Chapter 116: Writing Off At One Stroke

Around evening, Yan Liqiang brought Gu Zexuan and Zhao Huipeng into the Divine Sword Sect’s Dihui Valley.

The marketplace of the Divine Sword Sect was in Dihui Valley. The entire Dihui Valley was bustling like the liveliest bazaar and the main streets in big cities, except that the ones who shopped here were all disciples of the sect. Standing at the entrance of Dihui Valley, the entire valley was filled with people as far as the eyes could see, dressed in clothes of various colors and busy doing their own things. The clothes they wore were obvious and could easily be distinguished at a glance, setting each other off nicely.

The ones dressed in gray were the external disciples, dressed in black were the inner disciples, dressed in purple were the elite disciples and dressed in blue were the direct disciples. Basically one could easily tell the position of someone on the street just by looking at their attire. Among every disciple rank, their upper, middle or lower classes were each represented by a different colored sash. One would be able to know each other’s class after meeting face to face.

It stopped snowing from morning to afternoon, but by evening time it had started snowing again.

The last time Yan Liqiang came to Dihui Valley was more than three months ago. Back then, the weather was still quite pleasant. Many vendor’s stalls were set up on either side of Dihui Valley’s marketplace, the ones managing the vendor’s stalls were all disciples of the sect. The merchandise sold there were an eye-opening, dazzling array of beautiful exhibits of all sorts. Among them were a multitude of medicinal pills, weapons, medicinal herbs, handicrafts which were feasts to the eyes. Yet today, these vendor stalls were gone due to the weather. Only the shops and restaurants on either side of the marketplace were still operating.

These restaurants, shops, and buildings in Dihui Valley’s marketplace were all properties of the Divine Sword Sect. The people who managed these properties were from one of the ten major courtyards of the Divine Sword Sect — the Four Seas Courtyard. However, the ones who ran the stores and restaurants were disciples of the sect. As long as one could offer the highest bid, they’d get the rights to run the stores and restaurants. As to whether they could earn or lose from the business, that would depend on their own ability.

Everywhere in the Divine Sword Sect followed a strict hierarchy, except in Dihui Valley where rank didn’t really matter. Everything here followed business rules — with money, one could be worthy of becoming a boss and call upon the wind and summon the rain in Dihui Valley, even if they were only an external disciple. They could stay in towering big courtyards, enjoy exotic delicacies, have beautiful women in their arms while listening to fine music and lead a godly life.

That’s right, there was not only one, but multiple brothels operated by the Divine Sword Sect in Dihui Valley. The girls in those brothels all came fully packaged with looks and talents. Anything you could do in other brothels, you could do it in the brothels in Dihui Valley too. Among the many commandments of the Divine Sword Sect, none prohibited disciples from enjoying the service of a brothel. There were no issues as long as one could afford to pay and if the girls were willing.

There were a few dozen brothels in Dihui Valley and Meteor Tower was one of them. When Yan Liqiang and the rest arrived at the entrance of Meteor Tower, a staff was on a ladder, lighting up the row of lanterns at the entrance.

As soon as Yan Liqiang and the other two entered Meteor Tower, they already saw Huo Bin walking towards them with all smiles before they even needed to ask anyone where his room was. “Hahaha, Brother Liqiang is indeed punctual…”

As the host, of course Huo Bin would need to come earlier. However, Yan Liqiang wasn’t late either. As good manners, he had come slightly earlier than the appointed time they had both agreed on.

“Senior Martial Brother Huo, you are too courteous. How can we possibly make you wait here? You could have just told your staff to show us around. Hahaha…”

Yan Liqiang and Huo Bin proceeded to exchange a few pleasantries before Huo Pin led the three of them towards a corridor inside Meteor Tower.

“Brother Liqiang, what do you think of Meteor Tower?”

Yan Liqiang looked around in the surroundings. Meteor Tower was complete with pavilions, a rock garden, and even a gentle flowing stream. Although it was an eatery, it very well decorated. He nodded. “The place which Senior Martial Brother Huo has picked is naturally great!”

“This Meteor Tower is the property of Luo Tianyu, one of the seven heroes in the Divine Sword Sect. The title given to Senior Martial Brother Luo is Meteor Sword. Hence, this place is named after his title. I happened to know Senior Martial Brother Luo over my years in the Divine Sword Sect and he has taken good care of me so we will usually prefer to gather in Meteor Tower when needed…” Huo Bin appeared to be introducing Meteor Tower, but he was actually showing off his connections.

When Yan Liqiang heard that, he merely laughed. Yan Liqiang didn’t doubt the fact that Huo Bin knew one of the seven heroes in Divine Sword Sect, Meteor Sword, Luo Tian Yu. However, he wasn’t convinced when Huo Bin claimed that he was close to him. Over his career in customer relations from his previous life, he had heard and seen too much bullsh*t like this. Many would frequently claim to know some secretaries, mayors or executives. These words were meant to go in and out of your ears. If both parties were indeed that intimate, people would usually not show off their relationship while those who loved to show off their relationship with someone was actually not that closely acquainted with them. Yet many still fell for it.

Under Huo Bin’s lead, the three of them very quickly arrived at the entrance of a private room on the second floor of Meteor Tower. Yan Liqiang followed behind Huo Bin who had pushed the door open and went in, he saw three other people who had arrived earlier than them in the private room. Ma Liang was one of them. The other two were dressed in black clothes and seemed to be an inner disciple of the sect, just like Huo Bin.

When Yan Liqiang and the rest came in, the other three people stood up, including Ma Liang.

