Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Taking a Share of the Spoils

Behind Wu Neng, the ten-plus members of his squad exchanged glances.

They were all surprised that Chu Liang dared to answer like this.

Who gave him the courage?

During this period, they had become accustomed to putting on airs in these small villages. Suddenly encountering an anomaly like Chu Liang made them somewhat uncomfortable.

“Chu Liang, we are a demon hunting squad from the county’s Martial Alliance.”

One of them, thinking that Chu Liang was unaware of their identities, spoke up, “We hold the imperial court’s ‘Demon Hunting Order,’ and we take it as our duty to slay demons and protect the common people.”

“I know,” Chu Liang replied calmly.

“Since you know, why don’t you cooperate with our questions?” The man’s voice suddenly turned cold.

“I answered very clearly. Does this Your Excellency have a problem with his ears?” Chu Liang retorted, “If there is a problem, you should go to a clinic early. Don’t delay the treatment and let it become a chronic illness.”

“You…”

The man’s face darkened.

With a clang, he drew his blade on the spot, staring intently at Chu Liang with a very unfriendly expression.

The other ten-plus people were even more surprised. They had already revealed their identities, yet this country bumpkin was still so unyielding.

Where did he get his confidence?

Judging from the ruins at the village entrance, Chu Liang had obviously fought with the Tiger Demon for a long time.

He was definitely not a martial artist with Three Strands of Qi and Blood, otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken so long. He was likely an outstanding martial artist among those with One Strand of Qi and Blood, at most having Two Strands of Qi and Blood.

It was based on this judgment that they dared to look down on Chu Liang with such a condescending attitude.

“Chu Liang, your lack of cooperation, could it be that you are in cahoots with the demon beast?” Another person suddenly shouted sternly.

His gaze was sinister, like a vulture looking for prey, staring coldly at Chu Liang.

This sudden shout startled even Master Hu, who was standing beside Chu Liang.

But Chu Liang remained calm and said casually, “This Tiger Demon was clearly of average strength, yet you all wasted more than a month without being able to kill it, allowing it to wreak havoc in this area. If there really is someone colluding with demon beasts, it shouldn’t be me, but rather one of you, or perhaps… all of you are colluding with demon beasts?”

“You…”

“Good! Well said!”

A voice of praise suddenly came from afar.

Another demon hunting squad had arrived.

The leader was named Song Zhong, and he was of similar strength to Wu Neng, also a martial artist with Three Strands of Qi and Blood.

Master Hu had previously introduced him to Chu Liang. This man was dedicated to slaying demons and had little interest in anything else, making him easier to deal with than Wu Neng and the others.

Song Zhong’s group approached from afar. It was also a squad of more than ten people, with overall strength comparable to Wu Neng’s group.

He dismounted, glanced at the Tiger Demon’s corpse, and then fixed his gaze on Chu Liang, observing him carefully for a moment before revealing a satisfied expression.

“Not bad!”

He praised, and said to Chu Liang, “Chu Liang, you have excellent talent. Are you willing to join my demon hunting squad?”

“What?”

His words stunned everyone present.

Inviting Chu Liang to join his demon hunting squad?

No one expected him to suddenly say such a thing. Even Chu Liang was taken aback.

He lowered his gaze slightly, as if in thought, and after thinking seriously, he replied, “Thank you for your appreciation, but I have many things to do at the moment and don’t have such plans for now.”

“Hmm, no rush. If you change your mind, you can come to the Martial Alliance and find me anytime.”

A smile appeared on Song Zhong’s face, and he continued, “You are considered outstanding among those with One Strand of Qi and Blood. Staying in this small mountain village is truly a waste of your talent. Come to the county town soon. You are still young and need a bigger place to develop your skills. Don’t be content with temporary enjoyment.”

“I understand.”

Chu Liang cupped his hands, smiling in response.

Master Hu, standing nearby, felt somewhat uncomfortable.

He knew very well that Song Zhong’s words about “being content with temporary enjoyment” were directed at people like him.

