Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 252 Skill Complementarity, A Few Things About Li Zhaoting's Squad
"Can you solve the Zhenlong Chess Puzzle, my lord?"

"In a normal game of chess, I'm about 60-70% confident that I can beat anyone except my wife."

"What if it's an abnormal chess game?"

"I am absolutely certain that if my opponent uses an unorthodox chess strategy against me, I will not engage in it. Instead, I will pick up the chessboard and smash the back of his head!"

Thanks to the intense competition he faced in his childhood, Li Zhaoting is quite accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. While he may not be as talented as a prodigy like Feng Suzhen, he is certainly no ordinary person either.

Li Zhaoting was most talented in chess, but not as good as Feng Suzhen in Go. He was slightly better at Chinese chess, and they would occasionally play games like animal chess and military chess as a couple.

The odds are even.

In the early stages, Li Zhaoting held the advantage. As he won more and more games, Feng Suzhen's clothes became less and less. Li Zhaoting felt dizzy and lightheaded. Even though he had a thousand ingenious schemes in his mind, he could not resist her gentle touch.

If you're about to lose a game of chess, can you kick someone out?

Feng Suzhen: Of course! Wearing pure white stockings, a specialty of the Xue family, she kicked him. Li Zhaoting was immediately mesmerized. Every move was a masterful strike!
Most of the disciples of the Free and Unfettered Sect are stubborn, but they all possess amazing skills, so it wouldn't hurt to go and take a look.

The Su Xinghe lineage does have some advantages.

First, they possess exceptional skills and outstanding abilities.

Secondly, they must be obedient, honest, and loyal.

Finally, the unique skills of the Xiaoyao Sect are quite mysterious. It is said that when Xiaoyaozi was traveling in Dali, he obtained a jade stone in Changchun Valley with an effect comparable to the "Evil Emperor's Relic". He carved it into the shape of a ruyi (a traditional Chinese scepter) and used it as a token of inheritance.

The Li family ancestors were top-notch carving masters who left behind some carving records. Li Nanxing said that when Xiaoyaozi was making the heirloom, he sought the help of the Li family ancestors. Even the name was given by Li Zhaoting's ancestor.

It seems to be called... Jade Exquisite!

Li Nanxing runs a jade business in Dali, thanks to two main sources: jade blanks given to him by his master and jade inherited from his ancestors.

Li Xunhuan was skilled in carving, inheriting the carving techniques of the Li family. He was especially adept at using objects to express emotions, and the flowers, plants, fish, and insects he carved were all lifelike.

When carving, one pours their heart and soul into the work, completely integrating their own emotions into the piece. This state is rare and cannot be sought after; it is a divine and enlightened realm.

Works sculpted in this state, especially portraits, will be more captivating than the subject themselves, and may even create a mental demon that can trap the sculptor.

Jade carving master?

Why does this feel so familiar?

Have I seen related records somewhere?

It's not Wuyazi!
Where is it?

Li Zhaoting rubbed his temples, feeling as if he had forgotten something. He couldn't figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it. He calculated the time and took his confidante to Leigu Mountain.

Autumn is approaching.

The autumn air is crisp and clear, and the weather is turning cool.

It's perfect for taking the family on a trip.

Feng Suzhen and Lan Fenghuang are definitely going, and Jiang Yuyan and Meizhu will also go. The kids are too young, and we're worried they might get into trouble on the way, so we'll leave them at home for summer vacation. To prevent them from causing a ruckus, Li Zhaoting painstakingly created "Happy Summer Vacation".

As long as you finish your homework before Li Zhaoting and the others go home, you will have completed your summer task. You can arrange your remaining time as you like. You can finish your homework first and then play, you can do a little bit every day, or you can play first and then catch up on your homework. But you cannot skip your homework. Li Zhaoting will check it carefully.

Li Zhaoting: Were you happy this summer?
Qu Feiyan: I want to run away from home...

Five Rats: Eldest Sister, let's go together! Let's go perform on the streets! Let's join the Beggars' Sect!

Li Zhaoting: Your uncle is the leader of the Beggars' Sect. If you dare to join the Beggars' Sect, your homework will all increase tenfold!
Qu Feiyan: (﹏)
The Five Rats: Master, we were wrong!

With so many people traveling together, including four women—all delicate and frail scholars and ladies from respectable families—it was perfectly reasonable for Li Zhaoting to hire bodyguards from the Da Wang Escort Agency.

I'm so handsome, yet physically weak and easily bullied. What if the female chieftain takes a liking to me, kidnaps me to her mountain stronghold, and makes me her husband? Where can I go to complain? I'll have nowhere to cry!
Female bandits are very fierce!

