The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

For a moment, Chu Luren was unsure whether to take it as a compliment.

However, as expected, pretending to be stupid and befriending Huang Rong would definitely not work. It would only be seen through and taken as having ulterior motives. Fortunately, Chu Luren never had such intentions from the beginning.

"Huh? Wanqing, you knew this beforehand too?" Chu Luren looked at Mu Wanqing, who showed no surprise, with a puzzled expression.

Seeing Chu Luren's puzzled look, Mu Wanqing rolled her eyes in disdain and said, "How could I not see it!"

Moreover, for certain reasons, Mu Wanqing had already confronted Huang Rong before. Although Mu Wanqing harbored some subtle hostility towards Huang Rong, who was "scheming" and "disguised as a man," Huang Rong still managed to gain Mu Wanqing's sympathy by crying about her experiences.

In Huang Rong's words, it meant her father didn't want her anymore and even sent people to beat her up...

If it were Guo Jing, he would definitely advise, "There's no such thing as a father like that; there must be a misunderstanding." But when Mu Wanqing heard this, she thought, "Same kind of father!"

So Mu Wanqing began to empathize with Huang Rong and explained to her that not only were her fathers all bad, but men were all bad too.

Chu Luren wasn't worried that Mu Wanqing would mislead Huang Rong. With Mu Wanqing's emotional intelligence and IQ, no matter how "accepting" Huang Rong appeared, she was essentially just playing with her...

"After that, you accompany Miss Huang to buy some clothes. I'll go out by myself," Chu Luren instructed.

Mu Wanqing immediately looked at him with disdain and danger and asked, "You're not going to the place you told Linghu Chong about, the place to listen to the zither, are you?"

Chapter 171 Green Bamboo Lane

"Listen to the zither? I do want to go there and take a look, but I probably won't be able to play the zither." Chu Luren felt that his own powerful style didn't seem to attract the Holy Maiden. He mainly wanted to go and take a look... If the Holy Maiden was indeed in Green Bamboo Lane, Qu Feiyan was very likely there as well. Since he had already arrived in Luoyang, there was no reason not to go and see his friend.

"Are you always this direct? It's not even dark yet!" Mu Wanqing asked strangely.

"Why wait until it gets dark? You haven't misunderstood anything, have you? I'm going to Green Bamboo Alley!"

"Huh? Does Luoyang call that place Green Bamboo Lane?" Mu Wanqing remembered that it should be called "Fireworks Lane".

"Are there many Green Bamboo Alleys in different places? But the place I want to go is where the Green Bamboo Elder lives in seclusion. If a friend of mine is in Luoyang, he might be staying there... By the way, what are the Green Bamboo Alleys in other places for?" Chu Luren looked at Mu Wanqing with a puzzled expression.

Meeting Chu Luren's gaze, Mu Wanqing blushed and said, "Who...who knows!"

Chu Luren was utterly baffled—he had never heard of "Green Bamboo Lane" when he was in the martial arts world. What kind of derogatory term was it?

However, seeing Mu Wanqing pull Huang Rong away, Chu Luren did not pursue the matter. Instead, he went out alone to inquire about the location of Green Bamboo Alley.

Green Bamboo Lane is located in the east of Luoyang City and is quite famous. However, everyone in Luoyang City knows that Green Bamboo Elder has an eccentric temper. He only occasionally invites friends who are interested in music and dance, and he does not welcome either martial arts practitioners or ordinary people.

Even among people in the martial arts world, they didn't associate much. Judging from the reaction of Wang Yuanba's family in the original work, the Golden Saber Wang family didn't even recognize Green Bamboo Elder.

Green Bamboo Elder and Ren Woxing are from the same lineage, which means they are both related to the Ming Cult and the Zoroastrianism of Persia in the broader context of the martial arts world. In terms of seniority, Ren Woxing is the senior uncle of Green Bamboo Elder's master, so even though Green Bamboo Elder is quite old, he still calls Ren Yingying "Auntie".

