Meng Qi almost burst into laughter, and at once found Ruan Yushu’s image much more amiable.
“Your techniques just now were unfathomably marvelous, truly impressive!” With his senses altered, Meng Qi no longer felt so constrained and sincerely praised.
Ruan Yushu nodded without any modesty, her expression slightly smug.
After swallowing her food, she took out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth: “It’s a pity I didn’t get to see you in action.”
“Why not?” Meng Qi retorted playfully.
“You’re about my age, at the Four Orifices cultivation stage, yet you’ve made it onto the Human Roster. You must definitely have something special about you.” Having eaten Meng Qi’s food, Ruan Yushu became slightly more talkative.
“That’s right.” Meng Qi replied cheerfully.
Ruan Yushu said in her usual indifferent tone, “I wonder what the Thunder Saber Mad Monk or the Fierce Vajra would be like?”
Meng Qi’s smile faded: “That’s just hearsay among the martial artists. I’m not some mad monk or rough brute. Honestly, I consider myself quite refined in both manner and temperament.”
He could only blush slightly while boasting about himself.
Ruan Yushu picked up her bamboo chopsticks again, reaching for the remaining food. Her gaze lowered slightly, her head slightly bowed, lips slightly upturned, and she spoke neither too softly nor too loudly: “There are no wrong nicknames, only wrongly chosen names.”
Wait, let me explain—it’s not like that at all… Meng Qi’s expression immediately froze as he desperately screamed inwardly.
…
When they returned to the small meeting room, Lu Zhongqi was already waiting there. He nodded and said, “The outside world widely claims that Gao Tong died suddenly from an acute illness, but I believe such a coincidence is unlikely. Brother Meng, Miss Ruan, you truly have eliminated a potential threat for us. I will now take you to meet Lord Lu.”
Lu Guan had been exiled here for many years, and some of the household-born attendants who had accompanied him had already established families and had descendants here. Although they had long made arrangements to hide and evade pursuit, Gao Tong, being a local gangster in Yuexi, still had a high chance of locating them. Thus, unless Gao Tong was eliminated, Lu Zhongqi and others would find it difficult to escort Lu Guan to the capital with peace of mind.
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the seven-stringed zither Ruan Yushu was carrying, and his expression showed deep thought.
Having followed Lu Guan for many years, he was highly experienced in judging people and situations. He did not believe that Xiao Sun, the quiet and taciturn swordsman, could have killed Gao Tong in such an unusual manner. On the other hand, martial artists who used the seven-stringed zither as a weapon were extremely rare, so the young girl surnamed Ruan must definitely possess unique techniques.
“Just lucky,” Meng Qi briefly replied. Ruan Yushu maintained her aloof and refined demeanor, slightly nodding without uttering a word.
Lu Zhongqi did not press further, leading the two through several twists and turns to a bustling, lively street in the city and entering a general store facing the street.
He directly walked through the store into the courtyard behind it, while the shopkeeper and assistants kept their eyes forward, pretending not to notice anything.
In the courtyard were more than ten martial artists, male and female, who had divided into three or four groups chatting casually.
When they saw Meng Qi and Ruan Yushu following Lu Zhongqi in, they all looked slightly surprised—not because of anything else, but because they hadn’t expected their new companions to be so young, one around seventeen or eighteen years old, and the other fifteen or sixteen, still mere youths with little experience. How high could their martial prowess be?
Lu Zhongqi simply nodded at them and continued forward, leading Meng Qi and Ruan Yushu toward the study.
“Lord Lu has repeatedly defeated the western invaders and reclaimed lost territories, but was framed by a treacherous prime minister and exiled here, earning both admiration and outrage from many martial heroes. After news of his journey to the capital spread, many friends came to escort him. However, with so many people involved, it’s easy for secrets to leak, and some heroes lack sufficient martial skills. Including them would only endanger their lives needlessly,” Lu Zhongqi casually explained on the way to the study. “Therefore, I observed their abilities, set trials, and politely declined most of them. The remaining dozen or so are all highly skilled and trustworthy.”
