The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 57

153

Hua Liuque looked at Mei Leng'an, then at Lu Yanfeng. He hastily waved his hand to refuse, and hurriedly said to Mei Leng'an, "Returning to the sect after being cast aside in the past may not be well-received if people from other sects see."

"Although we are no longer master and disciple, there was a past connection between us," Mei Leng'an persuaded him kindly, "On the occasion of your old master's birthday, wouldn't you like to come back and take a look?"

With just a few words, Hua Liuque seemed to be hesitating.

Zhang Xiaoyuan, watching the dejected Lu Yanfeng, really wanted to nudge him to learn from Mei Leng'an.

After all, he was a senior brother. Why was Mei Leng'an so articulate and Lu Yanfeng so lackluster!

Mei Leng'an finally persuaded Hua Liuque, who reluctantly agreed to return to the sect temporarily until the birthday celebration ended. However, he still felt somewhat unhappy, fearing the gossip and whispers he would face at the Scatterred Blossom Palace. After agreeing to return with Mei Leng'an, he secluded himself back in the carriage, determined not to exchange half a word with Lu Yanfeng.

Zhang Xiaoyuan's opinion of Mei Leng'an finally changed slightly. He used to think Mei Leng'an was a strange elder who spoke in an odd manner and, terrifyingly, engaged in romantic relationship with his disciple. Now, it seemed that at least this peculiar elder was extremely good to his junior brother. He was unwilling to pay attention to Hua Liuque before but was now willing to talk to him for the sake of his junior brother.

On the side, Lu Yanfeng felt quite disheartened. He knew he was not eloquent, yet he remained unaware of where he went wrong in his words. Riding ahead of the group on his horse, at least he presented a tall and upright figure with a distinct countenance. In the mountain city of Xianglin, who didn't know that the Scatterred Blossom Palace's Chief Disciplinary Elder was still unmarried? This attracted countless gazes. Zhang Xiaoyuan had hundreds of words in his heart he wanted to say.

Don't pay attention to him, everyone!

Do you think he doesn't have a wife at this age because he's obsessed with sword practice? No, that's not it. He does want a wife, but he can infuriate everyone with just one sentence.

Zhang Xiaoyuan sighed deeply but suddenly remembered another matter.

That day, Mei Leng'an mentioned retiring from the martial arts world and passing the sect master position to Lu Yanfeng.

With such a sect master, could Scatterred Blossom Palace be on the brink of extinction in a few days?

Zhang Xiaoyuan's heart skipped a beat, feeling he had a new topic to write about for the Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest.

......

The carriage and horses traveled all the way to the base of Scatterred Blossom Palace's mountain gate. Beyond that were the stone steps leading up to Scatterred Blossom Palace's interior, impassable by carriage. They had to dismount and proceed on foot.

This was going to be tough for Hua Liuque.

Initially, Cao Zilian was struck in the lower back by Lu Zhaoming's scabbard and then hit in the knee by the bench kicked by Lu Zhaoming. Fortunately, these were just bruises, and with the passage of time, most of his injuries had already healed. Now, he could move freely, albeit unable to run or walk for extended periods. However, Hua Liuque was different.

His leg was broken by Lu Zhaoming. Recovering from such bone and tendon injuries would take at least a hundred days. Only a month and a half had passed, and while he could walk on the ground, his leg still limped. When he got off the carriage and took a few steps, Lu Yanfeng immediately noticed.

His gaze followed Hua Liuque, as if he wanted to catch up and ask about his leg. But he hesitated, fearing that speaking up might anger him. After walking for a while, he suddenly had an idea and grabbed Ke Xingwen's arm.

"Xingwen," Lu Yanfeng said, looking serious, "help me go ask Little Que'er about his leg."

Ke Xingwen almost choked.

"Junior Martial Uncle, wouldn't it be better if you go yourself?" Ke Xingwen cleared his throat, encouraging Lu Yanfeng, "Express some concern, say a few kind words. Who knows, it might change Junior Brother Hua's impression of you?"

