The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

"I have a friend upstairs," Zhao Wushi said to the waiter downstairs with a cold face.

Chu Luren wasn't worried about the old monkey "stealing" later, because no one could steal anything from him. No matter how careful the old monkey was, Chu Luren could make sure he would notice when the old monkey was within ten feet of him, and then destroy the Mermaid Little Bright Pearl and the Heavenly Fragrance Bean with a single thought!

“That’s right, let him come up.” Chu Luren called out to the hesitant waiter as he opened the door.

"Please come in, sir! You old friends are getting together, would you like to..." The waiter didn't finish his sentence, but for some reason, he suddenly felt flustered and couldn't continue.

He actually went against his professional ethics and stopped trying to sell the food and drinks.

"Set up a small table, four dishes and a soup, a pot of wine. With good wine and good food, you won't have to worry about tips!" Chu Luren said calmly.

Zhao Wushi, with a cold face, creaked as he climbed the stairs, as if he didn't know any light-footed kung fu.

The waiter happily agreed.

If he knew that these two people could lift the inn up and throw it at each other at any moment... and actually do it, would he still be in such a good mood?

"Brother Zhao, please." Chu Luren gestured for Zhao Wushi to sit down at the small tea table inside the room.

Many people in the martial arts world have misconceptions about Chu Luren. He is not petty or lacking in depth. He only acts elegantly when he has the upper hand.

Only when you're getting the short end of the stick do you start to fuss over every little thing... cough cough.

"What do you want?" Zhao Wushi asked, getting straight to the point without even taking a seat.

"Brother Zhao, don't worry. We've always had a great time working together. Before, I was just helping you out a bit and didn't really help much, but you still gave me the Divine Wisdom Ultimate Pill. I've always remembered that favor." Chu Luren smiled, as if he remembered people's kindness.

However, Zhao Wushi understood that Chu Luren was reminding him of how he had immediately tricked Chu Luren after the last "transaction"...

Chapter 1005 The Dinner Party

When Chu Luren brought up the old matter again, Zhao Wushi didn't say anything like "You've already taken your revenge."

"That good-for-nothing Gu Santong did tell you about Su Xin, didn't he?" Zhao Wushi asked after a moment of silence.

"What do you think?" Chu Luren did not answer directly.

“A single Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom pod is of no use to you. Its only value is to be given to me… What do you want in exchange?” Zhao Wushi stared intently at Chu Luren.

Chu Luren realized that Zhao Wushi was trying to lower the price, so he leaned across the table and said to Zhao Wushi, "That's right, it's useless to me. But whatever I want in this world, I can take it myself, why bother Divine Marquis?"

After a moment of silence, Zhao Wushi said, "You should already know about the situation in Lin'an. I can let the Xiangyang Army take over the Jinghu North Road for logistical support. As long as the Mongol Yuan and Wu Sangui join forces to launch an eastern expedition against the Manchu Qing, with the Ming Cult's righteous army providing support from within and without, and by contacting the Western Xia to contain Guanzhong, the Xiangyang Army can completely recover Guanzhong."

Chu Luren said there was nothing he couldn't get, so Zhao Wushi offered something he couldn't hold in his hands in exchange—power.

Although not explicitly stated, Zhao Wushi's words implied that he tacitly agreed to Xiangyang's independence from the Song court, and even included Jinghu North Circuit as a bonus.

If the Chu Lu people truly have such ambitions, they should be very tempted.

"It seems that the Prince of Pingxi's mansion and Xiangyang also have confidants of the Marquis?" Chu Luren stared into Zhao Wushi's eyes, trying to see if he was wavering.

Even the heir apparent Wu Kang wasn't entirely sure about the alliance between the Prince of Pingxi's mansion and the Mongols, yet Zhao Wushi somehow knew about it.

As for Xiangyang... Chu Luren was just guessing, thinking that Zhao Wushi wouldn't let him have it so easily, and that there might be an "insider" waiting to reap the rewards.

However, Zhao Wushi naturally didn't let Chu Luren see anything.

"No wonder the late emperor looked down on you, saying you were petty. You had no trust in the generals on the frontier, no respect for righteous men, and all you knew was how to scheme and plot... I think you're best suited for a position like the head of the Eastern Depot." Chu Luren smiled and began to mock.

After humiliating Zhao Wushi's ambition, Chu Luren noticed a hint of anger in his eyes, but Zhao Wushi's obsession with Su Xin still outweighed his ambition, so he did not retaliate.

