Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 356 The World's Number One Fist

Guo Dalu has a new task.

—Observe Li Zhaoting!

The people of Fugui Manor never ask about each other's past. No one asks why Yan Qi lost all his money, no one asks why Guo Dalu is in such a miserable state, and no one asks whether Wang Dong's self-exile was because he was too crazy fighting in the myriad worlds and lost the Bronze Gate.

However, people are always curious.

Especially people like Guo Dalu who can't sit still.

Getting Guo Dalu to cook in the kitchen every day is no less difficult than getting Lu Xiaofeng to get married and have children, turning Ximen Chuixue into a warm-hearted man, or making an honest monk lie.

Guo Dalu couldn't suppress his curiosity.

Li Zhaoting is such a weirdo!
He claims to be a true Taoist priest, yet he breaks the precepts that Taoist priests should follow ten times a day, and his words and actions are unorthodox and heretical.

Guo Dalu said that Taoist priests shouldn't eat beef, but Li Zhaoting retorted that he only knew one side of the story. He argued that cattle are the most important asset for ordinary people, and Taoist priests shouldn't eat beef because they shouldn't compete with the people for profit. Based on this theory, all the Taoist priests in Li Zhaoting's hometown don't eat beef.

Guo Dalu had heard of roosters, hens, pheasants, wild chickens, stir-fried chicken, fried chicken, stewed chicken, and beggar's chicken, but he didn't know what a "trawl chicken" was.

Li Zhaoting was accompanied by a Taoist nun, who could be considered his Taoist partner, as Taoists could practice "dual cultivation".

But what's with the female镖头 (bodyguard/escort) sneaking into the room every night in the dead of night? Could she also be a Daoist partner? Are there Daoist partners who do things secretly?

No matter how you look at it, apart from practicing Tai Chi every morning, there is nothing about Taoists.

To say he was a fake Taoist priest is not entirely accurate.

Li Zhaoting sets up his stall every day and can see a person's fate at a glance. He can also calculate the past and future with a snap of his fingers. There is nothing Li Zhaoting cannot do: Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Book of Changes, and the Eight Trigrams.

Those bloated, greedy, tyrannical, stingy vampires and misers would all become obedient to Li Zhaoting, offering him gold and silver treasures, calling him a half-immortal, and wishing they could kneel on the ground and lick his toes!

Most importantly, Li Zhaoting knew martial arts.

That day, Li Zhaoting went out to set up his stall, and Guo Dalu went out to buy vegetables with his basket. He saw a spoiled young master swaggering through the streets, riding a tall horse. He was about to bump into a little girl selling flowers. Guo Dalu was about to intervene when he saw Li Zhaoting snap his fingers.

Three zhang away, with a light flick, the rich young master and his horse shattered into a bloody mist, while an invisible umbrella of energy materialized in front of the little girl, without a single drop of blood touching her.

The local people felt this was divine retribution; the philanthropist Wang had committed too many evils, and the retribution was now falling on his son.

No one saw Li Zhaoting make a move.

Including Guo Dalu.

Guo Dalu's eyesight was exceptional; he could count mosquitoes in the night sky at dusk and identify the number of chess pieces on the board at a glance. Yet, he couldn't see Li Zhaoting make a move; he only saw a flick of the finger, a seemingly insignificant, light flick.

If Guo Dalu were to tell people that someone had lightly flicked a finger from three zhang away, turning a living person and a fine horse into a bloody mist, yet not letting the bloody mist dissipate or affect the surrounding people, others would only think that he was possessed by a demon.

Guo Dalu secretly asked Yan Qi.

Yan Qi told him, "There are a few masters in the martial arts world who stand at the top and can do this, but they are all over eighty years old. If a young man can do this, it must be Li Zhaoting."

Could Li Tingkuan be Li Zhaoting?

"will not!"

"why?"

"Because a month ago, in order to save Zuo Mingzhu, who was seriously ill, Li Zhaoting used all his strength to extend her life with the One-Finger Divine Skill. More than a dozen divine doctors jointly deduced that it would take him at least one or two years to recover his strength."

