[Martial Arts Fantasy] Laughing and Embracing Beauties of the Three Realms (Complete) - 32

Chapter 108: Master

Zhang Xiaoyu chuckled inwardly after reading it, cleared his throat, and said seriously, "This palm technique is called the Tianshan Six Yang Palm. It mainly uses the true energy in the palm to invade the opponent's meridians to subdue them. The essence of this palm technique is not the moves, but the internal energy. To truly achieve this, one must have a profound foundation of internal energy." He paused and said, "You are still young, and your internal energy foundation is shallow, so it is not suitable for you to practice this martial art. If you force yourself to practice it, at best your meridians will be damaged, and at worst you will lose your life." With Azi's current cultivation level, it was really difficult for her to master this palm technique.

Azi was disheartened when Zhang Xiaoyu finished his explanation and finally said he wouldn't teach her. Although there was some pretense in his words, he was genuinely disappointed. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaoyu continued, "I will first guide you on the method of circulating and breathing energy. As your internal energy deepens, you can naturally learn the Tianshan Six Yang Palm." Azi's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she immediately sat up happily to listen to Zhang Xiaoyu explain the method of internal energy cultivation.

Azi had some martial arts knowledge, and naturally knew that the internal energy cultivation method Zhang Xiaoyu gave her was far superior to the Xingxiu Sect's. She immediately began practicing under Zhang Xiaoyu's guidance, unaware that he had given her the true internal energy cultivation method of the Xiaoyao Sect.

To Zhang Xiaoyu's surprise, Azi's talent was quite remarkable; within a few days, she had mastered the art of internal energy cultivation. Moreover, Azi's obedience to her "master brother" over the past few days reassured Zhang Xiaoyu considerably. He thought that if someone were to supervise her, Azi's personality might change, but then he thought to himself, "You can see a person's future from the age of three; who knows what tricks this little girl has up her sleeve? It's best to be careful." Zhang Xiaoyu carefully guided Azi in her internal energy cultivation along the way. "Master brother, there's a tavern ahead!" Azi lifted the curtain and looked outside, shaking Zhang Xiaoyu's shoulder. She was naturally active and disliked stillness; apart from practicing her internal energy, she could never find peace. Fortunately, she grew up in the Starry Sky Sect and deeply understood the importance of her own strength; otherwise, given her temperament, how could she possibly calm down and meditate? On the other hand, she felt that Zhang Xiaoyu was simply a monster, able to meditate for an entire day if there was nothing wrong.

Actually, Zhang Xiaoyu didn't like noise to begin with, and these past few days with Azi had made it difficult to find peace and quiet. Because Azi was traveling with him, Zhang Xiaoyu still needed to find an inn for a meal, as men and women should not spend the night in the carriage.

"Oh?" Zhang Xiaoyu opened his eyes, lifted the curtain to look around, and asked the old coachman, "Uncle Huang, are there any inns ahead?" Since it was still early, only afternoon, he wasn't in a hurry to find a place to stay.

"Young master, there are no other inns for dozens of miles ahead." "Then let's stop at an inn." Zhang Xiaoyu instructed.

Upon hearing this, Azi was overjoyed. Without waiting for the carriage to reach the inn, she jumped down from the back, calling to Zhang Xiaoyu, "Master, let's walk! Sitting in the carriage every day is so boring!" Knowing she was restless, Zhang Xiaoyu followed her down, letting Uncle Huang drive the empty carriage while he and Azi walked.

The inn was quite large, with over a dozen tables in the main hall, but it was almost full. As soon as Zhang Xiaoyu entered, he sensed something was amiss. The dozens of people in the main hall were clearly divided into two groups, as if a battle was about to erupt. Looking closer, the innkeeper and waiters were all huddled behind the counter, peeking out furtively. Zhang Xiaoyu didn't care about any of this at the moment, casually finding an empty table and sitting down. Azi, on the other hand, was very excited, sitting down next to Zhang Xiaoyu and loudly calling out, "Waiter, come and serve the guests!" The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, but Azi's shout caused several people on both sides to turn around and glare at her. Azi raised her chin and gave a light snort. Zhang Xiaoyu found it amusing and said to Azi, "Next time, you should use this gesture." He then extended his right index finger and thumb, gesturing downwards.

Azi imitated them, giving the crowd a fierce "disdainful" look, then yelled at the counter, "Waiter, waiter! Hurry up and bring the food, I'm starving!" The waiter, steeling himself, cautiously stepped forward and said softly, "Sirs, how dare you come in at such a critical time? They won't let anyone out, otherwise I would have run away long ago. Now you can't leave either." Azi giggled, "We're here to stay, so naturally we won't go out. You're here to do business, so naturally you won't go out either. What's the big deal?" Zhang Xiaoyu, not wanting Azi to argue with the waiter, said, "Waiter, bring some fresh side dishes." The waiter reluctantly... "Sir," said the waiter, "the cooks have all hidden upstairs. They're so scared they can't even lift a knife. Who would dare cook?" Azi chimed in, "Waiter, you've got guts! You're still here." The waiter sighed and replied, "This shop is run by my uncle. He's really worried about me, so I had to come along." Zhang Xiaoyu asked, "Do you have any food ready? Just pick something." The waiter said, "Please wait a moment, sir. There's cooked beef in the kitchen." He turned and slipped into the back room, his legs giving way, and nearly tripped on the threshold, causing Azi to giggle again.

The others in the room ignored Zhang Xiaoyu and Azi. A man who looked like a leader was heard saying from the east, "You Chen Family Village are really going too far! This matter cannot be resolved peacefully. You'd better draw up a deal." A lean old man sitting in the middle of the crowd on the west side shouted, "Hmph, your Yellow River Gang may be big, but you should know that even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. We, the Chen Family Village, are not to be trifled with." After listening to a few sentences, Zhang Xiaoyu understood that this was a negotiation between gangs. He couldn't help but find it amusing; this scene didn't resemble a martial arts movie scene, but rather seemed like an ancient costume version of the "Young and Dangerous" series. Azi whispered to Zhang Xiaoyu, "Master, do you think they'll make a move?" Zhang Xiaoyu shook his head slightly and said, "Even if they do, it'll just be a street brawl. Azi, don't get involved." Azi said "Oh," and said nothing more. After a while, the waiter brought over a large plate of beef, a pot of old wine, and several steamed buns. Zhang Xiaoyu recalled the scene in the book where Azi used poison to trick the innkeeper, and couldn't help but glance at Azi. Seeing her sitting obediently to the side, he breathed a sigh of relief. Still somewhat uneasy, he said, "Azi, I have a request for you." Azi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Master, please speak freely, Azi will certainly agree." Over the past few days, Azi had gained a deeper understanding of Zhang Xiaoyu, knowing he disliked making things difficult for others, so she agreed very readily.

