The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 40

112

Not only Lu Zhaoming but also Zhang Xiaoyuan felt that their understanding of the martial arts world had crumbled a bit.

He originally thought that although the relationships in martial arts world were a bit chaotic and strange, at least everyone seemed respectable on the surface.

But why was there such strange gossip circulating in martial arts world, and why was Pei Junze, who was usually very serious, interested in martial arts world gossip?!

Zhang Xiaoyuan sighed deeply.

He turned to look at Lu Zhaoming, only to find Lu Zhaoming lifting his eyes and asking them slowly, "Is what's written here not true?"

Leaving the rest aside, he had personally witnessed Zhao Chengyang, Puyang Jing, and Xiao Mobai, but it seemed somewhat different from what was written here.

Pei Junze replied, "Eight or nine out of ten."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Pei Junze cleared his throat and said, "The things written by that Young Master Cao... might be a bit biased. He enjoys exaggerating facts. Just take a look, don't take it too seriously."

Slightly biased, meaning there was still some truth in it.

Lu Zhaoming couldn't help but fall into silence again.

"If Young Hero Lu is curious about what's written here, you can take this with you and read it slowly." Pei Junze, for some unknown reason, added, "I have a few more copies. After you go back, I'll have them sent to you."

No, thanks.

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't express his nervousness.

Eldest Senior Brother was already frightened after just reading one copy. If he were to read more... would Eldest Senior Brother be okay in the future?

Lu Zhaoming silently folded the copy of Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest, placed it in his sleeve, nodded earnestly at Pei Junze, and said, "Thanks, Brother Pei."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Pei Junze smiled slightly. "No need to be polite. Since we're all fellow martial arts comrades, we naturally help each other."

They had arrived at the Martial Arts Alliance. Pei Junze lowered his voice and whispered to them, "You can find this item for sale in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion within the city. If Young Hero Lu is interested, feel free to check it out. Just mention my name to the shopkeeper, and they'll understand."

Zhang Xiaoyuan suddenly felt something was off.

Why did Pei Junze look so much like a street vendor loudly hawking vegetables?

"Try these fresh fruits and vegetables first. If you find the taste agreeable, I'll tell you these little goodies are quite inexpensive. You might want to buy a few pounds to take home and enjoy."

It was uncanny!

As he stepped into the Martial Arts Alliance, it became clear to him.

Talking about being fellow martial arts comrades, yet having to mention his name to buy this Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest.

It seemed like buying one copy of the Secrets Digest meant Pei Junze would earn a few coins!

......

Zhang Xiaoyuan followed Lu Zhaoming back to the temporary courtyard. Jiang Jianyu greeted them, but Lu Zhaoming entered the house deep in thought. Jiang Jianyu found it strange and raised an eyebrow, asking Zhang Xiaoyuan, "What's wrong with Eldest Senior Brother?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan replied, "He knows too much. Needs some time to process."

Jiang Jianyu: "Huh?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Second Senior Brother, do you have ink and paper in your room?"

Jiang Jianyu nodded. "Should be. What do you need them for?"

"Just need to borrow them!" Zhang Xiaoyuan casually fabricated, "I want to write a letter to my family."

Since leaving home, he would write letters to his family every few days. Jiang Jianyu and the others were aware of it. Without much thought, Jiang Jianyu found the writing materials and handed them to Zhang Xiaoyuan, even praising him, "You really care about your family."

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt guilty.

Carrying the writing materials back to his room, he saw Lu Zhaoming flipping through the copy of Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest that Pei Junze had given him. Sitting at another table, Zhang Xiaoyuan deliberately said, "Eldest Senior Brother, I'm writing a letter home!"

Lu Zhaoming seemed not to hear, completely ignoring him.

Zhang Xiaoyuan unfolded the paper, earnestly contemplating what he should write.

Regarding the court, he didn't want to offend anyone. He wanted to live a few more years and dared not follow someone like that Cao Susu, directly implicating the emperor and Puyang Jing. As for martial arts world matters, he preferred to avoid those with high power and respected reputations. Life was precious, and he intended to cherish it.

But what news wouldn't offend others and still be interesting?

Zhang Xiaoyuan pondered deeply.

After much consideration, he decided to start with Hua Liuque.

However renowned as the "Flower-Thief Bandit" in the past martial arts world, now wrongly accused and accepted into their sect, he turned over a new leaf. This provided an opportunity to promote their sect, attracting potential admirers.

Truly a clever and advantageous strategy!

Zhang Xiaoyuan made up his mind, lowered his head, and swiftly penned the tragic tale of Hua Liuque, the Flower-Thief Bandit with a broken leg.

Most of the articles in the Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest were not lengthy. Zhang Xiaoyuan wrote rapidly, subtly promoting his future career as Bai Xiaosheng. However, when it came to signing, he hesitated. He couldn't use his real name. Everyone used aliases. He needed a pseudonym.

Biting his pen in contemplation, he glanced up and caught Eldest Senior Brother still engrossed in his copy of Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest.

Got it.

Zhang Xiaoyuan lowered his head and earnestly penned his chosen name at the end of the article.

"Unknown Individual"

113

On the second day of the martial arts conference, Lu Zhaoming effortlessly kicked everyone off the stage as usual. Afterward, under the gazes of numerous admirers or awe-stricken onlookers, he stepped down from the arena, grabbed Zhang Xiaoyuan's hand, and said, "Come with me."

