The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 38

108

Zhang Xiaoyuan stood by the roadside, still shaken, truly feeling that in this martial arts world, true power allowed one to do as they please.

Knowing everyone's information, like he did, wasn't very useful. In reality, when facing an enemy, it often meant being fatally struck by a sword. Despite this, his martial arts skills couldn't improve in the short term, and the martial arts world was always dangerous.

Zhang Xiaoyuan decided from this point on to stick close to Eldest Senior Brother. Whenever he stepped out, he wouldn't stray far from Eldest Senior Brother's side.

At least with Eldest Senior Brother, there would be a chance of survival. If danger truly came, being by Eldest Senior Brother's side was safer.

Mo Wentian and Xing Yan had already left. Pei Wuluan, preoccupied with his repentance letter, didn't bother explaining the situation to the others. He released the urgent order to the Martial Arts Alliance, anxiously waiting for disciples to arrive and suppress the injured Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion members.

Pei Junze walked over, had a brief conversation, seeming to inquire how to explain the situation to Zhang Xiaoyuan and Lu Zhaoming. Soon, he returned with a troubled expression, sighing deeply. "Listen to my explanation."

Zhang Xiaoyuan had long known everything. He nodded earnestly, with calm waves in his heart.

Lu Zhaoming, rarely displaying confusion, asked, "Who is your foster father?"

Pei Junze sighed and said, "Hasn't Young Hero Lu already figured it out?"

Lu Zhaoming raised an eyebrow slightly. "What's going on here?"

"This is a long story." Pei Junze felt conflicted, unsure how to explain the ambiguous relationship between Pei Wuluan and Mo Wentian. Both were on opposing sides, with a complex connection. Putting either aspect in the open in the current martial arts world would likely be considered an unforgivable sin.

These matters might not bother Mo Wentian, as those on the dark path often deviate from convention. However, for Pei Wuluan, these affairs should never have been associated with him.

As the Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance, if his relationship with Mo Wentian became known, not only would his position be untenable, but he might also be condemned by the righteous martial arts world.

Pei Junze reluctantly spoke, "Your master is aware of this."

He believed Wang Henian had noble character, and what he could accept, Lu Zhaoming should be able to as well.

However, Lu Zhaoming simply nodded, indicating understanding. "Oh, so that's what's going on?"

Pei Junze: "......"

Pei Junze took a deep breath and said, "I asked my father earlier. He said it's okay, and you probably have guessed it. Let me tell you the truth, but he hopes you won't spread it, or else my foster father..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded continuously, grabbing Lu Zhaoming's arm, signaling him to nod along. "Don't worry! We won't."

Lu Zhaoming, puzzled and unclear, thought for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Is your foster father Mo Wentian?"

Pei Junze nodded.

Lu Zhaoming became even more puzzled. "What about Chief Pei? Isn't he also your foster father?"

Pei Junze covered his face, nodding.

Lu Zhaoming seemed to still be processing. He suddenly found it somewhat unbelievable.

Having one person with two foster fathers was uncommon. Although he had heard of such cases, having one as the leader of the righteous path and the other as the supreme figure in the dark path was probably a unique situation in the world.

He wasn't someone strictly adhering to a black-and-white stance against the dark path. Moreover, whether Mo Wentian was Pei Junze's foster father or not didn't concern him much. He merely furrowed his brow for a while before finally asking Pei Junze, "Won't they end up in conflict?"

Pei Junze was momentarily stunned. "Huh?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan also followed suit, then suddenly understood. Eldest Senior Brother probably hadn't realized the somewhat secretive relationship between Pei Junze and Mo Wentian. He sighed with a wry smile, cleared his throat, tugged at Eldest Senior Brother's sleeve, and whispered, "Eldest Senior Brother, think about Ke Xingwen."

Lu Zhaoming was puzzled. "What about with Ke Xingwen?"

Pei Junze was equally puzzled. "Young Hero Ke?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but look embarrassed.

How come Eldest Senior Brother still hadn't understood!

Did he have to chew on an elder's private matters in front of Pei Junze, saying that Mei Leng'an had a relationship with Ke Xingwen?!

Zhang Xiaoyuan had no choice but to delicately say, "It's just... he and his master..."

Lu Zhaoming: "Ah?"

He still hadn't recalled.

Pei Junze, puzzled and confused, asked, "Elder Mei and Young Hero Ke? What happened between them?"

"Don't you remember what happened last night..." Zhang Xiaoyuan recalled the nauseating private conversation between Mei Leng'an and Ke Xingwen in the neighboring room. Feeling strangely flushed, he mumbled, "They were in the next room..."

No, there was no way he could repeat those words. He absolutely wouldn't continue.

Lu Zhaoming furrowed his brow. It was only now that he finally recalled something, but before he could connect it to the relationship between Pei Wuluan and Mo Wentian, Pei Junze's eyes had already widened in astonishment. He seemed unbelievably shocked as he exclaimed, "Elder Mei and Young Hero Ke are actually..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Why did Pei Junze comprehend this so quickly!

He looked at Lu Zhaoming, and only then did Lu Zhaoming slowly nod. "I understand. So, they..."

He found this matter even more peculiar.

Pei Junze still wore a look of amazement, muttering to himself, "Palace Master Mei celebrates his fiftieth birthday this year, while Young Hero Ke is yet to reach maturity..."

