Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

"And then?" Pei Shi'an quickly pressed for an answer.

This person is almost certainly targeting them!

Even more shocking is...

This person is probably replicating the plot of the book!

As for why this person didn't use a halberd, it's probably because it would be too conspicuous.

Pei Shi'an thought it over carefully and realized that there were basically no martial arts masters around Wancheng who used halberds.

"And then? Then came the Divine Halberd Hero's destruction of gangs, killing corrupt officials, then suppressing bandits, killing the womanizer, and then the most classic declaration of the 'Unrivaled Halberd Under Heaven'..." Liu Mingyuan excitedly talked on and on.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Pei Shi'an quickly waved his hand, interrupting Liu Mingyuan's long-winded speech; he had no interest in the rest of the story.

Most importantly, the part where the Divine Halberd Hero wipes out the gang is the only thing he cares about!

This imitator is very likely to test his skills on the Great River Gang!

"Mingyuan, what do you think is the imitator's motive?"

"Motive? Do I even need a motive? After reading this book, I wish I were the Divine Halberd Hero! Ha, if I knew martial arts, I'd do the same thing!"

Liu Mingyuan did not practice martial arts. With the Liu family's wealth, sending Liu Mingyuan to the Suishan Sword Sect was more than enough. However, Liu Mingyuan was the only son in the family, and Liu Wantong was reluctant to part with him.

His daughters, however, were sent to the nearby Suishan Sword Sect.

"The Divine Halberd Hero, newly arrived in the martial world, was unknown, yet he possessed a strong sense of justice and dared to act decisively! This person, imitating the Divine Halberd Hero's actions, truly embodies the chivalrous spirit of ancient times!"

Liu Mingyuan praised it, but then immediately shook his head.

"It's a pity they didn't use a halberd; I can't fully accept that."

Pei Shi'an felt a headache coming on. He came to find clues, not to listen to bookworms spouting nonsense.

"Mingyuan, can I borrow this book to take a look?"

Pei Shi'an decided to look for clues in the book himself.

"Of course, Uncle Pei, wait for me a moment!"

Liu Mingyuan ran back excitedly, then ran back like a gust of wind, carrying a large pile of books in his hands.

I read more than a dozen books!

So many!

Pei Shi'an's vision went black upon seeing this.

Liu Mingyuan excitedly placed the books on the table one by one, saying:

"Besides the original book, I also have many imitations written by other authors, but the quality varies. Works like 'The Divine Halberd Hero Returns to the Martial World' and 'The Legend of the Halberd Shooter' are alright, while works like 'The Divine Spear Hero Battles the Three Heroes of the Southern Desert' are rather mediocre..."

Pei Shi'an was in a real bind and quickly said:

"I'll just look at the original first."

"Oh." Liu Mingyuan was a little disappointed, but he quickly cheered up again. "Uncle Pei, you must take a look at the original author's trilogy. My second sister just happened to find it at Wenshan Bookstore when she passed through another city. It's usually very hard to find!"

"Yes, this is 'The Legend of the Halberd-Shooting Heroes,' and this is its official sequel, 'The Divine Halberd Couple,' as well as sequels to sequels..."

"Enough, enough!" Seeing the boy about to shove another book into his hands, Pei Shi'an quickly refused, picking up the two books, "The Legend of the Swordsman" and "The Divine Halberd Couple," and said:

"I'll just take a look at these two books first."

After saying that, he quickly took his leave, saying he was busy with official business. He was afraid that if he didn't leave, the young man would keep him talking all day.

"Alright, Uncle Pei, make sure you watch it!"

"Definitely, definitely."

Pei Shi'an walked out of the Liu residence, mounted his horse, stuffed the two books into his arms, flicked the reins, and spurred his horse toward the police station.

After seeing Pei Shi'an off, Liu Mingyuan was filled with emotion.

I never expected that there would be an imitator of the Divine Halberd Hero in Wancheng!

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. This was a living, breathing Divine Halberd Hero in the world!

Liu Mingyuan made a decision.

He plans to use his family's money to start a book club!

If we can gather all the people who are obsessed with this book together through the book club, we might be able to find out some clues about that person, or even meet him in person!

……

……

Suishan Sword Sect, Outer Sect, Law Enforcement Hall.

