Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 388 A Deadly Situation, Seemingly Ruthless Yet Full of Compassion
After bidding farewell to Lianyun Village, Li Zhaoting led the Wu brothers to Youzhou, and the journey was peaceful.

That day, Li Zhaoting arrived at a small market. The market had a sign that read "Sanxiejiao" (Three Rest Stops).

It's called "Sanxiejiao" (Three Rest Stops) because there are three rest stops here, and it's been open for thirty or forty years.

One place is "Water Tofu". This tofu shop is famous for its tofu pudding. The tofu seller is a charming and beautiful girl, nicknamed "Tofu Beauty".

One place is "lotus seed soup". There are thousands of shops in the world that make lotus seed soup. This shop dares not say that it is the best lotus seed soup in the world, but it is definitely the best lotus seed soup within a hundred miles. The stall owner is a man with big pockmarks.

One stall is a breakfast stall. This stall sells sesame cakes, soy milk, fried dough sticks, and sesame balls. The food is good and inexpensive, especially their crispy sesame cakes, braised eggs, and pickled radishes.

The stall owner was a short, stocky man.

Li Zhaoting has absolutely no resistance to snacks.

Whenever I visit a prefecture, if I have time, I always try the local delicacies, even if it's just douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) or tusu dong (sea worm jelly). I'd rather eat it and then throw up than not eat it at all, otherwise, wouldn't the trip be a waste?
The last time I went to Cangzhou, I went straight to Lianyun Village but didn't eat the Iron Lion Head meatballs, and I felt a little empty inside.

Now that they've arrived at "Sanxiejiao," they're determined to try all three stalls. Feng Suzhen and Meizhu are quite interested in the market and enthusiastically admire the scenery, while the Wu brothers are dejected, feeling as if a steel knife is about to strike them.

The two of them didn't even have the energy to argue.

When he was first arrested, he had the energy to argue and angrily curse the other party as a bastard who would even scheme against his own brother.

We've argued all the way here, and we've said everything we need to say. Continuing to argue is just a waste of energy. We might as well just freeload off each other. Even if we're going to be beheaded, at least we can get a last meal before we're executed.

Mei Zhu smiled and said, "Master, Madam, the winter chill hasn't gone away yet. We should drink hot soy milk in the morning. Let's go to the breakfast stall and try their crispy sesame cakes."

The three of them led the horse to the breakfast stall.

The breakfast stall and the lotus seed soup stand face to face.

Seeing everyone heading to breakfast, Big Pockmark couldn't help but yell, "Hey pancake vendor! Your soy milk is so bland it's practically watery, I don't know which latrine you fished out of, and you're trying to steal my customers!"

The short, stout man retorted angrily, "What's so great about your lotus seed soup? My soy milk is scooped from the latrine, and your lotus seed soup is cooked in your wife's chamber pot."

Big Pockmarked Man roared, "You're asking for it!"

The short, stout guy retorted, "I'll beat you to death!"

The two charged at each other like tigers.

In that instant, Li Zhaoting raised his hand and shot out two sword beams. With two sharp cracking sounds, the right arms of the two men were severed, and the surrounding guests ran away in terror.

Although the two used rather vulgar language, that's just how street slang is, there's no need to cut off someone's arm, right?

Li Zhaoting did not stop. He flicked his sword repeatedly, and with a series of hissing sounds, the two men fell to the ground, seriously injured. Their disguise masks shattered, revealing their true faces.

Mei Zhu asked curiously, "Master, how did you know they were assassins? What kind of martial arts experience do you have?"

Li Zhaoting pointed to the stalls: "Two stalls that can serve as landmarks have been facing each other for thirty years. Do you think it's normal for five customers to get into a fight?"

If they were both breakfast stalls selling lotus seed soup, then a fight might be justified. However, there's no conflict between what they're selling. In business, harmony brings wealth!

With both stalls doing so well, they're too busy serving customers to argue over something like this.

Besides, they own a restaurant.

Which restaurant owner would use a chamber pot as bait while customers are eating? How are the customers supposed to eat?

These two assassins were amateurs among amateurs.

To be precise, neither of them were assassins!

Li Zhaoting looked down at the two men and said, "Speak! Who are you two? Who sent you?"

