Chapter 32 The Martial Arts Champion Arrives

Seeing Feng Dai kneel, Li Qingqiu remained unmoved. He casually responded, “What do you mean by that? Has the county magistrate already uncovered the truth?”

In his opinion, the actions of Feng Dai and others were meaningless, merely an attempt to alleviate their inner guilt.

Even if Wu Baoyu himself harbored thoughts of executing the emperor, without Feng Dai’s identification, he would surely have lived longer.

Zhang Yuchun bringing Wu Baoyu up the mountain only changed Wu Baoyu’s fate; the one who truly forced Wu Baoyu to the Imperial City was Feng Dai.

Of course, Feng Dai was not wrong either; it is only natural for an official to arrest a thief.

If anyone is to blame, it can only be that emperor.

He founded the Demonic Sect, erased Wu Baoyu’s achievements, and slandered Wu Baoyu as a person who committed all sorts of evil.

However, the emperor in this world is like Heaven, and Mortals are not qualified to challenge Heaven.

“I investigated according to what Senior Xiao said, and the second Young Master of the Xiao Family was indeed named Xiao Ji. Xiao Ji was chosen as an Imperial Palace guard at the age of coming of age, following the previous Crown Prince’s affairs. After the Xiao Family was massacred, his records also ceased, with no further news. Moreover, I found that the former Crown Prince did indeed dispatch a group of Imperial Guards to infiltrate the Demonic Sect, but there are no subsequent records.”

Feng Dai gritted his teeth, his face full of remorse.

The nine Yamen Runners also looked grim. After learning about Wu Baoyu’s past, hearing that such a hero died with a bad reputation, their fighting spirit was struck.

They couldn’t tell if the Dynasty they served was as they thought, or if justice still existed in this world.

If even the emperor was the greatest evil, what could these Yamen Runners, struggling at the bottom, do?

Li Qingqiu stared at him and asked, “Is that all it takes for you to believe him?”

“After Senior Xiao died in the Imperial Palace, the dossiers concerning Xiao Ji were also destroyed. I asked the Governor, and he was also confused but ordered me not to ask any more questions. How could there be such a coincidence?”

Feng Dai spoke through gritted teeth, his heart unable to calm down.

Li Qingqiu sighed and said, “After Senior Wu came up the mountain, he was silent and withdrawn. I didn’t interact much with him, so I can’t judge the truth. I only know one thing: he’s gone. Let’s just pretend he was never here. Regret now is meaningless.”

With that, he turned and walked up the mountain.

“Wait, Sect Leader, do you think this matter should just end like this?” Feng Dai quickly called out.

“I am merely the Sect Leader of a School. I only want to protect my Disciples. Wu Baoyu never belonged to my Qingxiao Sect, so for me, yes, it should end like this.”

Li Qingqiu did not stop walking, nor did he look back.

Feng Dai’s expression changed between light and shadow, but he could no longer speak.

After Li Qingqiu disappeared at the end of the mountain path, the Yamen Runners all stood up and went to help Feng Dai.

“My Lord, this concerns Imperial power; we can’t handle it, and the Qingxiao Sect certainly can’t,” a slightly older Yamen Runner said in a deep voice. He had served the longest among them, and his heart had long been pessimistic.

Feng Dai took a deep breath. He turned to look at the nine Yamen Runners, his gaze different from before. He said in an exceptionally resolute tone, “Precisely because no one dares to interfere, I must. I admit this path is fraught with peril, and I will not force any of you to come with me. Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will clear Senior Xiao’s name and expose the truth of the evil to the world!”

He turned and left, his left hand on the hilt of the blade at his waist, gripping it tightly, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

The nine Yamen Runners fell silent. They did not look at each other, but not long after, they all began to Move, following in Feng Dai’s footsteps.

Little Eight circled in the sky. It looked down, and Feng Dai and the others were so tiny, like ants… After the New Year, the Qingxiao Sect’s expansion plan continued. Zhang Yuchun became the busiest person, often taking Huang Shan and Yu Lin down the mountain, which also made the two of them more mature, and their way of speaking and handling matters was clearly different from other Disciples.

Li Qingqiu was only responsible for finalizing major decisions and supervising the construction progress everywhere.

As spring was nearing its end, Wu Maner and Li Sifeng successively achieved a Breakthrough to the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer, which greatly pleased Li Qingqiu.

The combat power of a Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer expert was enough to rival first-rate masters in the Jianghu, even considered among the top tier of first-rate experts.

After achieving the Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer, Li Sifeng couldn’t hold back. He found Li Qingqiu and requested that Zhang Yuchun take him along on his next trip down the mountain.

Li Qingqiu hesitated for a moment but finally agreed. Although Li Sifeng was not yet fourteen, his martial skills were far superior to Zhang Yuchun and his two companions. Moreover, with Li Sifeng present, Zhang Yuchun would effectively have an extra mobile signboard when recruiting Disciples.

Upon receiving Li Qingqiu’s approval, Li Sifeng was overjoyed. He immediately found Zhang Yuchun and informed him of the matter. Zhang Yuchun was equally pleased, as he was well aware of Li Sifeng’s martial prowess.

As a result, the very next day, Zhang Yuchun went down the mountain with Li Sifeng, Huang Shan, and Yu Lin.

After noon, Li Qingqiu and a dozen Disciples stayed in the courtyard, their gaze fixed on Yang Jueding and Wu Maner.

The two were sparring.

Previously, Wu Maner had practiced martial arts with Jiang Zhaoxia, but later, when Jiang Zhaoxia was busy, Yang Jueding took over teaching Wu Maner.

Since taking over Wu Maner, Yang Jueding was eager to impart all his knowledge, even more diligently than with Li Sifeng. He even passed on his Improvements Nine Heavens Divine Palm to Wu Maner.

