The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

The ingredients for today's snake soup were all found after searching several times!

When Huang Yaoshi returned last year, he took Qin Nanqin as his disciple. Huang Rong was not on the island at the time—the Old Heretic probably valued Qin Nanqin's eccentricities.

Including the silly girl that Mei Chaofeng found, who is Qu Lingfeng's orphan and a girl with some mental problems, Huang Yaoshi's disciples are quite numerous.

For Qin Nanqin, Chu Luren's passing by undoubtedly changed her fate.

Originally, the grandmother and granddaughter were already desperate to escape the county magistrate's coercion, but things took an unexpected turn. Later, Chu Luren not only punished the corrupt official, but also introduced the grandmother and granddaughter to Peach Blossom Island to catch snakes. Although they were overseas, the high wages not only ensured they had enough to eat and wear, but also provided them with a considerable surplus, making their lives much better than before. The grandfather was even thinking about saving up a dowry for her.

Now, she has even become the disciple of the famous Eastern Heretic in a dreamlike way. As a female knight-errant, she doesn't need to rush to get married.

The old man had some reservations about this, but Qin Nanqin saw things clearly—without real skills, one would be bullied wherever one went. Would Brother Chu be able to pass by once, or would he be able to pass by every time?

The old man was also persuaded by Qin Nanqin to practice martial arts diligently.

After eating the snake soup that Huang Rong had carefully prepared that evening, Chu Luren didn't linger and immediately proposed to set off early the next morning.

The two, the young and the old, returned in the evening. However, Huang Yaoshi became unusually silent. He didn't even eat the snake soup and said with a sullen face that he was going to sleep.

"Brother, what's wrong with Island Master Huang?" Chu Luren asked as he pulled him down to sit and eat snake soup.

"Uncle Xie told me not to say, especially not to tell my older brother," the bastard said, shaking his head.

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren pondered for a moment and then asked, "Did he spar with you?"

"I can't say..."

"You beat me up pretty badly!"

"No! I didn't fight back! It was Uncle Xie himself..."

Chu Luren had already shown a look of realization. Huang Rong was unusually considerate afterward, and even went to deliver snake soup to Huang Yaoshi that night.

The next morning, seeing that the wind wasn't too strong, Chu Luren took Huang Rong with him to sea, while Gou Zazhong reluctantly said goodbye to Ah Huang.

"Father! I'm leaving. Drink less on the island, don't feed Ah Huang chicken bones, listen to Junior Sister Qin, and if Senior Sister Mei comes back, don't make things difficult for her..."

Huang Rong gave him a long lecture, but it's unclear how much of it the elderly Huang Yaoshi, who stayed behind, actually listened to; he didn't utter a sound for a long time.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Huang Yaoshi blurted out, "Weren't you going to the Southern Shaolin Temple? Why are you talking like you're marrying off to a distant place and never coming back!"

"What do you mean by marrying far away! Father, you're talking nonsense again..." Huang Rong scolded, then boarded the boat first.

"Uncle Huang, take care... Ah Huang, take care too." Chu Luren said, patting the dog's head.

Huang Yaoshi: ...

Huang Yaoshi really wanted to say, "Does this kid have no shame? Who gave him permission to call me Uncle Huang?"

Also, could you please not mention me and Ah Huang together?

If Rong'er hadn't been with you, I would have given you the boat without nails to go out to sea!

Of course, even if the ship really didn't have any nails, it wouldn't be a big problem for the Chu Lu people.

Although they still retain awe of the power of nature, the Chu Lu people now feel like they are going home when they are on the sea, and nowhere is as safe as the sea route.

Huang Yaoshi waved his hand, then turned and left without waiting for the boat to go far, as if he didn't care. However... as soon as his figure disappeared, he awkwardly turned back, but hid in a secluded place and watched his daughter leave.

Just then...

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tick-tick-tick...

Suddenly, a high-pitched suona horn sounded, and the melody was the "Blue Sea Tide Song" that I had taught my daughter a few days ago!

Huang Yaoshi: ...

Seeing the figure playing the suona on the bow of the boat, Huang Yaoshi suppressed the boiling internal energy in his Ren and Du meridians and did not immediately use his lightness skill to chase after him!

"Never mind, the girl is all grown up..." With that, Huang Yaoshi took the jade flute and the wine jug that Huang Rong had personally made, and went to Feng Heng's grave in the back mountain, where he also played the "Blue Sea Tide Song".

Chapter 754 A Stormy Era

In the ninth year of the Tiansheng era, at the end of April, the long-awaited liveliness of the Jianghu in the south returned.

Previously, the Southern Shaolin Temple actually managed to capture Xie Xun, causing a great stir in the martial arts world. Firstly, there were too many people who had or were suspected of having a grudge against Xie Xun, and secondly... capturing Xie Xun meant capturing the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Last month, in particular, a piece of news from the Sichuan martial arts world further ignited the martial arts scene in the south—the Emei Sect's prized Yitian Sword had been lost.

