The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 7

29

Zhang Xiaoyuan stared blankly at Pei Junze.

For so long, the text he saw on others' heads had never been wrong. Of course, Wang Henian had no need to deceive them.

So what was going on? Did the Demon Sect Master have an affair with Pei Junze's mother? No, did Pei Wuluan get married? How did he suddenly end up with this big son?!

If not for this... could it be that the Demon Sect Master and the Martial Arts Alliance Chief have that kind of relationship?

No, no, no, saying that was not right either.

Even if the two of them really have something, they absolutely couldn't have a son, right?!

The secrets of the martial arts world were too stimulating. Zhang Xiaoyuan felt that his brain was not enough.

"This time, I stopped Uncle not to reminisce," Pei Junze exchanged pleasantries with Wang Henian, then abruptly changed the subject, "Uncle Wang, the county office issued a bounty today. I wonder if you're interested?"

Upon hearing the words "reward," Zhang Xiaoyuan instantly perked up.

Although the reward for Hua Liuque's arrest slipped away, the county office posted a new bounty!

Accept! How could one not seize such a golden opportunity!

"Recently, human traffickers have been active in the neighboring provinces and prefectures. In just one month, they've committed over ten cases. A few days ago, they reached Lin County, even harming the young daughter of the acting county magistrate," Pei Junze frowned as he spoke, "At that time, some imperial soldiers confronted them, but none were a match..."

Wang Henian: "Do you suspect them to be people from the martial arts world?"

"Yes." Pei Junze nodded. "I've seen those injured soldiers. The attackers were ruthless. There were four dead and one wounded. They used knives, and every wound was deep enough to reveal bone. The survivor, though lucky to keep his life, must be horribly disfigured. I believe they didn't intend to spare anyone."

Before he finished explaining the details of the case, Wang Henian had already agreed with a nod.

"Human traffickers are truly despicable!" Wang Henian turned to Lu Zhaoming and said, "Zhaoming, stay behind and assist Magistrate Qi."

Lu Zhaoming nodded. "Yes, Master."

Wang Henian lowered his voice again, whispering to his few disciples, "Your martial uncle and I are going back to work on building the houses. You'll have to endure these days. If there's any unresolved matter, come back and find us."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan almost forgot about the two thatched huts on the mountain crushed by Jiang Jianyu.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand, "Master! I also want to stay and investigate the case."

Compared to building houses, catching thieves was evidently more interesting.

Wang Henian: "This..."

Wang Henian remembered Zhang Xiaoyuan's martial arts skills weren't that impressive, and being a friend's son, facing ruthless criminals made him worry. Just as he hesitated, She Shuyi gently nudged him and whispered, "Kids love to play. The county town is more interesting than the mountain. With Zhaoming and Junze there, nothing should go wrong."

Wang Henian understood.

He smiled at Zhang Xiaoyuan and cleared his throat to Lu Zhaoming. "Zhaoming, take care of your junior brother."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

30

Zhang Xiaoyuan got his wish and stayed at the county office with Lu Zhaoming.

Everything went as he wished, the only drawback being that it wasn't Jiang Jianyu who stayed but Lu Zhaoming.

Zhang Xiaoyuan was already afraid of Lu Zhaoming, and seeing him break Hua Liuque's leg last night only heightened that fear.

They followed Pei Junze to examine the case files transferred from Lin County. Lu Zhaoming spoke little, almost letting Pei Junze do the talking while he silently listened, occasionally giving quiet assents.

These thieves, more accurately described as human traffickers, targeted beautiful women about to be married. On the eve of their wedding or during the ceremony, they would forcefully seized the brides and took them away.

Their methods were too conspicuous, easily drawing the attention of officials. As a result, they would generally stay for only two or three days before leaving. The young women who fell into their hands seemed to vanish without a trace.

Time was limited. They needed to find clues quickly.

Pei Junze initially intended to explore with them, but suddenly, Qi Chaoyun's messenger arrived, claiming urgent matters. Pei Junze had no choice but to leave. Lu Zhaoming showed little interest in the thick stack of case files Pei Junze unearthed. He took Zhang Xiaoyuan out of the county office onto the streets, intending to uncover some leads before nightfall.

Zhang Xiaoyuan asked him, "Senior Brother, where should we start?"

Lu Zhaoming: "Start by asking."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Asking?"

Lu Zhaoming nodded but offered no further explanation.

Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't dare to ask more. He could only lower his head and obediently follow Lu Zhaoming's steps.

They wandered through the streets, stopping outside a restaurant. Lu Zhaoming halted there.

