The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

On the second-floor railing, a hunchback was leaning against the wall, looking at Chu Luren and the newly arrived Yue Buqun with admiration. When he saw Mu Gaofeng turn to look at him, he remembered to run away.

On the second floor, the hunchback looked crippled, but at this height, it was just a matter of stomping his feet. The little hunchback's gait... was just ordinary physical exercise. How could he possibly dodge it?

However, Chu Luren reacted quickly. Knowing that it was this person who had given the warning earlier, even though he was a bit far away, he still used Kunyou Void to quickly step forward and pointed his finger at Mu Gaofeng's back!

Of course, Chu Luren also remembered Yideng's lesson. Although he pointed his finger at Yideng's back, he was far away, so even if the poison gas came out of the hunchback, he wouldn't be contaminated.

Moreover, Mu Gaofeng was a seasoned veteran. When he heard the commotion behind him, he pretended not to react at first, intending to deliver a ruthless blow.

However, Mu Gaofeng couldn't tolerate Chu Luren's direct ranged attacks, so he turned around and used his bare palm to disperse Chu Luren's finger strikes. Afterward, he drew his camel sword and confronted Chu Luren head-on on the outer corridor on the second floor.

At this moment, Yue Lingshan seemed to recognize the "little hunchback" as well, and whispered something to Yue Buqun...

Chapter 42 This is a martial arts story, understand?

The storyline of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer originates from a peerless martial arts manual—the Sunflower Manual!

The "powerful" aspects of the Sunflower Manual are well-known, even to those who aren't particularly fond of martial arts novels.

The real "Sunflower Manual" has long been lost. Neither the version practiced by the Sun Moon Cult nor the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" passed down by the Fuwei Escort Agency is the original.

Back then, it was the Southern Shaolin monk Hongye who burned the martial art because it was too evil. However, before it was burned, Yue Su, the leader of the Huashan Sect, and another elder, Cai Zifeng, each peeked at half of it.

Later, when the two were comparing their respective halves, they discovered that the styles of the paintings were quite different, and they began to distrust each other, thus sowing the seeds of the "sword qi dispute" within the Huashan Sect.

Chu Luren estimates that, setting aside the factor of vying for secret manuals, the true root of the Huashan Sect's "sword qi dispute" should not be a simple dispute over "moves" versus "internal strength".

After all, the Qi Sect is in charge now, and its disciples are all diligently practicing swordsmanship, aren't they?

The Sword Sect's goal is probably to hone swordsmanship to the point of generating "momentum," while the Qi Sect uses internal energy to assist in swordsmanship.

After all, for ordinary people, whether it is to develop sword skills or to master internal strength, it is very demanding and very few people can do both at the same time.

In terms of growth potential, initially, those who diligently practice sword techniques have an advantage—even if they cannot grasp the essence of swordplay, they will eventually become proficient in the techniques.

Internal martial arts are always grueling, especially the Huashan School's mental cultivation method, which doesn't seek rapid progress, so it's difficult to see much effect at first.

However, in the mid-game, those skilled in internal martial arts have a higher attribute and a greater advantage, while the Sword Sect ultimately struggles to gain momentum. If this hurdle cannot be overcome, the Sword Sect's growth will be limited.

Furthermore, it's obvious that the swordsmanship of the Huashan School is not a textbook-style technique like the "Nine Forms of the Peacock," but rather more practical.

The advantage is that you don't need to comprehend the sword stance, and being familiar with the variations of sword moves is also very helpful in combat. The disadvantage is that it is more difficult to trace back to the source and comprehend the sword stance of this type of swordsmanship.

As for the true "late stage," it's hard to say who is superior or inferior. Whether one has mastered internal martial arts or mastered sword techniques, one can be unparalleled in the martial arts world!

However, most Huashan disciples lack the aptitude for the later stages of the game, so there's no need to think too much about it.

Leaving aside the conflict over sword energy, the Sun Moon Sect later fought a major battle with the Huashan Sect over the Sunflower Manual, stealing a portion of the manual, which became the Sun Moon Sect's version of the Sunflower Manual.