Zhang Xiaoyu said solemnly, "Azi, now that I have taught you martial arts, you must not use those vicious methods of the Xingxiu Sect anymore. And those poisons, unless it is a matter of life and death, you must not use them again." Zhang Xiaoyu only restricted Azi because he felt she usually didn't value human life; he wouldn't be so rigid as to forbid her from using poison when truly necessary.

Upon hearing this, Azi nodded and replied, "Since it is what Master Brother says, I will naturally obey. Once I learn unparalleled martial arts from Master Brother, I won't need to resort to those methods anymore." Zhang Xiaoyu then said, "The saying goes that Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, so you shouldn't be too ruthless in your actions. Be forgiving when you can." Azi laughed and said, "Master Brother, you're lying to me again. What 'Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life'? Lao Tzu's *Tao Te Ching* clearly states, 'Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs.'" Zhang Xiaoyu was taken aback and couldn't find any words to refute her for a moment. Just then, a whoosh of wind suddenly rose behind him. Zhang Xiaoyu's spiritual sense was now incredibly sharp. Without looking back, he sensed that what was flying towards him was a wine bowl. With a flick of his left sleeve, his Tai Xuan True Qi swept away the wine in the air, and the bowl was immediately bounced aside. Looking back, the two groups of people in the hall had already started fighting after a single word, with wine cups and chairs flying everywhere. Zhang Xiaoyu frowned, intending to drive both sides out of the shop.

At that moment, a figure in green flashed into the shop, weaving left and right in the hall. A series of exclamations followed, and the people who had been fighting all fell to the ground, splitting into east and west sides. Before they could react, they felt a blur before being pushed aside by a strong force, falling to the ground involuntarily. Only when they stood up did they realize that they were not injured. Looking back in the hall, there stood a handsome man dressed in green.

Azi loved watching the excitement, and just as everyone was getting into a good fight, the man in blue entered. With a few swift movements of his palms, he separated the crowd in an instant. She couldn't help but cheer inwardly, and said to Zhang Xiaoyu, "Master, this man's martial arts are amazing! He subdued so many people with just one move." Then, as if remembering something, she added, "But he seems to be far inferior to you, Big Brother." Hearing Azi's words, Zhang Xiaoyu smiled slightly and said, "Little girl, you don't need to flatter me. In terms of moves, I am far inferior to this gentleman." He saw that the man's movements were graceful and elegant, displaying the demeanor of a master, and he was somewhat impressed.

Upon hearing this, Azi asked, "If you were to fight this person, would you win or lose, brother?" Zhang Xiaoyu closed his folding fan and lightly tapped her forehead, whispering, "Victory is assured. Little girl, how can you have so little confidence in your brother?" Seeing that Zhang Xiaoyu wasn't angry, Azi lowered her head and stuck out her tongue.

Just then, a man from the Yellow River Gang on the east shouted, "Who are you? State your name!" Although his voice was loud, he knew the man in blue was far more skilled than himself, and he was secretly afraid.

The old man on the west also said, "Young master, who are you? Are you here to help the Yellow River Gang?" This old man didn't recognize the man in blue, nor did he remember ever asking for help, so he naturally assumed it was reinforcements from the other side. He secretly thought he was likely to suffer a great loss today.

Before the man in blue could answer, a strange, grating laugh came from outside: "Hahaha, not at all, how could the Yellow River Gang afford my young master?" Zhang Xiaoyu naturally recognized Bao Butong's voice and asked in slight surprise, "Is that Murong Fu?" Azi, with her sharp ears, heard Zhang Xiaoyu muttering to himself and asked, "Brother, could it be the legendary 'Southern Murong'?" The man in blue clasped his hands in greeting to the crowd in the main hall and said, "I am Murong Fu of Gusu. I intervened because I saw you all fighting, please forgive me if I offended you." As he spoke, several more people entered through the door, Bao Butong and Feng Bo'e among them.

Murong Fu said, "I don't know what conflict you all have that makes you want to fight. Peace is the best policy, so I will act as a peacemaker and ask you all to resolve this matter peacefully. There is always a way to solve everything." Upon hearing that the newcomer was the renowned Southern Murong, everyone lost all desire to compete. The man on the east side acted decisively, clasping his hands in a fist salute and saying, "Since Young Master Murong has intervened in this matter, my Yellow River Gang must give him face. Young Master Murong, please." With that, he waved his hand and led his disciples away quickly. The old man on the other side thanked Murong Fu and also hurriedly left with the Chen Family Village group. In the main hall, only Murong Fu and his group remained, along with Zhang Xiaoyu and Azi, who were sitting to one side.

Before Murong Fu could say anything, both the Yellow River Gang and the Chen Family Village group had left in a hurry, leaving him with no way to use his skills to win over both sides. He stood there alone, slightly stunned. Bao Butong exclaimed, "How strange! Young Master kindly mediated between the two families, and they just left like that. They're so rude! I have to teach them a lesson!" A burly middle-aged man beside him said, "Third Brother, don't be ridiculous." Then he turned to Murong Fu and said, "Young Master, the Yellow River Gang and Chen Family Village are just insignificant gangs. There's no need for you to bother with them." Chapter 109: Bullying Murong Fu Murong Fu simply sighed and sat down at a clean table. The four generals also came over and called for the waiter to bring some wine and dishes. The cook, who had been hiding, also came downstairs and went into the back room to prepare.

Seeing that dozens of people on both sides had disappeared in the blink of an eye, A Zi felt very bored: "What? We just started and they messed things up." A Zi's voice was clear and crisp, and she spoke without any restraint. Murong Fu and the others naturally heard her clearly.

