Chapter 50

Shinma's Selection (50)

Boom.

The heavy shockwave that spread from him shook the entire valley. The eyes of Samshim, who was watching from a distance, also trembled as if an earthquake had struck.

"What did you just do?"

"It's nothing. Just a normal Zhenjue."

Samshim was shocked by Fan Jiwei's nonchalant response.

"Is this considered normal...?"

Samshim had seen his martial arts improve dramatically after taking Gongqing Shiyu. Yet, just glimpsing the true prowess of Chao Ailiang left him utterly amazed.

"If this much fuss is made, Chao will probably faint when he fully recovers his inner strength."

Han Xuehua, who had been standing aside and gauging Chao Ailiang's martial arts, added a word.

"Not bad."

"......!"

Samshim, unable to continue speaking from surprise, was looked at with a disdainful gaze by Fan Jiwei.

"Would they call that man 'Heavenly Fist' for nothing?"

Samshim looked at Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua with renewed eyes. Chao Ailiang was already incredible, but these two were no less monstrous.

They were beings who roamed the realm of the unfathomable. Their standards for martial arts were entirely different from his own.

'Indeed.'

Samshim nodded, turning his gaze back to Chao Ailiang. The title 'Heavenly Fist' was not given lightly in the martial world.

Chao Ailiang stepped lightly and swung his hands like lightning.

Grasping, breaking, pressing, striking, pulling...

Each move was a basic technique of Jinna Shou. Yet, when all these were combined and unleashed in one go, it was truly a marvel of martial arts.

Samshim, who witnessed this, felt a shiver run through his body.

Even from a considerable distance, he could feel the sound of the air breaking and the aura emanating from Chao Ailiang's fingertips.

Each movement felt as if it commanded the world.

This was the martial art of the 'First Fist under Heaven'!

Samshim had seen Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiwei use their martial arts a few times before. However, due to the chaotic circumstances, he hadn't been able to properly observe their skills.

But now, watching Chao Ailiang seriously display his martial arts, Samshim could truly feel the realm of 'Heaven Beyond Heaven.'

"Uncle Chao is really amazing."

Duan Aoxian's exclamation made Fan Jiwei smile.

"Duan, you'll become even stronger than this."

Han Xuehua also nodded.

"Of course, you should."

Samshim, who couldn't take his eyes off Chao Ailiang, felt a chill run down his spine at their words.

Their words didn't sound like a joke at all.

'What kind of monster are they trying to create?'

At that moment, a sharp sound of qi accompanied a momentary distortion in Chao Ailiang's figure. The air that had been entangled in his hands returned to its original position, causing this phenomenon.

Chao Ailiang smiled contentedly.

He had unexpectedly discovered a gain while checking his martial arts.

'My inner strength has changed in nature!'

It was only about thirty percent, but it had fully returned, and most importantly, it was much purer than before.

Moreover, his meridians had become even more solid.

The circulating true qi flowed without obstruction, moving precisely as his will directed.

'Maybe... if I fully recover my inner strength, I can finally surpass the wall of limitations I couldn't overcome in the past.'

Not only his confidence but also Chao Ailiang's gaze had changed.

Once the Blood Hand Venerable who dominated the world.

He had fully regained his original gaze.

Chao Ailiang turned to the group and spoke.

"There's a place I need to visit."

Fan Jiwei smirked.

"Already itching to get your hands dirty?"

Chao Ailiang, who would usually scold, shook his head seriously.

"I need to find out who's secretly gathering the evil sect figures."

During their journey to the Martial World Alliance, they had encountered the Three Muddled Freaks.

Wang Yan and Wang Jue's destination had been nagging at him.

Fan Jiwei asked with a disinterested look.

"Isn't this none of our business?"

"If those who invited the Three Muddled Freaks are involved, they will likely make a similar offer to us. It's not a loss to know who they are. Besides, I plan to find out the current situation of the Martial World Alliance and the Seven Sect Demon Lord."

Fan Jiwei nodded.

The Seven Sect Demon Lord would still be desperately searching for the two of them.

While they had nothing to fear, it was best to be fully prepared for Duan Aoxian's sake.

* * *

The next morning.

As soon as it was light, Chao Ailiang finished his preparations for a short trip and left Mo Yu. Fan Jiwei looked at him with a displeased expression.

"Did you eat breakfast?"

Chao Ailiang smiled awkwardly.

"The journey is long."

"You're being petty."

Fan Jiwei descended from the tree where he had been hanging upside down.

"Are you running away just because you feel a bit better?"

"Anyone would think I'm just going for a stroll."

"Why not? There's no harm in it. Just go for a stroll."

Chao Ailiang was surprised by the unusually warm attitude.

But of course.

"Find a nice place and just settle down there. Leave the rest to me."

Feeling somewhat ridiculous, Samshim glared at Fan Jiwei, but then sensed someone nearby.

"Leaving so soon?"

It was Duan Aoxian.

Rubbing his eyes, Duan Aoxian walked over, his face still filled with drowsiness.

"You woke up because this kid was making noise."

"How is it my fault? It's because Brother Chao was up so early."

Duan Aoxian squeezed between the two, looking at Chao Ailiang with a worried expression.

"Don't stay away for too long. Even though you've passed the critical stage, you still need continuous treatment. Although you've recovered somewhat, it's still clearly unstable."

"Of course. I'll be back in about ten days, so don't worry too much."

"Understood. Please be careful. And take this too."

Duan Aoxian handed over a small pouch.

Inside were several small pills made of beeswax. They were medicinal pills made by combining the remaining elixirs with herbs.