To paraphrase Chu Tai Sui, "You monks just got the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and now the Heaven-Reliant Sword is gone. I think this is just so abnormal."

As a result, various factions began to pressure Shaolin to hand over Xie Xun!

Nominally, it was about handing over Xie Xun, but in reality, it was written as Xie Xun and read as the Dragon-Slaying Saber...

The Southern Shaolin Temple did not want to incur public wrath, so they organized the Lion-Slaying Assembly—we are monks, and we have already captured the villain alive, so naturally we cannot kill those who are powerless to resist. Whoever wants revenge, then come and fight. Whoever wins will take Xie Xun away.

The date is set for the first day of June!

After all, Xie Xun had many enemies in the north, and he needed to give them time to get there.

Of course, if no one can defeat our Southern Shaolin, then Xie Xun can remain imprisoned!

Another report claims that Guihai Yidao was spotted near the Sutra Repository on the back mountain of the Southern Shaolin Temple...

This made people even more uneasy. After Guihai Yidao cultivated "Dominating the World", he went berserk and committed a lot of killings in the martial arts world. Of course, unlike Xie Xun's killings, Guihai Yidao only went to kill Qilinzi and Jian Jingfeng, and both of them committed suicide.

The others were all gifts he gave himself, but Guihai would go berserk after a few blows and wouldn't show any mercy. For example, the Northern Shaolin Temple suffered a great loss because of this.

However, many people also used the Lion-Slaying Assembly as an opportunity to criticize Shaolin Temple for this matter...

To paraphrase Chu Tai Sui, "You monks just got the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and now you're going to capture the cultivator of the Demon Saber. I think this is just so abnormal."

The Southern Shaolin Temple was also at a loss. They could let Xie Xun's matter go, but when did Guihai Yidao (Guihai the One-Knife) end up at Shaolin?

Shaolin insisted on denying it, after all, they had not captured or searched for Guihai Yidao. However, since many people also had doubts, Xuanci decided to hold the Lion-Slaying Assembly in the morning and the Knife-Slaying Assembly in the afternoon on the first day of June.

The Butcher's Knife Assembly is different from the Lion-Slaying Assembly. Since Guihai Yidao is not in Shaolin, it's just a matter of everyone discussing how to deal with him, and then, by setting the greater good aside, joining forces to put out a warrant for his arrest!

Its more direct effect is to unite the forces of the martial arts world, withstand the pressure from the Dragon Guard Manor, and ideally even force the Dragon Guard Manor to take the initiative to issue a warrant for Guihai Yidao's arrest, rather than obstructing the process.

Therefore, in Xuan Ci's view, the Butchering Ceremony was just a chance for everyone to sit down and talk. Even if the Lion-Slaying Ceremony couldn't be finished, it could be left to continue in the following days.

If it were just a lion-slaying tournament, perhaps some people in the martial arts world wouldn't get involved—if they had no grudge against Xie Xun and knew they were powerless to compete for the Dragon-Slaying Saber, why would they wade into troubled waters?

It could easily offend both the Ming Cult and Shaolin Temple, and especially the Righteous Alliance...

However, in comparison, the Butcher's Ceremony was more like an opportunity to enhance one's reputation...

Just like the Heroes' Gathering at Juxianzhuang, everyone can sit down and have a good scolding. How could Guihai Yidao possibly jump out?

At the same time, even more people are eyeing the first day of June!

Li Xihua, who topped the list of older men, and Yue Chengzhi, who recently rose to fame in the martial arts world, met with Xuan Ci with the support of many anti-Qing martial arts forces. They hoped to take advantage of the opportunity at the Southern Shaolin Temple to "incidentally" organize a turtle-killing conference—that is, to discuss the elimination of Wu Sangui.

Xuan Ci neither agreed nor disagreed—since he was in the Song court, he wasn't afraid of being sensitive, but... he wasn't afraid, but there was no need to.

Xuanci said that Shaolin was a place beyond the reach of civilization and did not concern itself with such worldly affairs. However, his words also implied that the heroes of the martial arts world would not stay in Putian for only a day or two. As long as they did not stay inside the South Shaolin Temple, they would not interfere with what they did at night.

Therefore, many sects received invitations for the Lion-Slaying Ceremony in the morning, the Knife-Slaying Ceremony in the afternoon, and the Turtle-Slaying Ceremony in the evening.

Another major event in the martial arts world of the South is that the Beggars' Sect has finally appointed a new acting leader.

Since parting ways with "Qiao Feng," the Beggars' Sect has been deeply divided. Some elders and members still miss Qiao Feng, while others are extremely resistant to him and are busy making arrangements for a new leader.

Therefore, the gang was deeply divided, from the nine-bag elders to the lowest-ranking members. The atmosphere within the gang became increasingly conflicted until Qiao Feng killed Ao Bai and was granted the title of Prince Feng. Only then did those who still couldn't forget Qiao Feng finally accept the fact that they had broken up...

The new gang leader is very mysterious. He usually wears an iron mask, as if he doesn't want to be recognized, and calls himself "Mr. Fang".

