Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Kneeling is Fine

A swordsman going to a saber school to learn swordsmanship.

Such a thing, at any time, would feel incredibly incongruous.

It sounds absurd.

But it happened!

The news quickly spread from the martial arts hall to countless martial artists in the county town.

Upon hearing this news, many people’s first reaction was that they had misheard.

“Why is Qi Xiuliang so stubborn?”

“I heard that Chu Liang once saved his life. He owes him a life debt.”

“A life debt? No wonder then. He’s a man of honor!”

“Unfortunately, his path in swordsmanship is now ruined…”

After learning the truth, everyone sighed in regret.

To repay a life debt, he was willing to ruin his own future, clash with his own swordsmanship Master, and ultimately leave the martial arts hall.

No matter how you look at it, Qi Xiuliang deserves to be called a “man of honor”!

There are too few people like him.

Of course, although most martial artists praised him, they did not approve of his actions.

“He went to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall, but that place is full of saber practitioners. What’s the use of him being there? Is he going to switch to saber techniques?”

“Sometimes, you have to endure. You can’t just act on impulse.”

Many martial artists asked themselves, if it were them, they definitely wouldn’t have clashed with their martial arts hall Master in public.

At most, they would say a few words behind his back to vent their dissatisfaction and anger.

A public confrontation completely cuts off any retreat, leaving no room for either side to back down.

“That Qi Hai is truly detestable. This whole incident started because of him and Wu Neng!” someone cursed.

“That’s right. It’s been over a month, and the Martial Alliance hasn’t released any news, which means that Chu Liang did kill the tiger demon. There’s no doubt about it!”

Many martial artists brought up the Martial Alliance.

The Martial Alliance had sent people to Qing Shi Village to investigate, but they found no problems.

“Qi Hai is almost fifty years old. We all have to address him as Senior.”

“We used to respect him for his virtue and prestige, and we believed what he said. But what did he do? He openly deceived us, using our goodwill to spread his rumors!”

Rumors are a good thing.

If used well, they can completely destroy an opponent’s reputation, making them a target of public scorn.

But if used poorly, they can eventually backfire.

For the past month, Chu Liang’s reputation had plummeted to rock bottom. He was no different from a rat.

But these two recent incidents completely shattered those rumors, allowing many people to see the truth.

Gradually, Wu Neng and Qi Hai became the targets of public criticism.

◈◈◈

Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall.

Qi Hai’s courtyard.

With a creak, the courtyard gate opened, and Qi Hai, with a gloomy expression, returned from outside.

In the courtyard, there were more than ten people, including Wu Neng.

Wu Neng immediately stood up, looking apologetic, and said, “Brother Qi, this was originally my personal matter. I didn’t mean to drag you into it. I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Qi Hai’s expression wasn’t good. He replied, “Brother Wu, your brother Wu Qian is missing. It’s normal for you to be anxious and spread rumors. It’s just that Chu Liang is too cunning!”

“Yes, I didn’t expect him to be so scheming at such a young age!” Wu Neng echoed.

“The Hall Master just summoned me,” Qi Hai said.

“Brother Qi, did the Hall Master ask you to invite Qi Xiuliang back?”

“Yes.”

Qi Hai nodded slightly. This was the reason for his unpleasant expression.

With his strength and seniority, Hall Master Qi Hong wouldn’t force him, but merely suggested that he invite Qi Xiuliang back to the martial arts hall.

But even a suggestion was enough to show Hall Master Qi Hong’s attitude.

“The Hall Master is very displeased!”

“Brother Qi, are you going to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall…”

“To do what?”

Qi Hai snorted coldly, a hint of anger in his eyes.

He valued his status. How could he go to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall to invite Qi Xiuliang?

He would rather die than bow his head to an apprentice!

Martial artists all have a certain degree of pride, especially those with high seniority and considerable strength like him.

Besides, Qi Hai believed he was not in the wrong!

They had different stances, so how could there be talk of right or wrong?

At this moment, a disciple’s voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard: “Sword Master, Young Master Xu Hua of the Xu Clan Cloth Shop is outside and wishes to see you.”

“Xu Hua?”

“Yes.”

“He’s been expelled from two martial arts halls. He must be desperate!”

Qi Hai pondered for a moment.

