Starting from the Greyhound, seventy-two changes.

Chapter 133: Association
Chen Ku almost forgot that the range of the transformation map to sense evil spirits had increased.

Immediately frowned:

"Who is this Zhao Yuyan? Are you suspicious of me? Have I ever been involved with her... Hmm? ... Her last name is Zhao?"

Chen Ku seemed to understand something vaguely.

…………

at the same time.

In the Liangjiang Guild Hall.

Zhao Yuyan walked out of the guild hall, brought with her a few experts from her family, and went into an inn.

"Miss, what Huang Muxia said is not credible. Who is the Third Young Master to ask him for money?"

Zhao family master Yan Longhao said coldly:
"And you've recognized it, young lady. The handwriting on the IOU for 100,000 taels of silver is not the Third Young Master's at all. Only the seal is real."

"Do you suspect that Huang Muxia murdered Chuanzu? Used his seal privately and left the IOU?" Zhao Yuyan frowned and thought.

"There are many local tyrants in Baojiao County, and Liangjiang Guild Hall is one of them. When the young master came here, he was unfamiliar with the place and was deceived by Huang Muxia, and then he was killed for money. It is not impossible." Yan Longhao said coldly: "Miss, just ask the head of the sect to come over and let Huang Muxia explain clearly."

"You can suspect Huang Muxia, but you shouldn't just suspect him."

Zhao Yuyan said coldly:

"At first glance, Huang Muxia is indeed the most suspicious, but if it was really him, he wouldn't be so stupid as to murder Chuanzu and leave an IOU."

"Who else does the lady suspect?" Yan Longhao asked.

Zhao Yuyan said, "According to Huang Muxia's statement, combined with our investigation over the past two days, the bet between Chuanzu and the two young men from Yaowang Hall and Chai Tiepu is true, so... Xie Qingfeng and his disciple Qu Feng from Chai Tiepu... and Yang Luchan and his disciple Chen Ku from Yaowang Hall are also suspects."

Yan Longhao nodded and said, "Indeed, with Lao Liang by the Third Young Master's side, it is impossible for him to do this with only the strength of his two disciples. There must be someone helping him behind the scenes."

Zhao Yuyan pondered and said, "But in fact, what I suspect most is not these two families, but another force."

Yan Longhao frowned and asked, "Are there any more forces?"

"Well, assuming that everything Huang Muxia said is true, that night, Chuanzu really met him, told him that it was the evil man from Ping An Dao who did it, and then borrowed money from him, and disappeared the next day..."

Zhao Yuyan pondered:
"Could it be that the people from Ping An Dao killed Uncle Liang first, and then lured Chuan Zu away, causing him to disappear until today?"

"Ping An Dao, this group of monsters, if they are really them, I will kill them one by one!" Yan Longhao said gritting his teeth.

"Let's investigate step by step. This time, we've brought five uncles from the sect. Uncle Yan, each of you can send one person to keep an eye on the two disciples in the Firewood and Iron Shop and Medicine King Hall. The other three can go and investigate Ping An Dao."

Zhao Yuyan said:

"Especially for Heian Dao, what I fear most now is not the death of the ancestor, but that he will be bewitched by the evil cult of Heian Dao and follow them into the mountains to practice, and then leak out the foundation of my Ancient Elephant Sect, the Nine Dragons Combined Jade. That would cause endless disasters."

"Ping An Dao! Don't worry! We will go and investigate right away. Once we find any clues, we will immediately have the Sect Master come from Qiulong Mansion to meet with the Magistrate of Baojiao County and destroy these monsters!"

………………

"Asshole! You're putting all the blame on Ping An Dao!"

In Sheyu Town, in the Ping An Dao incense altar on a certain mountain, the incense master Yao Wensu looked at a notice posted by the government in front of him and cursed:

"The theft of the City God's golden statue in the City God Temple has nothing to do with my Ping An Dao, Shangguan Yun, and those dog officials who are just sitting there doing nothing! This is simply slander!"

But he also knows.

Those who wronged him know how wronged he is better than he does.

the reason is simple.

A bunch of incompetent rats were unable to find out the truth about the loss of the golden body of the City God, but in order to maintain the dignity and face of the court, they had to find a target for the people to vent their anger and hatred.

"Don't worry, Master. We have now moved our base to the countryside. Every month, people from the countryside follow us into the mountains to practice. We have almost gathered five thousand believers now. The rumors in the city will not affect us." said a leader next to Yao Wensu.

"I'm not afraid of rumors. Rumors can't shake anything. We still have many believers in Baojiao City, some of whom are even from wealthy families."

Yao Wensu's eyes darkened:
"What I'm worried about is that after he posted this notice, he will probably put on a show for the people and send troops into the mountains to wipe out our forces. That will be very troublesome!"

…………

"Zhao Yuyan, sounds like she's a woman... I don't know what her strength is, how many experts does she have around her?"

On his way back to Yaowang Hall, Chen Ku thought to himself:
"You just suspect me? That's normal, but if you dare to suspect me today, you'll be investigating me tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow you might assume I'm the murderer. We have to find a way to get rid of this bitch."

He planned to go and find out some information tonight.

We returned to the Medicine King Hall.