In theory, Green Bamboo Elder was also a member of the Sun Moon Cult, but he was entirely in Ren Woxing's faction. After Dongfang Bubai took over, Green Bamboo Elder basically only contacted the Holy Maiden Ren Yingying.

Ren Yingying usually spends a lot of time semi-secluded in Green Bamboo Lane. Chu Luren guesses that Qu Feiyan is also very likely to be there. Having not seen the little girl for more than half a year, Chu Luren is also preparing to fulfill his duty as the entrusted guardian and go to see if she has been led astray by Ren Yingying.

Having found out the location of Green Bamboo Alley, Chu Luren arrived at a small alley in the east of the city. The entrance to the alley looked like an ordinary lane, but as he walked deeper in, he saw a bamboo grove...

Although Luoyang no longer holds the status of a capital city, it is still a major city, especially since it was Wu Sangui's stronghold. I don't know anything else, but just looking at this area, it seems to be occupied by a wild bamboo forest. Moreover, the bamboo stalks are so well-maintained that their leaves don't turn yellow in winter and remain deep green... Green Bamboo Elder, or rather, Holy Maiden, is truly extravagant!

After walking several hundred steps, they arrived deep in the bamboo forest. Chu Luren did not encounter any obstacles, but he did notice some noise in the bamboo forest along the way—it seemed that someone had sent word, and the owner of the place also knew that someone had come.

Since no one stopped him, Chu Luren guessed that they had already recognized him, and he became even more convinced that the Holy Maiden and Qu Feiyan were also "living in seclusion" here.

But just then, a surround sound rang out: "Who goes there!"

The voice sounded old and hoarse, and Chu Luren, who was well-versed in the ways of the Daoist, recognized that the reason this voice was surround sound was not because he used a sound-based technique like himself, but because it largely relied on a "mechanism"—using the surrounding hollow bamboo tubes to vibrate and produce sound...

"I am just a commoner in the martial world, here to visit the Holy Maiden... to see a friend." Chu Luren was also a little puzzled. If she really didn't know his identity, why didn't she stop him before?

According to the legend of Green Bamboo Lane, ordinary people who come here should be asked to leave as soon as they enter the bamboo forest.

Is this some kind of show of force?

However, Chu Luren couldn't figure out the other party's motive for doing this. He had only come to visit a friend, and... he felt that the other party seemed very nervous!

"How dare you!" A furious shout came from all directions.

At the same time, a figure in an emerald green robe suddenly flew out from the bamboo leaves and attacked the Chu deer man from above...

The sounds came from all directions, but when the attack actually came, it came from the air. It was indeed somewhat unexpected, and it was effective for Chu Luren, who didn't have any special martial arts skills.

only……

Although Chu Luren was startled, he hastily raised his hand to block, but the "Minor Returning to Emptiness Force" was something he used daily!

Internal martial arts protective techniques have always distinguished between "constant presence" and "energy circulation." The Lesser Returning to Emptiness Energy undoubtedly belongs to the former. Even without specific energy circulation, it can exert most of its effects. However, some particularly profound aspects require energy circulation guidance.

Kongjian, one of the four great monks of Shaolin Temple, had cultivated the "Indestructible Vajra Body" to an extremely high level. He was even able to withstand Xie Xun's Seven Injury Fist attacks without retaliating and remained unharmed. However, when he was trying to convert Xie Xun, he stopped Xie Xun from committing suicide and did not activate the "Indestructible Vajra Body". As a result, Xie Xun punched him and shattered his internal organs, causing his death.

It is evident that this "Indestructible Body" is a typical protective technique that requires the practice of internal energy to be effective; without the practice, its effectiveness is reduced to less than one-tenth...

The emerald green figure's attack, which flew from the sky to the ground, was seemingly blocked hastily by Chu Luren, but the "Minor Return to Emptiness Force" immediately took effect!

