The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 27

Before he could retaliate, with a whoosh, Jiang Ning pulled the sword from the tree and swept it horizontally. Hu Shi was shocked and hurriedly leaned back, the tip of the sword drawing an arc in front of him.

"This move is called 'White Clouds Emerging from the Mountain'."

At this point, Hu Shi was already losing his balance, and then Jiang Ning kicked him in the stomach, causing him to fall backward.

"This move is called Leopard Tail Kick."

Jiang Ning said expressionlessly.

Hu Shi's face was already very ugly. He scrambled up from the ground and slapped Jiang Ning with his palm while shouting.

"This move is called Plum Blossom Palm!"

A gust of wind swept by, but Jiang Ning just watched expressionlessly. The next second, he stretched out his left hand and struck Hu Shi's wrist, causing Hu Shi to raise his hand and miss his target.

Just as he was about to continue, he suddenly stopped, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Jiang Ning's sword was pressed against his throat.

"Concession."

Jiang Ning smiled and then sheathed his sword.

Hu Shi's face was extremely pale.

From beginning to end, he never gained the upper hand. He was constantly suppressed by his opponent, who made the first move, putting him in a very passive position and preventing him from using his martial arts skills at all.

This speed, this martial arts skill, piercing a tree with a single sword strike, is this what you call low-level martial arts?

"This unworthy disciple's skills are lacking, and I apologize for making Master Hu laugh at me."

Upon seeing the results of the martial arts competition, Yue Buqun opened his folding fan, shook it a few times, and chuckled softly.

Hu Anyu still had the same smile as before, but it seemed a little stiff at the moment. However, he quickly recovered and said with a smile, "The Huashan Sect's swordsmanship is indeed unfathomable, and the disciples within the sect are truly outstanding individuals."

The martial arts competition had ended, and Hu Anyu led Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze back to the main hall. Jiang Ning and Hu Shi followed behind, but Jiang Ning's expression remained unchanged, while Hu Shi's face was grim.

"I wonder if Sect Leader Yue has come to Xiangyang on some important business?"

Hu Anyu asked as soon as he sat down.

Upon hearing this, Yue Buqun closed his folding fan and said with a serious expression, "It's nothing. It's just that the disciples in the sect have been practicing hard lately, and I heard that there will be a lantern festival in Xiangyang on the 15th of this month, so I brought them out to have some fun."

Hu Anyu smiled upon hearing this.

"Sect Leader Yue is in high spirits."

After chatting for a while, Yue Buqun took his leave. Hu Anyu only tried to persuade him to stay briefly before seeing Yue Buqun, Jiang Ning, and the other two to the door and then went back home.

"Master, something's not right."

As soon as they stepped out the door, Jiang Ning said to Yue Buqun.

"What's wrong?"

Yue Buqun asked.

Jiang Ning said, "Several maids came up when we were in the main hall just now, and one of them was very strange."

He was referring to the maid who served him tea.

"Is there anything wrong?"

Ning Zhongze frowned and asked, something she hadn't noticed before.

Jiang Ning thought about it carefully and said, "The maid's tea-serving technique was very clumsy, a bit worse than the other maids. Moreover, when Hu Anyu waved for the other maids to leave, the maid was noticeably slower, as if she hadn't been trained and was just imitating what the other maids did."

"More importantly, when the maid was serving tea to Hu Anyu, I saw Hu Anyu's hand tremble slightly. Although it was not a big one, I was standing at the time and I thought the maid was a bit strange, so I took another look and that's when I noticed this scene."

"When I was sparring with Hu Shi in the training ground, I caught a glimpse of that maid hiding behind the wall, looking in our direction."

"I always felt that something was wrong with her."

After hearing what Jiang Ning said, Yue Buqun fell into deep thought.

Ning Zhongze asked, "Senior brother, does Sect Leader Hu have a daughter?"

Yue Buqun nodded, then shook his head, and said, "There is one. Twelve years ago, Hu Anyu gave birth to a daughter. I even came to Xiangyang to congratulate him then. However, the maid we saw today looks to be sixteen or seventeen years old, so she can't be his daughter."

"Could it be his niece?"

Ning Zhongze asked again.

Yue Buqun frowned and said, "I don't know, maybe."

However, Yue Buqun immediately said, "No matter who that woman is, that's her family matter. We've already come out, so it's not appropriate for us to interfere anymore. Let's go back to the inn first, and then return to Mount Hua after watching the lantern festival in a couple of days."

"Ah."

Ning Zhongze nodded, then seemed to remember something.

"By the way, senior brother, I heard that Liu Zhengfeng of the Hengshan Sect is going to retire from the martial arts world?"

"good."

Yue Buqun said, "Liu Zhengfeng had already revealed his intention to retire from the martial arts world a few days ago, but he hasn't officially announced that he will hold a ceremony to wash his hands of the martial arts world."

Ning Zhongze frowned and asked, "Why would Senior Brother Liu suddenly withdraw from the martial world? Was he threatened in some way?"

Yue Buqun shook his head and said, "I don't know about that. Since he wants to retire from the martial world, he has already made up his mind. No matter what happens, we will go to his Golden Basin Assembly, which can be considered as an alliance of our Five Mountains Sword Sect."

Ning Zhongze nodded.

Jiang Ning fell into deep thought.

He remembered that the opening plot of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer was that Liu Zhengfeng of the Hengshan Sect was going to retire from the martial arts world.

So, does this mean the main event is about to begin?