The hall was built along the mountainside, with bluestone as the foundation and ironwood as the beams!

The plaque at the top of the white stone steps bears the three characters "Hall of Enforcement" in bold, powerful strokes, exuding an air of solemnity!

At that moment, a wail came from inside the hall.

"Brothers, we've been wronged! You've arrested the wrong people!"

A disheveled outer disciple knelt below the hall, his hands bound behind his back.

Two disciples from the Enforcement Hall sat in the hall, their expressions indifferent.

The man on the left opened the scroll in his hand and spoke calmly:

"Yu Chang, you have committed three thefts in Ping'an County, involving more than 500 taels of silver. The evidence is conclusive, and you have disgraced the sect. In accordance with the sect rules, you are hereby stripped of your cultivation and expelled from the sect!"

Yu Chang suddenly looked up and burst into a tirade:

"Bullshit! That happened a year ago, it's all in the past! Why did you have to bring up old grievances now of all times? You're clearly just using me to make up the numbers!"

The disciple on the right sneered:

"Turning the page? Our sect always acts impartially and based on evidence, never wrongly accusing anyone. What do you think the Enforcement Hall has been doing? Letting you roam free for so long, of course, is collecting irrefutable evidence!"

"Someone come here!"

"No! No! I have rendered meritorious service to the sect! I have shed blood for the sect! You cannot treat me like this!"

The disciple tried to struggle to stand up, but was held down firmly by the disciples of the Enforcement Hall on both sides.

"My sect has betrayed me! My sect has betrayed me!"

The sound gradually faded away as he was dragged outside and disappeared at the end of the stone steps.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

The disciple from the Enforcement Hall on the left rubbed his temples, tossed the scroll onto the table, and let out a long sigh:

"I've been really busy lately."

The man on the right, looking somewhat weary, said, "There's nothing I can do; it's the outer sect competition."

"Yes, the outer sect competition."

The two looked at each other and smiled helplessly.

The Grand Competition for Outer Sect Members!

This means that the entire sect, including the senior brothers and sisters, uncles and elder brothers of the inner sect, and even the sect leader and sword master, will turn their attention to the outer sect.

What does this mean?

It means that if someone from above comes to visit, those below have to put on a show of politeness.

If any of the teachers or elders take a liking to a particular disciple and wish to accept him as a disciple, then an investigation will be conducted.

Wow, this disciple is a murderer, thief, petty thief, and bully who insults his fellow disciples!

They questioned, "How could our Suishan Sword Sect, a renowned and righteous sect in the martial arts world, produce such a thing?"

So, who should apologize?

Furthermore, people from other sects will be attending the ceremony, and we'll lose face in the process!

The disciple on the left got up, stretched, and said, "I'm going to rest. I have a case to investigate tomorrow."

The disciple on the right nodded; it was time for him to rest too.

……

Fang Zhong, a disciple of the Enforcement Hall, walked wearily through several bluestone paths and turned into a gray-walled courtyard.

Mingjian Residence, No. 7 in the front courtyard.

This is the residence of the outer disciples, and it is much more spacious than the servants' quarters.

The courtyard was divided into front and back sections, each with four or five rooms. Each room housed two people with separate beds. The rooms were bright and clean, far superior to the large communal sleeping quarters of the servants' quarters.

As soon as Fang Zhonggang stepped into the courtyard, he saw Chen Wenyan reclining on a bamboo chair in the room at the east end, basking in the sun with a book in his hand, reading it with great interest.

"Hey, Old Chen, taking a break?" Fang Zhong greeted him.

Chen Wenyan looked up and smiled: "Indeed, it's rare to have half a day of leisure."

"You think you can relax? The outer sect competition is just a few months away. Many sects will be sending people to attend. There will definitely be a lot of people coming during this time. You'll have a lot to deal with."

"The busy days are yet to come, but you in the Enforcement Hall seem to have time to rest?"

"Don't even mention it." Fang Zhong waved his hand. "Let's take a break while things are quiet for a bit."

After saying that, he went into his room.

The courtyard fell silent.

Chen Wenyan continued to bask in the sun while reading.

A short while later, the door behind me creaked open.

A tall, thin man emerged, looked around the courtyard, and then fixed his gaze on Chen Wenyan.

"Old Chen, where's my firewood?"