Martial Saint through Reading

”Not free.”

”That’s true...”

”Brother Hei, your martial prowess looks quite impressive. Why not join the government for a job?” Chu Ming asked casually.

”Me...” Black Bear’s eyes subtly changed, but it passed in an instant.

He raised a bowl of wine and drank it down, laughing heartily, ”I like jobs that pay a lot of silver.”

”Suppressing bandits?”

Black Bear was silent for a moment, his smile turning somewhat stiff, ”Something like that.”

Something like that?

Chu Ming glanced at the big man, raised his wine cup in a toast.

”Cheers... haha... exhilarating!”

The two sat in the tavern for over two hours, drinking five large vats of strong wine.

During the exchange of cups, Chu Ming’s eyes suddenly flashed.

[Sword Gourd Spirit] detected several Blood Evil auras and the stench of blood.

Blood Evil Sect!

About three hundred meters away from the tavern, at the famous Cyan Smoke Tower in Wind Vine County, several members of the Blood Evil Sect seemed to be having a feast inside.

Their strength wasn’t very formidable; the strongest was at Strong Bone Realm Perfection, but in this Wind Vine County, they could walk around unopposed.

”Young Master, what do you think? All of them are virgins.” The voice of the one at Strong Bone Realm Perfection sounded.

”Not bad, I’ll take them.”

Young Master?

Could it be like that Young Master An Ying of the Blood Evil Sect from back then?

Chu Ming’s heart stirred slightly, a murderous intent flickering deep in his eyes.

Since I’ve encountered them, I’ll deal with them all at once.

Chu Ming looked at Black Bear and cupped his hands, saying, ”Brother Hei, it’s getting late, and I still have some matters...”

”Alright,” Black Bear didn’t waste any words, loudly shouting, ”Waiter, the bill.”

Following that, he cupped his hands towards Chu Ming, ”Brother Fang, let’s drink together if fate allows.”

”Alright.” Chu Ming prepared to pay.

Black Bear directly tossed out a silver ingot, ”I was the one who invited Brother Fang for a drink; how can I let Brother Fang spend money?”

”Thank you, Brother Hei.”

Upon leaving the tavern, Chu Ming was about to leave when he saw two people in black clothing and wearing conical hats approaching.

One was slightly taller, and the other a bit shorter.

Black Bear, who was blocking the tavern entrance, voluntarily stepped aside.

The tall person with the black conical hat cupped his hands, after which the two entered the tavern.

”Waiter, are there any seats?” The voice sounded somewhat strange.

”Yes, of course, there are seats. Please, follow me, sirs.” The waiter led them to the window seat where Chu Ming and Black Bear had just been sitting.

Once seated, the shorter conical hat person spoke with a voice like a mosquito, ”Big Sister, it’s just a rough man, why be so polite?”

”Shut up!” The tall conical hat person rebuked.

”Waiter, order food.”

”Right away.”

”...”

Outside the tavern.

”Brother Fang, until we meet again.”

”Until we meet again.”

Chu Ming cupped his hands and parted ways with Black Bear, walking toward the Cyan Smoke Tower.

The streets were bustling with shops lined up, and the sounds of hawking and bargaining never ceased.

Chu Ming walked like an ordinary person on the streets while [Sword Gourd Spirit] was probing those two conical hat individuals.

”One is at the Blood Circulation Realm late stage, and the other has reached Strong Bone Realm by hammering the four limbs’ bones, quite interesting.”

In a county town such as this, the Blood Circulation Realm late stage is already a formidable presence, while the Strong Bone Realm is practically the highest combat power.

What intrigued Chu Ming was that both of them were female.

He had seen female martial artists before, but meeting a woman who had cultivated to the Strong Bone Realm was a first for him.

Not far ahead, there was a blacksmith shop.

”This warrior doesn’t seem ordinary at first glance.” A bare-chested dark man was shouting at the entrance, ”What weapon do you need? I have all kinds here.”

Chu Ming paused, looking at the weapons displayed on the racks.

