The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 22

69

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but sneak a glance at Xiao Mobai, feeling a bit curious.

Xiao Mobai, about the same height as Zhang Xiaoyuan, possessed a wonderfully crafted face that resembled the delicate beauty of a young woman.

Zhang Xiaoyuan had encountered someone of this type before. Judging by the face, Xiao Mobai resembled Mei Leng'an, except Mei Leng'an showed signs of aging with fine lines around his eyes. Xiao Mobai, on the other hand, looked very young — probably no more than twenty-something. Every sentence he spoke to Zhao Chengyang was accompanied by a smile, leaving Zhang Xiaoyuan with a positive impression of him.

Zhang Xiaoyuan turned back and glanced at Eldest Senior Brother.

He had forgotten to answer Lu Zhaoming's question earlier, but Lu Zhaoming didn't seem displeased. He appeared to be daydreaming while staring at the sky. Zhang Xiaoyuan, following his lead, also looked up at the sky. However, there were only a few scattered clouds drifting. He had no idea what Eldest Senior Brother was gazing at.

The emperor greeted them, but Lu Zhaoming was very indifferent. Now, with such intense focus on the sky, curiosity compelled him to also look up.

Xiao Mobai was puzzled and asked Zhao Chengyang, "What are you looking at?"

He also raised his head to take a look.

Qi Chaoyun and the others were equally puzzled. The three exchanged glances, then followed suit by looking up at the sky. Yet, they only saw two or three white clouds and a large group of sparrows flapping their wings flew by together.

Qi Chaoyun: "Where did so many birds come from?"

Pei Junze: "Birds fly for morning food—"

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden "plop" sound was heard.

Stiffening, he turned his head and saw bird droppings on Xiao Mobai's head. Xiao Mobai blurted out a curse, took a few steps back in a hurry, and accidentally bumped into Zhao Chengyang.

The two instantly tumbled into a heap, with Xiao Mobai being shorter. Most of the bird droppings ended up on Zhao Chengyang.

Zhao Chengyang felt a cool sensation on his face, something wet and sticky. As they fell in an ambiguous entanglement, he found himself pressed on top of Xiao Mobai. With hands supporting the ground, the other's face was close at hand. Before any strange thoughts could occur, he noticed the peculiar white and sticky marks on Xiao Mobai's head.

Zhao Chengyang: "......"

He lifted his hand, wiped his own face, and then looked at his fingers.

Very well.

Zhao Chengyang trembled all over.

"Puyang, shoot down those birds for Us!" He gritted his teeth, trembling with anger. "Throw them away to feed the wild dogs!"

Enraged, Zhao Chengyang spoke without restraint, momentarily referring to himself using the royal "Us". This startled Puyang Jing, who forcefully coughed a couple of times, covering up Zhao Chengyang's statement.

"Brother Huang," Puyang Jing tried to persuade, "the birds are innocent. It's just their natural inst—"

Plop.

A white splotch appeared on Puyang Jing's black-robed shoulder.

Puyang Jing: "——inct."

Puyang Jing: "...…"

Puyang Jing drew out his sword and unsheathed it.

......

Wen Tingting was returning from walking Pidun and nearly witnessed the entire development of the incident. She paused in her steps, remained silent for a while, and quietly moved a bit further away from Lu Zhaoming.

This was too terrifying!

Had this person really become so life-threatening at this point?

In the blink of an eye, all three were hit! What was this?!

A rain of bird droppings?

She took another step back, retreating under the eaves, then turned to look at the people in the courtyard.

Wait, that person covered in bird droppings looked oddly familiar and resembled the emperor a bit too much...

It seemed to be the emperor.

Wen Tingting: "......"

Even the revered True Dragon Emperor, holding the status of Nine-Five, couldn't suppress such life-threatening luck?!!!

She had to keep her distance from this man!

70

The courtyard was in chaos, with those fetching water, searching for handkerchiefs, and expressing frustration all looking alarmed. Unable to make sense of the situation, he furrowed his brows slightly and repeated the question to Zhang Xiaoyuan, "Do you want steamed buns or dumplings for breakfast? I'll go buy them for you."

