Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 61-62

Chapter 61-62: Going Live Announcement

Going live tomorrow.

A big thank you to all the readers who have been following the story until now.

First, an apology. I really can’t update more chapters upon going live, I can only maintain the usual pace.

I originally wanted to write more, but recently I’ve been having knee problems and have been taking glucosamine capsules. This medicine is not good for the liver, so I really don’t dare to push myself too hard. I can’t even handle staying up late a little.

This is not an excuse to sell misery, I really did plan to update more. In the past, on other websites, I used to update 10,000 words a day. This time, it’s truly an unexpected situation.

I ask for all the readers’ understanding.

I won’t say much more. I will try my best to maintain stable updates and write a complete story.

I hope all the readers will continue to support me.

I am extremely grateful!

Chapter 62: Leveraging Influence

The night was deep, and the road from the county town to Qing Shi Village was fraught with danger.

One careless step could lead to one’s demise in the belly of a wild beast.

Moreover, to avoid the eyes of the Green Robe Gang, this youth could not take the main road south of the city. He had to take a detour, navigating the rugged and narrow mountain paths.

One could see many small cuts and scratches on his body, his clothes torn, all from the thorns and branches along the mountain trails.

“Good perseverance, and good luck too, not encountering any formidable wild beasts.”

Chu Liang brought the youth back to his house.

Two little mice had prepared medicinal ointment and were hopping around the bedside with bandages, tending to the youth’s wounds.

The room flickered with lamplight, filled with the bitter smell of medicinal ointment.

Chu Liang dissolved a healing pill in water and fed it to the youth.

About a quarter of an hour later, the youth’s eyelids fluttered, his fingers twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“M-Master Chu…”

“It’s me.”

“Thank you, Master Chu, for saving me.”

His voice was no longer as hoarse as before, and his condition had clearly improved.

Chu Liang asked him, “What’s your name?”

“Replying to the master, my surname is Qi, and my name is Qi Xiaoyu.”

“Oh? The same surname as Shopkeeper Qi.”

“Master Chu, the surname Qi is a common surname in this area. There are many families with the surname Qi in the county town and surrounding villages.”

“Hmm.”

Chu Liang’s expression was calm. He chatted with Qi Xiaoyu briefly and learned what had happened at Yunlai Restaurant.

For the past month, the Green Robe Gang had been acting like madmen, practically turning the county town upside down.

Qi Xiaoyu said, “The shopkeeper asked me to tell you that this matter has become a ‘matter of face’ for the Green Robe Gang. They must have a resolution.”

“I understand.”

In this world, any faction with a bit of power cared about face.

Chu Liang killing the Green Robe Gang Leader’s nineteenth wife was a slap in the face to the Green Robe Gang.

Such a thing should never have happened in Anping County Town, as everyone knew how fearsome the Green Robe Gang was.

But it did!

“What else did Shopkeeper Qi say?” Chu Liang asked.

“Replying to the master, the shopkeeper also said that you could leverage influence.”

Qi Xiaoyu replied, “The Green Robe Gang is powerful, so every member dares to throw their weight around. Master Chu, you can also choose to join a powerful faction, such as becoming a guest elder for the Qin Clan Merchant Guild or a fighter for the Black Market. The Green Robe Gang wouldn’t dare to provoke either of these two factions.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Chu Liang had been frequently visiting the Black Market to buy demon beast meat and had chatted with the stall owner, Wu Dafu, quite a bit.

He knew that the Green Robe Gang had been trying to enter the Black Market to search for someone.

But the Black Market was under the protection of the Skin Tempering Realm “Black-Faced Market Master,” whom even the county government treated with deference. Therefore, the Green Robe Gang had been unable to enter.

The leader of the Qin Clan Merchant Guild was also a Skin Tempering Realm expert.

“Master Chu, the Green Robe Gang currently only suspects you. They haven’t confirmed that you did it,” Qi Xiaoyu said. “If you don’t have any backing, they will naturally dare to take you in for questioning. But if you join either of these two factions, they won’t dare to make a move and will have to suspect others.”

“I know.”

