sovbooks Chapter 40 Awe-inspiring Chivalry
Chapter 40 Awe-inspiring Chivalry
The Righteousness Hall is a criminal investigation and supervision agency established by the Martial Arts Alliance. It is responsible for hunting down wandering evil spirits and bandits who cause trouble. Its role is similar to the Six Doors that Lin Zhuo had read about in the storybook, but its actual power is quite limited.
Most of the members are wandering martial artists recruited by the Martial Alliance, while some are elders and disciples of local sects who serve as guest advisors.
Generally speaking, local security is managed by sects, and the role of the Righteous Hall is similar to that of a mascot.
However, we must also consider that different sects have vastly different ways of doing things. Not every sect can manage its territory so well that the people can live in peace and prosperity.
Many martial artists from various sects focused solely on cultivation, ignoring worldly affairs and outsourcing miscellaneous tasks to local gentry. As long as the residents of their territory paid their taxes on time, they would not interfere further.
In the territory of this sect, bandits roam freely, thieves are rampant, gangs are everywhere, and local bullies are commonplace. This is considered a relatively normal social environment within the world of *Cangcheng*.
In areas ruled by heretical sects and evil factions with improper conduct, the lives of the people are even more miserable and indescribable.
The establishment of the Righteousness Hall is certainly necessary, at least to serve as a deterrent. However, if it is suppressed or its functions usurped by local bullies, it is tantamount to aiding and abetting a tyrant.
Liquan Town is located in Tiannan Prefecture, which is under the jurisdiction of the White Egret Sword Sect. This sect is one of the twenty-four major sects of the Martial Arts Alliance. Its disciples are upright, moderate and kind, and often perform chivalrous deeds. However, the number of disciples is small and their control over the area is not strong.
The Zhengqi Hall branch here is in an ideal environment, cooperating well with local sects, mutually benefiting each other, with its authority unhindered, operating extremely well, and frequently taking measures to eliminate evil and maintain order, which has won the favor of the people.
Lin Zhuo and his two teammates arrived at the Zhengqi Hall's residence, which resembled an ancient public hall. It was a three-courtyard mansion, and even the white-painted walls couldn't block the shouts of martial artists practicing their skills.
"Halt! Do you know that this is the Righteousness Hall of the Martial Alliance, the Liquan Town branch? What brings you here?" The two middle-aged swordsmen guarding the main gate raised their hands to stop them.
Shu Yuliu took a step back, shielding Lin Zhuo in front of him, and whispered, "Senior brother, go and negotiate with them."
"Greetings, esteemed heroes. I am Lin Zhuo, traveling with my junior sister Shu Liuyun," Lin Zhuo began, but Jin Xiaohu tugged at his trouser leg with its paw. "Oh, and there's also my sect's guardian beast, Jin Xiaohu. In short, we've come to take on the bounty offered in the public notice, firstly to uphold the code of chivalry, and secondly to earn some travel expenses."
"Oh? That depends on your skills. If you're not good enough, even if you receive the official documents, you'll only be throwing your lives away."
The swordsman crouched down in a horse stance, extending his arms one in front of the other, assuming a fighting posture. "Come on, no weapons allowed. If you can make me take a step back within three moves, you pass. Who wants to try first?"
Lin Zhuo stepped forward and made contact, but the swordsman was capable of fighting back. After two rounds of fist and palm exchanges, he firmly blocked all of Lin Zhuo's attacks.
"There's only one move left."
His two teammates were secretly nervous and encouraged him through the team communication channel.
Lin Zhuo already knew what was going on. He made his third move, first feinting to create an opening, and then immediately unleashing the power accumulated from "Star Ball Throw". The sudden speed of the punch forced the swordsman to block it head-on. Sure enough, he was shaken by the force and took three steps back before he could stop.
The swordsman guarding the gate smiled and nodded. "Is this move any famous?"
"Just a trivial trick." Lin Zhuo clasped his hands in greeting. He had already realized that these two were at a higher level than him, probably equivalent to level 2.
In the context of the game "Cangcheng," a Level 1 Qigong Master is essentially a novice in the martial arts world. Disciples of prestigious sects are typically not allowed to leave their mountain retreats at this stage.
If a player reaches level 3, they are already a master in their own right; level 4 is the level of a sect leader; and level 5 is the level of a major sect leader and the leader of the martial arts alliance.
The swordsman clapped his hands. Although he had been knocked back, his steps remained steady, indicating that he had held back his strength.
"Not bad, your Qi is balanced and peaceful. It seems your sect is also a righteous and chivalrous one. Next."
Shu Yuliu was nervous and uneasy, and looked to Lin Zhuo for help. When she saw Lin Zhuo's summary of experience and analysis of the swordsman's thinking in the team channel, she calmed down as if she had found a pillar of support.
"Little girl, how much longer are you going to make me wait? The sun is about to set," the swordsman asked lazily.
"Excuse me!" Shu Yuliu took a deep breath. She was quick-witted and intelligent, and she already had a plan in mind.
At the beginning of their fight, Shu Yuliu deliberately imitated Lin Zhuo's movements, leading the swordsman to mistakenly believe that the two siblings were using moves taught by the same master.
In the third round, Shu Yuliu suddenly accelerated and changed her moves. Her martial arts were mixed with Xuanji True Qi, and the afterimages were like colorful blooms. She transformed into a blurry palm shadow and attacked the swordsman's lower body.