The attacker was none other than Green Bamboo Elder. He thought that the newcomer was young and his internal strength was not profound. He thought that if he used all his palm power, the other party would have no chance to resist. However, when their palms met, the other party did not show any internal strength to resist. Instead, he let his palm power flow freely.

Before Green Bamboo Elder could press him further, he realized that his powerful palm strike, once it entered the other's body, vanished without a trace, like a mud ox sinking into the sea!

and……

His originally stable internal energy was now like a floodgate being opened, and it seemed to be somewhat out of control, actively "surging" towards the other party!

This skill... looks familiar. Green Bamboo Elder felt a sense of familiarity on various levels and instantly realized that he might have misunderstood.

"Ah!" came a gasp.

It was at this moment that Qu Feiyan emerged from the bamboo forest and witnessed this scene—the Green Bamboo Elder, due to the surge of his inner force, maintained the airborne state he had when he leaped down. As his palms clashed with Chu Luren's, a phantom of energy even appeared around him, enveloping him, because of his full-force attack.

However, despite his impressive special effects, they were utterly ineffective against the Chu Luren, who lacked any special effects...

"Brother Bamboo, what are you doing? He wasn't sent by that person!" Qu Feiyan shouted hurriedly.

Old Man Green Bamboo, however, was speechless—he appeared to be launching a fierce attack, but in reality, he was unable to break free.

Chu Luren's Lesser Returning to the Void Force wasn't as powerful as the original "Star Absorbing Technique," but Green Bamboo Elder was getting old, and his meridians were starting to become imbalanced, so he needed to catch his breath before he could escape...

Fortunately, Chu Luren did not pursue them. Judging from the man's appearance of being in his seventies or eighties, and from Qu Feiyan's address—"Brother Bamboo"—although it was a bit strange, one could guess that he was Green Bamboo Elder.

So he jerked his arm, used a dismantling force, and flicked the old man of green bamboo away...

Chapter 172 The Most Unjustly Eavesdropped

"So it is Young Hero Chu in person. I have been away from the martial world for a long time, and lately... I have been quite sensitive and have offended you in many ways. I hope you will forgive me." At this time, Green Bamboo Elder also learned of Chu Luren's identity from Qu Feiyan.

"Has Mr. Green Bamboo had any enemies come knocking on his door recently?" Chu Luren asked casually.

However, upon mentioning this matter, Green Bamboo Elder's expression immediately turned serious, and he said, "Old hands are bound to have old enemies, it's alright, it's alright."

Chu Luren was unaware of the details and hadn't originally intended to stand up for Green Bamboo Elder. Upon hearing what the other party said, he didn't press the matter further.

"You too, if you were looking for me, you could have just played 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' in the bamboo forest, and I would have come out to find you... By the way, how did you know that I and the Holy Maiden were here?" Qu Feiyan changed the subject.

"I heard that Senior Green Bamboo Elder was living in seclusion here, and that he was a grand-disciple of the previous leader of the sect, so I came to see if you were here." What Chu Luren said was, to some extent, true.

Upon hearing this, Green Bamboo Elder's expression turned grave as he exclaimed, "So many people in the martial world... know about this!"

Originally, it was a secret message that a formidable enemy had come to Luoyang for other matters. Green Bamboo Elder thought that the enemy might not come looking for him, but now... Green Bamboo Elder felt increasingly uncertain.

"At least you still have a conscience, knowing to come and see me. How's your 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' technique coming along?" Qu Feiyan asked.

……

Old Man Green Bamboo was a little sad. Although he occasionally invited his friends to Green Bamboo Lane to enjoy the music, this was the first time that the sound of the suona resounded throughout the Green Bamboo Forest!

The way they played it was... kind of nice?

Green Bamboo Old Man glanced at Chu Luren, who was playing the suona, and Qu Feiyan, who was listening. He gritted his teeth and moved back to Green Bamboo Residence, which was deeper in the bamboo forest. Here, he could still faintly hear Chu Luren's loud suona.