Bao Butong, still angry, turned around, about to unleash a torrent of abuse, but upon seeing a clever and adorable little girl, his anger subsided somewhat. He merely scoffed, "A wild child with no one to discipline her." Little did he know that the phrase "a wild child with no one to discipline her" struck a nerve with Azi. Although she didn't usually show it, for a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, being orphaned at a young age was a significant loss. Azi's anger flared, and with a flick of her wrist, she concealed a jade needle, ready to fire. The man sitting opposite her, seeing Azi's gesture, cried out in alarm, "Jade needle! Third brother, be careful!" Murong Fu, a skilled fighter, reacted with lightning speed. He glanced back out of the corner of his eye, and a bamboo chopstick in his hand shot towards Azi's brow with lightning speed. Before Azi could react, the chopstick was already upon her. How could she possibly dodge it? Terrified, she closed her eyes, but her right hand trembled violently. Even if it cost her her own life, she would take someone down with her. She didn't target Murong Fu, but instead aimed her silver needles directly at Wang Yuyan. With her keen eyesight, she knew from Murong Fu's display of defeating everyone upon entering the shop that he possessed extremely high martial arts skills. Furthermore, she knew from Zhang Xiaoyu that he was "Southern Murong," and figuring her silver needles were unlikely to harm him, she turned her attack towards the Four Generals.

In the blink of an eye, Azi's thoughts raced, demonstrating the ruthlessness and speed honed in the Xingxiu Sect. However, while she was fast, someone was even faster. Just before her silver needles were about to strike, Azi suddenly felt her right hand freeze in place, unable to move an inch, and heard a soft "snap." When Azi opened her eyes again, the bamboo chopsticks hadn't harmed her at all; instead, she saw Zhang Xiaoyu holding her right wrist pulse point.

Zhang Xiaoyu shook his head slightly, laughing and scolding, "You little girl still don't believe in your brother's strength." He then put on a stern face and said, "You just promised, and you want to break it again?" Azi remembered her agreement with Zhang Xiaoyu and lowered her head, looking aggrieved. Seeing her like that, Zhang Xiaoyu knew she was mostly pretending, but he didn't want to scold her any further.

Murong Fu was startled. The bamboo chopstick he had just shot out, although it seemed hasty, was actually shot backward using a unique technique. Upon hearing the name "Azure Phosphor Needle," he knew the other party was a member of the "Starry Constellation Sect," so he didn't hold back. The force and speed were almost at their peak, but who would have thought that the white-robed youth with his back to him could easily knock it to the ground with a flick of his sleeve.

Murong Fu thought to himself, "Brilliant!" He gave a wink to everyone at the table, signaling them not to act rashly. He stood up, turned around, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Xiaoyu's table, saying, "May I ask which expert from the Xingxiu Sect is here?" Zhang Xiaoyu didn't turn around, remaining seated. He took a sip of his wine and said, "There are no scoundrels from the Xingxiu Sect here. You've mistaken me for someone else." Murong Fu was slightly taken aback, not expecting the other party to deny being a member of the Xingxiu Sect and instead call the Xingxiu Sect members scoundrels. Feng Bo'e, unable to contain himself any longer, cursed, "That girl clearly used the 'Azure Phosphorus Needle' of the 'Starry Constellation Sect' to try and ambush us..." Before he could finish, A Zi let out a string of silvery laughter, "This person is quite unreasonable, but I wonder where that 'Azure Phosphorus Needle' is? This young lady also wants to broaden her horizons. Someone who speaks nonsense should be careful, or their tongue will rot." These words stunned Murong Fu and the others. They thought, indeed, the other party had only raised their hand, but hadn't actually used a hidden weapon, while they had definitely attacked them. In truth, they were in the wrong. For a moment, they were at a loss, unsure of what to do.

Azi continued, "That uncle actually hit me with chopsticks!" She tugged at Zhang Xiaoyu's right hand, shaking it back and forth, and cried in a spoiled tone, "Big brother, they bullied me!" Murong Fu, barely thirty, was always considered a promising young talent in the martial arts world, yet Azi called him "uncle." He thought to himself that his efforts over twenty years had yielded no hope of restoring his kingdom, and a pang of sadness shot through him.

Zhang Xiaoyu chuckled when Azi called Murong Fu "uncle," gesturing for her to sit down, saying, "Azi, don't be silly." Azi obediently sat down, then suddenly stuck out her tongue and made a face. Zhang Xiaoyu patted Azi's shoulder, stood up, and turned to face Murong Fu. Bao Butong exclaimed softly, "Zhang Xiaoyu!" Murong Fu frowned slightly, not expecting the man Bao Butong had spoken of as the arrogant figure who had stormed out of the apricot grove.

Zhang Xiaoyu smiled slightly, not bothering to clasp his hands in a salute, but merely nodding slightly as a greeting, saying, "I have long admired Young Master Murong's name." Although he said "I have long admired," his expression was nonchalant, showing no trace of genuine respect, but rather a hint of sarcasm.

Murong Fu was not a man of great capacity to begin with, and Zhang Xiaoyu's behavior had already ignited his anger. However, he maintained a gentlemanly demeanor, saying, "So you are the Young Master Zhang that Brother Bao often mentions. It is said that you became famous in the Apricot Grove last time. I wonder if you are as formidable as the rumors suggest." As he spoke, he approached Zhang Xiaoyu step by step, exuding an aura that grew stronger with each step, intending to overwhelm his opponent first.

Zhang Xiaoyu closed his folding fan and raised his hand, saying, "I happen to have some difficulties with this, and I would appreciate any guidance from Young Master Murong." Murong Fu was secretly surprised to see that the other party, despite being suppressed by his aura, did not retaliate with his own aura but instead displayed a completely free and easy demeanor. However, he was already on the verge of disaster and had no choice but to take a step to the right, his right hand feinting while his left hand moved unpredictably behind him, performing a move he had created by combining the strengths of several martial arts styles, called "Flying Clouds Chasing the Moon."