The two men glared fiercely at Li Zhaoting.

"We won't tell you anything! You'll face endless assassinations, you'll die a horrible death, we'll be waiting for you in the underworld, go die!"

Big Pockmarked and Shorty roared furiously.

Li Zhaoting's face darkened: "When you two get to the underworld and see King Yama, make sure you find the right person to complain to. Whoever sent you two to scheme against me is the real culprit who killed you!"

"who are you?"

"Is my face really that unrecognizable?"

Li Zhaoting rubbed his chin, looking quite depressed.

To be honest, Li Zhaoting's appearance and physique are not as distinctive as those of swordsmen like Ximen Chuixue, Yan Shisan, and Xie Xiaofeng. When you see a swordsman dressed in white with a cold and aloof demeanor, you know he is Ximen Chuixue. When you see a swordsman dressed in black with a murderous aura, nine times out of ten you are encountering Yan Shisan or a swordsman who shovels latrines...

The third young master has changed careers and become a constable!

The one who cleans the latrines is the third young master's lover!
This could infuriate Murong Qiudi a hundred times over!

What are the characteristics of Li Zhaoting?
Handsome!
This standard cannot be quantified; it's not a standard that can be recognized at a glance. People in the martial arts world can only find another way to identify Li Zhaoting: by his old wine and gold ingots. Handsome swordsmen are everywhere, but there's only one riding an ugly horse.

The two assassins looked up and saw the old wine.

His fierce expression quickly turned into fear and anger.

They recognized Li Zhaoting.

They knew they'd been tricked by that bastard.

As the saying goes, when you're about to die, you might as well take someone down with you!
I'd rather die than let this bastard drag me down to hell!
"Master Li, we are disciples of the Ghost Talisman Sect. Our sect leader instructed us to disguise ourselves as breakfast stall owners and seize the opportunity to kill the group of five—three men and two women. We know nothing else!"

Ghost Talisman Sect is a notorious sect.

The sect leader's name was "Ouyang Jue," and he had seven mad dogs under his command who committed numerous evil deeds. Coincidentally, each mad dog was skilled in a particular evil, and they cooperated quite well.

One was greedy, one was lustful, one was bloodthirsty, one was a swindler, one was a thief, one was a traitor, and one was a human trafficker. These seven people joined forces and committed all sorts of evil deeds. To cut them into a thousand pieces would be considered an act of leniency outside the law.

Dama Zi was the fifth son, Ding Hai.

The dwarf gourd is the sixth oldest, Wei Jian.

The other five men lay in ambush nearby.

Without any coercive interrogation, from the moment Ding Hai and Wei Jian realized they had been tricked, they desperately revealed everything they knew before they bled to death, determined to drag their fellow disciple down to hell with them.

hatred!
A hatred that runs deep to the bone!

They did not hate Li Zhaoting, who killed them.

In the world of martial arts, if your skills are inferior, you deserve to be killed.

They resented their master and senior brother for concealing their mission from them. They were told to assassinate Li Zhaoting without being told anything, only that it was a group of five people, three men and two women. If they had known earlier that it was Li Zhaoting, they would have run away long ago.

You're trying to trick me into going to my death, I'll expose your secrets.

There is nothing more reasonable than this.

Li Zhaoting went to the shop and looked around.

Neither of the two business owners was killed.

It wasn't that Ding Hai and Wei Jian were soft-hearted; rather, they were disguised as stall owners, but they couldn't cook. The two owners had to stay and cook, otherwise, the landmark restaurant would have no one to cook and no customers. Anyone with a brain would know something was amiss, but unfortunately, they didn't think of that!
He only thought about how to pretend to be a "stall owner," but not how to pretend to be a "stall owner." His words, actions, and behavior were all inconsistent. He deserved to die.

Li Zhaoting asked in surprise, "Wife, is Ouyang Jue out of his mind? Sending these two bastards to assassinate me? It's obvious he's deliberately trying to offend me! Does Ouyang Jue have a death wish?"

Feng Suzhen said, "My lord, perhaps Ouyang Jue realized that he was suspected and did the opposite, deliberately making foolish arrangements to clear his name. The more foolish he appears, the less suspicious he is."

