Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Zhao Hu’s Shock

“Fourth Uncle, there’s no use telling me this. Go find A-Liang yourself!”

Second Uncle refused outright, decisively.

In the past, he might have helped Fourth Uncle to plead his case.

But after the recent events, he was completely disappointed with these relatives.

“Second Brother, A-Liang won’t listen to us now. Can you at least help us out?”

Fourth Uncle maintained a smile, but inside he was already cursing.

No matter what he said, Second Uncle refused to help.

So much for being brothers!

Fourth Uncle cursed a few times in his heart.

He had no choice but to wait for Chu Liang to return.

Before long, Chu Liang and Chu Shan appeared in his sight.

“A-Liang! A-Liang!”

Before the two could get close, Fourth Uncle ran over impatiently, his face full of enthusiastic smiles.

At the same time, he signaled to Fourth Aunt, who was standing at the entrance of their courtyard.

Not far away, Chu Liang stopped in his tracks.

His gaze was calm as he stared at Fourth Uncle running towards him, his expression indifferent.

“Fourth Uncle, what is it?”

“A-Liang, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a good get-together!”

Fourth Uncle chuckled, proposing to have a meal and some drinks with Chu Liang tonight.

But Chu Liang shook his head and refused directly.

“Fourth Uncle, just say what you want to say. I’m in a hurry and have things to do,” Chu Liang said flatly.

“A-Liang, it’s like this…”

As Fourth Uncle spoke, Fourth Aunt also came over.

She carried a piece of smoked bacon in her left hand and a small basket of eggs in her right, followed by a thin teenager about the same age as Chu Shan.

This teenager was named Chu Qiang, Fourth Uncle’s eldest child.

“My A-Qiang is not young anymore,” Fourth Uncle pulled Chu Qiang in front of him and said with a smile, “A-Liang, you’re going to teach A-Shan anyway. Teaching one is the same as teaching two. It won’t be much trouble. Besides… it’s dangerous in the mountains. It’s better for A-Qiang and A-Shan to look out for each other. What do you think?”

After hearing Fourth Uncle’s words, Chu Liang was speechless.

Fourth Uncle’s family… their skin was really thick!

Chu Liang felt inferior.

After a moment of silence, Chu Liang shook his head slightly and said, “Fourth Uncle, my energy is limited. I only want to focus on teaching A-Shan well for now.”

Fourth Uncle became anxious and said, “A-Liang, my A-Qiang is very obedient. As long as you are willing to…”

“There’s no need to say more!”

Chu Liang’s expression turned cold, and he walked straight towards his own courtyard.

Chu Shan quickly followed.

Behind them, the expressions of Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt turned ugly.

They were relatives, after all, connected by blood. They didn’t expect Chu Liang to be so heartless, not even giving them a pleasant look.

It was clear that he was treating them like outsiders!

The two had no other choice but to take Chu Qiang back home.

“What are we going to do now?” Fourth Aunt couldn’t help but ask.

“How would I know?”

Fourth Uncle was annoyed.

They both knew that Chu Liang was capable. Even if Chu Shan only learned half of his skills, he would be able to live comfortably in the future.

Second Uncle’s family’s life would definitely get better and better.

And these relatives were still stuck in the same place.

Thinking of this, Fourth Uncle felt uncomfortable… They were all brothers, so why should Second Uncle’s family live better and better?

Suddenly, Fourth Uncle saw Zhao Hu and his group passing by outside the courtyard.

“Zhao Hu and A-Liang have always been at odds. Maybe he’ll take A-Qiang!”

Fourth Uncle’s eyes lit up, a smile reappeared on his face, and he hurried over…

◈◈◈

Chu Liang returned to the courtyard.

He had Chu Shan start practicing archery, giving him some instructions.

“A-Shan, go back for now and practice well at home. I’m going to the county town today, so I won’t be taking you with me,” Chu Liang said.

“Okay.”

Chu Shan nodded seriously and returned to Second Uncle’s house with his practice tools.

