Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Master Hu is Kind-Hearted

When would Master Hu make his move?

Regarding this, the villagers were engaged in lively discussions.

“It’ll be today!”

“Yes, definitely today!”

“Who does Master Hu think he is to tolerate someone in the village disrespecting him?”

Most villagers believed that Master Hu would soon take action, crushing Chu Liang with overwhelming force to intimidate the rest of the village.

At this moment, the happiest people in the entire village were undoubtedly Wang Tuozi and his gang.

They hid in the dark corners beside the thatched huts, listening to all the previous conversations without missing a single word.

“A-Liang, so what if you’re strong? Can you be stronger than Master Hu?”

Wang Tuozi laughed until he was doubled over, never having been this happy before.

His few lackeys were also excited.

“Haha, the wicked will be punished by heaven!”

“Even the heavens can’t stand it anymore, bringing a death sentence to A-Liang, that bastard!”

“When he’s dead, I’ll go spit on his grave every day!”

“Hahaha…”

To Wang Tuozi and his gang, Chu Liang was indeed a villain.

He had broken their limbs, making them live like maggots, hiding in the dirtiest, darkest corners every day, barely surviving.

Wang Tuozi and his gang didn’t even know how much longer they could live.

They were growing weaker by the day, all of them reduced to skin and bones.

But they were sure of one thing ━ Chu Liang would definitely die before them!

And that was enough!

“Die! Die!”

Wang Tuozi’s face was covered in filth, his hair disheveled, and he laughed like a madman.

He grabbed a handful of thatch and tore it viciously as if he were tearing apart Chu Liang’s body.

Around them, villagers passed by one after another.

Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle walked by and, seeing Wang Tuozi’s appearance, couldn’t help but feel disgusted, quickening their pace to get away from this place.

Things had developed to this point, something neither of them had anticipated.

They had originally planned to find a way to mend their relationship with Chu Liang, but now they were hesitant, not even leaving with Second Uncle.

“Fourth Brother, what are you planning to do?” Fifth Uncle was undecided and asked Fourth Uncle.

“What plan?” Fourth Uncle asked back.

“A-Liang is in danger now. Even if we can’t help him, we should at least go and see him.” Fifth Uncle looked in the direction of Chu Liang’s yard.

It’s better to offer help in times of need than to add to someone’s success when they are already doing well.

Now, the other villagers were afraid of getting involved with Chu Liang, wanting to stay as far away as possible.

If Chu Liang could get through this, he would definitely remember those who visited him during his time of need.

Fifth Uncle said, “Last time, we all thought A-Liang was done for, but only Second Brother insisted on visiting him, and that’s why A-Liang is so good to Second Brother’s family now.”

But Fourth Uncle shook his head and said, “Fifth Brother, this time is different. This time it’s Master Hu. A-Liang won’t be able to get through this!”

“Yes, Master Hu…”

Just thinking of that name made Fifth Uncle’s heart sink.

In Qing Shi Village, even three-year-old children were afraid of that high and mighty master.

“Fifth Brother, what you should be worried about now is not A-Liang, but ourselves.” Fourth Uncle said with a worried look, “I’m afraid Master Hu will take his anger out on the entire Chu family. That would be a big problem.”

“Surely not?”

“Who knows? Sigh… It’s all because of that brat A-Liang. If he hadn’t caused trouble, none of this would have happened.”

The two walked and talked, soon arriving near the courtyards of the Chu family.

They found Second Uncle, hoping he could persuade Chu Liang.

“Second Brother, aren’t you worried that Master Hu will make a move against our families?”

“Second Brother, our children are still young.”

“Go and talk to A-Liang, tell him to bow down to Master Hu, apologize, and kneel outside the Hu family’s courtyard for a few days. Let Master Hu see A-Liang’s attitude…”

Kneel for a few days!

This was the solution Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle had come up with.

As long as he knelt, and the whole village saw it, Master Hu should be satisfied.

Second Uncle then found Chu Liang and conveyed Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle’s thoughts to him.

Hearing this, Chu Liang couldn’t help but smile, “Second Uncle, do you think I would do that?”

“No.”

Second Uncle shook his head. He knew Chu Liang better than anyone else in the Chu family.

He quickly left and relayed Chu Liang’s words to Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle.

Hearing this, Fourth Uncle and Fifth Uncle became even more anxious. They couldn’t help but go to Chu Liang’s door themselves, knocking and hoping to talk to him in person.

“A-Liang, open the door! It’s your Fourth Uncle!”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

An anxious voice sounded from outside the door.

But Chu Liang had no interest in seeing these two.

He kept the courtyard gate closed, processing the wild bear’s carcass in the yard, and then made himself a bear paw feast.

“The taste isn’t that great. Did I do something wrong?”

Chu Liang took a bite. It was firm, a bit chewy.

But that was it.

He was a little disappointed, feeling it wasn’t as good as chicken drumsticks.

After eating, Chu Liang continued to practice his martial arts in the yard, tempering his Qi and blood.

“I’m almost out of Blood Replenishing Ointment. I need to go to the county town to get some more.”

Chu Liang silently calculated his reserves of meat and medicine.

