The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

“Uncle…” Ouyang Ke called out to Ouyang Feng anxiously.

"Don't rush. Since you're asking for a marriage proposal, you can't just go in and tie her up, can you?" Ouyang Feng frowned and gave a slight reprimand.

Ouyang Feng then explained, "Moreover, the formation of Peach Blossom Residence is far more sophisticated than that outside. Given Brother Yao's temperament, if he were to trespass, he might resort to suicidal tactics. Even if your uncle can protect you, you'll likely only find ruins! And most likely, there are secret passages inside..."

"Let's wait outside and slowly probe the way using the snake formation, while also monitoring the surroundings. If they emerge from the secret passage, that would be perfect."

Clearly, Ouyang Feng meant that it wasn't that he couldn't tie someone up, but rather that he couldn't do it like bandits who ransack homes; he had to do it in a more dignified way...

"Yes, nephew was too hasty," Ouyang Ke admitted honestly.

Chu Luren followed the mechanism and walked through the courtyard, where he saw Huang Rong, Mu Wanqing, and Yun Luo.

“This Ouyang Feng is even more difficult to deal with than I imagined! Rongrong, is there any secret passage here that leads directly out?” Chu Luren asked as soon as he saw Huang Rong.

They didn't notice the awkward atmosphere between the three of them...

“No, Ouyang Feng will definitely guess there’s a secret passage. Once his snake formation is set up, he can monitor everything from all directions. Besides, there’s only one outlet to the sea with a ship, so even if we take the secret passage, we can’t possibly get to sea before him,” Huang Rong said calmly.

"Is there any news about your father?" Chu Luren asked after frowning.

"No." Huang Rong shook her head dejectedly.

Chu Luren thought for a moment, then said, "Then there's only one way we can try... Where is the Old Rascal locked up?"

"Old rascal? You mean Zhou Botong, the one my father imprisoned in the cave? You know him? Can he handle Ouyang Feng, or would Ouyang Feng give him face?"

Huang Rong looked puzzled. Clearly, in her mind, although the old man was interesting, he was no match for her father and offered no help in the current situation...

Chapter 289 The Old Rascal

The reason Huang Rong ran away from home was because she coincidentally discovered the Old Urchin, who was imprisoned in a cave by Huang Yaoshi. She found his words amusing, so she often chatted with him and even brought him wine. As a result, Huang Yaoshi found out and scolded her...

Huang Rong had mentioned this matter to Chu Luren, but Huang Rong only knew that his name was Zhou Botong, and knew nothing about his background. Even though he had been traveling in the martial arts world for a while, there were no rumors about Zhou Botong in the martial arts world.

Moreover, logically speaking, since this old man was imprisoned by Huang Yaoshi and had no temper, his martial arts skills must have been inferior to Huang Yaoshi's.

Yes, at this moment, the old rascal Zhou Botong himself thought so too!

The reason Zhou Botong was imprisoned on Peach Blossom Island was ultimately because of Huang Yaoshi's misplaced anger.

Back then, Feng Heng died from exhaustion after memorizing the Nine Yin Manual after giving birth. Huang Yaoshi was furious with Zhou Botong and the Nine Yin Manual, forcing him to hand over the manual to mourn his deceased wife. Zhou Botong naturally refused and was later captured by Huang Yaoshi and taken to Peach Blossom Island, where his leg was broken.

Huang Yaoshi was worried that Zhou Botong would destroy the secret manual and destroy everything, so he did not dare to press him too hard.

In the end, the two agreed that Zhou Botong would not destroy the manual, and Huang Yaoshi would not forcibly take it, but he was not allowed to leave secretly.

Over the years, Huang Yaoshi has kept his promise and sent people to deliver meals to Zhou Botong every day without poisoning him. However, he often torments Zhou Botong with the "Blue Sea Tide Song".

Zhou Botong's internal strength was inferior to Huang Yaoshi's, his mind was not firm enough, and his will was just so-so. He was always tormented to death!

Therefore, in Zhou Botong's mind, he was no match for Huang Yaoshi...

However, in the original work, after Zhou Botong taught Guo Jing the "Ambidextrous Fighting Technique" and had him play the Four Kingdoms War with him, Guo Jing suddenly realized a truth—no one could defeat two Zhou Botongs.

Zhou Botong originally developed this move simply to amuse himself and never intended to use it against an enemy.

After he figured out that this move could be used against enemies, Zhou Botong became the "number one in martial arts" and "number one in sparring" during the Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes era. Guo Jing, who was also ambidextrous, probably did not show his ambidextrous fighting technique again later on because the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is more straightforward and does not mean that ambidextrous fighting is equivalent to two people.

Zhou Botong has never lost a direct confrontation—but he and Blood Saber Ancestor are the opposite types. Blood Saber Ancestor can fight several people at once when he's fighting for his life, while Zhou Botong is afraid of snakes, can be easily fooled, and is easily agitated, making his performance extremely unstable...

