Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 431 Li Zhaoting: The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng Emperor, this item is destined for me!
Bai Yunfei was an excellent singer, had experienced many hardships in his life, and possessed a transcendent inner world.

However, Bai Yunfei is young after all, and has the vigor of youth. He is still a long way from the feeling of "born lonely, my heart is gloomy, I want to go back but it is too late".

The lyrics, which depict an epic of life's trials, tribulations, joys, and sorrows, can be understood by Yu Luosha and Li Nanxing, but Bai Yunfei is decades behind.

Skills only, no emotion.

It's not that I don't want to have it, it's that I haven't experienced it.

Of course, Li Zhaoting didn't have this realization either.

Li Zhaoting can be the rising sun, the blazing sun at its zenith, or a ten-day sun soaring through the sky, but he can never be the twilight of the setting sun.

Bai Yunfei said in surprise, "Young Master Li, I have never heard this tune before. The imagery in the lyrics doesn't seem to be created by a grandmaster who reached the top of the Heavenly Gang at such a young age."

Is this a Jinling folk song?
I don't know who wrote the lyrics and music.
This person must have been a dashing scholar, living a life of luxury and extravagance, yet in an instant he fell to the bottom and into the filthy mire.

Otherwise, how could such insights arise?

Li Zhaoting instinctively wanted to shift the blame to his father, but then felt that his father was not suitable to take the blame. With a quick thought, he shifted the blame to a strange person: "The Seven Holy Masters of the Bewitching Heaven!"

The Seven Holy Masters of the Mysterious Heaven is Guan Qi.

Guan Qi has an eccentric and unconventional personality. He is one of the seven holy masters of the Mitian Alliance, and the higher the number, the greater the power.

In other words, the Great Sage Lord has the least power, while the Seven Sage Lords have the most power. Guan Qi is proficient in refining spirit, and his cultivation in refining spirit surpasses that of the Eight Masters, Ying Yuan, and the Sweeping Monk. He has already reached the Shattered Vajra Realm and can use his Yang Spirit to see through the past and future. He has experienced many hardships in his life and has few close friends, which makes him appear crazy.

Guan Qi talked about flying iron birds, giant iron rods that fly to the moon, firearms that destroy cities, and rampaging iron boxes. Even Zhuge Zhengwo and Chu Liuxiang thought these words were nonsense.

Guan Qi is a madman, madr, lonelier, and wilder than the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. Imprisoning himself in the depths of the Heavenly Prison is a kind of liberation for him. There are no conspiracies or bloody feuds at the bottom of the Heavenly Prison, and no one will scheme against him.

In addition, Guan Qi was not a crude and uncouth warrior. He was a man of exceptional talent and temperament, skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

When Guan Qi was living in seclusion at the bottom of the Heavenly Prison, he missed his beloved Wen Xiaobai and his bumpy experiences. He recited two poems, which were recorded by the Imperial City Guard. Li Zhaoting read these two poems in Liu E's study.

"Wealth and honor are fleeting clouds, and the remaining mountains and rivers are always heartless."
The autumn wind awakens heroes' dreams, indifferent to success or failure.

Misfortune and fortune are unpredictable and have no fixed path; good fortune and misfortune, joy and sorrow, all have an end.
A painting promises spring is priceless, but deep affection is fleeting, and dreams are shattered.

Everyone says that Guan Qi is crazy, insane, and mad, but they don't know that Guan Qi is exceptionally talented, comparable to the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. Guan Qi's madness is not because he is confused, but because his vision is too advanced. In Guan Qi's view, others may be crazy, but he is the only normal person!

Listening to the celestial music of the young lady today, though with some regrets, is also fulfilling. The mountains are high and the roads are long, but we will meet again in the world of martial arts.

"Goodbye, Miss Bai!"

Li Zhaoting got up, intending to leave.

Bai Yunfei asked, "Young Master Li, what was the regret you mentioned earlier? That I didn't sing well enough?"

"Ah~ The young lady's singing technique is natural, consummate, and unparalleled. Among the four princesses of the Demonic Sect, the young lady is named Han E, which is truly fitting!"

However, music, poetry, and songs all originate from the heart, from emotions, and from events. Articles are written to suit the times, and songs and poems are composed to suit the events.