There were more knives, long knives, short knives, curved knives, chopping knives, slicing blades, and so forth.

There were fewer swords, just a few pieces, as well as spears, staffs, and clubs, making it genuinely comprehensive.

He stopped here because [Sword Gourd Spirit] had detected that several people at the Cyan Smoke Tower had finished their feast and were coming out.

”A sword or a knife, something easy to carry.” Chu Ming asked casually.

”How about this slicing blade, forged entirely from Hard Pattern Steel, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud, yet the blade is light, weighing less than half a pound with a length of half a meter...” The dark man boasted eagerly.

”Alright, this slicing blade then, how much silver?”

”It usually sells for ten taels, but seeing you’re no ordinary man, I’ll let you have it for seven.”

”Hmm.” Chu Ming paid and took the knife, then moved to follow the Young Master.

This Young Master was dressed elegantly in a white long robe, looking gentle and refined.

Behind him were the one at Strong Bone Realm Perfection and four other guards.

The six of them swaggered along the bustling street, and the Young Master occasionally observed the passersby, men and women alike.

”Young Master, don’t look anymore. County Magistrate Wang has already prepared fresh ones for you.” The one at Strong Bone Realm Perfection whispered behind him.

”Good.” The Young Master quickened his pace upon hearing this.

County Magistrate Wang?

It sounds like Wind Vine County has been seriously infiltrated by the Blood Evil Sect.

Chu Ming followed secretly from behind.

After about half an hour, the Young Master and several Blood Evil Sect members arrived at the Wind Vine County Government.

The officials guarding the entrance didn’t stop them; instead, they were extremely respectful.

They entered the county government just like that.

”Young Master, I’ll head to the dungeon; there are some blood meals that need handling.”

”Go ahead.”

A short while after the Blood Evil Sect members entered the county government, the one at Strong Bone Realm Perfection took one person and separated from the Young Master.

In a dim room deep within the County Government, several people dressed in official uniforms were gnawing at something like beasts.

The air was thick with the smell of blood, and chunks of flesh were scattered everywhere on the floor and walls.

In one corner of the dark room, three girls who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen were tightly bound with ropes; one had already fainted, while the other two were pale and terrified.

They simply couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

The officials of Wind Vine County were eating...

Suddenly, the iron door of the dark room swung open, and a beam of light shot in from outside.

The two girls who hadn’t fainted let out muffled cries of distress from their gagged mouths, as if they had seen the light of hope.

Yet, when they heard the officials speak, their terror came crashing down like a tidal wave.

”Young Master!” The County Magistrate of Wind Vine County wiped his mouth and hurried to the door, pointing to a corner of the dark room with flattery, ”The fresh blood feast is ready.”

The blood feast he referred to was precisely those three girls.

”Mmm...” Tears rolled down as the girls trembled all over.

”Young Master, they are three sisters.”

”Oh... Not bad, not bad.” The Young Master pressed his face against the neck of one of the girls, taking a deep breath, ”Very fresh, County Magistrate Wang, you’ve done well.”

”Of course, of course.” County Magistrate Wang nodded and bowed, not at all like a county magistrate.

The Young Master didn’t waste any more words, grabbed one girl, and with a forceful pull, her clothes were ripped to shreds.

Then, as if he felt something was missing, he removed the cloth from her mouth.

”Father, Mother!” The first thing the girl cried out as she could speak was a heartbreaking scream toward the scattered limbs on the ground.

”Tsk, tsk, now that’s more like it.” The Young Master seemed to be enjoying the state of the blood feast, ”Shout, the louder the better.”

Terrified, the girl sobbed and trembled violently.

”Shout, why aren’t you shouting?” The Young Master slapped her, sending the girl flying like a puppet, crashing heavily against the wall, leaving her motionless.

The Young Master seemed unsatisfied and walked over like an evil ghost toward the last conscious girl.

He removed the cloth from her mouth and expectantly perked up his ears, as if he were already hearing that exciting cry of despair.

However, though the girl was full of fear, she glared furiously and attempted to bite.