Murong Fu was quite confident in his move. His right hand formed the shape of a "moon" in front, seemingly real yet illusory, while his left hand formed the shape of a "cloud" behind, constantly shifting and unpredictable. Opponents often became confused by the variations of this move, losing their composure and surrendering easily. Even slightly stronger opponents couldn't decipher its subtleties, and could only avoid its sharp edge, thus gaining the upper hand and ultimately securing victory.

Zhang Xiaoyu, however, was completely ignorant of the variations in martial arts techniques. It wasn't that he lacked innate comprehension, but rather that no one had ever taught him the basics of breaking down and analyzing techniques. Seeing Murong Fu's attack, he couldn't discern any variations. He only knew to meet force with force, bringing his palms together in front of his chest and unleashing the Xuanming Divine Palm, aiming directly for Murong Fu's chest. He knew that Murong Fu's internal energy wasn't strong, so he only used about 60% of his power in his attack.

Seeing that his opponent simply pushed his palms out flat, Murong Fu was overjoyed. He dodged Zhang Xiaoyu's palms with both hands and grabbed at Zhang's elbows with a technique that could dislocate tendons, intending to break Zhang's tendons in one strike. However, before Zhang Xiaoyu's palms even reached his chest, a powerful and chilling palm wind rushed over, making it difficult for him to breathe. "This person has such strong palm power!" Murong Fu was shocked and quickly released Zhang Xiaoyu's elbow joints. He then turned his hands back into palms and pushed and squeezed Zhang Xiaoyu's arms, using the borrowed force to shift his feet to the left. Zhang Xiaoyu also changed his flat push to a horizontal sweep, channeling his power into his forearms, and shook Murong Fu's palms away. Murong Fu was intimidated by Zhang Xiaoyu's heavy and fierce palm power and took a few steps back, not daring to advance any further.

"Sword, come!" Murong Fu stretched out his right hand, and the burly man threw a long sword in front of him. Murong Fu swiftly snatched the sword, flicked open its scabbard, and with a few flourishes, the scabbard flew steadily back into the burly man's hand. This move was extremely elegant and beautiful, even Azi beside him couldn't help but exclaim "Bravo!"

Murong Fu knew that his opponent's close-range palm strikes were incredibly powerful, and his internal energy was also significantly stronger than his own. After a moment's thought, he decided to use swordsmanship to counter his opponent. Firstly, this would prevent his opponent from creating distance and freely unleashing his strengths; secondly, it would avoid the danger of a direct palm strike. Tactically speaking, it was a brilliant move.

Seeing Murong Fu's longsword extended horizontally, pointing directly at him, the tip of the sword not trembling at all, as steady as water poured onto a statue, Zhang Xiaoyu secretly sighed. This seemed easy, but it was a level that most swordsmen in the martial arts world could not reach even after a lifetime of effort. Yet Murong Fu did it as naturally as breathing, demonstrating his extraordinary skill in swordsmanship.

While Zhang Xiaoyu was slightly surprised, Murong Fu was far from the composed demeanor he appeared to be. On the contrary, he was even beginning to feel a sense of unease. From the moment his longsword was drawn, he had used all his mental energy to try and lock onto Zhang Xiaoyu through the sword, trying to find his opponent's weakness. However, although Zhang Xiaoyu was right in front of him, he couldn't sense his presence no matter what he did. "Could it be that he has reached the state of oneness with heaven and man?" Murong Fu had met countless martial arts figures in his life, but he had never seen anyone reach this level. So, when he asked himself this question, he was also startled. If Zhang Xiaoyu had really reached the state of oneness with heaven and man, wouldn't he be the number one martial artist in the world?

Murong Fu couldn't help but feel that he was unable to defeat his opponent. He was shocked to realize that if this stalemate continued, he would probably have to abandon his sword and admit defeat. With no other choice, he gritted his teeth, thrust out his longsword, and launched a simple and straightforward Shaolin Damo sword attack at Zhang Xiaoyu. The Bodhidharma Swordplay is characterized by its grandeur and righteousness. This particular strike, though seemingly simple, is the sword of kingly principle. At this moment, Murong Fu, unable to see through Zhang Xiaoyu, finds this move most logical.

Zhang Xiaoyu stands there casually, his entire body riddled with weaknesses, impossible to perceive through spiritual means. Murong Fu's decision to abandon his usual, unpredictable sword techniques in favor of the Bodhidharma Swordplay demonstrates his complete inability to understand Zhang Xiaoyu, putting him at a disadvantage in terms of skill.

Zhang Xiaoyu, naturally unfamiliar with the Bodhidharma Swordplay, raises his folding fan and points it at Murong Fu's sword.

A clang resounds as sword and fan clash. Murong Fu's sword flashes and shatters into dozens of fragments, scattering everywhere. Murong Fu also takes a step back. He is astonished. That attack could easily shatter a three-foot-long sword, yet it only caused a slight numbness in his arm. His retreat was a deliberate avoidance of the fragments. It's clear the opponent intentionally yielded, but he doesn't understand why.

Murong Fu stood there, his face deathly pale. He reflected on how his twenty-odd years of hard work had been no match for a single blow from his opponent's fan, and a sense of utter despair washed over him. From childhood, he had considered restoring his kingdom his life's purpose, but by the age of thirty, he had achieved nothing. Fortunately, he was quite accomplished in martial arts, always believing that while he wasn't the best in the world, he was unmatched among the younger generation, a source of great pride. He never imagined that Zhang Xiaoyu would shatter this last pillar of his spirit.

Seeing Murong Fu retreat with his broken sword, standing there as if his mind had been shattered, the four generals were terrified. Fearing Zhang Xiaoyu would attack, they rushed forward, forming a four-cornered encirclement to separate him from Murong Fu. Although they knew they were no match for Zhang Xiaoyu, they did so without hesitation, demonstrating their loyalty.

Zhang Xiaoyu, however, had no intention of killing Murong Fu. After all, Murong Fu had provoked him, and he was merely teaching him a lesson, primarily to test his own strength. Seeing the four men so tense, he took two steps back, shrugged, and indicated that he had no intention of fighting again.