Girl, ask yourself honestly, how much of the emotion in the lyrics can you truly understand? Probably only 30% or 40%.

It's not that I'm provoking the girl, nor am I underestimating her singing skills. It's just that the girl is young and beautiful, in the prime of her life. How can she be considered a sunset?

I was being presumptuous!

Li Zhaoting clasped his hands in apology.

Bai Yunfei sighed, "Does this mean I have to live to the age of Master Damu before I can sing a song again?"

Li Zhaoting waved his hand: "Not at all! The young lady can sing with 30 or 40% emotion, but Master Damu probably doesn't even have half an emotion. He's just a bowl of plain water!"

Who is Master Daiki?
A passerby in the martial arts world who is over 100 years old.

A life lived uneventfully, without any major ups and downs, like a pot of plain water turning into a vat of plain water. The advantage is that it's foolproof, anyone can drink it, and it quenches thirst.

Aside from the secret manual left by Patriarch Hesha, Master Damu cared about nothing else. Fame, fortune, official positions, and titles were not as important to him as the "fire dates" he cultivated.

"Fire Dates" are a unique medicinal herb that is very beneficial to Yang-attribute internal energy cultivation. They are the main ingredient in the Fiery Pill, and Master Da Mu planted more than 30 acres of them in the valley.

Bai Yunfei retorted, "Young Master Li truly lives up to his reputation as a renowned romantic swordsman. Your skill in charming women is such that even the Demonic Sect's enchantress and the Fairy of Jingzhai couldn't resist you. With just a few words, you've made my heart flutter for you."

"That's called catering to their preferences!"

Li Zhaoting took out a small booklet.

Duan Zhengchun's Diary

If this treasure is sent to the "All Heavens Auction House," the transmigrators will offer a price far exceeding that of the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, or the Nine Yin Manual and Nine Yang Manual. Divine weapons and martial arts manuals are everywhere, and Duan Zhengchun's skills in seducing women are so great that no more than a handful of people in the entire universe can rival them.

Bai Yunfei suddenly asked, "Young Master Li, what do women mean to you? Is it to showcase your superb skills, or to flaunt your power?"

"Thank God, I like to tell the truth. You asked me how to sway your mind, and I will show you the secret to swaying your mind. I have no other intentions."

"If that's the case, why did you provoke me?"

"Would you believe me if I said it was love at first sight?"

“We’ve never met before. You know nothing about my personality or my background. You only see my face. This is clearly lust at first sight.”

"I'll return that to you, young lady. We've never met before, and your understanding of me is mostly negative: lustful, murderous, and a jinx. Why would you be willing to sit with me on the edge of a cliff and discuss poetry and music? Are you afraid I'll force you?"

"You're such a scoundrel!"

"Being a rogue has its advantages; a rogue can openly and legitimately act shamelessly, throw tantrums, and be unreasonable!"

"Aren't you afraid of your wife's shrewish roar?"

Do you know which mode is the most stable?

"What mode?"

"Triangles, with their mutual checks and balances, achieve a balance. This is what is called 'balance.' I am at the core of the triangle, enjoying the benefits from both sides."

"Does the Holy Maiden know about your system of checks and balances?"

"of course I know!"

"Does the Holy Maiden have no objection to this?"

"I don't want to lie to the girl, but I can't go into the details, so I'll have to keep it a secret from her!"

There is indeed no way to answer this question.

It can only be said that Yu Luosha was farsighted to let the Holy Maiden and the Princess cultivate the Demonic Sect's mental techniques, making them highly skilled, but their bodies were quite sensitive. Li Shengnan was a novice, Gongsun Lan was also a novice, and it is likely that the other princesses were the same.

No matter how thick-skinned Li Zhaoting was, he was too embarrassed to say these things to Bai Yunfei. The two sat on the edge of the cliff, admiring the sunset, reciting poems and discussing lyrics.

It was already evening when we parted.

Gongsun Lan sat alone in her empty room, her face filled with resentment.

"My lord is so heartless! Other people's fickleness lasts at least two or three months, but your fickleness only lasts one night. Last night you succeeded in your way, and today I'm already a haggard old woman. I'm truly a beautiful woman with a tragic fate!"

