [1]

[1] He says , where the character for cheap is pronounced the same as the character for sword. Thus it also sounds like hes saying , which would be translated not as good as your sword. 

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