Chapter 110: The Art of Sound Killing The four great generals still dared not be careless. With Zhang Xiaoyu's skill just now, killing someone from several feet away was not difficult at all. However, since he had not tried to kill again just now, he probably wouldn't now either. Bao Butong and Feng Bo'e retreated to Murong Fu's side, shook Murong Fu a few times, and anxiously called out, "Young Master, Young Master!" But there was no response from Murong Fu. Seeing Murong Fu's appearance, the four great generals thought that he had been seriously injured by Zhang Xiaoyu's finger force, and they all glared angrily at Zhang Xiaoyu.

Feng Bo'e roared, "What kind of evil magic did you use to injure my young master?" As he spoke, he wanted to grab his knife and rush forward to fight Zhang Xiaoyu to the death. The burly man beside him grabbed him and said in a muffled voice, "Fourth brother, it's not your turn to fight. I, as the eldest, should be the first." He took a step forward and said loudly, "Deng Baichuan of the Murong Clan, you overestimate yourself and come to meet your superior's challenge." At this time, Zhang Xiaoyu had already returned to his seat and had not yet answered. Azi laughed and said, "Hey, big guy. Even your young master is no match for my eldest brother. You still want to come over? Aren't you just throwing your life away?" She then turned to Zhang Xiaoyu and said, "Master, another one wants to fight you. You didn't even lift a finger earlier. It wasn't enough to watch. This time, take your time." Zhang Xiaoyu couldn't help but smile and flicked Azi's forehead with his knuckles. "Don't be silly." He then looked at the five people on Murong Fu's side, smiled slightly, and said, "Why bother with one by one?" Before he finished speaking, he flew up from his seat, touched the roof beam with his right foot, and pounced on Deng Baichuan.

Seeing his opponent make a move, Deng Baichuan went into full defensive stance. Gongye, Bao, and Feng moved closer to Deng Baichuan; although they knew they were outmatched, four against one offered at least a sliver of hope.

Zhang Xiaoyu, mid-air, gathered his power in his right palm and unleashed the Six Yang Palms of Tianshan with sixty percent of his strength. In an instant, the palm wind completely enveloped the four men. The four generals could only desperately try to resist with their inner strength, but the palm wind was truly formidable. The yang energy penetrated their bodies, reaching their meridians, immediately causing them to lose their breath and unable to sustain their inner strength. If not for their sheer willpower, the four would have already collapsed to the ground. They never expected that Zhang Xiaoyu hadn't even used his full strength yet; they only felt that this man's strength was unfathomable and terrifying.

Using the recoil from the palm wind, Zhang Xiaoyu spun in mid-air, changing direction and heading towards the stunned Murong Fu. The four generals saw this clearly and cried out in alarm, but they were unable to move, their entire bodies invaded by the palm energy, leaving them with little strength.

Azi, who was sitting to the side, watched with rapt attention and involuntarily stood up.

Zhang Xiaoyu landed in front of Murong Fu and struck him on the Tanzhong acupoint on his chest. Murong Fu was struck and fell straight backward without uttering a sound. This startled the crowd, who screamed again.

At this moment, Azi had already run to Zhang Xiaoyu's side, praising, "Master, Brother Zhang is indeed very skilled. He defeated them in a single move..." She pointed to each of them, "One, two, three... five enemies. And all the best fighters from the Murong family of Jiangnan. If word gets out, Brother Zhang's reputation will surely surpass 'Qiao Feng of the North, Murong of the South,' making him the number one martial artist in the Central Plains!" Zhang Xiaoyu shook his head and said, "Qiao Feng is my sworn brother, and also your second brother. His martial arts are not much worse than mine. There's nothing to brag about in these empty titles." "Oh?" Azi was taken aback when she learned that Qiao Feng was Zhang Xiaoyu's sworn brother, and then she was overjoyed. She was overjoyed because she suddenly had another second brother with top-notch martial arts skills. Naturally, the more powerful backers one has, the better. With Zhang Xiaoyu and Qiao Feng backing her up, even if she met Ding Chunqiu, she could probably walk sideways in front of him. A hint of doubt crept in, and tilting his head, he asked, "Why is the world referring to 'Qiao Feng of the North, Murong of the South' as equals? So, the so-called 'Murong of the South' is just a name without substance?" Murong Fu, hearing Azi's insult, couldn't contain himself, but was held back by his four retainers, who together dragged him out of the shop.

Back inside, the shop was a mess, and only the two of them remained. Zhang Xiaoyu suddenly muttered to himself, as if remembering something, "This… I'm not supposed to pay for everything, am I?" He glanced at Azi, who, mimicking his usual demeanor, shrugged with an "it's none of my business" expression.

Zhang Xiaoyu offered to pay, but the shopkeeper dared not accept it. The first two groups of people who entered had terrified him, but the young man in blue who entered later had knocked dozens of people to the ground in the blink of an eye, causing them to flee in panic. Then, the young man in white had knocked the young man in blue unconscious in just a few moves. The innkeeper had never seen anything like this before; if he hadn't pinched himself several times, he would have thought he was dreaming. At this point, not only did he not demand compensation from Zhang Xiaoyu, but he also waived his and Azi's room and board.

Zhang Xiaoyu found it amusing, but since the other party didn't want it, he figured he could save money wherever he could. He and Azi finally had a peaceful meal and then settled into the inn.

"Master, Brother, why are there always people following us suspiciously along the way?" Azi urged her horse closer to Zhang Xiaoyu and said softly.

Actually, Zhang Xiaoyu had already sensed it and guessed that the followers were from the Beggars' Sect. Although the world was vast, few sects had the manpower to arrange such a network of informants. Speaking of the Beggars' Sect, it was truly a headache for him. He guessed it was because of the Apricot Grove incident that he and the Beggars' Sect had become bitter enemies. The fact that they hadn't attacked him was already quite sensible. Then he thought again, who knew if the Beggars' Sect wasn't currently gathering its forces? Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaoyu couldn't help but shake his head, regretting not asking A'Zhu about the secrets of disguise; otherwise, things would be much easier now. Although he didn't think the Beggars' Sect could truly pose a significant threat, being watched by such a group of people made it impossible for him to relax mentally.