“Brother Liqiang, let me introduce you. This is Senior Martial Brother Hu Tiande, from the Winged Tiger Hall. This is Senior Martial Brother Li Kaihe, an officer from Commandment Courtyard. Both of them are fellows from our Cang Province…”

Hu Tiande and Li Kaihe were both in their twenties. For them to advance as Supreme Martial Warriors at their age, they were definitely elites no matter where they were. Hu Tiande was an extremely burly man with an intimidating figure. On the other hand, Li Kaihe was a smiley man with a round face and small eyes, seemingly amiable yet he appeared to be more schemingly calculative.

“Greetings, Senior Martial Brother Hu and Senior Martial Brother Li!”

“Hahaha, Brother Liqiang is indeed a fine looking man. No wonder you are able to go into service at such a young age. How enviable!” Li Kaihe said smilingly.

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“Not at all, please guide me well in the future, Senior Martial Brothers!”

After being courteous with Hu Tiande and Li Kaihe, Yan Liqiang seriously introduced Gu Zexuan and Zhao Huipeng, who came along with him, to both of them. After the greetings, only then did Hui Bin find an opportunity to speak.

“This is Junior Martial Brother Ma Liang, also one of us from Cang Province. Since you are already acquainted with Junior Martial Brother Ma, I will skip the introduction!”

When Huo Bin introduced Ma Liang, Ma Liang stiffened and gave Yan Liqiang an awkward smile.

“Oh yes, I am already acquainted with Junior Martial Brother Ma, back at the Commandment Courtyard. Junior Martial Brother Ma treated me very well back then, how could I possibly forget him?”

When Huo Bin, Hu Tiande, and Li Kaihe heard Yan Liqiang, they exchanged looks with each other before everyone took a seat together.

The dishes hadn’t been served so the table was still empty.

“Ahem, ahem…” Huo Bin cleared his throat then reached out to retrieve a square box from under the table and placed it on the table. He took a deep breath and pushed it towards Yan Liqiang. “Here’s five hundred taels of silver. It’s a little congratulatory gift from me and Junior Martial Brother Ma. Congratulations on your promotion at Tianqiao Hall, Liqiang! May your future prospects in the Divine Sword Sect be brilliant!”

Despite Huo Bin’s sugar-coated words, the meaning behind it was that these taels of silver were an apology to Yan Liqiang from him and Ma Liang.

Five hundred taels of silver was not a small amount. The amount of money was enough to purchase a courtyard in the city. When Huo Bin pushed the box towards him, Yan Liqiang could almost feel the pained look on Huo Bin’s face. He wondered how much he had forked out for his portion.

The room instantly went silent.

Everyone’s gaze fell on Yan Liqiang. Yan Liqiang didn’t accept the silver. He only had an indifferent smile on his face as he calmly looked at Ma Liang. “I have been questioning myself why have Junior Martial Brother Ma seemed to be so against me all the time and deliberately made things difficult for me ever since I joined the Divine Sword Sect, despite the fact that I have never known you before, gotten involved with you, or offended you before. Have I owed you money, or snatched your woman away in my previous life?”

Under Yan Liqiang’s tranquil gaze and Hui Bin’s cold and intense stare, Ma Liang stiffly stood up with a slightly pale face and slapped himself hard twice across his own face. “I, Ma Liang, was blind and petty and have offended Senior Martial Brother Yan. Please allow me to make it up to you here today!”

“How do you plan to make up to me?”

“Please wait a little while, Senior Martial Brother Yan…” Ma Liang clenched his teeth and went out.

Ma Liang returned shortly after with two servants of the shop behind him. One of them was holding a big jar of white wine which was still sealed. The other was carrying a big tray of wine cups.

The servant holding the wine cups quickly arranged them on the table neatly while the other one unsealed the white wine and filled each cup on the table to the brim.

The servants left, leaving the table in the private room filled with wine cups full of wine. Half of the white wine in that big jar was already gone.

“There’s a hundred cups of wine on this table. I shall use these one hundred cups of wine to apologize to Senior Martial Brother Yan!” Ma Liang said while he picked up one of the cups and instantly downed the contents in one gulp, not leaving even a single drop. He then picked up the second cup and drank it in one gulp…

Under everyone’s gaze in the room, Ma Liang tipped his head backwards and gulped down cup after cup of the strong white wine as though he was drinking water.

As expected of a white wine, the moment the wine jar was unsealed, the room was filled with the smell of alcohol. Although the wine cups on the table weren’t that big, the amount of a hundred cups of white wine added together was a terrifying mass of at least three kilograms.

Ma Liang downed his first thirty cups of wine each in a gulp. After his fortieth cup, his face was burning like a branding iron. Yet, he continued on drinking. By his fiftieth cup, his eyes were bloodshot and he was panting like a bull. By his sixtieth cup, he was dripping with sweat, unable to remain standing still. By his seventieth cup, Ma Liang was completely drenched in sweat, barely able to even hold his wine cup and couldn’t stand without propping himself up with one hand on the table. His eyes were burning like they were about to explode into a bloody mess…

After more than ninety cups, Ma Liang couldn’t drink the remaining three cups. By now, the color of his face had already turned completely green. He used one hand to cover his mouth tightly, swallowing back the contents that had surged up to his throat from his stomach. This action was so disgusting that Gu Zexuan and Zhao Huipeng nearly retched at the sight of it. Ma Liang’s eyes were already losing focus. He couldn’t even see the wine cups on the table clearly and had to fumble for the remaining wine cups on the table with his trembling hand.

At this moment, Yan Liqiang suddenly stood up and pressed down on Ma Liang’s hand. He then reached out to pick up the wine cups on the table, downing contents to their last drop. After drinking three cups consecutively, he smashed the last cup on the floor to pieces, then turned to Ma Liang. “From today onwards, any grudge and resentment between us shall be written off at one stroke.”

“T-Thank you Senior Martial Brother Yan…” Ma Liang gave Yan Liqiang a dumb-looking smile before he collapsed under the table…