This village was indeed too small, with only two martial artists. Staying here for too long could easily lead to a narrow perspective and a loss of a martial artist’s drive.

“Chu Liang, what cultivation technique are you practicing now? The Blood Nourishing Technique?” Song Zhong asked.

“Yes,” Chu Liang replied.

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“Come to the Martial Alliance soon. There are better cultivation techniques and martial skills in the Martial Alliance.”

Song Zhong said to Chu Liang, “You have good talent, being able to reach the initial stage with just the Blood Nourishing Technique. If you switch to a better cultivation technique, you might even break through the Blood Coagulation Realm and enter the Skin Tempering Realm in the future.”

He didn’t question Chu Liang like Wu Neng did about why he hadn’t joined the Martial Alliance. Instead, he told Chu Liang about the various benefits of the Martial Alliance.

Joining the Martial Alliance was equivalent to gaining recognition from the imperial court and having an official status.

Although this status was not very useful, having it was better than not having it.

The county’s Martial Alliance also had various cultivation techniques, martial skills, weapons, armor, and records, but they needed to be exchanged with “Merit Points.”

There were many ways to obtain Merit Points, and slaying demons was the simplest one.

“In addition, there are many martial artists in the Martial Alliance. With your talent, many martial artists will be willing to befriend you,” Song Zhong mentioned another benefit. “It’s always good to have more friends. Being alone makes one vulnerable to bullying.”

Although he didn’t say it explicitly, everyone present could hear that he was mocking Wu Neng and the others.

Weren’t Wu Neng and his men just bullying Chu Liang earlier?

If it had been Master Hu, he would probably have knelt before them long ago.

“Wu Neng, the Tiger Demon is dead. What are you still doing here?” Song Zhong suddenly turned to Wu Neng.

“What I do is none of your business.”

Wu Neng snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the Tiger Demon’s corpse.

Song Zhong said, “Are you trying to take a share of the spoils?”

No one present was a fool.

They could all see that Wu Neng and his men had their eyes on the Tiger Demon’s corpse.

Whether it was the initial accusation of “rebellion” or the later questioning, it was all to force Chu Liang to yield, to force him to give up the Tiger Demon’s corpse.

But Song Zhong’s arrival had disrupted Wu Neng’s plans.

Now it remained to be seen what other excuses he could come up with.

Wu Neng’s expression was ugly. He refused to leave and exchanged glances with several of his squad members. Suddenly, he turned to Song Zhong and said, “Song Zhong, do you know that I had already injured this Tiger Demon?”

“Oh?”

Song Zhong frowned and asked, “Our two squads have been close to each other all along. When did you encounter this Tiger Demon? Why don’t I know about it?”

“Seven days ago!”

Wu Neng gave a time and said, “At that time, we split up to search. You went to Qian Lan Village, and I went to Hou Lan Village. It was then that I encountered this Tiger Demon and severely injured it… but it was too cunning and escaped into the mountains!”

“I’ve heard that you, Wu Neng, are shameless, but today I’ve truly seen it for myself.”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

Wu Neng pointed at Chu Liang and said, “If not for that, how could this kid possibly kill the Tiger Demon? You know how difficult this Tiger Demon is to deal with!”

“Say no more!” Song Zhong’s face was cold. “The Tiger Demon was killed by Chu Liang, so the corpse naturally belongs to him. Even if you, Wu Neng, have a thousand reasons, you won’t get a single share!”

“You…”

Wu Neng gritted his teeth, his expression extremely unpleasant.

If Song Zhong weren’t here, he would have countless ways to force Chu Liang to yield. Even if Chu Liang were stubborn, he could break his bones one by one.

But Song Zhong had come, standing between him and Chu Liang.

Both of them were martial artists with Three Strands of Qi and Blood. If they fought, neither would gain an advantage, and in the end, they would only waste precious healing medicine.

“Let’s go!”

Wu Neng forcefully suppressed his anger, gave Chu Liang a cold look, and then turned and mounted his horse.

He called out to the rest of his squad, and they rode away without looking back.

“Let’s go, back to the county town!”