Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 380 Of the Eight Heroes of the Martial World, only one can defeat me!

Time flies, and the year is drawing to a close.

Some generals returned to the capital, partly to receive rewards from the imperial court and partly to share the spoils.

The sixteen prefectures of Yanyun were to be expanded by the imperial court to include the Yanyun Circuit. This required the appointment of officials in charge of grain transport, census, granaries, and military command, as well as sixteen prefects and more than twenty assistant prefects.

Including officials such as county magistrates and county assistants, each prefecture has about twenty-five to thirty officials with real power. The sixteen prefectures of Yanyun need four to five hundred talents.

What an enormous cake this is!
Who has the ability to take all these benefits?
The imperial court must hold a special imperial examination to select talented individuals.

One interesting thing is that many people witnessed Bao Zheng's abilities and his impartiality in distinguishing between loyalty and treachery. Since they couldn't deal with Bao Zheng through normal means, they decided to use a surprise tactic and recommended him to govern Yanyun.

This is absolutely not a deliberate frame-up!
Sending Bao Zheng to Yanyun would have been beneficial.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun have just been submitted to the government, and laws must be formulated as quickly as possible. Officials who enforce the laws must be impartial and selfless, and no one can find fault with them.

Who is more suitable than Bao Zheng?
Bao Zheng was a fellow Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), and Gongsun Ce and Tang Bohu were also among those recommended. Gongsun Ce was learned and talented, and familiar with the local customs and traditions. Tang Bohu was clever, slick, and resourceful, and could serve as a good "lubricant."

Are these recommendations reasonable?

Makes sense!
Even Bao Zheng thought it made perfect sense.

The recommendation article was written with great passion, which made Bao Zheng's blood boil. He even had the idea of ​​abandoning his pen for the sword. Even if he didn't actually have to serve in the army, it would be good to go to the north to gain experience. After defeating Yuan Lianqin, Bao Zheng became famous throughout the country and was a well-known upright official, which was very helpful in maintaining stability.

Furthermore, upright officials are not inflexible; Bao Zheng was very good at adapting and did not blindly charge forward.

Bao Zheng has pretended to be a god or ghost to fool others, and impersonated the underworld to deceive people countless times.

The only limitation for Bao Zheng was his seniority. He had entered officialdom through the imperial examination two years prior and had been promoted repeatedly in a short period of time, each time by exceptional circumstances, which was perhaps a bit excessive.

With Bao Zheng's seniority, no matter how famous he was, he could not control the arrogant and fierce soldiers in the north. He needed a respected elder to preside over the official duties. Yang Yanzhao was only good at fighting, and Li Nanxing was promoted out of turn. The one who best met the requirements in the court was Zhuge Zhengwo.

In terms of seniority, he is a veteran of three reigns and the current Grand Tutor.

In terms of ability, he was skilled in both civil and military affairs, and could rise to the positions of general and prime minister.

In terms of character, he was loyal, upright, and impartial.

In terms of personality, he is carefree, unconventional, and unrestrained.

In terms of knowledge, he was well-versed in astronomy and geography.

It is the most suitable in every aspect.

No one was more suitable than Zhuge Zhengwo to manage the affairs of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun under the current circumstances. Although this suggestion would kick Zhuge Zhengwo out of the capital, the important territory of Yan and Yun must be managed by an important minister. After a little thought, Zhuge Zhengwo volunteered to go to Yan and Yun.

There are too many things to discuss.

The high-ranking officials worked overtime every day, and the Imperial Medical Academy staff stayed in the Imperial Study day and night, ready to deliver ginseng soup at any time.

Amidst the vibrant, festive, and bustling atmosphere, the New Year quietly arrives.

The imperial court held a grand celebration to commemorate the recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, granted a general amnesty, held a special imperial examination, performed the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, and then appointed various officials.

Each and every single thing is extremely complicated.

Li Nanxing lost seven or eight pounds from exhaustion. Even Li Zhaoting and Feng Suzhen were pulled in to help, temporarily acting as Li Nanxing's secretaries to handle various complicated matters. Feng Suzhen handled it with ease, and Li Zhaoting handled it even better.

