Chapter 50 Murder in the Dark
The setting sun is setting in the west, and the sunset is brilliant.
Wu Neng and others drifted away and soon disappeared from everyone's sight.
Their departure made the atmosphere in the village much more relaxed.
Master Hu called the servants of the Hu family and asked them to bring tables, chairs, tea and cakes and place them at the entrance of the village.
"My lords, it's been a long journey, please have some tea."
"good."
Song Zhong and others were not polite and sat down one after another.
Dusk is just right, the evening breeze is gentle.
Everyone was sitting at the entrance of the village where the setting sun was shining, with the corpse of the tiger demon beside them, eating cakes and talking.
The other villagers were separated by Mr. Hu, and they were not allowed to come forward to disturb them.
Song Zhong was very optimistic about Chu Liang and explained to him in detail the various forces in the county and some things that needed attention.
"There are some things, even if I don't tell you now, you will gradually know them in the future." Song Zhong took a sip of tea, "But it is always better to know in advance to avoid suffering later."
He slowly introduced all the forces in the county.
There are only four masters of the Skin Refining Realm in the county, and they are among the four forces: "Wu Meng", "County Government", "Black Market", and "Qin Chamber of Commerce".
Chu Liang had heard this news from black market stall owner Wu Dafu before.
Under these four forces, there are several forces with five qi and blood masters, such as the Tsing Yi Gang that Chu Liang had provoked before.
Apart from the Tsing Yi Gang, there are the three famous martial arts schools in the county.
"The masters of the Black Sword Martial Arts School, the Shanquan Martial Arts School and the Autumn Sword Martial Arts School are all masters of the five qi and blood. Many martial artists in the county came from these three martial arts schools."
As long as you have money, you can learn the exercises and martial arts skills from these three martial arts schools.
They are the first choice of many wealthy families in the county.
"I come from the Shanquan Martial Arts School. The techniques of this martial arts school tend to be calm and steady, emphasizing the stability of the lower body. Only when the lower body is stable enough can the punch be powerful."
Song Zhong gently clenched his fists and said seriously: "As for the two martial arts schools, Black Sword and Autumn Sword, their techniques are all focused on meditation and cultivation, emphasizing balance in all aspects..."
He spoke in great detail, trying his best to tell everything he knew. After all, he thought that Chu Liang was only practicing the "Nourishing Blood Technique" and that he urgently needed to replace it with a better technique.
"Nourishing Blood Technique" is too ordinary, a waste of Chu Liang's talent.
"Below the five-strand qi and blood, there are some small forces with four-strand and three-strand qi and blood masters, such as some other small martial arts schools in the county." Song Zhong introduced.
The owner of the "Big Rock Martial Arts Hall" where Mr. Hu practices martial arts is a master of the four qi and blood.
To be able to open a martial arts gym in the county, the weakest ones are all masters of the three qi and blood. No matter how weak they are, they will not be able to teach apprentices.
Although there is no explicit rule, this is the default rule for everyone.
As a master of the three qi and blood, Song Zhong is actually qualified to open a martial arts gym, but he believes that opening a martial arts gym is a waste of time in slaying demons.
"This is the county map..."
With that said, Song Zhong took out a map.
He spread the map flat and placed it in front of Chu Liang.
Chu Liang took a closer look and saw that this map was a map of the distribution of forces in the entire Anping County. The strength of the warriors behind each force was marked on it.
The "Yunlai Restaurant" where Shopkeeper Qi is located is also marked on it, and behind it is a warrior with three qi and blood.
Shopkeeper Qi was just the talker that the master put at the front desk.
"Just keep this map."
Song Zhong said to Chu Liang: "The county has gathered experts from all walks of life. It is not the small mountain village you are now. You need to be cautious when doing things. If no one leads the way, it is easy to offend others."
"Okay, thank you!"
Chu Liang did not refuse and immediately accepted the map.
This map is exactly what he needs most right now.
Mr. Hu on the side looked a little envious. He didn't get this kind of treatment when he became a warrior.
"You have become a warrior not long ago, so you haven't learned martial arts yet?" Song Zhong asked Chu Liang.
"Yes." Chu Liang answered truthfully.
"Do you know how to choose martial arts?"
"I don't know."
"I will tell you in detail..."
Song Zhong took another sip of tea to moisten his throat.
There are four levels of martial arts, which are generally divided into four levels: "unqualified", "third-rate", "second-rate" and "first-rate".
The criteria for division are not clear and somewhat vague.
"Martial skills are methods of using the power of Qi and blood, which can enhance the explosive strength of the warrior."
Song Zhong elaborated: "In the past, there was no specific way to classify martial arts. After all, even the same martial skill has different powers in the hands of different people. It is difficult to say which martial skill is better."
He paused and continued: "Later, the Martial Arts League was established and incorporated by the imperial court. The imperial court believed that martial arts must be classified into three, six or nine grades, just like being an official. Without grades, it is difficult to manage."
"Three, six, nine, etc.?"
Mr. Hu on the side couldn't help but be surprised.