He originally wanted to say that a master-disciple relationship could be overlooked, as there had been a few instances in the martial arts world. However, the age gap between the two was quite significant, leaving him at a loss for words. He even forgot that he needed to explain the situation to Zhang Xiaoyuan and Lu Zhaoming.

Zhang Xiaoyuan whispered, "What's wrong with age difference? Your fathers are perfect examples of opposing factions coexisting."

Pei Junze: "......"

Pei Junze nodded. "You're right. I was being narrow-minded."

He seemed somewhat regretful for harboring such misconceptions. Looking at Zhang Xiaoyuan, he felt a strange admiration for this younger brother, who, despite his youth, had such broad-minded thinking. The conversation had somehow drifted into the realm of rumors and strange gossip in the martial arts world. Unable to resist adding a few more words, he lowered his voice and said, "I was just surprised. There were rumors in the martial arts world some time ago about Elder Mei and his late master..."

He paused briefly, just hinted at it, but Zhang Xiaoyuan immediately understood.

What? The fact that Mei Leng'an rose to power through a romantic relationship was already widely known?

Also, he truly hadn't expected that Pei Junze, privately, would be interested in these martial arts world gossips.

Lu Zhaoming, belatedly comprehending, was momentarily stunned. "He and his master as well?"

Pei Junze nodded continuously, lowering his voice even more. He said, "The latest news is that Elder Mei and his junior brother, Lu Yanfeng, have a longstanding connection. They might retire soon."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Hold on, who is this Lu Yanfeng?

Moreover, Mei Leng'an is supposed to retire with Ke Xingwen! This Junior Brother Lu is far too innocent, isn't he?

Lu Zhaoming slowly said, "He also has a relationship with his junior brother."

Pei Junze: "It's just a rumor."

Lu Zhaoming seemed to have lost himself, murmuring repeatedly, "Just a rumor."

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt that Eldest Senior Brother's perception of the martial arts world in his heart might completely collapse tonight.

109

Pei Junze took a deep breath. "I often feel that, while the martial arts world appears carefree on the surface, underneath, it's filled with bloodshed and hidden currents, making it somewhat inexplicably frightening."

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded in agreement.

Pei Junze: "I left the Martial Arts Alliance and came to the county office with the intention of distancing myself from the martial arts world, to live a simple and ordinary life."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Is that even possible?

Among the people at the county office, do you still expect to live a simple and ordinary life?

Pei Junze glanced at Pei Wuluan, who had somehow found paper and a pen, squatting on the ground using a paralyzed Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion disciple as an improvised writing desk. He deeply sighed.

"Compared to the martial arts world," he said, "our county office is already quite ordinary."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan also looked at Pei Wuluan, squatting on the ground with no semblance of a Martial Arts Alliance Chief. He couldn't help but nod along with Pei Junze.

Pei Junze sighed again and finally addressed the main issue, "Those black-clothed individuals should be from the Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion."

Although Zhang Xiaoyuan already knew the outcome, he still had to feign ignorance, nodding earnestly, and asked, "What is the Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion?"

"After my father and foster father became acquainted, they've been trying to restrain the influence of the dark path in the Central Plains. My foster father promised him to suppress the dark path, so now the Demon Sect have almost withdrawn from the martial arts world," Pei Junze spoke with seriousness, devoid of the casual demeanor from their previous chat about martial arts world gossip. "There were always dissatisfied individuals in the dark path, but because of my foster father... they had to endure and couldn't bring up the matter."

Zhang Xiaoyuan understood. "Now with Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion causing trouble, they surely can't help but join in the commotion."

Pei Junze nodded. "Initially, there were only a few of them. Recently, more individuals from the dark path joined, and their influence expanded. My foster father had no choice but to return to the martial arts world, hoping to halt this matter at the beginning."

Zhang Xiaoyuan dared not imagine.

If another Demon Sect were to rise, it would undoubtedly stir up a bloody storm within the dark path. Regardless of who wins or loses, it would inevitably involve the Central Plains.

Whether for Pei Wuluan or Mo Wentian, they probably wouldn't want to see such an outcome.

"However, the investigation is still ongoing, and there haven't been more results," Pei Junze said, "My father hopes you won't mention it for now."

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded. "I understand!"

If you want to live long, don't meddle in the trivial matters of the martial arts world.

After Pei Wuluan released the order, the members of the Martial Arts Alliance finally arrived. They heard footsteps in the distance, turned around, and saw Pei Wuluan standing by the roadside, his white clothes fluttering. Hands behind his back, he stood upright. Although his garment was stained with some blood, there still exuded an indescribable air of magnanimity.

Zhang Xiaoyuan, however, noticed the unfinished repentance letter clutched in his hand.

What magnanimity? He put his hands behind his back to conceal the fact that he still held a repentance letter addressed to the Demon Sect Master.

Pei Junze chuckled. "I told you, the county office is indeed ordinary."

Zhang Xiaoyuan also nodded. "Slightly more ordinary, just a bit."

"People have arrived. Let's go back," Pei Junze said. "It's likely to be another sleepless night."

Zhang Xiaoyuan took a step forward, noticing Lu Zhaoming had not moved. After all this time, Eldest Senior Brother hadn't spoken a word. Zhang Xiaoyuan turned back and saw Lu Zhaoming furrowing his brow, wearing a serious expression.

Lu Zhaoming seemed to have just snapped back to reality at this moment. After a long pause, he looked at Pei Junze and asked, "Brother Pei."

Pei Junze nodded, "Young Hero Lu, please speak."

Lu Zhaoming: "This martial arts world... is there anything else I don't know?"