He used a tone that was not shameful but instead was filled with pride to say the whole piece. He made sure that he was loud enough to be heard by everyone present. Everyone was instantly stunned. Even Feng Bujue’s teammates were shocked by his sudden announcement.
In a wuxia world, saying that someone achieved a great mastery of kung fu without a teacher was almost similar to you telling someone in the real world that you know how to use physic powers and had started to recruit pupils to share your knowledge. The fact that Feng Bujue had claimed that he had done exactly that was enough to scare people witless.
“Hahaha…” The drunk monk Lu Han, who was leaning against the stairs, drinking, and munching on meat, could not help but start laughing once he heard Feng Bujue’s claim. “Good! Such an impressive claim you have made! So, you have mastered your techniques by yourself and have begun a school to share your skills with others!
“I’ve been in the martial world for many years already, and I was lucky enough to have met many prominent figures. However, it is sad for me to say that many of them do not live up to their names. Other than that, I have met even more who could talk a big game. Around eighty percent of them were merely blowing their own trumpet, and they were not even worth mentioning.”
He finished another gulp of alcohol from the barrel and then lifted his eyes to look at Feng Bujue. “For someone like you, Master Feng, unknown in the martial world before this, to dare make such a big claim… this is the first time I’ve encountered something like that.”
At this point, Lu San suddenly used a skill called ’Wine-serving Snake’. His single arm started to bend before suddenly protruding outward to wrap around the barrel that he was carrying in his arms. This created a spinning force around the container.
“Master Feng, please accept this toast from me! Have a cup of wine on me!” Following a yell, the barrel flew from Lu San’s grasp and dived toward Feng Bujue. Lu San might appear boisterous and rough, but underneath that exterior was a careful and calculating mind. He had thought long and hard before making this move. All the experts that were present knew that the barrel was spinning at a high speed and carried a powerful centrifugal force. It could not be stopped by a regular person.
If he was able to catch the barrel, it proved that Feng Bujue was one with a powerful and deep reserve of internal energy. If he managed to stop the barrel with force by splitting it in half, that proved that Feng Bujue knew a bit of kung fu, albeit techniques that might not be that powerful. Of course, there was the possibility of him being injured by the flying barrel… and that would be incredibly embarrassing.
Lu San’s action might look like he was purposely looking for trouble, but in reality, he was actually trying to help Feng Bujue in a non-conspicuous way.
Feng Bujue had made such a massive and arrogant claim. He had attracted ire because of it. The level of hatred people had toward him continued to climb. Even the high monks from Shao Lin, the scholars from Ren Wu, and the Daoist masters from Xiao Yao were shaking their heads. The reactions of the leaders of the other schools were to be expected. Almost all of them had a condescending look on their faces, and they scoffed in derision at Feng Bujue’s words. Lastly, the disciples and the nomadic martial artists who had a lower standing gritted their teeth in ager. They were not going to sit there idly and listen to such preposterous claims.
At that moment, if Lu San did not jump out to issue the challenge, another character from a second-class school would have taken his place. He would have said something like, “Master Feng, you sure are impressive. I am so and so, and I wish to learn a thing or two from you.”
Then, he would jump forward to cross swords with Brother Feng.
The weaker one’s kung fu, the harder it would be to control one’s power. It was fine if the challenger was an expert, but he was afraid that a second-rate disciple might jump out, and they might cause unnecessary injuries because they did not know how to hold back. Now that he had said something, those who were more junior than him and those who knew that they were no match for Lu San would not go after Feng Bujue anymore. Since an expert like him was going to test the waters, the rest only needed to watch.
Lu San’s own thoughts were… If this little brother Feng can block this barrel, it’ll be for the best. After the others see what he is capable of, they will not make trouble for him anymore. If he is unable to stop it, my attack is not harsh enough to cause any serious injuries. Hopefully, he’ll learn from the mistake and retreat in shame.
That was indeed a good plan…
But Feng Bujue’s reaction was once again out of everyone’s expectations.
When the monk was guffawing, Feng Bujue had already realized what the monk was up to, so he instantly summoned Death Poker and hid it inside his palm. He was ready. No matter what the monk decided to do, no matter what kind of test he came up with, Feng Bujue had a foolproof solution. After all, when faced against a slightly more powerful attack, Feng Bujue would have to rely on Shield Card to ensure that he was not injured.
In that moment, the alcohol wine flew through the air and would hit its target in the next second, but then came the sound of wood snapping…
The barrel shattered into pieces in midair as it ran into a wall of sold air. The alcohol inside splashed everywhere, and not even the liquid passed through the formed wall.
Feng Bujue sat on the chair, having not moved an inch. He held the teacup in one hand while his other hand very naturally dangled down the side of the table, and he maintained this cultured serenity throughout.
When the barrel rammed into the force field that was glowing in a golden hue, Feng Bujue’s eyes finally turned that way. The next second, he suddenly extended his hand and put forth the empty teacup he was holding. At that moment, the shield from Death Poker disappeared. Feng Bujue used the cup to fetch the wine that fell from the air. He pulled the cup back to under his lips like this was all just a normal, everyday thing to him.
“Thank you for your kind treat, senior.” Feng Bujue glanced at the cup he was holding, “You said to enjoy a cup but sent over a whole barrel. Unfortunately, I am not a good drinker, so I will settle with just a cup.”
Then he tossed back the small cup of wine.
The whole place was silent…
When the experts saw this scene, they all sucked in a cold breath. They were all thinking the same question. What kind of kung fu did he just use?
