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

Chapter 19, 6 Doors, Unofficial Fifth Constable

The study of the Marquis's residence.

Ding Dian, Wu Qing, Zhuge Zhengwo, and Liu Qingci stared at each other, trying to see whose eyes could withstand the most dryness.

Ding Dian took the initiative to come to him.

Wuqing caught a cold and recuperated at the Marquis's residence.

I was called back by Chen Riyue.

Where did Liu Qingci come from?

She went to Xu Qingya's house this morning to deliver the imperial decree, but Xu Qingya got up too early and wasn't home. She went to the inn to talk to Ding Dian about Liancheng Jue and bumped her head on the door frame.

Liu Qing resigned from his palace nap, explaining that it wasn't that he didn't want to see Xu Qingya, but that he wasn't home. He suggested that his sister ask Mi Cangqiong to deliver the imperial decree, as he needed to rest.

Just then, Chen Riyue arrived. Upon hearing about the Liancheng treasure, Liu Qingci followed with great interest, ready to hear the story. Then he saw Xu Qingya.

Liu Qingci originally wanted to spar with Xu Qingya, but Ding Dian, that chatterbox, went on and on from east to west and from south to north for a full half hour.

After Ding Dian finished rambling, Liu Qingci's anger was completely transferred to Ding Dian. Zhuge Zhengwo stroked his beard and thought to himself that the rumors in the martial arts world were really true.

A normal person with a great treasure or secret would definitely hide it and be cautious in their words and deeds. Ding Dian only took two or three months to make himself an enemy of the whole world.

Half of the clues were discovered by others, and the other half were leaked by Ding Dian himself. However, Ding Dian's personality is quite similar to Tie Shou's, but he is more straightforward...

"Cough cough~~"

Xu Qingya coughed twice to ease the increasingly awkward atmosphere in the study, and asked, "Shouldn't we go and find Master Mei's three outstanding disciples?"

As everyone knows, Mei Niansheng, nicknamed "Iron Bone Ink Calyx," has three disciples who are all highly skilled and have learned from others. Their martial arts skills are average, but they have a whole host of unusual and miscellaneous skills.

First and foremost was his eldest disciple, Wan Zhenshan, a master of ventriloquism, a grandmaster of interior decoration and bricklaying, known as "Five Cloud Hands".

Secondly, there is the second disciple, an archaeologist, Pokémon trainer, and "Land Dragon" Yan Daping.

Finally, there is the third disciple, an expert in interpreting ancient poems, a master of feigning death, and Qi Changfa, known as "Iron Chain Across the River".

Qi Changfa hid in the countryside to "annotate" poems and essays, Yan Daping disguised himself as a beggar and wandered around, only Wan Zhenshan had a family and business and became a very wealthy man in Jingzhou.

Finding others is not easy, but finding Wan Zhenshan is quite easy. As long as you find Wan Zhenshan and get the Liancheng Sword Manual from him, you can obtain a great treasure.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Zhengwo, Liu Qingci, and Wuqing all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was truly a blessing from heaven for the court, that such a windfall had fallen from the sky when the court was in its most difficult time.

Everyone tacitly ignored Ling Shuanghua, as if she had never existed. Ling Shuanghua mustered her courage, looked at Zhuge Zhengwo, and asked about what happened last night.

Zhuge Zhengwo will briefly explain.

Liu Qingci said, "Don't worry! I'll spread the news in a bit. All the secrets, whether it's the Liancheng Treasure or the Yuxian Gang, have been handed over to the imperial court."

You two can go wherever you want.

If you want to go to Jiangnan, go to Jiangnan; if you want to go overseas, go overseas; if you want to go to Liaodong, go to Liaodong. If Ding Dian wants to be an official, I will recommend you to be a member of the Baolong clan.

"And Xu Qingya, do you want to be an official? The Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, the Six Doors, the Imperial Guard—I can grant you any official position you ask for."