"Lan'er, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Li Zhaoting reached out and pulled Gongsun Lan into his arms. Gongsun Lan leaned against Li Zhaoting's chest, squinted her eyes, and asked timidly, "Master, didn't you hear the rumors?"

"I just got back, I haven't even eaten yet!"

"This afternoon, Zhang Zhaozhong led the imperial guards in a surprise attack on the Red Flower Society branch and arrested many people."

Just as they were about to capture Wen Tailai and Luo Bing alive, they were interrupted by the fierce battle between Damu Shangren and Bai Yunfei.

Master Da Mu rode an eagle to chase Bai Yunfei. Bai Yunfei's sonic power was no match for Master Da Mu. The master, showing pity for the beautiful woman, rescued the damsel in distress, displayed his great power, and bullied the old and weak!

The master and Master Damu fought fiercely for hundreds of moves, turning the area within several miles into ruins with their sword energy. Master Damu fled in a sorry state, barely clinging to life.

Bai Yunfei admired the master and invited him to enjoy the sunset, amidst laughter and songs.

I had already guessed that among the four princesses, Bai Yunfei was the most reserved iceberg, appearing even more aloof than Fairy Jingzhai, but in reality, she was the most easily moved by emotions.

After so long, Bai Yunfei must have been melted by the master's warm embrace long ago. How annoying!

Once she's inside, I'm going to give her a good talking to!
Rest assured, my lord, I have contacted Meizhu. The two of us will join forces and see how she tries to maintain her composure.

"I guarantee you'll enjoy all the pleasures of the ladies!"

Gongsun Lan clawed forward with both hands, her fingers moving nimbly, as if Bai Yunfei were before her. It turned out that Zhang Zhaozhong's mission had failed, and fearing Cao Xiong's wrath, he shifted the blame to Master Damu, Bai Yunfei, and Li Zhaoting. It wasn't that his subordinates hadn't tried their best, but rather that the enemy was too strong, and they couldn't withstand even a single blow.

In an attempt to exonerate himself, Zhang Zhaozhong racked his brains to fabricate stories, embellishing and exaggerating the battle scenes to an extreme degree.

He spouted all sorts of nonsensical and wild speculations, and coupled with Li Zhaoting's reputation as a womanizer and a fighter, rumors spread like wildfire throughout Jinzhou City.

Gongsun Lan believed it to be 98% true!
Although Zhang Zhaozhong's statement was exaggerated, it is logically reasonable and in line with common sense.

Li Zhaoting has this kind of personality.

Gongsun Lan personally experienced it several times.

The four princesses did not get along well. Gongsun Lan thought Wang Yuyan and Bai Yunfei were too pretentious, while the two princesses thought Gongsun Lan was too glamorous, too ruthless, and too slick.

Li Zhaoting had already guessed the identity of the last princess: Lan Xiaodie, who was skilled in playing the pipa and had some grudges against Bai Yunfei, with whom she had fought several times.

Even with Li Shengnan above them, there was still plenty of infighting among the four. Gongsun Lan was the most astute. She thought to herself that flattering Li Shengnan was useless. If she wanted to curry favor, she should curry favor with Li Zhaoting and directly align herself with the top leader. By grasping the main contradictions, she could secure her position.

A new generation of "group buying experts".

The "Demon Consort of the Li Family," skilled in wearing flowing robes and ethereal garments!
Eh?
Isn't that a bit unlucky?
Gongsun Lan's breath was as sweet as orchids, and her whole body felt weak.

"Master, it's time to retire for the night!"

"I just can't do anything with you, you little devil!"

"I am a demon, a fox spirit! Master, why don't you quickly subdue this demon and suppress this chaotic monster?"

"Witch, take this!"

Li Zhaoting waved his hand and unleashed the Five Luo Light Smoke Palm.

……

midnight.

Gongsun Lan fell into a deep sleep.

Li Zhaoting changed into night clothes and rushed to Luming Tower, sneaking into a secluded private room.

The private room was filled with "smart people".

Lu Xiaofeng, Chu Liuxiang, Feng Suzhen, and Li Shengnan were among those present, exchanging information.