Even Si Yanran, who had already fought with Feng Bujue the previous night, had no idea what kind of secret this group of people was hiding.
“In terms of the study of internal energy… those who can control the flow of energy within them can be deemed to have mastered the Qi; those who can channel the energy beyond their bodies have surpassed the limitation of Qi; those who can materialize the energy can be said to be at the height of Qi mastery and utilization…”
A soft voice described the situation in a slow manner. The voice very easily drifted into the ears of everyone present.
Once the voice finished, everyone turned toward it, and their eyes all fell on the seat that was in the corner of the inn.
Feng Bujue also lifted his eyes to take a look. He saw a girl in purple around twenty sitting there. From her appearance, she looked beautiful and gorgeous with fair skin and a jade-like complexion. Upon closer inspection, one would see that her beauty was actually more intense than previously assumed. She was as pretty as the flower, as charming as the moon in the sky. She possessed grace and elegance. That was especially so for her eyes—they were like lakes with clear ripples. Just a glance at them, and they would be forever etched in your mind.
When people say that a person’s beauty is enough to stop a whole country, they are probably describing someone like her.
The woman’s name was Mu Rong Yin, known as Heavenly Fairy. Even though she could only be counted as a semi-expert, she was very knowledgeable when it came to theories of kung fu. According to the martial world legend, whoever was lucky enough to marry this young lady from Mu Rong family would not only get a beautiful wife but also half a teacher at home. However, because of that, Mu Rong Yin was still single even though she was already twenty-five. Those who came to propose marriage were shown the door, and she would purposely stay away from those who tried to befriend her. After all, wickedness was human nature. She could not tell who treated her with sincerity or who had an ulterior motive, so she rejected all of them.
“This gentleman’s kung fu is at the highest degree.” Mu Rong Yin continued the topic that she started. “He can control his internal energy until it glows and materializes outside of his body. More than that, he is able to make it disappear whenever he wishes…”
She looked straight at Feng Bujue and stared into his eyes. “It has been three hundred years since the martial world had someone with such masterful usage of their internal energy… To think I am lucky enough to have been in the presence of such a master. I am honored!”
Feng Bujue was practically floating from the praise. This beauty was such a powerful ally. Initially, he had thought that he would need to do more to achieve the effect that he desired, but he did not expect people to be so kind and cooperate with him. She even managed to come up with such a logical theory to support it. Feng Bujue himself started to get impressed by what he had done.
Naturally, once Mu Rong Yin gave her piece, everyone else was instantly fooled. This was a rather interesting phenomenon. When something unusual happened and no one knew what the truth behind it was, if someone who was normally quite trustworthy came out at this moment to proffer their hypothesis, whether it was valid or not, it would normally be accepted as the truth.
Gong Sun Qian, who stood closest to Feng Bujue, was completely dumbfounded. Initially, he still had some suspicions regarding the ’golden wall’, but he now had complete faith that this Master Feng was undeniably an unrivalled expert!
“Hahaha… Girlie Mu Rong, we can always rely on you to provide the best explanation! I knew this kid was different from normal.” Meng Jiu’s laughter echoed across the inn. It was unclear when he showed up. Currently, he was sitting on the inn’s threshold, leaning against the door, drinking alcohol.
The fact that this leader of Beggar Clan would go and post himself at the village entrance every night was common knowledge. When people heard him described as ’different from normal’, they added their own interpretation… like Feng Bujue had already fought for three hundred moves with Meng Jiu before entering the village, and in the end, Feng Bujue had won, even keeping some strength hidden.
As Meng Jiu continued to laugh, he turned to Lu San, who was not far away, and yelled, “Monk Lu, you got taught a lesson, right‽ Hahaha… Wasted a whole barrel of alcohol for no reason!”
Lu San was not one to mind such details. The thing that happened earlier did not harm his face but had helped him gain some face, so he also laughed back and said, “Hahaha… Old Beggar, do you think I’m as stingy as you? To be able to bear witness to a showcase of skill like that, what is a barrel of alcohol?”
Meng Jiu’s appearance and his conversation with Lu San once again shattered the silence that fell over the room. Soft whispering started in the inn lobby again. People started to discuss those events, and the topic turned naturally to the five from Broken Sword Chahitsu. The incident with Thousand Dawn Spire had already been long forgotten. At that moment, another person from the second floor of the inn spoke.
“I was wondering why it was so loud outside… So, we have a rare guest among us.” The one who spoke was a white-robed swordsman. He looked just shy of forty. He had brilliant eyes, sharp features, and a powerful presence. “Master Feng…”
He leaped into the air and his feet took two steps in the air. He fluttered down from the second floor and landed next to Feng Bujue’s table. He steadied himself. “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”
“Do I know you?” Feng Bujue glanced at him. His reaction caused another ripple of commotion through the crowd.
What… He doesn’t recognize Lin Chang? The best fighter among the Ye family’s Six Flowery Blades. He said he doesn’t know him‽ What is this Feng kid up to this time?
It was understandable for the people around them to be shocked because the person who spoke with Feng Bujue was the leader of the Six Flowery Blades. His kung fu mastery, when compared to Gong Sun Qian and Ji Tong, was even better. Of all the blade masters, discounting Xie San and Ye Cheng, he should be ranked third. Of course, the distance between him and the higher two was truly vast.
“Haha…” Lin Chang laughed and clasped his fists in greeting. “I am ’Clear Sky Blade’ Lin Chang. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Master Feng. I wonder if all of you from Broken Sword Chahitsu would give me face and follow me upstairs.”