The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

"Why don't you send all those lackeys of that corrupt official to catch snakes?" Chu Luren continued to ask.

"Because they don't..." Qin Nanqin was still puzzled, wondering why this person was so stupid.

"That's right, they're afraid of snakes, snakes are afraid of you, but you're afraid of him?" Chu Luren countered.

Azi chuckled and said, "Does Grand Duke Chu also think my idea is brilliant?"

Well, although Azi has a peculiar set of values, at least she didn't say anything to persuade people to give in, so in that respect, there's still hope for her.

“It’s not without reason… I’m not talking about you guys, but Old Man Qin, if you could be so determined to catch snakes, you should have made that same decision back then. What about the gentry and corrupt officials? We all only have one life to live, right?” Chu Luren said casually.

Are Old Qin's family in a terrible situation? Yes, they are.

Is it bad luck? Not necessarily.

That's just how the world is. For ordinary people to have this kind of experience, they don't need to be extremely unlucky; a little bit of bad luck is enough.

However, Chu Luren had no intention of letting the Qin family grandfather and grandson go. He stood up and called to Mu Wanqing, "Let's go, let's kill that corrupt official!"

At this moment, Murong Jiu closed her folding fan, resting the fan rib on Chu Luren's wrist, and reminded him, "Have you forgotten that you know Princess Yunluo? Why don't you just send a letter to Lin'an?"

Yunluo County has no authority over matters of the imperial court, and it's none of her place to interfere in matters of state and family, but she's merely a county magistrate...

These days, it's not like the era when a county magistrate was merely a "hundred-mile marquis." The Song Dynasty's official system was already fragmented at the local level. In Lin'an, a county magistrate was just a nobody, easily dismissed by a single word from Princess Yunluo.

Upon hearing that this person actually recognized a princess, the Qin family grandfather and grandson, although they had no idea what relationship this "Yunluo" had with the emperor, knew that she must be a member of the imperial family, and immediately knelt down to ask for help.

But Chu Luren said, "Why send a letter? I, Chu Taisui, am a man of the martial world. Do I need to pull strings to kill a corrupt official?"

Old Man Qin and his granddaughter Qin Nanqin couldn't stop him, Mu Wanqing also liked Chu Luren's decision, and A Zi... was even adding fuel to the fire from the sidelines.

Murong Jiu only gave a reminder and was too lazy to persuade him further. At most, she would complain in her heart that he had to do it twice.

Chu Luren wasn't entirely acting out of spite. He knew Yun Luo, that was true, but what about the others?

If people insist on knowing royalty and nobility in order to make sense, is that still considered reasonable?

If a reason must be chosen, the people of Chu Lu prefer to use their swords as a means of reasoning...

Under the rule of the Yuan Dynasty in Guanzhong, opera is now popular. One play, "The Injustice to Dou E," is very popular among the people, not only because they can empathize with the characters, but also because of the ending. Dou E's father, Dou Tianzhang, passed the imperial examination, became a high-ranking official, returned to his hometown, killed corrupt officials and villains, and avenged his daughter, which was very satisfying.

However, Chu Luren didn't like the play, especially the later part—he still had to rely on his father, who had passed the imperial examination, to clear his name? The cost of seeking justice was too high, wasn't it?

It's no wonder the Yuan court supported this kind of drama; Kublai Khan had always hoped that the imperial examination system could also be revived...

Chu Luren preferred the later version of "The White-Haired Girl"—even after being defiled by Huang Shiren and fleeing to the mountains, the lonely White-Haired Girl sang: "If you want to force me to my death, I'll blind you! The water can't be emptied, the fire can't be extinguished! I won't die, I want to live! I want revenge, I want to live!"

The same logic applies – I, a Chu Lu person, still have to go through the princess's back door to get justice.

Chapter 359 A Small Help

Chu Luren, accompanied by Mu Wanqing, did not ride horses but instead ran like dolphins, arriving in the county town in the middle of the night.

Although the city gates were closed at night, the Chu Lu people, even with one person in tow, easily leaped up...

Fengzhu County was not a dangerous border town, and the defenses on the city walls were very lax. The Chu Lu people entered the city without anyone noticing.

The first place they went to wasn't the county magistrate's office, but... Qunyu Courtyard!

"What are you doing here? What other information do you want to find out? Wouldn't it be better if we went and killed that corrupt official first?" Mu Wanqing's Shura Darts were already itching for action.

"I just want to find out about that corrupt official..." Chu Luren said with a sneer.

After all, it was just the Qin family's side of the story. Although it sounded familiar, Chu Luren felt it was necessary to verify it. For Chu Luren, it was simple: he could just come to Qunyu Academy and ask around!

Even though the Qunyu Academy doesn't deliberately collect intelligence about court officials, given Magistrate Qiao's arrogance, it's obvious who he is, and it's not a secret.

It's currently the busiest time at Qunyu Courtyard...

The servant at the door was taken aback when he saw Chu Luren arrive as a man and a woman together.