"Recovering from an injury and going out for fun don't conflict!"

"Every time Li Zhaoting went out, he would ride a fine horse named Lao Jiu. Lao Jiu was extremely ugly, with curly hair and a mottled appearance. Every day, it would eat a shi of fine feed and twenty jin of strong liquor!"

"Can't Li Zhaoting change his mount?"

"cannot!"

"Could aged liquor control Li Zhaoting?"

"The divine steed possesses a spirit. Lao Jiu is a Qilin breed, and there are no more than ten steeds of this caliber throughout history. It is extremely proud. If Li Zhaoting rides any other mount, Lao Jiu will see it as a challenge to its dignity and will risk its life to duel that mount. It is said in the martial arts world that Li Zhaoting cannot even ride in a carriage when he goes out!"

"Li Zhaoting is quite a character. I heard from the storyteller that Li Zhaoting is eight feet tall with a waist of eight feet, has a blue face and fangs, is bloodthirsty and kills people every day, and is a lecherous man who needs three beauties to serve him in bed every day."

"Don't be swayed by rumors. Li Zhaoting is a righteous and awe-inspiring swordsman. All the people he killed deserved to die. Li Zhaoting only draws his sword against evil."

"You admire Li Zhaoting a lot?"

“I hope he doesn’t come to my house. Li Zhaoting’s nickname is Jiazi Tai Sui. Wherever he goes, bloodshed will occur. If Li Tingkuan is Li Zhaoting, there will be a bloodbath here in three to five days at most.”

Yan Qi patted Guo Dalu on the shoulder, turned around and went back to his room, it was unclear what he was going to do.

Generally speaking, the rooms of people in the martial arts world, especially boys, are not very particular. Under the influence of Wang Dong, who is extremely lazy, everyone is used to being lazy. Only Mei Zhu occasionally tidies up the rooms for everyone.

Yan Qi was the only exception.

Yan Qi's room was spotless, and he never smelled of sweat; he always had a refreshing scent.

Guo Dalu once invited Yan Qi to bathe in the river, and Yan Qi reciprocated by giving Guo Dalu a set of pots and pans.

Customs differ; not every region's men are accustomed to bathing together. Guo Dalu quickly put this little incident out of his mind and focused on observing Li Zhaoting.

What about Wang Dong?
He lay dead on the bed.

He's too lazy to even get out of bed to eat.

The only thing that could get Wang Dong out of bed was the urge to urinate, which he simply couldn't hold back.

What kind of lazybones is that guy from the number one manor in the world?
Wang Dong is truly the laziest person in the world.

Not only is he lazy, but he is also extremely skilled in martial arts. He is definitely not a wasteful manure-producing machine. If it weren't for his laziness in participating in the competition, he could have easily gone to freeload a meal.

What is there to say?

Don't try to out-lazy me, I can't be bothered to compete with you!
Wang Dong is that kind of lazy person.

Even if a bronze door were to fall on his head, Wang Dong would not embark on a "great adventure" through the myriad worlds.

Among the residents of Fugui Mountain Villa, the most adventurous is Wang Shenglan. She is naturally strong and energetic, far surpassing a husky. Staying at home is the biggest punishment for her.

"Guo Dalu, if you're bored, you can practice a set of boxing moves. I'll cheer you on. Getting rich is definitely out of the question, but earning a few pancakes is no problem. If you keep staring at me like that, I won't bless you anymore."

"Do I need your protection, you half-immortal?"

"Did you always have bad luck before?"

"I……"

"If going from being incredibly wealthy to being penniless isn't considered bad luck, then there's no such thing as bad luck in the world!"

"so what?"

"How have you been since you met me? Has everything gone smoothly? Is everything you do comfortable? I'm your benefactor, you should listen to me more!"

"What if I don't listen?"

"Then you're about to be in trouble."

"Hehe! I refuse to believe it!"