Take good care of yourself when you're out and about!

Li Zhaoting adopted a businesslike attitude.

All the girls: ((-_-)-_-)-_-)
Miss Wang: You are so shameless!

Li Zhaoting: I'm the customer. Do you even know what a customer is? A customer is your supreme ruler! How dare you mock a customer? Have you thought about how to apologize?

……

The next morning, the group went to Leigu Mountain.

Worried about encountering trouble on the road, everyone traveled on horseback. Jiang Yuyan couldn't ride a horse, so Li Zhaoting carried her. Mei Zhu almost popped her eyes out. "You can do this? Can the old wine handle it?"

Of course, aged liquor can withstand it.

As a family heirloom, Lao Jiu excels at long-distance travel and has unparalleled endurance.

With a long time to go before the agreed time, the group traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently to enjoy themselves as they went. After seven or eight days, they finally arrived at Leigu Mountain, just as the chess game was about to begin.

Tianlong Valley is located deep in Leigu Mountain. The valley is full of flowers and trees. When the mountain wind blows, the sound of the pines is like the sound of waves. There is a large square in the valley, and three wooden houses are built against the mountain. In front of the wooden houses is a smooth stone wall as smooth as a mirror. Nineteen lines are carved on the stone wall, and chess pieces are placed on it.

After a brief exploration, it was discovered that the interior of the stone wall contained magnetic mineral veins, and the chess pieces were all made of magnets.

No wonder they can play chess on the stone wall.

Since Ding Chunqiu was eliminated, Su Xinghe reinstated his eight disciples, who lined up neatly on both sides of the road to welcome guests.

The eldest disciple, Kang Guangling, known as the "Master of the Qin";

The second disciple is Fan Bailing, the "Chess Demon";

The three disciples were bookworms who studied diligently.
Wu Lingjun, the fourth disciple known as the "Painting Madman";

The fifth disciple, Xue Muhua, known as "Enemy of Yama";

The sixth disciple, "Skilled Craftsman" Feng Asan;

The seventh disciple, the "flower-obsessed" Shi Qinglu;

The eighth disciple, Li Kuilei, a "theatre enthusiast";
Their specialties can be seen from their names.

Why is a bookworm called "Gou Du"? This name comes from Han Yu's "On Teachers" (师说), specifically the phrase "not knowing how to punctuate," and carries a sarcastic connotation, implying that this person is someone who only reads books to death.

Did Xue Mu Hua admire "Madam Hua"? Hua is the Hua of Hua Tuo, indicating that he is from the same lineage as Hua Tuo.

What is the origin of Feng Asan? Feng refers to Feng Minghuan, the carpenter in "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio", and San refers to the three elements of heaven, earth and man, indicating that he is good at civil engineering.

Before long, guests gathered in the valley.

Su Xinghe invited members of prominent families who knew the strength of the Xiaoyao Sect and that they were looking for a successor. They all sent their most skilled chess-playing descendants. There were also some who were not very good at chess and were just there to watch the fun!

Li Zhaoting saw several familiar faces.

Duan Yu, who had just married Hua Huafeng.

Xiao Feng was invited by Xue Muhua.

Murong Fu's reputation was severely damaged.

Tang Zhuquan, the eldest son of the Tang family.

Lu Xiaofeng drove the Power Clique out of Sichuan.

Cheng Huaixiu, leader of the Sichuan Salt Gang. Li Shengnan, the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Cult.

Yang Yuqian and Geng Yujing of the Wudang School.

Geng Yujing was using Bai Yujing's pseudonym.

The leader of the Four Great Constables, Wuqing.

There were also some young talents I didn't recognize.

For example, Li Yuhan from Yongcui Mountain Villa, He Yuntian, a disciple of Chaoyang Peak of Mount Hua, Liu Chengfeng from Bashan Sword Sect, Jin Lingzhi, Tie Xinlan, and Ma Xiuzhen from Emei Sect...

As the saying goes, every martial arts tournament is a matchmaking event for prestigious sects.

At Zhang Sanfeng's 100th birthday banquet, the Emei Sect seized the opportunity to snag two wealthy husbands, much to the envy of others. This time, the Xiaoyao Sect is choosing a successor, and all those who have come are young talents. They must make good arrangements and strive to achieve a sect-to-sect marriage alliance.

The martial arts world is becoming increasingly chaotic.

A young prodigy gains fame through his experiences in the martial world, achieving renown with a single sword strike.

