Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 253 Miss Wang: I have people behind me, and people above me too!

The world is bustling and noisy, all for the sake of fame and fortune.

If you want someone to help you, you should first offer them a reward.

People are either after fame, or after profit, or both. Even booking a banquet at a restaurant requires a deposit. Without any money, how many people would be willing to help?
The "audience" arranged by Murong Fu, though crude in their words, made a valid point. They boasted that the Xiaoyao Sect was invincible, but no matter how you looked at it, they were all severely suppressed by Ding Chunqiu.

In fact, the fighting strength of the Xiaoyao Sect is quite perplexing.

In the original story, Shaolin monk Xuan Nan could suppress Ding Chunqiu with his rapid palm strikes, while Ding Chunqiu could only defeat Xuan Nan by using poison. When Xuan Nan first met Su Xinghe, he thought that the two were evenly matched, but Su Xinghe was effortless and his strength was exquisite and subtle, making him slightly better than Xuan Nan.

In other words, taking Xuan Nan as the benchmark, Su Xinghe is no less skilled than Ding Chunqiu.

Even if his skill level is not as high as Ding Chunqiu's, with Wu Yazi's seventy years of skill, he should at least be on par, right?

Others fear Ding Chunqiu's poison, but Su Xinghe himself is a divine physician, and he has another divine physician under his tutelage. The Beiming Divine Skill has been mastered to its extreme, possessing the effect of protecting the body and removing poison.

Martial arts skills go without saying.

Ding Chunqiu only had a superficial understanding of the Xiaoyao School.

Su Xinghe can learn unique skills such as Lingbo Weibu and Tianshan Liuyang Palm, so he will definitely have an advantage in martial arts.

If a reasonable explanation had to be found, Li Zhaoting believed that Su Xinghe had a very poor mentality.

When Su Xinghe was defeated by Ding Chunqiu, his martial arts heart was completely shattered, and the seeds of fear were sown. When facing Ding Chunqiu, he could not use even 30% of his full fighting power.

Simply put, they've lost their drive!

Being obsessed with the Zhenlong Chess Game for three or four decades is not because one is controlled by the game's magic, but because one is escaping from it.

Wu Yazi saw through Su Xinghe's heart, which is why he did not choose Su Xinghe as his successor. The successor of the Xiaoyao Sect can be bad, ruthless, have slightly less talent, or be stubborn, but he must not be a coward.

Xu Zhu was far superior in this aspect.

At the Shaolin Heroes' Gathering, Xiao Feng was surrounded by enemies on all sides and was almost certain to die. Under these circumstances, Xu Zhu took the initiative to step forward and said, "I am your sworn brother, and we should live and die together."

How many people have this kind of courage?
Li Zhaoting knew about this, but the heroes of the martial arts world did not. They had only heard their elders talk about Xiaoyaozi's great achievements, but they had no idea about the strength of the Xiaoyao Sect.

To put it bluntly, most people came for Xue Muhua. When traveling the martial arts world, safety comes first, and any force would like to have a divine doctor pledge allegiance to them.

Having a divine healer means you have protection; when facing a powerful enemy, you dare to exchange injuries for injuries and fight to the death with them.

The brave wins when we meet on a narrow road.

Those who dare to risk their lives can often unleash ten or even a hundred times more combat power. Having a divine physician as a safety guarantee can greatly enhance the cohesion of subordinates, bringing many benefits.

The commotion quickly subsided after Xue Muhua stepped forward to pledge allegiance to the person who solved the game.

Nobody wants to be hunted down by Xue Muhua with a bounty on their head.

"Mr. Su, where is the Zhenlong Chess Game?"

"Gentlemen, please take a look!"

With a wave of his hand, Su Xinghe sent several chess pieces down from the mountain wall. This game of chess was full of ko fights, with some pieces living together, some living forever, some counterattacks, and some losing liberties. It was incredibly complex, with five pieces gathering into six, and there were so many pieces that even if you could calculate one piece, it would be difficult to calculate the whole game.

Bao Butong said loudly, "Mr. Su, if everyone can watch the game, isn't that extremely unfair to the person who makes the first move? I'm afraid that someone might put in a lot of effort only to benefit someone else in the end. It would be better to cover up the game!"

Su Xinghe sneered: "Mr. Bao, if Young Master Murong is not confident in his chess skills, he can let someone else solve the puzzle first. However, I must make it clear beforehand that if any prodigy solves the puzzle, Young Master Murong should not regret not taking the initiative. There is only one chance!"