“The shopkeeper also asked me to tell you to avoid the county government at all costs. The county government and the Green Robe Gang are in cahoots. You should also be careful in the Martial Alliance. Many Green Robe Gang members are also recognized martial artists within the Martial Alliance.”

“Alright.”

“Master Chu, you must seek refuge with a powerful faction as soon as possible. If that’s not possible, you can also join one of the three major martial arts halls.”

The masters of those three martial arts halls were all Five Strands of Qi and Blood experts with renowned reputations, not inferior to the leader of the Green Robe Gang.

However…

These three martial arts halls lacked powerful backing and were overall weaker than the Green Robe Gang.

“Master Chu, when do you plan to go to the county town?”

“Right now.”

“Huh?”

Qi Xiaoyu was stunned. He glanced out the wooden window and saw that it was still nighttime, realizing he hadn’t been unconscious for too long.

Chu Liang smiled, “If you can travel through the night, why can’t I?”

“Master Chu, which road do you plan to take?”

“The same road you took here.”

Chu Liang got up and began to pack.

He had already planned to go to the county town to learn martial arts, but he was delayed yesterday by Wu Neng and his men.

As for the Green Robe Gang, Chu Liang wasn’t too worried. The reason he was rushing through the night was to get Qi Xiaoyu back to the restaurant.

Before the restaurant opened for business in the morning, as long as Qi Xiaoyu appeared in the restaurant, this matter would have nothing to do with him or the restaurant.

“How is your body now?” Chu Liang asked.

“Replying to the master, I feel much better.”

Qi Xiaoyu moved his limbs and found that his previous fatigue was gone, and his injuries had greatly improved.

This made him speculate that Chu Liang must have given him some miraculous medicine that only martial artists could afford.

Chu Liang handed him a piece of cooked demon beast meat.

It was about three catties.

“Take this cooked meat with you. You can eat a little now, but not too much. After you return, eat it over three days.”

“Yes, thank you, Master Chu.”

Qi Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up, and he swallowed hard.

He had traveled through the night, exerting himself greatly, and was already famished. The sight of the cooked meat made his mouth water.

Why not eat more?

He wondered, taking the demon beast meat and biting into it.

The taste was strange, somewhat like beef but much tougher, like chewing on wood shavings.

Master Chu eats this kind of unpalatable meat?

Qi Xiaoyu was even more puzzled. He felt that this meat was not even as good as ordinary chicken.

“Master Chu has been living in the village all his life. He probably hasn’t eaten anything good. When I get to the county town, I’ll tell Shopkeeper Qi to have the cook prepare some delicious food for Master Chu.”

He thought to himself.

After chewing for a long time, he swallowed hard several times, nearly choking, and finally managed to swallow the wood-like meat.

While he was eating, Chu Liang had finished packing.

“Put on these clothes and cover your face.”

Chu Liang tossed a set of black night clothes to Qi Xiaoyu.

“Alright.”

Qi Xiaoyu quickly caught it.

He had also covered his face when he came, but the face cloth was torn off by branches along the way.

After he changed into the night clothes, Chu Liang pushed open the door and walked into the yard.

Three half-grown dog demons sat in the center of the yard, their eyes affectionate, tails wagging, awaiting Chu Liang’s instructions.

“I’m going to be away for a few days. The three of you will go to Second Uncle’s house and help him guard the house. Do you understand?” Chu Liang said.

Behind him, Qi Xiaoyu looked at the three puppies in surprise, wondering if they could understand human speech.

Just as he was thinking this, the three puppies nodded in unison, their movements synchronized, almost making his jaw drop.

They are indeed dogs raised by a martial artist.

Could they have already become demons?

He shook his head, not daring to think too much, and silently followed behind Chu Liang.

Chu Liang continued, “Unless absolutely necessary, the three of you are not to use force, nor are you to show any unusual abilities. If there’s any trouble, go get Master Hu. If Master Hu can’t handle it, then you three can take action.”

The three puppies nodded again.

Their growth rate was slightly slower than Rat One and Rat Two, but they were already comparable to human martial artists with Two Strands of Qi and Blood, and among the best of them.

As for the two treasure-seeking rats, they would accompany Chu Liang to the county town.

Their roles were much more important than these puppies.

Having given these instructions, Chu Liang looked at the donkey eating grass in the corner of the yard.