Lu Yanfeng frowned. "But..."

He was truly afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Ke Xingwen thought carefully. Knowing Lu Yanfeng's tendency to mess things up with his mouth, he came up with a set of phrases, a foolproof way to inquire about Hua Liuque's injury without going wrong. He instructed Lu Yanfeng to remember it well and go ask why Hua Liuque got hurt.

"Junior Martial Uncle, when you're with Junior Brother Hua, don't say anything extra. Just ask him how his leg is, whether it hurts or not." Ke Xingwen assured Lu Yanfeng, patting his chest, "If you tell him you feel sorry for his pain or express similar heartfelt words, it should leave a better impression on him."

Lu Yanfeng nodded thoughtfully, as if he had already figured out a solution.

Lu Yanfeng walked up to Hua Liuque and called out, "Little Que'er."

Hua Liuque shivered all over.

Lu Yanfeng asked him, "What's wrong with your leg?"

Hua Liuque: "......"

How could he answer this?

If he told the truth, he feared Lu Yanfeng, with his somewhat clueless and eccentric nature, would go after Lu Zhaoming. While he wished for Lu Zhaoming to face some consequences, he didn't know who was stronger between Lu Zhaoming and Lu Yanfeng. Moreover, this matter could easily escalate into a conflict between two major sects. He absolutely couldn't tell the truth.

Hua Liuque stammered, trembling as he spoke, "I fell... got injured..."

Lu Yanfeng: "Does it hurt?"

Hua Liuque: "No, no, it's almost healed... Haha... healed..."

Lu Yanfeng took a deep breath and threw out the last sentence Ke Xingwen had taught him, "Seeing you in pain makes my heart ache."

Hua Liuque froze in his tracks, a look of shock and fear on his face, as if he had just heard something unimaginable.

Ke Xingwen urged Lu Yanfeng to speak his mind. Lu Yanfeng furrowed his brow, earnestly contemplating what he truly wanted to say to Hua Liuque.

Looking at Hua Liuque, he spoke softly, "If Little Que'er can't fly anymore..."

Cao Zilian interjected, "He'll turn into a big wild chicken!"

Lu Yanfeng: "......"

Hua Liuque: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan, who was excitedly watching the drama from a distance: "......"

154

Wait, when did Cao Zilian go over there?

They were having a good conversation, why did he have to go and butt in!

Lu Yanfeng rarely spoke like a normal person, but why did Cao Zilian have to pass by!

Zhang Xiaoyuan was frustrated.

Ignoring Cao Zilian's sudden remark, Hua Liuque furrowed his brow and looked at Lu Yanfeng, gathering his courage to ask, "Junior Martial Uncle, what... what do you really want to say?"

Lu Yanfeng paused. When Ke Xingwen prompted him to speak his mind, he didn't think too much and blurted out, "I just wanted to ask about your leg..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at the words floating above his head.

「I wanted to show concern for you.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan sighed deeply.

Couldn't Lu Yanfeng say that sentence? He was really impatient.

"My leg has nothing to do with you." Hua Liuque's impression of Lu Yanfeng was not good. He just hoped Lu Yanfeng would quickly walk away. "Last month, I wasn't paying attention while walking and broke my leg. It still hasn't healed. Are you satisfied now?"

Lu Yanfeng was silenced by his words. Zhang Xiaoyuan thought he might not continue the conversation, but contrary to expectations, Lu Yanfeng walked silently with Hua Liuque for a while before suddenly speaking, "No."

Hua Liuque: "What 'no'? If you say more, I might as well go back down the mountain—"

"Your martial arts skills are so good, how could you break your leg like this?" Lu Yanfeng's expression turned serious. "Tell me, who broke your leg?"

Hua Liuque: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan nervously glanced at Lu Zhaoming.

Lu Zhaoming seemed completely indifferent to what was happening around him. He appeared bored, not even reciting his sword manual, just walking while staring at his feet.