Li Zhaoting shrugged: "It's pointless! Even if he wasn't one of the Thirteen Fiends, he would still be dead!"

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun have just been reclaimed, and it is necessary to maintain order with heavy hand. Recently, Mr. Zhuge has relaxed the restrictions on the Four Great Constables, especially on Wuqing and Lengxue, allowing them to kill notorious bandits they encounter without reporting back when they are on a case. This is to create a deterrent effect and prevent the underworld from acting recklessly.

Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be summoned to the door by the Four Great Constables!
Sects like the Ghost Talisman Sect, regardless of their connection to the Thirteen Fiends, will be eliminated and used as a warning to others. Who cares if you are suspected? Do you really think Mr. Zhuge is a reasonable and upright gentleman?

They hired a few laborers to clean up the bodies and dump them in a mass grave; there was no need for straw mats. Li Zhaoting found a restaurant to eat at. Because the Wu brothers were too destitute and conspicuous, everyone ate in a private room on the second floor. Before they had even taken two bites, a commotion came from downstairs.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a man carrying a gourd of wine leaping and bounding about with unparalleled agility, surrounded by a scholar wielding an iron umbrella and a robust, sixty-year-old man who resembled a Vajra Arhat.

The man was none other than Zhui Ming.

Zhui Ming came to meet Li Zhaoting.

He is crippled in both legs and not good at long journeys.

For long journeys, chasing after life is more appropriate.

Using his incredible tracking skills, Zhui Ming analyzed the information along the way and located Li Zhaoting's whereabouts. Just as he was about to take a short rest, he was attacked by the thugs.

Zhang Xu'ao, the "Iron Umbrella Scholar".

I had met him once at Di Qinglin's residence.

Li Zhaoting was busy clearing out the surrounding bandit strongholds and dealing with Di Qinglin, so he didn't have the energy to deal with Zhang Xu'ao.

I never expected this guy to be one of the thirteen thugs.

This is the most frustrating thing about the Wen system.

The time traveler remembers the thirteen villains, the nineteen demons of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths in the Power Gang, the astonishing wisdom of King Zuo Wu, and Li Chenzhou's idiotic actions. But who exactly are the thirteen villains? Who the hell can remember all these people?

A short story by Wen Ruian could be enough for Jin Yong to write a full-length novel, or for Liang Yusheng to write a series. Unless you have a built-in system, you really can't remember them all.

The robust old man was named Guan Haiming, and he had quite a reputation for chivalry in the martial arts world. He was nicknamed "Great Handprint Vajra" and was proficient in the Vajra Great Handprint of Tantric Buddhism. At this moment, however, he was using the Black Fiend Great Handprint of Tantric Buddhism, which was obviously taught to him by the Left Martial King.

Fighting alone, Zhui Ming fears no one.

The two joined forces to attack, but Zhui Ming was worried that these people would harm innocent people, so he was inevitably forced into a disadvantageous position by their palm strikes.

Zhui Ming probed, "I never expected that you two would be among the Thirteen Fiends. You're incredibly audacious! Assassinating me is one thing, but aren't you afraid of Li Zhaoting?"

Guan Haiming sneered, "Li Zhaoting is a human, not a god. Do you think he can just appear by shouting?" Zhang Xu'ao mocked, "I didn't expect the famous Four Great Constables to only know such third-rate methods. Zhui Ming, I'll give you a chance. Shout him out!"

Zhuiming yelled at the top of his lungs, "Li Zhaoting! Stop hiding and watching the show! I'll empty your wine cellar!"

"My wine cellar has already been emptied a hundred times by Lu Xiaofeng and Tang Zhuquan. Mei Zhu was with me and didn't have time to replenish it. If you find a single drop of wine in the cellar, I'll send you a cartload of fine wine and two cartloads of peanuts and edamame!"

Li Zhaoting's voice came from the second floor.

Two sword energies followed.

Zhang Xu'ao hurriedly opened his iron umbrella. This iron umbrella was made of refined iron and was most effective at suppressing internal force from a distance. Its streamlined design could effectively disperse internal force.

"clang!"

The iron umbrella was pierced by the sword's edge, leaving a hole.