Feng Suzhen relied on genuine skills and expertise.

Li Zhaoting checked if there were any "acquaintances".

Especially familiar faces that appear in textbooks.

……

"Ugh! I'm exhausted! So tired!"

Zhao Zhen stretched, making crackling sounds as a palace maid brought him a cup of ginseng tea, which he drank in one gulp. He then gestured for the maid to massage his back.

Li Zhaoting complained, "Your Majesty, this is called blissful exhaustion. I'd be willing to work overtime for another year! Just keep me going with ginseng! The palace has no shortage of ginseng!"

"Lord Wuyi, you..."

"Could you please address me differently? By the way, could I claim credit in advance and have my title elevated to Marquis?"

"You really want to be a marquis?"

“I think ‘Marquis’ sounds better. It’s more prestigious to call him that, and it’s suitable for showing off to your cronies. ‘Earl’ is more like taking advantage of seniority.”

"As long as you can become one of the Eight Excellence, that's fine."

"Did I cut down an eight-piece prize?"

"Wanyan Jue is a stray dog, not worth worrying about. You behead Li Chenzhou, and I will bestow upon you the title of Marquis Xiaoyun. Among the Eight Great Heroes of the Jianghu, there are not many who can defeat you."

"It's difficult for a swordsman to advance!"

Li Zhaoting's slightly helpless complaint.

The combat strength of the eight great heroes of the martial arts world fluctuates greatly.

The strongest is "Sword Master" Lang Fanyun, a god-like figure at the pinnacle of martial arts, whose comprehension is unparalleled.

Li Zhaoting was confident that he could fight "Gun Master" Li Ruohai to a draw. If the two were to fight to the death, they would inevitably suffer heavy losses, with one dying and the other permanently crippled.

Guo Bujing, the "Master of the Palms," has a move in his Surging Waves Palm that is similar to the Heavenly Demon Disintegration technique. Even if this move can be used to evenly match the opponent, using this move will inevitably result in mutual destruction.

"Fist Master" Li Chenzhou and Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng can only spar with Xiao Feng and cannot muster the will to fight to the death. He has more than a 60% chance of winning against Li Chenzhou.

"Blade Master" Bai Xiaolou, the peerless and invincible Divine Blade of the Western Regions Demonic Sect, possesses untold power.

Chu Liuxiang, the "master of light-body skills," will be skipped!
There are three "masters of hidden weapons".

Yuan Shisanxian, who is "idealistic," will inevitably hit with his Heartbreak Arrow, and the arrow will inevitably cause heartbreak. Li Zhaoting has never fought against Yuan Shisanxian, so he cannot predict the outcome.

The "law-obsessed" Old Lady Tang is unparalleled in her hidden weapon skills, possessing unfathomable depth. Even Xiao Qiushui, who has mastered martial arts, has suffered at her hands. She is the most troublesome old fox among the eight great masters of the martial arts world.

The peacock feather, a symbol of exceptional craftsmanship, is in my hand!
Apart from Wen Wan, the "masters of poison arts" are all poisonous flowers, plants, and insects, making it impossible to compare their combat strength.

In other words, apart from Lang Fanyun, he has a chance of winning against any of the eight members of the Eight Great Clans. The final outcome depends entirely on his performance in battle.

No one should be underestimated.

There's no need to be overly modest or self-deprecating.

Those who can become the Eight Excellence are all top-notch individuals.

Who knows if the other side has any hidden cards up their sleeve?

If one becomes arrogant and complacent, one will inevitably suffer a complete defeat.

Arrogance is the most terrifying enemy!

The emperor is like a caged bird; he can't personally experience the world of martial arts, but listening to the interesting stories of the martial arts world is a good thing.

When Zhao Zhen wanted to relax, he would invite Li Zhaoting to the palace to tell stories, and the two became quite familiar with each other.

Why did you choose to live as a "commoner"?

"I don't want to be bound by official titles. The free and unrestrained life in the martial world is too comfortable. I can roam the martial world, today in the east and tomorrow in the west. No one can bind me!"

Do you want to become the best in the world?

"Those who practice martial arts all want to shatter the void."

How much time do you need?