That made sense… Meng Qi nodded grimly. If the entire escort mission turned into a farce, even if he were made of iron, how many nails could he fight with?
Passing several paths guarded by household-born guards, they finally arrived at the study. Lu Zhongqi respectfully knocked on the door.
“Zhongqi, come in,” came Lu Guan’s weary yet firm voice. Though not a martial expert himself, he did possess decent martial skills.
Lu Zhongqi pushed open the door, gestured for Meng Qi and Ruan Yushu to wait, entered briefly to report, then came out to invite them inside.
“Two noble friends, your righteousness humbles me,” Lord Lu courteously said.
He stood seven chi tall, with dark skin and a five-bearded chin. His most striking feature was his eyes—bright and spirited, filled with determination. His overall demeanor was scholarly yet firm.
Meng Qi bowed: “Lord Lu, you are a hero to the people, serving the nation and its citizens. You embody the true chivalry. We are willing to face any danger for your sake.”
He spoke concisely without unnecessary pleasantries.
“Serving the nation and its people, embodying true chivalry…” Lu Guan’s expression shifted as he softly repeated the words.
“Indeed, Lord Lu is the most deserving of the title ‘Great Hero!'” Beside Lu Guan stood two other individuals: one was an elderly man in brocade robes with a dignified bearing, and the other was a Daoist swordsman with a lion’s nose and tiger’s eyes—the one who spoke.
Lu Zhongqi smiled and pointed to the Daoist: “Senior Jin Yan, the ‘Tiger Daoist.'”
Then he turned to the man in brocade robes: “Master Jiao Chong, head of the Guanshui Tower.”
Meng Qi could easily deduce with just a thought that Tiger Daoist and Jiao Chong were the two most prominent experts among these martial artists, possibly the most renowned as well, thus serving as leaders among the martial heroes, personally guarding Lord Lu.
After mutual greetings, the impassioned Tiger Daoist praised: “You two young friends, with such martial skills at such tender ages, are truly admirable. But what impresses me most is your understanding of righteousness, knowing what true chivalry entails, and daring to come to our aid despite the dangers. Truly, heroes emerge from youth!”
Jiao Chong also smiled: “It’s been many years since I’ve seen such outstanding young people. Your future prospects are surely boundless.”
As senior martial experts, the two men half-jokingly praised them, while Meng Qi and Ruan Yushu, both reserved and taciturn strangers, merely expressed their gratitude in few words.
Coming back to his senses, Lu Guan sighed deeply: “True chivalry serves the nation and its people. I feel unworthy of such praise. My heart lies at the border fortresses, yet my body grows old here in Yuexi, wasting away my years in vain.”
The Tiger Daoist loudly declared: “Lord Lu, this journey to the capital will surely allow you to fulfill your lifelong ambitions—defeating the western invaders without and eliminating the treacherous prime minister within, restoring peace and tranquility to the Emperor and the common people!”
Lu Guan’s expression turned resolute: “This task is arduous, but I will not waver, even if it costs me my life nine times over.”
After further thanking the two for eliminating Gao Tong, Lu Guan instructed Lu Zhongqi to properly accommodate the two righteous warriors.
Lu Zhongqi originally planned to assign them to join other martial heroes, dividing into teams for patrol and protection. However, considering their taciturn nature—one indifferent, the other aloof—it would likely be difficult for them to get along with others, so he decided to have them follow him directly.
A few days later, Meng Qi’s group secretly departed from Yuexi, protecting Lu Guan on his journey to the capital.
…
In the courtyard where they stayed overnight, Meng Qi unsheathed the “Evil Tribulation” and began practicing the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber Technique and the Blood Saber Technique with deliberate slowness.
These two saber techniques formed the foundation of Meng Qi’s swordsmanship, in which he had immersed himself deeply. Now, having read the essence of the Tian Dao General Outline, practicing them again gave him a completely different feeling—as if he understood something, yet also felt like he understood nothing at all.
His movements were very slow, occasionally pausing as he pondered and practiced, making his saber techniques appear clumsy and awkward, as if he had just begun learning.