When Zen Master Hongye went to Mount Hua to demand an explanation, he was also attracted by the "Sunflower Manual". He extracted a part of it from the two people. Later, Du Yuan mastered the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" and left the monastic life to found the Fuwei Escort Agency. This person was none other than Lin Yuantu.

After Lin Yuantu's death, due to the drawbacks of the "Sunflower Manual," his descendants were forbidden from practicing it. As a result, from Lin Zhennan to Lin Pingzhi, the Lin family only had "showy" skills. The escort agency relied more on the connections between the legitimate and criminal worlds and on acting as agents for the imperial court, rather than on martial arts skills!

Not long ago, Yu Canghai of the Qingcheng Sect set his sights on the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" of the Fuwei Escort Agency and sent his disciples, including his own son, to Fuzhou to investigate. Coincidentally, Yue Buqun, the Gentleman Sword, also sent his daughter and disciples to Fuzhou for "unknown reasons".

As it happened, Yue Lingshan, disguised as an ordinary person, was harassed by Yu Renyan, the son of Yu Canghai. Young master Lin Pingzhi couldn't stand it and fought with him... but Yu Renyan turned out to be really weak and was actually killed by Lin Pingzhi!

Yu Canghai was both angry and delighted. Now that he had a legitimate reason to act, he no longer needed to hold back. He slaughtered everyone in the Lin family, from servants to bodyguards, and then captured Lin Zhennan and his wife. Only Lin Pingzhi escaped.

At this moment, Lin Pingzhi wanted to rescue his parents, but was worried about being recognized by Yu Canghai, so he disguised himself as a hunchback!

Because of his appearance and his false claim that his surname was "Mu" (meaning half of Lin), he was mistaken for Mu Gaofeng's descendant. Mu Gaofeng even discovered this and made him act like a grandson.

However, Lin Pingzhi had just witnessed Chu Luren fighting Yu Canghai, and (on the surface) he was not at a disadvantage at all, especially since he was also speaking up for Fuwei Escort Agency, so he was secretly grateful and cheered for him.

When Mu Gaofeng launched his sneak attack, Lin Pingzhi couldn't help but warn him, which led to the scene before us...

"Why is Young Master Chu in such a hurry to teach his grandson a lesson? Could it be that you've cheated on my precious son?" Mu Gaofeng's words were as sharp as ever.

Chu Luren didn't know if it was because he didn't have a son that he was so unrestrained.

“This young master looks quite dignified, unlike a filthy person like you,” Chu Luren said bluntly.

"Hmph! I was originally giving Old Man Yue some face, but some people just have to court death!"

Mu Gaofeng had also discovered Lin Pingzhi's identity and had some ideas about the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique." After speaking, he drew his camel sword and fought with Chu Luren again.

Chu Luren wasn't afraid of anything; Mu Gaofeng's martial arts were no match for Yu Canghai's!

If Chu Luren had used swordsmanship that relied on internal force, or internal force techniques like "Pulse Summoning," he would probably be running out of strength after his two battles with Tian Boguang and Yu Canghai. Mu Gaofeng was probably thinking the same thing.

However, Chu Luren had actually mastered the "form" of the peacock spreading its tail feathers; the "Earthly Deficiency Movement Technique" was merely an aid, and its consumption of internal energy was not significant...

Moreover, the two had just exchanged blows, and before they had even gone through ten moves, a figure surrounded by purple light suddenly entered the fray, using a clever trick to deflect both of their swords!

It was Yue Buqun, whose entire body was now radiating purple light...

Chu Luren: ? ? ?

This is... the Purple Cloud Divine Skill?

What happened to the promise that "a purplish complexion" was enough to signify great achievement?

Why is Yue Buqun practicing like he's using the "Golden Light Mantra"? This is a martial arts story, you know?

Chu Luren couldn't help but complain in his heart for a long time before he calmed down.

After all, the expansion of martial power in this world is not something we just realized. In fact, it's not just internal strength, but also the "sword aura" itself, which is far more complex than just changing the moves of an enemy.

