The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 39

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Zhang Xiaoyuan was stunned for a while before murmuring softly, "A lot."

Lu Zhaoming heard it.

He looked at Zhang Xiaoyuan, serious but with a hint of confusion as if his understanding of the martial arts world had been shaken. "Who else is connected with whom?"

Pei Junze didn't know why he suddenly asked this question. With the arrival of the Martial Arts Alliance people, the place was crowded, and they couldn't talk freely. He gestured towards the two while saying, "Young Hero Lu, let's talk slowly on the way."

Walking back to the Martial Arts Alliance, Pei Junze shared all the martial arts world rumors he had heard with them. Because it was rare for someone to discuss these gossips with him, he couldn't contain his excitement. "I think Young Hero Lu doesn't usually pay much attention to these martial arts world matters, but I happen to know quite a bit."

Zhang Xiaoyuan muttered to himself that he knew quite a bit too.

Lu Zhaoming nodded slowly.

Pei Junze said, "Regarding Palace Master Mei, no need to say more. The martial arts world spreads that he was originally a servant in the Scattered Blossom Palace, with an exceptionally good-looking face. That's why the former master took notice and selected him as a closed-door disciple."

Lu Zhaoming: "Choosing disciples based on looks?"

Pei Junze: "He was the former master's little lover."

Lu Zhaoming paused.

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded along but didn't dare to admit his knowledge. He could only say, "I heard the storyteller mention it!"

"After the former master passed away, he ensured Mei Leng'an became the sect master. Despite all these years, he has never revealed a hint of martial arts skills in front of everyone, nor has he ever guided the sect's disciples in sword techniques," Pei Junze explained. "Some say his martial arts skills are likely extremely lacking, relying solely on his good looks."

Zhang Xiaoyuan continued nodding, "The storyteller mentioned this too!"

Lu Zhaoming: "Can someone with poor martial arts skills become a sect master?!"

Pei Junze cleared his throat, lowered his voice, and said, "I've also heard rumors that the former master of the Scattered Blossom Palace... may have died at the hands of Mei Leng'an."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was taken aback.

Wait, he didn't know about this.

He started to get a bit excited.

"Some disciples within the Scattered Blossom Palace claimed that, before the former master's death, he had already distanced himself, and the person he valued most at that time was Lu Yanfeng," Pei Junze explained. "Lu Yanfeng was a younger disciple of that generation, not very old but with exceptionally strong sword skills. Even now, he's just reached his thirties, but I believe his swordsmanship could easily rank among the top twenty in the martial arts world."

Zhang Xiaoyuan silently noted in his mind that Lu Yanfeng seemed to be an important figure in the Scattered Blossom Palace. He resolved to pay attention and gather some information about his background when he attended the birthday celebration at the Scattered Blossom Palace.

"In any case, Lu Yanfeng was the best candidate to succeed as the head of the Scattered Blossom Palace. However, for some unknown reason, it fell into Mei Leng'an's hands," Pei Junze continued. "The Scattered Blossom Palace appears peaceful, but inside, it may have already split into two factions. Besides Mei Leng'an's trusted followers, the rest probably believe that Mei Leng'an killed the former master and falsely conveyed the former master's orders to secure the position."

Lu Zhaoming's eyes widened. "Isn't killing one's master a serious crime?"

"The former master of the Scattered Blossom Palace wasn't exactly a saint." Pei Junze hesitated slightly, seeming to hold disdain for the former sect master's actions. He just furrowed his brow a bit and refrained from disclosing those details. "His death is not worth mourning."

Lu Zhaoming: "Isn't the Scattered Blossom Palace considered righteous?"

Pei Junze: "The distinction between right and wrong is not that clear-cut. Some sects may claim to be on the righteous path, but their actions in private may not differ much from those on the dark path."

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded along.

Lu Zhaoming, with a surprised expression, silently followed the two. After a while, he managed to squeeze out a question, "What about Elder Mei and Ke Xingwen?"

He couldn't wrap his head around it.

Since Mei Leng'an was the former sect master's lover and seemed to have some unclear connection with his junior brother, Lu Yanfeng, what about Ke Xingwen? Weren't they supposed to be lovers?

Pei Junze shook his head. "I don't know either. I only heard about this tonight from you guys."

Lu Zhaoming silently turned to look at Zhang Xiaoyuan, as if hoping to get an answer from him.

Zhang Xiaoyuan coughed a few times and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, Elder Mei might genuinely have feelings for Ke Xingwen now."

At least from what Zhang Xiaoyuan gathered from Mei Leng'an and Ke Xingwen's interactions, they seemed sincerely in love. Moreover, Mei Leng'an appeared to harbor resentment towards the past events with the former sect master. If Zhang Xiaoyuan's guess was correct, Mei Leng'an might have been coerced by the former sect master. In that case, the allegation of killing one's master, as mentioned by Pei Junze, wasn't entirely implausible.

This drama was like those Zhang Xiaoyuan had seen on the stage, the most popular ones among common folks. Incredibly thrilling!

Lu Zhaoming couldn't come to his senses.

Before tonight, Mei Leng'an in his eyes was an esteemed elder unrelated to him.

But after tonight, Mei Leng'an seemed to transform overnight into a source of romantic entanglement, and the Scattered Blossom Palace became a peculiar place. Here, the relationships between master and disciples, and junior brother, were tangled beyond unraveling, creating a headache just thinking about it.

If even the highly esteemed Scattered Blossom Palace in the martial arts world was like this, what about the other sects?

