Chapter 8
A Traitor!
“According to the information I gathered today, the Blackhawk Gang’s leader, Black Eagle, has left the mountain with nine warriors.” Gao Ruyang’s face darkened. “They massacred several small forces outside the city in one day, many of which were martial artists.”
“Doesn’t the government do anything? If we let the Blackhawk Gang do what they want, how can we calm the people down?” Liu Xiaomei was angry and scared. This aura-concealing technique has given the Blackhawk Gang, who was in the forest, an advantage.
“It’s still possible if we annihilate them all in one go, but if we can’t, with the Blackhawk Gang’s style of doing things, they’ll definitely think of ways to seek revenge.”
“They can’t touch the entire Pingnan City, but it’s easy for them to take revenge on one or two of them. No one wants to be that person’s puppet,” Gao Ruyang analyzed rationally, feeling quite helpless. “The powerful eight martial arts centers did send people to kill him, but the news had already spread before they even left the city. By the time they arrived, the Blackhawk Gang had already been deserted.”
He could only leave it at that.
“New information! The shopkeeper of the iron shop in Pu province was killed on the way back, and his head is hanging on the city wall!” Song Jia ran in.
“The shopkeeper of the iron shop in Pu province only killed an ordinary member of the Blackhawk Gang half a year ago. This matter was resolved at that time. They gave 300 taels of silver as compensation, but we didn’t expect the Blackhawk Gang to take the opportunity to bring it up again.”
The atmosphere in the courtyard grew gloomier.
Qin Huai looked at his master, Liu Changyue, with a calm expression. The latter picked up the teacup, but the cup kept shaking and couldn’t be stabilized. In the end, he quietly put it down.
Qin Huai’s heart skipped a beat. Although his master had the strength of a martial artist, he was still an apothecary manager.
…
“Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +19.”
“Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +10.”
It was a quiet night.
Early in the morning, Qin Huai followed his usual routine and picked up a wave of experience.
He looked at the experience points of the Qi cultivation technique increasing again, reaching level 49 (921/1000). He was only one step away.
Suddenly, Luo Ya knocked on Qin Huai’s door with a pale face.
“Senior Brother, something bad happened!”
“What is it?” Qin Huai’s heart skipped a beat.
“Someone has sold the news that you killed the nephew of the Blackhawk Gang’s chief!”
Luo Ya had just arrived. Soon after, Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei came to the door.
“Junior Brother, Master wants everyone to gather in the hall.” Liu Xiaomei’s expression was extremely ugly.
When Qin Huai and Luo Ya walked to the main hall, they found that it had been cleared out, and the door was closed. On one of the two chairs was his master, Liu Changyue.
Gao Ruyang and his fellow disciples stood behind him. On the chair opposite him, there was a tall and thin man dressed in a black robe. He had one foot on the chair and a bowl of wine in his other hand. His eyes sized up everything in the apothecary with disdain.
“This is the messenger from the Blackhawk Gang,” Gao Ruyang introduced in a low voice.
In fact, there was no need for an introduction. Qin Huai could tell from the other party’s attitude that he was from the Blackhawk Gang.
He knew that the Blackhawk Gang was powerful and arrogant, but he didn’t expect this group of mountain bandits to send people into the city openly.
“You’re Qin Huai?” Black Dog of the Blackhawk Gang sneered and looked at Liu Changyue.
“Personally break Qin Huai’s four limbs and tie him up. Just leave the rest to me.” Black Dog was domineering.
He was also a martial artist. However, the reason he was so arrogant was that there were nine powerful martial artists on the mountain behind him.
If he died here, the Liu family’s apothecary would not be able to continue operating. These people would die as soon as they left the city! If they never left the city, they would only starve to death.
Liu Changyue’s face turned green with anger, but he suppressed his anger. “At least five martial artists are in charge of the Liu family’s apothecary. If I let you cripple him and take him away…how can my Liu family apothecary still have a foothold in the city?” His voice was resounding.
“Then what does shopkeeper Liu want to do?” Black Dog sneered.
“As long as Qin Huai is here, he is one of my people!” Liu Changyue said loudly.
Black Dog only smiled, and then actually stood up and left.
…
As soon as Black Dog left, Liu Changyue called Qin Huai to a room alone.
“Qin Huai, the person who told on you was Gu Erwa. That kid didn’t come back after he went out this afternoon.” Liu Changyue’s face was red with anger.
“The Blackhawk Gang’s chief has already sent someone to send me a message. He wants me to hand you over to pay for his nephew’s life. If not, I have to cut off all business of my Liu family’s apothecary outside the city!” Liu Changyue’s expression became unnatural.
“You also know that the majority of the apothecary’s profits are in the towns below the city. In addition, food prices are changing every day. It’s not easy for me to raise you and your fellow disciples.”
Liu Changyue’s voice was getting softer and softer. He claimed to be a scholar, but in the end, he had to sell out his disciple to survive.
