Chapter 63: Can Face Be Eaten?

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Eight Fingers Wang was indeed a disciple of Ghost King Gate, and moreover, he was from the Green Wood Hall under Ghost King Gate. As for why he was working as a guard at Plum Fragrance Tower, it was actually because he was too poor.

From Eight Fingers Wang’s mouth, Xu Yan learned some news about the current martial arts world of Qi Nation. What surprised him was that the entire martial arts world of Qi Nation was actually dominated by evil sects, which was the opposite of Pu Nation where righteous sects were dominant. The leader of Qi Nation’s evil sects was the famous Ghost King Gate.

Ghost King Gate’s stronghold was established in Fengshan City. The sect master was a true cultivator, with four great protectors under him, eighteen guardians, plus thirty-six halls. Green Wood Hall was just one of Ghost King Gate’s many halls.

Although they considered themselves an evil sect, Ghost King Gate didn’t kill people on sight. The distinction between righteous and evil in the martial world was just how martial artists classified themselves. Righteous sects emphasized being upright and honorable, while evil sects acted by any means necessary. Apart from different cultivation methods, outsiders could hardly tell the real difference between righteous and evil.

Anyway, Xu Yan couldn’t see the real difference between righteous and evil. Supreme Clarity Sect called itself righteous, but the things they did were probably worse than evil sects.

The righteous and evil, grudges and enmities of the martial world rarely involved common people, but they could involve dynastic changes. So in the current world, whether it was Great Pu or Qi Nation, they all had deep connections with martial sects. Many sects had royal shadows behind them.

Xu Yan couldn’t learn the secrets of martial sects, but he did learn one thing: without money, don’t even think about joining Ghost King Gate.

Martial sects were gathering places for brave and aggressive people. When a sect grew stronger, naturally more people would join. With more people came higher status and more benefits. So the first condition for the famous Ghost King Gate to recruit disciples was to pay money.

There was a saying circulating in Fengshan City: “When the ghost gate opens, wealth comes naturally.”

“Ghost gate opens” referred to Ghost King Gate recruiting disciples. Regardless of gender or age, as long as you brought money, you could join and become a member of Ghost King Gate.

Eight Fingers Wang had joined Ghost King Gate three years ago. He was the lowest status kind in Ghost King Gate. When the sect had business, you had to charge forward with a blade. When benefits were distributed, you got squeezed to the back. He was truly a third-rate small fry.

Don’t look down on him for being a small fry—in Fengshan City, announcing yourself as a Ghost King Gate disciple could really intimidate local ruffians and scoundrels. But the large sum of silver that had to be paid annually became Eight Fingers Wang’s headache.

Joining a sect wasn’t the end of all troubles—you had to contribute effort! Evil sects naturally had to be irreconcilable with righteous sects, fighting to the death when they met. The masters generally had nothing to worry about; those who died were all small fries like Eight Fingers Wang. Even if they didn’t look for trouble with righteous sects, Ghost King Gate would often organize people to hunt demons. It was said that demons’ bodies were full of treasures—killing one could make you rich.

Demon extermination was indeed a good deed and looked like upholding justice, but demon extermination also required people to fill the gaps. According to Eight Fingers Wang, last year their Green Wood Hall had hunted demons once. At that time, they sent out over a thousand men. With four halls cooperating, they fought that bear demon in the deep mountains for a full day and night.

Finally, the bear demon was killed and indeed was full of treasures. But Eight Fingers Wang didn’t even get a single bear hair. The dead sect members all over the ground didn’t even have anyone to collect their bodies—they all fed the wolves.

Participating in demon hunting wasn’t for nothing—at least last year’s required payment was offset. Now that the New Year had just passed, Eight Fingers Wang was already worrying about this year’s payment. When he heard Plum Fragrance Tower was hiring guards, he rushed over excitedly. Actually, his status in Ghost King Gate could only be considered outer sect or lay disciples.

Those who could pay annually didn’t need to serve. Those who couldn’t pay had to at least complete one mission with the sect. This was Ghost King Gate’s rule.

