You must make the decision for me.

Page 1/3

Injured someone again? Chu Liang’s heart tightened involuntarily. What was going on lately? No matter where he was, even in places where no one could be seen, the Flying Leaf Quick Blade always managed to strike someone.

Before he could carefully examine the situation, he heard the rush of wind behind him and a swift figure trailing close.

“Thief! How dare you disrupt the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall!”

It was a middle-aged man dressed in a long robe, his brows sharp and imposing, exuding an air of nobility. His aura showed he had reached the Fifth Realm of the Five Elements!

“Wait!” Chu Liang shouted, “I am not—”

Before he could finish, a ruthless gleam flashed in the man’s eyes, and he struck out with a palm!

Boom—

The palm came down with the force of thunder and wind, and a vast dark cloud pressed down toward Chu Liang!

Something was wrong.

Chu Liang's mind raced, sensing something off about this man.

If he truly was from the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall and mistook him for a thief causing trouble, then given Chu Liang’s much weaker cultivation, the man should have at least captured him to interrogate about the mastermind behind it all.

But this man’s eagerness to strike with full force, as if wanting to kill him instantly, suggested he wanted to silence him completely!

Though suspicious, the man’s cultivation was undeniably high, and the palm attack terrifying.

Chu Liang quickly recalled the Flying Leaf Quick Blade, shifting its form instantly to defend!

Bang—

A green light flashed as Chu Liang was wrapped tightly like a rice dumpling, but the overwhelming palm, carrying the crushing dark cloud, still smashed the defense, leaving the protective artifact half-collapsed.

“Ugh…” Chu Liang felt a surge of hot blood rise to his heart.

The wrapping leaves cracked loudly as fractures spread rapidly; the palm nearly destroyed the green leaf artifact and left Chu Liang injured inside!

He hastily removed the damaged protective wrapping, for it was now more a hindrance than a help.

But what good was being able to move?

Facing a terrifying Fifth Realm powerhouse, running or fighting seemed almost futile. Yet Chu Liang refused to surrender. He quietly gathered his true energy, preparing to unleash his strongest force for a brief resistance, hoping to seize a sliver of survival.

Just as the middle-aged man’s second palm was about to fall and crush Chu Liang on the spot, a clear female voice rang out from afar.

“Second Uncle, stop!”

Page 2/3

The middle-aged man ignored the voice, raising his palm again with overwhelming might!

Whoosh—

A silver Bagua formation, about a yard in diameter, suddenly appeared before Chu Liang, blocking the palm just in time with a heavy thud!

The dark cloud giant palm struck the Bagua formation, sending ripples across its surface, but failing to break through.

At that moment, an elderly man with a long beard descended from above. Chu Liang immediately recognized him as the one who had wounded Brother Wen Ren earlier that day in front of the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall.

“Elder Cangxing, why are you protecting this thief?” the middle-aged man snarled, taking the offensive first.

The elder said nothing, but a clear voice behind him spoke up: “He is not a thief!”

A figure in red swept swiftly along the long street, her robes fluttering like flames in the night breeze, her expression cold as ice.

It was Xu Hongqiu.

The middle-aged man who had attacked Chu Liang was none other than Xu Nanling, the overseer of the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall.

The three had been discussing affairs in the hall’s backyard when a loud commotion erupted, causing the beasts in the front yard to scatter in panic. The hall’s forces and the law enforcers of Glutton City immediately set out to capture the fleeing beasts. Xu Nanling had pursued the thief in that direction.

Xu Hongqiu sensed something was amiss and followed closely behind Elder Cangxing.

They arrived just in time to see Xu Nanling attacking Chu Liang.

“I saw him fly out from the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall and flee here. Could there be any mistake?” Xu Nanling shouted, his face full of rage, seeming determined to kill Chu Liang then and there.

“He might be a thief, I don’t know, but I do know he definitely isn’t one,” Xu Hongqiu stepped forward and looked at Chu Liang, raising her voice: “If it were anyone else, I might have believed you. But this young man is Chu Liang of the Shushan Sect!”

Hmm?

Chu Liang, calmly observing the situation, recognized the woman as Miss Xu Hongqiu of the Whale Gang from earlier that day. He was now trying to piece together the underlying currents between these people.

When Xu Hongqiu spoke his name, he was somewhat surprised.

“You recognize him?” Xu Nanling landed and approached, eyes still unfriendly.

“When I investigated the Whale Gang’s crimes in South Pass City, it was thanks to the Shushan Sect’s efforts, particularly Young Master Chu’s great contributions,” Xu Hongqiu explained.

Then she turned to Chu Liang and spoke softly: “I was also present when Xue Lingxue confronted Marquis Dingshan.”

So that was it.

Chu Liang finally understood why the elder had allowed him into the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall earlier—not because they were easy to deal with, but because he had helped them greatly.

Page 3/3

During the conflict between Xu Bashan and Jiang Shenting, crimes involving the Whale Gang were exposed!

Thinking of this, he quietly replied, “Thank you for your rescue, Miss Xu.”

“Young Master Chu helped us a great deal. I had intended to thank you properly, but I didn’t expect you’d be hurt today. Please don’t hold it against me,” Xu Hongqiu said, her tone still cold but noticeably softer than before.

She then turned back to Xu Nanling, her face once more icy. “Second Uncle, if the Shushan Sect comes looking for answers later, I will not protect you.”

“Hmph,” Xu Nanling snorted coldly and swept his sleeve. “I am clear in my conscience.”

“Hey—” Chu Liang spoke up then, “I just happened to be outside the Ten Thousand Beasts Hall when I encountered the fleeing beasts. I saw a dark shadow dart out—it must be the thief causing the trouble. I follow my sect’s teachings to punish evil and uphold justice, so I pursued him.”

Every word was firm and righteous.

“This elder was also chasing the culprit, but mistook me. Our goal is the same—to catch the thief. Knowing this, how could I let my sect pursue me?”

Seeing his reasonable attitude, both Xu Hongqiu and Xu Nanling were somewhat surprised.

In the cultivation world, aggressive, overbearing types were common, but such pure-hearted individuals were rare.

“Young Master Chu is wise and just. No need to say more now. You’ve been injured; come back with us to heal,” Xu Hongqiu said.

“Just a minor injury, nothing worth mentioning,” Chu Liang waved it off casually. “Miss Xu, please take me to the First-Grade Sword Lodge first. I have urgent matters to attend to there.”

“But you’re already coughing up blood…” Xu Hongqiu hesitated.

“Just a little bleeding,” Chu Liang casually wiped his mouth and smiled lightly, utterly unconcerned.

“Alright,” Xu Hongqiu nodded resignedly.

The distance wasn’t far, so she personally led the way to the First-Grade Sword Lodge in Glutton City, then turned back.

Inside the lodge, the apprentice waiting for half a day, Daughter of the Emperor Feng, received the news and came out to greet him.

Only when Chu Liang saw her did his anxious heart finally settle. No matter what Xu Hongqiu said about his contributions to the Whale Gang, he had dared not act out of line earlier.

After all, they were family, and he was just a lone outsider. Even if he suspected Xu Nanling, he dared not voice it.

But now, he was finally among his own people.

The next moment, the previously composed Chu Liang suddenly bent over, hunched his back, clutched his chest, and braced himself against the wall, his face full of distress.

“Master, I almost didn’t make it to see you!” he wailed to Daughter of the Emperor Feng. “You have to help me!”