"It might take three to five years, or it might take a lifetime! Breaking through the void requires not only talent and perseverance, but also various martial arts opportunities, which are rare and hard to come by."

"The War God's Manual?" "The War God's Manual is just one of them."

Can the Longevity Formula grant immortality?

"All the martial artists who practiced the Longevity Technique are dead!"

What are your plans for this year?

"The Western Regions, sailing out to sea, training, and fighting!"

"The schedule is a bit tight!"

"It's not much easier than His Majesty's."

"Aren't you very free?"

"Emotional debts are the hardest to repay!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

The two chatted idly, and when the topic turned to Li Zhaoting's romantic entanglements, Zhao Zhen laughed heartily.

When someone is very tired, they will feel relieved to find that their only close friend is not having an easy time either. Zhao Zhen was no exception, and the palace maids were used to it.

We can't really exhaust the emperor to death.

The emperor occasionally needed to relax.

On February , the dragon looked up.

The imperial court initially formulated a governance plan for Yan and Yun, and dispatched officials to Yan and Yun. Zhuge Zhengwo led the team, and Bao Zheng, Gongsun Ce, Tang Bohu and Li Xunhuan were among them.

Li Nanxing had been busy for half a year and rarely had a vacation.

Li Zhaoting begins a new round of trials in the martial arts world.

Winter passes and spring arrives, bringing warmth, flowers, and the revival of all things.

The martial arts world has returned to its days of "a hundred boats racing".

……

Guanzhong.

dusty.

Sixteen fast horses were galloping into the distance, led by a burly man with a bushy beard, who held up a majestic banner embroidered with dragons and snakes, each with a knife in its mouth—the very symbol of Hantian Fortress.

Hantianbao is a force under Fengyun Escort Agency. Its predecessor was a militia and fortified village that banded together for survival in the chaos of war. There were four of them, forming an alliance for offense and defense.

Dongbao, Nanzhai, Xizhen, Beicheng!
Similar to Zhujiazhuang, Hujiazhuang, and Lijiazhuang.

For decades, the four fortified villages helped each other, relying on their fierce unity in fighting enemies and advancing and retreating together to gain a foothold in the chaotic world. Later, they were subdued by Long Fangxiao and joined the Fengyun Escort Agency, but in reality, they were just nominally affiliated.

Long Fangxiao never interfered in the affairs of the four fortified villages.

I don't care about the good or the bad, the dead or the living.

This is why people in the martial arts world criticize Long Fangxiao.

According to rumors, Long Fangxiao's martial arts skills are comparable to Zhuge Zhengwo's, making him a master of unparalleled skill. The power of his Nine Great Guan Daos is even enough to challenge Bai Xiaolou.

In reality, his subordinates were frequently killed and plotted against, and he never once took action against them.

To this day, Dongbao, Nanzhai, Xizhen, and Beicheng are not even officially recognized, and the four fortified villages are rife with discord.

In times of chaos, mutual support is essential for survival.

Now that the world is at peace, the older generation may cherish the camaraderie among comrades, but the younger generation doesn't care about such things. The four families are on equal footing, but their martial arts skills must be ranked.

In the original storyline, the four families fought a bloody battle, with the older generation all killed, and the younger generation either committing suicide, being plotted against, or becoming despondent. The four fortified villages declined simultaneously, and Long Fangxiao was not seen making a move.

Of the four fortified villages, the only old man who is capable of fighting and fighting is Huang Tianxing, the lord of Hantian Fort.

He led a team to provide assistance to "North City".

The "Northern City" is called Wuyang City. The old city lord passed away two years ago, and the new city lord is named Zhou Baiyu. He has an excellent relationship with the Four Great Constables and often works with them on cases.

Zhou Baiyu's best friend is Leng Xue, because the ancestral martial art of Wuyang City is swordsmanship. After Zhou Baiyu mastered swordsmanship, he challenged Leng Xue and was defeated by Leng Xue's sword. He practiced painfully for a year, but still could not defeat Leng Xue's fast sword.

The Zhou family's ancestral "Ice Edge Sword Technique".

