Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

One by one, the third-rate magicians were driven out.

As a magic enthusiast, Gongsun Ce had seen hundreds of amazing magic tricks. After watching them, he would break them down in his mind and be able to deduce the principles behind the vast majority of magic tricks.

There are only a few tricks used by fortune tellers: one is to read people's expressions, the other is to be ambiguous, and the third is to use magic tricks. If they can't fool you in three sentences, the business is lost.

Which of the judges present wasn't a smart person?

Not only were they all intelligent people, but there was also Gongsun Ce, a super argumentative person who loved to show off. He frowned and glared, his eyes wide like copper bells, scaring away a large group of people.

Running won't help!

Having eaten at the Liu family's banquet, it's too late to run away now. Liu Yisheng had a good brother who was a local garrison commander and sent dozens of strong soldiers.

A group of burly soldiers, clad in iron armor and wielding spears, blocked all the gates of the Liu residence.

The fortune tellers could only take turns performing magic tricks, only to be exposed by Gongsun Ce. At best, they would be beaten and thrown out; at worst, they would be put in shackles and paraded through the public. No one could last more than three minutes.

"Lord Gongsun, this humble Taoist has come to learn from you!"

An old Taoist priest with a refined and benevolent appearance, holding a whisk in his hand, first bowed slightly, then casually took the teapot in front of Bao Zheng.

"My surname is Feng, but you may call me whatever you wish. Let's play a simple game. I have a packet of poison here. Please pour it into any cup of tea, Lord Gongsun."

Feng Laodao laughed and said, "To be fair, the teacups will be provided by Lord Bao, the tea will be poured by Lord Li, and the poison will be personally selected by Lord Gongsun."

I will cover my eyes and head, and wait for Lord Gongsun to finish these things before I prepare a cup of tea.

If I drink this cup of tea and don't die, it means I have clairvoyance, and I've won this round. If I die from poisoning, it means I brought this upon myself.

"Lord Gongsun, please!"

Feng Laodao signaled to Gongsun Ce to make a move.

Gongsun Ce didn't hesitate. He took off his belt, blindfolded Feng Laodao, poured three cups of tea, and added poison powder to one of them.

Before long, the poison powder dissolved into the tea.

Gongsun Ce removed the blindfold from Feng Laodao's eyes.

Instead of choosing directly, Feng Laodao used the "Three Immortals Return to Cave" technique to shuffle the order of the teacups, picked up a cup of tea at random, drank it all in one gulp, and remained calm.

"Lord Gongsun, I have won!"

"Tea is not poisonous!"

"I believe this cup of tea is poisoned. If Lord Gongsun does not believe me, you are welcome to try it!"

Feng Laodao pointed to one of the cups of tea.

Gongsun Ce thought to himself, "Even if there's arsenic in the teacup, Li Zhaoting couldn't possibly poison me here."

Gongsun Ce picked up his teacup and drank it in one gulp...

"Pfft~~"

Why is this tea so salty?

Gongsun Ce glared angrily at Feng Laodao.

Feng Laodao smiled calmly: "How dare I poison Lord Gongsun? It was just a bag of salt!"

Gongsun Ce bowed respectfully, indicating his surrender.

Feng Laodao said smugly, "Is there any other hero willing to offer guidance? I'll take them all! If no one challenges me, I'll take the lead!"

Madam Liu announced loudly, "Esteemed Immortal Masters, before the Spirit Communication Conference began, a young lady named Tianwen claimed to be the great-granddaughter of Ancestor Chen Tuan and was skilled in spirit communication."

Tianwen Girl is aloof and prefers tranquility. She doesn't want to show her face in public, so she gave me a letter and asked me to wait until the competition was over and then read it aloud to everyone!
Now, Grandpa Feng has won.

"I will deliver this letter myself!"

Madam Liu took out an envelope from her sleeve and showed it the sealing wax, indicating that it had never been opened.

I tore open the envelope; there was a poem on the letter.