“The Blood Replenishing Ointment can be evolved further into something called ‘Blood Nourishing Pill’. The doctor at Anbao Hall said last time that the Blood Nourishing Pill’s efficacy far exceeds that of the Blood Replenishing Ointment, but it’s only sold in the prefectural city, not available in the county town.”

Blood Activating Powder evolves into Blood Replenishing Ointment, and Blood Replenishing Ointment further evolves into Blood Nourishing Pill. These are the three different levels of martial arts supplements.

The Blood Replenishing Ointment was already very expensive, costing ten taels of silver per dose.

◈◈◈

The Blood Nourishing Pill is even more expensive, costing one hundred taels of silver for a small bottle, and there are only ten pills in a small bottle.

“There’s a reason for the high price.”

Chu Liang was deeply aware of this. The Blood Replenishing Ointment was much better than the Blood Activating Powder.

If he had been taking the Blood Activating Powder all along, he might not have even condensed his Qi and blood yet.

“Evolution requires demon beast meat. I heard they sell it in the black market. I’ll go take a look tomorrow. If I can get some, I will. If not, it’s no big deal.”

Time passed, and the sky gradually darkened.

The last ray of light disappeared over the horizon, and night fell.

That night, many people in the village were waiting, waiting for Master Hu to make his move.

But even when the moon hung high in the sky, and it was time to rest, there was still no movement from the Hu family.

“Strange, is Master Hu not home? Could he have gone to the county town to visit friends again?”

“It’s possible. If he were home, he would have definitely made a move.”

Most villagers thought so.

Some felt that Chu Liang was lucky, getting to live another night.

Others thought that Master Hu was doing it on purpose, just to torment Chu Liang, making him spend the night in agony.

In this strange atmosphere, the night passed quietly.

The next day, at the break of dawn.

Chu Liang ate two coarse grain cakes, packed his things, and was about to go to the county town when suddenly there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

It was Second Uncle.

“Second Uncle, what is it?” Chu Liang opened the door and asked.

“Nothing, just came to check on you.”

Seeing that Chu Liang was still alive, Second Uncle couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He was afraid that Chu Liang had already been quietly dealt with by Master Hu, but fortunately, that hadn’t happened.

“A-Liang, are you going out?” Second Uncle asked, seeing Chu Liang carrying a cloth bag.

“Yes, it’s market day today. I’m going to the county town to have a look around,” Chu Liang replied.

“You… at a time like this, you still have the mood to go to the county town for the market?”

“Of course, I do.”

Chu Liang smiled, telling Second Uncle not to worry.

Second Uncle was helpless, only able to repeatedly tell Chu Liang to be careful and to just run away if things got bad.

After chatting for a while, Chu Liang set off.

The morning breeze was gentle, and the sun was pleasant.

It was a good day for the market.

On the way, many villagers saw Chu Liang and speculated about what he was going to do.

“A-Liang looks like he’s going to the county town for the market.”

“I think he’s pretending to go to the market but is actually escaping, taking advantage of Master Hu’s absence to flee our village…”

Amidst the many discussions, Chu Liang’s figure gradually disappeared into the distance.

Not long after he left, Steward Hu suddenly came to visit.

Steward Hu stood outside Chu Liang’s courtyard gate and asked loudly, “Chu Erniu, where is your nephew Chu Liang? Where did he run off to?”

“Steward Hu, A-Liang went to the county town for the market,” Second Uncle replied respectfully.

“Oh?”

Steward Hu was taken aback. He also didn’t expect Chu Liang to still have the mood to go to the market.

Second Uncle was constantly observing Steward Hu’s expression.

He guessed that there might be a turning point in this matter. After all, only Steward Hu came alone. He asked, “Steward Hu, did Master Hu say something?”

“Yes.”

Steward Hu stroked his mustache and then cleared his throat.

“Ahem!”

These two coughs immediately attracted the attention of many people.

The villagers all looked over.

Seeing that only Steward Hu had come, they also guessed that there might be a turning point, and maybe Chu Liang could survive.

Sure enough, Steward Hu took out a piece of yellow paper from his arms and said loudly to the crowd, “You all know that my master is kind-hearted!”

“Yes, yes, yes, Master Hu is the most kind-hearted.”

“There is no one in this world more kind-hearted than Master Hu!”

The villagers hurriedly echoed, their voices rising and falling.

Steward Hu continued, “Yesterday, that brat A-Liang’s behavior made my master very dissatisfied. He originally planned to teach him a lesson, but…”

At this point, he paused and held up the yellow paper in his hand.

Everyone looked closely.

It was actually a slave contract!

“That brat A-Liang does have some skills.” Steward Hu threw the contract to Second Uncle. “My master has decided to take him in as a member of the Hu family and personally train him… Chu Erniu, keep this contract safe. When A-Liang returns, tell him exactly what I said!”

“This…”

“Any problems?”

“No, no problems.”

Second Uncle hurriedly shook his head, saying there was no problem, but in his heart, he was already cursing.

Personally train him? Who would believe that!

This was a slave contract!

Once he signed this thing, Chu Liang would become the lowest of the low in the Hu family, his life and death no longer in his own hands.