The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 12

45

Zhu Ba... carrying what?

Zhang Xiaoyuan stood still, his face flushing red with embarrassment.

Wearing bridal attire was one thing, but Eldest Senior Brother dressed as the groom, carrying him back — wasn't that quite...

As expected, the little one shouted, "Mommy, Mommy! The new bride is shy!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan could only lower his head, not looking at anything, pretending obliviousness. He knew nothing.

He thought Eldest Senior Brother lived up to the title, seemingly unfazed in this situation.

On their way back to the county office, they had to pass through the main street where the morning's wedding parade had taken place. The street teemed with people, many of whom had seemingly never witnessed such a peculiar sight. Some willingly cleared the way, while others murmured and discussed the unusual scene.

"Isn't that the groom who came to receive the bride this morning? Why is he back again?"

"And he's still carrying the bride. Could it be that they're here to cancel the wedding?"

"I think this young lady looks pretty good. Look at her shy little face. It doesn't seem like they're canceling the wedding."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt wronged, wanting to cry, his heart heavy.

He was very afraid.

They were about to enter the county office soon! With these imaginative people around, once they entered, who knew what kind of drama they might conjure up.

As expected, these onlookers curiously followed. Zhang Xiaoyuan, feeling embarrassed, didn't know how to stop them. He was about to suggest to Lu Zhaoming to take a detour and avoid them when Lu Zhaoming coldly glanced at the crowd, immediately stopping them in their tracks.

Zhang Xiaoyuan whispered to Lu Zhaoming, "Eldest Senior Brother, let's take a side path."

Lu Zhaoming didn't respond.

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Suddenly, he hurried a few steps, abruptly stopped, and with a slight exertion, leaped onto the eaves by the roadside.

Although his lightness skills were not on par with Hua Liuque, he indeed had received Wang Henian's teachings. Carrying Zhang Xiaoyuan on his back, he stepped onto the aged green tiles of the old house, making almost no sound.

Zhang Xiaoyuan was startled. He clung tightly to Lu Zhaoming, afraid of being accidentally toppled.

From his elevated position, Lu Zhaoming looked down lightly, casting a glance at the people following him.

"Annoying."

......

Zhang Xiaoyuan suddenly felt that Eldest Senior Brother's actions were quite stylish.

He had heard that in the martial arts world, some taciturn and dignified young heroes were quite popular among girls. He used to think that being reserved made one seem dull and unappealing. Now he understood.

Eldest Senior Brother was genuinely cool!

Moving along the eaves, their pace quickened, and thankfully, none of those meddlesome individuals followed.

Since they left the county town, Qi Chaoyun had been full of worry. He paced back and forth inside the county office, almost circling the small garden dozens of times. He thought everyone would return at least by midnight or the day after, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhaoming, carrying Zhang Xiaoyuan, suddenly jumped in from the wall.

Startled, Qi Chaoyun took a big step forward. Without waiting to ask, Lu Zhaoming proactively said, "Sprained ankle."

Qi Chaoyun inspected Zhang Xiaoyuan's injury. It wasn't too severe. After applying ointment and a few days of rest, he would recover. The servants in the county office cleared a room for Zhang Xiaoyuan to rest and recuperate. Qi Chaoyun thought of informing Wang Henian about Zhang Xiaoyuan's injury, but Zhang Xiaoyuan considered it a minor injury. He didn't want his master to worry, and he certainly didn't want to return to the sect so soon.

In a few days, there would be a temple fair! He wanted to go to the temple fair with Eldest Senior Brother!

46

In the evening, Wen Tingting led the captured bandits back to the county office. They encountered no issues on the way, but Zhou Youyi and Cong Tian both sustained injuries, so the interrogation had to be postponed.

This matter had little to do with Zhang Xiaoyuan. They claimed the reward, which, compared to Hua Liuque's bounty, wasn't much, but it was still a substantial fifty taels of silver! Enough to sustain the sect for a while!

Besides the county office's reward, the rescued women's families also offered rewards. When that money arrived, the sect should have no financial worries for the next few years.

After a while, Hua Liuque hesitatedly spoke, "Your leg..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan, astonished, asked, "How did you get out?"

Hua Liuque cleared his throat, raised the wooden crutch slightly, and pointed to Zhang Xiaoyuan's raised foot. "Your leg... is broken?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Who asks if someone's leg is broken right after meeting them!

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but glare angrily at Hua Liuque.

Hua Liuque, looking at his expression, felt he understood.

