The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 43

122

Zhang Xiaoyuan, who loved eating sweets, felt for the first time that he might be able to give up this indulgence today.

Under the watchful eyes of the big brother guards and Eldest Senior Brother, he finished munching on two candied haws. Although he could probably eat a third, the stern gaze from the big brother guards made him feel guilty. So, trembling, he plucked a few candied haws and handed them to Eldest Senior Brother, whispering, "Eldest Senior Brother, share these candied haws with our big brother guards."

Lu Zhaoming seemed puzzled, holding the candied haws and asking, "Why?"

"I can't finish them alone," Zhang Xiaoyuan said. "It's not right to let them watch hungrily."

Lu Zhaoming frowned, thinking Zhang Xiaoyuan's words... seemed to make some sense.

Holding the candied haws, he walked over to the senior guards at the entrance of the Martial Arts Alliance, handed the candied haws to them, and said, "Bought too many."

The senior guards, looking at the sweet and sour candied haws in front of them, swallowed saliva, but firmly wanted to refuse, "Even if you bribe us with candied haws, we won't let you take these inside for trade."

Lu Zhaoming was taken aback. "Trade?"

Another senior guard spoke, "Young Hero Lu, I know your sect is impoverished, but even so, the Martial Arts Alliance isn't the place for selling candied haws."

Lu Zhaoming seemed a bit bewildered. "Selling candied haws?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan overheard.

He finally understood the situation. These guards seemed to think Lu Zhaoming bought so many candied haws to sell within the Martial Arts Alliance, perhaps to support his sect. Zhang Xiaoyuan, unsure of the strange impression his sect left on others, chuckled and told the guard, "The candied haws aren't for sale. My senior brother bought them for me to eat!"

A guard scrutinized Zhang Xiaoyuan for a moment, then counted the candied haws on the stick. He asked, "Can you... finish them all?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan shook his head.

He plucked another candied haw from the stick and offered it to the guard sincerely. "Big Brother, want some?"

......

After discussing the Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion matter with Pei Wuluan, Lin Yi, Mei Leng'an, and other righteous elders, the day was getting late. Pei Wuluan had already reserved a feast at a city inn and now invited everyone to join.

They chatted amicably, walking up to the entrance of the Martial Arts Alliance. There, they saw several guards sitting on the steps, each holding a candied haw, enjoying themselves.

Pei Wuluan felt that the scene before him... was really not right.

He stopped, not wanting to disturb the guards. Glancing around, he saw Zhang Xiaoyuan and Lu Zhaoming sitting a bit farther away. Lu Zhaoming still cradled a candied haw fork. Observing everyone, Pei Wuluan noticed he was the only one not nibbling on a candied haw.

Lin Yi hesitated for a moment, then spoke first, "What's going on here?"

The guards immediately jumped up from the ground, looking flustered. Glancing backward, they hastily hid the candied haws behind them and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Alliance Chief!"

Pei Wuluan: "......"

Waving his hand, he said, "Never mind... go ahead and finish your snacks."

Before Pei Wuluan could finish his sentence, Lin Yi was already indignant.

"You are guards of the Martial Arts Alliance!" he exclaimed. "Acting like this in front of outsiders, what kind of discipline is this?"

The senior guards kept their heads down, not daring to speak. Zhang Xiaoyuan, who was in the midst of biting into a candied haw, felt a bit guilty. He hastily kept it in his mouth, unable to swallow it immediately, cheeks puffed up, silently trying to retreat without making any noise.

Lin Yi continued to scold the guards in a low voice, "What if the Demon Sect arrives today? With your laxity, there will be consequences sooner or later."

"What if the Demon Sect arrives?" Zhang Xiaoyuan mumbled to himself in his mind. "The Demon Sect Master is actually inside your Martial Arts Alliance."

Pei Wuluan had to turn around and persuade Lin Yi not to be so angry, but Lin Yi's gaze shifted. He noticed Zhang Xiaoyuan and Lu Zhaoming. His furrowed brows deepened as he asked, "Did you two buy these candied haws?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan, frightened by the look on Lin Yi's face, automatically imagined the innocent people who might suffer Lin Yi's wrath. He stepped back, glancing at Eldest Senior Brother, unsure of what to do.

Lin Yi shook his head vigorously, expressing his disappointment to Zhang Xiaoyuan, "If I had accepted you as my disciple back then, I would never have allowed you to..."

He resembled a respected elder admonishing a youth who lacked awareness. Zhang Xiaoyuan dared not speak, while Pei Wuluan, adopting a conciliatory tone, was about to intervene. Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoyuan heard a crisp sound, and words appeared above Pei Wuluan and Lin Yi's heads.

Pei Wuluan: 「These candied haws look really delicious. I want some too.」

Lin Yi: 「Master of the Purple Mist Tower, Chief Elder of the Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

This contrast...

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt that the martial arts world was perhaps truly coming to an end.

123

Seeing the words "Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion" above Lin Yi's head, Zhang Xiaoyuan surprisingly felt no astonishment.

He had always known Lin Yi to be a false gentleman, indulging in cruelty towards disciples and claiming others' wives. Such actions were something he did effortlessly. Even if news suddenly surfaced that Lin Yi was an undercover agent from an evil sect lurking beside Pei Wuluan, Zhang Xiaoyuan wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

However, considering Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion's values, Mo Wentian would likely disdain someone who had a penchant for debauchery and pillaging.