“I understand what you mean, Master!” Qin Huai was expressionless. He had understood it two days ago. As long as something happened, his master would definitely abandon him and protect the apothecary business.
“I won’t disclose your whereabouts, but you have to think about the rest of us!” Liu Changyue said.
“I’ll leave tomorrow morning.” Qin Huai’s words were concise. “I definitely won’t be a burden to Master!”
Qin Huai cupped his fists, then turned around and returned to the house. His heart had already turned completely cold.
No wonder Liu Changyue was so unyielding in front of everyone today. Now that he thought about it, he must have been in cahoots with Black Dog of the Blackhawk Gang. He knew that Liu Changyue would kick him out.
The person who betrayed Qin Huai was easy to find. It was Gu Erwa. This person had disappeared the day before Black Dog’s arrival and had not returned until now. It was obvious there was no chance that he would return.
As soon as Qin Huai left, Liu Changyue summoned his second disciple, Gao Ruyang.
“Release the news that Qin Huai has been expelled from the apothecary. From now on, the apothecary will not be responsible for his life and death! Also, add the tri-flower poison powder to Qin Huai’s meal tonight.”
The tri-flower poison powder would cause a martial artist to lose all his strength once he circulated his Qi and blood after consuming it.
“What?” Gao Ruyang looked troubled. He liked this junior brother of his very much, but he had to choose between his master and Qin Huai.
He still chose the latter without any hesitation.
“This is a death sentence to a martial arts practitioner, but Qin Huai must not die in the apothecary. If that happens, the apothecary’s reputation will be ruined.
“Unless…he can become a second refinement warrior overnight. Otherwise, he would not have been able to escape from the hands of the Blackhawk Gang.” Liu Changyue’s eyes flashed with a never-before-seen ruthlessness.
For the sake of his family’s apothecary… If a disciple died, then so be it.
…
The next day at dawn, it was as if nothing had happened. Everyone carried out everything step by step.
Qin Huai felt a little uncomfortable, but he didn’t pay too much attention to it. He faced the purple clouds in the morning sun and quietly collected the experience balls that Liu Changyue and the others dropped.
“Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +10.”
“Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +17.”
Qin Huai suddenly let out a long sigh. He walked back to his room silently.
Just as he sat down, his entire body felt as if it was on fire, and the familiar boiling feeling once again swept through his body.
However, this time, the boiling sensation was even more intense. At this moment, Qin Huai felt that his perception of the world had become clearer.
After a long time, Qin Huai’s red skin returned to its normal color, and his hair seemed to have grown longer.
He looked into the distance. He could even see the body structure of a mosquito on the three-meter wall clearly.
Qin Huai thought to himself and opened his personal panel.
Name: Qin Huai
[ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [ Breath Control technique (level 1, 51/200) ]
[ Skill: Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ]
[ Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement ]
“I’ve finally broken through. As expected, level 50 of the cultivation technique is the opportunity to enter the second refinement.”
Qin Huai peeked into his own body and saw that the white flood dragon in his body had already transformed into a true dragon. It had five sharp claws, shining dragon scales, towering dragon horns, and sharp dragon eyes. All of them were very lifelike.
“The discomfort in my body has also disappeared,” he remarked when he stood up.
He only took the poison and aphrodisiac that he had concocted and left the Liu family’s apothecary silently.
He didn’t greet anyone. Liu Changyue and the others, who were hiding in the dark, heaved a sigh of relief when they saw Qin Huai leave.
“I’m ashamed of Qin Huai!” Liu Changyue cried out in pain, but no one replied.
He then handed a note to his second disciple. The latter understood tacitly and immediately went out of the backyard.
The words on the note were to inform Black Dog that Qin Huai had already left.
…
At the entrance of the apothecary, Qin Huai was stopped by Luo Ya.
“Why don’t you seek refuge in my Luo residence? This matter started because of me. My family will definitely do our best to protect you!” Luo Ya’s expression was firm.
“No need. I have my own plans for this.” Qin Huai was silent and didn’t say much.
“No! They had people lying in ambush outside. He might kill you on the street!” Luo Ya grabbed the door frame with both hands, blocking Qin Huai’s way.
She was just a little girl who was not a martial artist. How could she be Qin Huai’s match?
Qin Huai didn’t say anything and just gently pulled Luo Ya to the side. He walked out of the apothecary.
In the lobby, Liu Changyue and the others appeared in the originally empty place. It was obvious that they had been secretly observing for a long time.
“I’ve let Qin Huai down!” Liu Changyue’s voice was sad, but there was no comfort in it.
All of the disciples were silent as they looked out the door, not knowing what to think.
Luo Ya bowed to Liu Changyue. “Master, I won’t cause any more trouble for you. From today onwards, I will leave the apothecary!”
After saying that, she ran after Qin Huai without looking back.