The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 56

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Zhang Xiaoyuan was very excited.

He automatically shifted backward, trying to find an excellent position to oversee everything and see everyone's thoughts.

Lu Yanfeng definitely saw Hua Liuque poking his head out from the back of the carriage.

He helped Mei Leng'an down from the carriage, appearing unhurried. Besides identity information, he had nothing else on his head. Zhang Xiaoyuan almost felt like he wanted to pretend that nothing had happened. Lu Yanfeng whispered a few words to Mei Leng'an. Mei Leng'an sighed deeply, and words appeared in the air above his head.

「Ah, the grown-up junior brother, spilt water.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Is Scatterred Blossom Palace really that exciting!

Everyone had stories, even former disciples.

Beside Zhang Xiaoyuan, Jiang Jianyu, happened to speak up, "The play in Scatterred Blossom Palace seems interesting."

Lu Yanfeng had already walked past them and reached the side of Hua Liuque's carriage. He gently knocked on the carriage door and said, "Martial Nephew."

No response.

Ashner stared blankly at him, unsure of the situation. While Cao Zilian might have some knowledge of the Central Plains martial arts world, being aware that Hua Liuque was once a disciple of Scattered Blossom Palace, Ashner, on the other hand, was completely clueless. Lu Yanfeng glanced at him, nodding slightly, seemingly wanting Ashner to step down from the carriage. Ashner, not understanding the meaning, blinked at Lu Yanfeng. "What do you want?"

Lu Yanfeng was polite. "Please move aside."

Ashner didn't understand.

Zhang Xiaoyuan leaned back to look, but Ashner being so oblivious hindered their enjoyment of the spectacle. Unable to resist, he coughed a few times, signaling Cao Zilian, who still had his head out of the window. Cao Zilian immediately understood, abruptly withdrew his head, pushed open the carriage door, and casually pushed Ashner out. He then jumped down and gestured to Zhang Xiaoyuan that he understood.

Hua Liuque was inside the carriage. After Cao Zilian pushed the door open, he instinctively grabbed it to close it, but Lu Yanfeng's hand blocked it. Their eyes met, and Hua Liuque withdrew his hand, muttering, "Junior Martial Uncle."

Lu Yanfeng nodded slightly and said, "Little Que'er."

Zhang Xiaoyuan almost choked on his own saliva.

What's this new and peculiar way of addressing?

Why did he feel this way of addressing, compared to the age-defying romance between Wenwen and An'an on the other side, gave him more goosebumps? Previously, if he only suspected that Hua Liuque and Lu Yanfeng might have some backstory, now he could be absolutely certain — these two definitely had issues.

Hua Liuque huddled inside the carriage, looking like a mouse facing a cat, so timid that he didn't move at all. After a while, he reluctantly pulled out a faint smile and said to Lu Yanfeng, "Junior Martial Uncle, long time no see."

Lu Yanfeng remained calm. "It's been several years indeed."

Hua Liuque cleared his throat. "Uh... are you doing well?"

Lu Yanfeng: "No need to worry about me."

Too awkward.

Zhang Xiaoyuan watched, feeling awkward on behalf of the two.

Lu Yanfeng : "I've heard that you've made quite a name for yourself in the martial arts world in recent years."

Hua Liuque: "Not really..."

Lu Yanfeng: "The number one flower thief in the martial arts world?"

Hua Liuque: "I..."

Lu Yanfeng: "You fought for the title of the martial arts world's number one for our old sect. I should thank you."

Hua Liuque: "......"

His expression was indifferent, showing no intention of gratitude.

Hua Liuque, unable to speak, retreated further into the carriage, clearly unwilling to converse with Lu Yanfeng any longer.

Zhang Xiaoyuan looked around, surveying the entire scene.

Except for Lu Yanfeng, everyone had their inner thoughts manifested above their heads.

Starting with the closest ones, Jiang Jianyu and Lu Zhaoming. Jiang Jianyu held those Martial Arts World's Secrets Digest, excitedly peeking around. Above his head, a statement read, 「So happy! Another lively scene to watch!」

Lu Zhaoming: 「?」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

A bit farther away, Mei Leng'an covered his face with one hand, holding onto Ke Xingwen with the other. He looked as if he couldn't stand it, as if he wanted to rush over and give Lu Yanfeng a few knocks on the head, or perhaps drag him back directly.

Mei Leng'an: 「Too foolish, I can't bear to watch...」

Ke Xingwen: 「If I speak up to remind him, will Junior Martial Uncle kill me for embarrassing him when he goes back?」

Cao Zilian: 「So thrilling! Is this what the martial arts world is like!」

Ashner: 「What are they talking about? Why can't I understand?」

Clearly, the most miserable one was Hua Liuque.

He cowered inside the carriage, words crazily surging above his head, reminiscent of the time when Puyang Jing insulted Zhao Chengyang as a dog emperor. The words above Hua Liuque's head were just a repeated sentence.

Hua Liuque: 「Stay away from me, stay away, quickly stay away from me!」

Lu Yanfeng stood in front of Hua Liuque again, and only then did words slowly appear above his head.

Lu Yanfeng: 「Did I say something wrong just now?」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Yanfeng: 「Seems like he doesn't understand; I was just asking how he's been these years.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Yanfeng: 「Should I express some joy at seeing him after so many years?」

Zhang Xiaoyuan saw Lu Yanfeng lift his head to look into the carriage at Hua Liuque, his gaze and expression unchanged. A shiver ran through him, sensing an ominous premonition.

"Little Que'er," Lu Yanfeng's expression turned icy, "You still know how to come back."

Hua Liuque: "......"

