The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 20

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Wen Tingting earnestly looked at Zhang Xiaoyuan's drawing, then nodded in approval.

"Quite a resemblance," Wen Tingting praised, "at least better than what I could manage!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Pei Junze, surprised, looked at Puyang Jing, who was half-kneeling on the ground. He didn't expect Lu Zhaoming to defeat Puyang Jing so effortlessly. The difference in their strength was far from subtle.

Lu Zhaoming, just in his early twenties, possessed remarkable swordsmanship skills, surpassing Pei Junze's expectations.

He looked at Zhang Xiaoyuan sketching on the side, with Wen Tingting nearby. Picking up a twig from the ground, he asked Puyang Jing if he was injured. Receiving assurance, he approached.

Wen Tingting felt that Master Pei seemed completely unconcerned about Commander Puyang.

Pei Junze approached, bent down to glance at Zhang Xiaoyuan's drawing, smiled faintly, considering it a playful creation of a young boy. He casually asked Zhang Xiaoyuan, offering a way out, "Little Zhang, haven't dabbled in painting, have you? Quite impressive for a beginner."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan had some art education.

After all, he had been a cultured young master from a wealthy family. He knew a bit about antique art and had a modest understanding of meticulous and freehand brushwork. Although not comparable to renowned masterpieces, he could casually sketch without a problem.

However, under Wen Tingting's watchful gaze, he dared not paint seriously, turning a sheet of paper into a messy canvas. When Pei Junze inquired, he, of course, didn't admit his art background. He followed Pei Junze's lead and whispered, "If you guys really look... I'd be embarrassed!"

Lu Zhaoming joined them, observing Zhang Xiaoyuan's drawing with a slight lip curl, finding it amusing. He asked, "Am I portrayed as a plum blossom?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded reluctantly.

Lu Zhaoming: "And what's this line?"

A thick black line connected the plum blossom to the kneeling figure. Zhang Xiaoyuan initially intended to symbolize Mei Leng'an's deep connection with his senior disciple Ke Xingwen, but this explanation didn't fit well with Lu Zhaoming and Puyang Jing.

Zhang Xiaoyuan nervously pondered how to respond.

"This line... this line is..." Zhang Xiaoyuan improvised, "this line represents Eldest Senior Brother's sword! A sword with lingering afterimages! Swift and rare! It's an extraordinary fast sword!"

Lu Zhaoming paused, while Pei Junze burst into laughter. "You sure know how to praise your Eldest Senior Brother."

Wen Tingting was somewhat puzzled. "But how did you know Lu Zhaoming would win?"

When Zhang Xiaoyuan drew the kneeling figure, the outcome between them was undecided. Puyang Jing hadn't even challenged Lu Zhaoming yet.

Zhang Xiaoyuan nervously responded, "He... he's my Eldest Senior Brother! My Eldest Senior Brother is invincible in battle, of course!"

Wen Tingting clicked her tongue. "Your flattery is shameless."

Zhang Xiaoyuan coughed and looked up at Lu Zhaoming, only to see him slightly curling his lips, as if smiling.

Pei Junze chuckled and shook his head, dismissing the teenage whimsy. He then turned to Lu Zhaoming and asked, "Young Master Lu, may I have that twig?"

Lu Zhaoming, unsure of his intentions, still handed him the twig.

Wen Tingting followed up, "Master Pei, what are you going to do?"

"After all, it's Magistrate Qi's 'masterpiece,'" Pei Junze said, "He nurtured this tree. If it really breaks, it would surely sadden him."

Wen Tingting didn't understand. "With it broken like that, can it still be fixed?"

"Certainly not." Pei Junze walked up to the small tree, carefully examining the broken part. He said, "If it could be fixed, it would be a miracle."

Wen Tingting: "So, Master Pei, what are you planning to do?"

Pei Junze managed to reconnect the twig to the tip of the tree, securing it somewhat clumsily. Not being skilled in gardening, it looked crooked and unattractive, but he was quite satisfied. "We should at least give Commander Puyang a way out."

Puyang Jing, still holding his chest and massaging his shoulder, suffered from Lu Zhaoming's ruthless kick. Although it didn't cause serious injury, bruises were inevitable. He winced at the pain and, upon hearing Pei Junze mention him, raised his head, asking, "Give me a way out?"

Pei Junze: "Don't you want to avoid an argument with Magistrate Qi?"

Puyang Jing: "I..."

Pei Junze: "Then go tell him you helped fix the twig. He's a soft-hearted person. He won't blame you anymore."

Puyang Jing frowned. "You seem to understand him well."

Zhang Xiaoyuan noticed lines of text appearing above Puyang Jing's head.

「Secondly, Pei Junze is suspected to be a martial artist in the martial arts world, highly skilled, ranking among the top. He has connections with both righteous and evil factions, infiltrating the county government for unknown reasons.」

「Thirdly, there has been an assembly of Demon Sect members near Fengji County, with unclear motives.」

「Fourth, Zhang Xiaoyuan is the son of the former Master of Brushing Snow Sword Sect, Zhang Gaoling. After Zhang Gaoling ventured into business, he became a wealthy young master with average martial arts skills. No need to pay excessive attention.」

「Fifth, Lu Zhaoming, a senior disciple of Wang Henian, can be tested to gauge his martial arts proficiency.」

The last line flipped down, transforming into a new one.

「Fifth, Lu Zhaoming, a senior disciple of Wang Henian, possesses extremely strong martial skills, possibly ranking within the top fifty. The rest is unclear and may require special attention.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

67

Pei Junze replied, "Not exactly, but after spending a long time together, I've picked up on some of his temperaments."

Watching the two under the tree, Zhang Xiaoyuan suddenly felt... why did Pei Junze and Puyang Jing's tones seem so off?!

Pondering over it, he thought Puyang Jing must be probing Pei Junze, and Pei Junze, aware of it, responded with a hint of sarcasm.

Puyang Jing chuckled. "I wonder, Brother Pei, how did you and Ah Yun become acquainted?"

"Traveling away from home, I encountered mountain bandits," Pei Junze answered. "He saved my life."

Puyang Jing still sensed something amiss. "Ah Yun doesn't know martial arts."

"Exactly because he doesn't know martial arts that I admire him more," Pei Junze said. "You should understand his temperament better than I do. He's someone who meddles in affairs without considering his own safety."

There must be some hidden story in this.

As the two engaged in verbal sparring, Puyang Jing was aware that Pei Junze harbored no goodwill toward him. Sensing the probing, he decided to be straightforward and asked, "From your accent, Brother Pei, you sound like a northerner."

Pei Junze smiled. "My origins have nothing to do with Commander Puyang."

Puyang Jing: "I'm just curious."

Both wore smiles on their faces, but their eyes betrayed intense hostility. It seemed like each was carefully wary of the other. Zhang Xiaoyuan felt a bit frightened, and suddenly, Wen Tingting tugged at his sleeve, her face filled with alarm. She crouched beside him, nervously inquiring.

"Xiaoyuan," Wen Tingting said, "Should I go and call Magistrate Qi over?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Huh? Why?"

Wen Tingting gestured towards Puyang Jing and Pei Junze.

Wen Tingting: "Aren't they having a jealous dispute?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"