Zhui Ming leaped into the air, kicking repeatedly with both legs. With a series of clanging sounds, Zhang Xu'ao's steel umbrella, which had dominated the world for thirty years, was kicked into pieces by Zhui Ming.

Zhang Xu'ao retreated several steps, his brows furrowed and eyes blazing with anger. Zhui Ming caught up with him in an instant and kicked him in the chest.

"Crack! Click!"

Zhang Xu'ao had five or six broken ribs, but he was determined to capture him alive and interrogate him for clues. He didn't kill him, so his injuries were quite serious, but his life was not in danger.

On the other side, facing the sword light falling from the sky, Guan Haiming formed a hand seal, his body radiating Buddhist light, chanting esoteric mantras, and pushing out huge palm prints with both hands.

Black Fiend Great Handprint!
The black tidal wave transformed into a massive palm print taller than a person. One palm print slammed into the sword light, while another slammed into the wall. Guan Haiming knew he was no match for Li Zhaoting and hoped to shatter the restaurant's load-bearing wall, causing the second floor to collapse and forcing Li Zhaoting to rescue the people.

"Thief! How brave!"

Li Zhaoting leaped out of the second floor and flicked his finger, unleashing five sword beams. Two palm prints were shattered by the sword beams, and the internal energy was neutralized by the sword beams. Before Guan Haiming could make another move, Li Zhaoting landed lightly behind Guan Haiming. Guan Haiming did not have time to gather his energy to make a move, and instead slashed behind him with a backhand.

Guan Hai is over sixty years old, has a fiery temper, and has been a prominent figure in the martial arts world for over forty years. He is by no means an ordinary person.

Even Zhui Ming found it troublesome.

Unfortunately, his opponent was Li Zhaoting.

Li Zhaoting pointed his fingers together to form a sword, and a white rainbow pierced the sun.

"Wave!"

The sound of bubbles bursting could be heard in the air.

Guan Haiming collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

His dantian was pierced by the sword energy.

All his life's cultivation vanished into nothingness.

"Old Master Guan, you have a reputation for chivalry in the martial arts world, how did you end up with the Thirteen Fiends?"

Zhui Ming asked Guan Haiming with great curiosity.

It's not unreasonable for people like Zhang Xu'ao, Sun Bugong, and Xue Hubei to join the Thirteen Villains. One is an old devil, one is a womanizer, and one is a scholar who laments his lack of recognition. None of them are good people.

Guan Haiming has done a lot of good deeds. Although he has a fiery temper, he is well-liked in the underworld.

If Guan Haiming were to initiate a conversation with Zhui Ming and launch a sneak attack, Zhui Ming would likely fall victim to the attack.

Guan Haiming uttered two words: "Short of money!"

A penny can make a hero fall.

Guan Haiming was concerned about his reputation. When friends in the martial arts world asked him for help, all they needed to do was flatter him a few times, and Guan Haiming would give them gold and silver travel money. His family had little income, and his savings were quickly spent. In order to maintain his reputation as a chivalrous man, he secretly did some low-risk business, which led to Zuo Wuwang catching him red-handed.

Faced with the choice between reputation and aiding and abetting evil, Guan Haiming ultimately chose reputation. Zuo Wuwang paid him money, and he killed for Zuo Wuwang. He was among the first batch of thirteen villains and was involved in all seven massacres of entire families.

A wise person judges by actions, not intentions; and if one judges by intentions, there are no saints.

Up until he started doing business without any capital, Guan Haiming was at most just vain. However, from the moment he joined forces with Zuo Wu Wang, he completely fell into the abyss.

Zhui Ming laughed and said, "Scholar, we have four prisoners now. If you don't confess, others will. Confess first and you'll live; confess later and you'll die."

Li Zhaoting said, "To tell you the truth, the Wu brothers have already confessed. If you want to live, you'd better tell me something the Wu brothers don't know. If you don't have any valuable clues, I can only send you to hell."

Zhui Ming said, "Yan Yun is in too much chaos! The Liao Kingdom left behind a mess and needs bloodshed to serve as a deterrent. The blood of the thirteen villains should have some deterrent effect!"

Guan Haiming buried his head in the soil.

Zhang Xu shouted arrogantly, "I confess! Iron Hand, Cold Blood, and Ruthless were all ambushed! Our master ordered us to kill the Four Great Constables! Ruthless and the others are doomed!"

