Formless Alliance

When Jiang Che had scattered the lime earlier, he had taken the chance to set off a firework. That was where the bang had come from.

The reason he had dared to contend with the Flower-Plucking Thief was, on one hand, because the other man had been poisoned. As time passed, his strength would slowly weaken.

On the other hand, Jiang Che had been waiting for reinforcements.

The only thing he had not expected was that the Flower-Plucking Thief possessed a secret technique that could temporarily push him into a breakthrough.

Fortunately, Jiang Che had always been cautious. He had put on the Spiked Leather Armor, and with his body-tempering skills as a foundation, he had not suffered much injury.

Liu Hai nodded and said no more, swiftly giving chase.

Jiang Che hurried after him as well.

Young Master Zhang had originally only reached the Iron Skin Realm through a temporary secret technique, and now he was already showing signs of exhaustion.

Coupled with the Paralytic Poison he had been afflicted with earlier, his speed suddenly slowed. Before long, Liu Hai caught up to him.

Knowing he was no match, he stopped resisting and surrendered without a fight.

Chief Constable Liu snorted coldly and tied him up with rope.

Jiang Che arrived at that moment and explained the entire sequence of events.

Remembering that Miss Shao was still in the grass—

The two of them hurried over while escorting the Flower-Plucking Thief, and sure enough, found Miss Shao sitting on the ground.

She had gradually recovered, but she had no strength left and could not stand.

After confirming the details, Liu Hai determined that Jiang Che had spoken the truth, and inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

The Shao Family was one of the Five Great Families. If the Flower-Plucking Thief had succeeded today, Liu Hai would not have been fit to remain chief constable!

Even his immediate superior, the County Magistrate, would have been demoted!

The Five Great Families stood above the rest because every one of them had powerful people backing them!

Before these aristocratic families, minor local officials like them were almost no different from ordinary commoners.

Thinking of this, Liu Hai looked at Jiang Che with a complicated expression.

This man could be said to have saved everyone in the entire Yamen, from top to bottom, through his own strength alone!

He patted Jiang Che on the shoulder and sighed.

"Brother Jiang, I never thought you could fight a Stone Skin Realm thief to such a degree! You are truly a young hero. Liu admires you!"

Liu Hai's expression was serious, his tone filled with sincerity.

He had originally looked down on Jiang Che somewhat because Jiang Che's Qi-Blood was weak.

Yet Jiang Che had actually managed to hold back someone so much stronger than himself!

Judging from the man's palm, Jiang Che had even injured him!

With the Qi-Blood of an early Ox-Hide Realm cultivator, he had contended against someone with mid-stage Stone Skin Realm Qi-Blood!

That man had even temporarily broken through into the Pseudo-Iron Skin Realm through a secret art later on!

This was simply unheard of. Liu Hai had no idea how Jiang Che had managed it!

Still, everyone had their own trump cards, so Liu Hai did not ask further.

No matter what, this man had excellent potential and was worth taking seriously!

"I don't deserve such praise! If Chief Constable Liu hadn't arrived in time, Jiang might already have died on the spot!" Jiang Che said, still shaken.

I was still too impulsive—too full of myself!

He had relied on trump cards like Flow State and Omen to do something so dangerous.

He absolutely could not take such risks again in the future!

Moreover, he now understood that his strength was still far too lacking.

A random Flower-Plucking Thief had turned out to be this powerful.

He had underestimated the Martial Artists of this world.

He silently decided that until he reached the Stone Skin Realm, he would not take missions outside again.

After all, when playing games in his previous life, he had been the sort to farm until his economy ranked first across the entire field before coming out to reap the harvest.

"By the way, Chief Constable Liu, could you... help me conceal my strength?" Jiang Che added.

This time, in order to obtain the Qi-Replenishing Pill, he had revealed far too many trump cards.

Whether it was the talent granted by the system panel or the source of his lightness skill, neither was easy for Jiang Che to explain.

Especially after obtaining the Qi-Replenishing Pill, he would surely draw others' envy.

If someone started keeping an eye on him because of that, it would be very dangerous.

Having lived two lives, Jiang Che understood that the tree rising above the forest would be the first to be battered by the wind.

Before he was strong enough, it was best to keep a low profile.

That way, if he encountered enemies, they might fail because they underestimated him.

Compared with superficial fame, his own life mattered more!

Liu Hai looked deeply at Jiang Che, then nodded.

"Rest assured, Brother Jiang. Liu knows what to do."

He had already been astonished by Jiang Che's potential. Now that he saw Jiang Che remain neither arrogant nor impetuous, he was even more satisfied.

At that moment, Miss Shao had finally recovered almost completely and rose to her feet.

Though she had suffered such an unexpected incident, she quickly regained her usual composed demeanor.

"Young Master Jiang, thank you for saving me. I did not trust you before, and I truly apologize for that," Miss Shao said apologetically.

"You are too polite, Miss Shao. It was merely a small effort," Jiang Che said with a smile.

