The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

Then Duan Zhengming went to Nianhua Temple and asked Huangmei Monk, who came from the Southern Shaolin Temple and was known for his Vajra Finger technique, to help him delay Duan Yanqing. For this, Duan Zhengming promised Huangmei Monk to exempt Dali from salt tax.

On the morning of the seventh day, the Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk quietly entered the valley and, as promised, went to Duan Yanqing's room outside the stone chamber to play chess.

Duan Yanqing knew that this game had to be played; otherwise, refusing a verbal contest would mean resorting to physical violence...

The Duan family of Dali, led by Duan Zhengming, brought out all their experts without any guards, and openly arrived at Wanchou Valley, seemingly intending to resolve the matter according to the rules of the martial arts world.

The group of martial arts practitioners who had been invited by Wanchou Valley to witness this scene couldn't help but give the Duan family a thumbs up.

Looking at the stone tablet in front of Wanchou Valley that read "Those who enter with the surname Duan will never be redeemed," Duan Zhengming mustered his inner strength and specially used the "Thousand-Mile Voice Transmission" technique: "My nephew Duan Yu has been greatly appreciated for the care of your valley. Duan Zhengming of the Dali Duan Clan has come here to express his gratitude!"

Chapter Seventeen Rescue

"My nephew Duan Yu has received much care from your esteemed valley. Duan Zhengming of the Dali Duan family has come here specifically to express his gratitude!"

Duan Zhengming's voice not only echoed throughout the valley, but was also clearly heard by Hua Hegen, Gao Shengtai, and Chu Luren, who were on the other side of Wanchou Valley and beside the tunnel.

Moreover, even at the mouth of the valley, it doesn't feel deafening; it just feels like it's being "sent" to one's ears.

Seeing Chu Luren's surprised expression, Gao Shengtai explained, "It's His Majesty's 'Thousand-Mile Voice Transmission,' which requires profound internal strength to accomplish."

Chu Luren then remembered that Yideng had demonstrated the ability to transmit sound for several miles in The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

Although it was in Xiangyang, a plain area, the level of martial arts in this world was already elevated, so it wasn't surprising that Duan Zhengming's voice could travel through the complex terrain of Wanchou Valley.

Upon hearing Duan Zhengming's voice, Hua Hegen knew that this was His Majesty giving him a signal, and he immediately continued digging!

Two days ago, he had already dug into Wanchou Valley, but he figured that if he dug any further, he might alert others, so he stopped and waited for this opportunity to dig in the dark.

At this moment, Hua Hegen seemed to be possessed by Wu Xie, every pore on his body proclaiming his pride as a tomb raider...

Chu Luren felt a little embarrassed for him, really not understanding what was so proud about this profession.

Gao Shengtai couldn't bear to watch any longer: "Hurry up, His Majesty has already sent the signal. While the experts in the valley are tied down, let's get there quickly, in case the Crown Prince..."

Duan Yu was, after all, a young man, and Gao Shengtai worried that things might change if he waited too long. Chu Luren continued with his doubts—didn't any of you think of using your hands?

"Prime Minister Gao, rest assured, don't you trust me, Hua Hegen? I'll dig right down to the bottom of the stone chamber and rescue the prince. It will be absolutely undetectable..."

Hua Hegen thumped his chest loudly, and then... then the group arrived at Zhong Ling's boudoir.

Looking at the surroundings, it didn't look like the stone chamber where Duan Yu was imprisoned at all. Chu Luren and Gao Shengtai looked at Hua Hegen speechlessly.

Hua Hegen blushed: "The Imperial Concubine's map drawing is too rough, too rough!"

Fortunately, the worst-case scenario wasn't encountered; the exit of the tunnel was inside the house, so at least it wouldn't be discovered by the servants in the valley immediately.

But just then, the door opened, and a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old walked in with a worried look on her face.

Their eyes met, and the little girl's eyes widened. She had just shown a look of fear and hadn't even had a chance to scream when Chu Luren struck her pressure points.

Hua Hegen and Gao Shengtai exchanged a glance, their eyes showing a hint of horror. They had heard before that Chu Luren's martial arts were no weaker than the latter two of the Four Fiends, but they had never seen it with their own eyes.

Because of Chu Luren's age, the two instinctively assumed that Chu Luren's skills were at best only considered good among his peers...

However, when the three of them attacked at the same time, it was Chu Luren, who had an injury on his foot, who was the first to subdue the newcomer. His agility was truly remarkable. In terms of agility, perhaps only Ba Tianshi Ba Sikong in Dali could rival him!

