Chapter 23: Heaven and Earth Alliance
Under a big tree, shade is abundant; joining a faction is essential for a perfect journey through the martial world. Congratulations on joining the Jianghu sect—a young, vibrant organization is an excellent choice.
Completing the mission to join the faction, rewards are being calculated.
Mission rating: C.
Earned 20 achievement points!
Name: Li Rui
Age: 5
Talent: Martial Bone
Technique: White Ape’s Cloaking Blade
Achievements: 20/100
Li Rui’s lips curled slightly upward.
“As expected!”
He had suspected that joining a faction would grant achievement points.
“C?”
It seems the Heaven and Earth Alliance is still weak—if I’d joined the Huaqing Sect, perhaps the rating would’ve been higher?
Li Rui thought.
He wished to leap straight to the top, but the Huaqing Sect’s recruitment standards were extremely strict; they rarely accepted outsiders as disciples.
For a sect, talent matters greatly, but loyalty is equally vital.
An outsider’s character is already set; loyalty to the Huaqing Sect is nonexistent.
When the sect faces crisis, such disciples will flee for their own safety—there’s no reliance on them. Thus, major sects prefer training young disciples like blank sheets: greater potential and higher loyalty.
Li Rui didn’t believe every mission needed an S+ rating.
Completion matters more than perfection.
The Heaven and Earth Alliance was indeed generous—hundreds of acres of land had become its base, with seven or eight training grounds alone; such grandeur could only rival the Blood Tiger Gang, the Broken Blade Gang, and the government offices in the city.
Looking out, the horizon was invisible.
He had just passed the training ground nearest the gate when a familiar figure appeared.
“Master Li, you’ve finally come?”
Ding Liang hurried up to Li Rui.
Li Rui glanced at Ding Liang’s waist tag: “278.”
“You joined the Heaven and Earth Alliance too?”
Ding Liang nodded eagerly: “Master Li, it’s all thanks to you and Master Wu. Master Wu is on official business and specifically ordered me to wait here for you.”
Ding Liang called him “Master” with ease.
Li Rui: “Brother Wu is thoughtful.”
Ding Liang’s entry into the Heaven and Earth Alliance as an outer disciple had nothing to do with Li Rui—and little to do with Wu Tu either.
The Heaven and Earth Alliance had strict requirements for its disciples.
Especially in Qinghe County, if the squadron leader wasn’t foolish, he wouldn’t allow his subordinates to recklessly recruit people and turn things into chaos.
Had Ding Liang not possessed decent innate talent, he’d never have become an outer disciple.
Wu Tu himself was merely an officer; joining the Heaven and Earth Alliance meant severing ties with the Dark Eight Gates, at most able to recommend others.
Aside from the Alliance’s overall leader and deputy leader, each county had a squadron leader, below whom were deputy squadron leaders, then officers like Li Rui and Wu Tu, and beneath them, outer disciples.
Though some martial figures were absorbed, they were almost always honored guests or consultants, requiring established martial status.
Officers were merely mid-level functionaries.
Then Ding Liang led Li Rui to the Civil and Military Hall.
The Heaven and Earth Alliance had seven halls, each with distinct duties; the Civil and Military Hall managed personnel and supplies within the Alliance and held great authority.
“You’re Li Rui?”
The Civil and Military Hall disciple glanced at Li Rui.
Seventy years old?!
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then, after confirming he hadn’t misread, clicked his tongue.
The man’s age could make him his ancestor.
The disciple’s surprise flashed briefly; though he looked down on Li Rui, Li Rui was still his superior—if he pressed the matter, he’d be the one to suffer.
“Master Li, your registration is complete. Here’s your room key. Your monthly stipend will be delivered to your residence by a disciple.”
“Good.”
Li Rui nodded and took the room key from the young disciple.
The Heaven and Earth Alliance provided housing, so he could cancel his lease from the agent; he wouldn’t get back the full two taels, but half a tael should be no problem.
Even if he was flush now, he couldn’t be wasteful.
The disciple glanced at Li Rui’s lack of weapon and added: “Master Li, would you like to claim a standard Alliance weapon?”
A flicker of delight passed through Li Rui’s eyes.
This big organization really thought ahead.
Finally, he received a Heaven and Earth Alliance uniform and a paired saber, then left satisfied.
The problem of buying a saber was thus easily resolved.
Registration complete, he was now officially on duty.
But before heading to Tianyi Pavilion, there was one more step: paying respects to the deputy squadron leader overseeing the Discipline Hall and Tianyi Hall.
Within the Heaven and Earth Alliance.
In a grand mansion.
A burly, brutish man with a face full of scars hugged two delicate beauties, grinning lewdly.
At that moment, a dark-robed disciple entered.
Seeing the licentious scene, his cheeks flushed and he bowed his head: “Deputy Squadron Leader Zhao, the Tianyi Hall chief, Li Rui, requests an audience.”
The burly man named Zhao Wei impatiently said: “Let him in.”
“Yes.”
The dark-robed disciple stepped out and returned with Li Rui within less than an incense stick’s time.
Li Rui’s expression remained calm upon seeing the scene.
“Old man Li Rui, pays his respects to Deputy Squadron Leader Zhao.”
Zhao Wei grinned wide: “Brother Li, now that you’re in the Heaven and Earth Alliance, you’re family. You—go keep Brother Li company.”
He shoved the woman on his right toward Li Rui.
Li Rui stepped half an inch to the right, his hand brushing the woman’s slender waist—no wider than a palm—making her giggle.
Zhao Wei laughed loudly: “Brother Li, if you like her, take her to your residence!”
Li Rui: “I haven’t been with women in many years. I fear I’m unworthy of such grace.”
“I have some excellent tonic herbs for strengthening the yang—Brother Li, perhaps—”
Li Rui quickly waved his hand: “No need.”
It wasn’t that he wished to be a paragon of virtue—he simply had no habit of indulging in such company.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he found an excuse to leave.
Tianyi Hall was a sinecure; Zhao Wei naturally paid it no attention—in fact, since becoming deputy squadron leader, he’d never once visited Tianyi Hall.
Tianyi Hall was a sinecure, and Zhao Wei naturally paid it no mind; in fact, since becoming deputy helmsman, he had never once set foot in Tianyi Hall.
Ding Liang rushed forward: “Master Li, did Deputy Squadron Leader Zhao give you trouble?”
Li Rui: “What do you mean?”
Ding Liang sighed: “Deputy Squadron Leader Zhao was the former boss of Hengmen. He had a feud with Master Wu, then traveled to a neighboring county, met a master, and became an eighth-rank martialist, securing his position as deputy squadron leader.”
“Master Li, serving under Deputy Squadron Leader Zhao, you must stay alert.”
Li Rui’s eyes narrowed slightly.
No wonder.
He’d sensed something off earlier—Zhao clearly tested him. Had he accepted that woman, his household would’ve gained a spy planted by Zhao Wei.
He had felt something was off just now—that man Zhao was clearly testing him; if he had truly taken that beautiful woman, his own household would now have a spy planted by Zhao Wei.
But such mediocre charms think they can bribe your lord?
(End of Chapter)
(End of chapter)
End of Chapter
