The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

With teammates like these, Xiaoyuer is exhausted.

“Oh, but I have something to do to visit Young Master Murong. Would you like to come with me to Murong Manor first?” Chu Luren looked at her but did not argue.

Zhang Jing was embarrassed upon hearing this, but seeing that Chu Luren had already said so, she quickly replied, "Then... thank you very much, Hero Chu. It's perfect timing for us to go to Cousin Murong's place and hide from those people from the Twelve Constellations."

Chu Luren glanced at the small boat on the lake, feeling a little awkward—he had just jumped ashore, and the boat, propelled by inertia, continued to move towards the shore, though it was still several dozen feet away…

For Chu Luren, it was just a matter of tiptoeing. When he first came to Mantuo Manor, Chu Luren was able to traverse more than twenty zhang with ease, and now he was even better than before.

But for the others...

Gu Renyu, the most solid fighter, may be no less skilled in fist and foot techniques than Chu Luren was two years ago, but his lightness skill is definitely far inferior, not to mention Zhang Jing, Tie Xinlan, and Xiao Yu'er, who neglected her training because she had too much "badness"!

At this point, Chu Luren had three choices: first, he could leap back himself and then return by boat; second, he could call Wang Yuyan and Mu Wanqing to row the last stretch of the boat; third, he could "transport" them back in two at a time...

The first one was really silly, the second one seemed a bit ungentlemanly, and the third one... Xiaoyuer and Gu Renyu were easy to deal with, but Zhang Jing and Tie Xinlan were women after all, so it was inconvenient to carry them or pull their hair, and it was unfriendly to do so.

Either of them would contradict the image of a superior person that I have worked so hard to establish!

So Chu Luren hesitated for a moment, and in that moment, Xiaoyuer had already guessed what was going on. He secretly chuckled to himself. He had no hostility toward Chu Luren, but... firstly, gloating was one of his few hobbies, and secondly, because of "Uncle Yan," Xiaoyuer couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the other "second place on the Heavenly Ranking."

However, Chu Luren, with a determined heart, came up with a plan. The four of them noticed a subtle change in Chu Luren's demeanor. Then, they saw Chu Luren half-seated in a horse stance, facing the lake, and making a grasping motion with his right hand towards the small boat...

Chapter 330 A Smile Hides a Dagger

Chu Luren took a stance and assumed a posture. A tremendous suction force was generated out of thin air from Chu Luren's palm, as if his whole body had transformed into a powerful exhaust fan...

The lake surface before us was surging and boiling, while the small boat slowly approached the shore!

In the original drama of "The World's Number One", the Iron-Blooded Marquis used the Star Absorbing Technique to pull a boulder several dozen feet high from a hundred feet away. Although Chu Luren's current skill is not as good as the Iron-Blooded Marquis's, after a sudden enlightenment, he can still pull a small boat on the water several dozen feet away.

Of course, Chu Luren highly doubted that Zhao Wushi currently possessed the same level of skill as depicted in the drama...

Before long, in just two or three breaths, Chu Luren stopped his stance, and the small boat, propelled by inertia, reached the shore completely. With a few leaps, he could jump ashore!

Chu Luren didn't urge anyone in particular. He returned to the boat first, and the four of them looked at each other. They didn't think this was a chance to escape, so they all jumped aboard...

"Huh? Is this Wang Yuyan?" Zhang Jing recognized her after seeing her.

She was related to the Murong family by marriage, so naturally she also knew Wang Yuyan.

Wang Yuyan's nominal aunt was Murong Bo's wife, while Murong Bo's mother, who was also Murong Fu's grandmother, was from the Zhang family.

The two are related by marriage, especially the "Wang family," who is not well-known in the martial arts world. In the original work, when Li Qiushui came to Jiangnan, Li Qingluo was still a child, and her first stop was Mantuo Manor. It can be seen that the Wang family should be the son-in-law who married into the family...