One man from Xiling, and two pieces of earth were torn apart.

He could lift a thousand pounds and break a piece of wood.

Gongsun Ce asked, "May I ask, Madam Liu, did this Miss Tianwen have any conversations with the immortal masters before the competition? Did she see the list of participants?"

Madam Liu shook her head: "Miss Tianwen never leaves her home, saying that the human world is too filthy and that seeing too many outsiders will shorten her lifespan."

Li Xunhuan said, "That's strange! If Miss Tianwen hadn't seen the list of participants and didn't know the abilities of the immortal masters, how could she have predicted the outcome?"

Tang Yin laughed loudly, "Interesting! This Miss Tianwen must be an absolute beauty!"

Bao Zheng explained, "This letter seems to refer to the story of the King of Xiling, but it is actually a word puzzle."

The character "大" (big) is formed by one person in Xiling.

The character '封' is formed by splitting two pieces of earth into a single piece.

The character for "break" (折) in "lifting a thousand pounds" (手举千斤) is the same as the character for "break" (折).
The character 桂 (gui) in 断木分圭 (duanmu fengui) is the same as the character 桂 (gui
Put together, it means—to win the grand prize!
In other words, before the competition even started, Tianwen knew that the winner would be Master Feng.

"As expected of the great-granddaughter of Chen Tuan, her skills are in no way inferior to the renowned 'Commoner Divine Physician'! Master Feng, are you convinced?"

Old Taoist Feng sneered, "Of course I'm not convinced! I want to meet that Miss Tianwen and have a personal contest to see if she's pre-selected or if she has real skills!"

If it was pre-arranged, I certainly wouldn't dare offend you gentlemen, but don't expect me to believe it. Even if you imprison me, I will never change my mind.

If Miss Tianwen possesses extraordinary abilities, and since ancient times those who achieve enlightenment are prioritized, this humble Taoist is willing to serve as a lowly Taoist disciple, attending to Miss Tianwen until my lifespan is exhausted.

Madam Liu, Miss Tianwen doesn't receive outside guests, but she can't refuse to see people, can she? This humble Taoist priest wishes to challenge her to a duel.

Please, Lord Gongsun, bear witness!

Gongsun Ce nodded: "Alright! I am indeed quite curious about this Miss Tianwen."

Liu Liao announced loudly, "The competition is over! Please, all immortal masters, remain calm. The Liu residence has prepared a vegetarian meal. Please have dinner before returning to Zhongnan Mountain to cultivate."

The esteemed "immortal masters" were eager to overturn the table on the spot.

Are you speaking human language?
We traveled over mountains and valleys to come to the competition, only to find that the final result was predetermined. Not only did they not reimburse our travel expenses, but the dinner they prepared for us was vegetarian!
While cultivating Taoism in the Zhongnan Mountains, all I ate were mushrooms and wild vegetables every day, and my stomach was practically empty. I thought I was going to have a big meal, but all I got was vegetarian food!
Liu Liao thought to himself, "I meant well!"
First of all, vegetarian food is much more expensive than meat dishes!
Secondly, since you are all people who cultivate the Tao and recite Buddhist scriptures, you should purify your minds and reduce your desires. Eating meat is against the precepts.

Finally, our master died suddenly, our mistress had suicidal thoughts, and the Liu family was about to be raided. We invited you all to a meal, and you all started babbling on and on!
Tianwen lived in the back courtyard.

Two months ago, Liu Yi met Tianwen, a girl who was cultivating in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain, and the two hit it off immediately.

Tianwen Girl possesses the ability to see the heavens, easily revealing Liu Yi's secrets, including his youthful passion and his arrogance after donning the mask.

Every word she said resonated with Liu Yi, so he invited her back to his residence and addressed her as "Immortal Master".

Li Zhaoting asked, "Madam Liu, why don't you go to the Quanzhen Sect or the Cihang Jingzhai to invite a master? If you can't find the Cihang Jingzhai, can't you find the Quanzhen Sect?"