Of course, in the vast world of martial arts, Chu Luren also suspected that the "Ambidextrous Technique" was not just as simple as multitasking. Otherwise, with Chu Luren's current concentration, he could draw a dragon with his left hand and a rainbow with his right, yet he still couldn't use himself as two people.

Even if you can use your arms to do two things at once, you can't split your meridians in two; it's not very meaningful if you're just posing for a photo.

Chu Luren originally came to Peach Blossom Island for Zhou Botong. Firstly, he wanted to see if there were any hidden secrets in Zhou Botong's "Ambidextrous Fighting Technique," and secondly, he wanted the complete "Nine Yin Manual"!

Upon hearing Chu Luren mention the Old Urchin, Huang Rong, though confused, still told him where he was being held and instructed him to bring the Old Urchin along as well…

"He's on the mountain behind Peach Blossom Residence. There's a stone cave at the top. I haven't brought him any food today. There's a secret passage that leads down to the foot of the mountain, but if we're discovered, we'll have to be careful on our way back," Huang Rong warned.

Previously, when Huang Rong and Mu Wanqing first arrived at Peach Blossom Island and found that Huang Yaoshi was not there, they wanted to release Zhou Botong. However, he was stubborn and said that he would not "sneak away" before defeating Huang Yaoshi.

As for Chu Luren going alone, it wouldn't matter if Ouyang Feng discovered him, since only Ouyang Feng and the giant python could do anything to Chu Luren anyway.

If a few small snakes or snake slaves discover Chu Luren, they can only notify Ouyang Feng. It will take him time to get there, and this is not the direction of the sea outlet, so Ouyang Feng probably won't notice.

The longer the delay, the more perfect the snake formation's encirclement became. Chu Luren didn't linger any longer and went directly through the secret passage opened by Huang Rong to the back mountain of Peach Blossom Residence. Then, he used his lightness skill to rush up the mountain.

There was also a small peach blossom formation on the mountain, but this was not the main reason that Zhou Botong was trapped. Huang Rong had also told Chu Luren how to get there beforehand...

Before long, Chu Luren arrived at the mountaintop!

Upon hearing the voice of Chu Luren coming up, a somewhat hoarse but still playful and "colorful" voice came from the cave.

"Hey! Huang Yaoshi, is that you back? Remember to play the flute for me?" Zhou Botong called out from inside the cave.

"Senior Zhou, you misunderstand. I am not Island Master Huang, nor was I sent by him," Chu Luren replied softly.

"Huh? There are outsiders on the island today? And Huang Yaoshi allowed you to get close to this place? That's strange... You're not Huang Yaoshi's enemy, are you? Wait! How do you know me?" Zhou Botong seemed to have a million questions.

“Island Master Huang is not here. I am a friend of Island Master Huang’s daughter. Ouyang Feng took advantage of Island Master Huang’s absence to set up a snake formation. Now there are poisonous snakes everywhere outside, and no one can bring food. Senior Zhou, you should come with me to Peach Blossom Residence for temporary refuge.” Chu Luren explained the situation.

"Snake Formation? That old poisoner, after my senior brother ascended to immortality, he really started to stir up trouble..." Zhou Botong had always disliked Ouyang Feng.

"No, no, I promised Huang Yaoshi that I would not go down the mountain until I defeated him and forced him to release me. There is no food... well... I can hunt on the mountain myself. There are always wild rabbits and pheasants on the mountain, as well as mountain springs. I won't starve!" Zhou Botong said stubbornly.

At this time, Zhou Botong was not very afraid of snakes. In the original work, he was bitten by Ouyang Feng's snake and almost died from its poison, which made him develop a fear of snakes. Now, he doesn't react much to the snake formation.

Chu Luren sighed inwardly: Since that's how it is...

"Senior Zhou, didn't you want to know how I met you?" Chu Luren suddenly asked.

"Hmm? Did Ma Yu and the others tell you? No, no, if they knew I was here, even if they weren't a match for Huang Yaoshi, they would still try to risk coming in... So you're that little girl's friend?" Zhou Botong guessed.

Chu Luren didn't leave him puzzled for long: "Four looms, mandarin ducks woven together, yearning to fly in pairs, but alas, before old age, the head has already turned white..." As he spoke, he even used the Nine Netherworld Soul Sound Technique!

"Ah, ah! Stop reading! Who are you!" Zhou Botong was suddenly provoked and ran out of the cave.

At this moment, Zhou Botong's hair and beard were disheveled due to neglect, but his clothes were washed very clean and he did not look too slovenly.

Judging from his lively and energetic appearance, it's clear that when his leg was "broken," only the bone was broken, not the tendons. He has already recovered after setting the bone himself.

"You...you know Ying Gu? She wouldn't be here too, would she?" Zhou Botong asked hesitantly.

"I will call the Southern Emperor Uncle Duan." Chu Luren revealed Duan Zhengming's banner.

"Ah! Dead, dead!" Upon hearing this, Zhou Botong was so ashamed that he hid back inside, shouting, "Don't come in! If you come in, I'll smash my head against a wall and die!"