Tang Zhuquan laughed upon hearing this: "I heard Li Zhaoting tell a story about a cunning and slick pretty boy who took a fancy to the daughter of the largest farm owner in the Liao Kingdom. He went to the farm to propose marriage, and the farm owner said that he would release three cows, and if you could grab the tail of any one of the cows, he would give his daughter to you in marriage."

The first to emerge was a large yellow ox, strong and robust with long horns and red eyes.

The pretty boy thought to himself that he still had two more chances.

Then came a large water buffalo, clad in heavy armor, with spears strapped to its horns, its tail set on fire by the farmer. The bull charged forward, unstoppable.

The pretty boy was so frightened that he ran away with his head in his hands.

Finally, a sick cow emerged, emaciated with its horns missing, walking slower than an octogenarian. Just as the young man was about to make a move, he realized the sick cow had no tail.

The chessboard is right here.

It takes courage to grab a scalper by the tail.

Grabbing a water buffalo's tail is a skill.

If you grab a sick cow by the tail, you can only eat its farts.

Those present were either young masters from martial arts families or direct disciples of prestigious sects. If they didn't even have the courage to compete, they had no hope for the future!

Nobody dares to go up?

Let Fatty set an example!

Tang Zhuquan enjoyed drinking and eating meat, but had no interest in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. However, being surnamed Tang, he shamelessly sought help from Tang Bohu before setting off. He memorized several chess solutions and played his pieces with great speed and skill.

While responding to the challenge, Su Xinghe praised, "What Master Tang said makes sense. The Xiaoyao Sect may not be a prestigious sect, but a scheming, opportunistic, cunning, and pedantic pretty boy is not qualified to be the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect."

Just as Bao Butong was about to start cursing, Deng Baichuan skillfully silenced him by pressing his acupoint. His goal had been achieved; if Bao Butong continued to speak, he would offend his fellow martial arts practitioners.

Before long, Tang Zhuquan had exhausted all the formulas he had memorized, and he was at his wit's end. He bluntly stated that the game was too complex for Fatty to solve.

Xiao Feng asked in a low voice, "Second brother, where did you hear your story? Could it be related to my father?"

Li Zhaoting casually made up a story: "That's right, there's a second half to this story. A few months later, Uncle Xiao went to the farm to propose marriage. He knocked down a big yellow ox with one slap, then killed a big water buffalo with another punch, and successfully won the heart of his beloved..."

Azhu retorted angrily, "Husband, don't listen to Second Uncle's nonsense! Mother-in-law is clearly a Han Chinese woman, how could she be the daughter of a farm owner? The largest farm owners in Liao are relatives of the emperor, the Yelü family and the Xiao family!"

Xiao Feng looked down at Li Zhaoting.

Li Zhaoting took Tang Zhuquan's wine jar.

"Brother, calm down. Have a drink first. I chilled it for you; it's the most refreshing and cooling drink."

Upon hearing that there was chilled wine, acquaintances such as Lu Xiaofeng and Duan Yu came over to drink, drinking heartily as if no one else was around. As for the Zhenlong Chess Game, they were just there to watch the fun.

Tie Xinlan responded to a few moves, but admitted that she was no match for them.

Jin Lingzhi's eyes were bulging with circles.

Li Yuhan was driven by inner demons by the chess game and almost drew his sword to commit suicide on the spot, but was stopped by his wife Liu Wumei.

The prize pool is accumulating rapidly.

What prize pool?
Honorary Prize Pool.

If someone can solve the puzzle, all the previous geniuses who failed to solve it will become stepping stones for him. For each person who fails, the prize pool will increase by one point.

Cheng Huaixiu's swordsmanship is clear, but he fails!
Li Shengnan's demonic energy surged to the heavens, she failed!

Liu Chengfeng of the Bashan Sword Sect has failed!

Yang Yuqian of Wudang is defeated!
Bai Yujing, wielding the "Eternal Life Sword," is defeated!

Defeat! Defeat! Defeat! Defeat! Defeat!
Seeing more and more failures, and with people probing him from both sides, Murong Fu mustered his courage: "Murong Fu of Gusu has come to seek your guidance. Please, senior, make your move!"

Earlier, Bao Butong and Tang Zhuquan stirred things up, and Murong Fu was put on hold. If he didn't dare to make a move, he would be seen as a cunning pretty boy who would be ridiculed for no reason.