"My name is Shao Shiliu. You may call me Shiliu."

Shao Shiliu smiled radiantly, bright and generous, her eyes fixed directly on Jiang Che without the slightest attempt at concealment.

As expected of a daughter of a great family. Her confidence and bearing truly differ from ordinary people's.

She continued.

"I can see that Young Master Jiang is a man of outstanding appearance, and your martial skill is exceptional.

"The Shao Family happens to be lacking young experts like you. Why not become a guest retainer of my Shao Family?

"I can personally authorize a monthly stipend of one hundred taels of silver, plus five jin of Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat. What do you think, Young Master Jiang?"

Her voice was calm, as if she were not worried in the slightest that Jiang Che might refuse.

"Five jin of Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat!"

Jiang Che was somewhat astonished. The Shao Family was truly lavish!

"But I am still affiliated with the escort agency..." Jiang Che hesitated.

"That is no obstacle. Brother Jiang may remain affiliated with other forces. You need only come lend a hand whenever my Shao Family has need of you!" Shao Shiliu said indifferently.

The Shao Family kept hundreds of retainers, with experts as numerous as clouds. There would rarely be any occasion for Jiang Che to take action.

She simply felt that Jiang Che possessed boundless potential and had saved her life.

Using resources that were insignificant to the Shao Family in exchange for the loyalty of a Martial Artist with such potential was simply an unbelievably profitable bargain.

Jiang Che nodded. "Then Jiang will gratefully accept."

He truly needed Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat right now.

Low-Grade Exotic Beast Meat had a limited absorption rate.

Blindly increasing the amount he ate would not produce any effect.

Especially once he broke through to the Stone Skin Realm, the effects of Low-Grade Exotic Beast Meat would become even more negligible.

As for Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat, one generally only had a chance of acquiring it by joining an aristocratic family like the Shao Family or another major force.

For Jiang Che, this was indeed a good opportunity.

Otherwise, even if he broke through to the Stone Skin Realm, the Five Great Families might not necessarily think highly of him.

After all, compared to others, his Qi-Blood was not particularly abundant.

And his true trump cards could not be revealed, so he would naturally be underestimated.

"Then tomorrow, I shall have the steward deliver your guest retainer token to White Cloud Martial Hall."

"Then I'll trouble you."

Shao Shiliu suddenly blinked and said in a deliberately mysterious tone, "Oh, right. Did you know that my elder brother is also at your Martial Arts Hall?"

Jiang Che thought for a moment. "Could it be... Senior Brother Shao Jianbo?"

Shao Shiliu smiled and nodded.

"So you are actually Senior Brother Shao's younger sister. My apologies for failing to recognize you!"

Jiang Che had not actually met this legendary Second Senior Brother yet.

From the other disciples' usual chatter, this Second Senior Brother possessed peerless talent and was the strongest among the Martial Arts Hall's disciples.

It was said that he had already reached the peak of the Iron Skin Realm.

Yet rumor had it that he had no interest in practicing martial arts and spent his days wandering through mountains and rivers, rarely seen at all.

As the person at the Martial Arts Hall with the greatest hope of charging into the Force-Entering Realm, he seemed to have no desire to break through.

Jiang Che could understand that. Breaking into the Force-Entering Realm carried risks; not everyone chose to take another step forward.

Besides, as a member of the Shao Family in the Inner City, Shao Jianbo had enjoyed wealth and glory from the moment he was born. Martial arts were merely a hobby to him.

Unlike someone of humble origins like Jiang Che, who could only train desperately in martial arts to survive.

"Also, the fifteenth of next month happens to be my father's sixtieth birthday. Young Master Jiang, please be sure to honor us with your presence," Shao Shiliu suddenly recalled.

"Thank you for the invitation. Jiang will certainly attend the banquet on time! Please convey Jiang's regards to Master Shao!" Jiang Che said with cupped fists.

Seeing the two conversing so congenially, Liu Hai smiled.

"Congratulations, Brother Jiang, on forging such a fine connection."

The three chatted politely for a while longer before Liu Hai stopped before the Flower-Plucking Thief.

"Speak! Who exactly are you? Do you have any other accomplices?" Liu Hai demanded in a low voice.

The Flower-Plucking Thief sneered, turned his head aside, and ignored him.

Liu Hai's face turned cold. He raised a hand and slapped him, sending the Flower-Plucking Thief sprawling to the ground. His face immediately swelled.

"Hm?"

Liu Hai sensed that something was wrong. He walked over and felt the Flower-Plucking Thief's face, seeming to pinch something beneath his skin, then suddenly tore it away.

It was another Human Skin Mask!

And the Flower-Plucking Thief's true appearance had nothing whatsoever to do with handsome.

Though the man was not ugly, his features were sinister. A red mark lay upon his face, bearing the number "ninety-seven."

Upon seeing the Flower-Plucking Thief's true face, Liu Hai sucked in a sharp breath.

"Formless Alliance?! You're from the Formless Alliance!"