Xu Qingya's expression suddenly changed.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Guard are one thing, but what the hell is the Eastern Depot? We don't seem to have any grudges against each other, do we?

Zhuge Zhengwo laughed and said, "Qingya, I know you don't like being tied down. How about this? You can temporarily hold a position in the Six Doors and be considered an unofficial constable of the Six Doors."

In terms of treatment, they are treated the same as the Four Great Constables.

"Ding Dian, before the Liancheng treasure is unearthed, you'll attract attention and become a target for assassination. I'd like to ask you to stay at the Marquis's residence for half a month to recuperate."

Wuqing gives Zhuge Zhengwo a thumbs up.

Older gingers are more spicy!

As expected of Uncle Shi!

His methods are far more sophisticated than those of the "One-Strong-Winged King"!

Zhuge Zhengwo gave Liu Qingci a wink, and Liu Qingci smiled and said, "Xu Qingya, you have solved many cases for the court these days, and the court must reward you."

Let's not even talk about those empty platitudes!

This is my reward for you.

As he spoke, Liu Qingci took out a scroll of sword manual.

Wei Family Knife Technique

What a lousy name!

It's several levels below techniques like the Nine Blades of Heavenly Inquiry, the Eight Methods of the Well, and the Six Techniques of Arrogant Cold.

However, the fact that Liu Qingci carefully collected it as a gift to attract talent clearly indicates that it is an exquisite sword manual. A sword master surnamed Wei? Is there such a person?

Xu Qingya smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Liu Qingci sneered, "Don't rush to thank me. I went to your house this morning to deliver an imperial decree, but you weren't home, making me make a wasted trip. Tell me, how are you going to make it up to me?"

Xu Qingya subconsciously looked at Zhuge Zhengwo.

Zhuge Zhengwo smiled and stroked his beard: "Your Highness, please stop joking. If you want to have a duel, you should at least wait until Qingya recovers his strength. How about a month later?"

Liu Qingci tilted her chin up: "Okay!"

Xu Qingya: I haven't agreed yet!

Zhuge Zhengwo deftly slipped a scroll of secret techniques into Xu Qingya's hand, then whispered in a secret voice, "Qingya! Consider it a favor to this old man; spar with the prince a few times!"

Xu Qingya's eyes widened in disbelief.

Zhuge Zhengwo showed a helpless expression.

Liu Qingci possessed the superhuman strength to uproot a willow tree, and with nowhere to vent his energy, he often sought out masters to duel. Zhuge Zhengwo, after all, was surnamed "Zhuge" and had considerable influence within the "Liu" family, while other masters were in for a terrible misfortune.

Liu Qingci wouldn't seriously injure anyone, but fighting Liu Qingci felt like "a man of Qi worrying about the sky falling," as if three mountains and five peaks were pressing down on you all at once.

Xu Qingya transmitted his voice secretly and asked, "I have heard that the One-Shoulder King is skilled in archery, but I know nothing about other aspects. Please enlighten me, Master Zhuge."

Zhuge Zhengwo laughed and said, "Your Highness learned your weaponry from me. You are skilled in spears and lances, and your favorite martial arts techniques are a spear technique and a lance technique..."

"I would like to hear the details."

"The Life-Pursuing Spear Technique, the Charge Spear Technique!"

"Chasing Life?"

"It's not 'lüeshang,' it means exactly what it says! The origin of this spear technique is Ma Mengqi, one of the Five Tiger Generals!"

"So, the spear technique is..."

"Zhang Family Spear Technique!"

"..."

Xu Qingya really wanted to flip the table over and slam it hard on Zhuge Zhengwo's face. Are you kidding me?

Ma Chao's spear technique, Zhang Fei's spear technique, is there any Zhao family spear technique, Jiang family spear technique... wait a minute, Liu Qingci's Wei family sword technique, could it be... Wei Yan?

Zhuge Zhengwo transmitted his voice secretly: "Once you master the sword manual I gave you, you will be able to contend with him."