The two stood ten steps apart, each assuming their stance.

Wu Maner had just turned fifteen and was already nine feet tall. In the Great Li Dynasty, nine feet was close to two meters. He was burly, and even wearing the largest robes, they appeared tight.

Although his physique was intimidating, he had a simple and honest face, always wearing a silly grin, as he was now.

Yang Jueding, facing him, couldn’t smile. Only when truly confronting Wu Maner could he feel the pressure.

“The Nourishing Origin Realm, Second Layer has such a great improvement?”

Yang Jueding was secretly alarmed. In his eyes, Wu Maner had no flaws at all. He felt that no matter where he attacked from, he would suffer a terrifying blow.

Li Dongyue held Yuan Li, who was almost two years old, tilting his head and his eyes wide open.

Cheng Canghai stood at the edge, equally curious about the upcoming battle.

He did not doubt Yang Jueding’s strength; he was mainly curious about how strong Wu Maner was.

He had previously seen Wu Maner carrying a two-thousand-jin heavy log up the mountain, which had terrified him.

“Maner, I’m going to make my Move.”

After Yang Jueding spoke, he lunged at Wu Maner with an arrow-like step. His palms were like wind, rapidly striking at Wu Maner.

Wu Maner appeared heavy-footed, yet he easily dodged Yang Jueding’s fierce offensive. His footsteps continuously shifted, neither advancing nor retreating.

He dodged Yang Jueding’s palms and simultaneously used his hand to block Yang Jueding’s leg, successfully stopping it.

The Disciples of the Qingxiao Sect couldn’t even clearly see Yang Jueding’s Moves; they only felt that Yang Jueding had many hands and many legs, making them dizzy.

Even if they couldn’t see clearly, they could understand the situation.

“Junior Martial Uncle Wu is so amazing.”

“Indeed, I didn’t expect his martial skills to be so good. I thought he only had great strength.”

“Such strong gusts of wind are blowing on my face.”

“Is this internal Qi?”

“This is just the beginning; true internal Qi is extremely lethal. They haven’t even gotten serious yet.”

The Disciples discussed in twos and threes, their eyes never leaving Wu Maner and Yang Jueding.

Qin Ye gripped his long staff, his gaze fixed on the two fighting.

Since Wu Baoyu taught him the Ten Thousand Army Demon Subduing Staff, although he hadn’t sparred with other Disciples, everyone could see his changes. His body grew stronger, his eyes became sharper, and he gained a Killing Intent Aura, making many Disciples afraid to joke with him.

Yang Jueding’s Aura suddenly intensified, and Qi surged around him. His offensive became even more powerful, stirring up dust and stones. Wu Maner also stopped defending, and as he made his Move, the two began to exchange blows.

Fists and feet met, and the sound of flesh hitting flesh continuously echoed, making the Disciples’ hearts tense.

The fully serious Wu Maner no longer grinned foolishly; his expression was so stern that, combined with his physique, the sense of oppression was immense. Even though Yang Jueding wasn’t forced to retreat, it made people feel that he wasn’t as strong as Wu Maner.

Cheng Canghai swallowed, his heart churning with stormy waves.

To possess such an Aura with just fist and foot techniques, these two have already surpassed first-rate masters!

The Qingxiao Sect doesn’t have many people, but it truly hides Dragons and crouching tigers!

Li Qingqiu nodded slightly. In terms of Aura, both of them had already surpassed Lü Taidou. Even if the Seven Peaks Alliance were to launch a full-scale invasion now, the Qingxiao Sect would have the confidence to deal with it.

After a brief moment of alarm, Yang Jueding became exhilarated.

Wu Maner made him feel evenly matched for the first time in a long while. Even though he was already injured, he felt refreshed.

This was much more enjoyable than fighting with the Canghai Sword Saint!

Neither of them used the Nine Heavens Divine Palm, only relying on their fist and foot techniques, which made the watching Disciples’ blood boil.

“Stop.”

Li Qingqiu’s voice suddenly came, and the two immediately stopped, maintaining their punching and palm-swinging postures.

Wu Maner’s fist struck downwards towards Yang Jueding, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain. Yang Jueding’s palm struck upwards from his waist, like a hidden Dragon emerging from the abyss.

The expressions of the two changed instantly. Wu Maner reverted to his simple-minded look and turned to look at Li Qingqiu.

“We were just getting started, why did you call a stop?” Yang Jueding tilted his head and glanced at Li Qingqiu, asking with dissatisfaction.

The other Disciples also looked at Li Qingqiu, their eyes puzzled.

They had just begun to exchange blows.

Li Qingqiu picked up the hot tea on the table and said softly, “A distant guest is about to arrive; let’s not disturb them.”

Distant guest?

Everyone was confused, subconsciously looking towards the courtyard gate, but saw no one.

Yang Jueding withdrew his palm, about to complain, when a voice came from the direction of the mountain gate:

“I am Li Yang, the current top scholar in martial arts, and I wish to challenge the top martial artist of all Martial Forest Schools to exchange martial Dao. I wonder if the Qingxiao Sect has any expert who dares to accept the challenge!”

Everyone was surprised. Someone actually came?

How did the Sect Leader detect it beforehand?

Li Qingqiu looked at Yang Jueding and Wu Maner, smiling as he asked, “You two go and receive him. Either of you can make a Move, but don’t kill him. After all, he is the top scholar in martial arts, and his background is not small.”

Yang Jueding nodded, immediately turned and left. Wu Maner and the other Disciples followed, rushing after him.

The courtyard quickly only had Li Qingqiu, Li Dongyue, and Yuan Li left.

The smile on Li Qingqiu’s face disappeared. He frowned slightly, lost in recollection.

He seemed to have heard the name Li Yang before. Since he shared the surname Li, he should be from that Family.