Regardless of gender, even a person in a vegetative state would flinch at the sight of this move. The swordsman instinctively raised his buttocks and stuck out his rear, only to be struck in the chest by the real blow, forcing him to take two steps back.
It was fortunate that Shu Yuliu was not good at condensing and destroying true energy, otherwise he might have suffered some minor injuries.
The swordsman, wearing a forced smile, said, "Very good, very good. You two young heroes are quite skilled. You may proceed to the hall to take the challenge."
"Sigh, you're a young lady, why are you trying to demolish ancestral halls like an old woman..." The swordsman with the knife looked weary.
After apologizing to the middle-aged swordsman, Shu Yuliu jumped for joy, shouting, "Whoosh! Senior brother, senior brother, I won!"
"Junior sister, mind your image."
"Oh, oh." Shu Yuliu coughed lightly twice, reverting to her shy and gentle demeanor.
The two people and the cat passed through the gate. Notices were posted on the screen wall of the Righteousness Hall. Each notice listed the names of the bandits, their numbers, their approximate range of activity, their estimated martial arts skills, and the corresponding bounties.
Besides official documents involving life and death, there were also some tasks commissioned by local residents, which were all odd jobs, such as collecting herbs, animal hides, bear bile, mineral concentrates, or helping people control rat infestations, find lost items, repair waterwheels, and so on.
"It really feels like a role-playing game. So many toilet-unclogging quests," Shu Yuliu remarked softly, which made Lin Zhuo glance at her slightly.
It seems this teammate is most likely from the modern world with a technological background, but it's unclear which era.
"Senior, it seems like we can't beat any of these wanted criminals. How about we start by running errands for our fellow villagers?"
"That makes sense." Lin Zhuo agreed with the mature and prudent decision.
Shu Yuliu clapped her hands happily. "I can go and gather herbs and ores, and you can go and kill wild boars, wolves, bears, and the like. Cat can go and help the people catch mice."
Jin Xiaohu, however, had a different opinion. He typed in the team chat: "I don't want to deal with those stinky rats. I suggest we accept the 'Master Thief Night Stealing the Wind' wanted poster. I have a way to deal with him."
All three players present had studied dungeon strategies, but the cat had only looked at speedrun guides, focusing on a high-risk, high-reward approach.
Lin Zhuo also found a speedrun guide written by an experienced player and studied it carefully. He found that as long as two or three players cooperated, Jin Xiaohu's suggestion was indeed very feasible and the risks were controllable. If the situation was bad, they would rather give up the mission than lose their lives.
"What does Junior Sister think?"
"I think we can give it a try." Shu Yuliu was still excited and thrilled after his minor victory over the swordsman, in the stage of youthful fearlessness.
Lin Zhuo then asked the team leader for his opinion in the team chat.
[The Hero Loves Noodles]: Trust your own judgment and just go for it.
With that in mind, Lin Zhuo agreed.
He reached out and touched the notice.
[Network notification: Team player "Fuyouyue" has triggered the quest - Capture Night Stealer]
Catching Night Stealer: Uncovering the true identity of the master thief Night Stealer and bringing him to justice.
Difficulty: Hard
Description: The notorious thief Ye Toufeng is active in the four prefectures and twelve counties of Tiannan Prefecture. He possesses exceptional agility and ruthless methods, and has committed crimes for years without a single eyewitness, leaving behind a trail of over a dozen lives. Arrest warrants for this villain have spread throughout the surrounding three prefectures. You have accepted the warrant in Liquan Town; where should you begin to apprehend this cunning bandit?
A mission of the difficult level already carries considerable risk. Not to mention that the target's cultivation level and martial arts skills are far superior to theirs. If Captain Zhu Baixuan doesn't intervene, the two of them and the cat, with their combined strength, would only end up leaving Ye Toufeng with more blood on his hands.
However, since it's a shortcut to the evil path, there must be ways to cheat.
Lin Zhuo, carrying the wanted notice, walked deeper into the Zhengqi Hall's territory. After asking around, he arrived at the dormitory where the Bailu Sword Sect disciples were staying and politely knocked on the door.
A young man with a slender face and dignified demeanor pushed open the door and stepped out. He was dressed in a traditional crane-feather cloak, his feathered robes fluttering in the wind. Upon seeing the unfamiliar group of two people and a cat outside the door, he made a hand gesture and bowed: "This humble Taoist is from the White Egret Sword Sect, and my pen name is Qingde. Greetings, gentlemen. May I ask what brings you here?"
Lin Zhuo and Shu Yu'er bowed in return, and then he spoke, "Daoist Qingde, we are formally reporting that Dai Xianyong, the owner of Haoyi Manor in Liquan Town, is none other than the notorious thief Ye Toufeng!"
"Is that so?" Qingde was completely taken aback by these startling words, and his expression changed abruptly.
"Whether it's true or false, Daoist Master, why don't you come with us to Haoyi Manor to find out? Once you see the secret room where he hid the stolen goods, the truth will become clear." Lin Zhuo's eyes were bright.
Shu Yuliu mustered her courage and added, "If we have misunderstood that thief, all compensation will be borne by my fellow disciple and me, along with the guardian spirit beast. I'm just afraid that the Daoist priest is too proud to lend a hand."
Qingde silently observed the two people and the cat before him. After a moment's hesitation, he probably believed that the young man with such an upright appearance and bright eyes was not a villain with malicious intentions. So he nodded and agreed: "Alright, my master said that if one hears of chivalry but does not follow it, one's virtue is lacking. This humble Taoist is willing to follow the two young heroes to find out the truth."