In fact, after comprehending "Peacock Spreading its Tail", Chu Luren can generate a slight extension similar to sword energy even without using internal force. Especially on the sword, whether there is sword momentum or not, it is a completely different kind of sharpness and solidity!

Even without using the "Earth Deficiency Technique" to attach finger strength, one can still carve a foot-deep sword mark on a brick wall.

However, Yue Buqun's "Zixia Divine Skill" had such impressive special effects that Chu Luren couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Mu Gaofeng had no intention of complaining, but he continued to be sarcastic: "What? Brother Yue, Young Hero Chu, and my dear son are all friends?"

Yue Buqun was also somewhat annoyed upon hearing this, but he first extinguished the effects of the Purple Light Spell... no, the Purple Cloud Divine Skill, and said in a gentle voice, "Brother Mu, why make things difficult for this child? I think this child is quite good, with chivalry and filial piety. He even saved my daughter in Fuzhou before." He was clearly referring to Lin Pingzhi.

As for the grandson, Yue Buqun didn't believe it at all, clearly Yue Lingshan had already told him Lin Pingzhi's identity.

"Hahaha... His mediocre skills can save Miss Yue? Miss Yue must have a discerning eye for talent..."

Yue Buqun knew this fellow wouldn't say anything nice, so he quickly interrupted, "We are people who uphold justice and chivalry, so why should we care about the difference in martial arts skills?"

"Heh heh, it's not about the difference in martial arts skills, so why is Brother Yue, with his Gentleman's Sword, also eyeing the 'Evil-Repelling Sword Technique'?" Mu Gaofeng sneered, mocking him.

Whether Yue Buqun was feeling guilty or genuinely angered, his body was enveloped in a purple aura.

However, upon seeing this, Mu Gaofeng began to retreat, shouting as he went: "What warding off evil spirits or preventing pregnancy? Hunchback doesn't know anything about that. Hunchback has gone home to see his daughter-in-law!"

Seeing this, Yue Buqun couldn't make a scene. He just shook his head and sighed, "This person's martial arts skills are quite impressive, yet he's so self-satisfied... tsk tsk." Perhaps embarrassed to speak ill of someone behind their back, Yue Buqun didn't say it outright.

Just then, Chu Luren couldn't help but think to himself, "This is bad." However, Lin Pingzhi had already bowed down to Yue Buqun, begging him to accept him into the family.

Chu Luren felt that some of Yue Buqun's behaviors were indeed somewhat "strange," and the matter of him secretly learning the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" was hard to say whether it was due to his later-life descent into darkness or that he had ulterior motives all along.

However, Yue Buqun has an excellent reputation now, especially since the special effects of the Zixia Skill are also quite good. When Lin Pingzhi saw it, his eyes lit up... Now that they are openly taking on a master and accepting a disciple, Chu Luren can't very well stop them!

Chapter Forty-Three: Washing One's Hands

The day before, Yue Buqun had agreed to take Lin Pingzhi as his disciple at Qunyu Courtyard, but Lin Pingzhi had to ask his parents first. Naturally, Yue Buqun agreed to help Lin Pingzhi get his parents back from being arrested.

However, Yu Canghai was not stupid and had already left. Yue Buqun also advised Lin Pingzhi not to rush, as they would definitely see each other again at the Golden Basin Washing Hands Ceremony tomorrow.

Lin Pingzhi and Chu Luren thanked each other. Afterwards, Liu Zhengfeng invited Chu Luren to stay at the Liu residence. Shui Sheng originally wanted to visit the Liu residence as well, and she didn't care about anything. However, Wang Xiaofeng, who had initially agreed, was somewhat impressed by Chu Luren's swordsmanship and changed his mind, so he went to the inn instead.

The next day, starting early in the morning, martial arts practitioners began to arrive at Liu's residence. Those with names and surnames came in to pay their respects to Liu Zhengfeng, the main character, while those without names or surnames, who came uninvited, took their seats outside.

There were over 300 tables set up, and two to three thousand people came!