Hua Liuque: 「Help! Stay away from me, quickly get lost!」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

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Zhang Xiaoyuan felt that this Lu Yanfeng might be a fool.

Wasn't what he was thinking in his heart completely different from what he was saying out loud?!

Zhang Xiaoyuan somewhat understood Mei Leng'an's meaning. This was truly foolish, and he couldn't bear to watch anymore.

Initially, he thought the awkwardness between Hua Liuque and Lu Yanfeng meeting again had the vibe of former lovers reuniting after many years. Now it seemed... what former lovers? Hua Liuque clearly feared Lu Yanfeng, wishing never to see him again.

But Lu Yanfeng remained oblivious.

Frowning, he stared straight at Hua Liuque, waiting for his response.

Hua Liuque struggled for a while, perhaps realizing this hurdle was impassable. He reluctantly forced a smile, looking like his mouth was twitching.

"I... I didn't want to come back," Hua Liuque said, "I was just passing through... accompanying my senior brothers passing by this place."

Lu Yanfeng's expression changed as he coldly repeated, "Senior brothers?"

Hua Liuque, frightened, swallowed hard a few times, finally mustered the courage to say, "I've already left Scatterred Blossom Palace. Whether I bow to anyone as a master or call anyone Senior Brother, it has nothing to do with you, right?"

Lu Yanfeng snorted coldly. "Indeed, it has nothing to do with me."

Words appeared above his head.

Lu Yanfeng: 「Feeling quite lost.」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Your expression and cold snort don't really show any sense of loss!

What's wrong with this person!

Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but turn to look at Lu Zhaoming beside him, finding his eldest senior brother, who wasn't good with words and rarely spoke, truly adorable.

Compared to this Lu Yanfeng, Eldest Senior Brother might speak less and be occasionally straightforward, but he wasn't at the point of being unable to communicate like this.

Jiang Jianyu couldn't help but comment, "It seems like Little Liuque's sect relationships are quite strained?"

Lu Zhaoming nodded.

Jiang Jianyu rubbed his chin. "Our sect seems better."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

The two remained motionless in a standoff. Mei Leng'an, holding his forehead, couldn't bear to watch any longer. He nudged Ke Xingwen's arm, signaling him to step forward and smooth things over. Ke Xingwen cleared his throat, walked over quickly, and spoke to Lu Yanfeng, "Junior Martial Uncle, Master has been traveling tirelessly. We should return to the sect first."

Lu Yanfeng nodded. He took a couple of steps, then suddenly stopped, turned to look at Hua Liuque, and said, "Are you coming?"

Words appeared above Hua Liuque's head: 「I won't go back!」

He forced a polite smile at Lu Yanfeng and said, "I'm no longer a disciple of Scatterred Blossom Palace. If I return, Elder Yufeng will be angry again."

Lu Yanfeng was surprised, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter."

It seemed like he finally spoke like a human. He walked back a few steps to the carriage, extended his hand to Hua Liuque inside, and softly said, "Come back with me. No one will dare to gossip, and no one will try to expel you from the sect again."

Hua Liuque slightly parted his lips, as if he wanted to say something. He hesitated, the words caught in his throat. Finally, as if making up his mind, he moved his fingers resting on the carriage wall, about to speak—

"Elder Yufeng passed away last year," Lu Yanfeng said, "Now, I hold the position of Chief Disciplinary Elder."

Hua Liuque: "......"

Mei Leng'an: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

......

Mei Leng'an cleared his throat heavily, subtly hinting to Lu Yanfeng that, with other Scatterred Blossom Palace disciples and outsiders present, it would be better not to be so direct in speaking.

But Lu Yanfeng completely didn't understand.

Looking at Hua Liuque's eyes, he sensed lingering resentment toward Elder Yufeng. Furrowing his brows slightly, he continued his previous sentence without hesitation.

"When Elder Yufeng expelled you from the sect, it was already a lenient punishment. You shouldn't hold a grudge against him," Lu Yanfeng said, "If I were the Disciplinary Elder at that time, with disciples indulging in worldly pleasures, tarnishing the sect's reputation, expulsion wouldn't be enough to easily turn the page."

After finishing his statement, he looked up at Hua Liuque, seemingly waiting for him to express remorse towards Elder Yufeng.

Hua Liuque had withdrawn the hand he was about to extend and stubbornly retreated further into the carriage. "No need, no need. Thanks, Junior Martial Uncle. I'm quite content staying down the mountain!"

Lu Yanfeng felt lost.

Mei Leng'an coughed heavily once again.

Only then did Lu Yanfeng turn back, looking at Mei Leng'an.

"Senior Brother Mei?" Lu Yanfeng was puzzled. "Are you catching a cold?"

Mei Leng'an: "......"

Mei Leng'an: "...I'm fine."

Lu Yanfeng turned his head again to look at Hua Liuque. "The inn down the mountain is dirty and messy. You won't be comfortable there."

Hua Liuque: "I can manage! Of course, I can manage!"

Lu Yanfeng was extremely disappointed.

He nodded, refraining from further words. Though his expression didn't show much change, there was still a hint of disappointment.

Mei Leng'an sighed again, appearing quite helpless.

Above his head appeared the words from the day they met Hua Liuque at the inn.

「Don't acknowledge, if you acknowledge, you lose!」

「But Junior Brother is unhappy. Just accept the loss...」

After a moment of silence, he eventually acknowledged.

"Liuque." After all these days, Mei Leng'an spoke to Hua Liuque for the first time. "Scatterred Blossom Palace isn't a dangerous place. Even if it's just for the sake of my face, revisiting the old sect for a few days won't hurt, right?"