The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 29 Part 2

Zhang Xiaoyuan was dumbfounded.

He thought! He once thought!

The Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance had an illustrious reputation, universally admired and respected in the martial arts world. He should be a respectable figure, but... why did his list of "confidantes" surpass even Hua Liuque's list?!

Pei Junze: "Brother Zhang?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan struggled to regain his composure. He forced an explanation, racking his brain to say, "I... I think! Big Brother Pei has an extraordinary presence, truly a rare sight of an immortal!"

Pei Junze was momentarily stunned, even Lu Zhaoming glanced at him with a mild expression.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan knew himself that praising someone awkwardly when nervous was shameless, but he had no choice. He was extremely curious about Pei Junze's background and couldn't wait to find out who Pei Junze's parents were.

After a moment, Pei Junze chuckled and said, "Your praise is so forced. It seems you really don't want to reveal why you were staring at me earlier."

Zhang Xiaoyuan decided to be straightforward, "I was just thinking, if Big Brother Pei is so talented, then the Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance must be equally charming."

Pei Junze wasn't entangled in the conversation. He simply said, "You'll understand when you meet him in a few days."

Just as Zhang Xiaoyuan was about to continue probing, he suddenly saw a long line of words floating through the bushes on the side of the official road.

The carriage was moving too fast, and he could only catch a brief glimpse.

「Xing Yan, Right Protector of the Demon Sect. The Demon Sect Master, Mo Wentian, assigned her to secretly protect Young Master Pei Junze—」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The string of words floated away, and Zhang Xiaoyuan paused for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the words shaking as it caught up, surpassed the carriage, and stopped for a moment, waiting for them to catch up.

Could it be that Xing Yan was using lightness technique to follow the carriage along the roadside forest?!

Your tasks are really tough!

No wonder people in the martial arts world say that the Demon Sect Master, Mo Wentian, was ruthless and tyrannical. Were his subordinates treated like this? It was too much! Zhang Xiaoyuan felt he couldn't bear to watch any longer!

Pei Junze was even more puzzled. Unable to resist, he turned to look in the direction where Zhang Xiaoyuan had been staring. However, all he saw outside was a wild forest, full of trees. He didn't notice anything unusual. He couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zhang, what are you looking at?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan really didn't know how to explain.

"I was just… casually looking around," Zhang Xiaoyuan stammered. "The scenery outside is quite nice."

The string of words drifted farther away from the carriage.

Zhang Xiaoyuan turned his head and looked to the other side of the carriage.

"The scenery on this side is also quite nice."

He said dryly.

89

Baicang City was hundreds of miles away from Fengji County. Even with swift horses, it would take several days to reach it. They were traveling by carriage, so it would take even longer. On the first night, they didn't come across an inn, so they had to camp outdoors temporarily.

In this wilderness, there might be bandits or wild animals. Zhang Xiaoyuan thought Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother had driven the carriage all day, and Hua Liuque, being a cripple, would be more tired. So, he volunteered to keep watch for the first half of the night.

Pei Junze said he had been in the carriage all day, so he would take the second half. Jiang Jianyu found a dry spot, gathered some fallen leaves to make a softer bed, and lay down against a tree stump, snoring loudly in deep sleep. Lu Zhaoming looked around and, perhaps fearing Jiang Jianyu's snoring, deliberately moved a bit farther away, found a higher spot, climbed a tree, and disappeared from sight.

Hua Liuque couldn't sleep for a while. He sat by the campfire, lost in thought. Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't know what he was thinking, but suddenly thought — Hua Liuque should also be an experienced martial artist. Regarding beauties in the martial arts world, he must know much more than Zhang Xiaoyuan. Maybe he even knew the stories about Pei Wuluan and his many romantic encounters!

Zhang Xiaoyuan took the initiative to approach him, calling out, "Fourth... Fourth Junior Brother!"

As the three words were uttered, even Zhang Xiaoyuan himself felt a bit awkward.

