Evergreen Immortal-Chapter 20: One Alliance, Two Gangs, Three Clans

"Taxes are paid twice a year, once in summer and once in autumn. Though you currently have no land, you're still required to pay the tax. But considering you're over seventy and have no children, you're exempt from corvée labor."

"You’ll need to report in once every year from now on. If you fail to report for a year, you'll be presumed deceased, and your registration will be canceled."

The clerk gave a pointed reminder.

Li Rui was already seventy, he could pass away at any time.

So he had to report regularly. If one year passed without a report, the household office would assume he had died.

After all, with the level of technology in ancient times, there was no way to accurately keep track of the population.

"Thank you, young official."

Li Rui gave a deep bow.

If not for Lord Ma's favor, the clerk certainly wouldn’t have offered such reminders.

Leaving the county office, Li Rui made a stop at a broker’s office.

He rented a small house in the eastern part of the city for one tael of silver per year. The place was no more than one zhang (around 3.3 meters) across.

From that moment on, he could finally call Qinghe his home.

Having redeemed his servitude, the things he needed to consider suddenly multiplied.

When he was still a servant in the Zhu household, he didn’t need to worry about taxes or anything else. All he had to do was work. But now, there was much more to think about.

"Best to settle in the city for now."

"Fortunately, I still have thirty taels of silver on hand, enough to get by for half a year. But I still need to find a way to make a living."

Now that he was a graded martial artist, expenses would flow like water.

Even the deepest savings would be drained eventually.

As days passed—

Without a blade, Li Rui could only use a wooden stick to practice the White Ape Phi Blade Technique.

With the enhancement of his martial bones and breathing technique, his progress was shockingly fast.

In just half a month—

He reached the mid-stage of Stone-Skin Refinement. At this rate, he might break through to Eighth Grade within a year.

If the so-called "genius prodigies" knew, they'd probably cough up three liters of blood in envy.

Even the most talented monsters would pale in comparison to Li Rui.

Even though he was already seventy.

During this time, Wang Zhao and Yang Yong visited a few times.

Ever since Li Rui left the Zhu household, the Zhu family master seemed to have turned over a new leaf. Once, when Zhu Lie tried to pressure Wang Zhao to lend him a horse, Zhu Ping himself intervened and scolded him.

With the Zhu family patriarch stepping in, Wang Zhao’s life became much easier.

Li Rui could finally be at ease.

...

One day, Li Rui was practicing his blade technique as usual at home—

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

When he opened it, he assumed it would be Wang Zhao or Yang Yong again, but instead, it was Wu Tu.

An uninvited guest.

Wu Tu still had that hearty, carefree smile. "Old brother, you’re still as tough as ever! You got delisted and didn’t even tell me. I’ve been looking all over for you!"

Li Rui replied plainly, "It was a small matter, no need to trouble Boss Wu."

A flash of surprise passed through Wu Tu’s eyes.

"You’ve gotten stronger again?!"

In just a month of absence, this old man felt even more formidable, he even felt a trace of fear.

"Did Captain Wu have some business with me?"

Wu Tu chuckled. "The moment I heard you got delisted, I rushed over to bring you good news."

"Good news?"

"Have you heard of the Heaven-Earth Alliance?"

Heaven-Earth Alliance!

When Li Rui heard those three words, his pupils slightly contracted.

Seeing the reaction, Wu Tu continued, "In Qinghe's martial world, there’s a saying: One Alliance, Two Gangs, Three Clans. Recently, several big names from the Hidden Eight Gates joined the Heaven-Earth Alliance. I thought, how could a good thing like this not include you, old brother? So I came straight over to tell you."

Of course Li Rui knew what "One Alliance, Two Gangs, Three Clans" referred to.

They were the most powerful factions across the surrounding counties, even the county magistrate would have to give way to them.

The Alliance referred to the Heaven-Earth Alliance, the Two Gangs were the Blood Tiger Gang and Severed Blade Gang, and the Three Clans were the Zhang, Wang, and Zhao families.