Upon returning to the inn, Yue Buqun discovered that Linghu Chong had disappeared. He didn't bother to check, simply instructing his disciples not to cause trouble in Xiangyang before heading back to his room.

It was only noon, and Jiang Ning had nothing to do, so he planned to go back to his room to continue practicing his martial arts. He didn't stop practicing until Ying Bailuo knocked on the door in the evening.

Judging from his training progress over this period, his internal energy will be fully purified in a few months. At that time, even if he doesn't reach the level of a first-class master, he will at least be several levels higher than he is now.

"Junior Brother Jiang Ning, I heard that Xiangyang City is very lively at night. How about we go out for a stroll after dinner?"

During the meal, Ying Bailuo came over and said something.

He had already discussed it with the other Huashan disciples and planned to go out for a stroll together; the female disciples were also going to join in.

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and nodded.

"it is good."

Since it's a rare opportunity to get out, we should still have fun. It's part of the cultivation process, as long as it doesn't interfere with our training.

After finishing their meal, the Huashan disciples left the inn in a large group.

The city of Xiangyang was indeed more lively at night than during the day, with more people. Jiang Ning and his fellow disciples walked in large numbers down the street, attracting a lot of attention. Later, Lu Dayou wanted to see how others made lanterns, so he parted ways with some of his fellow disciples. Then, some of his fellow disciples also parted ways because they wanted to wander around. In the end, only Jiang Ning, Liang Fa, and a few other disciples remained. Among the female disciples, there was Du Lanyin and a girl named Qiaojun.

"Young master, come in and have some fun."

"Young master, look this way!"

A voice came from the building next door. Jiang Ning turned his head and realized that they had somehow ended up in the brothel street.

Chapter 45: Check if this person exists, and ask if this matter is true.

"Senior Brother Liang, how did you lead us here?"

Watching the prostitutes sway their hips and dress provocatively, Qiaojun blushed and glared at Liang Fa.

"Um... I came with you."

Liang Fa scratched his head, looking completely honest.

"Let's hurry up and leave."

Du Lanyin, her face flushed, urged him on.

Several Huashan disciples felt embarrassed and quickened their pace, while Jiang Ning looked left and right, walking quite leisurely.

"Sigh, these women could do anything, even weaving or embroidery would be a decent way to make a living, but they insist on becoming prostitutes."

A disciple of Mount Hua shook his head and sighed.

"They humble themselves before others, bowing and scraping; don't they have any self-respect?"

"Aren't you right, junior brother?"

Jiang Ning smiled but did not answer.

Just as Jiang Ning and his group were walking quickly out of the area and passing through a small alley, Jiang Ning heard the sound of a beating coming from inside.

Jiang Ning tilted his head and looked over, where he saw several burly men punching and kicking a young man. The young man was curled up, covering his head with his hands and not saying a word.

Jiang Ning frowned slightly.

"Junior brother, hurry up!"

One of the Huashan disciples in front turned around and saw that Jiang Ning was walking so slowly, so he urged him on.

"Okay, senior brother."

Jiang Ning responded and quickened his pace, leaving the area.

"I've beaten you countless times, and you still dare to come here? Are you looking for death?"

"Don't you even open your dog eyes and look around? Is this a place you can just come here?"

"If it weren't for Master Wan saying he was afraid of causing a death and affecting business here, he would have beaten you to death long ago, but you still wouldn't let it go."

In the alley, several burly men were punching and kicking the young man repeatedly. His face was covered in bruises and his clothes were tattered.

"I'm telling you, if you see this street again, get the hell away from it, or I'll beat you up every time I see you."

One of the burly men said menacingly.

"What are you doing?"

Just then, a voice came from the alley entrance. Several burly men stopped what they were doing and turned around to look, only to find that it was a boy speaking.

"What's it to you? Get lost if you don't want to die."

A Zhuang man spoke in a foul tone.

Several people, like the boy, came to ask questions while they were beating the young man, but they were all driven away by the insults.

"Did he go to a brothel and not pay? Or is there something else going on?"

Jiang Ning looked at the young man lying on the ground and asked.

“That’s right. This kid has no money but still comes to a brothel and tries to cause trouble. We’re just teaching him a lesson. Don’t meddle in other people’s business.”

The burly man who spoke earlier said...

"You forced a good woman into prostitution, tricking a blind old woman into signing a contract to sell her daughter into servitude. I'm here to find Shuyun!"

Just then, the young man who had been beaten and remained silent shouted at them.

But his words provoked the burly man next to him to kick him in the stomach, causing the young man to clutch his stomach in pain.

"I've already told you that there's no Shuyun like you in Yihua Pavilion, only Xiaoru. Can't you understand human language?"

After cursing at the young man, the burly man turned to Jiang Ning and said in a menacing tone, "Get out of here, or I'll beat you up too."

Jiang Ning glanced at him, then at the young man on the ground, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then walked into the alley, speaking as he went.

"Whether he's telling the truth or not, I'll personally take him to Yihua Tower to ask and see if there's a person named Shuyun there."

"you wanna die!"

The burly men were enraged and attacked immediately.

Bang!

One of the burly men who rushed up was kicked against the wall by Jiang Ning, and then he kicked the other burly men who attacked him to the ground several more times.

Although the Huashan Sect is known for its swordsmanship, its legwork is also quite good. Jiang Ning has practiced martial arts since childhood and is tall. With his long legs, he kicks left and right, and these strong men were kicked to the ground and howled in pain before they could even get close to him.

However, Jiang Ning did not kill them; he only kicked them down.

"stand up."