Seeing the girl's attire and appearance, Chu Luren guessed that she must be Zhong Ling. After she was silenced by acupuncture, she looked at him with her big, expressive eyes, and Chu Luren couldn't help but feel a little apologetic.

"Who are you? Are you a maid from the valley? Do you know where my young master is being held? If you do, blink your eyes." Hua Hegen stepped forward and asked.

Chu Luren rolled his eyes. Judging from Zhong Ling's clothes, how could she possibly be a maid?

"Are you Zhong Ling? I've heard Brother Duan mention you. We're here to rescue him," Chu Luren asked directly.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling blinked at him rapidly.

"Young Master Chu, do you recognize this person?" Hua Hegen asked hurriedly when he saw that Chu Luren was about to release the person.

“That’s right. I’ve heard Brother Duan mention that Miss Zhong and Brother Duan have been through life and death together. I think she will help us.” Chu Luren said, having already released Zhong Ling’s acupoints.

"You've come to rescue Brother Duan Yu?" Zhong Ling asked immediately after being released.

Chu Luren thought to herself: You're so smart, you really didn't call me "brother" wrong.

"Yes, do you know where the Crown Prince is being held?" Gao Shengtai asked hurriedly.

“I know, it’s not far, but there’s a strange man guarding that place. Even my father can’t beat him. You…” Zhong Ling seemed a little worried about the three of them.

Of course, her judgment was correct. Even if Chu Luren's foot was not injured, the three of them working together were no match for Duan Yanqing.

"Don't worry, Miss Zhong. Just point out the location, and we'll take care of the rest!" Hua Hegen had regained his confidence.

The stone chamber and Zhong Ling's boudoir were not far apart. Hua Hegen estimated the time and figured they should still have enough. The group went back into the tunnel and started digging again.

Chu Luren thought to himself: This time you need to be more reliable. Don't dig right under their chessboard, or we'll really be in trouble!

Not long after...

“This is it!” Hua Hegen said, and began to poke upwards with a shovel.

Meanwhile, the mother and daughter in the stone chamber had been knocked unconscious by Duan Yu. Duan Yu himself was in the stone chamber, using reason to suppress his desires, while constantly using the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) to vent his physical strength. Suddenly, he heard the ground thumping, and finally, with a "crash," a section of it collapsed!

"what are you doing?"

Upon hearing Chu Luren's voice from below, Duan Yu quickly peered over.

Hua Hegen clutched his arm, having just been struck by Chu Luren's finger, but he wasn't seriously injured: "This... since Zhong Wanchou wants to assassinate the young master, why don't we play a joke on him..."

Zhong Ling blinked her big eyes, hiding behind Chu Luren with some fear. Just now, Hua Hegen had tried to attack her, but Chu Luren, who was on guard, stopped him with a single finger.

"Nonsense! How can you joke like that?" Chu Luren said, displeased.

Hua Hegen's face turned red with embarrassment, and he repeatedly apologized to Chu Luren.

In the original work, Hua Hegen deliberately knocked out Zhong Ling in order to get revenge on Zhong Wanchou, and had Duan Yu carry her out, making Zhong Wanchou lose face instead.

Of course, at that time he didn't know that Zhong Ling and Mu Wanqing... were actually "the same".

However, with Chu Luren around, he wouldn't be allowed to do that. Putting aside Zhong Ling's identity, she just offered to lead the way; how could he repay kindness with enmity? If you have the energy, go find Zhong Wanchou!

"Are you Brother Chu and Uncle Hua? Sister Zhong Ling, what are you doing here?" Duan Yu's voice was already very weak.

Chu Luren knew that Duan Yanqing was outside. Even if someone was playing chess seriously, they wouldn't go deaf. This place was not a good place to stay. Without saying a word, he quickly went up and pulled Duan Yu away...

Just as Chu Luren pushed Duan Yu into the tunnel, the door to the stone chamber shattered with a loud crash. It turned out that Duan Yanqing had heard the noise and burst through the door!

Chapter Eighteen Ultimate Move

The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk may look kind and benevolent, but he is indeed a ruthless man.

Before playing chess with Duan Yanqing, they were both unwilling to give way in order to have the first move, and in the end they asked each other to "guess who goes first," and the guess was surprisingly the number of their own toes.

Duan Yanqing thought it was a strategy of avoiding the real issue and therefore only guessed that it was a normal even number. As a result, the Yellow-Eyebrow Monk cut off one of his toes on the spot—not with a knife, but by smashing it off with a stone pestle!