The intricate chess game was a complex and interconnected game where every move could affect the entire board. Murong Fu had been strategizing for a long time, hoping to gain the upper hand from the corners. However, after only a few moves, he was outmaneuvered and suffered heavy losses.

Bao Butong offended people everywhere with his loose tongue. Since Murong Fu didn't make a move, no one dared to say anything. Seeing that Murong Fu was at a disadvantage, the Eight Friends of Hangu spoke up to mock him.

Kang Guangling sneered, "Tsk tsk~ The Xiaoyao Sect's legacy is indeed not very good. They're only good enough to trap Murong of Gusu with a simple game of chess." Fan Bailing, who was obsessed with chess and had the clearest understanding of the game situation, mocked, "Young Master Murong, you can't even handle a corner. You dare not advance, nor dare you retreat. Do you still want to contend for the Central Plains?"

This phrase was originally a street chess term used to mock the opponent's poor chess skills. Coincidentally, when Murong Fu heard the words "contending for the Central Plains," he immediately fell into a trance.

Murong Fu's vision gradually blurred, and the white and black pieces on the chessboard transformed into two opposing armies, one group of men on the east and another on the west, surrounding each other.

In a daze, Murong Fu thought of the Canhe Finger.

The greatest defeat for the Xianbei Murong clan was the Battle of Canhebei, where their elite troops were completely wiped out, their pillar of strength, Murong Chui, was driven to his death by anger, and the fate of their nation was lost.

Murong of Gusu lived in the Canhe Manor in Yanziwu. His family's martial art was called Canhe Finger, which was meant to make people remember this humiliating defeat, endure hardship and bide their time, and restore the Great Yan.

This is perfectly fine on ordinary days; it can be seen as a way to encourage oneself. Such names are quite common.

The most famous example is... Guo Jing!
Now, having solved the chess game, he is lost in a daze. Seeing the scene of the two armies facing off, he thinks of his family's glory, the Battle of Canhebei, the series of defeats after his debut, and how his father's hard-earned family fortune has been completely squandered.

Murong Fu's eyes were bloodshot and filled with murderous intent.

"Could it be that the fate of the Murong clan of Gusu has run its course, all their schemes and plots have come to naught, all their efforts in vain? Have their centuries of painstaking efforts been nothing but a fleeting dream?"

Thinking of this, Murong Fu drew his sword and slashed it towards his neck. The turn of events was too fast, and Deng Baichuan and Bao Butong were unable to come to his rescue in time. Xiao Feng grabbed Murong Fu forcefully and unleashed the Dragon-Capturing Hand.

"Crack!"

The sword was broken in two.

"Young Master Murong, why make such a fuss over a mere game of Go? We are of equal renown. If Young Master Murong can respond to twenty-three moves, I cannot respond to even one!"

Xiao Feng boldly raised his wine bowl: "Drink a bowl of chilled wine to cool down, why worry about anything!"

Murong Fu clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Brother Xiao. This chess game contains evil magic. Please be careful."

Before he could finish speaking, a gasp of surprise rang out.

It turned out that when Miss Wang saw that Murong Fu was so confused by the chess game that he wanted to commit suicide, she thought that Li Zhaoting would be the one to solve the game later. Worried that Li Zhaoting would fall into the trap, she casually threw a chess piece and stuck it to the chessboard on the rock wall.

Miss Wang possessed superhuman strength, and this time she used tremendous force, shaking off all the chess pieces that Murong Fu and Su Xinghe had just placed, leaving only the original Zhenlong Chess Game and the chess pieces that Miss Wang had placed.

As she placed her chess piece, she deliberately gave away a large piece of it.

Su Xinghe frowned.

"Hehe! My master set up this game and respectfully invites all the masters in the world to solve it. If they cannot solve it, it is fine. If there are any consequences, they will have to bear the consequences themselves. But if anyone comes to disrupt the game and desecrate my master's life's work, even if there are many people, I will fight to the death."

Upon hearing this, Bao Butong, who had just broken free of his speech acupoint, flew into a rage: "No way! Ding Chunqiu knocked your master off a cliff and made you pretend to be deaf and mute for forty years. Why didn't you dare to deal with him? Xingxiu Old Monster has been blaspheming your master for decades. Why don't you deal with him then!"

