The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 30
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Everyone packed their belongings, planning to leave from this place.
Pei Junze climbed onto the carriage as usual. Lu Zhaoming, seizing an opportunity, exchanged a glance with Jiang Jianyu. Jiang Jianyu immediately caught on, cleared his throat, deliberately raising his tone, "What? Little Lique, you say your leg hurts?"
Hua Liuque looked confused. "Ah?"
"This is bad," Jiang Jianyu said. "I'll drive, there must be someone inside the carriage to take care of things."
Although Hua Liuque didn't know why he suddenly said this, he was skilled at reading cues. He almost immediately continued Jiang Jianyu's words, whimpering and looking wronged, "Second Senior Brother, I don't know what happened. Maybe when Eldest Senior Brother threw that sword just now, it scared me, and my leg started hurting again."
Lu Zhaoming: "......"
Jiang Jianyu: "Alright, let Xiaoyuan take care of you."
After he finished saying this, he also winked at Hua Liuque.
Hua Liuque understood.
"Xiaoyuan... can he... can he distinguish between muscle, tendon, and bone?" Hua Liuque expressed disdain. "He could burn a pot just boiling an egg. I can't trust him."
Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"
Jiang Jianyu: "As for Eldest Senior Brother—"
Hua Liuque continued shaking his head. "When I see him, both of my legs ache."
Lu Zhaoming: "......"
Jiang Jianyu had reached the side of the carriage, knocked on the compartment, and with a smiling face, asked Pei Junze, "Master Pei, my junior brother's leg..."
Pei Junze smiled, "Let him get on the carriage. I can help take care of him."
......
Hua Liuque and Pei Junze shared the same carriage, while Jiang Jianyu drove. On the other carriage, only Zhang Xiaoyuan and Lu Zhaoming remained.
They traveled through the night, a lantern hanging by the carriage. Zhang Xiaoyuan lifted the curtain, sitting beside Lu Zhaoming. The night was quiet, with only the sounds of the carriage wheels on the official road and the horses' coarse breathing.
Two carriages were separated by some distance, and the people on the other carriage couldn't hear their conversation. Lu Zhaoming only spoke now, "Why did you just..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Zhang Xiaoyuan hastily apologized.
"Eldest Senior Brother, I'm sorry. It was an emergency just now, and I was afraid if I delayed any longer, you would have pulled someone out to beat again," Zhang Xiaoyuan said. "Luckily, you understood my intention..."
Lu Zhaoming slightly turned to face Zhang Xiaoyuan, listening to him. It felt strange to him. Earlier, Zhang Xiaoyuan hooked his palm, a subtle and almost imperceptible movement. His fingernail traced across the palm, creating a slight itch. The sensation was genuinely odd, and even now, sitting in the carriage, holding the reins, his palm still tingled.
He couldn't help but furrow his brow, repeating the thoughts in his mind.
Truly strange.
It seemed he had been neglecting his martial arts practice lately, the meridians not flowing smoothly. It appeared that after reaching Baicang City, he would need to practice swordsmanship for an extra hour each day.
Seeing Eldest Senior Brother remain silent, Zhang Xiaoyuan glanced around, not seeing Xing Yan catching up to them. Since no one would overhear them, he continued, "I just find it strange. That person had no murderous intent, yet took such a big risk approaching the carriage... I think she might be looking for Big Brother Pei."
"Could be." Lu Zhaoming, poker-faced, tightened his grip on the reins, nodding slightly. "Unfortunately, even now, we still don't know who she is."
"If she harbors no ill intentions, her identity doesn't matter," Zhang Xiaoyuan said. "Besides, she's heavily injured. She shouldn't be following us on the road ahead."
Regardless of how skilled Xing Yan's lightness technique was, with injuries, she would inevitably be weakened. Perhaps she could momentarily catch up with the speed of the carriage, but she definitely couldn't sustain it for long. They just needed to travel a bit more, and they would certainly shake off Xing Yan.
Regardless of why Xing Yan secretly sought Pei Junze, distancing herself would make it challenging for her. When they reached the martial arts conference, someone might recognize her, so she couldn't simply barge into the event.
Lu Zhaoming frowned. "But if we had captured her just now, perhaps we could have found out her intentions."
Zhang Xiaoyuan replied, "That would surely offend Big Brother Pei."
Lu Zhaoming could only purse his lips slightly, choosing not to speak further.
Just as Zhang Xiaoyuan was about to explain, the carriage suddenly jerked — the carriage of Second Senior Brother in front of them inexplicably stopped. Lu Zhaoming hurriedly pulled the reins, bringing their carriage to a halt.
Lu Zhaoming jumped down from the carriage to ask, "What's happening?"
Zhang Xiaoyuan followed him, leaning out to look ahead. In the distance, he saw a motionless figure in purple lying on the road.
Zhang Xiaoyuan glanced down, and there, above the person's head, familiar words floated gently.
It was Xing Yan.
Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"
Wasn't Xing Yan heavily injured and left behind by them? Why would she faint in the middle of the official road?
As he pondered this, the line of identity introduction above Xing Yan's head immediately underwent a change.
「Currently heavily injured and unable to protect the young master, forced to resort to this plan, infiltrating the enemy ranks.」
Resort to this plan?
Zhang Xiaoyuan lowered his head, glancing at Xing Yan lying face down on the ground.
Was this her plan?!
It was so dark at night. What if Second Senior Brother hadn't noticed a person lying on the ground? There could have been an accident!
What's going on with the people from the Demon Sect!
Jiang Jianyu, being cautious, first prodded Xing Yan's arm with his sword. After confirming the person on the ground remained motionless, he crouched down, patting Xing Yan. "Miss?"