It is precisely because of this first-move advantage that Huangmei Monk has been able to persevere until now, despite being slightly inferior to Duan Yanqing in chess skills.

However, Chu Luren and his group made quite a racket, which caught Duan Yanqing's attention. He immediately abandoned the game and broke down the door...

How could the Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk allow his efforts to fail at this crucial moment? From behind, he used his Vajra Finger technique, half attacking and half pointing at a chess piece, saying, "Benefactor Duan, the game isn't over yet... it's your turn!"

Seeing that it was too late to go down, Chu Luren glanced outside the door and saw that the two people were actually playing chess "out of thin air" using their profound internal strength.

By leaving traces in the air with true energy, the fingertip is shaped like a chess piece...

When the Yellow-Eyebrow Monk's finger struck, the entire chessboard of internal energy pressed down on him, forcing Duan Yanqing to turn around and retaliate. As it happened, he ended up playing a move that was "very bad" for him.

Enraged, Duan Yanqing didn't even look and immediately attacked Chu Luren, who was in his way.

Chu Luren could only use Kunyou to escape into the void, because Duan Yanqing's internal strength was far more profound, and the absorption effect was negligible.

Moreover, Chu Luren's foot injury hadn't healed, and the Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk had lost a toe; both of them were limping. When Duan Yanqing saw this…

I feel offended!

Duan Yanqing attacked Chu Luren while also dealing with the chessboard of true energy that the Yellow-Eyebrow Monk was pushing forward. The Yellow-Eyebrow Monk saw that there was only Chu Luren in the room and knew that he was "one of his own". In order to delay Duan Yanqing, he also began to make a series of bad moves.

The chessboard was now a chaotic mess of moves...

Just then, Chu Luren, like a Kun fish, passed by the chessboard where true energy was projected and stood upright in the air.

Kun You Kong could not "pull" Duan Yanqing's internal force, but it could pull the shadow of this rootless duckweed and directly "overturn" the chessboard!

However, when he "flipped" the chessboard, Chu Luren was surprised because his external true energy was unexpectedly absorbed. Then... his already injured foot flared up, and he was a step too slow, so Duan Yanqing was able to press his acupoints!

Just then, voices could be heard, clearly Duan Zhengming and people from various factions in Dali had arrived under Zhong Wanchou's guidance.

Seeing that things were beyond saving, Duan Yanqing could only slam his cane down in anger and look coldly at Chu Luren.

Sensing the killing intent in this fellow, Chu Luren immediately unleashed his ultimate move...

"Outside Tianlong Temple, under the Bodhi tree, Hanako is disheveled, and Guanyin has long hair!" Chu Luren was glad he hadn't been silenced.

Others might not know what Chu Luren was talking about, but how could Duan Yanqing not know?

His face, already necrotic, could hardly make any expression, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

Originally intending to strike hard, he ended up lifting Chu Luren up and using his lightness skill to escape...

With his acupoints sealed, Chu Luren was unable to resist and could only think about how to deal with Duan Yanqing while he was being held captive.

Although he is Duan Yu's biological father, and legally it does not affect Duan Yu's right to inherit the throne, Chu Luren does not want Duan Yu's already not peaceful life to encounter such a change.

Before long, Duan Yanqing probably thought that no one would catch up at this distance, and somewhat unexpectedly, with a gentle touch, he gently put him down.

Who is your mother?

Chu Luren: ? ? ?

Although Duan Yanqing's face never showed any change, and his ventriloquism always carried a mysterious meaning, his expression at this moment clearly showed some trepidation and... tenderness?

"Ahem, Senior Duan, you've got it wrong. I don't have the surname Duan, and it has nothing to do with me..." Chu Luren said, feeling embarrassed by his gaze.

Although such a mistaken identity might not seem like a big deal, Chu Luren still didn't want to use this method to get away.

Duan Yanqing's demeanor immediately turned cold: "Then how did you know? Who exactly was Guanyin Bodhisattva back then!"

The Duan family of Dali truly deserves their profound Buddhist heritage...

Seeing that Chu Luren didn't speak, Duan Yanqing raised his cane to poke him, but Chu Luren immediately shouted, "Stop, stop, stop! Don't ask me how I know, I just know, and I also knew that person back then."

Upon hearing this, Duan Yanqing's expression changed again, but he still pressed Chu Luren for answers.

"If I told you that that person is doing very well now, with plenty to eat and drink, and filial children and grandchildren, do you think you should go find her now?" Chu Luren probed.