He still couldn't accept the sudden appearance of a junior brother, especially considering that Hua Liuque was clearly older. Although seniority was determined by entry into the sect, calling someone several years older junior brother felt strange to Zhang Xiaoyuan.

Hua Liuque turned his head, hesitated for a long time, and couldn't bring himself to say the words "Third Senior Brother."

Both remained silent for a while. Zhang Xiaoyuan broke the silence, saying, "Just call me by my name."

Hua Liuque also said, "You can call me by my name."

Zhang Xiaoyuan cleared his throat and asked, "Do you know Ji Huaidie?"

He decided to start with the most renowned beauty, the "Number One Beauty," Ji Huaidie. He couldn't believe that Hua Liuque, a person who loved beauty, hadn't heard of the name of this top beauty.

Hua Liuque nodded slightly.

"The beauty of the martial arts world twenty years ago. Unfortunately, I was born twenty years too late!" Hua Liuque sighed with emotion. "In those days, the martial arts world was filled with beauties, all shapes and sizes, but now, although there are many beauties, there's still a lack of that indescribable charm."

Zhang Xiaoyuan cleared his throat again and asked, "Do you know her personally?"

Hua Liuque paused. "I've said I was born twenty years too late, how could I possibly know her?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan thought about Mei Leng'an's age and his face. He couldn't help but say, "Even if it's been twenty years, she should only be... in her thirties or forties?"

"Beautiful flowers wither easily. Ji Huaidie was famous for her beauty in the martial arts world. When her beauty faded, she naturally faded from the martial arts world." Hua Liuque frowned and looked at Zhang Xiaoyuan with some confusion. "Why are you asking about this?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan cleared his throat again.

"As a newcomer to the martial arts world, I am naturally curious about its wonders and stories," Zhang Xiaoyuan explained casually, "I heard that Ji Huaidie was once the Number One Beauty in the martial arts world. Now that this title is no longer there, I can't help but want to know some of her stories."

Hua Liuque frowned and interrupted him, "Ji Huaidie was the martial arts world's top beauty. If you want to talk about beauties—"

He deliberately lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard, and cautiously said, "If you want to talk about beauties, the martial arts world's former Number One Beauty should be the then Demon Sect Young Master, Mo Wentian."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The topic returned too abruptly, and Zhang Xiaoyuan hadn't figured out yet how to smoothly transition to asking Hua Liuque about the relationship between Mo Wentian and Pei Wuluan. Surprisingly, Hua Liuque brought it up himself.

Wait, what?

Who was the Number One Beauty?!

"But most of those who dared to openly say such things back then had their tongues pulled out by him," Hua Liuque sighed again, "Although I'm not into male beauty, if I could have been born twenty years earlier and seen Mo Wentian's face, it would have been worth it!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "He's in the Demon Sect..."

Hua Liuque: "Dare I go there?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Hua Liuque, opening the conversation clip, sighed, and continued.

"Back then, Mo Wentian traveled around. With a bit of luck, one could still encounter him in the martial arts world," Hua Liuque said, "I don't know since when, but he has not even left the gates of the Demon Sect. Heroes age, and I wonder if all these years have taken a toll on his appearance."

Once he started talking about beauties, he couldn't stop the endless muttering. Anyway, Zhang Xiaoyuan still couldn't figure out the relationship between Pei Wuluan and Mo Wentian. He only knew Mo Wentian was a beauty, and Pei Junze, with his sword-like brows and starry eyes, shouldn't resemble him at all.

So, the question arose: Did he finally make a mistake in reading the words above someone else's head? Was Pei Junze actually Pei Wuluan's son?

His mind turned into a mushy mess, unsure where to begin the questioning. Suddenly, a scream came from nearby, as if a heavy object had fallen. Zhang Xiaoyuan turned in shock, only to see a shadow flash by. Lu Zhaoming jumped down from a tree, crouched down, and picked up his sword.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Why did Eldest Senior Brother throw his sword again!