Xing Yan still didn't move.
Lu Zhaoming asked him, "What happened?"
Jiang Jianyu shook his head. "Someone fell in the middle of the road. Not sure if they're injured."
Hua Liuque stuck his head out of the carriage, took a look, and exclaimed, "Yan-niang!"
Lu Zhaoming turned to look at him. "Yan-niang?"
Hua Liuque, supported by Pei Junze, struggled to climb down from the carriage. Anxiously nodding, he said, "Yes, it's Yan-niang!"
Lu Zhaoming became even more puzzled. "Who is Yan-niang?"
Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"
At least they had a brief encounter, how could Eldest Senior Brother forget her so quickly!
Hua Liuque had already rushed to Xing Yan's side. He turned her over and checked her breathing. She appeared to be uninjured. As he was about to check her pulse again, Xing Yan opened her eyes.
In the eyes of Zhang Xiaoyuan, who knew the truth, Xing Yan's acting... wasn't that impressive.
She portrayed an image of extreme weakness, gasping as if her breath would cease any moment. Then, she saw Hua Liuque, widened her eyes in an exaggerated expression, and said, "Young... Young Master Hua..."
Hua Liuque grabbed Xing Yan's hand. "Yan-niang! I'm here!"
"Never expected at this moment, I... I could still see you..." Xing Yan strained a weak voice, "It seems fate has bound us together in this lifetime..."
Seeing her so weak, Hua Liuque hurriedly said, "Yan-niang, don't talk for now!"
Xing Yan weakly waved her hand, "I... I'm fine... Why is Young Master Hua here..."
Before Hua Liuque could respond, Lu Zhaoming frowned and asked, "Why are you here?"
He saw Xing Yan's face and seemed to finally recall her as the person who had stared at him for a long time at the county office that day.
"I... cough... Yan-niang came here and encountered bandits on the road..." Xing Yan took a breath, gasping twice, "Fortunately... fortunately, I managed to escape... but suffered serious injuries."
Hearing the word "bandits," Zhang Xiaoyuan subconsciously glanced at Lu Zhaoming beside him.
Lu Zhaoming was dressed in martial arts attire today, highlighting his slender and tall figure. No matter how Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at it, he couldn't link him to the term "bandit."
Hua Liuque tightened his grip on Xing Yan's hand. "Yan-niang! You've suffered!"
Xing Yan: "The journey is long and dangerous. I, Yan-niang, am just an ordinary woman..."
It seemed like she wanted to take this opportunity to travel with them, seamlessly blending in, and rightfully being able to protect Pei Junze up close. However, before she could finish the second half of her sentence, Hua Liuque suddenly covered her mouth, startling her.
Hua Liuque, with deep affection, said, "Yan-niang, don't be afraid. From now on... I'll protect you!"
Xing Yan: "......"
Lu Zhaoming raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "Where do you intend to go?"
Her fabricated story was all over the place. Lu Zhaoming clearly didn't believe it.
Xing Yan forcefully pulled away from Hua Liuque's hand.
"Yan-niang only wants to go back home for a visit..."
She suddenly coughed twice, producing a loud sound, and indeed vomited a mouthful of blood — Zhang Xiaoyuan believed this blood was genuine. Lu Zhaoming's attacks were never gentle, and Xing Yan had indeed suffered internal injuries.
Unexpectedly, Hua Liuque grabbed Xing Yan's shoulder, showing a terrified expression. "Yan-niang! What's happening to you!"
Startled by his sudden heightened tone, Xing Yan was momentarily speechless.
Hua Liuque: "Are you alright? You can't die! I won't allow you to die!"
Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"
Xing Yan finally couldn't bear it and pushed Hua Liuque away.
Just a moment ago, she was pretending to be weak, but the force she used to push Hua Liuque was not light. Hua Liuque stumbled and sat on the ground in a dejected manner. Xing Yan obviously looked down on Hua Liuque. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, coughed again, and asked, "May I know where you all intend to go?"
Pei Junze, who had been silent all along, finall spoke, "Baicang City."
Xing Yan: "Coincidentally, we're headed the same way. May I accompany you on this journey?"
After saying this, she began to pant, feigning weakness again. Zhang Xiaoyuan finally couldn't bear to see it.
He covered his face with one hand, unable to understand why the Demon Sect had such strange protector.
The master who sent out such protector was indeed peculiar!
Pei Junze was already aware of Xing Yan's identity. Naturally, he nodded and said, "I have no objections. What do the rest of you think?"
Hua Liuque, patting his chest, eagerly spoke first, "I'll protect Yan-niang. Of course, I'll bring her along!"
Jiang Jianyu didn't believe the words Xing Yan had fabricated. He just glanced at Lu Zhaoming and asked, "How does Eldest Senior Brother see this?"
Zhang Xiaoyuan thought Lu Zhaoming would outright refuse, but to his surprise, Lu Zhaoming only furrowed his brow slightly and nodded in agreement. "Go ahead."
Xing Yan was overjoyed.
Although she was still sitting on the ground, a cascade of words sprouted from her head, making a clattering sound as they rapidly emerged. The speed was so swift that some words were glimpsed by Zhang Xiaoyuan in a hurried glance. This was the first time Zhang Xiaoyuan had encountered such a situation.
Amazed, he turned his head, staring intently at the words bursting forth from Xing Yan's head.
「Repaying kindness with virtue」
「To repay a drop of water with a spring」
「A noble sacrifices for a friend!」
......
「Sect Master! This time, Yan-niang hasn't let you down!!!」
Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"