Martial Arts Showdown: My Wife Asked Me to Be the Champion

Chapter 26: Entering the Medicine King's Gate, a Lifetime of Solitary Sleep

Outside the vermilion gates of the Wan residence, the eldest disciple Lu Kun and the second disciple Zhou Qi were responsible for welcoming the guests.

Wan Zhenshan's disciples have a wide age range. His eighth disciple, Shen Cheng, is less than ten years old, Zhou Qi is in his twenties, and Lu Kun became a disciple earlier and has been in the business for seven or eight years.

The martial arts world of Jiangling is a mixed bag. To survive in such an environment, one must remember the "Heroes' Register"—not only their names, but also their deeds.

Ten days have passed since Ding Dian "presented the treasure." With the help of the Six Doors, Linglong Pavilion, and Tianying Sect, everyone who was supposed to receive the news has received it.

Before Xu Qingya and his group even arrived, more than a dozen renowned experts came to visit under the pretext of attending the ceremony.

First up was the Tai Chi Sect, the local strongmen of Jiangling. Their leader, Zhao Banshan, and deputy leader, Liu Chengfeng, arrived together, with Liu Chengfeng also bringing three loyal brothers with him.

Lu Tianshu, known as "Renyi Lu Dadao"; Hua Tiegan, known as "Zhongping Wudi"; Liu Chengfeng, known as "Rouyun Jian"; and Shui Dai, known as "Lengyue Jian"—these four individuals, each with a single character from their names, are collectively called "Luohua Liushui" (Falling Flowers and Flowing Water), and they enjoy considerable fame in Jiangnan.

In the North, there is a corresponding group of four called "Wind, Tiger, Cloud, and Dragon." They have fought several times and are evenly matched. They also came to "witness" the apprenticeship ceremony.

All four were lay disciples of Shaolin, each inheriting a unique Shaolin skill, which they used as their names. Their original names, on the other hand, have been forgotten.

Yan Daping took the initiative to reveal his identity and participate in the ceremony. He dressed in beggar's clothes and pretended to be a member of the Beggars' Sect.

Qi Changfa also arrived in Jiangling. Qi Fang and Di Yun were young, and it was quite inconvenient to take them with him. Qi Changfa instructed the two to look after the house, while he carried two baskets of vegetables and pretended to do odd jobs, washing vegetables and chopping firewood at the Wan residence.

Qin Nanqin went to Hongli Pawnshop and got some files. She compared them one by one and realized that Zhuiming and Yin Susu each had their own sources of information. She silently matched them to the individuals in her mind.

Liu Qingci said boredly, "Xu Qingya, I'm a little bored, draw me a few pictures!"

Yin Susu crossed her arm: "That's not a good idea. There will be a fierce battle later, and we can't afford to waste our energy."

Liu Qingci sneered: "It's only a loss for Xu Qingya, not for me. With me here, even if the Wan family has a thousand troops, I can still fight my way in and out seven times!"

"boast!"

"What's there to brag about! I've practiced the Zhao family spear, the Jiang family spear, and the Wen family spear—I just prefer the Ma family spear style and the Zhang family spear style!"

"Since that's the case..."

After spending several days with Liu Qingci, Yin Susu knew that Liu Qingci was very straightforward and once she made up her mind, it was difficult to change it. Even if Su Qin and Zhang Yi were alive, or Gongsun Long were reincarnated, they would not be able to change her mind.

In a direct debate, Yin Susu would undoubtedly lose. However, Liu Qingci's straightforward personality allowed Yin Susu to find a flaw in his argument and exploit it.

Yin Susu smiled mischievously, her sharp, eagle-like features softening considerably. She struck an elegant pose and looked at Xu Qingya with a beaming smile: "In that case, please, Young Master Xu, paint a few portraits for this humble lady!"

Watching the young men and women playfully drawing their eyebrows, Zhui Ming lamented that he was still a bachelor in middle age. Bored, he petted his dog and took Doubao to the banquet.

The Four Great Constables' salaries are not low, but Zhui Ming suffered severe internal injuries in his childhood and needs to use alcohol to relieve his injuries. He is always drinking alcohol, and at least half of his monthly salary is spent on buying alcohol. His wallet is often emptier than his face.

Qin Nanqin was a thoughtful person; when she left Hongli Pawnshop, she took several jade items, which could be given as a congratulatory gift.

As soon as Zhui Ming arrived at the entrance of the Wan residence, Lu Kun and Zhou Qi immediately greeted him with smiles: "May I ask your esteemed name, and where you are from?"