90

Zhang Xiaoyuan thought that tying a jade stone to the tip of Eldest Senior Brother's sword would prevent Lu Zhaoming from tossing it away.

It seemed he underestimated Lu Zhaoming once again.

Lu Zhaoming threw the sword without mercy. Zhang Xiaoyuan ran over. Luckily, the jade stone was unbroken, and the shadow had disappeared. Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but ask Lu Zhaoming, "Eldest Senior Brother, what happened?"

Lu Zhaoming frowned slightly. "It's the woman we saw on the mountain that day."

After serious consideration, Zhang Xiaoyuan figured that Lu Zhaoming was referring to Xing Yan.

He lowered his head and glanced at the ground.

There seemed to be blood seeping into the muddy ground. Since Eldest Senior Brother never held back when tossing his sword, Zhang Xiaoyuan thought that Xing Yan had likely suffered internal injuries again. The blood on the ground might be what she had vomited.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Too tragic.

A perfectly fine protector of the Demon Sect, sent by the sect master to protect the young master, yet she ended up chasing after carriages, getting beaten twice, suffering internal injuries, and vomiting blood. And she still had to continue holding her position.

This was just too tragic!

......

The commotion they caused was too significant, waking up Pei Junze and Jiang Jianyu. Everyone gathered, looking at the bloodstains on the ground, triggering numerous speculations.

Jiang Jianyu spoke first, "Could it be remnants of those bandits from the shady teahouse seeking revenge?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Unlikely..."

Lu Zhaoming shook his head. "Her martial arts are decent. It shouldn't be them."

Hua Liuque frowned. "Could it be bandits robbing the road?!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Dog man, you can't recognize her with a masked face, but that's clearly your beloved!

Lu Zhaoming shook his head. "Doesn't seem hostile. Probably not bandits."

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but be surprised. "Eldest Senior Brother... If she has no ill intentions, why did you hit her?"

Lu Zhaoming: "Just happened."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

"She's been following us for a day," Lu Zhaoming said, "Just now, she tried sneaking up to the carriage. It happened on the spur of the moment."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Pei Junze cleared his throat, a slightly odd expression briefly appearing on his face.

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt that Pei Junze might have guessed who had come.

Even though Xing Yan was secretly protecting him, Pei Junze should recognize her face. Xing Yan going to the side of the carriage was likely an attempt to find him. As for her intentions... that remained unknown.

Zhang Xiaoyuan was about to speak when he suddenly saw Xing Yan's identity introduction floating from the bushes.

Zhang Xiaoyuan froze.

How did she come back again!

Didn't Eldest Senior Brother severely injure her? She had just spat blood. Shouldn't she stay far away to recover before thinking about protecting her young master? Moreover, with Pei Junze with them, it was quite safe. Not to mention Pei Junze's strong martial arts skills, having Eldest Senior Brother around made it less likely for anything to go wrong!

The next moment, Zhang Xiaoyuan saw Lu Zhaoming's gaze shift toward that patch of bushes.

Zhang Xiaoyuan was startled, hastily grabbing Lu Zhaoming's hand.

"Eldest Senior Brother!" Zhang Xiaoyuan urged, "Regardless of who the visitor is, it's better for us to leave this place first!"

Lu Zhaoming furrowed his brows slightly, looking puzzled and confused.

Unsure how to hint at it, with so many people watching, Zhang Xiaoyuan extended his pinky and gently hooked it with Lu Zhaoming's palm.

Lu Zhaoming finally nodded. "Let's get moving."

Zhang Xiaoyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned to look at the bushes. The line of text, once trembling, had stabilized somewhat but stubbornly remained in place.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The master of the Demon Sect was simply inhumane!

He hoped the demon sect members would see the true face of their master and soon abandon the darkness to join the righteous Martial Arts Alliance!