The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 69

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Zhang Xiaoyuan showed a displeased expression too prominently. Mei Leng'an could clearly see it. He propped up his chin and couldn't help but laugh. "Xiaoyuan, I was just joking with your senior brother."

Zhang Xiaoyuan didn't understand the meaning of this sentence.

Mei Leng'an: "Why are you so jealous?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

It took him a moment to understand the meaning behind Mei Leng'an's words, but he wished he could shove them back into Mei Leng'an's mouth. Jealous? How could he ever be jealous of Eldest Senior Brother?

He would never be jealous of that jerk in his entire life!

Mei Leng'an seemed to have figured out the situation. He thought for a moment and said to Lu Zhaoming, "Virtuous Nephew Lu, I have a few words I'd like to say to Xiaoyuan privately. Can you wait outside for a while?"

Lu Zhaoming, always respectful to his elders, didn't doubt Mei Leng'an's words much. Despite Mei Leng'an's ambiguous relationship with his disciple, he was indeed a respected elder. Lu Zhaoming nodded, directly retreated outside.

Mei Leng'an gestured for Zhang Xiaoyuan to come closer. "Xiaoyuan, tell me what's going on."

Mei Leng'an, usually kind to his juniors, sensed Zhang Xiaoyuan's pent-up grievances and encouraged him to share everything that had happened today.

Zhang Xiaoyuan was still upset. "He doesn't understand anything!"

Mei Leng'an nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll deal with your senior brother later."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was puzzled. "Deal with him?"

"I'll have Xingwen deposit this money in the bank, then give you the deposit slips," Mei Leng'an explained. "If only your master knows about this, you should discuss with Brother Henian how to handle this money in the future."

Zhang Xiaoyuan lowered his head and replied softly, "Okay."

"Among fellow disciples, honesty is essential." Mei Leng'an reached out, patting Zhang Xiaoyuan's head. "Hiding things will only lead to countless misunderstandings, and eventually, it might hurt your senior brother."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Reflecting on Mei Leng'an's story, Zhang Xiaoyuan felt these experiences must have been painful for Mei Leng'an. He casually shared them, perhaps to prevent young people from straying down the wrong path.

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt Mei Leng'an was not wrong.

How long had he been a disciple? Just hiding things from his senior brothers for a month or two had already led to so many misunderstandings. If he continued to hide, who knew what other troubles might arise.

Mei Leng'an smiled at him, "Go, bring your senior brother in. I have something to discuss with him alone."

......

Lu Zhaoming reentered the room.

As soon as he entered, without even a chance to bow, Mei Leng'an spoke directly, "The money is meant for Xiaoyuan."

Lu Zhaoming was surprised.

"He didn't need to tell me all this," Mei Leng'an said. "But he was concerned about me and Xingwen, risking himself despite the danger. As his senior brother, you should commend him instead of punishing him."

Lu Zhaoming: "But..."

"I know what you're going to say, a virtuous man acquires his money with principles. You're just like your foolish master." Mei Leng'an frowned slightly, expressing a hint of disdain. "Look at your sect over the years, so poor that you can't even afford a meal."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

"I'm willing to give that money to Xiaoyuan. He can take it back to support the sect. What's wrong with that?" Mei Leng'an frowned. "If any of your martial brothers had a way to earn money, Xiaoyuan wouldn't have to worry about every bit of silver."

Lu Zhaoming: "I..."

"He wants to share your burdens, to please you with something you like. Have you forgotten he's only seventeen now, a young master who hasn't experienced hardships?" Mei Leng'an sighed. "Look at his hands. Why would you still hit him?"

Lu Zhaoming couldn't find words.

"Alright, go apologize to Xiaoyuan." Mei Leng'an smiled at him. "I feel like Xiaoyuan might have something else to tell you."

......

Zhang Xiaoyuan was waiting outside the door.

While he was contemplating how to open up to Eldest Senior Brother and reveal the reasons behind his knowledge of everything, Lu Zhaoming had already pushed the door open.

Lu Zhaoming seemed to be carefully pondering the matter. They didn't speak much on their way back to their room. Lu Zhaoming casually closed the door, taking the initiative to speak first, "Xiaoyuan."

Zhang Xiaoyuan turned to look at him.

Lu Zhaoming spoke in a low voice, "I didn't think it through."

Zhang Xiaoyuan's eyes widened, feeling like he might have misunderstood.

For Eldest Senior Brother, did this statement... equate to an acknowledgment of his mistake?

Lu Zhaoming: "Elder Mei talked to me... I shouldn't have punished you without understanding the whole situation."

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded earnestly. "Yeah."

Elder Mei is awesome!

"You were also considering the sect's well-being," Lu Zhaoming said. "The origin of that money... though not entirely orthodox, it doesn't qualify as ill-gotten gains."

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded repeatedly.

Lu Zhaoming paused for a moment, sighed softly, turned slightly, and looked at Zhang Xiaoyuan. "Elder Mei said you have something to tell me?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

He hadn't figured out how to broach the subject yet.

Regardless of how unthinkable and bizarre it may be, Zhang Xiaoyuan even wondered whether he should say anything at all. However, he reconsidered Mei Leng'an's words. If Eldest Senior Brother misunderstood him for collecting ill-gotten gains now, what if in the future, his knowledge implicated the sect? He needed a way to provide financial support to the sect from his earnings, but he couldn't simply claim it was money sent from home to cover living expenses, like Martial Uncle did, could he?

