The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 8

32

Zhang Xiaoyuan, carrying a large bag of soft pastries and candies, with a piece of pine nut candy in his mouth, nervously followed Lu Zhaoming back to the county office.

His mood was uneasy, still pondering Lu Zhaoming's recent smile.

Did Eldest Senior Brother actually smile at him?

Eldest Senior Brother could smile?!

...Was he going to be Eldest Senior Brother's next target for elimination?

Zhang Xiaoyuan was very afraid.

Lu Zhaoming needed to contact the family of the prospective bride, but he knew they wouldn't believe him without reason, so he would need Pei Junze's help.

The news of human traffickers had not yet spread, so some dared to hold celebrations on this day. Lu Zhaoming thought of following the wedding procession, hoping to track the bandits to their hideout and perhaps discover the whereabouts of other abducted girls.

Pei Junze agreed with his plan, but still felt that Lu Zhaoming's idea was somewhat inappropriate.

The family whose daughter was to be married was just an ordinary one. If she were really to abducted by bandits, even if Lu Zhaoming followed behind, there was still a high chance of an accident.

Moreover, ordinary families highly valued a woman's reputation. If the girl's future in-laws found out she had been taken by a group of bandits, they might call off the marriage. It was not right, and using her as bait to expose her to such danger was absolutely unacceptable.

After saying this, Pei Junze shifted his gaze to Wen Tingting, who was sitting by the door, eating snacks and playing with the dog alongside Zhang Xiaoyuan.

"Chief Constable Wen." Pei Junze smiled at her. "I might need your help."

Wen Tingting, of course, overheard their conversation. She blinked innocently, holding a piece of sticky rice cake. "Master Pei, I'm also a girl, you know."

Pei Junze was taken aback. "...Right."

Wen Tingting was also an unmarried girl. Forcing her into bridal attire was already not a good thing to do. Who knew what those human traffickers might do. Even with Wen Tingting's martial arts skills, if they used some drugs... she could be at a disadvantage.

Zhang Xiaoyuan stuffed a piece of sticky rice cake into his mouth, murmuring, "Eldest Senior Brother, Master Pei, what should we do?"

Before he could finish speaking, he turned around and happened to see both of them looking at him.

Pei Junze suddenly said, "The bride is only sixteen, still a delicate young girl."

Lu Zhaoming nodded slightly.

Pei Junze suddenly asked, "Zhang Xiaoyuan, how old are you now?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Huh?"

Lu Zhaoming answered for him, "Seventeen."

Pei Junze: "I think it works."

Lu Zhaoming: "Hmm."

Pei Junze assessed Zhang Xiaoyuan from top to bottom. "Looks good."

Lu Zhaoming: "Hmm."

Pei Junze: "It's decided then."

Lu Zhaoming: "Okay."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The sticky rice cake in Zhang Xiaoyuan's mouth suddenly didn't taste as good.

33

Zhang Xiaoyuan understood.

No wonder Eldest Senior Brother smiled at him and bought snacks for him.

Eldest Senior Brother is a crook!

A big crook!!!

34

Zhang Xiaoyuan, a seventeen-year-old youth with aspirations for the martial arts world, expressionlessly put on bridal attire. Despite the older women daubing makeup on his face, he didn't utter a word.

One older woman burst into laughter, perhaps never having witnessed such an amusing spectacle in her entire life. Simultaneously, she commented, "Young Master has such tender skin that it seems like water could be squeezed out."

Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't speak.

Another older woman nearby joined in the laughter. "In all my years, it's the first time I've ever done makeup for a man."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

She adorned the last bit of floral ornament on Zhang Xiaoyuan's forehead, stepped back to appraise, nodded involuntarily, and expressed satisfaction, "Looks about right."

The older woman picked up a comb from the table to groom Zhang Xiaoyuan's hair. In truth, she had already arranged his hair neatly. Perhaps thinking his hair was a bit unruly, Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't expect the woman to symbolically comb through it, chanting words, "May you be together all your lives from beginning till the end. May you have a harmonious marriage till old age—"

Zhang Xiaoyuan was dumbfounded.

Wait, he was just pretending! Just pretending!

This step wasn't necessary, right?

Wen Tingting burst into laughter, tears in her eyes, casting sympathetic glances toward Zhang Xiaoyuan.

Fortunately, she had the foresight to excuse herself from this matter, otherwise, the one embarrassing themselves at this moment would be her.

