Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

Chapter 147 Speculation

Wushu Association Headquarters, Council Room.

The long table was filled with people, their teacups cold, but no one touched them. Smoke filled the room; some smoked, some pondered, and some stared at the thin document on the table with complex expressions, as if reading a death notice.

The document was only one page long, containing the words: "Bai Weng, the current master of Wushe Tower, was severely injured this morning by Tie Fusheng, the principal of the Dark Martial Arts School. Wushe Tower's main gate was destroyed; three top assassins were injured and one was crippled; the casualties among silver and bronze assassins are unknown. Wushe Tower has secretly announced a temporary suspension of the manhunt for Sun Fan, with the expiration date unknown."

The document was signed by the Intelligence Section and dated today.

The council chamber remained quiet for a long time, so long that the sparrow outside the window hopped three times on the windowsill before flying away again.

Sitting in the center of the long table was an elderly man with gray hair, wearing a dark blue Zhongshan suit. On his breast pocket was a martial arts association badge and two crossed swords, each topped with a five-pointed star.

His name is Zhao Tieshan, the executive vice president of the Wushu Association. He is 67 years old this year and has worked in the Wushu Association for 40 years, rising from a grassroots clerk to his current position.

He had weathered far too many storms, so much so that he hadn't been surprised by anything in a long time. But today, as he looked at the document, his fingers tapped lightly on the table, a rhythm much faster than usual.

This is a sign of his impatience, as anyone who has worked with him for over ten years knows.

"Tie Fusheng." He repeated the name, his voice not loud, but in the quiet council hall, every word was clear. "Isn't he already wanted by the Martial Alliance?"

Sitting opposite him was a woman in her fifties, with short hair, a serious face, and dressed in a black suit, resembling an open coffin. Her name was Fang Qing, the director of the Martial Arts Association's Discipline Inspection Committee, known for her iron-fisted impartiality; even Zhao Tieshan had to give her some leeway.

"The arrest warrant is still in effect." Fang Qing flipped through the documents in front of him. "It's just that no one can carry it out."

"As one of the founders of the Dark Martial Arts Academy, he has also made contributions to the country, so everyone tacitly understands the matter of the wanted notice."

"A tacit understanding?" Zhao Tieshan's finger paused. "A wanted man has lived under our noses for so many years, and even went to the Wushe Tower to kill its owner—you're telling me, this is what you call a tacit understanding?"

No one responded.

However, the disdain in everyone's eyes must have reached the heavens.

It's common knowledge that deputies always like to seek attention.

And this vice president, who has always been high-minded and politically conscious, is even more so.

The problem is, when you eat eggplant, you don't even consider whether it's old or young.

Although Tie Fusheng was removed from the Heavenly Ranking, he was still one of the top masters in the world.

Aside from those few elusive big shots in the martial arts association, who can subdue them?

Sitting next to Fang Qing was a man in his early forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a refined appearance, looking like a university professor. His name was Zheng Mingyuan, the head of the intelligence department of the Martial Arts Association, and he was the one who signed off on this document. He adjusted his glasses, cleared his throat, and began to speak.

"President Zhao, there's something I need to tell you."

"explain."

"Thirty years ago, Tie Fusheng's spine was pierced by the sword of the Ancient Pavilion Master, and his meridians were severely damaged. Everyone thought that his martial arts path had come to an end. But today, according to the information brought back by our people at the scene, his swordsmanship is even faster than it was thirty years ago."

The atmosphere in the council chamber suddenly changed.

Zhao Tieshan's brow furrowed. "You mean, his injury has healed?"

"I'm not sure," Zheng Mingyuan shook his head. "But his swordsmanship is indeed faster than it was thirty years ago. People at the scene described how, when he drew his sword, the internal force attached to the blade created a visible shockwave, overturning a section of the bluestone ground. This is not something someone with damaged meridians could do."

"Unless," Fang Qing interjected, her voice as cold as the winter wind, "he found some rare and precious treasure, or..."

"What incredible adventure in this secret realm? It healed my old wounds."

"Or," Zheng Mingyuan paused, "he wasn't actually injured to that extent by the Ancient Pavilion Master back then. Perhaps the Ancient Pavilion Master's sword strike wasn't as severe as we thought. Perhaps Tie Fusheng had been hiding it all along."

The council chamber fell silent again.

Zhao Tieshan leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. He knew the name Tie Fusheng and had heard his legends, but he had never actually met the man.

Those outside the martial arts world are beyond the reach of the Martial Arts Association, and Tie Fusheng never shows his face. In recent years, he has almost disappeared from the sight of the martial arts world.

But today, he reappeared. In a way no one expected. Alone, with a knife, he slashed his way from the foot of the mountain to the summit, severely injuring the leader of the Unforgivable Pavilion and forcing them to suspend the kill order. This is not something a "wanted fugitive" could do; it is something only a master at the pinnacle of martial arts could accomplish.

"Why is he protecting that kid named Sun Fan?" Zhao Tieshan opened his eyes and looked at Zheng Mingyuan. "Have you found out?"

Zheng Mingyuan opened the notebook in front of him. "Sun Fan, a first-year student at the Dark Martial Arts School, is eighteen years old this year. His parents disappeared in the spring of 62 AD. Afterwards, Sun Fan was framed and imprisoned, and entered the Dark Martial Arts School through an introduction. In the second half of this year, he had a fortuitous encounter in a secret realm, which greatly improved his swordsmanship. At the end-of-year competition, he defeated Luo Qingshan and Shen Wuxiu one after another, becoming famous in one battle. It is said that there is something in his sword that does not belong to his level—some say it is sword intent, some say it is sword momentum, there are different opinions, but everyone agrees that his sword is very strange."

"Sword aura?" Fang Qing frowned. "A first-year student using sword aura? That's something only a seventh-level martial artist can even begin to grasp."

"So his master is no ordinary person." Zheng Mingyuan closed his notebook. "That's why Wushelou was willing to spend five million to save his life—not because he was worth five million, but because someone else offered five million. That 'someone else' is the key."

Zhao Tieshan's fingers paused for a moment. "Have you found out who placed the order?"

"I can't find anything." Zheng Mingyuan shook his head. "The rules of Wushe Tower state that the identity of the person who places the order is top secret, and even the people in the tower may not know it. But one thing is certain: the person who placed the order knows Sun Fan very well. He knows his background, his weaknesses, and his whereabouts. He doesn't seem like an outsider, but rather someone close to him."

Fang Qing sneered. "The people around him? What kind of people could an eighteen-year-old student have around him?"

"Classmates, teachers, friends," Zheng Mingyuan said, "all are possible. Even his parents."

The atmosphere in the council chamber suddenly turned cold.

"Weren't his parents missing?" Zhao Tieshan asked.

"They've disappeared," Zheng Mingyuan said. "But disappearance doesn't mean death. They might still be alive, somewhere we don't know, maybe they're controlling something."

Zhao Tieshan remained silent for a long time.