After a while, he stood up directly, not asking the disciple to bring Xu Hua in, but instead went out of the courtyard himself to meet Xu Hua at the main gate of the martial arts hall.

◈◈◈

Seeing this, the disciple who delivered the message was a little surprised.

“That Xu Hua is just a reject from other martial arts halls. Why does Master Qi Hai need to see him personally?”

He muttered to himself in his heart.

Wu Neng and the others in the courtyard understood Qi Hai’s intentions.

By doing so, he was showing his stance to the outside world—Chu Liang’s enemy is Qi Hai’s friend!

Outside, at the entrance of the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall.

Xu Hua waited anxiously.

His reputation was terrible. He had been expelled from two major martial arts halls.

Now, almost no martial arts hall dared to accept him.

He originally thought he would never be able to enter a martial arts hall again and would have to spend a lot of money to hire those martial arts hall Masters to teach him at home, until he heard about Qi Xiuliang.

He immediately realized…

This was an opportunity!

If he could seize it, he could not only enter a martial arts hall but also become Qi Hai’s disciple!

Inside the main gate of the martial arts hall, many apprentices noticed Xu Hua and began to discuss.

“Isn’t that Young Master Xu Hua of the Xu Clan Cloth Shop? What is he doing at our Black Sword Martial Arts Hall?”

“Could he be here to become an apprentice?”

“I hope not!”

The martial arts hall disciples were worried. They had all heard about Xu Hua’s past deeds.

They didn’t want to be in the same martial arts hall with such a person!

However, what they feared most happened.

“Are you Xu Hua?”

A deep voice suddenly sounded inside the martial arts hall.

Xu Hua shivered, turned his head, and saw Qi Hai walking towards him.

He hurriedly bowed and replied, “Yes, Junior is Xu Hua of the Xu Clan Cloth Shop. Greetings, Master Qi!”

“You’re quite clever!”

Qi Hai gave Xu Hua a cold look. He could see through Xu Hua’s little scheme.

Xu Hua’s face stiffened slightly. He said, “That Chu Liang is truly detestable. He twisted the facts, disregarded right and wrong, schemed against Junior, and got Junior expelled from the martial arts hall. Junior is truly indignant. I happened to hear about Qi Xiuliang, so… I took a chance and came to pay my respects to Master Qi.”

“Alright, I understand what you mean.”

Qi Hai waved his hand, telling Xu Hua to stop talking.

He said indifferently, “I have two direct disciples. From today on, you will be the third. Do you understand?”

“Dir… direct?”

Xu Hua was stunned, then overjoyed.

He hadn’t held out much hope, only thinking of becoming a registered disciple, but he didn’t expect to become a direct disciple!

It was too easy!

No one stopped him. It was so easy that he couldn’t believe it.

But at this moment, another voice suddenly sounded, “Qi Hai, this Xu Hua has a bad reputation. Do you really want to accept him into the martial arts hall?”

This voice was unfamiliar to Xu Hua.

But Qi Hai and the other martial arts hall disciples were familiar with it.

Hall Master Qi Hong!

He was standing not far away, with a calm expression, his hands behind his back, looking at Qi Hai.

“I’m not accepting him into the martial arts hall, just taking him as my disciple. Is the Hall Master going to stop me?” Qi Hai responded indifferently.

“In that case, I won’t say anything more.”

Hall Master Qi Hong’s gaze shifted to Xu Hua.

Xu Hua trembled, feeling as if several invisible blades were slicing across his body, making his scalp tingle.

After several breaths, Hall Master Qi Hong withdrew his gaze.

He spoke again, “Qi Hai, about Qi Xiuliang…”

“Hall Master, I’ve already said that Qi Xiuliang left voluntarily! I didn’t force him!”

“Ultimately, it’s related to you.”

“He himself wants to go to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall to learn swordsmanship. What does that have to do with me?”

Qi Hai was indifferent, denying any responsibility.

He refused to back down. Instead, he said to Qi Hong, “Hall Master, how about we make an agreement?”

“What agreement?” Qi Hong asked.

“If Qi Xiuliang can truly learn some excellent swordsmanship at the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall, let alone inviting him back, I’ll even kneel before him!”

Qi Hai declared resolutely, making a vow on the spot.

He continued, “If he can’t learn anything, I ask that the Hall Master no longer bring up this matter!”