A hidden force has risen from the ashes, stirring up trouble.

If one is alone and acts alone, even a Grandmaster of the Heavenly Gang can easily be shattered to pieces.

A hero with three gangs.

Nobody likes to be alone.

Going it alone is too difficult; one must be a polymath who is proficient in all kinds of knowledge, including martial arts, strategy, adaptability, medicine, healing, sailing, cooking, wilderness survival, martial arts allusions, mountain classics, and folk culture.

You need to know a little bit about everything.

Human energy is limited. Even if God gave us a sign-in system where we could gain skills by checking in, it would still take twenty or thirty years to become an encyclopedia.

Those who gain experience in the martial world are mostly young people.

What kind of old man goes down the mountain to gain experience?

I will study martial arts secrets in the deep mountains and forests, and I will be able to break through the martial arts of my enemies. Even if all my enemies attack me at once, I will be able to kill them all. I will leave the mountain to take my revenge!

Only after leaving the mountain did he discover that his enemy had died of old age, and he himself was very old, much like the old man who lost his way.

What if I don't want to study?
Find friends to complement each other's skills.

Take Li Zhaoting's small team as an example:

Li Zhaoting was in charge of chopping people up;
Blue Phoenix is ​​responsible for the detoxification;
Feng Suzhen was in charge of cultural knowledge;
Mei Zhu was in charge of logistics;

Jiang Yuyan was responsible for taking notes;
The aged liquor was responsible for traveling and carrying heavy loads;
Additional characters:

Lu Xiaofeng is responsible for investigating cases, spying, and taking the blame;
Tang Zhuquan was responsible for providing support, charging forward, and arguing.
Li Shengnan is in charge of chopping people, chopping people, chopping people;
Miss Wang is responsible for being impulsive and keeping the atmosphere lively;
Xiao Feng was responsible for drinking contests, fighting, and killing enemies;
Traveling alone may seem liberating, but it actually comes with significant constraints and makes one vulnerable to having their weaknesses attacked.

What do the most common teammates look like?
Husband and wife, relatives, fellow disciples, sworn brothers!
Even the most ambitious and headstrong young people in the martial arts world do not completely deny the value of arranged marriages. They pursue free love but also recognize the value of arranged marriages.

Before Su Xinghe spoke, several young talents had already shown their brilliance. Following Murong Bo's guidance, Murong Fu pursued Ma Xiuzhen of the Emei Sect.

Murong Fu was young and handsome, and his abilities surpassed those of 99% of the disciples of the Emei Sect. Logically, he should have easily won Ma Xiuzhen's favor. However, anyone with discerning eyes could see Ma Xiuzhen's aloofness. She didn't ask him to leave because of the etiquette of a prestigious sect, not because she was in love with him.

Ma Xiuzhen could never be interested in Murong Fu.

It has nothing to do with martial arts skills, talent, character, or ability.

There is an insurmountable chasm between the two.

If someone were to shout in the streets that the Murong family of Gusu were descendants of the Yan state and had been plotting to restore the Yan state, they would be a powerful force.

Most people would take it as a joke, but only one person would believe it: Ma Xiuzhen's master, Dugu Yihe, the head of the Emei Dao Sect, because he had also plotted to restore his country when he was young, and he could recognize his kind at a glance.

What about the golden Ganoderma?

The Jin family has no shortage of outstanding talents; every member is a golden bachelor. Jin Lingzhi is tired of that. She prefers men who can fight, and her condition for pursuing such a man is that he can beat Li Zhaoting.

What about Tie Xinlan?

Tie Xinlan likes two types of people: those with a mischievous and wicked air like Xiaoyuer, and those with a gentle and refined temperament like Hua Wuque. She has very high standards for temperament.

Murong Fu does not meet Tie Xinlan's requirements.

In the original story, Deng Baichuan commented: "A man's demeanor should be elegant and generous. Our young master, from morning till night, is preoccupied with how to restore the Yan Kingdom. Under such worry, it is difficult for him to let go of his worries and be elegant and generous."

The Emei Sect has virtually no chance.

If you want to use your good looks to your advantage, you should first go and study at the Heavenly Mandate Sect.

In the martial arts world, everyone despises the character and doctrines of the Heavenly Mandate Sect, and no one questions its professionalism.

Li Zhaoting chatted familiarly with Xiao Feng, Lu Xiaofeng, Duan Yu, and others. Just as they were having a good time, Su Xinghe said loudly, "The Zhenlong Chess Game was created by my late master. He spent three years of his life to complete it, hoping that someone with both literary and martial talents would be able to solve it. I have been studying it diligently for thirty years, but I have not been able to understand it."