Zhang Xiaoyuan trembled in his voice, "I... I want to eat buns."

Qi Chaoyun, while handing Zhao Chengyang a twisted handkerchief, frowned and inquired, "Brother Lu, what were you looking at just now?"

Lu Zhaoming: "The weather is nice today."

Qi Chaoyun: "......"

Zhao Chengyang: "......"

Lu Zhaoming: "It doesn't seem like it will rain in the afternoon either."

Qi Chaoyun: "......"

Zhao Chengyang: "......"

Lu Zhaoming: "I'll go buy steamed buns for my junior brother."

"Your Majesty... um... ahem." Wen Tingting seemed unsure how to address Zhao Chengyang. "Do you remember me?"

Zhao Chengyang wiped his face, maintaining excellent manners. At this point, he could still speak kindly. He nodded slightly and said, "Tingting, We... of course, I remember you."

Wen Tingting smiled. "You're not here to take me back, are you?"

"You were barely ten when you first visited my house." Zhao Chengyang smiled gently, "I treated you like a sister. Why would I take you back?"

"That's good!" Wen Tingting happily said, "You've endured hardships from traveling. Let me—"

Wen Tingting quickly pulled Pidun away, and surprisingly, Zhao Chengyang laughed. "Is this the military dog you secretly took out?"

Xiao Mobai, still startled, exclaimed, "What is it trying to do!"

Zhao Chengyang laughed. "It seems to really like you."

He tossed the handkerchief he used to wipe his face into the basin, ensuring there were no strange bird droppings on his face. Thinking of taking a bath, he turned to Xiao Mobai and jokingly said, "After careful consideration, it seems there's no one who can dislike you."

Xiao Mobai snorted, "You're talking nonsense again."

......

Wen Tingting suddenly took a step back.

Hold on, who is this person? And what's happening now?!

Why does the Emperor seem so intimate with this person? What is their relationship?

No one can dislike you — does that mean even the Emperor likes him?!

Wen Tingting: "......"

How did this involve so many people!

Zhao Chengyang: "Ah Yun, prepare some hot water for bathing. Luck hasn't been on our side today. Looks like we need to take a bath first."

Xiao Mobai sweetly smiled at Qi Chaoyun, "Thank you, Magistrate Qi. I'll take one too."

Zhao Chengyang chuckled ambiguously. "You can join me if you want…"

Xiao Mobai looked at him, his gaze affectionate and honeyed, sending shivers down people's spines.

"What are you guys talking about!" Wen Tingting exclaimed in fear, "Xiaoyuan is still young! It's not good if he hears something inappropriate!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "???"

Pidun barked, and Wen Tingting swiftly crouched down, covering Pidun's ears. "This puppy is still young too! Let's avoid talking about love in front of the cubs, okay?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhao Chengyang laughed heartily. "Tingting, where did love come into the conversation?"

Wen Tingting was taken aback. She thought Zhao Chengyang and Xiao Mobai were discussing love. Considering the emperor's harem, liking several people at the same time didn't seem strange. She couldn't help but shake her head in amazement. "I can't understand the affairs of your palace... family!"

"Not understanding is good," Zhao Chengyang said. "I wish I didn't understand, but I can't help it."

Wen Tingting coughed and looked around, only to suddenly notice Puyang Jing, who was causing grass to grow on the emperor's head, was nowhere to be found.

"Huh?" She frowned and asked, "Where is Commander Puyang?"

Zhao Chengyang seemed to just snap out of it and couldn't help but ask, "Where's Puyang?"

Qi Chaoyun looked around and shook his head.

Pei Junze, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke, "He went to catch birds."

Zhao Chengyang: "Catch... what?"

Pei Junze, expressionless, repeated, "You told him to catch birds."

"When did I..." Zhao Chengyang paused, "That was just a figure of speech!"

So it is!

Oh, I see!

No wonder grass is growing!

The grass grows quite naturally!