Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 490 Old Deng, raw rice has turned into popcorn!
Mei Zhu left quietly.

All the previous work has been completed. The rest is up to the "City Lord" and "Madam." The little maid is so thoughtful; the master will surely reward me!

Shangguan Yan wore a red dress—this was the wedding dress that Ding Xuelian made by hand for her daughter whom she had been separated from for many years when she was imprisoned in the desert—it was a symbol of her prayers!

At that time, Ding Xuelian did not think she could escape. To encourage herself to live, she forced herself to find something to do and used her longing for her daughter as motivation to live until the mother and daughter were reunited.

The silk thread comes from a giant butterfly, nearly two zhang long, native to the desert. This butterfly has a hard body and immense strength, and can carry people in flight. The silk thread is not tough, but it is highly malleable and suitable for making clothing fabric.

The dye comes from the deepest part of the desert, from a brightly colored flower whose juice is extremely viscous and is the best dye in the world. It is not only vibrant and colorful but also never fades, and its fragrance fills the garden, refreshing the soul.

The design was hand-embroidered by Ding Xuelian. The front features a colorful phoenix soaring high, while the back depicts osmanthus blossoms in autumn, symbolizing the wish for an early birth of a son. The entire process took three years.

Ding Xuelian thought she would never see her biological daughter again in this life. Shangguan Yan thought that after taking revenge, she should either live in seclusion in the mountains and not care about worldly affairs, or travel the world.

Things in this world often change in ways that are beyond our expectations.

Ding Xuelian did not return to the desert to live in seclusion, but instead assisted her daughter in becoming an excellent city lord. Shangguan Yan did not live in seclusion in the mountains, nor was she alone. The stirring in her soul made Shangguan Yan unable to resist.

When a girl who has never experienced love opens her heart, nothing can stop her.

This love came so swiftly, like a wildfire spreading across the land. Her heart stirred, scattering sparks that, in an instant, transformed into the "Southern Flame of Li".

Love has no beginning and no end.

The moment Shangguan Yan put on her wedding dress and pushed open the bathroom door, eternity and spring filled the world.

Li Zhaoting swayed his head and uttered sweet nothings.

"Li Lang's heart is fluttering."

On this auspicious day, at the Phoenix Terrace, they welcomed the betrothal, gazing longingly from the jade

I still remember her stunning first appearance, her smile blooming like a flower.

It surpasses even the beauty of paintings.

Her eyebrows and eyes were like stars, and her face reflected the moon.

By plucking a fragrant branch, one can grant three lifetimes of happiness.

We pledge our love to spring flowers and our vows to autumn frost.

The beautiful woman was graceful and had a divine appearance.

Her hair was styled in a cloud-like pattern, her necklaces jingled softly, and her warm jade exuded fragrance.

I wish to emulate the respectful conduct of a lady attending to her husband's needs, and to add fragrance to his writings with her delicate sleeves.

Accompanied by the zither and lute, singing together from dawn till dusk.

They danced side by side, like two birds with intertwined branches.

Behold, in the human world, phoenixes and dragons have become a perfect couple.

Let our love endure until our hair turns white.

Yan'er, I am a sentimental person.

Love at first sight, no regrets in this life. I wonder if Yan'er would be willing to walk hand in hand with me, to accompany me through this mortal world, to ride freely and gallop through life, to witness the splendor of humanity.

In life and death, we are bound together; in separation and reunion, we find joy in each other.

Hold your hand and grow old together.

"Yan'er, marry me!"

Li Zhaoting took out an exquisite jade bracelet.

Meizhu brought it in secretly.

wrong!

This was something Mei Zhu brought in on purpose.

I wonder how much she must have received from Shangguan Yan to dare to sell out her own master. She's truly audacious.

He should be punished with family discipline for three days.

I examine my body three times a day.

Am I too promiscuous?

Am I too handsome?

Am I being too shameless?
It seems, it appears, it's almost the same—that's it!
Young women are often shy, let alone a reclusive girl like Shangguan Yan who has lived a secluded life since childhood. It was already her limit that she managed to muster the courage to enter the bathhouse.

The subsequent process will require Li Zhaoting to take the lead.

Li Zhaoting held Shangguan Yan's slender hand and gently put a white jade bracelet on her wrist, teasingly saying, "Once you put on this bracelet, you're a member of the Li family. Even if you go to heaven or hell, you can't escape me!"

Shangguan Yan blushed, but forced herself to remain calm, acting like a tiger when she was actually a kitten: "Remember! It's not Li Zhaoting getting married, it's this city lord getting married!"