“Indeed, the Tian Dao General Outline contains the culmination of Song Que’s lifelong saber expertise. It’s extremely difficult to comprehend…” At this moment, Meng Qi envied Kou Zhong from the “Tang Dynasty Twin Dragons” immensely. Kou had the privilege of sparring face-to-face with Tian Dao Song Que, who personally honed and guided him, stimulating his potential through saber momentum, enabling him to truly master the art of the saber in a short time. Meng Qi, on the other hand, had no choice but to hold onto the secret manual, diligently practicing day and night with great difficulty.
By comparison, perhaps due to inheriting the Thunder God Mark and partially receiving the legacy of the Divine Xiao Nine Annihilation, his cultivation of “Thunder Words” advanced swiftly, having now attained a minor level of proficiency.
“Little Meng, are you just starting to learn saber techniques?” The Tiger Daoist and Jiao Chong took turns guarding Lord Lu. When stepping out for fresh air, he happened to see Meng Qi practicing his saber techniques, slightly pitying the extraordinary quality of the long saber.
“No, I’m contemplating,” Meng Qi replied coldly but politely.
The Tiger Daoist smiled, unconvinced, then asked: “Little Meng, you seem to be proficient in both sword and saber. Why haven’t I ever seen you practicing sword techniques?”
Meng Qi slightly raised his head: “My sword must draw blood once unsheathed.”
His demeanor fully displayed the pride and confidence of a swordsman.
The Tiger Daoist twitched slightly and walked away.
The martial heroes resting around and Lu family attendants couldn’t help but smile.
Meng Qi paid no attention. Regardless of their thoughts, at least they would now respect his sword techniques, certainly believing his sword skills surpassed his newly learned saber techniques, thus establishing his image.
Ruan Yushu appeared from somewhere, watching Meng Qi practicing his saber techniques in slow motion.
She observed for a while thoughtfully, then secretly transmitted voice into his ear: “Are you at a bottleneck in your saber techniques?”
“Mm,” Meng Qi nodded. Given Ruan Yushu’s prestigious martial background, it wasn’t strange that she could tell.
“If you break through, your saber techniques will approach the Dao, and you also possess the ‘A-nan Breaking Precepts Saber Technique,'” Ruan Yushu no longer doubted Meng Qi’s saber skills, still transmitting voice secretly, “No wonder you made it onto the Human Roster.”
Meng Qi felt quite proud and pleased about making the Human Roster, a smile appearing on his face.
“I heard that throughout history, only a few senior monks from Shaolin truly mastered this saber technique and grasped its true meaning,” Ruan Yushu seemed somewhat curious.
Meng Qi gently nodded: “Yes.”
His pride increased further.
Ruan Yushu slightly frowned with her distant, eyebrow-like frown: “It seems most of them broke their precepts first, yet eventually returned to the Buddhist path, becoming true senior monks. Will you become a monk again in the future?”
Meng Qi’s face immediately darkened.
Ruan Yushu, carrying her seven-stringed zither with her hands behind her back, her lips barely perceptibly upturned, strolled back toward her room.
At that moment, the Lu family attendants who had gone out to purchase food and drinks returned, and her footsteps immediately slowed.
According to routine, they carefully checked for poison and used a black dog to taste each item.
After a while, the black dog remained unharmed, so people began taking their respective portions of food and drinks, leaving the rest for the group currently on patrol.
As Meng Qi was about to step forward, he noticed Ruan Yushu standing still.
Strange, the foodie didn’t move—Meng Qi sheathed the “Evil Tribulation” and asked in confusion, “Miss Ruan, why aren’t you going?”
Ruan Yushu slightly furrowed her brows, showing slight confusion: “It seems not very tasty, a bit strange.”
As her words fell, several people were seen clutching their throats, making gurgling sounds, and collapsing with blackened faces within moments.
Yet the black dog remained lively and energetic.
“Poisoned? This level of poisoning ability…” Meng Qi’s pupils slightly constricted.
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