"Alas, perhaps there's some misunderstanding between you and the Beggars' Sect," Zhang Xiaoyu sighed. Suddenly remembering the clever and mischievous girl, he wondered if she had any good ideas. He asked, "Azi, do you have a way to shake off these people?" Azi asked curiously, "Brother, your martial arts are unparalleled. Wouldn't you have defeated them in just a few moves?" Zhang Xiaoyu shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying, "The Beggars' Sect has hundreds of thousands of disciples. Even if you just stood there and let me fight you, you'd be exhausted to death. Fighting the Beggars' Sect is no joke." He was joking; if he really broke ties with the Beggars' Sect, he'd probably be hunted down every day in the Central Plains, driven mad by the annoyance. Besides, Zhang Xiaoyu still held some goodwill towards the Beggars' Sect. After all, it was a major righteous sect and one of the cornerstones of the Central Plains martial arts world. Moreover, Kang Min was infiltrating the Beggars' Sect's influence, so he shouldn't do anything to make things difficult for her.

Azi stuck out her tongue, turned her head, and saw a pigeon flying overhead. She raised her right hand, and a thin beam of purple light shot out. The pigeon immediately fell to the ground.

Azi cheered, jumped off her horse, picked up the pigeon, and handed it to Zhang Xiaoyu, saying with a smug smile, "Hmph, Master, do you think my Blissful Dagger was accurate?" Zhang Xiaoyu deliberately shook his head and sighed, "Accurate, yes, but it's a pity you ruined such a delicious pigeon." Seeing Azi's seemingly unconvinced expression, he laughed, "The Starry Constellation Sect feeds all their hidden weapons with potent poison, so their techniques focus on accuracy but lack real power. They don't realize that when facing a master, such hidden weapons are completely ineffective, ultimately amounting to nothing more than bullying the weak and fearing the strong." He then pointed to a tree by the roadside and said, "Watch closely." He pinched a pebble between his right middle finger and thumb, channeled his energy into his fingertip, and flicked it out with his finger-flicking technique.

Azi heard a muffled thud, and the tree, as thick as a bowl, exploded from the inside, shattering into countless pieces, leaving not a single intact piece. Azi stared at the wood chips scattered on the ground, hardly believing that just moments before it had been a tree. She gaped, speechless.

Zhang Xiaoyu was quite satisfied with the power of his finger-flicking technique. He smiled slightly and said to Azi, "If a hidden weapon is imbued with this kind of power, what need is there for poison?" Azi finally calmed down and exclaimed joyfully, "Master, you are truly amazing! With this move, the opponent would have been pulverized long ago. Of course, there's no need for poison. No, you must teach me this. If I learn this skill, I'll never have to poison my hidden weapons again!" She then muttered under her breath, "Do you think poison comes so easily?" Zhang Xiaoyu's earlier attack wasn't to show off his strength to Azi, but rather to intimidate the spies and informants lurking around. He wanted them to know that his reluctance to fight them wasn't out of fear of the Beggars' Sect. Unexpectedly, Azi was now pestering him to learn. Zhang Xiaoyu knew Azi's temperament. If she learned the Finger Flicking Skill, she would definitely not fight like he did with stones. He feared he would have a terrible time facing her. So he lightly tapped her with his fan and said, "You haven't even mastered the Heavenly Plum Blossom Hand technique I taught you, and you want to learn this Finger Flicking Skill? Remember, don't bite off more than you can chew." Azi thought this made sense, but she was still itching to learn. She said to Zhang Xiaoyu, "Teach me first. I'll practice the Finger Flicking Skill after I've mastered the palm technique. Otherwise, I'm afraid my master and elder brother won't be here when I want to learn." Zhang Xiaoyu sneered, "I know your temper!" He resolutely refused.

Azi said, "Then I'll teach you a skill in exchange." Zhang Xiaoyu couldn't help but laugh, "Little girl wants to teach me? Very well. Let's see what treasure you can come up with. If you really have one, I'll give you the Finger Flicking Skill." He knew Azi's martial arts skills very well; even among the Xingxiu Sect's martial arts, they weren't considered top-tier. Hearing her say this, he really didn't believe it.

Azi had only said it casually earlier, but now that Zhang Xiaoyu had agreed, she was in a dilemma. The martial arts she learned from the Xingxiu Sect mostly involved poison, which Zhang Xiaoyu had always looked down on. And some minor techniques like "Turtle Breathing Skill" were certainly not worth a laugh in Zhang Xiaoyu's eyes. The highest martial art she knew was "Dissolving Skill," but firstly, she hadn't mastered it yet, and secondly, Zhang Xiaoyu had previously commented on "Dissolving Skill," saying that it was useless against experts and unnecessary against weak opponents. He figured Zhang Xiaoyu wouldn't trade it for the Finger Flicking Skill.

Seeing her hesitate for a long time without speaking, Zhang Xiaoyu chuckled and said, "Little girl, you should obediently practice your internal strength and palm techniques first." Azi snorted and turned her head to the other side, saying, "I have many treasures hidden away; I'm afraid some people won't be able to learn them." With that, she took out a jade flute from her bosom. Zhang Xiaoyu noticed that the flute was unusually short, only seven inches long, pure white, crystal clear, and quite pleasing.

Azi put the flute to her lips and gently began to play. The sound was unlike the clear and melodious tone of ordinary flutes; instead, it was extremely sharp and mournful. Azi played high and low notes, without any discernible pitch. Zhang Xiaoyu was about to tease her, but before he could speak, he suddenly felt that the flute music sounded like the wailing of ghosts. Listening carefully, he suddenly felt a churning unease in his heart and was startled, thinking to himself, "Could it be that the Xingxiu Sect has a sonic killing technique?" When Ding Chunqiu was studying under Wu Yazi, his master forced him to learn music, but he had no interest in music. However, he discovered that the sound produced by using internal energy could disturb people's minds. Thus, the Xingxiu Sect developed a technique that could not be called a martial art, "Soul-Destroying Sound."

Chapter 111: Ding Chunqiu's Incompetent Disciple This skill uses internal force to power the flute's sound. The Xingxiu Sect's internal strength is not particularly strong, so apart from Ding Chunqiu himself, the other disciples cannot unleash the full power of this "Soul-Stealing Sound." For example, Ah Zi, lacking sufficient internal force, can only try her best to play a sharp and mournful tune to increase its effect of disturbing the mind.