"Indeed, you've found my Achilles' heel. If Su Xin dies, there's no point in me living." Zhao Wushi unexpectedly revealed his trump card.

Before Chu Luren could even ask a question, Zhao Wushi leaned forward, his imposing manner aimed at suppressing Chu Luren as he said, "If my life is meaningless, then I will certainly not let anyone else live a fulfilling life!"

Chu Luren fell silent for a moment...

"Sir, your food and drinks... um, this... please continue..." The waiter, carrying the food and drinks, opened the door and saw the two grown men face to face, breathing in each other's ears. He couldn't help but step back and close the door.

"Come back." Chu Luren calmly sat back down.

The waiter entered with his head down, hurriedly set out the food and wine, and said, "Please enjoy, sir!" before quickly fleeing.

Chu Luren and Zhao Wushi remained motionless until Chu Luren picked up his chopsticks first...

"This 'Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate' is a famous dish from Luoyang. Although the chef at this inn can't compare to the imperial chefs in the palace or the famous chefs at the number one manor in the world, his skills are still quite good... It's a pity that this carp is too old and not suitable for leaping over the dragon gate!"

As Chu Luren spoke, he tasted the carp meat with a hint of disdain, and even arranged it on a plate in the shape of a dragon leaping over the gate.

Zhao Wushi then picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of Wuchang fish, and said, "The chef is indeed good. The way this Wuchang fish is cooked is like the way it is done in Jinghu. It can be considered as authentic, light and refreshing. It's a pity... it is ultimately something from the Jianghu region and is not suitable for a refined meal."

"The grand halls may not necessarily be good. Nobles and nobles would rather drink the water of Lin'an than eat the fish of Wuchang, but among the common people, it is said that 'the Yangtze River encircles the city and one knows the fish is delicious, and the bamboo in the mountains makes one feel the fragrance of bamboo shoots'..." Chu Luren showed off his erudition.

"Brother Chu seems to have a good outlook," Zhao Wushi said dismissively.

"Brother Zhao, you are so open-minded! Since you are so devoted to Su Xin, why don't I give you the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom? You can then retire from the martial world and live happily ever after as a divine couple. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Chu Luren used his inner strength to push the steamed Wuchang fish towards Zhao Wushi again.

"What kind of celestial couple goes boating on the river? I can't stand this taste! This carp is much more delicious. Brother Chu thinks the meat is too tough, but I think it's just right!"

Zhao Wushi used his internal force to push the steamed Wuchang fish back while simultaneously sucking the carp leaping over the dragon gate toward him.

The Chu deer and the enemy were locked in a stalemate...

The two plates of fish have already transformed into the shapes of dragons and rivers, lakes and seas, ready to fight each other on this small table!

"Hahaha……"

"Hahaha……"

Suddenly, the two stopped at the same time, and the two plates of fish that had been "reincarnated" instantly returned to their original state.

"I sincerely suggest that if the Divine Marquis doesn't appreciate our good intentions, then the next time we meet, it will be a true test of strength!" Chu Luren said earnestly and seriously.

“Every time I meet Alliance Leader Chu, I always demonstrate my true abilities!” Zhao Wushi stared at Chu Luren without a hint of a smile.

Chu Luren waved his hand and pulled the little mermaid pearl over.

Chu Luren simply stretched out his palm and placed the bead in front of Zhao Wushi: "I want the Eight Extremes Demonic Art."

This was the final price set by the Chu Lu people—not exactly a low price, but there was no room for negotiation.

If Chu Luren wanted to, he could turn the Little Mermaid Pearl into dust with a single palm strike!

Because he didn't want Zhao Wushi to become a mad dog, especially one that was targeting him, and because Su Xin was also very important to Gu Santong, Chu Luren couldn't possibly sabotage the matter.

but……

If Zhao Wushi doesn't hand over the demonic arts, Chu Luren will obviously not let him have his way!

"The Eight Extremes Demonic Art? Is that the name you came up with?" Zhao Wushi sneered, then said, "If you're sure you want it, I can teach you the Release Me Art."

Zhao Wushi was quite confident, and Chu Luren vaguely understood the reason for his confidence...

Whether it's the "Eight Extremes Demonic Art" or the "Releasing Myself Art," the essence is to place oneself in the position of the dantian of heaven and earth.

In this world, there is only one dantian, and only one person can truly master the "Release Myself Technique." Other cultivators are merely doing the work for someone else.

Zhao Wushi named this martial art "Release Myself Skill"—to elucidate the true self? He had already regarded the world as his own, and his ambition was even greater than the "plundering" ambition of the previous "Absorbing Skill".