Zhang Xiaoyuan, of course, knew where Lu Zhaoming wanted to go.

Truth be told, he had the article for the Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest with him since early morning, just waiting for Lu Zhaoming to call him to set out.

Jiang Jianyu clearly found it quite weird.

They had just come back from shopping together yesterday, so why were they hand in hand heading out again today?

Standing in place, watching the two hastily leave, he couldn't help but furrow his brow and muttered quietly, "What's going on with Eldest Senior Brother and Xiaoyuan?"

Hua Liuque happened to overhear this.

He clicked his tongue lightly and sighed, "From my years of experience—"

Jiang Jianyu turned to look at him.

"When two people constantly try to avoid others, staying together alone, there's only one possibility," Hua Liuque raised a finger and spoke mysteriously, "Second Senior Brother, I think they might be... in love."

Jiang Jianyu: "......"

Hua Liuque consoled Jiang Jianyu, "These things are quite common in the martial arts world, you know. Among fellow disciples, spending time together day and night, feelings naturally develop over time—"

It took Jiang Jianyu a while to squeeze out a response.

"Is there anything else in your mind besides these matters? Can't you think of something else?"

114

Zhang Xiaoyuan followed Lu Zhaoming to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, where people sold copies of Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest.

From the outside, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion looked like an ordinary inn, with business not as thriving as some other establishments on the street. Following Lu Zhaoming inside, the tables were dusty, waiters leaned on them, catching a nap, and the innkeeper rested his chin on the counter, absentmindedly playing with an abacus.

Lu Zhaoming walked over, and the innkeeper, still yawning, asked, "Are you here to buy wine... or eat?"

Frowning, Lu Zhaoming told him, "Pei Junze sent me."

The innkeeper's eyes seemed to light up, and in an instant, he became more alert. He subtly shook Lu Zhaoming's hand and whispered, "I understand."

Sneakily searching under the table, he found a stack of Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest filled with writings. Meanwhile, he asked Lu Zhaoming, "Does the young hero want the latest or the past stories?"

Lu Zhaoming replied, "The past ones."

Nodding, the innkeeper separated a pile from the stack of Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest, placed it in front of Lu Zhaoming, and said earnestly, "This covers a year's worth, for five taels of silver."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but whisper, "Why not go and rob instead?"

Just a month ago, Zhang Xiaoyuan, who considered a 300-tael jade pendant as small change, now found even five taels of silver overly expensive. He even began to doubt the innkeeper before him, suspecting him to be a colossal swindler.

But when he carefully looked at the innkeeper's head, he found that the innkeeper used the same price when selling Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest to others. Eldest Senior Brother seemed genuinely interested... and he himself was quite intrigued too.

Zhang Xiaoyuan, rarely seeing Lu Zhaoming so interested in something, furrowed his brow and asked the innkeeper, "If we don't stay in Baicang City, can you deliver to our location?"

The innkeeper nodded continuously, almost eager to emphasize, "Rest assured! We have partnerships with inns all over. It's just... there's an extra cost."

Pushing a silver note across the table, Zhang Xiaoyuan asked, "Would this cover several years?"

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

The innkeeper nodded continuously, taking the silver note. He asked Zhang Xiaoyuan to leave the delivery address. After some thought, Zhang Xiaoyuan decided that sending it directly to the sect might cause trouble if seen by their master or martial uncle. Since it was recommended by Pei Junze, he could send it to the county office, let Pei Junze collect it, then they'd retrieve it later.

Without hesitation, Zhang Xiaoyuan left the address for the county office.

The innkeeper accepted the silver note and the address, and even his attitude towards the two improved. However, Lu Zhaoming seemed somewhat troubled. He frowned, grasped Zhang Xiaoyuan's hand, and whispered, "I'm just curious, it's not a necessity."

In his eyes, the silver note that Zhang Xiaoyuan handed to the innkeeper was evidently considered a large sum.

Zhang Xiaoyuan waved his hand. "I want to see too, I'm curious as well!"

Lu Zhaoming fell silent.

Leaving the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Zhang Xiaoyuan decided to initiate his plan. He cleared his throat and said to Lu Zhaoming, "Eldest Senior Brother, if there's nothing urgent, you can go back first. I'd like to stroll around nearby."

Lu Zhaoming, lost in thought, nodded silently and indeed turned to leave.

Zhang Xiaoyuan breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Lu Zhaoming would ask too many questions, but now it seemed he had overthought the situation.

Having observed the surroundings earlier, Zhang Xiaoyuan noticed several ready-to-wear shops conveniently close to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Employing the same trick, he entered a shop, bought new clothes, donned a hat and cloak to cover his face, and hastily returned to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

The innkeeper was still yawning behind the counter. Lowering his voice, Zhang Xiaoyuan swaggered over, knocked on the table, and in a rough tone, said, "Plant melons beneath the yellow terrace. When the melons ripen, the seeds scatter."

The innkeeper jolted and looked up with immense joy at Zhang Xiaoyuan, blurting out, "Brother!"

A line of text appeared above his head with a resonant DING.

「What! There's a new manuscript!」

「Old man's tears flowing freely」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"