"I've heard that the rules of the Free and Easy Sect state that once a martial art is passed on to someone else, the practitioner cannot use it themselves, otherwise they will suffer a backlash. You've taught me swordsmanship..."

"This is the Wudang 'Mysterious Void Saber Technique,' which I learned from discussing Taoism with Master Zhang. Use it as you please. If the Wudang Sect inquires, just say I taught it to you!"

The two had been communicating telepathically.

In other words, they've been staring at each other for a long time.

After the two finished their conversation, only Zhuge Zhengwo and Xu Qingya remained in the study. Liu Qingci, who disliked quiet atmospheres, went to the back garden of the Marquis's mansion to admire the flowers.

A ruthless tour guide.

Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua were responsible for the explanation.

……

Xu Qingya didn't know what expression she wore when she left the Marquis's residence. All she knew was that she felt like she had been constipated for ten days, and her mouth was full of complaints!

Is there a single normal person among all the civil and military officials in the court?

However... the harvest was still quite good!

Two volumes of sword manuals.

The "Wei Family Sword Manual," compiled by Wei Yan's descendants based on his battlefield experiences, has been revised and perfected over hundreds of years, and its moves are flawless.

Zhang Sanfeng, inspired by his understanding of the Tao Te Ching, developed the Mysterious Void Knife Technique, a series of intricate moves that utilize the opponent's force, allowing the knife to move freely and follow the flow of the situation.

One volume of internal martial arts techniques.

Ding Dian, grateful for Xu Qingya's help, gave Xu Qingya the "Divine Illumination Skill" passed down by Mei Niansheng. Xu Qingya's appearance and temperament were even more in line with the Changge Sect.

Three tokens.

The Six Doors token grants the holder the status of an unofficial constable, with treatment equivalent to the Four Great Constables, and the possibility of being officially appointed at any time.

The Imperial Guard token signifies a lone bodyguard, whose status is equivalent to a fifth-rank Imperial Bodyguard with a sword, and who receives the same treatment.

The Dragon Guardian Manor token indicates that Liu Qingci was ordered to train the Dragon Guardians and establish the "Dragon Guardian Manor." If Xu Qingya agrees to join, he can become the deputy manor lord.

Before leaving, Zhuge Zhengwo asked, "Do you want to take the imperial examination? With your looks, if you can reach the palace examination, you'll undoubtedly be the third-ranked scholar!"

A box of miscellaneous items.

It includes: a brocade robe, a folding fan, a piece of gold-threaded soft armor, and a piece of thousand-year-old cold iron.

The imperial treasury was empty and short of money, but it had accumulated a great deal of treasures over hundreds of years. When rewarding meritorious officials, the rewards were always treasures, and monetary rewards were often very low.

but……

In a chaotic world rife with demons and riches, the emperor has been on the throne for three years. The court is gradually stabilizing, and border conflicts are subsiding. Now that the emperor has some free time…

Putting aside everything else, the one who jumped the most enthusiastically, the one in green robes on the 108th floor, was served by the Six Doors, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Eastern Depot in turn, draining Huo Xiu, this greedy beast, dry.

Xu Qingya was so confused by the old fox Zhuge Zhengwo that he forgot to think about a question!

Why do they trust me so much?

—Even if it's about showing respect to the virtuous and talented, or the most famous "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage" of the Liu family, isn't this being too polite? Is the court really short of people right now?

Humans always have a bit of a cheap streak.

You feel uncomfortable when others don't trust you!

Even though others trust you a lot, you still have doubts!

oh~~

Xu Qingya hadn't overlooked these problems.

Xu Qingya was too lazy to think about these trivial matters.

Even if you really want to ponder these questions, you don't have to use your brain yourself. You can ask an external brain for help. Amidst his chaotic thoughts, Xu Qingya arrived outside Tingxue Pavilion.

Looking up, Yang Yan revealed her stunningly beautiful face through the window, casually tossing down a bamboo pole.

Xu Qingya: ┐(￣ヮ￣)┌