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Chapter 66: The Human Rankings

It seemed that with Feng He newly in charge, the three fires were burning vigorously, and all kinds of work efficiency had greatly increased.

– Generally, after arriving in the prefectural city, the three rankings would take around two or three days to reach the cities under its jurisdiction. This delay was not caused by transportation issues but purely by the laziness of the officials and bailiffs from the Martial Arts Administration.

Zhou Heng was actually quite looking forward to this edition of the People’s Ranking; he wanted to see if he had made the list.

After all, he had defeated Kong Chengshun and, in theory, should take over his spot and ascend to the ninety-ninth position on the People’s Ranking.

It’s just that the battle had taken place at the end of May, and it was uncertain whether this edition of the People’s Ranking would include it.

Just as he was about to stand up and go have a look, a waiter came over with a large bowl of fragrant wontons and said with a smile, “Sir, your wontons are ready.”

Well, it’s better to eat first.

Traveling for a day had left him rather hungry.

The translucent wonton skins enveloped firm meatballs, each morsel plump and tempting, lying in the aromatic clear soup sprinkled with some chopped green onions. By appearance alone, these wontons would cost at least ten wen in Huangtong Mansion City.

But here, they only cost seven wen.

And the bowl was brimming with more than thirty wontons—truly a generous serving.

Quite a bargain.

As Zhou Heng ate his wontons, a person in the corner of the main hall took notice of him.

Before entering the inn, Zhou Heng had already left his straw cloak and bamboo hat in the stables. Now, he was dressed in a blue robe and black gauze cap, with handsome features and bright eyes, looking quite dashing for his young age.

Moreover, beside him lay a rather exquisite long saber, and on the bench was some luggage, which seemed to be other weapons. He appeared to be a young lad just setting out to wander the martial world.

– For the vast majority, the pursuit on the martial path is about continuous improvement, and mastering a single weapon after decades of training is already commendable. Carrying two or more weapons generally indicates a newcomer to the jianghu who “knows a little of everything.”

These “newcomers” usually lack experience in the jianghu, have simple minds, and are easily deceived—essentially ripe for the taking.

Not to fleece them of some wool would be almost an insult to one’s own life in the jianghu.

So, the man approached Zhou Heng.

He was a man in his thirties, wearing simple hemp clothes. His hair was unkempt and slightly curly, with a rather ordinary and unremarkable appearance.

“Young brother, are you traveling alone?” The man sat down next to Zhou Heng, very familiarly, and ordered a bowl of wontons from the waiter.

“Mm,” Zhou Heng glanced at the man and then ignored him, continuing to focus on eating his wontons.

“Would you be interested in joining forces for a great cause?” The man leaned in slightly closer, smiling, “My name is Xu Hai, a disciple of the Five Dragons Mountain, known in the jianghu as ‘Cloud-Plucking Hand’. How may I address you?”

Such naive newcomers yearned most for extraordinary encounters in the jianghu and longed for fame. The mention of a fascinating “great cause” greatly increased the chances they’d want to join in.

However, the invitation to join a “great cause” was just to grab their attention.

The next step—extracting information from them—was the true first step to shearing their wool.

Newcomers to the jianghu, afraid of being unknown, usually wouldn’t hide their names, and might even readily publicize their name and identity.

Once you have the other person’s information, you can continue to probe for more details, assessing the “sheep’s” worth.

Then, one can develop a plan to cozy up, using small favors that don’t cost much to gradually build rapport.

This makes the newcomers feel the warmth of the jianghu.

And you become regarded as “a fellow in the martial world.”

As comrades.

Then, things like non-secret martial arts, money, treasures, and secret information… well, these can all be shared, right?

As for how to explain the so-called “great cause,” the approaches could be numerous.

Zhou Heng glanced at Xu Hai, and with his insightfulness, quickly realized the man’s nefarious intentions, but he still chuckled and said, “Zhou Heng.”

“Zhou Heng? What a good name. May I ask if you are…”

Xu Hai was about to inquire further into Zhou Heng’s background for further plotting, but he stalled as soon as the name left his lips, staring at Zhou Heng in shock, “You, you are Zhou Heng? Are you, are you that Zhou Heng?”

He even stammered a bit.

“Which one?” Zhou Heng asked curiously.

At that moment, the people nearby also overheard their conversation.

“Zhou Heng? The one who made it to the People’s Ranking as a Ninth Grade?”

“No way, isn’t he supposed to be in Huangtong Mansion City?”

“Looking at it this way, it does feel somewhat familiar. It couldn’t really be him, could it?”

People started discussing among themselves.

Many pairs of eyes turned towards Zhou Heng, including men and women, old and young alike.

Their eyes were wide open, filled with utter shock.

Quite a few people crowded around Zhou Heng to get a better look, as if they had just witnessed something novel.

“Which Zhou Heng?” Zhou Heng asked Xu Hai with a smile.

Meanwhile, he walked towards the gathering crowd, leaving a stunned Xu Hai standing there.

Having heard the discussions around him just a moment ago, he knew he had really made it onto the Valiant List.

He hadn’t expected the Divine Martial Office to retract the three lists only to add him to it.

Now he wanted to see how the Valiant List assessed him.

Of course, Zhou Heng giving his name to Xu Hai wasn’t about showing off.

It was more about luring the snake out of its hole.

If Wang Tong had really come to Yuyang County and learned of his arrival, he would most likely come looking for him.

It was better than aimlessly searching on his own.

Reaching the front of the three lists.

Zhou Heng first skipped over the Heaven and Earth Lists and went straight to check the bottom of the Valiant List.

Name: Zhou Heng

Age: Seventeen

Grade: Ninth Grade

Identity: Trainer at Longxing Martial Arts Hall, Huangtong Mansion, Pingzhou

Combat Achievements: During the assessment conference of the Chang Xing Sect, he was ambushed by Kong Chengshun, the former ninety-ninth ranked “Sunset Flying Sword” on the Valiant List. He counterattacked with superb skill, breaking both of Kong’s wrist bones and defeating him.

Ranking: Ninety-ninth

Title: Bone Breaker

Zhou Heng was initially quite happy to see his own ranking.

But when his gaze fell to the bottom and saw his title, he fell silent at once.

He suddenly regretted it.

He shouldn’t have revealed his real name!

This title was just too embarrassing!

Could it be that the people at the Divine Martial Office were illiterate??

What kind of ridiculous title is this??

Those unaware might even think he was some kind of deviant.

This wouldn’t do, he would have to start promoting his own title.

A title on the Valiant List was necessary, as it served as a moniker in the martial world.

If one didn’t have any reputation upon first making the Valiant List, the Divine Martial Office would add a title when compiling the list.

They were generally quite arbitrary.

However, if one wasn’t satisfied with the title, they could always promote the one they preferred.

As long as it gained widespread recognition in the martial world, the Divine Martial Office would naturally make the change.

By this time, Xu Hai was completely dumbfounded.

He could have never imagined that the seemingly easy mark he had randomly picked to fleece was actually a Valiant List master!

This was really… too thrilling!

Too lucky!

To come across such a big fat sheep!

“Who would’ve thought, young brother, that you’re actually a Valiant List expert!” Xu Hai approached with a beaming smile and said genially, “I’ve long admired you!”

ps: What do you guys think would be a good title?