Zhui Ming smiled and said, "My name is Cui Lüshang. I heard that Master Wan is accepting disciples today, so I came to offer my congratulations!"

If Zhuiming had said that he was "Zhuiming," Lu Kun and Zhou Qi would not have dared to be negligent in the slightest. However, Zhuiming was referring to his real name. The two were only familiar with the heroes of the Jianghu near Jiangling, and knew little about the others.

Who is Cui Lüshang?

Judging from their clothes and appearance, they're probably here to freeload a meal!

The two casually wrote "Two gifts from Cui Lue Shang" on the gift list and invited Zhui Ming to the banquet in the back alley. Zhui Ming was happy to go and laughed and joked.

Lu Kun complained, "Damn it, another freeloader shows up. It's so frustrating! I have to force a smile, my cheeks are practically frozen from smiling!"

Zhou Qi comforted him, "Senior Brother, Master instructed us not to neglect our guests. Perhaps there's an important figure hidden among these old scumbags. However, that Cui Lueshang guy sounds like a good-for-nothing. Let's go and sack him tonight!"

Lu Kun sneered, "Second Junior Brother, Master is making such a big fuss about accepting disciples, has something happened? I have a feeling something's not right, why are even experts of the caliber of the Four Wonders of the South and the Four Eccentrics of the North here to witness the ceremony?"

Zhou Qi rolled his eyes but didn't say anything more.

The story of the Liancheng Treasure spread like wildfire. Rumors in the martial arts world said that Wan Zhenshan was Mei Niansheng's disciple and possessed a Liancheng Sword Manual. It was said that as long as one mastered the Liancheng Sword Technique, one could obtain the Liancheng Treasure, which would be more than enough to last ten lifetimes.

Wan Zhenshan's disciples were all the children and nephews of local bullies in Jiangling. Most of them were spoiled brats, greedy and cunning. If Wan Zhenshan really had the Liancheng Sword Manual, they would very likely make him experience what Mei Niansheng went through.

The two whispered a few words to each other. Seeing that the sky was gradually darkening, they knew that no more guests would arrive. Just as they were about to put away the gift list, an old scholar with ragged clothes, a hunched back, and white hair walked over from a distance.

Beside the old scholar was an ugly woman with a hunchback and a limp. The left side of her face was covered with scars, as if she had been burned by a raging fire or poisoned.

Anyone who's into the underworld would run far away from people dressed like that, but Lu Kun and Zhou Qi, having been waiting at the door all day, were exhausted, hungry, and brimming with anger. They instinctively snorted, "Who are you two?"

The old scholar chuckled sinisterly, "I'd like to trouble you two gentlemen to inform him that 'Poison Hand Medicine King' has heard that Hero Wan has taken on a disciple and has come specifically to ask for a drink."

"Poisonous Hand Medicine King! I... this junior... this junior pays respects to the Medicine King senior. I was blind and did not know of your presence. I apologize to you."

Lu Kun knelt down in horror, and Zhou Qi followed suit. The Poisonous Hand Medicine King lived in seclusion by Dongting Lake. In the Jiangling martial arts world, who did not know the Poisonous Hand Medicine King's fearsome reputation? Who dared to offend this infamous Poison Bodhisattva?

Just by looking at their sharp-tongued, monkey-like faces and menacing eyes, one could tell that they were petty and narrow-minded. Lu Kun's words were often dismissive, and if the two of them were to hold a grudge, even committing suicide would be a pipe dream.

The ugly woman sneered, "Hmph! Since you know you're blind, why do you keep your eyes?"

The old scholar waved his hand: "Fine! For Wan Zhenshan's sake, I'll spare you this time! You may escape death, but you won't escape punishment. You'll be fine after three days of pain!"

A faint wisp of smoke spread toward the two men, who were kneeling and begging for mercy. They felt a sharp pain in their abdomen, followed by a tingling and numb sensation throughout their bodies. It felt as if tens of thousands of ants were gnawing at their skin, all the way to their internal organs.

Soon, Wan Zhenshan emerged from the inner hall, glaring angrily at the two: "You unfilial disciples! I ordered you to entertain the guests, and this is how you treated them? Go back and reflect on your actions. You'll be sleeping in the woodshed for the next few days!"

Several servants carried the two men to the woodshed.

The old scholar sneered: "Wan Zhenshan! I am not a murderer. The two children's disrespectful words are not a capital offense. A small punishment will suffice as a warning. However, I will charge an extra fee for teaching you disciples."