He had only become a martial artist not long ago. He had no money to learn martial arts, and he didn't know much about them. He knew very little about them.
"Don't be surprised, this suggestion was made by the emperor at that time."
Song Zhong glanced at him lightly and was not surprised by his reaction.
"Master Song, according to what standard are these martial arts classified?" Mr. Hu was fascinated and asked subconsciously.
"I do not know either."
Song Zhong held the tea cup, shook his head slightly, and continued: "But first-rate martial arts are generally stronger than second-rate martial arts, and second-rate martial arts are generally stronger than third-rate martial arts. The imperial court's level is not unreasonable."
He said that after martial arts were divided into three, six or nine levels, there were many objections in the world.
Many big aristocratic families, martial arts schools, sects, etc. are very confident in their own martial arts skills and think they can be classified as first-rate, but in the end they are classified as second-rate or even third-rate martial arts, while some unknown martial arts have become first-rate martial arts.
Later, the opposition became louder and louder, reaching the imperial court.
The imperial court selected a group of young people with similar martial arts talents and asked these young people to practice the same skills. Then they learned martial arts of various levels, and held a martial arts conference three years later for them to compete.
"Master Song, what will be the result after three years?" Mr. Hu couldn't help but ask.
"Young men who learn first-rate martial arts basically defeat those who learn second-rate martial arts, and the same goes for subsequent levels."
Song Zhong took a sip of tea and said slowly.
Facts have proved that the court was right.
"Master Song, do we have first-class martial arts in our county?" Mr. Hu asked again.
"First class?"
Hearing this, before Song Zhong could speak, the members of the demon-catching team around him laughed.
"A small place like Anping County doesn't even have third-rate martial arts, let alone first-rate martial arts." One of them laughed.
"First-class martial arts are among those powerful forces, such as the rumored "Nine Swords of Jie Yang" of Shushan Sword Sect, and the "Nine Styles of Flying Immortal" of Jianghu Demon Sect Tianxian Sect..."
They said that the martial arts skills possessed by various martial arts schools in the county are all inferior, such as the widely circulated "Open Mountain Palm" and "Spiritual Snake Legs".
"This... Mountain Palm and Spirit Snake Legs are actually inferior?" Mr. Hu was a little surprised. He had heard of these two martial arts when he first started practicing martial arts.
"right."
Song Zhong thought for a while and said: "In a few days, the imperial court will distribute martial arts to various martial arts leagues. Our county martial arts league may be able to distribute a few third-rate martial arts books, but... even if we can distribute them, it will be difficult for ordinary martial artists to learn them." , it will probably require a large amount of merit exchange.”
Therefore, if Chu Liang wants to learn martial arts, the best way is to go to the three major martial arts schools.
After all, you can learn things in a martial arts school just by spending money, no merit is required.
"Don't be greedy for too many martial arts skills. Just master one skill first." Song Zhong suggested to Chu Liang, "You'd better go to the 'Black Sword Martial Arts School'. The name of this martial arts school is 'Sinking Sword' , Although it is not first-rate, it is recognized that it is close to third-rate martial arts.”
In comparison, the martial arts of the other two major martial arts schools are somewhat inferior.
Of course, everything varies from person to person.
"I understand, thank you!"
Chu Liang thanked him sincerely.
This conversation taught him a lot.
Time passed, and it was already dark before you knew it, and the last ray of sunset on the horizon had disappeared.
Mr. Hu invited everyone into the Hu family's mansion, set up a banquet, and invited them to eat.
"Everyone, please, some simple meals are not respectful."
Mr. Hu had a smile on his face.
He also gained a lot today, so he deserves this meal.
Song Zhong and others did not refuse. It was getting late and they had to find a place to have dinner before returning to the county town.
The evening breeze blew slowly, and the aroma of wine and food drifted out of the Hu family's mansion.
…
At this time, Wu Neng and others were on their way back to the county seat.
Their dinner was very simple. They all ate dry biscuits and drank them with cold water.
Everyone's face doesn't look very good.
"Damn it, you're actually ruined in such a small mountain village!"
On the way back to the city, the more they thought about it, the more angry they became!
If Song Zhong and others hadn't intervened, the body of the tiger monster would have fallen into their hands.
"Let's take a rest."
Wu Neng spoke coldly, turned over and dismounted.
Everyone dismounted one after another and sat cross-legged under a big tree by the roadside to repair themselves by the moonlight and oil lamps.
Not long after resting, one of them suddenly stood up and said to Wu Neng: "Brother, I have an upset stomach. Find a place to deal with it and then come back!"
"Well, go ahead."
"good!"
The man immediately got on his horse and waved his whip.
Snapped!
The black horse neighed, its hooves flew, and it took him all the way to Qingshi Village.
Seeing this, the rest of the team couldn't help but be surprised and spoke one after another.
"Brother, second brother, he is going..."
"do not mind him."
Wu Neng looked indifferent, shook his head slightly, and said: "Song Zhong and the others should leave soon... Since the boy named Chu Liang won't cooperate, we will give him a ride."