Moreover, at least for now, both Heavenly Drizzle Pavilion and Ethereal Illusion Palace seemed like insignificant players, causing headaches for Pei Wuluan and Mo Wentian. Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't see a reason to dwell on it.

After Lin Yi finished speaking, he snorted coldly, expressionless, and turned to leave.

Pei Wuluan chuckled with the two. "He's always been like this."

While uttering these words, Pei Wuluan occasionally glanced at the candied haw fork in Lu Zhaoming's hand. Zhang Xiaoyuan, recalling the words above Pei Wuluan's head, immediately caught on. Without hesitation, he pulled out a few candied haws and handed them to Pei Wuluan. "Chief Pei! We bought too many and can't finish them..."

Pei Wuluan took them with a slight smile. "I am always happy to help."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at Mei Leng'an again and asked, "Elder Mei, would you like to take some back for your disciples to taste?"

Mei Leng'an instantly thought of Ke Xingwen and nodded eagerly. He took the candied haws from Zhang Xiaoyuan, smiling warmly, and said, "Brother Gaoling has a good child."

Finally, with everyone sent away and most of the candied haws gone, Zhang Xiaoyuan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the task he had to handle had become a bit lighter.

Glancing back, he saw Lu Zhaoming sitting on the steps, slightly furrowing his brows. Although there was no apparent change in expression, based on Zhang Xiaoyuan's understanding of Eldest Senior Brother, he sensed that Lu Zhaoming might be a bit unhappy.

Unaware of what had happened, Zhang Xiaoyuan called out, "Eldest Senior Brother?"

Lu Zhaoming immediately glanced at him, randomly blurting out, "These are the candied haws I bought for you."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "I know they are..."

He paused, suddenly understanding the meaning behind Lu Zhaoming's words.

He had shared most of the candied haws with others, and perhaps Eldest Senior Brother was unhappy about this?

The guards didn't allow them to bring the candied haws inside, and he couldn't finish them all alone. If he didn't share them, they might have to be discarded.

Would Eldest Senior Brother be even more upset then?

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt a bit of a headache. After Pei Wuluan and the others left, the guards dared not openly enjoy the candied haws anymore. They discreetly took a bite with hands hidden behind their backs whenever there was no one around. Zhang Xiaoyuan felt they resembled classmates from his private school sneaking snacks.

Approaching them to discuss the matter, Zhang Xiaoyuan barely mentioned the candied haws when one of the guards coughed heavily and said, "What candied haws?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Ah?"

Guard: "It's getting late. Why are you all squatting at the entrance? Hurry inside. We'll be closing the doors soon."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Who was the person claiming he would never be bribed with candied haws?

......

Despite the late hour, there was still activity within the Martial Arts Alliance.

Lu Zhaoming, carrying the large candied haw fork, drew attention from passersby, who thought it was a street vendor entering the Martial Arts Alliance. Some even considered buying a few candied haws from him.

In the courtyard, Hua Liuque was squatting by Zhang Xiaoyuan's pigeon cage, teasing the pigeon with a straw. Jiang Jianyu sat behind him with an eager look. "Why haven't Eldest Senior Brother and the others returned? When are we going to eat roasted pigeon?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but shout, "This is too much! Second Senior Brother! How can you drool over my pigeon like that!"

Lu Zhaoming paused and pointed towards the chubby pigeon in the cage, "That's a pigeon?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded reluctantly.

Lu Zhaoming: "Your pigeon?"

Feeling a bit guilty, Zhang Xiaoyuan whispered, "I... I bought it for fun."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Lu Zhaoming walked to the pigeon cage, handed the candied haw holder to Jiang Jianyu, crouched down, took the thin straw from Hua Liuque's hand, and poked at the plump pigeon.

Pigeon: "Coo, coo, coo."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Jiang Jianyu casually plucked a candied haw, popped it into his mouth, and grumbled, "You all were out for so long just to buy candied haws?"

Lu Zhaoming didn't respond.

At this moment, Lu Zhaoming looked serious, furrowing his brows as if he had completely pushed the matter of the candied haws out of his mind. Using the straw, he poked the chubby pigeon several times, as if finally convinced of something. He turned to Zhang Xiaoyuan and asked, "Xiaoyuan, is your family really well-off?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't know why he brought this up, so he just nodded. Compared to this impoverished martial arts sect, his family's financial situation was indeed considered quite good.

Lu Zhaoming: "Have you never seen chickens and pigeons before?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "...Of course, I have!"

What did Eldest Senior Brother mean? Did he think Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't distinguish between pigeons and chickens?

Lu Zhaoming nodded. "I remember now. You did see them at the shady teahouse."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "I had seen them even before the shady teahouse..."

Lu Zhaoming: "Have you seen pigeons so fat and round before?"

All three shook their heads.

Lu Zhaoming: "But we've seen chickens so fat and round."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

He started feeling something was amiss.

Lu Zhaoming caught the pigeon, using the exact same posture as when he caught a chicken that day at the shady teahouse. Ignoring the pigeon's cooing protests, he furrowed his brows, expressing doubt.

"I think..." he weighed the pigeon in his hand, "this might be a fat chicken dyed a different color."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Pigeon: "Coo?"