This is a very special sword technique. It does not require forging a precious sword. Instead, it cultivates the true energy of ice. When fighting enemies, it condenses water into ice and uses ice as a sword. With each level of skill improvement, the ice sword grows one foot longer.

First, extend the Frost Sword to seven feet, then shorten it inch by inch until it is three feet long. At that point, his martial arts reached their peak, achieving the level of the Zhou family ancestor.

The martial arts progress of the masters in Wuyang City can be judged by the ice swords they condense.

Half a month ago, Wuyang City was attacked by the Demonic Sect.

Four disciples of the Demonic Sect—the Demon Maiden, the Demon Head, the Demon Fairy, and the Demon God—obtained from an unknown source a wicked and vicious method for concocting medicine figures, and used it to attack Wuyang City.

Relying on their army of medicine-wielding people who were unafraid of pain, fatigue, or death, the Gu, Tou, Xian, and Shen quickly conquered most of Wuyang City, leaving only their own sect behind.

When Wuyang City was attacked, they should have asked the Four Great Constables for help. However, since Mr. Zhuge had gone to Yanyun, the Four Great Constables were worried that he would overwork himself, so they followed Zhuge Zhengwo to Yanyun to deal with the bandits in the vicinity of Yanyun.

"hu~hu~"

Huang Tianxing wiped his sweat.

Huang Tianxing was over sixty years old, but he was still dignified and imposing, with a white beard like a halberd. He was accompanied by a short and stocky man who held a halberd. This man was named Kuang Wuji and was nicknamed "always defeated in battle".

Kuang Wuji was a notorious rogue in the martial arts world who loved to challenge martial arts masters. He publicly dueled ninety-seven times, losing every time with a win rate of zero. However, he neither died nor was seriously injured, and his martial arts skills only improved.

Driven by the thrill of life-or-death duels, Kuang Wuji rose from a lowly soldier to the deputy fortress lord, becoming Huang Tianxing's most trusted right-hand man. Since Huang Tianxing had no sons, the East Fortress would inevitably be passed on to Kuang Wuji after his retirement.

Kuang Wuji cursed, "Damn it! What kind of weather is this! It's both cold and hot, damp and dry! Even a late spring cold snap isn't this bad. Could it be that the Demonic Sect has cultivated a drought demon, and is about to bring about a thousand miles of scorched earth?"

Huang Tianxing said, "A calm mind brings coolness. The Demonic Sect is coming with great force, we cannot be careless in the slightest!"

Kuang Wuji glanced behind him with displeasure.

Two beautiful women followed behind.

She was dressed in a light yellow outfit, her eyes sparkling, charming but not seductive, her every move exuding a delicate beauty, a languid air, a captivating allure, and a touch of dashing elegance.

This person is named Ji Yaohua, nicknamed Flying Fairy. She is neither a female knight-errant nor a demonic witch. She always appears and disappears suddenly, and no one knows her background.

In comparison, their behavior tends to be upright.

A man dressed in black, with furrowed brows, pursed thin lips, and a white flower in mourning attire adorning his temple.

This woman was named Qi Hongju, and she was skilled at throwing knives. Her brother and husband were both killed by the "Demon Girl".

Even if the heavens and earth collapse and the world turns upside down, Qi Hongju is determined to fight the Demoness to the death, and no one can stop her. It is pleasing to the eye to have a beautiful woman in the team, but in this situation where a rapid march is required, she will inevitably be a burden.

Qi Hongju comes from a prestigious family and is accompanied by four maids carrying swords. While they may seem like a burden, the maids are skilled in combined sword formations. However, even if they are not a burden, the four young girls combined cannot withstand a single strike from Huang Tianxing. Facing the four demons they are about to encounter, they will likely not survive more than two days.

Just as the two were sighing, a dog barked from ahead, followed by two fast horses.

The leader was a young and handsome man carrying a long sword, and beside him was his wife, carrying a zither.

It was Li Zhaoting and Feng Suzhen.

On the last few trips, I took Wang Shenglan and Lan Fenghuang with me, which inevitably neglected Feng Suzhen. This time, on this training trip, I only took Feng Suzhen with me.

Even Mei and Zhu stayed home obediently!

(End of this chapter)