Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Martial Alliance

Could Chu Liang have killed the Nineteenth Wife?

The true answer to this question is probably only known to Chu Liang himself.

“Chu Liang, let me ask you.”

“Speak.”

“Do you know our Nineteenth Wife?”

“I don’t know her…”

At the entrance of the martial arts hall, several Green Robe Gang members casually questioned him, only asking some routine questions.

None of them believed that Chu Liang had the ability to kill the Nineteenth Wife.

They were merely following orders to question him.

Even the higher-ups of the Green Robe Gang had tacitly agreed that Chu Liang was incapable and had shifted their attention and focus to the black market.

The questioning ended in less than a quarter of an hour.

“Don’t try to deceive us, or you know the consequences.”

The Green Robe Gang members uttered some customary threats before turning to leave and report back.

Chu Liang glanced at the sky, his expression calm as he continued towards the noodle shop in the south of the city.

After he left, the sound of discussion gradually rose in the martial arts hall.

“The incident with the Green Robe Gang was clearly done by the Black-Faced Market Master of the black market, or if not him, then someone related to him. How could it be Chu Liang?”

“Yeah, Chu Liang doesn’t have that kind of ability.”

They also suspected that this matter was related to the black market.

In the county town, many unexplained events were attributed to the Black-Faced Market Master.

Among the voices of discussion, Senior Martial Brother Liu Qiao’s voice was particularly prominent.

Standing among the crowd, he looked in the direction Chu Liang had left and said, “When I brought him in yesterday, I felt that he didn’t match the rumored tiger-slaying hero. He didn’t have that kind of aura.”

“Yes, I also had doubts yesterday.” The young master in fine clothes, Xu Hua, also spoke. Although he had just arrived at the martial arts hall, with Liu Qiao’s introduction, coupled with his own strength and good family background, he quickly made friends with many disciples of the martial arts hall.

“Senior Martial Brother Liu also thinks that Chu Liang stole the credit from Master Wu and the others?” a disciple nearby asked.

“Yes, this Chu Liang is petty and shortsighted. I saw it yesterday, but I didn’t say anything because of his identity,” Liu Qiao said.

“A hero is open and upright. A petty person can’t pretend to have that kind of temperament no matter how hard he tries.” Xu Hua shook his head. He was from the county town and naturally disliked people from mountain villages.

“But he’s still one of us,” another disciple said.

“Sigh, great. Now we have to see him every day.”

“Why don’t we talk to the Hall Master and ask him to kick Chu Liang out?”

“If we let him stay in the martial arts hall, I’m afraid our reputation will also be affected…”

“……”

Rumors spread like wildfire, and repeated lies become truth.

That evening, many people followed the crowd in criticizing Chu Liang, but no one was willing to go to Qing Shi Village to investigate.

Chu Liang remained calm and was not affected in the slightest.

Before long, he arrived at the noodle shop in the south of the city.

It was dinner time, and the noodle shop was bustling with activity, with customers coming and going.

“Tie Niu!”

Chu Liang approached the noodle shop and saw Tie Niu busy at work.

Tie Niu paused, his face lit up with joy, and he hurried over, asking, “Big Brother Chu, why are you here?”

“I had nothing to do, so I took a walk,” Chu Liang smiled.

“Big Brother Chu, have you eaten yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Sit here, sit here for a while, and I’ll make you a bowl of noodles right away!”

“Alright.”

Chu Liang smiled, took the horizontal saber from his waist, placed it on the table, and sat down slowly.

There were many customers in the noodle shop, and many were discussing the tiger demon incident.

They didn’t recognize Chu Liang.

If they knew that Chu Liang was here, they definitely wouldn’t dare to discuss him in his presence.

After all, in front of ordinary people, Chu Liang’s status as a martial artist was quite intimidating.

“Big Brother Chu, those people don’t know the truth. Don’t take it to heart.”

Tie Niu admired Chu Liang very much, not only because Chu Liang was a tiger-slaying hero but also because Chu Liang was the first martial artist to treat him so kindly.

Other martial artists were all aloof and treated ordinary people like slaves, ordering them around, making them difficult to get along with.

“Big Brother Chu, that tiger demon must have died at your hands, and you killed it alone,” Tie Niu said with a serious face.

“What if it wasn’t me?” Chu Liang smiled.

“This…”

Tie Niu was stunned. He hadn’t expected Chu Liang to ask that question, and his mind was suddenly a little confused.

Chu Liang smiled and said, “Don’t worry, this matter has no effect on me.”

“Big Brother Chu, you have such a good mentality.”

Tie Niu smiled awkwardly.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded behind them.

“His mentality is indeed good.”

Chu Liang was very familiar with this voice.

Song Zhong!

He turned his head and saw that Song Zhong and the others were indeed behind him.

There were more than ten of them, each with an extraordinary aura. They entered the noodle shop, sat down one by one, and occupied the tables around Chu Liang.

Song Zhong said to Tie Niu, “Shopkeeper, give us a bowl of beef noodles each.”

“Alright, alright, please wait a moment!”

Tie Niu didn’t dare to neglect them, knowing that this was definitely an important person, and immediately ran to cook the noodles.

Song Zhong sat opposite Chu Liang, placing his two short spears on the other side of the table, facing Chu Liang’s horizontal saber.

◈◈◈

He rolled up his sleeves and said calmly, “Things are in such a mess outside, yet you still have the mood to eat noodles here. Your mental fortitude is truly impressive.”

“Just some rumors,” Chu Liang smiled faintly.