Madam Liu said in a low voice, "Mr. Buyi, you should know about my family's situation. Cihang Jingzhai and Quanzhen Sect are both chivalrous people who despise corrupt officials the most."

Because of my husband's official position, the two sides are temporarily at peace, but that's all there is to it. If they were to offer themselves up, given Master Changchun's temperament...

If he doesn't grind my husband to dust, then even if he has achieved great spiritual cultivation and is compassionate, to be honest, even if the Immortal Changchun were to tear my husband and me to pieces, it would be our just deserts. We have no face to cry foul.

Meeting someone like Miss Tianwen is our good fortune; how could we dare ask for more?

Gongsun Ce mocked: "Tianwen knows that Liu Yi is a corrupt official, yet he can openly enjoy the food, clothing, and lodging provided by Liu Yi. What kind of noble character is that?"
It's nothing but a self-aggrandizing slogan!
Watch me expose her trick!

Gongsun Ce pushed open the door aggressively.

Looking up, I saw a bright-eyed, white-toothed girl leisurely practicing calligraphy.

The girl from Tianwen possessed a pure and innocent charm, like a water lily rising from the mud unsullied. Gongsun Ce's furious aura vanished in an instant.

Miss Tianwen said calmly, "This gentleman who rushed in must be Lord Gongsun, right? I have long heard of Lord Gongsun's erudition and extensive knowledge. I am only rudimentary in literature, so please give me some pointers, Lord Gongsun."

Gongsun Ce looked up at the calligraphy and paintings in the room.

"The young lady's use of the Book of Songs in her calligraphy demonstrates her profound learning. Her clerical script is reminiscent of the ritual vessels of Longquan, while her regular script has the style of Wei stele inscriptions—simple yet elegant. What excellent skill!"

"You flatter me, sir. I am unworthy of such praise."

"May I ask, young lady, how did you know that Mr. Feng was the winner? Did you deduce it?"

"I am the great-granddaughter of the patriarch Chen Tuan. I have been learning the art of divination since childhood. This is a trivial matter. What difficulty is there in it? Even if a commoner with divine divination skills were here, he might not be able to defeat me!"

"Well said! Excellent! Ever since Li Buyi became famous throughout the martial arts world, you are the first person to dare to challenge him! The Divine Physician Buyi is right here, I'll introduce you to him!"

Gongsun Ce grabbed Li Zhaoting.

Tianwen was so frightened that she almost fainted.

Madam Liu, being a woman of modest means, assumed that the commoner fortune teller was a renowned sorcerer or a bewitching imperial advisor—nothing more than a fortune teller. Tianwen, however, had grown up among the common people and knew most of the gossip circulating in the streets.

Who is this commoner-clothed divine physiognomist?
"Divine physiognomy" is the most insignificant label!
If he were willing to become a "divine physiognomist," nine out of ten people in the martial arts world would be willing to donate half of their wealth, and the whole world would spread the name of the "commoner divine physiognomist," making him surpass Yuan Tiangang and become the number one charlatan in history. The Zhou Wenwang's innate Bagua would then be derived to its ultimate peak.

Emperor Zhao Zhen would never hesitate to accept the position of "Imperial Preceptor".

Absolutely no one in the entire court would dare to impeach him.

Unfortunately, this was ultimately just a fantasy.

The commoner-clad divine physician became the supreme heavenly swordsman.

It became a knife hanging over the neck of evil spirits and heretics.

Tianwen was quite a good actress. She quickly suppressed her turbulent thoughts and smiled, "Madam Liu has invited a commoner fortune teller, so why does she need me to preside over the spiritual communication?"

Li Zhaoting waved his hand: "Miss Tianwen, I came to watch the play on a whim. Besides, everyone has their own expertise, and I have never studied spiritual communication."

Miss Tianwen smiled faintly and said, "I am by nature indifferent to fame and fortune and do not like to compete with others, but Lord Liu has been kind to me, and I can only repay him with spiritual communication."