Hearing Eight Fingers Wang’s account, Xu Yan blinked and said: “Sects are so troublesome. Why not just quit? At least you wouldn’t have to pay money. I don’t see any benefits from joining Ghost King Gate.”

“The benefits can’t be seen.” Eight Fingers Wang spoke enthusiastically: “You’re still young—what do you understand? We martial artists roaming the world want face and reputation. Look at your Brother Eight Fingers—when I show the Ghost King Gate sign on the street, those ruffians and petty criminals all have to bow and come over with smiles to pay respects. This is called face. Understand, kid?”

“Can face be eaten?”

Xu Yan asked curiously. He didn’t see what face this Ghost King Gate disciple had. When meeting wealthy clients, he still smiled obsequiously to greet them, grinning more cheaply than anyone else. When he got reward money, he still had to shout “Thank you, master” loudly.

“Sigh, it’s just seeking a chance to make a name for yourself.” Eight Fingers Wang sighed. Xu Yan had really hit his sore spot—if face could be eaten, he would have eaten it as food long ago.

“Without becoming innate, don’t think about getting ahead. We small fries are just selling our lives to others. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be killed by righteous sects or swallowed by demons in the mountains. These days, evil sects aren’t easy, and I think righteous sects aren’t much better.”

Eight Fingers Wang sighed for a while, then continued: “Well, tomorrow I still have to practice the blade. I haven’t practiced for half a month. If I could really break through one meridian, I could at least become a small leader. If I broke through two meridians, I could at least become a deputy hall master.”

“Ghost King Gate’s blade technique?” Xu Yan perked up when he heard about blade techniques and quickly asked: “Does practicing blade techniques give you a chance to break through the six meridians?”

“Nonsense—who practices blades and swords if not to break through the six meridians?” Eight Fingers Wang rolled his eyes. “Joining Ghost King Gate is for learning this Seven Star Blade Technique. Otherwise, who would spend so much silver to join a sect?”

The name of the technique sounded awkward. Xu Yan frowned: “Seven Star Sword Technique sounds more natural. Why call it Seven Star Blade Technique?”

“It is indeed a sword technique.” Eight Fingers Wang nodded. “But swords are expensive and blades are cheap. I can only afford a blade, so I can only call it Seven Star Blade Technique.”

Using a blade to practice sword techniques—even Xu Yan, who didn’t understand martial arts, knew that blades and swords followed different paths. He didn’t know what this guy was thinking. It would be strange if he could master it.

“Brother Eight Fingers, could you teach me?” Xu Yan asked with a grin. He was also very curious about martial arts and always found it fresh.

Hearing this, Eight Fingers Wang shook his head like a rattle drum: “Can’t teach, can’t teach. If the sect really found out someone privately taught outsiders martial arts, the lightest punishment would be having both hands broken and being expelled from the sect. I don’t dare violate this sect rule. Besides, it’s not expensive. When the ghost gate opens today, you can take fifty taels of silver to join the sect, and naturally you’ll be able to learn it.”

Fifty taels of silver for one Seven Star Sword Technique—hearing this news, Xu Yan immediately lost interest. Martial arts that could be bought with money probably weren’t anything good.

“Doesn’t Ghost King Gate have any good martial arts?” Xu Yan asked unwillingly.

“Yes, but you need to break through at least one meridian to be qualified to learn them.” Eight Fingers Wang said: “Not only are there sword and blade techniques, but also various movement techniques. I heard that the previous deputy hall master of our Green Wood Hall practiced movement techniques. He ran so fast! He stole the sect’s treasures and managed to escape from layers of pursuit. Even now, Ghost King Gate still has a bounty on him. Even if you can’t catch the person, as long as someone learns news of that deputy hall master, they can exchange the information for ten thousand taels of silver.”

This was the first time Xu Yan heard of a sect offering bounties. He became even more curious and pressed for details about who this deputy hall master was who had stolen Ghost King Gate’s treasures.

Eight Fingers Wang recalled for a long time before saying: “I can’t remember his name. When I came to Ghost King Gate, that guy had already escaped for several years. I heard his nickname was Flying Centipede.”