“Don’t underestimate these rumors,” Song Zhong said. “The Hall Master of the Martial Alliance Merit Hall summoned both Wu Neng and me for questioning, and he also sent people to Qing Shi Village to inquire. The results should be out soon.”

“The Martial Alliance is taking this matter seriously?”

“Yes, that tiger demon came from the deep mountains, and the deep mountains are not peaceful these days. Any problem will attract the attention of the Martial Alliance.”

Song Zhong nodded slightly and continued, “This matter should be Wu Neng’s doing. He wants to force you, even if he can’t force you to attack him, he wants to make you uncomfortable. But he clearly underestimated your mental fortitude.”

“I’m focused on practicing my saber techniques and don’t want to bother with other things,” Chu Liang replied.

“The Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall is not bad, very suitable for you, but that 《Autumn Blade》 is indeed inferior to the 《Sinking Water Sword》,” Song Zhong glanced at Chu Liang’s horizontal saber. “I’ve heard about the incident with the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall. They were in the wrong. Did they send anyone to apologize to you?”

“They did.”

As they were talking, Tie Niu came with two steaming bowls of beef noodles.

“Big Brother Chu, Sir, your noodles.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Chu Liang smiled and took the bowl of noodles.

The broth in the bowl was rich, the beef was thick, and it was covered with a layer of emerald green chopped scallions. The surface of the soup was dotted with oil, and the aroma was enticing, making one’s mouth water.

The two sat opposite each other, eating and chatting.

During the conversation, Chu Liang learned that today’s events had also had a significant impact on Song Zhong.

Song Zhong’s name had also appeared in those rumors.

Some people said that he and Chu Liang colluded, dividing the silver that should have belonged to Wu Neng in a seven-to-three ratio.

However, Song Zhong was a well-known demon hunter, and his reputation was much better than Chu Liang’s. The rumors about him were quickly suppressed.

Many of Song Zhong’s friends spoke out, helping him and also helping Chu Liang, defending them both.

But Chu Liang’s foundation was too thin, and he had no basis in the county town.

Even if someone spoke for him, not many people were willing to believe him.

“When do you plan to come to the Martial Alliance?” Song Zhong asked Chu Liang. “Most of the well-known martial artists in the county town have joined the Martial Alliance and have an officially recognized martial artist status.”

“Tonight. I’ll have to trouble you, Master Song.”

“It’s no trouble. Don’t call me Master. I’m older than you, just call me Big Brother.”

“Alright, Big Brother Song.”

“Okay, let’s eat first. The noodles will get soggy…”

By the time the two finished their noodles, it was completely dark.

The noodle shop gradually became quiet, and fewer and fewer customers came and went.

On both sides of the street, the shops began to close one by one, ending a busy day.

“Let’s go, follow me to the Martial Alliance!”

Song Zhong stood up and picked up his short spears.

Chu Liang also stood up, hung his horizontal saber on his waist, and then took out a large denomination silver note and gave it to Tie Niu.

“Big Brother Chu, this… this is too much, I don’t need this much money,” Tie Niu said, feeling a little flustered.

“I’ll be coming here often to eat, so consider it prepaid.”

Chu Liang smiled and said, “You’ll need a lot of money for your martial arts training in the future, so take it for now.”

Hearing the words “martial arts training,” Tie Niu stopped refusing. He secretly felt grateful, wiped his hands on his clothes, and took the silver note from Chu Liang.

In the early stages of martial arts training, one cannot neglect the body, and the more silver one prepared, the better.

When he became a martial artist, he could repay Chu Liang ten or even a hundred times the money.

“Thank you, Big Brother Chu.”

“You’re welcome. We’re leaving!”

Chu Liang and Song Zhong left with the others.

The Martial Alliance was also located in the north of the county town. On the surface, it was just a three-story building.

But behind the small building was a large area belonging exclusively to the Martial Alliance, which was surprisingly large, even larger than the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall and the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall combined.

Most of the martial artists in the county town, whether from the Green Robe Gang, the black market, the Qin Clan Merchant Guild, or other forces, had a Martial Alliance identity.

There were many good things in the Martial Alliance.

Whether it was weapons, martial arts techniques, pills, or guidance from masters, as long as one had enough merit points, they could be exchanged for them.

There were many sources of merit points, such as hunting or capturing demon beasts and presenting them to the Martial Alliance.

One could also exchange various precious herbs, pills, or weapons for merit points.

Or one could directly hold a position in the Martial Alliance.

The positions in the Martial Alliance had ranks and were recognized by the imperial court.

The head of the county town’s Martial Alliance was a rank seven official, equivalent to the local county magistrate. The hall masters of each hall were rank eight officials, and there were other official positions as well.

Song Zhong had previously held a minor rank nine official position for a period of time, responsible for patrolling some of the mountain forests around the county town.

But he felt that it was not free enough and wasted his time killing demons, so he gave it up.

“Here we are, this is the Martial Alliance.”

Song Zhong brought Chu Liang to the three-story building where the Martial Alliance was located.

This small building was mainly black in color, with a stable and solemn shape, revealing a sense of nobility and solemnity. Above it hung a plaque with the words 【Martial Alliance】.

Walking inside, one could see that the interior was also mainly black, supplemented by dark red, giving it a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

There were many martial artists in the hall, some alone, some talking in groups.

“Follow me this way.”

Song Zhong led Chu Liang directly to the courtyard where identities were registered.

After completing the registration, Chu Liang received a black wooden token engraved with his name.

From then on, he also had a martial artist identity recognized by the imperial court.