I know exactly why you've come!
I'll give you a brief demonstration of mind-reading.

Old Taoist Feng sneered: "Playing tricks!"

Tianwen Girl chuckled and said, "Master Feng thinks I am the chosen one to communicate with spirits, and wants to expose my tricks, ruin my reputation, and make me wear wooden shackles as a public spectacle."

Young Master Gongsun felt that since I accepted the food, clothing, and lodging provided by Lord Liu, we were birds of a feather.

A commoner with divine presence, yet he exudes such murderous aura!
This is Judge Bao, who is impartial and incorruptible. You and Young Master Gongsun are good friends, yet you didn't think to say a word for him, but instead made a fair and impartial judgment.

Finally, back to Young Master Gongsun, you think I'm just observing people's expressions, that it's a trivial trick.

How about this?
Please, Young Master Gongsun, think of a two-digit number.

Don't let anyone else know.

Then, you write down the numbers.

Don't let others, especially me, see this.

I can read the numbers you wrote!

Gongsun Ce didn't stand on ceremony. He walked to the desk, closed his eyes, thought of a number, and wrote it down. Tianwen walked to another table and also wrote two characters. The two of them showed their work at the same time, both writing "four seven"!
"Young Master Gongsun, have I passed the test?"

Tianwen stared intently at Gongsun Ce.

Gongsun Ce exclaimed, "Your skill is superb, young lady! I admire you to the extreme. You truly deserve to be from a prestigious family!"

Old Master Feng sighed, "I'm convinced too!"

Tianwen said mischievously, "Perfect! I need a young Taoist disciple to serve me tea and water. Everyone else's disciples are pure yang boys, but mine is an old geezer!"

Old Taoist Feng exclaimed in surprise, "You...this..."

"Does Master Feng intend to go back on his word?"

"Sigh~ My life is ruined!"

Feng Laodao, looking dejected, served tea and water.

It's not too surprising that Tianwen would demonstrate its "mind-reading" ability and then briefly showcase its prophetic skills.

The psychic session must be held at night.

Everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

Li Zhaoting stayed in a guest room in the east courtyard.

As soon as they returned to the room, Li Shengnan and Cheng Huaixiu pounced on Li Zhaoting, pinning him to the bed and pressing down on him with all four of their feet, preventing him from turning over.

"Hmph! Going to flirt with girls again! I've already knelt in the ancestral hall so many times, do you still want me to kneel there too!"

Cheng Huaixiu glared angrily at Li Zhaoting.

Li Shengnan shouted, "You heartless scoundrel! Can't you give us a moment's peace? Husband! I beg you, if you seduce another girl next time, please let me go this time!"

It turned out that Li Zhaoting and Mei Lanzhuju disguised themselves as fortune tellers and came to Liu's mansion to freeload. Cheng Huaixiu and Li Shengnan went to the branches of the Qinglong Society and the Demonic Sect in Chang'an City respectively to retrieve the files related to Liu Yi.

They rushed back as fast as they could and saw Li Zhaoting and the others praising Miss Tianwen. The two women felt a little angry, but also resented themselves for being so useless.

If Cheng Huaixiu and Li Shengnan were six or seven times as capable as Wang Shenglan, they would have already drained Li Zhaoting dry. They wouldn't have the energy to engage in philandering. Lacking physical strength, no matter how fierce their words are, it's all just talk.

Li Zhaoting rolled over and hugged the two women.

"Madams, Miss Tianwen is the great-granddaughter of Patriarch Chen Tuan. I'm here to investigate a case! If I wanted to flirt, why would I be dressed like this?"

"My lord, you really are..."

"Huaixiu, we're on the same wavelength, can't you sense what I'm thinking? Something's not right! Are you really Cheng Huaixiu? I need to investigate this seriously!"