The Old Urchin fears two people most in his life: Ying Gu and the Southern Emperor. Even the Eastern Heretic has to take a backseat.

Although neither of them would actually do anything to him, the old rascal was already terrified just by hearing their names...

Chapter 290 Sting

"Zhou Botong, you coward! If you're so capable, teach the Empress how to use acupressure! If you're so capable, come out here!" Chu Luren shouted at the entrance of the cave.

To avoid Zhou Botong really doing something rash, Chu Luren didn't go in directly...

"Stop talking! I'm sorry to Emperor Duan and Ying Gu. I'll let you kill me with one sword, okay?" Zhou Botong's voice was a little hoarse, and Chu Luren suspected that he was almost burying his head.

Unlike Ying Gu, Zhou Botong still had a sense of shame. When the Southern Emperor intended to help him and Ying Gu get together, Zhou Botong felt guilty for letting his friend down, so he left without saying goodbye and never dared to see the Southern Emperor and Ying Gu again.

"It's because you're teaching people wrong things, I'll break you, break you!" Zhou Botong suddenly shouted.

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren worried that Zhou Botong was actually harming himself, so he disregarded everything else and rushed into the cave. There he saw Zhou Botong poking holes in the rock wall with his fingers.

Chu Luren: ...

"what!"

Upon seeing Chu Luren enter, Zhou Botong exclaimed in surprise and quickly turned around, burying his head in the straw where he usually rested.

After all, Chu Luren claimed to be a descendant of Emperor Duan, so Zhou Botong would have no face to meet him.

"Zhou Botong, Zhou Botong, you've really ruined my Uncle Duan!" Chu Luren said again, seeing that he didn't seem to be dead anytime soon.

"That's right, I, Zhou Botong, am a bastard. I'm sorry, my friend. You can either kill me with your sword or... kick my butt to vent your anger!" Zhou Botong didn't even bother to show his face, just sticking his head out as he spoke.

Chu Luren: ? ? ?

Where did you learn that apology pose? It's quite professional... but unfortunately, Chu Luren isn't interested at all.

"What's the point of me kicking your ass? Come out first," Chu Luren urged.

Zhou Botong, like a little kid who had done something wrong, hesitated for a long time before finally pulling his face out. He then turned around, but his head remained lower than his chest—if he had a D-cup or higher, he would definitely be suffocating by now.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Botong couldn't help but ask, "Isn't it good for Emperor Duan and... her?"

When Zhou Botong left, he didn't know that Ying Gu was pregnant. After Wang Chongyang passed away and Zhou Botong held a funeral for his senior brother, he was captured and taken to Peach Blossom Island a few years later, where he knew nothing more.

“My uncle has become a monk,” Chu Luren said sternly.

"Ah? How could this be? How could this be?" Zhou Botong asked, his face full of shock, without even bothering to look down.

He probably thought that after he left, the Southern Emperor and Ying Gu would reconcile...

"After you left that year, Ying Gu became pregnant..."

"Pregnant? I have a child? Boy or girl? Now... now I should have... wait! Could it be that you..." Zhou Botong looked at Chu Luren with a face full of surprise, even looking like he was comparing something.

"Unfortunately, your child was ambushed and died shortly after birth." Chu Luren wasn't about to sacrifice his integrity for the Nine Yin Manual and the Ambidextrous Technique, so he told him the truth.

Zhou Botong was taken aback upon hearing this, and his usually bright and expressive eyes dimmed for a long time...

"Your child was deliberately struck with a palm strike and seriously injured, inducing Ying Gu to beg my uncle for help. If he had been saved, my uncle would not have been able to recover his strength for at least ten years... My uncle originally wanted to help, but at the critical moment, he saw the love poems embroidered on the child's bib and, out of resentment, did not lend a hand."

After that, Ying Gu hated my uncle and went into seclusion outside Dali City, constantly causing trouble for him. My uncle also kept this matter in mind, and his martial arts almost came to a standstill. Two years ago... he became a monk at Tianlong Temple. "Chu Luren explained in one breath.

If it were someone else or at a different time, they would definitely ask – how do you know so much?

Would the Southern Emperor tell you all the love poems on his child's bib?

Ying Gu couldn't possibly have explained it in such detail!

However, Zhou Botong was completely distracted at the moment, so he didn't ask any more questions...

Zhou Botong sat down on the ground, looking distressed, and said, "It's my fault that Ying Gu and Emperor Duan were harmed!" Then he suddenly looked at Chu Luren and asked, "I...I'll write you a letter. Can you give it to Ying Gu for me? I have to tell her that she shouldn't hold a grudge against Emperor Duan. If she's going to hate anyone, she should hate me!"

As he spoke, Zhou Botong's face fell again: "Emperor Duan's decision to become a monk was definitely not because of Ying Gu; it must be because he was blaming himself for harboring resentment..."

He did understand Emperor Duan, or rather, he understood these Buddhist and Taoist things.

Despite his seemingly eccentric and immature demeanor, Zhou Botong's childlike heart and pure heart have enabled him to achieve great success in matters of Taoism and Buddhism.