Through the gauze curtain, Old Man Green Bamboo said somewhat anxiously, "Aunt, even this Chu Luren could find his way here, that person probably already knows..."

"Don't worry, that person wouldn't have touched me in the first place, otherwise they wouldn't have waited until today. Why are you overthinking this?" Ren Yingying's voice came out.

Since there were no outsiders present, Ren Yingying did not conceal her youthful, even childlike, appearance, but her voice had already become more mature and sophisticated.

“But… after all, Aunt, you just conspired with the Right Envoy, and then he just happened to come to Luoyang…” Green Bamboo Elder was somewhat flustered, completely lacking the composure of the original work, which shows how much the visitor shocked him.

"Watch your words!" Ren Yingying snapped at him impatiently.

Old Man Green Bamboo felt a pang of embarrassment upon hearing this; he too had been startled and flustered, thankfully no one had heard...

However, at this moment, Ren Yingying fell silent. Green Bamboo Elder instinctively sensed something was wrong and asked somewhat guiltily, "Aunt, has something come to mind?"

"The tune is wrong." Ren Yingying said, and then fell silent.

The old man from Green Bamboo was taken aback by Ren Yingying's serious attitude and didn't dare to ask further questions for a moment. However, Ren Yingying took the initiative to explain, "The tune he played got a little off when you were speaking... right, Young Master Chu?"

Upon hearing this, Green Bamboo Elder immediately looked warily in the direction of Chu Deer Man!

Chu Luren was also helpless. He had activated "Sound Soul Unshaken" just for the sound effect, and the "Sound Transmission Soul Search" effect within it was also passively activated.

At this distance, even the sound of the suona could barely travel, so Chu Luren shouldn't have been able to hear Ren Yingying speaking.

In the original work, the eighth level of Mingyu Gong, Yaoyue, could clearly hear "falling leaves and flying flowers within a hundred feet." However, that was the wonderful use of the eighth level of Mingyu Gong. In addition, Yaoyue's internal strength was so profound that Chu Luren could not compare with her.

Therefore, Ren Yingying did not deliberately lower her voice when she spoke. Otherwise, although Chu Luren's "Unwavering Sound Soul" could perceive all the interfering sound waves within the sound waves emitted by herself, the accuracy was actually very poor, and if she spoke too softly, she would not be able to get the feedback.

The reason why he played two wrong notes was because Chu Luren was a little surprised—judging from Ren Yingying and Green Bamboo Elder's tone, the person who "dared not mention his name" should be "Dongfang Bubai", right?

Shouldn't she be "only interested in the beauty of flowers and birds in her secluded chambers" now? Why would she come to Luoyang?

The thought that such a heretical master was in Luoyang City made Chu Luren feel astonished, but... that was a great injustice!

Chu Luren clearly didn't need to "eavesdrop" on Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian's plan to save Ren Woxing.

To overhear something you shouldn't have by chance is bad enough, but to hear something you already knew all along is even worse... Is there anything more unjust than this?

Ren Yingying, who was skilled in music and had obtained the score of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" from Qu Feiyan, noticed that Chu Luren was out of tune and thus deduced that he was "eavesdropping".

Chu Luren hesitated for a moment, then stopped playing the suona—if he denied it as a coincidence, it would only make him seem guilty.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Qu Feiyan looked at Chu Luren with a puzzled expression.

"I overheard something by accident," Chu Luren said helplessly.

A short while later, Old Man Green Bamboo returned, his expression stiff, and invited Chu Luren to Green Bamboo Residence for a chat.

Qu Feiyan also noticed the heavy atmosphere and asked in a low voice on the way, "What did you hear?"

"It seems some expert has come to Luoyang..." Chu Luren said, picking up on the less important details. No matter how smart Fei Fei is, she is still young and may not know much.

Upon arriving at Green Bamboo Residence, Ren Yingying still faced Chu Luren through a gauze curtain. After all, Chu Luren's age hadn't been mentioned earlier, and in Ren Yingying's mind, she could still conceal it a little longer.