Faced with the old scholar's extortion, Wan Zhenshan showed no anger. He subtly moved his sleeve, took out a stack of silver notes, and stuffed them into the old scholar's hand: "Senior Medicine King, this is just a small token of my appreciation. Thank you for helping me teach my disciple!"

Upon seeing the silver notes, the old scholar smiled.

Xu Qingya and the others watched from a distance.

Qin Nanqin said, "Young master, that old scholar is not the Poison Hand Medicine King. He is Murong Jingyue, the Poison Hand Medicine King's eldest disciple, and the woman is Xue Que, his third disciple."

Liu Qingci asked, "Are these two a married couple?"

Qin Nanqin said, "According to the records, Murong Jingyue originally had a wife, but Xue Que admired her senior brother and poisoned her sister-in-law. Murong Jingyue was furious and gave Xue Que a deadly poison, which made her hunchbacked and lame."

The second disciple, Jiang Tieshan, liked Xue Que and did not mind that she had become ugly. He married her, and from then on, the second and third disciples fought against their senior brother. Counting the time, the two sides fought for at least seventeen or eighteen years.

Now the two of them are together...

First, their master, the true Poison Hand Medicine King, either passed away peacefully or went into seclusion in a life of seclusion.

Secondly, Jiang Tieshan is most likely dead.

Third, the Poison Hand Medicine King has a junior brother, and the two of them are very likely to join this senior uncle's sect.

If that's the case, we need to be careful.

The Poison Hand Medicine King lineage possesses a rare and extremely poisonous herb called "Seven-Heart Begonia," said to be the most poisonous herb in the world. Even the Tang Clan of Sichuan and the long-established Wen family of Lingnan avoid it with extreme caution.

Yin Susu added, "The name of the Poisonous Hand Medicine King contains the word 'poisonous hand,' but in reality, he was upright and never killed people with deadly poison. Instead, he often used medicine to save people. He felt that using poison was more compassionate than using swords."

Liu Qingci retorted, "Nonsense! Poison tortures people to the point of wishing they were dead. What kind of compassion is that? If that's compassion, then I'd be a bodhisattva!"

Yin Susu explained: "The Poison Hand Medicine King said that using swords to fight enemies will kill them directly, while poison can knock them out. If they completely repent, they can be cured with an antidote without taking their lives."

"What if it poisons someone to death?"

"Absolutely not! The first rule of the Poison Hand Medicine King sect is that it is strictly forbidden to use deadly poisons on people. Violators shall die from such poison to atone for their sins."

"That statement has some Buddhist principles to it!"

"Young Master Liu is right! Poison Hand Medicine King felt that he had too much violence and needed Buddhism to resolve it, so he became a monk more than 30 years ago. At first, his Dharma name was Da Chen. After practicing Buddhism for more than 10 years, his violence greatly decreased, and he changed his name to Yi Chen."

My father had dealt with him a few times and said that eight years ago, all his anger dissipated and he was no longer angry. So he changed his Dharma name to "Wu Chen" (meaning "without anger"). His Buddhist teachings were so profound that they were in no way inferior to those of the Shaolin monk Kong Jian.

The only regrettable thing is that most of the disciples under the Poison Hand Medicine King are unworthy. Murong Jingyue and the other two are outer disciples, while there are two personal disciples, one male and one female, one studying poison and the other studying medicine.

More than ten years ago, the two got married, but they had a major falling out over a fight over medicine versus poison.

It's said that disciples of the Free and Easy Sect are destined for a life of loneliness and hardship in love. But which disciple of the Poison Hand Medicine King has had a smooth love life? It's truly a pity and a lament!

Yin Susu couldn't help but sigh a few times.

This was told to her by Yin Tianzheng himself.

When Yang Dingtian disappeared and the Ming Cult was in turmoil, Yin Tianzheng left Bright Peak and established the Eagle Cult. He originally planned to recruit Hu Qingniu, the Ming Cult's divine physician "Butterfly Valley Physician". However, Hu Qingniu was overwhelmed by family affairs.

Yin Tian was looking for the master of Hu Qingniu and his wife to mediate their conflict, but he never expected that the disciples of the Poison Hand Medicine King were all extraordinary people, infatuated and resentful ghosts.

"Daughter, you must remember this: if you see someone you like, go for it immediately. Don't be shy. Our family has been full of devils for generations; you have to be decisive and efficient!"

Before Yin Susu left home, Yin Tianzheng gave her life advice in the most sincere tone.