After a while, Lu Zhaoming finally heard Zhang Xiaoyuan hesitantly say, "Eldest Senior Brother, about this matter... I haven't decided to tell everyone yet."

Lu Zhaoming: "You can tell me first."

Zhang Xiaoyuan lowered his head and softly said, "At the beginning of the year, I had a serious illness."

Lu Zhaoming nodded. "Master told me."

Zhang Xiaoyuan looked up at him, but Lu Zhaoming's expression remained blank, no words spoken. Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't discern what Lu Zhaoming was thinking at the moment. Uncertain about the timing of revealing this matter, he finally gathered courage and spoke firmly, "I know everyone's stories."

Lu Zhaoming was puzzled. Evidently, he didn't understand the meaning behind Zhang Xiaoyuan's words.

"I can see everyone's past and what they're thinking in their hearts." Zhang Xiaoyuan looked at Lu Zhaoming. "On the birthday celebration, I saw Lin Yi's plot last minute and, forced by circumstances, made a hasty decision—"

Lu Zhaoming interrupted him, "You say you can see what?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "...what others are thinking in their hearts."

Lu Zhaoming nodded. "Alright, tell me what I'm thinking."

Zhang Xiaoyuan was very distressed.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I've always found it difficult to read you..." he watched as words appeared on Lu Zhaoming's head. Without thinking, he read out the text, "How can a chicken turn into a pigeon?"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

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Zhang Xiaoyuan continued reading down, "Second Junior Brother's snoring is really annoying."

"Sword technique, the thirty-seventh move."

"I dislike Cao Zilian."

"That pigeon is definitely a chicken."

Zhang Xiaoyuan paused, looking up at Lu Zhaoming.

He had never imagined before that Eldest Senior Brother could be so easily read.

As he thought about this, suddenly another line appeared above Eldest Senior Brother's head.

「I'm sorry, I was wrong.」

「Can you forgive me?」

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan's temper came and went quickly.

He looked at the two lines above Lu Zhaoming's head, gesturing a very short distance with his fingers and whispered, "Can only forgive a little bit."

He couldn't help but recall Eldest Senior Brother's inner thoughts before today. Apart from sword techniques and daydreaming, Lu Zhaoming seemed to have thought of nothing else.

Perhaps... Eldest Senior Brother might really not have thought of anything...

After discussing this matter, Zhang Xiaoyuan felt relieved. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he saw Lu Zhaoming, still wearing an incredulous expression. With his left hand, he attempted to undo the ties of his outer robe, wanting to change into inner clothes for a good rest.

However, today's clothes had a complicated fastening. Zhang Xiaoyuan could only try to undo it with his left hand, which was not very dexterous, making it extremely difficult. Turning his head, he noticed Lu Zhaoming approaching. Lu Zhaoming squatted in front of him, attempting to help and asked, "The martial arts world holds no secrets before you."

Zhang Xiaoyuan nodded.

Zhang Xiaoyuan had been curiously staring at Lu Zhaoming. Apart from the initial question, he didn't seem in a hurry. The words above his head also didn't show any significant changes.

He paused for quite a while before continuing with the questions.

Lu Zhaoming: "Chief Pei and the Demon Sect Master..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "I knew from the beginning."

Lu Zhaoming: "Elder Mei and his disciple..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Their relationship seems quite stable."

Lu Zhaoming: "Puyang Jing..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "None! He and the Emperor have really nothing going on."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Lu Zhaoming paused for a long time, then muttered, "This martial arts world..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan continued, "Truly incomprehensible!"

Their eyes met, and the previous animosity seemed to melt away in an instant. Zhang Xiaoyuan grinned at Lu Zhaoming, almost simultaneously, Lu Zhaoming blurted out, "I'm sorry, I..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan raised his hand, increasing the distance between his two fingers. "Now I forgive you this much."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Unsure of what to say, Lu Zhaoming, seeing Zhang Xiaoyuan struggle with a tightly fastened clasp, decided to lend a hand. Zhang Xiaoyuan slightly tilted his head and asked, "Eldest Senior Brother, you don't seem surprised at all."

Lu Zhaoming hesitated. "It's better than the Martial Arts Alliance Chief and the Demon Sect Master being lovers..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

It seemed the events in this martial arts world had a significant impact on Lu Zhaoming.

"But this matter..." Lu Zhaoming frowned slightly. "After we return, it's better to talk to Master first. For now, let's keep it from the others."

Zhang Xiaoyuan muttered softly, "Eldest Senior Brother, I only told you."

Before his words settled, they heard the loud voices of Second Senior Brother and Hua Liuque in the courtyard. The door was knocked, and without waiting for their response, it was pushed open.

Inside the room, Zhang Xiaoyuan was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head tilted back, while Lu Zhaoming was crouched by his legs, working on undoing his clothes. Simultaneously, he was saying, "Even with Second Junior Brother and the others, you should temporarily keep it a secret..."

Lu Zhaoming: "......"

Jiang Jianyu: "......"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

Jiang Jianyu forced a faint smile, "Sorry, Eldest Senior Brother, for the interruption."