“Donkey, come with me to the county town!”

“Hee-haw…”

The donkey responded, its ears drooping, and slowly walked towards Chu Liang.

He had already been evolved into a half-demon by Chu Liang, possessing considerable intelligence. Although he couldn’t communicate directly with Chu Liang, he could মোটামুটি understand his words.

Chu Liang took the donkey’s reins and led him out of the yard.

Outside the gate, the black horse that Qi Xiaoyu had ridden was tied up.

Qi Xiaoyu spoke, “Master Chu, you ride this horse. I’ll ride the donkey.”

“What?”

Chu Liang turned to look at him and smiled, “Don’t underestimate my donkey. His speed is no less than those so-called prized horses.”

“Your status is noble. It’s not appropriate for you to ride this donkey.”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t have so many rules.”

Chu Liang locked the courtyard gate and mounted the donkey.

“Hee-haw…”

The donkey glanced at Qi Xiaoyu and took a step forward, flicking its tail.

Smack! The tail landed squarely on Qi Xiaoyu’s face.

Qi Xiaoyu was instantly stunned.

He covered his cheek, looked at the donkey in disbelief.

Chu Liang laughed, “Let’s go. He’s urging you.”

“He…”

Qi Xiaoyu couldn’t believe it. This donkey was so intelligent?

You know, people often use the term “stupid donkey” to describe someone as foolish.

“Hee-haw…”

The donkey brayed again, pawing at the ground.

Qi Xiaoyu was startled, quickly untied the horse’s reins, and mounted.

Thus, the two men, one horse, and one donkey set off on the road to the county town.

They did not take the main road but followed the same mountain path Qi Xiaoyu had taken, a rugged and uneven road, full of thorns, winding and treacherous, rarely used by anyone.

“This road is so difficult to travel.” When Qi Xiaoyu came, he relied solely on courage, even closing his eyes in some places and rushing through.

Now, retracing his steps, he realized the difficulty of this road.

The danger of the road was secondary. The wild beasts hidden in the darkness around them were the most terrifying.

Listening closely, one could hear the howls of some wild beast in the distant mountains, a sound that sent shivers down one’s spine.

Qi Xiaoyu shivered and stayed close to Chu Liang.

“Fortunately, Master Chu is here.”

Qi Xiaoyu thought to himself that without Chu Liang, he would never dare to take this road a second time.

He tightened his clothes.

The night wind blew, making him feel cold all over.

Without the courage he had when he came, he clearly felt the coldness of the night forest.

Especially his back, it felt as if something was blowing cold air on his back from the silent darkness behind him, making his spine chill.

At this moment, a strange warmth suddenly spread from his abdomen, like a gentle stream flowing to his limbs.

“Huh?”

Qi Xiaoyu touched his stomach, suddenly feeling no longer cold.

He felt strange, something in his stomach was generating heat.

Could it be the cooked meat he had just eaten?

“What kind of meat was that?”

As time passed, the warmth had spread throughout his body, even warming his usually cold hands and feet.

“Could it be demon beast meat?”

Qi Xiaoyu was suddenly startled, thinking of this possibility.

He had heard Shopkeeper Qi mention this kind of meat before and had seen it being sold in the Black Market, but he had never bought any.

“I’m such a country bumpkin. I actually thought Master Chu hadn’t eaten anything good before.”

Thinking of this, Qi Xiaoyu quickly checked his bag.

Seeing that the cooked meat was still there, he breathed a sigh of relief.

With his status, even if he wanted to buy demon beast meat, he wouldn’t be able to. He would only be fooled by those selling it.

“No wonder Master Chu didn’t let me eat too much. I heard that demon beast meat is too potent, and ordinary people can’t handle it… I also heard that this meat can help increase one’s Qi and Blood. After I eat it, will I have the aptitude to become a martial artist…”

Qi Xiaoyu’s mind wandered, various thoughts popping into his head.

He was somewhat similar to Chu Liang’s cousin, Chu Shan.

Young people are often like this, always imagining unrealistic things.

Time slowly passed, and they were about to reach the county town.

Chu Liang suddenly frowned and looked towards the forest ahead.

“Stop, there are people ahead!”