In addition, Madam Murong had a very bad relationship with Li Qingluo, Wang Yuyan's mother, and repeatedly spread rumors that Li Qingluo was not virtuous. Therefore, Madam Zhang had little contact with Mantuo Manor.

The last time Zhang Jing saw Wang Yuyan was four or five years ago, when they met at Murong Manor.

Compared to her harsh treatment of Wang Yuyan, when Old Madam Murong was alive, she thought highly of Zhang Jing, and it was rumored that she intended to arrange a marriage between Murong Fu and Zhang Jing.

After all, the Zhang family is a renowned martial arts family in Jiangnan, and Zhang Jing's mother was the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan twenty years ago. On the surface, their family background is even superior to Wang Yuyan's.

"Cousin Zhang Jing?" Wang Yuyan recognized her and then asked, "Cousin, what kind of enemy have you encountered?"

"Just a few petty thieves, they've already... been dealt with by Hero Chu." Zhang Jing didn't have any particular ill feelings towards Wang Yuyan.

Firstly, Zhang Jing herself was not interested in gossip and trivial matters. Secondly, Zhang Jing's mother, Yu Niangzi, was also an extraordinary woman who not only had a knack for educating her daughter but also never gossiped about trivial matters with her.

However, some rumors among the elders inevitably caused some inexplicable awkwardness between the two.

However, Zhang Jing felt that this time when she saw Wang Yuyan, her feelings were very different from before!

"Little Sister Gu, why don't you come and greet the Wang family's sister!" Zhang Jing changed the subject and called Gu Renyu over.

Because of her personality, Gu Renyu is often jokingly called "Little Sister Gu" by Zhang Jing...

Hearing her call out in front of outsiders, Gu Renyu felt a little embarrassed, but she immediately came over to greet Wang Yuyan. Wang Yuyan was quite poised and generous, unlike her previous personality, which was similar to that of Gu Xiaomei.

"Brother Chu, who are these people? Are my cousin and the others still in danger?" Wang Yuyan asked Chu Luren.

Zhang Jing was taken aback when she saw this—because Wang Yuyan had no reputation in the martial arts world, her traveling with Chu Luren was not as eye-catching as the travels of "Red Serpent Fairy" and "Red and White Tai Sui" back then. Wang Yuyan's name was not mentioned in the rumors of the martial arts world, so naturally Zhang Jing did not know that Wang Yuyan was so "familiar" with Chu Luren.

"It's Ouyang Ke from White Camel Manor, whom I mentioned before. But this time he's trying to make a profit without any investment, so he's using the 'Deer-Eating' divination method from the Twelve Constellations as a pretext. Let's go to Murong Manor together first," Chu Luren said.

It was only then that Zhang Jing and the others figured out why Chu Luren had addressed him as "Brother Ouyang" earlier...

However, on second thought, he remembered what Ouyang Ke had said before—this "Brother Ouyang" was not the deer eater, but the deer eater's uncle, which meant... it was Ouyang Feng, the Western Poison?

For a moment, Zhang Jing and Gu Renyu also felt that Chu Luren's second place on the Heavenly Ranking was not as weak as they had imagined!

and……

Regardless of whether they're skilled or not, they're far superior to them!

Meeting Wang Yuyan put the two of them at ease. Firstly, they had an acquaintance they could talk to, and secondly... it seemed that Chu Taisui really was going to Murong Manor and wasn't just deceiving them.

Compared to Chu Luren, whose reputation in the martial arts world is ambiguous and who maintains a very high status, Zhang Jing and Tie Xinlan naturally didn't want to have much contact with him. Instead, they became much more familiar with Mu Wanqing through Wang Yuyan's introduction.

Of course, Wang Yuyan didn't mention that she and Mu Wanqing were sisters. The two weren't at the point of calling each other sisters yet. Besides the difference in their closeness, they both felt that calling each other sisters was a bit strange...