"I won't waste any more words! Everyone, let's get straight to the point: how many clues have you all found?"

Li Zhaoting took out a treasure map from his pocket: "This is a map of the tomb of Patriarch Hesha. Brother Chu, I promised a centenarian that I would help him fulfill his lifelong wish."

Chu Liuxiang frowned: "Brother Li, although I am the Thief King, I have never stolen from the tombs of my predecessors before. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Li Zhaoting laughed and said, "What Master Hesha left behind was not a tomb, but a cave. He hoped to pass on his life's learning to future generations, but not to ordinary people!"

Therefore, different architectural layouts such as side halls and main halls are set up inside the cave. Ordinary people can get the side halls, clever people can get the elixir, and greedy people will die from the traps.

Only a person of exceptional intelligence, resourcefulness, and utmost sincerity and integrity can open the main hall.

Under heaven, besides Chu Xiangshuai, who is qualified to obtain the secret manual? Brother Chu, there is no need to worry about being tricked. Master Damu is over a hundred years old and practices Taoist profound skills. His skills are extremely refined and pure, and he is definitely not a demonic Taoist who has gone astray.

Let's just say it's helping him fulfill his wish!

Li Zhaoting handed the treasure map to Chu Liuxiang.

Lu Xiaofeng asked, "Li Zhaoting, even with Master Da Mu's century-long cultivation, he couldn't crack the tomb's mechanisms? What kind of mechanisms are so powerful? Even Zhu Ting couldn't do that!"

Li Zhaoting rolled his eyes at Lu Xiaofeng: "Master Damu is a firm believer in fate. When he entered the cave in his youth, he only obtained the secret manual in the side hall. He believed that he was not fortunate enough to receive the inheritance of Patriarch Hesha. Forcibly taking it would surely bring disaster."

Wang Yuyan: "Young Master Li, I have seen records in the Langhuan Jade Cave that Master Hesha was a Buddhist disciple who was mainly engaged in Buddhist arts, while Master Damu was a Taoist master. Buddhism and Taoism are incompatible, so why be so fixated on the Hesha manual?"

Li Zhaoting: "Da Mu has been obsessed for over sixty years, only wanting to see what the manual says before he dies! Even if it only contains the Arhat Fist, it will be enough to fulfill his wish."

Chu Liuxiang: "A centenarian who has been living in seclusion for more than sixty years, even if he has great ambitions, his body can't hold up anymore. I can try to help him."

Lu Xiaofeng: "I'm going too!"

Li Zhaoting: "I'm not going!"

Everyone looked at Li Zhaoting with disdain.

In terms of "fortune and luck," Li Zhaoting's numbers are not bad. The top masters of the world are all well-rounded warriors, but Li Zhaoting is too fierce.

Chu Liuxiang is treasure hunting, Lu Xiaofeng is exploring, and Li Zhaoting's trip to the cave is a malicious act of blowing up a pit.

Chu Liuxiang: A tomb raider who relies on skill;
Lu Xiaofeng: The Tomb Raider General, relying on luck;
Li Zhaoting: Mountain-Moving Taoist, Ridge-Unloading Warrior, Gunpowder to open mountains, causing landslides and earthquakes, and overturning rivers and seas;

Sending Feng Suzhen, Li Shengnan, Wang Yuyan, and others to explore the cave would be several times better than sending Li Zhaoting.

If Li Zhaoting insists on going, Qiao Beiming's cave is the most suitable place, where he can break through with brute force.

Chu Liuxiang took out a ginseng root: "I know almost all the sects participating in the Guandong Martial Arts Conference, except for one. I have dealt with one sect for many years and done business with it for hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, but Hongxiu can't recognize their origins and I can't find any trace of them. It's really strange!"

Li Hongxiu was incredibly knowledgeable and had an exceptional memory, comparable to a jack-of-all-trades. She could recite a few words from almost every major and minor record of martial arts history, and her memory rivaled that of a great sage.

Chu Liuxiang is a master thief, a legendary detective, and the number one troublemaker in the martial arts world. His eyesight is comparable to that of an eagle, and he also possesses a meticulous and progressive reasoning ability.

The two had been working together for years, yet they couldn't discern each other's backgrounds, instantly sparking everyone's interest.