Lu Zhaoming also frowned slightly. "It's just a disguise. There's no need to make it so complicated."

Among this group, he was the most aloof. Even the older women seemed a bit afraid of him. When he spoke, the older women dared not say much. They stepped back, one saying, "Then... then, let's cover Young Master's head."

The bride's veil was behind Lu Zhaoming. He casually took it and covered Zhang Xiaoyuan. When he locked eyes with Zhang Xiaoyuan, who was glaring at him fiercely, Lu Zhaoming remained composed. He gently touched Zhang Xiaoyuan's head and said, "I'll buy you snacks when we return."

Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't want to talk to him.

Could this kind of thing be bought off with snacks?!

He would definitely complain to Master and Martial Uncle about this when he got back!

34

Although the auspicious time had not yet arrived, the wedding party had already gathered at the house.

Wen Tingting sighed and comforted him, "Big Brother, you don't need to be afraid. The whole county office is here with us!"

The groom, with a clear mind, said, "Y-y-you, the whole county office is here, how can I not be afraid?"

Wen Tingting thought he made a reasonable point and momentarily didn't know how to argue.

The county magistrate, Qi Chaoyun, arrived in the afternoon, comforting the groom, "Rest assured, I guarantee your safety. The officials here will ensure your well-being."

"Don't deceive me! I know! Th-th-they never spare the groom!" The groom shivered. "Blades have no eyes! What protection are you talking about?"

Qi Chaoyun: "What... no, they have never killed a groom, have they?"

"I won't listen! I don't believe it!" The groom was on the verge of tears. "It's supposed to be a joyous day, why am I so unlucky?"

Seeing his near breakdown, Qi Chaoyun realized the performance couldn't proceed smoothly. He sighed deeply and said, "This won't do. Others will easily see through the deception."

Startled, Qi Chaoyun and Wen Tingting rushed over. Looking at the groom, who had a bleeding nose, Wen Tingting couldn't help but sigh. "Have you ever seen a groom with a broken nose?"

Wen Tingting sighed once more. "He's even afraid of blood."

The bride's family hastily carried the groom into the house, trying to revive him by pinching his philtrum. Qi Chaoyun and Wen Tingting sighed together. Pei Junze turned to glance at Lu Zhaoming and said, "This won't do for the groom."

Lu Zhaoming remained impassive, showing no response.

"The county office's people have already infiltrated the wedding procession. We don't have any spare hands." Pei Junze spoke with a sly smile, lowering his voice beside Lu Zhaoming. "Magistrate Qi can't fight, and he doesn't know that I can."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Pei Junze: "Brother Lu, you might as well escort the Buddha all the way to the West—"

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

35

"The groom is so handsome. The bride must be a great beauty."

"Why are they bringing a dog in the wedding procession? Look at that big dog with a red flower... Could they be planning to eat dog meat tonight at the groom's house?"

"You know nothing. Dog meat warms the kidneys and boosts vitality. It should be eaten on the wedding night—"

Lu Zhaoming glanced coldly at a few people by the roadside, and their voices instantly hushed.

As the wedding procession clattered out of the city, Lu Zhaoming remained vigilant. After leaving the city for a short while, he sensed someone trailing them.

The other constables seemed oblivious, but Pidun slightly bristled, showing signs of tension.

......

Zhang Xiaoyuan was inside the sedan chair.

With his head covered, he knew nothing. His mind was filled with complaints about the stuffy sedan, the inconvenience of the bridal attire, the overly heavy headdress, and the certainty of reporting to Master and Martial Uncle. Eldest Senior Brother must not go unpunished!

Suddenly, the people were startled, and horses neighed. The sedan chair abruptly stopped, nearly causing Zhang Xiaoyuan to tumble out. Holding onto the edge, aware that the kidnappers had arrived, he couldn't help but feel extremely anxious. Lifting the cover to look outside, Lu Zhaoming, dressed in wedding attire, stood next to the sedan. He hurriedly whispered, "After they capture you, you must stay calm. Don't act tough in any situation. Remember, preserving your life is the top priority."

Rarely did Lu Zhaoming speak this much at once. Zhang Xiaoyuan was surprised as he received a dagger from him, tucking it into his sleeve. "Eldest Senior Brother, why are you wearing..."

Suddenly, a line of words appeared above the man's head.

「Why is this bride so calm?」

「Could it be a trick?」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

"Help!!!"

"Assault!!!"