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

Chapter 51 "The Moon Has Its Phases"

"Minister Xu, just now, Minister Huang was engaged in a fierce battle with the leader of the Demonic Sect. Do you know why?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for my innocence. I felt that the leader of the Demonic Sect had been holding back for too long and wanted to find someone to fight. He happened to meet Scholar Huang, and the two of them exchanged a few moves."

"Is that really the case?"

"This is the most reasonable explanation at present. The most powerful expert in the world today, the leader of the Demonic Sect, Jade Rakshasa, is the most cold-blooded, cunning, and violent!"

"Isn't what you just said somewhat contradictory? Cold-hearted people are usually calm, how could they be violent?"

"It's not contradictory! Indifference is the essence of the Demonic Sect, cunning is its survival instinct, and violence is the basic skill of its leader—there have been no exceptions to this day."

"Oh? What's the reasoning behind that?"

"My master told me all this! He said that when dealing with disciples of the Demonic Cult, one must be extremely careful, or one will be completely taken advantage of if one is not careful."

Xu Qingya had no interest in analyzing the Demonic Cult Leader.

Running off to the capital in the middle of the night to challenge Huang Shang to a fight—what an inexplicable oddity! Who knows how many wicked schemes and plots the Jade Rakshasa Sect is hiding?

The Jade Rakshasa's scheme was a decades-long deception that even Lu Xiaofeng was caught in.

The statement "Yu Tianbao is not my son" is as shocking as "I don't have a niece at all!"

Let Zhuge Zhengwo deal with this old fox! Xu Qingya, Yang Yan, Yin Susu and others are a bit naive in this regard.

Xu Qingya's idea was very simple.

If you can't beat Yu Luocha in martial arts, you'll probably lose by trickery too. It's best to stay far away. If you really can't avoid her, at least eat the "sweet candy coating" that Yu Luocha throws out as bait.

Even if you are schemed against and taken advantage of, at least you can taste the "sugar coating of the evil cult".

Liu Qingci mercilessly exposed him: "I think you really like those witches from the Demonic Sect! All the women around you are so seductive! Not a single one of them is a good person!"

"Cough cough~~"

Liu Dinghuan coughed heavily twice.

Liu Qingci made a gesture with his lips to indicate that he wouldn't interrupt—unless he couldn't help it!

"Minister Xu, I have heard that you are exceptionally talented in swordsmanship, having mastered the Spring and Autumn Sword Technique to an unparalleled level. I would very much like to see it."

"Is this... not a good place?"

"Of course not now. How about this: Mr. Zhuge will return to the capital in half a month. I will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay homage to my ancestors. Please ask Minister Xu to accompany and protect me."

"The Imperial Ancestral Temple? Can I go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

"Minister Xu, you may not know this, but the descendants of the Five Tiger Generals are all qualified to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to worship their ancestors. Minister Xu's position during the worship is equivalent to that of the Ministers of the Six Ministries."

"So tall?"

"You are the successor of the Martial Saint, so it is only right. To exaggerate a bit, you are my 'auspicious omen,' proving that I am a virtuous person and that the Martial Saint has shown his divine assistance."

"What I mean is, isn't this too hasty? My master, Ximen Changhai, is not a descendant of the Five Tigers."

"So! I will wait until Mr. Zhuge returns to the capital before confirming. Xu Aiqing, rest assured, I will definitely not treat you unfairly for participating in the Imperial Ancestral Temple ceremony."

Liu Dinghuan looked up at Liu Qingci.

Earlier, Xu Qingya and Liu Dinghuan locked eyes. In order to distract the two, Liu Qingci sat on the dragon desk and had not yet gotten down. There were two stacks of memorials piled up like a small mountain under his buttocks. His left leg was across the desk and his right leg was casually dangling, with half of his buttocks floating in the air.

How could Liu Dinghuan possibly bear it in this situation?

"Snapped!"

On the fifteenth of August, Liu Qingci received a solid slap. Liu Dinghuan scolded, "Qingci, this isn't a chair! Don't you find it uncomfortable?"

Liu Qingci laughed and said, "Big butt! Thick flesh! Even if you add two more books, I won't mind the discomfort."

This is what makes Liu Dinghuan most helpless.

Liu Qingci was born with superhuman strength, abundant blood and energy, and skin as white as jade, but her muscles were extremely tough. When she was a child, she would be distracted while studying, and her teacher would discipline her with a ruler. A light tap would turn her skin blue and purple, but it would not hurt at all.