Miss Wang laughed wildly: "What's so great about the Zhenlong Chess Game? The solution to the game has been recorded in books. Just read a few more books and you'll have solved the game long ago."

Gou Du, who loved reading most in his life, asked Wang Da Niu, who was mocking their ignorance, "Miss, which book contains the solution to the chess game? Is it perhaps a rare copy?"

Have you read the Spring and Autumn Annals?

"Recite it like a stream."

"The purpose of reading is to understand things. What's the use of memorizing things forwards or backwards? I heard your name is Gou Du, which comes from Han Yu's famous essay. You really didn't choose it wrong!"
They do not understand punctuation, and they are confused by what they do not understand.

Perhaps he should learn from me! Or perhaps not!
All you do is study by rote, memorize by rote. Even if you can recite it backwards, what's the point? You think you're some unappreciated genius? Bullshit!
You can't even get the lowest degree of scholar!
Let me teach you how to read!

Miss Wang is utterly unfit for studying. She knows nothing of poetry, literature, etiquette, or the classics, and her only skill in painting is in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

However, someone helped him cheat.

Miss Wang: I have connections too!
Miss Wang gestured for Su Xinghe to make his move.

Su Xinghe had studied chess for decades and was familiar with the variations of the game, but he had never seen such a strange move before. He could only make a move in response based on the established rules of the game.

Feng Suzhen secretly transmitted her voice, providing guidance.

Miss Wang generously gifted a large number of chess pieces, easing the bloated and crowded situation. Based on this, she was able to maneuver and gradually regain the advantage.

"Clap!"

Miss Wang placed her piece, cutting off Su Xinghe's large dragon. Su Xinghe had no chance of winning anymore, but he showed no disappointment on his face. Instead, he was full of joy.

Gou Du couldn't help but ask loudly, "Girl, which article is this? I've never seen it before!"

"The Battle of Yanling!"

Miss Wang uttered four words.

Upon hearing this, Gou Du turned pale and knelt down dejectedly: "Thank you for your guidance, young lady. I have studied hard for decades, but it has all gone to waste!"

Gou Du has a natural love for reading, and he has read the Spring and Autumn Annals thousands of times, reciting it backwards. When Miss Wang mentioned the Battle of Yanling, Gou Du suddenly understood.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the states of Jin and Chu vied for hegemony.

The two armies engaged in fierce fighting in the Yanling area.

One morning, the Chu army launched an attack under the cover of thick fog, deploying its forces outside the Jin army camp.

By the time the Jin general realized what was happening, his chariots had no room to be deployed and had become useless.

Once the camp is breached, defeat is inevitable.

In this critical moment, the strategist suggested that they dismantle all the tents and stoves in the military camp.

Set up your own camp.

It can provide space for deployment and also use the camp as cover to launch surprise attacks on the enemy.

The Chu army, believing it held an absolute advantage, was ambushed by the Jin army from its camp and suffered a crushing defeat.

The same principle applies to the Zhenlong Chess Game.

Holding onto those pieces will make your position extremely cumbersome, leaving you only able to dodge in a small area.

Even if they manage to capture a few pieces occasionally, it's merely a tactical victory. Strategically, they suffer repeated defeats, and if the stalemate continues until the very end, they will inevitably be ambushed from all sides.

To win, you have to fight with your life on the line.

To fight to the death, to risk everything.

Miss Wang raised her Overlord Spear: "I am no match for the old master in chess, but I am best at fighting to the death. Miss Wang, you all need to remember this!"

The disciples of the Free and Unfettered Sect were arrogant and thought they were invincible. If they wanted these people to submit, they had to use their methods and give them a good beating.

Su Xinghe bowed and said, "Thank you for solving the Zhenlong Chess Game, young lady. My master's teachings are in the wooden house!"

Hearing this, the heroes were quite envious.

Putting everything else aside, at least from now on, with Miss Wang having the loyalty of two top-notch doctors, Su Xinghe and Xue Muhua, Shunfeng Escort Agency will flourish.

He was tempted to fight for it, but after glancing at Li Zhaoting and then at Xiao Feng, he could only suppress his desire to seize it.

Not long after, Miss Wang left the cabin.

He wore the ring of the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect on his hand and had flame patterns on his forehead. He had already subdued Yu Linglong, and Wu Yazi's seventy years of internal energy had also been taken into his possession.

Miss Wang's shortcomings were thus made up.

The Overlord Spear will surely dominate the world!

(End of this chapter)