Having already learned about the unclear ties between the Martial Arts Alliance Chief and the Demon Sect Master, he couldn't help but start contemplating the relationships within other renowned sects. The more he thought, the more perplexed he became, prompting him to ask, "What else is there?"

Pei Junze cleared his throat and said, "Young Hero Lu, the martial arts world is vast. If we were to discuss everything, it might take three days and three nights."

Lu Zhaoming only heard the words "three days and three nights."

What?

The martial arts world has such chaotic relationships that could fill three days and nights of discussion?

Was this still the familiar martial arts world he knew?

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded in agreement. "Eldest Senior Brother, if you want to know... I can share the information I heard from the storyteller!"

"No need for that trouble," Pei Junze looked around, saw no one nearby, took out a neatly folded piece of parchment from his pocket, and handed it to Lu Zhaoming. With a strange smile on his face, he said, "Young Hero Lu, have you ever heard of the Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan and Lu Zhaoming were taken aback, then Zhang Xiaoyuan, wearing a puzzled expression, asked, "What's that?"

Pei Junze said, "You'll understand once you read it."

Lu Zhaoming unfolded the parchment and immediately caught sight of the prominent words.

「Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest!」

「Is it the distortion of human nature or the loss of morality?」

「The current Emperor entangled in unclear relationships with bodyguards! Involved in a forbidden love triangle!」

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

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Zhang Xiaoyuan stared in disbelief.

What was this?!

Why would people in the martial arts world know about Zhao Chengyang and Xiao Mobai's affairs? And why was Puyang Jing also implicated!

Unable to resist, he glanced at Lu Zhaoming and saw a look of shock on his face. It was the first time he had seen such a clear expression on Lu Zhaoming's face. He wanted to snatch the parchment away from Lu Zhaoming to examine it seriously, but Lu Zhaoming held onto it tightly. He could only lean in beside Lu Zhaoming, staring blankly at the contents.

The majority of this paper described the relationship between Zhao Chengyang and Puyang Jing, briefly mentioning Xiao Mobai later on, but only in passing. The language used in the article was more provocative than Zhang Xiaoyuan expected, and the connection to reality seemed minimal — likely just fabricated details.

Looking at the signature only added to the confusion.

The signature read:

「Modern Puppyrazzi, Cao Susu.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't understand.

Why would someone... refer to themselves as a dog?

Or a dog's son?!

He looked at Pei Junze in shock, his voice trembling as he asked, "Big Brother Pei, what is this?!"

Pei Junze seemed quite satisfied with their reactions. "In the martial arts world, rumors spread through unexpected channels."

Pointing to the nonsensical article, Zhang Xiaoyuan asked, "Then... who wrote this?"

"I don't know," Pei Junze replied. "It's all from anonymous sources, and I have no idea who they are."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Then why do you have this thing?"

Pei Junze: "You can buy it in Baicang City. It's a distinctive feature of the city."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

This kind of fabricated article was actually a prominent feature of the righteous martial arts world in Baicang City...

Pei Junze added, "However, the Martial Arts Alliance has long prohibited the circulation of such materials. Recently, it can only be privately shared."

Zhang Xiaoyuan turned to look at Lu Zhaoming again and found him motionless, frozen in place, staring blankly at the unfolded parchment.

Zhang Xiaoyuan asked again, "But the things written here... aren't true, right?"

Pei Junze replied, "I didn't write the article. I'm just a spectator."

Zhang Xiaoyuan understood.

In this martial arts world, there was a group of people up to who knows what mischief, creating such things to circulate. As long as you provide them with material, regardless of the truth, they'd put it up there and then spread it, satisfying the curiosity of others in the martial arts world.

Zhang Xiaoyuan moved closer again, standing beside Lu Zhaoming and earnestly examining the parchment.

Besides the affair involving Zhao Chengyang, there were a few other peculiar and mysterious incidents in the martial arts world. The credibility of these incidents was quite high. Zhang Xiaoyuan had seen some of them unfold right in front of the individuals involved in the past few days. Unlike the nonsensical article, these were more genuine. Zhang Xiaoyuan looked closer and saw a name signed at the bottom, written as "Martial Arts Alliance Disciple."

At the bottom of those articles, there was a small line of text.

"Collecting opinions from all sides. If your letter is selected, a reward starting from ten taels of silver is waiting for you."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Okay, when he returned later, he'd write a letter to the Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest!

"Although there are some nonsensical and attention-grabbing words on top, most of the information is credible," Pei Junze remarked on the side. "The young master mentioned at the top today is one of the founders of this publication."

He said it with great certainty. Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded repeatedly while earnestly taking note of the mailing instructions written on top.

Since the Martial Arts Alliance had prohibited this activity, they could only circulate it privately. Naturally, they couldn't openly collect those incoming letters. As per the instructions, they would send the written letters to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Baicang City, handing them to the shopkeeper. The recent passphrase for communication was a poetic line: "Plant melons beneath the yellow terrace. When the melons ripen, the seeds scatter."

Zhang Xiaoyuan kept it in mind.

This was the first step towards making a fortune and establishing a name! He couldn't afford to miss it!

He raised his head, seeing Lu Zhaoming still motionless, while Pei Junze unfolded his folding fan, smiling at them.

Zhang Xiaoyuan also looked at him when suddenly, he heard a familiar sound. The words on Pei Junze's head changed.

「Pei Junze, adopted son of the Demon Sect Master Mo Wentian and the Martial Arts Alliance Chief Pei Wuluan. Knowledgeable and versatile, ranked 103rd in the martial arts world, now serving as a government official in Fengji County.」

「Alias: Martial Arts Alliance Disciple.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"