As soon as he entered the hall, he heard a bland voice coming from inside the hall:
"Junior Brother Chen, I heard that after you became my disciple, you were either late or left early every day, and created a lot of privileges for yourself. I thought it was just a rumor, but I didn't expect it to be true."

This was the first time that Chen Ku heard such harsh words in Yaowang Hall.

After all, ever since he came to prominence during his apprenticeship, his fellow apprentices have all surrounded him, just as the saying goes, when you become famous, you'll be surrounded by good people.

In addition, several masters value him very much.

Even that day, when the third shopkeeper's disciple, Senior Brother Lan Fuxi, was writing the list for the famous lady Ming Shengnan, he spoke for himself. Chen Ku immediately looked over.

There was a young man standing in the lobby with his hands behind his back. He had a strong physique, dark complexion, and sharp eyes. He looked at Chen Ku in a targeted manner.

"Who is this?" Chen Ku raised his eyebrows.

A waiter from the lobby immediately whispered to him, "Brother Chen, that's Brother Zhang at the second counter."

Counter 2, Brother Zhang.

Chen Ku suddenly realized.

He is the disciple of the second manager Zhang Yuanhai.

I heard that he came from the provincial capital and was not a native of Baojiao County. Like the second shopkeeper, he seemed to have connections with the boss.

"So it's Senior Brother Zhang Renfeng. Chen Ku is polite. Senior brother is teaching me a lesson. I will pay attention to it in the future."

Chen Ku smiled and saluted the other party with his fists clasped.

"You? Huh?"

Zhang Renfeng was slightly stunned. He had already prepared himself for Chen Ku to attack him. After all, this kid was in the limelight recently.

But I didn't expect that he could still put on a smiling face after being scolded by me.

His face twitched.

I wanted to say something else, but I couldn't hit someone who was smiling at me, and I didn't want to put on a bad face to ease the mood.

He snorted coldly, turned around and left proudly.

Seeing the other party like this, Chen Ku whispered in his heart:
"This kind of person is easy to deal with."

What I fear most is a kid like Zhao Chuanzu, who smiles on the surface but plans to kill me behind my back.

At least, this human phoenix has not yet triggered the evil spirit reminder of its own transformation diagram.

That is,

At most he said a few pleasant words.

But Chen Ku still didn't understand.

What's wrong with this person?
Are you making trouble for yourself for no reason?

"Senior Brother Zhang, has it always been like this?" Chen Ku turned and asked the old fellow in the lobby.

"Not really. Senior Brother Zhang is usually quite kind. Isn't it... the wrong day..." The old friend whispered to Chen Ku: "Junior Brother, why do you seem to be unprepared?"

"Preparation, what preparation?" Chen Ku wondered.

"After the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival is coming soon. Of course, it is the time for the 'guild consultation meeting' held every four years in Baojiao County. At that time, the hall will select three young representatives to attend the meeting and come up with a solution to the problems and conflicts of the major guilds over the past four years."

The old fellow said:
"And these three representatives are usually selected from the disciples in the hall to train the successors of the three future shopkeepers. They are required to participate in and deal with conflicts and competitions between the gangs in advance. Four years ago, it was the three disciples of the three shopkeepers who went. Four years later... you, Senior Brother Yang, and Senior Sister Huo have been added, so there are six people in total. Especially you... you are the one who has the greatest hope of replacing one of them."

"I see."

Chen Ku whispered to himself:

"He's afraid that I'll take his place as Young Shopkeeper."

"Yes, there are precedents for this. Thirty years ago, the third shopkeeper Cao Shouxiong participated as one of the representatives of a 'guild consultation conference' and squeezed out a young master from the boss's family who came from the capital. Then, he performed very well at the conference and won a lot of benefits for Yaowangtang in the county. After that, he participated every four years..."

The old fellow whispered:
"Willn't he become the third shopkeeper in the future?"

Chen Ku nodded.

So that's what happened.

"Then what is the Guild Consultation Conference?" Chen Ku asked curiously again.

The old friend shrank his head and shook his head, saying, "This, this level of meeting involves the allocation of resources and the resolution of conflicts behind the county's Yulong Association, Chai Tiepu, Liangjiang Guild Hall, and various major gangs. There are no more than fifty people in the entire county who are qualified to attend the meeting. I...how can I know what kind of meeting it is?"

"Okay, I understand." Chen smiled bitterly and stuffed a piece of silver into the hands of his old friend: "Happy New Year, brother."

Then, we arrived at the slaughterhouse.

"Someone just told me that you had an argument with Zhang Renfeng, the disciple of the second shopkeeper?" Shang Yunfang asked after Chen Ku came in, "I also heard about your performance. It was good. He couldn't find any fault with it."

Chen Ku said: "Master, do you know why he is targeting me?"

Shang Yunfang said, "The Association's meeting. You have a good chance of replacing one of them and becoming the representative of the Medicine King Hall this year. He feels a sense of crisis."

After confirmation from the master.

Chen Ku then asked, "What is the Guild Consultation Conference?"

Does it mean, as the name implies, that if there is any problem, everyone will work together to discuss it?
The world of martial arts is not about fighting and killing, but about the human relationships and worldly wisdom?

(End of this chapter)