Limping with the crutch, Hua Liuque walked up to Zhang Xiaoyuan, continually muttering and sighing, "It was your senior brother who hit... cough cough, your senior brother is truly insane!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

What does this have to do with Eldest Senior Brother!

Hua Liuque sighed again. "Unfortunately, my skills are not up to par."

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Zhang Xiaoyuan asked with a puzzled expression, "How did you manage to get out?"

......

While he wasn't a criminal, he was quite fickle. Zhang Xiaoyuan, not fond of such people, furrowed his brows and asked, "Then why are you still in the county office?"

A prisoner who was released should leave. Why was he still loitering in the county office?

Hua Liuque retrieved a folding fan from his pocket, opened and shook it, flashing his usual charming and carefree smile at Zhang Xiaoyuan. "I'm here to deliver a message."

Zhang Xiaoyuan became even more puzzled. "A message?"

Hua Liuque pulled out a letter from his pocket, a familiar envelope and familiar handwriting. Zhang Xiaoyuan unconsciously blurted out, "Yan-niang?"

"Ah Yan took on an assignment at the county office and came over early today. Naturally, I could only come here to find her." Hua Liuque smiled with a radiant expression. "Coincidentally, Qi Chaoyun also sent a letter to the inn, saying he had urgent matters to discuss with me. I think he wants to apologize and make amends."

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You're daydreaming..."

Hua Liuque chuckled, snapped the fan shut, and went straight to knock it on Zhang Xiaoyuan's head. "That crazy guy surnamed Lu isn't here—"

The fan was intercepted in mid-air. Hua Liuque looked up to see Lu Zhaoming, whose expression was cold. He instantly felt weak in the knees, clutching his crutch tightly, shivering. "I... Y-y-young Hero L-L-Lu, we were just fooling around!"

Lu Zhaoming pressed the fan against Hua Liuque's, paying him no attention. In his other hand, he held a paper-wrapped package, casually handing it to Zhang Xiaoyuan. "Master and Martial Uncle came down from the mountain. This is what Martial Uncle bought for you."

Zhang Xiaoyuan, surprised, leaned in to sniff the paper-wrapped package, joyfully asked, "Pastries?"

Lu Zhaoming pinched Hua Liuque's fan, pushing it aside. His expression was calm, not fierce, but it frightened Hua Liuque enough to instinctively cover his own legs.

"I don't know what it is," Lu Zhaoming said. "Master is talking to Magistrate Qi. He asked me to bring you and Hua Liuque over."

Hua Liuque stiffened. "Br-bring... bring who?"

Lu Zhaoming glanced at him, prompting him to prop up his crutch, standing somewhat crookedly. "Let's go, let's go, together!"

47

Lu Zhaoming supported Zhang Xiaoyuan, who was holding pastries, ignoring the struggling Hua Liuque with his crutch. They made their way to Qi Chaoyun's study.

"Junior Brother?" Jiang Jianyu was slightly surprised. "What happened to your foot?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan pouted with a sense of injustice. "Twisted it accidentally."

Hua Liuque glanced at him, extremely surprised. "What?! You weren't injured by your senior brother—"

Seeing Lu Zhaoming's expression, he naturally swallowed the rest of his sentence.

Lu Zhaoming, with a bow, spoke first, "Master, it's my fault."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was left speechless. Since Eldest Senior Brother had already taken responsibility, he didn't know what else to say.

Wang Henian waved his hand. "You two were catching thieves for the sake of Fengji's people, handling special matters. What's wrong with that?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Wang Henian: "This time, when your martial uncle and I descended the mountain, it's for another important matter."

Qi Chaoyun was overjoyed. "So, Senior Wang has agreed?"

Wang Henian: "This is a good deed for the benefit of the people. Naturally, I agree."

Zhang Xiaoyuan had a vague sense of foreboding.

Qi Chaoyun: "Hua Liuque, do you remember what I told you when I released you from the prison?"

Hua Liuque: "...Huh?"

Qi Chaoyun: "If you swear to mend your ways, I will let you go. But if you don't change..."

Hua Liuque hastily said, "I've already changed!"

"Your words mean little. I'm still skeptical." Qi Chaoyun stood with hands behind his back. "You lacked proper guidance since childhood, which led you astray. Frivolous and fickle. That's why I came up with an excellent solution."

Qi Chaoyun pointed at Wang Henian, smiling at Hua Liuque. "Become his disciple."

Hua Liuque: "......"

Hua Liuque: "Huh??!"