Across from the restaurant sat two beggars, one old and one young. They seemed to recognize Lu Zhaoming. When Lu Zhaoming approached them, the old beggar greeted him warmly, "Young Hero Lu, it's been a long time."

Surprisingly, Lu Zhaoming also paid his respects, "Senior."

"Young Hero Lu, did your master send you to find me?" Six Fingers touched his crutch. "What do you need this time?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan noticed an extra finger on the hand supporting the crutch. He didn't dare to stare and quickly shifted his gaze to Little Lame's head.

Words were appearing there.

「Here come two more suckers.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Huh?

What suckers?

"Have there been any unfamiliar faces in the city these days?" Lu Zhaoming didn't respond to Six Fingers' words. He took out the silver ingot She Shuyi gave him yesterday from his pocket and bent down, placing it in the worn bowl in front of Six Fingers. "In the next few days, are there any young girls in the city about to get married?"

Six Fingers glanced sideways at the silver in the bowl, clicked his tongue, and raised an eyebrow. "Young Hero Lu, this amount..."

Lu Zhaoming remained silent.

Thinking he might not understand, Six Fingers extended his hand with only five fingers and shook it in front of Lu Zhaoming. He said, "Two questions, at least multiply it by ten."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

No wonder the little beggar just now called them suckers. Information from the Beggars Sect was too expensive!

Zhang Xiaoyuan paused, suddenly feeling like he had discovered a new path to wealth.

Wait, if selling information could make money, could he also—

No, even though he now knew many martial arts world secrets, the information he possessed was still too limited. At least for now, he couldn't become an all-knowing informant.

Lu Zhaoming looked at Six Fingers with a slight frown. It was evident he also found it too expensive. Multiplying it by ten again, fifty taels of silver — where would he find fifty taels of silver?

With Lu Zhaoming's silence, Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help feeling a bit anxious, thinking Lu Zhaoming was hesitating. This was indeed a loss-making deal. Immediately, he turned his head to stare at Six Fingers, hoping his ability would reveal useful information popping up above Six Fingers' head.

「Street-side stinky tofu tastes really good.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Meanwhile, Lu Zhaoming slowly bent down, crouching in front of Six Fingers.

Zhang Xiaoyuan panicked.

He nervously stared at the two, then watched as Lu Zhaoming reached out, taking back the five taels of silver from the worn bowl.

Six Fingers: "Young Hero Lu, you..."

Lu Zhaoming: "I don't want to know anymore."

Six Fingers coughed and said, "The price... the price is negotiable! Young Hero Lu, whatever you have, just give it!"

Lu Zhaoming stood up, shoved the five taels of silver into Zhang Xiaoyuan's hands, still wearing an expressionless face, and said, "I'm sorry."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Huh?"

"This is the silver Martial Uncle gave you to buy candied hawthorns. I grabbed the wrong one," Lu Zhaoming said this and then turned back, looking at Six Fingers. Slowly, he asked, "Give as much as I have?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan watched as a sentence appeared above Little Lame's head.

「Five taels of silver to buy candied hawthorns. Suckers are really rich.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Six Fingers also swallowed a mouthful of saliva, nodding. "Young Hero Lu is generous—"

Lu Zhaoming placed a copper coin in Six Fingers' worn bowl.

"Give as much as I have," Lu Zhaoming said, "I only have this much."

Six Fingers: "......"

31

Lu Zhaoming asked him, "What kind of people are they?"

Six Fingers grinned at him. "Young Hero Lu, that's another price altogether."

Lu Zhaoming: "Next question."

"These days have been ordinary. There should only be one family with a daughter getting married in the next three or four days." Six Fingers coughed. "On the west side of the city, it's a wealthy family. Today, they're hosting a feast at the bride's home. They should be sending her off tomorrow."

Lu Zhaoming stood up. "Thank you."

He didn't say more, turning to leave in front of the two. Zhang Xiaoyuan hurriedly caught up, still holding the five taels of silver, thinking of returning it to Lu Zhaoming. After a few steps, just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt Lu Zhaoming's direction seemed a bit off.

Zhang Xiaoyuan caught up with Lu Zhaoming. "Eldest Senior Brother! That's not the west side! Where are you going?"

Lu Zhaoming turned slightly, casually patting Zhang Xiaoyuan's head, and whispered, "Martial Uncle has given his orders."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was startled, freezing in place. "Huh?"

"It's still early." Lu Zhaoming slightly curved his lips, as if smiling at him. "Let's go get you some candied hawthorns first."