Tie Xinlan seemed a bit aloof at this moment, just standing aside as if she were an outsider, while Xiaoyuer took the initiative to approach Chu Luren and showered him with compliments!

Moreover, Xiaoyuer's flattery, unlike Duan Tiande's straightforward and half-hearted approach, truly hits the nail on the head for Chu Luren every time. In particular, he thoughtfully defended Chu Luren at the end, saying, "In my opinion, the nickname 'Red and White Tai Sui' is inappropriate. With such a magnanimous demeanor and being a swordsman, Young Master Chu should be called 'Heavenly Sword' or 'Sword Saint'!"

Chu Luren was completely bewildered, not even understanding how Xiaoyuer had "read" his preferences...

However, the address "Young Master Chu" was a bit out of place—although it sounded pleasant, upon hearing those three words, Chu Luren remembered what Yunlu had said: "This person actually went against his conscience and called you 'Young Master,' he must have ill intentions!"

In the short time it took Chu Luren to have a moment of mental turmoil, he also realized that the kid in front of him was "Little Fish," and listening to his flattery was not a safe thing.

Noticing the change in Chu Luren's expression, Xiaoyuer had a bad feeling and wondered if she was not good enough at her job, since she couldn't even fool someone as proud as him...

"I've heard that the highest level of 'smiling while hiding a dagger' is to be locked up with a hungry tiger, and the tiger won't even want to eat you, but you can still kill the tiger with a single blow?" Chu Luren suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyuer paused, puzzled—this was Uncle Haha'er's special skill, it shouldn't be some kind of "common sense"!

Even in the Valley of Villains, only Haha and his Little Fish could kill tigers with their "smiling daggers".

Little Fish knew that Chu Luren was now extra careful, and no amount of flattery would have any effect.

"You're from the Valley of Villains, aren't you?" Chu Luren asked directly.

"How did you know, Master Chu?" Little Fish didn't introduce himself.

Chu Luren did not answer, but continued to ask, "Have you ever seen Yan Nantian?"

Xiaoyuer's expression didn't change at all—ever since he learned the truth, he had been mentally preparing to desensitize himself to the name "Yan Nantian" every day. He wouldn't show any change in expression if anyone or anything mentioned it!

"I've never seen him. Master Yan must have died before I was born," Xiaoyuer said calmly, shaking his head.

"That's a real pity." Chu Luren had an expression that seemed to say, "I wish I could compete with the previous number two on the Heavenly Ranking."

Anyway, Yan Nantian isn't here, so I can still brag a bit!

Chapter 331 Didn't your dad tell you not to talk about it outside?

Xiaoyuer's "smiling dagger" can be said to have reached the point of being almost a Taoist art—Chu Luren suspected that he had mastered some special state of mind!

Legend has it that before Haha entered the valley, when he was harming people, even if they knew his identity, they would involuntarily believe in his sincerity and kindness...

However, after learning about Xiaoyuer's identity and personality, Chu Luren became extra careful and was not too affected—otherwise, even if the kid didn't "hide a knife," he would definitely have a lot of crooked ideas!

To avoid angering Chu Luren, Xiaoyuer stopped trying to flatter him, but when Chu Luren asked about the Valley of Villains, he gave mostly false answers.

After all, Xiaoyuer didn't want Chu Luren to "eliminate evil and protect the righteous path." Otherwise, whether Chu Luren, who doesn't seem like a bad person at the moment, gets caught up in it, or his uncles and elders are eliminated, Xiaoyuer wouldn't be happy.

As night fell completely, it was fortunate that Chu Luren hadn't left Mantuo Manor in a small sampan, otherwise there really wouldn't have been enough space for so many people.

Even now, it's not very convenient to rest at night.

Because of Wang Yuyan, Zhang Jing and Gu Renyu were more relaxed in front of Chu Luren—after all, without the filter, Chu Luren was only less than five years older than them, and undoubtedly a "young man".