After hearing his "Explanation of My Merit," Chu Luren realized it was impossible to persuade him to live in seclusion...

Chapter 1006 Assassination

Zhao Wushi took away the Little Pearl Mermaid, and Chu Luren obtained the "Release My Merit" and also the contact code left by Zhao Wushi for the Governor of Jinghu North Road.

After acquiring this martial art, Chu Luren understood that a battle with Zhao Wushi was inevitable, and that saving Su Xin would not satisfy Zhao Wushi.

The mindset of the "Absorption Technique" is still just "plundering". Every time it is used, in addition to the obstruction of the meridians, it will also make the mindset more and more plundering and cruel.

The "Shiwogong" goes a step further, not about "plundering," but about believing that everything in the world should rightfully belong to oneself!

The old monkey now felt that Su Xin should be his, the throne should be his, and the world should be his...

Zhao Wushi handed over this martial art so easily because there is only one person in the world who can reach the dantian of this world, which is the ultimate position!

Zhao Wushi simply did not believe that Chu Luren could surpass him. In fact, if Chu Luren rashly competed for this position, he might end up having his own power taken away by Zhao Wushi.

With Chu Luren's martial arts skills, he naturally saw this and did not act rashly.

However, Zhao Wushi believed that by firmly sitting in his "dantian," he could ignore the leak of "Shiwo Gong," which was exactly what Chu Luren wanted.

"I'll definitely give you a 'surprise' then..." Chu Luren muttered to himself.

……

With this matter settled, Chu Luren prepared to travel to Xiangyang.

Firstly, it would give both themselves and Shenhou more time to prepare. Neither of them was confident they could defeat the other, and both were wary of the other's potential retaliation in his madness. Secondly, since Wu Sangui wanted to ally with the Mongol Yuan, Xiangyang... indeed had great potential.

Zhao ignored the contact information of the officials of the various prefectures in Jinghu North Circuit that he had left for himself. However, Chu Luren had already made up his mind to lure the governor of Jinghu South Circuit to come and kill him as well—after all, the governor of Jinghu South Circuit was Ling Situi, whom Chu Luren had wanted to kill for a long time!

I've missed him before, and Chu Luren has been very busy these past few years, so I haven't bothered to look for him specifically.

Moreover, Chu Luren originally intended to leave him with Di Yun as well...

Unexpectedly, Di Yun went into seclusion so completely that several years later, Ling Si Tui is still alive and well!

Of course, Chu Luren also understood that it was very likely that Di Yun was ultimately concerned because Ding Dian's "wife" was, after all, Ling Situi's daughter—although Ling Situi had also buried his own daughter alive and killed Ding Dian, and was also an accomplice in harming Di Yun, Di Yun was an honest and law-abiding man, and would not seek revenge if he could.

Ling Situi had never directly offended Chu Luren, so Chu Luren hadn't specifically pursued him. But now that he'd run into him, he naturally had to "eliminate the scourge for the people."

Before setting off for Xiangyang, Chu Luren prepared to buy some small gifts, otherwise Guo Xiang would definitely be disappointed even if she didn't say it.

Before Chu Luren could even set off, while they were still in the market at noon, the Dao Embryo began to stir rapidly, which turned out to be Wei Xiaobao's demonic thoughts erupting violently.

"Could it be that Princess Jianning and my grand-nephew have done something good?" Chu Luren resisted the urge to investigate.

However, just as Chu Luren finished buying his things and returned to the inn to retrieve his luggage, Wu Kang rushed over in a great hurry: "Grandmaster Uncle! Your grand-disciple... your grand-disciple has something important to tell you!"

"Huh? You don't need to tell me that, do you?" Chu Luren was taken aback when he heard this.

Why do you have to report this to me? Why do you look like it's something very important?

Prince Wu, this isn't your first time, is it?

And are we really that close? If only Que'er were as close to you as you are to me…

Wu Kang was taken aback when he heard this. At first, he thought that his grandmaster knew what it was about, but then he saw his grandmaster's expression and knew that he must be thinking about something strange!

Leaving aside the possible wild ideas of his grandmaster, Wu Kang knelt down and said, "Grandmaster, I know you look down on my adoptive father, but... but I dare to ask for your help today. I beg you to save my sister!"

"When did you get a younger sister?" Chu Luren was taken aback by this question.

In the vast world of martial arts, Wu Sangui only had one son... and he wasn't even his biological son.