While studying archery and horsemanship, he developed a powerful buttocks technique, becoming as tough as copper and as strong as iron. While the Thirteen Protectors practiced the Iron Bell Cover technique, Liu Qingci focused on training his buttocks.

Hitting someone won't hurt, and they won't learn their lesson.

He cursed, but I couldn't understand him; he just chuckled.

Zhuge Zhengwo once commented: "The Prince, who is as good as a child, is born with a saintly heart, a childlike heart, and a kind heart. His heart is as clear as a mirror. This old minister is not talented and has been up and down for most of his life, but he does not have the Prince's open-mindedness."

Liu Qingci continued, "Sister, the dragon throne is cold and hard. You sit on it all day long, and your buttocks are thicker than mine, so you can sit on it more comfortably!"

Xu Qingya: Is this something I can hear?

The next second, naturally, the image of the moon waxing and waning came to mind, and my thoughts became uncontrollable!

Don't let your mind wander...

Don't let your mind wander...

Don't let your mind wander...

The feet absorb the pure spirit, and the energy flows through the Yongquan point (a point on the sole of the foot);

Clouds rise and bring rain, dew condenses and turns into frost;

Running water never stagnates, and a frequently used door hinge never rusts.

A pure heart remains unperturbed even when the sky falls...

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Xu Qingya's mind was filled with images of the round, bright moon. His suppressed emotions, which had been raging for years, grew increasingly intense. Helpless, he could only recite the incantation of the Heavenly Pool Divine Palm while guiding the chilling energy of the Ice Jade Blade to clear his meridians, thus suppressing his desires.

Without realizing it, I entered a state of sudden enlightenment.

The pure energy of the Heavenly Pool Divine Palm, the innate cold energy of the Ice Jade Blade, the demonic state of using the Wei Family Blade Manual, and the burst of thoughts after breaking free from the demonic state...

Numerous inspirations gathered in my mind.

Unbeknownst to him, Xu Qingya had comprehended a mental technique to suppress his inner demons and quickly regained his composure.

No matter how much Liu Dinghuan and Liu Qingci joked around, Xu Qingya only had the look of someone appreciating art in his eyes. He picked up the imperial brush from the desk and began to paint.

Seeing Xu Qingya paint, Liu Qingci stopped his foolish antics and came over to stare intently at Xu Qingya. With just a few strokes, Xu Qingya sketched a female emperor who was both majestic and gentle, with extremely soft lines.

Xu Qingya's painting is not a playful scene, but a slightly modified version of the "Queen of the Women's Kingdom" from his memory. She is dignified and elegant, with deep affection in her eyes. Her glance upwards is so stunning that it is unforgettable.

Liu Dinghuan was a man of great talent, with exceptional attainments in poetry and prose. In terms of artistic conception in calligraphy and painting, he was far superior to Xu Qingya. However, upon seeing Xu Qingya's paintings, he felt a surge of emotions within him and was at a loss for words.

Is that really me in the painting?

Xu Aiqing's painting lacked some artistic conception, but it conveyed an indescribable "tender affection," which was perhaps too passionate. After all, he was a scholar of refined taste...

Heaven have mercy.

Xu Qingya really did not flirt with the Empress.

While painting, I subconsciously thought of a poignant story, and the most difficult tribulation of the eighty-one tribulations was the love tribulation—even heroes cannot resist the charms of a beautiful woman!

Just then, Xu Qingya was in a state of sudden enlightenment, completely forgetting himself. What he thought and saw naturally flowed into his brushstrokes. This state could not be repeated or imitated, not even by Xu Qingya himself.

The space for the poem was left empty.

As Xu Qingya made his final stroke, he awoke from his epiphany. His thoughts were still swirling, his mind both clear and chaotic. He could only leave a blank space for Liu Dinghuan to write on.

A good article is born of nature, and a skillful hand may occasionally bring it to fruition.

Liu Dinghuan himself must have been unable to hold back any longer.

"Your Majesty, I have made a fool of myself."

"Minister Xu is skilled in both literature and martial arts. It is truly a blessing for the Han Dynasty to have such a talent. Eunuch Mi, take Minister Xu to Hengwu Garden. Minister Xu will rest there tonight. You are also bestowed with a brocade robe and a gold medal!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Under Liu Qingci's murderous gaze, Xu Qingya flew away. Mi Cangqiong, who was guarding outside the door, grabbed Xu Qingya as soon as he saw him leave.