Especially Wang Yuyan's interests.

Wang Yuyan is equally knowledgeable and has a good memory, but she has always stayed at home and has no reputation. Li Hongxiu, on the other hand, has gained fame by following Chu Liuxiang and her reputation is no less than that of Bai Xiaosheng.

"This sect is called... the Ginseng Clan!"
The Ginseng Clan, as the name suggests, is a sect composed of ginseng hunters. Its management structure is extremely ancient, and it takes ginseng as its faith. Whoever can find the oldest and most spiritual wild ginseng can become the leader of the Ginseng Clan.

Five years ago, Hongxiu tailored the identity of "Zhang Xiaolin, a ginseng harvester from Liaodong" for me, and since then I have had contact with the ginseng gang, but only business dealings.

The ginseng gang doesn't accept banknotes; they only accept two things.

First, it was made of real gold and silver, and ten gold ingots.

Secondly, daily necessities such as oil, salt, brown sugar, porcelain, rice, flour, scissors, and cotton cloth.

Do you know why they didn't want banknotes?
Because the elders of the ginseng gang were illiterate!

They used the ancient method of knotting ropes for record-keeping, and drew totems inside the village, without any written characters.

Hongxiu tried several times but couldn't find any paper. She only found some bamboo slips with ancient characters inscribed on them, which were written by a remote small country during the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Two days ago, I saw the Ginseng Gang's mark and contacted them using the identity of Zhang Xiaolin. I learned that the leader of the Ginseng Gang had defected to the Manchu Qing Dynasty and become a royal worshipper.

I also heard that the new leader of the Ginseng Clan obtained a rare treasure in the deep mountains and forests. It was the supreme king of ginseng, the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Emperor. It is said that this ginseng transformed into human form, with clear features and meridians all over it. It was about a foot in size and glowed with auspicious red light.

Ginseng is the king of nourishing medicinal herbs.

Centuries-old ginseng can be used to refine elixirs that increase power and strengthen the body. Millennia-old ginseng is extremely rare and possesses the life force to revive the dead and heal the wounded. Five-thousand-year-old ginseng is only kept in the imperial palace. The Qing Dynasty imperial palace had at most three or four slices, which only the emperor could use.

The Ten Thousand Year Ginseng King can increase its power by just one root or by sucking two mouthfuls of ginseng essence, and can quickly recover from any serious injury.

To put it bluntly, if the legendary ginseng that lasts for ten thousand years truly exists, then the so-called elixir of immortality may not be entirely false; it might even have some merit.

Brother Li, what are your thoughts?

Chu Liuxiang wasn't greedy for treasures, but after being a master thief for so many years, he couldn't help but feel a little itchy when he heard about rare and precious items, especially such legendary treasures. Chu Liuxiang didn't rob or steal them; he just wanted to broaden his horizons and see this ginseng king.

Li Zhaoting raised an eyebrow: "Brother Chu, are you sure you want to hear my opinion? Do you think I'm a gentleman who doesn't covet or take advantage of others? Do I look like a good person to you?"

Li Shengnan sneered: "Treasures of nature can only be obtained by virtuous people. Martial virtue is also a virtue. Let's see if this leader of the Ginseng Gang is both literate and martial!"

Wang Yuyan chimed in, "In terms of talent, Sister Feng is a scholar of unparalleled brilliance, a top scholar; in terms of martial arts, Young Master Li is the leader of the Heavenly Gang and a master of the Jiazi Tai Sui; in terms of virtue, Chu Xiangshuai is sincere and trustworthy and never kills; in terms of fortune, Hero Lu is a phoenix reincarnation, turning misfortune into good fortune and being reborn from the ashes; even in terms of looks, we are the winners!"

Lu Xiaofeng: "Li Zhaoting, can you control your Holy Maiden? I don't want to become a bandit!"

Feng Suzhen waved her hand: "My two sisters, our family is an honest family, not a bandit gang. How can we rob treasures indiscriminately? I think Master Damu's theory is very correct. Natural treasures can be obtained if one is destined to!"

Lu Xiaofeng muttered under his breath, "You two really are a couple, even needing an excuse to steal things!"

Li Zhaoting: ┓(`)┏

(End of this chapter)