"You were up all night lighting the hall... were you making this?"

Duan Aoxian nodded.

"I couldn't shake off the worry."

Chao Ailiang was grateful for his sincere concern but also felt a bit guilty.

"Thank you. I'll be careful."

With that, Chao Ailiang descended from the Demon God Valley.

He could have used his lightness skill but deliberately chose not to.

Instead, he repeatedly took in the sight of Duan Aoxian waving goodbye.

* * *

Adu was a beggar.

At thirteen years old, he was still short, likely due to malnutrition since childhood.

However, he prided himself on his quick wits and swift feet, which no one his age could match.

So, he immediately noticed that the person approaching him had an unusual gait. He recalled receiving a silver coin from someone with a similar gait in the past.

What did he do back then?

Straighten up, look up boldly with a humble expression, and catch a glimpse of the person...

Clang.

Sure enough!

A silver coin rolled off a chipped bowl. As Adu looked up, he saw a familiar face.

...Huh?

"Do you remember me?"

"Of course I do!"

Adu nodded enthusiastically.

How could he forget the noble who had generously given him a silver coin just for delivering a letter?

Chao Ailiang smiled and took out a letter from his robe.

"Can you do this again?"

"Sure. Should I deliver it to Neng Suomi?"

Chao Ailiang was surprised.

The young beggar's memory was far better than his appearance suggested.

"Leave it to me. No one can find people in this area better than I can."

Chao Ailiang smiled and nodded.

"That silver coin is now yours."

"Thank you! Really, thank you!"

Adu bowed repeatedly in gratitude, then felt a strange sensation and looked up.

The person he had just spoken to was already gone.

Feeling as if he had been bewitched, he looked around, but there was no sign of him anywhere.

He wondered if he had just been dreaming, but the silver coin in his hand proved otherwise.

"This isn't the time for that."

Adu quickly gathered his mat and begging bowl.

Neng Suomi, whom he had inquired about before, was often seen at a brothel. He thought it wouldn't be too difficult this time.

Unfortunately, it seemed it wouldn't be that easy.

"She hasn't been around lately?"

The young assistant nodded.

"Since we lost a big-spending customer, the manager has been in a terrible mood, and we've been suffering."

"What should I do? This can't be happening."

Adu, flustered, began searching the entire neighborhood for Neng Suomi.

But despite his efforts all day, he found no results.

In the end, Adu had no choice but to return to the bridge where he usually begged.

"What should I do now?"

If he had known things would get this complicated, he would have taken the money upfront.

As he pondered, Adu's eyes lit up.

He recognized a face walking from a distance.

The man had thin, thread-like eyes and a large, flat nose. His friendly smile was memorable.

'Maybe it's him?'

He had seen this man enter the brothel with Neng Suomi a few times.

Adu cautiously began to follow the man.

He hoped that by following him, he might run into Neng Suomi.

The deputy head of the Xin Song Fang, Li Gui, was in a very bad mood today.

Recently, the pressure from the Martial World Alliance had been intensifying.

'This is all because of that guy!'

If Neng Suomi, the former head, hadn't done those crazy things, the situation wouldn't have become so complicated.

One day, Neng Suomi had called him and given some secret instructions.

The problem was the content of those instructions.

The Martial World Alliance, which held absolute influence in the current martial world. Even gaining their trust was difficult, yet he was instructed to gather information related to them.

Li Gui couldn't help but be alarmed.

How could someone give such instructions without losing their mind? Moreover, he just pressured him without giving a proper reason.

Li Gui was exasperated.

They had been together for twenty years.

How could he give such unreasonable instructions? Did he really not realize that this one order could destroy the Xin Song Fang they had built up with so much effort?

Most importantly, the Martial World Alliance was not blind.

Even without mentioning the Thousand Yi Sect, they had hundreds, if not thousands, of spies scattered throughout the martial world. They would surely discover that the Xin Song Fang was investigating them soon.

What would happen then?

The Xin Song Fang would undoubtedly be swept away like dust.

So, Li Gui immediately went to the Martial World Alliance and reported Neng Suomi.

It was the only way for the Xin Song Fang to survive.

He did feel a twinge of guilt, but it didn't last long.

What bothered him more was something else.

'What a stubborn guy!'

Neng Suomi had refused to reveal the information he held, even in this situation.

There must have been a reason for instructing the investigation of the Martial World Alliance.

Yet, he kept silent about the background and the person who commissioned it. That's why Li Gui didn't sympathize with Neng Suomi, who was being tortured by the Demon Slayer Sect.

In the end, he dug his own grave.

Moreover, he was already overwhelmed by his own problems.

The Martial World Alliance was now openly pressuring him to uncover the mastermind behind the investigation.

Just a moment ago, they had called him to watch Neng Suomi being tortured, even though it wasn't necessary.

'Damn it!'

If he delayed and couldn't produce results, he might end up being imprisoned and tortured alongside Neng Suomi.

So, he was even more anxious.

However, every crisis is an opportunity.

If he could uncover the mastermind behind Neng Suomi...

He could use this to make the Xin Song Fang leap to new heights. And he could use it as a stepping stone to become the new head.

Of course, the path was still long.

He might be under surveillance by a martial artist from the Thousand Yi Sect, who was somewhere nearby. Li Gui, who had been cautiously observing his surroundings, noticed something peculiar.

It was a young beggar following him from a distance.

He had seen this face an hour ago and two hours ago. It was too coincidental to be a mere chance.

Moreover, the young beggar's gaze was fixed on him the entire time. It was a clumsy tail, but it could also be a deliberate one.

After a moment's thought, Li Gui made up his mind.