Especially his seemingly aloof demeanor, but once you get to know him better, you'll find that... he's just a blatantly lowbrow guy, and once he's gained enough admiration, he'll be surprisingly "easy to please"!

After nightfall, the four women rested in the wooden awning on the boat, while Chu Luren, Xiaoyuer, and Gu Renyu stayed outside.

Chu Luren decided not to rest and sailed away in his boat overnight...

Xiaoyuer was somewhat hesitant to speak to Chu Luren, who "saw through him" and "seemed to have designs on the Valley of Villains," so he started teasing Gu Renyu.

"Hey, Young Master Gu, do you like that little firecracker?" Little Fish teased him on purpose.

"No! I... I was traveling with Sister Jing, it wasn't that kind of thing!" Gu Renyu blushed with embarrassment.

"Oh? I'm talking about the kind of liking between two people who have a very good relationship and support each other. What are you talking about?" Xiaoyuer asked back.

"I...you..." Gu Renyu knew he was teasing him, but unfortunately he was not good at arguing. Moreover, he was different from Zhang Jing and was not the type to resort to violence at the slightest disagreement.

"I'm not trying to be mean, but that little firecracker is always ready to hit or kill people. If you marry her, you'll be walking into a tiger's den!" Little Fish started gossiping.

Actually, his voice should have been audible inside the boat awning; he was just doing it on purpose...

Like Gu Renyu, the Jade-Faced Fist Master, Little Chili Zhang Jing is ranked in the top ten on the Human Ranking, even above Wang Xiaofeng and Shui Sheng, the Twin Heroes of Bell and Sword.

The most criticized aspect of the ranking is that most of the top ten are scions of martial arts families from Jiangnan, giving the impression that the number one martial arts sect in the world is biased. However, there are indeed objective reasons for this, since the reputation of "young people" is limited, and most of the young heroes from the north are not well-known in the south.

In Chu Luren's opinion, Zhang Jing and Gu Renyu are indeed outstanding among the younger generation. They are younger than Shui Sheng, and their martial arts skills are actually superior to Wang Xiaofeng's!

In comparison, the Bell and Sword Duo is less impressive.

Zhang Jing has been wandering the world for over a year, known for her "hatred of evil" and "ruthlessness." Many people in the underworld dislike her because of her volatile temper and tendency to be easily provoked, sometimes even going too far in her attacks.

"I...don't say that about Sister Jing. Sister Jing is actually a very good person. She only beats and kills bad people!" Gu Renyu quickly defended Zhang Jing.

"How old are you this year? How long have you been wandering the world?" Little Fish asked in an interrogative tone.

"Seventeen, two years... a little over a year." Gu Renyu answered honestly.

"In less than two years, you've already figured out how to distinguish between good and bad people?" Seeing Gu Renyu struggling to find the right words, Xiaoyuer continued, "Besides, she even tried to steal the treasure map before. Is Iron Girl a bad person too?"

"This... Sister Jing wants to fulfill her mother's wish, and Aunt Zhang is a very kind person..."

"Look, how do you know your Aunt Zhang is such a good person? You even know her mother?" Xiaoyuer pressed.

Pressed into a corner, Gu Renyu explained, "My father said that Aunt Zhang was once the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, known in the martial arts world as Lady Yu, and she admired the great hero Yan Nantian the most!"

Xiaoyuer secretly enjoyed hearing people praise Yan Nantian, but still retorted, "Does liking Hero Yan necessarily make someone a good person?"

"The most beautiful woman in Jiangnan, twenty years ago, admired the chivalrous hero Yan Nantian," Gu Renyu emphasized again.

"So what?" Even the usually quick-witted Little Fish didn't react for a moment.

Gu Renyu had no choice but to explain: "Twenty years ago, most young women in the martial arts world idolized either Prince Duan of Dali or the handsome Jiang Feng... But Aunt Zhang admired Hero Yan. Don't you think Aunt Zhang is much better than those ordinary women? Naturally, she is also much better at educating her daughter!"