Of course, given Liu Zhengfeng's status, the highest-ranking people who came were only Yue Buqun, the head of the Huashan Sect, and Tianmen Daoren, the head of the Taishan Sect—mostly because of the Five Mountains Sword Sects and their shared lineage.

Embarrassingly, Master Mo Da, the leader of the Hengshan Sect, was not present, leading to speculation that the discord among the Hengshan disciples was indeed true.

Moreover, no one from the Songshan Sect was present, which made Liu Zhengfeng even more gloomy...

The moment the ceremony began, drums and gongs resounded outside, signaling the arrival of the imperial retinue to announce the imperial decree. Liu Zhengfeng had previously "donated" a military rank of lieutenant general from Ling Tuisi.

While everyone smiled on the surface, most of them secretly mocked Liu Zhengfeng, saying that he had become obsessed with officialdom even in his old age.

However, no one criticized him in the end, since after retiring from the underworld, Liu Zhengfeng was essentially "deleted" from the martial arts world.

However, things didn't go so smoothly after all. Just as the procession that delivered the imperial edict had left and Liu Zhengfeng was about to wash his hands of the matter, Zuo Lengchan's Five Sacred Mountains Command Flag arrived!

The Five Mountains Sword Alliance's leader's decree held even more prestige than an imperial edict in the martial arts world, attracting crowds of onlookers in amazement...

The one carrying the command flag was Shi Dengda, a disciple of Zuo Lengchan. Although he was a junior, he spoke in a domineering manner, ordering Liu Zhengfeng to stop washing his hands of the martial arts world. Liu Zhengfeng used the excuse that he would no longer get involved in the affairs of the martial arts world to disobey the leader's order.

Meanwhile, Zuo Lengchan's disciple, Shi Dengda, directly threatened Liu Zhengfeng, saying that disobeying the alliance leader's order would be considered treason. Upon seeing this, the guests couldn't help but frown.

Just as the stalemate was at hand, a commotion broke out in the inner courtyard of the Liu residence. Liu Zhengfeng's face turned grim. The next moment, several members of the Liu family, along with Mi Weiyi, Xiang Danian, and a few other disciples, were captured and escorted out by more than twenty people dressed as members of the Songshan Sect!

Furthermore, it was discovered that four of the Thirteen Protectors of Songshan were also present...

Then, Stendhal revealed Liu Zhengfeng's association with Qu Yang, an elder of the Demonic Cult, while Liu Zhengfeng said that he and Qu Yang were gentlemen.

Shi Dengda conveyed Zuo Lengchan's message, instructing Liu Zhengfeng to trick Qu Yang into coming and killing him to clear his name. However, Liu Zhengfeng was unwilling and thus vowed to retire overseas and never again get involved in the martial arts world.

Yue Buqun, Abbess Dingyi, and Taoist Tianmen all saw his sincerity and wanted to smooth things over, so they accepted his explanation.

However, the Songshan Sect came here to establish its authority, so how could they go back like this?

They actually threatened Liu Zhengfeng that if he didn't comply, they would execute his entire family on the spot...

Upon hearing this, the visiting martial arts figures from Hunan Province were in an uproar. In order to quell the situation, Fei Bin, one of the Thirteen Protectors, known as "Da Songyang Hand," used his palm force to boil the water in the copper basin in front of everyone!

Chu Luren: ? ? ?

However, just as everyone was being intimidated...

"Is the Songshan Sect the demonic sect? They're quick to kill entire families?"

"Don't even mention that Master Liu didn't do anything. Even if we were truly members of the Demonic Sect, when have we ever harmed their wives and children!"

"The Demonic Sect? The Sun Moon Sect is at odds with your Five Mountains Sword Sect, what business is it of our Hunan martial arts world?"

"Zuo Lengchan wants to unify the Five Sacred Mountains, and he's putting on airs in front of the martial arts world of Hunan..."

"Stop it, Mom! What is this? The Thirteen Protectors are something else?"

"So what? You can't beat me."

"Why bother with the rules of the martial world when dealing with such evil and heretical people? Let's all fight side by side!"