Before she finished speaking, the seemingly unbreakable alliance between immortals and demons crumbled. Li Shengnan retaliated by suppressing Cheng Huaixiu, thinking, "Better to die than to die myself. You'll have to suffer this time!"
Li Shengnan thought she could escape this predicament, but unexpectedly, Li Zhaoting did not make a move, but quietly watched the show. Cheng Huaixiu reacted and used a small grappling move to grab Li Shengnan in the opposite direction, and the two were locked in a head-to-head confrontation.

Li Zhaoting: Sowing discord is the only way to succeed! It never fails!
Li Zhaoting raised his hand and slapped Li Shengnan twice on the Mid-Autumn Festival. Just as Cheng Huaixiu was feeling smug, she also received two slaps on the buttocks. Li Zhaoting then reached out and grabbed two files to examine Liu Yi's glorious past.

The mourning hall was right next door; who would want to do something like this next to a mourning hall? Cheng Huaixiu and Li Shengnan nestled on either side of Li Zhaoting and began analyzing the relevant intelligence.

"Liu Yi was corrupt and greedy, and his crimes deserved to be punished. Being burned to death was his retribution."

Liu Yi has three good friends.

One was Gao Jia, the garrison commander.

One was a wealthy businessman named Qian Bing.

One was Ding Han, the Salt Commissioner.

The four men colluded to make a fortune.

Qian Bing monopolized almost all local businesses, including salt, ironware, wine, and silk. He also controlled half of the armory for forging weapons and armor.

To put it bluntly, the four of them have turned Xianyang into an independent kingdom. They control everything from military affairs and salt to finance. I think their power is a hundred times greater than that of the Murong clan.

This is what rebels should prepare!
Compared to them, Murong Bo is utterly weak!

Cheng Huaixiu added: "According to the intelligence gathered by the Qinglong Society's spies, Liu Yi is the one with the highest position and is responsible for distributing money to everyone. The money earned each year first passes through Liu Yi's hands before being distributed to the other three."

Liu Yi is greedy and will take 50% of the profits.

Of the remaining 50%, Gao Jia took 20%, and Qian Bing and Ding Han each took 15%. Coincidentally, they tallied their income in the autumn. The money they earned this year had just been delivered to Liu Yi's house when Liu Yi suddenly died.

If you say there's nothing fishy going on, who would believe you!
Could it be that Liu Yi faked his death to escape?

The charred corpse was unrecognizable.

Does anyone know if the corpse is Liu Yi?

Another thing is that the Xiling tribe did not become extinct, but instead hid in the deep mountains and forests, with fewer than a thousand members. According to Jingzhai's observations, the Xiling tribe had two major characteristics.

Firstly, they dislike the deceit and intrigue of the world. According to tribal rules, everyone must paint their emotions on their faces.

All members of the tribe must show whether they are happy or sad at any time and in any place. All emotions and secrets must be revealed and absolutely cannot be hidden.

Secondly, the Xiling people are skilled in medicine. A special anesthetic grows in the area where they live, which can induce hallucinations and eliminate pain, numbness, and itching.

It is said that these illusions originate from the heart; what one most wants to see or what one most hopes will happen next will determine the type of dream one has.

Its advantage is that it allows people to confront their true selves.

The downside is that it leads to an addiction to illusions and a life of hedonism.

My master also said that a member of the Xiling tribe couldn't stand this kind of life and left the Xiling tribe. Later, this person went to the capital and got involved with a high-ranking official.

"My lord, what clues have you found out?"

Li Zhaoting rubbed his temples: "When I left Chang'an, I always felt like I had overlooked something, and now I know what I was overlooking."

Stop playing games!

Li Shengnan's dissatisfaction was expressed in a coquettish tone.

Li Zhaoting looked towards Zhongnan Mountain: "Some of those hermits who suddenly went mad and died tragically were killed by Leng Yifu, and some were poisoned by pills."

"Which kind of elixir causes erysipelas?"

"The Qin Dynasty's secret medicine, Heavenly Light!" (End of Chapter)