"Ah Zi, is this a Xingxiu Sect martial art?" Hearing Zhang Xiaoyu's question, Ah Zi, seeing a glimmer of hope, immediately beamed with joy and laughed, "Master, Brother, how about it? You don't know this 'Soul-Stealing Sound,' do you?" Zhang Xiaoyu thought to himself, the Xingxiu Sect's martial arts originated from Wu Yazi, a man skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This "Soul-Stealing Sound" was most likely a modified version of Wu Yazi's, and this kind of skill relies heavily on internal force. With Ah Zi's current cultivation level, she certainly couldn't unleash it. He chuckled and said, "This skill is interesting, but your playing is awful." Azi spread her hands, saying, "Master... dare... uh, no, that old monster Ding Chunqiu taught it like this." Zhang Xiaoyu laughed heartily, "Old monster Ding himself is musically ignorant, so naturally he plays like this. It's a wonder you all can even learn this tune." But then he thought about the Xingxiu Sect members' character; indeed, no one dared to deviate from Ding Chunqiu's tune.

Azi said, "Master, you keep your word, what about the Finger Flicking Divine Skill?" Zhang Xiaoyu stopped laughing and said, "Alright, then you've passed. I'll teach you the Finger Flicking Divine Skill tomorrow." He secretly thought that when he used this "Soul-Stealing Sound," its power would be a hundred times stronger. Of course, he wouldn't learn such an awful tune. It was a pity he couldn't play the flute; he decided that after learning this skill, he would definitely practice the flute. "Hehe, I'll just change it to a modern tune and call it... 'The Rising Tide of the Azure Sea,' haha... 'Flick of the Finger' and 'The Rising Tide of the Azure Sea,' this Huang Island Master's style is truly mastered." Just as Zhang Xiaoyu was lost in thought, five people appeared in front of him, lined up and blocking his way. The four of them wore identical yellow linen robes, each holding a long steel staff.

Azi was startled and, about fifty or sixty paces away from the five, pulled her horse back. Zhang Xiaoyu also stopped and asked, "Azi, do you know them? Are they from the Starry Constellation Sect?" Azi nodded and said, "Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother... why are they all here?" As she spoke, she trembled slightly. Although Zhang Xiaoyu was beside her, the accumulated power of his presence made her inevitably afraid.

Zhang Xiaoyu laughed, "A few shrimp soldiers and crab generals, I don't even consider the old monster of the Starry Constellation Sect a threat, let alone five little monsters." He flicked the reins and went to meet them. Azi followed behind on horseback.

When they were about ten paces apart, a fat middle-aged man among the five stepped forward. He looked Zhang Xiaoyu up and down for a while before saying to Azi, "Junior Sister, hello! If it weren't for your flute music, we really wouldn't have been able to find you. Where is Sixth Brother?" Azi had calmed down by now and chuckled, saying, "You haven't met Sixth Brother? No wonder you dared to come looking for me." The five were taken aback. The middle-aged man said, "Junior Sister, quickly get up and come back with us to see Master. Master really misses you very much." Azi frowned and said, "I also want to go back, but now I'm being held back by my elder brother..." "Discipline him, don't let him run around. You want me to leave, but I'm afraid my elder brother won't agree." The middle-aged man was taken aback and said to Azi, "You've grown up in the sect since you were a child, where did you get an elder brother?" Azi chuckled and said, "People aren't born from stones, what's so strange about having parents and brothers?" As she spoke, she pointed to Zhang Xiaoyu beside her and said, "This is my elder brother, and he's also my master now." The people of the Xingxiu Sect all exclaimed "Ah!" upon hearing this. They knew that Ding Chunqiu was ruthless and cruel. If anyone in the sect displeased him even slightly, they would be beheaded on the spot, or worse, suffer a fate worse than death. Azi's behavior was tantamount to suicide. The middle-aged man was both surprised and angry: "You're a disciple of the Xingxiu Sect, how dare you take an outsider as your master?" Azi replied, "Third Senior Brother, you're too muddle-headed! How could my eldest brother be an outsider?" Knowing Azi's sharp tongue, and knowing he could never win an argument with her, the third senior brother stopped arguing and turned to scrutinize Zhang Xiaoyu. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that this man's eyes lacked brilliance, and his temples weren't prominent; he didn't seem to possess high martial arts skills. He wondered who he was, daring to oppose their sect and support Azi. Azi, an orphan since childhood, naturally didn't believe Zhang Xiaoyu was truly her brother.

Seeing him scrutinize Zhang Xiaoyu with suspicion and disdain, Azi smiled and said, "My eldest brother has a bad temper. If you don't move aside, he'll teach you a lesson." Zhang Xiaoyu secretly shook his head; this little girl had tricked him again. Hearing this, the Xingxiu Sect members were determined to fight him no matter what. Sure enough

, the middle-aged man sneered at Zhang Xiaoyu, saying, "Does Your Excellency really intend to interfere in the affairs of our Xingxiu Sect?" For Zhang Xiaoyu, driving these people away would be a simple matter, but he felt uneasy being led by the nose by Azi. He smiled wickedly and said, "Azi is just a little girl; why would your sect send out all its elites to search for her? You're only after the Divine Wood King Cauldron she possessed. I imagine Old Monster Ding must find it very inconvenient to practice his 'Transformation Technique' without this cauldron, right?" The Xingxiu Sect members were all startled... A short man jumped out, pointing at Azi and saying, "You actually leaked the matter of the Divine Wood King Cauldron to outsiders. Go back and see what your master will do to you." Azi was wondering what Zhang Xiaoyu was up to. Zhang Xiaoyu said, "If Azi no longer possesses this cauldron, what will you all do with her?" The middle-aged disciple thought that Zhang Xiaoyu knew he was no match for them and wanted to use the cauldron to give the two a chance to escape. He thought to himself: If these two push me too far and fight to the death, damaging the cauldron, then even if my fellow disciples capture Azi, they will still be doomed. It would be better to take the cauldron and release the brother and sister first. Anyway, with the cauldron in hand and our numbers, chasing after these two wouldn't be difficult. Thinking it over, he stepped forward and said, "If Azi is willing to take out the cauldron, we, the fellow disciples, will not make things difficult for you." Zhang Xiaoyu smiled and nodded, then turned to Azi and said, "Azi, give me the 'Divine Wood King Cauldron'." Azi was puzzled when she saw that Zhang Xiaoyu seemed to want to return the cauldron to his fellow disciples, but since she no longer wanted to practice any "Transformation Technique," the "Divine Wood King Cauldron" no longer held any appeal for her. Zhang Xiaoyu asked her to take it out, and she didn't hesitate. She rummaged through some things and took out a small purple bag, tossing it to Zhang Xiaoyu.