Zhuiming roared, "Bullshit! You treacherous villains dare to mess with my senior brother!"

Zhang Xu'ao's face was full of bitterness: "We are the outskirts of the Thirteen Fiends. This time, the ones who made the move were top-notch experts! Especially against the ruthless expert, Officer Cui, to put it bluntly, Iron Hand might escape alive, Cold Blood might turn the tide, and Ruthless is definitely going to die!"

"Where are they?"

"It's too late. The assassination was launched simultaneously. At this point, Wuqing is most likely already dead!"

"Bullshit! You're talking nonsense! Who has the guts to kill my senior brother? You're spouting rubbish!"

"The one who assassinated the ruthless was... the one with feelings!"

A sinister smile crept across Zhang Xu'ao's lips.

……

Let's rewind to half an hour earlier.

Ruthless received a gift.

A gift buried deep in my heart.

Half a string of candied hawthorns.

This is the white moonlight of my heartless childhood.

When Wuqing's family suffered a great calamity, Zhuge Zhengwo rescued him and took him to live in the Divine Marquis's Mansion.

Wuqing was young, orphaned, and crippled, unable to practice martial arts or seek revenge. His spirits sank, and he was sullen all day long.

One day, Wuqing was admiring the flowers in the garden in solitude when a little girl appeared outside the wall, showing half of her face with a smile. She amused Wuqing and came to chat with him every day after that, bringing him half a candied hawthorn.

Just as Wuqing was gradually opening up and telling the girl about his frustrations, the girl angrily scolded him: "What do you have to be upset about! Are you that miserable!"
A pampered rich kid, complaining and blaming everyone in the big garden, as if all the misery in the world has fallen on you. Don't you think you're being stupid?

Someone killed your parents, so take revenge!

Even if your legs are broken, you still have your hands!

Even if your arms and legs are broken, you still have your head!
You can learn knowledge. With such a big house, there must be teachers willing to teach you. Study hard!
And me!

What do I have!
Do you know why I always look at you through the window, showing only half my face? Look at me!
Come and take a look!

The girl tilted her head, revealing her entire face. Half of her face was that of a pretty and cute little girl, while the other half was covered by a birthmark that looked as ugly as a demon. Because of this birthmark, the girl was rejected by others since childhood, but she still lived optimistically.

There are many people who have suffered more than you!

I was abandoned by my parents and raised by my adoptive father. I have no big house, no fine clothes or food, and even my appearance, which is the most important thing for a girl, is this terrible look!

I'm just a little girl, and I can stand up and live optimistically. Are you even a man? Why are you still crying and complaining?
I can be optimistic, and so can you!

The girl's encouragement filled Wuqing with strength.

Unable to practice martial arts, he devoted himself to studying poetry and books, learning mechanisms, hidden weapons, the I Ching, and the Eight Trigrams. Later, he was enlightened by Guan Qi and began to learn hidden weapons and lightness skills. At a young age, he became the leader of the Four Great Constables, and was known as the ruthless and infamous.

However, just as Wuqing was emerging from depression, the girl who had been guiding him disappeared. The girl's adoptive father was a traveling performer who moved from state to state.

They searched for it privately, but couldn't find it.

until today.

Half a string of candied hawthorns was thrown over the wall!
Ruthless knows where to find people.

Even if it's a den of dragons and tigers, we must go without hesitation.

The meeting place was at the City God Temple.

"The candied hawthorns at the City God Temple are the best!"

"I wanted to bring you a whole candied hawthorn, but it was so delicious that I couldn't resist eating half of it!"

For Wuqing, the girl was like Lu Xiaofeng to Hua Manlou—a source of light that illuminated his soul during the darkest and most desolate moments of his life.

We will never allow anything to happen to the girl.

Wuqing rushed to the City God Temple as fast as he could.

There was no one outside the City God Temple.

There are no girls.

There were no vendors selling candied hawthorns.

A strange man was sitting on the roof.

He wore a brass mask and was covered in hidden weapons.

Copper-masked man!
One of the strongest hidden weapon masters in the martial arts world!

"Where is Yan'er?!"

He stared coldly at the masked man!
(End of this chapter)