Miss Wang asked loudly, "Mr. Su, so what if we haven't solved it? And even if we have, what good will it do? Everyone's here for profit, so let's be frank! What benefits will the person who solves the game gain?"

Su Xinghe said, "Whoever can solve the chess puzzle will become my master's successor and the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect."

Bao Butong skillfully retorted: "Not so! You've been pretending to be deaf and dumb on Leigu Mountain for thirty or forty years, and you haven't dared to confront Ding Chunqiu for thirty years. I suppose your martial arts skills aren't very high. Can the martial arts heritage of the Xiaoyao Sect compare to that of the Xingxiu Sect?"

Deng Baichuan chimed in, "Ding Chunqiu was no match for Master Xiao's three punches and two kicks, yet he managed to frighten you and your master into immobility for thirty years. The martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect are probably not that great. Why are you looking at me like that? If you have such profound skills, why don't you go and kill Ding Chunqiu!"

Bao Butong continued, "No, no, being the successor of the carefree life not only brings no benefits, but also requires taking care of you useless people, adding nine unnecessary burdens."

Deng Baichuan said, "Mr. Su, why don't you change the reward? Whoever solves the chess puzzle will receive ten free medical treatments from Doctor Xue. That would be more attractive."

The two exchanged barbs, belittling the martial arts of the carefree sect to nothing. They weren't just venting their frustrations; they wanted to drive away some opponents in this way.

The young talents who come to Leigu Mountain are all here to obtain the inheritance of the Xiaoyao Sect. If the inheritance is not as good as Xiao Feng's three punches and two kicks, what use is it? It would be better to directly become Xiao Feng's disciple, and the future of martial arts might be higher.

Su Xinghe roared, "You bastard! Bao Butong, you insulted my master, I will never let you get away with this!"

Bao Butong sneered: "Not at all! I have never met your master, and we have no grudges or hatred towards each other. How could I insult someone for no reason? However, my young master has traveled a long way to help you solve the Zhenlong Chess Game, but you can't offer an equitable reward. Aren't you just making fun of my young master? If you want someone to solve the game, you should offer a reward first!"

Deng Baichuan pointed at Xiao Feng: "The great hero Xiao who killed Ding Chunqiu is right here. Mr. Su, since the Xiaoyao Sect is so powerful, why not prove it? I wonder which Xiaoyao disciple can withstand three punches and two kicks from the great hero Xiao?"

This matter had nothing to do with Xiao Feng, and he was inexplicably dragged into it to take the blame. Xiao Feng was naturally unwilling, but for A'Zhu's sake, he didn't say much!
The extras arranged by Murong Fu started to jeer.

"I've heard that Master Xiao's most proficient martial art is the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, which can amplify power several times over. When he killed Ding Chunqiu, he didn't even need to transform!"

"What skills does Ding Chunqiu have? He's only good at poison. Hero Xiao was once the leader of the Beggars' Clan and is proficient in the Beggars' Clan's Dragon Subduing Palm, whose palm power is indestructible!"

"Brother, take another look over there. The Five Poisons Sect Leader, whose poison skills are no less than Ding Chunqiu's, is nothing more than Li Daxia's concubine. It seems that the Free and Unfettered Sect is all talk and no action!"

"Brother, that's not quite right. The reason why Master Li could have the Five Poisons Sect Leader as a concubine is because of his handsome appearance."

“That’s right, Lu Renjia. If you were even a fraction as handsome as Master Li, I, Long Taoyi, would declare on the spot that I would marry my sister to you, without asking for a single penny in dowry!”

"Your sister? Is that the heroine with the leopard-like head, piercing eyes, swallow-like jaw, tiger-like beard, and face as black as the bottom of a pot? I'm afraid my meager frame can't withstand half a month of this exploitation!"

The street thugs were making a ruckus, their words constantly laced with vulgarity and uttering increasingly offensive language. Li Zhaoting couldn't help but frown and quietly sent a telepathic message to Xue Muhua.

Xue Muhua shouted, "Enough! I, Xue Muhua, swear to heaven that anyone who dares to disrupt the order of the meeting will be killed by me, even if it means going to heaven or hell. Can't I, Xue Muhua, do what Ping Yizhi did? Fellow heroes, whoever beats up this bastard who is spouting nonsense, I will treat your family member for free once, and I will treat every broken bone you break!"
Whoever can solve this puzzle, I will pledge my life to them.

"Heroes, please!"

(End of this chapter)