Despite saying he didn't believe it, Guo Dalu honestly demonstrated a set of boxing techniques on the street. His punches were powerful and effective, far more practical than mere street performers. Considering his keen intuition and divine luck, Guo Dalu's martial arts skills were considered top-notch in the martial arts world.

Guo Dalu's fists are no less powerful than those of the old monks at the Shaolin Temple who practice the Hundred-Step Divine Fist.

They have no formal lineage, they are all self-taught, and their foundation is relatively ordinary. Their advantage is that they are quick-witted and can always deliver a "King of Punches" unexpectedly.

"Mystic, how is my boxing technique?"

Guo Dalu looked at Li Zhaoting defiantly. "So-so. With this skill, you could earn three or four pancakes by performing street acrobatics."

"If you're so good, then show me a set of punches."

"I'm a fortune teller, not a street performer. I can't steal other people's business. Here's what we'll do! I have a peerless boxing manual here. It's said to be a manual written with painstaking effort by Xiao Feng, the former leader of the Beggars' Clan. You can make some beggar's chicken and stir-fried fish slices tonight, and I'll give you this manual!"

"Give me the money, I'll go buy groceries!"

"Chef Guo, please show us your skills!"

Li Zhaoting handed over a few pieces of silver.

Guo Dalu was an eccentric genius. If he hadn't met Li Zhaoting, he could have earned the nickname "Fearless of Poverty" after wandering the Jianghu for three to five years. If he was lucky, he could have helped Bao Zheng with his cases when he went out to inspect the administration.

When Bao Zheng was promoted from Junior Bao to Senior Bao, he was ordered to inspect the administration of officials. He did have such a person by his side, named Wang Jindou, who was like a weak version of Guo Dalu.

He had studied, told fortunes, worked as a Taoist priest and a Buddhist monk, knew how to shave heads, trim feet, and cook, and after wandering the world for seven or eight years, he finally became someone who wasn't afraid of being poor.

Guo Dalu prepared a large feast to showcase his skills in the boxing manual, and was waiting for Li Zhaoting's reward.

Li Zhaoting handed the boxing manual to Guo Dalu.

The World's Number One Fist

"Wow! What a powerful name!"

Guo Dalu was overjoyed, scratching his head and cheeks. Yan Qi curiously went over to watch, not to steal martial arts skills, but purely out of curiosity about what the number one fist in the world was!

Upon opening the envelope, Guo Dalu's initial joy quickly vanished, replaced by a strong urge to punch Li Zhaoting to death.

The moves depicted in the painting were the Taizu Changquan, a style that everyone in the martial arts world knew. Guo Dalu could use it fluently when he was six or seven years old.

The Taizu Changquan manual contains sixty-four moves. Each sheet of paper has two sides, allowing two moves to be drawn. Including the cover and the final summary, it only has thirty-five pages in total, making it easy to read to the end. The last page reads:

The greatest skill in boxing lies not in the technique itself, but in the practitioner. As long as one has a firm belief, remains steadfast in their conviction, and adheres to their own path, that is the strongest form of boxing.

The essence of kung fu lies in offense and defense.

Attack: Punish evil and promote good, eliminate demons and defend the righteous path.

Shou: to protect one's family and one's homeland.

—On the last day of a certain month of a certain year, Xiao Feng was inspired by his second brother, Buyi, and wrote this boxing manual to be passed down to future generations!
Guo Dalu watched with great interest, finding these words very reasonable. He wanted to talk to Li Zhaoting, but saw Li Zhaoting and the others eating heartily, their back teeth clenched, and the food flowing like the Yangtze River, leaving the bowls and plates clean.

Yan Qi rubbed his stomach and burped contentedly!

Li Zhaoting took a walk in the courtyard to digest his food!
Wang Shenglan used a stone table as exercise equipment, huffing and puffing as she lifted weights, doing it seventeen or eighteen times.

Meizhu quickly and efficiently cleared away the dishes.

Only Wang Dong remained "unmoved as a mountain".