Logically speaking, the Beggars' Sect would not choose an "outsider" as its leader. However, during the years when the Southern Beggars' Sect was rife with internal conflicts, Chen Youliang skillfully navigated the situation, forming alliances and suppressing dissidents. Not only had he become a Nine-Bag Elder, but he also wielded immense power within the sect.

Especially taking advantage of Qiao Feng's being granted the title of king, Chen Youliang ruthlessly sidelined the original "Qiao faction" from the core of the Southern Beggars' Sect's power... Now, six of the eight branch leaders have been replaced by his confidants.

The new leader and Chen Youliang seemed to have a secret agreement. In addition, the Beggars' Sect was indeed weak due to the long period of leaderlessness. Under Chen Youliang's promotion, everyone temporarily accepted the "acting leader".

As for the official leader, Chen Youliang and the elders and leaders swore an oath to heaven that whoever first investigated Ma Dayuan's affairs and avenged him would become the new leader, and no one could disobey him. Before that, "Mr. Fang" would temporarily serve as the leader.

With lion slaying, butcher's knife fighting, and turtle killing tonight, everyone should keep busy. Of course, the Beggars' Sect will also be present.

Meanwhile, seeing the Beggars' Sect disciples with four bags or more silently gathering at various branches, some people felt something was amiss—this commotion didn't seem like they were just attending a few major events, but rather... they wanted to be the main characters!

Another gratifying event was that Shi Potian, the leader of the Chang Le Gang, also known as Shi Zhongyu, was dragged out by the two envoys of reward and punishment and forced to accept a plaque.

Shi Qing and Min Rou tried to stop it, but to no avail...

However, many people were secretly annoyed, because the jade in the stone was clearly a shield for the Chang Le Gang, and letting the Chang Le Gang go so easily was too lenient on them.

Why wasn't the whole family wiped out?

In early May, Chu Luren arrived in Xinghua by sea. When he heard about these things, he secretly doubted the Beggars' Gang's motives and felt even more disdainful—it seemed that the Chang Le Gang was most likely doing dirty work for the Dragon Guard Manor!

Xia Ke Dao didn't want to provoke Shen Hou, so naturally they wouldn't make things difficult for the Chang Le Gang. After all, rewarding good and punishing evil was just a title...

Otherwise, if any sect leader or gang leader were to hide and not be seen, the two envoys would never have taken the initiative to go looking for them; they would always come to their door looking for them and kill anyone who disagreed.

At the same time, Chu Luren also received an exclusive message from Qunyu Academy—it was Qiao Feng who specially sent the message, and there was no news about it in the martial arts world.

Whether it's the Lion-Slaying Assembly or the Knife-Slaying Assembly, Qiao Feng will be there!

Chapter 755 Night Exploration

Mu Wanqing, Wang Yuyan, and Azi all separated from Chu Luren after logging in. Afterwards, they will first go to unite the righteous alliance members who have gathered in Putian.

Chu Luren will not show himself for the time being, so he will rely on them to keep order. At this time, only Huang Rong and Gou Zazhong are with him.

After arriving in Putian, Chu Luren first visited Qunyu Academy—he was stunned by the news he had received during his time at sea.

Afterwards, Chu Luren took the letter his elder brother had given him and returned to the inn to discuss it with Huang Rong.

"Is Brother Feng also going to the Southern Shaolin Temple?" After hearing Chu Luren's account, Huang Rong seemed to realize something.

“That’s right, that’s what my elder brother said in his letter to me.” Chu Luren said, handing the letter in his elder brother’s handwriting to Huang Rong.

Huang Rong took it and examined it more closely. Then she sighed and said, "It seems that Brother Feng is not having an easy time in Manjing either. This time, he is probably leaving to escape all the troubles."

"What? How did you know?" Upon hearing this, Chu Luren sat down next to Huang Rong and looked at the letter in her hand again—could it be that I missed reading a section?

“Look, here it says that ‘the affairs of the Imperial City Guard will be temporarily put aside,’ and here it mentions that in midsummer, ‘the Emperor’s nephew and the Empress Dowager will go to Qingliang Temple to escape the summer heat and pray for blessings.’ This clearly means that the power struggle within the Imperial City Guard is intensifying, and the young emperor is not with Feng Ge. Later it says that the young emperor and the Empress Dowager are going to leave the capital, so… it’s very likely that they are worried about Feng Ge being alone in the capital, so they are hinting that he should leave!” Huang Rong said matter-of-factly.

Chu Luren then understood something—after all, his elder brother hadn't intentionally told him these things; he had just relieved some of his depression while writing the letter, and Huang Rong happened to understand it!

"The little emperor is not only young, but also narrow-minded. He judges a great hero by the standards of a petty person!" Chu Luren said with dissatisfaction.

"I'm afraid it's not just that he's narrow-minded... If it's just a precaution, he could have had Brother Feng accompany him instead of sending him away," Huang Rong said after a moment of silence.