"Lord Xu, this way please..."

Inside the Imperial Study, Liu Dinghuan smiled and said, "Qingci, describe to me in detail the battle between Minister Huang and Jade Rakshasa, without omitting any details."

"Sister, I..."

"You just behaved improperly before the emperor. I hereby order you to stay home and reflect on your actions, and you are not permitted to leave your residence for three months!"

"Sister, you're bullying me..."

"Let me teach you a lesson: an older sister is an older sister, and a younger sister is a younger sister. You'd better behave and listen to me!"

……

"Old Mi, what kind of place is Hengwu Garden?"

Xu Qingya used a "hidden power" technique to slip a silver note to Mi Cangqiong, establishing a friendly relationship.

What does "Old Mi" mean?

Mi Cangqiong frowned slightly. What he hated most in his life was being called "old".

The internal energy greatly enhances bodily functions, and most of the internal energy delays aging. However, the mental cultivation technique that Mi Cangqiong practices is too fierce and backfires on his body. Every time he goes all out, he loses some of his lifespan.

In terms of age, Mi Cangqiong is about the same age as Cao Shaoqin and Eunuch Shan, or even younger, but in terms of appearance, he looks decades older than the three of them.

Xu Qingya, ever the familiar type, said, "These are common terms of address in the north, indicating that the two people are quite familiar with each other, such as 'older brother,' 'older sister,' 'younger brother,' 'younger sister,' etc."

Mi Cangqiong, naturally unwilling to offend the newly rich, asked with a smile, "In that case, how do Ximen Daxia's acquaintances address him? Do they call him Old west?"

"How is that possible? Old west is a wealthy man who mines and sells coal and runs a money exchange. My master doesn't even have a wife, where would he get spare money to run a money exchange? He'd definitely lose money if he opened a shop."

"Did Master Ximen ever run a shop?"

"In our village, there was a guy named Wu Lao Er who broke his leg while repairing a roof. My master made a crutch overnight to earn some pocket money, but the guy ended up in a wheelchair, and the crutch was left at home."

"and then?"

"My master, after much painful reflection, painstakingly studied the techniques of making wheelchairs and created one."

Three years ago, the Four Great Constables went to Liaodong to handle a case. Iron Hand accidentally broke his leg, and my master took the opportunity to sell him the crutch. Ruthless came over to reason with him, saying that my master was cheating an honest man. He returned the crutch to my master and then bought the wheelchair. My master modified the crutch...

"Why change the cane?"

"They modified the crutches into a stretcher and carried back Leng Xue, who had been hacked to pieces. Nothing was wasted, but they didn't even recoup their wages!"

"Is this what they call losing money to gain publicity?"

"Pretty much! When Zhuiming saw me, he mistook me for a debt collector and pawned his wine gourd to me to pay off the money for his crutches, wheelchair, and stretcher!"

"..."

Mi Cangqiong was completely speechless.

No wonder he's the kind of person who can fool the Linglong Pavilion Master, the Demonic Sect's enchantress, the innocent prince, and the Supreme Empress. Even without his handsome face, his eloquence alone is top-notch.

Of course, you can't do it without a handsome face!

If you're not handsome enough, you won't even get a chance to speak!

What kind of place is Hengwu Garden?

"The late emperor had a favorite concubine named Consort Ju, who used to live in Hengwu Garden. Consort Ju was an inside agent planted in the palace by the Yuxian Gang. After the Yuxian Gang was defeated, Consort Ju committed suicide by poisoning herself, and the garden has been empty ever since!"

Mi Cangqiong got angry and thought to himself, "When it comes to the ability to ramble on and on, I, Old Mi, am the best in the world!"

"According to the records in vernacular novels, is Hengwu Garden haunted? Is there ghostly wailing? His Majesty has me stay in Hengwu Garden; does he want me to catch ghosts?"

"Lord Xu can catch ghosts?"

"Won't!"

"Then why are you saying all this?"

"I can't catch ghosts, but I possess an aura of righteousness that repels evil spirits, making me the best at suppressing ghosts!"

Xu Qingya patted his chest, exuding righteous indignation.

Mi Cangqiong's composure, cultivated over decades in the palace, completely crumbled at this moment. It is said that on that day, Mi Cangqiong picked up a stick, intending to fight Xu Qingya to the death.

Mi Cangqiong: Beep beep beep beep beep...