But the girl was just a common person, not even up to the level of an ordinary person, how could she hurt the Young Master who practiced the Blood Evil Technique.

Slap—

With the same slap, the girl’s cheek swelled red, and she lost consciousness.

”Boring,” the Young Master slowly squatted down, his face sinister, fingers clenched into claws, grabbing violently.

If nothing unexpected happened, with this claw, the girl would certainly be disemboweled.

Boom—

At this moment, the iron door of the dark room exploded open, and a figure stood coldly at the entrance, holding the head of the Strong Bone Realm Perfection.

”Who the hell are you?!” County Magistrate Wang’s scolding voice rang out.

Whish!

Before he finished speaking, a black shadow flew across the air and smashed down.

Thud—

Before County Magistrate Wang could react, his entire body was pierced by the black object, dead on the spot, the black object smashing against the wall with a deafening sound.

”Yo-you...” The Young Master looked at the person at the door holding the head, his face instantly turning pale.

That head was precisely the head of his Strong Bone Realm Perfection protector.

”Uncle Zhang... is dead?!”

In an instant, fear surged like a terrifying wave.

The Strong Bone Realm Perfection was slain, and he was just in the Late Stage of Blood Circulation Realm...

”Don’t... don’t kill me... I’m the Young Castle Master of Blood Vine Castle, whatever you want, I can give it to you.”

Young Castle Master of Blood Vine? Not the Young Master of Blood Evil Sect?

But, it doesn’t matter!

Chu Ming’s gaze focused.

Whish—

The Black Stone smashed down again.

Thud Thud Thud—

Not the Young Master.

A few sounds later, the three officials of Wind Vine County were smashed into pulp.

”You can’t kill me, my father is the Fortress Master of Blood Vine Castle, one of the five Meridian Unlocking Realm in Xirong County, if you kill me, you won’t survive either!”

The fortress master’s liver and gall were shattered by fear.

The Black Stone hovered at his side, Chu Ming looked around the dark room, the three scantily clad girls, the incomplete corpses...

”Gold, silver, jewels, cultivation techniques, women, my father can give it all to you, I beg you, don’t kill me.” The Young Castle Master begged on his knees when threats didn’t work.

The one girl still conscious, overwhelmed by rage and despair, looked on, then bowed her head to Chu Ming: ”Please, sir, kill him! I am willing to serve you as a slave!”

”Shut up! Shut up!” The Young Castle Master of Blood Vine wailed hysterically, exceeding the previous girl’s heartbreaking cries.

”Please, sir, kill him, I am willing to exchange my life!” The girl gritted her teeth, completely ignoring the Young Castle Master’s screams, her eyes already swollen, filled only with hatred.

”You worthless life, you are a worthless life, how can you exchange for the life of this Young Master!” The Young Castle Master of Blood Vine was nearly deranged.

Chu Ming looked on coldly, as the Black Stone floated anew at his side.

”I won’t kill you.” His voice was calm.

”Good... Good...” The Young Castle Master of Blood Vine almost burst into tears, ”What do you want, women, cultivation techniques, treasure medicine...”

Chu Ming drew the Slicing Blade from his waist, his voice still calm: ”I don’t want anything.”

With that, he placed the Slicing Blade in the girl’s hands.

At the same time, the Black Stone hummed.

”What are you doing?!” The Young Castle Master suddenly sensed something amiss.

”To let you experience despair.” Chu Ming turned coldly, the Black Stone streaked through the air.

Thud Thud Thud—

The shadow flashed, shattering the Young Castle Master’s limbs instantly.

Boom—

Flashing once more, the Young Master’s chest caved in, although alive, he was a broken man.

”I won’t kill you, but she might.” Chu Ming stepped aside.

He left the Young Castle Master alive for the girl to seek her own revenge.

The girl looked at the Slicing Blade in her hands, hatred and anger raging in her heart.

She suddenly leaped up, grasping the Slicing Blade with both hands, trembling as she approached the helpless Young Castle Master of Blood Vine.