"Gentlemen...this lady..." The waiter didn't know whether the lady wanted to come in.

"Hurry up and come back! We still have to work on this for the rest of the night!" Mu Wanqing urged Chu Luren anxiously.

Servant: ? ? ?

"Lead the way to your madam," Chu Luren said directly to the stunned servant.

The pimp didn't know what was going on, but because Chu Luren had handed him the silver notes, he immediately bowed and scraped as he led Chu Luren inside to see the madam.

After Chu Luren gave a coded message, he was led to a private place where they exchanged information. Just as Chu Luren had thought, Magistrate Qiao's evil deeds, except for the first few months after he took office, had reached a point where he made no attempt to hide them. Calling him a corrupt official would not be an exaggeration.

In addition, Chu Luren received additional information that although the county magistrate had come ashore, he was a martial artist who had practiced the Poison Sand Palm technique, which was why he needed poisonous snakes!

Of course, according to the intelligence from Qunyu Academy, he was at best a third-rate person. Later, he somehow got involved with someone and became an official. He also recruited some江湖客 (jianghu people) to be constables and hangers-on.

Because it had nothing to do with the Sun Moon Cult, the Imperial Academy did not inquire much about information involving the imperial court.

However, for the Chu Lu people, knowing this much is enough for now...

In fact, Chu Luren was 90% convinced that the Qin family grandfather and grandson were not lying, for no other reason than that this part existed in the original work!

Qin Nanqin is one of the most important supporting female characters in the old version of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," which is also the original biological mother of Yang Guo.

In the original version, Qin Nanqin fell in love with Guo Jing after being rescued by him, but was later defiled by Yang Kang and became pregnant with his child...

Qin Nanqin was ruthless enough; the old version of Yang Kang died at her hands—Yang Kang thought Qin Nanqin was pregnant with his child and had the wealth and status of a princess, so he trusted her completely.

However, when Qin Nanqin secretly released a poisonous snake and rendered him unable to move, she tore out the booklet containing clues to the "Wumu Legacy" right in front of him, which he had been thinking about day and night and could not let go of even in death. This made Yang Kang faint from anger. When he woke up, she continued to tear it out.

Compared to the original Mu Nianci, Qin Nanqin has a more distinct personality and a clearer sense of gratitude and resentment.

Qin Nanqin, as Yang Guo's biological mother, is more in line with Yang Guo's character in The Return of the Condor Heroes. At the same time, Yang Guo's innate snake-catching skills as a child are also a subtle Easter egg related to the names of the characters "Little Dragon Girl" and "Red Serpent Fairy".

However, Qin Nanqin was later deleted and merged with Mu Nianci into one person, making the story more concise and less mysterious. But Yang Guo's character became rootless and adrift. If he were really Mu Nianci's son, she wouldn't have hidden his father's identity from him. Instead, she would have used it to educate him about family and country.

Only the slightly sickly Qin Nanqin, as Yang Guo's mother, truly fits Yang Guo's personality...

It seems somewhat strange that Mu Nianci, a kind and righteous woman, could teach Yang Guo.

The reason for removing Qin Nanqin was not only to streamline the characters, but also because the plot involving Qin Nanqin was rather "mysterious," such as Xiao Xiangzi being able to travel by riding a coffin. Similar plots were cut from the officially published version.

Regarding the Qin Nanqin episode, if it is as it is in the original work, then the reason why there are fewer poisonous snakes in the forest is because of a strange bird—much more "strange" than a white eagle or anything like that. Its voice can annoy internal martial arts masters, restrain snakes, and even "bathe" in fire!

If it really is similar to the original, Chu Luren is also planning to look for this bird—bird, bird, how about dual cultivation of the "Divine Foot Scripture"? A modified version, harmless to the body!

Not long after, Chu Luren hurriedly left Qunyu Courtyard, calling to the impatient Mu Wanqing: "Let's go, let's get down to business!"

The pimp at the door watched Chu Luren and Mu Wanqing's departing figures and couldn't help but make some disdainful "tsk tsk" sounds...

Whether he scorned it or not, the city was bustling that night.

A fire broke out in the county government office, and strangely, no one tried to put it out. Not only did the crowd of people gather around to watch the spectacle, but not a single constable managed to escape. In the end, Magistrate Qiao, along with several constables and county officials who usually fawned over him and were cursed by the people, were all burned to death in the fire.

In addition, some who were less notorious were "lucky" enough to die in their sleep in a side room and escaped some of the trouble, but they all kept silent about it!

There are also rumors circulating in the martial arts world that before the fire, some people nearby heard a medley of suona music played at a funeral.

Some people also said that they saw constables trying to find the person playing the suona, but after only a few steps from the gate, they all started acting strangely, looking very stiff and not like living people, and then they went back one after another and closed the gate of the county government office...

Later, when the prefectural judge came to investigate the case, news spread that the county magistrate remained kneeling before the plaque inscribed with "A Bright Mirror Hangs High" until he was burned to a crisp.