Yes, the Zhu family wasn’t even on the list. Compared to those three clans, they weren’t on the same level.

The word "Alliance" in Heaven-Earth Alliance already hinted at its scale and structure.

It was said to have been founded by three martial masters who combined their forces. By absorbing martial artists from multiple southern counties under Anning Prefecture, the alliance quickly grew in power. Until recently, it had only been heard of in neighboring counties.

Who would’ve thought the Heaven-Earth Alliance would reach into Qinghe so soon?

And since they were recruiting, where else could they find so many brave and ruthless fighters other than martial schools, escort agencies, and especially the Hidden Eight Gates?

Coincidentally, one of the three founders of the alliance was a former member of the Hidden Eight Gates, so as long as someone was willing to "wash their hands of the past," the alliance would take them in.

So it made perfect sense that Wu Tu had joined.

Unlike the Hidden Eight Gates, which couldn’t see the light of day, the Heaven-Earth Alliance was a legitimate sect officially registered with the court.

Yes, Yu Nation was built on martial prowess.

But the land was vast, tens of thousands of li across. The court simply couldn’t manage it all.

Thus, local officials often had no choice but to rely on local factions for assistance.

Once someone like Wu Tu joined the Heaven-Earth Alliance, they were essentially "cleansed." They could walk in and out of the county office without anyone stopping them.

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Wu Tu’s words stirred something in Li Rui’s heart.

Originally, he’d intended to take the military examination and earn an official title.

But the exam was held once every three years and the last one had just ended last year. The next was still three years away. He couldn’t sit idle for that long.

Joining the Heaven-Earth Alliance seemed like a good path.

Now that the alliance was just establishing itself in Qinghe, they were desperately in need of people.

If he joined now, he might even land a good position.

And the Heaven-Earth Alliance wasn’t something you could just walk into, you either needed local renown, or someone to vouch for you.

Wu Tu was the latter.

As someone who had just been delisted, Li Rui would definitely need an introduction.

Li Rui made up his mind and cupped his fists.

"I can't possibly ask Brother Wu to go through the trouble of making three visits to the thatched cottage. So this old brother will accept your offer with gratitude."

Hearing Li Rui agree, Wu Tu was overjoyed.

Just as Li Rui suspected, the Heaven-Earth Alliance had just entered Qinghe and was short on people.

Li Rui was an entry grade powerhouse.

Bringing him in would earn Wu Tu credit and a reward too. Otherwise, why would he be so eager?

"Don’t worry, old brother. I’ll make sure you get a good position!"

Wu Tu pounded his chest with conviction.

Right now, the Qinghe branch of the Heaven-Earth Alliance was just starting out. The other leaders from the Hidden Eight Gates were all pushing hard to squeeze their own people in.

Strength in numbers worked anywhere.

The more of your own people in the alliance, the more influence you had.

Just like how scholars had patronage and mentor-student relationships in the court system, jianghu wasn’t much different.

The people you introduced were half your own.

If your people rose to high positions, everything would go more smoothly for you.

Wu Tu was dead set on helping Li Rui land a solid position. That way, he too could rise up.

Then, he chuckled. "I practice Eagle Claw technique, my eyes are sharp. I could tell right away that you've already stepped into the ranks. If I report that to the Heaven-Earth Alliance, you’ll at least get a deacon’s position. The monthly stipend is ten taels! Regular disciples only get one tael."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

So Wu Tu really did have some skill.

He thought for a moment, then nodded. "Then I’ll trouble you, Brother Wu."

He was already at mid-stage Stone-Skin Refinement, and with the White Ape Phi Blade Technique, he was stronger than most entry-level graded martial artists. Even if word got out, he could hold his own.

Besides, the difference between a deacon and a regular disciple was just too big.

With Wu Tu’s sharp eyes, there would be others like him in the future, he couldn’t keep it hidden for long.

Better to take the chance and show some of his strength now.