Afterward, Chu Liang went to Doctor Wang’s place and bought an old mountain ginseng.

He returned home and enhanced the old mountain ginseng once. The ginseng, originally worth two taels, instantly became a blood ginseng worth over thirty taels, its price increasing more than tenfold.

◈◈◈

“Thirty taels should be enough for my expenses in the county town.”

Chu Liang tucked the blood ginseng into his clothes and then began to pack other things.

His main purpose for going to the county town today was to check out the “Blood Activating Powder” that Doctor Wang had mentioned, and also to buy two hunting dogs.

After packing, Chu Liang went out.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Zhao Hu and his group.

Chu Liang looked away, intending to walk away, but Zhao Hu called out to him.

“A-Liang!”

Zhao Hu laughed and said to Chu Liang, “A-Liang, I’m not saying this to criticize you, but why are you so stingy? You won’t even help out your own relatives’ kids?”

“Brother Hu, my energy is limited,” Chu Liang replied casually.

“You’re not good enough, kid!” Zhao Hu pointed behind him, “Look at me, I’m taking several people with me, and I’m still full of energy!”

Behind Zhao Hu stood five young men.

Among them was Fourth Uncle’s son, Chu Qiang.

It seemed that Zhao Hu and Fourth Uncle had agreed to take Chu Qiang along on their hunts.

In terms of hunting skills, Zhao Hu and Chu Liang were about equal, after all, they were taught by the same Master.

“A-Liang, you’re so young, how can you say you’re not good enough?”

Zhao Hu smiled and walked over, asking, “Could it be that you haven’t recovered yet? If your injuries haven’t healed, you should rest well and not push yourself!”

As he spoke, he once again extended his large hand, seemingly wanting to pat Chu Liang’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

This time, he used more force.

With a thud!

Zhao Hu’s right hand landed heavily on Chu Liang’s shoulder, making a dull sound.

But Chu Liang remained motionless, his expression unchanged.

“Don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine.”

Chu Liang replied calmly, and then he also extended his hand, patting Zhao Hu’s shoulder.

Pa!

Zhao Hu’s face turned pale, and his body trembled.

It felt as if a boulder had landed on his shoulder. He couldn’t bear the weight, and his body stumbled, almost falling to the ground!

“A-Liang, you…”

Zhao Hu’s eyes widened. He hurriedly steadied himself, and when he looked at Chu Liang again, his heart was filled with shock.

He was almost knocked down by a single pat?

Was this a joke?

Where did Chu Liang get such strength?

Zhao Hu couldn’t believe it, and neither could the people behind him.

They all understood that the exchange of pats just now was a hidden contest of strength.

Clearly, Zhao Hu had suffered a major loss.

They were both hunters, both physically strong, so why was Zhao Hu’s strength no match for Chu Liang’s?

“Brother Hu, you’re wasting your energy taking too many people with you and neglecting your own training,” Chu Liang said calmly, “Look at you, you’re weak and out of shape. You’ve gotten used to the easy life. You’re far worse than you were a few years ago.”

“I…”

Zhao Hu’s face turned ugly.

Chu Liang’s words were clear ━ it wasn’t that he had gotten stronger, but that Zhao Hu had gotten weaker.

Zhao Hu wanted to say something more, but Chu Liang had already turned and left.

Behind him, a few of his followers rushed forward.

“Brother Hu, Brother Hu, are you alright?”

“Did you get hurt?”

They asked anxiously, fearing that Zhao Hu had been injured by Chu Liang, after all, they depended on Zhao Hu for hunting.

“I’m fine!”

Zhao Hu frowned and turned away.

Being shaken by a pat in front of a group of his followers was a real loss of face.

He would find a way to regain the face he had lost here!

Zhao Hu’s gaze shifted, and he looked at Chu Qiang, saying, “You’re Chu Qiang, right?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry, follow me, and you’ll have a better future than following A-Liang!”

Zhao Hu declared confidently, “A-Liang was just lucky yesterday and got a lot of prey, but he can’t be that lucky every day!”