Zhang Xiaoyuan also glanced at his feet.

It was just an ordinary stone staircase, and he had no idea what Lu Zhaoming was looking at.

Frowning, he looked up at Lu Zhaoming's head, staring for a moment, and sure enough, words gradually appeared there.

「Three hundred seventeen, three hundred eighteen, three hundred nineteen......」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Eldest Senior Brother was actually counting the steps.

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt he understood Lu Zhaoming to a terrifying extent.

Watching Eldest Senior Brother daydream, he could somehow guess what was on his mind.

Lu Yanfeng continued questioning Hua Liuque.

"You don't need to be afraid," Lu Yanfeng assured. "Just tell me his name, and I'll avenge you."

Hua Liuque dared not speak.

Ignoring Lu Yanfeng, he nervously averted his gaze. Observing his hesitation, Lu Yanfeng eventually approached Zhang Xiaoyuan and the others.

Maintaining a semblance of courtesy in the presence of outsiders, Lu Yanfeng bowed to the group, introduced himself, and then inquired about Hua Liuque's leg.

Jiang Jianyu coughed a few times, remaining silent. Zhang Xiaoyuan tugged at Lu Zhaoming's sleeve, signaling him not to tell the truth. At the same time, he hastily answered, "His leg was injured because he wasn't careful—"

Lu Zhaoming: "I broke it."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Jiang Jianyu wore an expression as if he had expected this outcome.

Lu Yanfeng raised an eyebrow, not yet displaying hostility. Lu Zhaoming continued with another statement.

"He sneaked into the inn at midnight to deliver a love letter," Lu Zhaoming coldly explained. "Wearing a night attire, he fled upon seeing me."

Zhang Xiaoyuan found Eldest Senior Brother's logic in this sentence not entirely coherent.

He understood Lu Zhaoming's implication. Someone wandering around in a dark attire late at night, running away upon being seen, seemed highly suspicious. It made sense to subdue him first and then figure out the situation later.

However, Lu Yanfeng only heard the first half of Lu Zhaoming's statement.

"A... love letter?" Lu Yanfeng seemed struck. "Who was it written to..."

Lu Zhaoming glanced at him, blinked, as if finally realizing something, and remained silent.

Zhang Xiaoyuan coughed heavily and said, "It's all in the past!"

Lu Yanfeng muttered, "Love letter."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Let's not dwell on the past! Today is Elder Mei's birthday. Too much violence isn't good!"

Lu Yanfeng, with vacant eyes, repeated, "Love letter."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "...Scatterred Blossom Palace should be close! Wow! Look at that majestic gate!"

Lu Yanfeng, in a dejected state, mumbled, "Love letter."

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't take it anymore.

What was wrong with this guy!

Unable to contain himself, he blurted out to Lu Yanfeng, "You have hands, you can write one too!"

Lu Yanfeng closed his mouth, paused for a moment, as if finding a new path.

Lifting his head, he regained his composure and thanked Zhang Xiaoyuan with a clasped fist.

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "No need to be polite..."

Lu Yanfeng looked at Lu Zhaoming again. "You're the one who broke Little Que'er's leg."

Lu Zhaoming: "It was me."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "I advise you not to have a confrontation with my Senior Brother—"

Lu Yanfeng: "Fine."

Taking a few steps forward, he turned around and said to Lu Zhaoming with hands behind his back, "When we're inside Scatterred Blossom Palace, I want to have a friendly match with you."

Afraid of Lu Zhaoming's refusal, he added, "Don't worry, I'll exercise restraint. I can even let you off with just one hand. I never take advantage of others."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

This was bad.

Just hearing the phrase "exercise restraint," he knew it was going to be trouble.

Eldest Senior Brother's idea of exercising restraint was entirely different from the common understanding!

Zhang Xiaoyuan sighed deeply.

The image of Lu Yanfeng in Hua Liuque's mind might be completely shattered.