Zhang Xiaoyu caught the bag and opened it. Inside was a small, deep yellow wooden cauldron. It was the first time Zhang Xiaoyu had seen the Divine Wood King Cauldron, and he examined it carefully. The cauldron was exquisitely carved, the wood was hard and smooth, like jade, and upon closer inspection, dark red blood vessels could be faintly seen between the wood grain. It was clear at a glance that this cauldron was no ordinary object.

The members of the Xingxiu Sect rarely saw the "Divine Wood King Cauldron," and upon seeing it, they all secretly swallowed hard, imagining that if they possessed it and mastered its power, they could surely become the senior disciple, second only to the sect leader. Zhang Xiaoyu held the cauldron for a while, somewhat liking it, given its exquisite craftsmanship. In modern times, it would undoubtedly be a very valuable antique. However, he then remembered that the cauldron specifically attracted various poisonous insects and creatures, which made him feel somewhat disgusted. He shook his head and abandoned the idea of collecting it.

Seeing Zhang Xiaoyu holding the cauldron for a long time without moving, the middle-aged man said anxiously, "Give us the cauldron, and we'll let you two leave." Zhang Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Then catch it." With that, he tossed the cauldron into the air. The members of the Xingxiu Sect, seeing the precious cauldron, all wanted to be the first to grab it, thinking that it would surely secure them the top spot when their merits were assessed back home.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoyu raised his right hand, flicked his finger, and a powerful finger strike shot out, hitting the "Divine Wood King Cauldron" in mid-air. How terrifying was Zhang Xiaoyu's finger force? How could this small wooden cauldron withstand it? With a "crack," the cauldron exploded in mid-air, shattering into dust.

The Xingxiu Sect members were caught off guard, and seeing the small cauldron shatter, they gasped in shock. The middle-aged man could hardly believe it, trembling all over, pointing at Zhang Xiaoyu: "You...you actually destroyed the 'Divine Wood King Cauldron'!" Zhang Xiaoyu smiled slightly and said, "That's right, I destroyed the 'Divine Wood King Cauldron,' so what?" One of the short men jumped out, angrily shouting, "We'll surely die when we return this time! You pay with your lives first!" He was about to leap forward to fight Zhang Xiaoyu to the death.

Zhang Xiaoyu didn't even look at him, instead laughing loudly, saying, "You shouldn't be seeking revenge against me; you should let us pass."

The dwarf roared, "Delusion!" Zhang Xiaoyu shook his head and said, "You are truly foolish. This cauldron is already broken; you will all die if you go back. So why go back? Do you all enjoy courting death?" The Xingxiu Sect members felt a chill in their hearts. Being executed by the sect leader within the sect was nothing special, but those methods of death were all extremely gruesome. Therefore, those who committed grave mistakes often took their own lives, unwilling to wait for Ding Chunqiu to act. Thinking of this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, cold sweat pouring down their backs.

Seeing that they had stopped speaking, Zhang Xiaoyu continued, "If you want to live, you should naturally escape the Xingxiu Sect, the farther the better. As long as you never encounter the Xingxiu Old Monster, you will be fine. The world is so vast; if you hide your identities, you won't be found by Ding Chunqiu. Since you are no longer members of the Xingxiu Sect, why make trouble for us? We might as well continue on our way, and you can escape for your lives." Upon hearing this, the Xingxiu Sect members present remained silent. Zhang Xiaoyu's words seemed to make sense. Returning to the Xingxiu Sect was absolutely out of the question. And since they weren't going back, what did Azi's matter have to do with them? Thinking this, they were about to make way for Zhang Xiaoyu and Azi.

Just then, a soft flute melody drifted through the air. Upon hearing the flute, the Xingxiu Sect members all trembled, turned around, and bowed in unison towards the source of the sound. Azi sighed softly, "Ah, even Senior Brother is here." Zhang Xiaoyu looked ahead and saw a man in white robes floating towards them with incredible speed, arriving in an instant. This Senior Brother was a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, tall and thin, with a yellowish-green complexion, and quite handsome. His internal strength and lightness skills were decent, but in Zhang Xiaoyu's eyes, they were naturally nothing to be proud of.

The man stopped and said to Azi, "Junior Sister, you have quite the influence, huh? It's troubled for so many of us to travel all the way from Xingxiu Sea to the Central Plains to find you." He then glanced at Zhang Xiaoyu beside him and said, "You've got some nerve, and your eloquence is quite impressive, a real silver tongue." The Xingxiu Sect members all knelt on the ground, saying, "Senior Brother, the loss of the treasure cauldron has nothing to do with us. It was all that man's doing. We beg Senior Brother to make a wise judgment." Zhaixingzi snorted, staring at Zhang Xiaoyu, and coldly laughed, "You and your sister should probably return to Xingxiu Sea with me. Master will handle this matter." This last part was, of course, also addressed to the kneeling junior brothers.

Zhang Xiaoyu said, "That's unfortunate. Although I've heard that Xingxiu Sea is a picturesque place and I've long wanted to experience it for myself, I'm bound by worldly affairs. This travel plan will have to be postponed."

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/10255.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=10255&aspx=1

Previous Page : [Wuxia] The Number One Ding Under Heaven (Complete) - 15

Next Page : [Martial Arts Fantasy] Laughing and Embracing Beauties of the Three Realms (Complete) - 31

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Martial Arts Fantasy] Laughing and Embracing Beauties of the Three Realms (Complete) - 32

comment Open a new window to view comments