"Boss Wang, were you waiting for me?"

"That's right!"

"I knew it, you definitely would..."

"When you take me back to bed, please wrap me up in the blanket. I'm tired and don't want to move!"

Wang Dong looked at Guo Dalu sincerely.

Guo Dalu thought the Taoist priest was really petty.

I secretly cursed him, saying that today wasn't exactly unlucky, but rather like stepping in dog poop.

—The shoes on my feet are new!
"Boss Wang, I want to beat you up!"

"Okay, after you're done, remember to go to Mai Lao Guang Roast Meat Shop and buy two roast ducks and five catties of cartilage."

"Wang the fortune teller, can I hit you?"

"I have been frail and sickly since childhood. I get hurt or even die if I touch anything. If you hit me, I will be bedridden for three months. Medical expenses, lost wages, nutrition expenses, and compensation for mental distress, all miscellaneous expenses, will amount to more than 300 taels of silver. Remember to have the money ready!"

“Yan Qi…”

Yan Qi rolled her eyes at Guo Dalu, thinking to herself, "I didn't offend you, why are you hitting me for no reason?"
"Five Plum Blossoms..."

Mei Zhu pointed to the bowls, plates, and broom, indicating that as long as you are willing to take on the task of cleaning, your aunt can spar with you for a bit, as I know a little about martial arts.

"Chief Escort..."

"Want to fight? Come on! Come on!"

Wang Shenglan swung the stone table with all her might. The large stone table, weighing over 400 jin, was thrown more than ten feet high by Wang Shenglan, just like a football. When it landed, she caught it gently without blushing or panting, leaving clear footprints.

Guo Dalu: Σ(⊙▽⊙“a
Thinking of Wang Shenglan's battle against the Silver Ant, Guo Dalu would rather be trampled by an elephant seventeen or eighteen times than take a punch from Wang Shenglan. Is this old lady really made of flesh and blood? Is this guy a reincarnation of a tyrant?

There are a total of seven living creatures in Fugui Manor.

One was too lazy to cause any trouble, another rolled his eyes so hard they seemed to fly off, one had a sharp tongue like a knife, one was in charge of cleaning, and the other was incredibly strong. None of them were suitable for sparring. Guo Dalu looked down at the last living creature, Yuanbao, who was gnawing on a bone.

"Snapped!"

Guo Dalu punched himself.

This punch must be thrown.

He was afraid of making himself sick from being cooped up!

"Awww~~"

Yuanbao skillfully lay down at Guo Dalu's feet, providing the voiceover for Guo Dalu, who had been shattered into a stone statue. The voice was mournful, like the howling north wind and fluttering snowflakes!
Guo Dalu hurriedly ran back to his room.

Yan Qi asked curiously, "What's wrong with him?"

Li Zhaoting chuckled: "At his age, his energy is as strong as a furnace, he can't take it anymore!"

Yan Qi looked Li Zhaoting up and down: "You two are about the same age, you're at most two or three years older than him, but the way you talk sounds like an old man?"

"Because I got married!"

Can Taoist priests get married?

"Of course! Do you know the Seven Heroes of Wudang? Several of them are married, and the remaining ones are being closely watched by Emei, who could capture them at any time!"

"Why were you dragged up the mountain?"

"Marriage!"

"Isn't it inappropriate to portray Emei in this way?"

"If it weren't for my marriage, if I ever passed by Emei Mountain, Abbess Miejue and Dugu Yihe would have teamed up to capture me and send me to be one of their disciples!"

Li Zhaoting rubbed his chin smugly.

Yan Qi was angered by Li Zhaoting and ran away.

That quack is out of his mind!

Li Zhaoting and Mei Zhu returned to the bedroom, while Wang Shenglan skillfully climbed through the window, leaving only Wang Dong in the courtyard.

No one carried him back to his room. Wang Dong was too lazy to move. The evening breeze was blowing and the cold wind was howling.

　Thank you to reader Iron Fist for the generous donation.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)