Several wicked county officials and constables maintained their courtroom postures, standing or sitting in their respective seats in the hall, until they were burned to death...

Regardless of the chilling yet secretly applauded "rumors" that followed, the suona music section certainly evoked certain associations among people in the martial arts world and the Dragon Guard Manor.

After all, someone's whereabouts weren't exactly secretive; a quick check would reveal that they were indeed "coincidentally" nearby at the time.

However, no open execution was carried out. As a "heroic warrior and pillar of the martial world" who had just been handpicked last month, no matter what was said in the martial world, the official case was ultimately closed as a fire at the county government office...

Actually, there's no point in investigating!

The fire was set by Magistrate Qiao himself, and the oil was poured on the dead constable by himself before he died. These people were indeed burned to death, which the coroner could easily verify...

Chu Luren only provided some minor assistance using the Six Qi Control Finger technique!

Chapter 360 Strange Bird

After Chu Luren provided a little help to the magistrate of Fengzhu County, he took Mu Wanqing back to the cabin by the woods that very night.

The Qin family grandfather and grandson were so worried that they didn't sleep all night. Just as it was getting late, Chu Luren and Mu Wanqing rushed back—based on the grandfather and grandson's "common sense," this period of time was not enough for them to reach the county town!

"Don't worry, old man, that corrupt official has already set himself on fire!" Chu Luren didn't mention whether he killed him or not.

Old Man Qin was a little confused, but just as he was beginning to doubt, Qin Nanqin knelt down and said, "Nanqin thanks you two benefactors for saving my life."

When Mu Wanqing arrived, she was furious, but now, in a much better mood, her skin even seemed to have improved in radiance. Upon hearing this, she waved her hand and said, "No need to thank me. It's just a matter of helping those in need!"

"What are your plans for the future?" Chu Luren asked after thinking for a moment.

"Greetings, Master Chu. If... Master Qiao stops causing trouble, although there are fewer snakes in the forest now, it's still enough for my grandson and me to barely get by." Old Man Qin's request wasn't high at all; "a hard life" was fine with him.

“I have a friend whose island is currently suffering from a snake infestation. They’re hiring snake catchers in Jiaxing and Lin’an to catch the snakes. The pay is quite good. If you work hard for two or three years and eradicate the venomous snakes on the island, it will be enough for you to buy some fertile land and build a family business.” Chu Luren didn’t give money directly, but he introduced a “good job”.

There are too many people in the world living in poverty, and no amount of Robin Hood-style funds or the Murong family could possibly provide enough relief.

Old Qin's eyes lit up when he heard this. If there was such a job, he could just leave without killing that corrupt official!

"Take these loose silver coins for your travel expenses. When you arrive in Lin'an Prefecture, find the Chengdu Commander of the Imperial Guards and tell him that I, Chu Luren, introduced you. He will take you to see Island Master Huang." Chu Luren had already privately promoted Huang Rong to Island Master.

When Old Man Qin saw that Chu Luren's story sounded very convincing, especially since he had actually taken out money, he immediately wanted to thank him, but Chu Luren stopped him: "You helped my friend catch snakes, and my friend paid you. There's nothing to thank me for."

The Qin family grandfather and grandson wanted to say something, but Chu Luren interrupted them, saying, "Speaking of which, why have the snakes in this forest suddenly decreased?" This brought them to the main point.

Upon hearing this, Old Man Qin's wrinkles deepened. He and his granddaughter exchanged a glance, then cautiously went to the window and looked out again.

Then he said, "It's strange, but this year a strange bird flew in from somewhere. It was fiery red. When it called out, all snakes and insects, big and small, seemed to be frozen in place. It also had a strange fragrance. When the snakes smelled it, they were like drunkards and went crazy."

Then, with a peck of its beak, the snake was about to lose its gall bladder… In less than a year, the venomous snakes in this forest had been almost entirely eaten.

He lowered his voice as he spoke, as if someone might hear him.

"What are you doing sneaking around like that? Are you afraid someone will hear you? Does this strange bird even have an owner?" Murong Jiu asked, shaking his fan.

"I didn't see the master, but this bird is very intelligent. If you go along with it, it will be fine, but if you scold it, it will retaliate!" Old Man Qin said with great seriousness.

Murong Jiu feigned disbelief and made no attempt to hide it. Old Man Qin, unwilling to be seen as boasting, repeatedly said, "Young master, please don't disbelieve me. At dawn, I can take you to see it... However, this bird has a violent temper and will peck at people's eyes, and it's incredibly fast. Young master, please be careful."

"Yes, yes!" Azi answered eagerly, her eyes shining. She probably valued the bird's ability to control venomous snakes and insects.

Mu Wanqing asked curiously, "Brother Chu, what are you thinking about?"

"Mr. Qin, why do you call him 'Young Master' and me 'Hero'?" Chu Luren looked puzzled.