Li Zhaoting raised an eyebrow: "In that case, I will definitely serve the City Lord well! Yan'er, don't blink later, things are going to be very exciting!"

Li Zhaoting gently pulled Shangguan Yan into his arms and kissed her forehead lightly. Shangguan Yan blushed and felt her whole body burning with embarrassment, at a loss for what to do.

"Your bright red wedding dress is the most dazzling fireworks in the world, just to illuminate the rest of my life."

The silk thread is the tender love of butterflies, woven with my mother-in-law's three years of prayers, and also dyed with the brightest sunrise over the desert rooftops, now blooming only for me.

The blush on Yan'er's face warmed my wandering heart, surpassing all the splendid clothes in the world.

This jade bracelet is a love lock that I personally carved for you, after searching all over the Kunlun Mountains and collecting the essence of the moon from the heavens.

Heaven is our witness, and earth is our matchmaker.

The sun, moon, and stars are all guests!

To the highest heavens;

I want to hold your hand even inside the Lingxiao Palace;
Down to the Yellow Springs;

I will call your name even on the banks of the River of Oblivion;
This jade ring encircles my vow, which will last for all eternity and will never be forgotten: to hold your hand and grow old together, for a thousand years and ten thousand years, forever unchanging!
"Swallow, do you understand my heart?"

Li Zhaoting showered her with sweet words and made vows of eternal love.

Shangguan Yan had never heard such cheesy love words before. She was so shy that she didn't dare to look up. Her head was spinning. All the poems, allusions, and the idea of ​​a harmonious marriage had long been overshadowed by the sweet words. She could only remember the tenderness and affection that she couldn't shake off. She was completely unable to move.

Li Zhaoting picked up Shangguan Yan and gently placed her on the soft couch next to the bath. A hint of smugness appeared in his eyes. With a light wave of his hand, he used the Five Luo Light Smoke Palm, which he had already mastered to perfection, to obscure the bright moonlight.

"Lord of the City, it's time to retire for the night!"

"You...don't be so smug...I...I'm not a delicate little maid, I'm the city lord...I'll show you just how capable this city lord is!"

Meizhu is extremely thoughtful.

After accepting Shangguan Yan's bribe, he not only offered to help her arrange the marriage but also gave her a small booklet as a bonus.

Shangguan Yan didn't want to be underestimated by Li Zhaoting, so she suppressed her girlish shyness and carefully read it five times. She had an excellent memory and remembered every part clearly. Every move, every smile, was perfectly in sync.

"I won't give up... I won't give up..."

"I am the true lord of the city..."

"You are my city lord's wife..."

"My lord... I know I was wrong..."

Shangguan Yan's momentum was overwhelming!
Shangguan Yan has an absolute advantage!
Shangguan Yan saw the dawn of victory!
Shangguan Yan issued a declaration of surrender!

Li Zhaoting's situation is unfavorable!
Li Zhaoting is at a significant disadvantage!
Li Zhaoting is about to fall into the abyss of defeat!
Li Zhaoting delivers his victory speech!

Mei Zhu covered the two of them with blankets while writing annotations and placing them beside their pillows.

……

Both Li Zhaoting and Shangguan Yan have very healthy lifestyles and very precise biological clocks.

No matter how tired she was, she always got up on time. Shangguan Yan climbed out of Li Zhaoting's arms and saw the note Mei Zhu had placed by her pillow. She shyly buried her head in Li Zhaoting's arms like an ostrich, and kept fussing.

"What's wrong, my lord?"

"How can a mere city lord of Sifang City compare to the majestic Marquis Xiaoyun? My lord, Meizhu is a cunning and unruly girl, and I must discipline her!"

"Yan'er, you may not know, but the biggest pillar of our family is Meizhu. No one, including me, can do without her. Even the Fairy of Jingzhai and the demoness of the Demonic Sect would not dare to underestimate this little maid."

"Your wife can't control her?"

"She was Suzhen's dowry maid."

"so what?"

"A seventh-rank official stands before the prime minister's gate..."

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Shangguan Yan kicked Li Zhaoting off the bed, and then cried out in pain, shrinking into the corner of the bed and unable to get up.

Li Zhaoting calmly got up, hugged Shangguan Yan in his arms, and whispered sweet words to her.

After finally calming Shangguan Yan down, Mei Zhu pushed open the door and helped the two change their clothes. Gu Mutian and Ding Xuelian had been waiting in the living room for a long time. Ding Xuelian was quite satisfied with her son-in-law, Li Zhaoting. Gu Mutian was very unhappy and found fault with everything. Li Zhaoting, however, was thick-skinned and treated it as if he were coaxing a child, praising her with every word.

Gu Mutian, this old killer and bachelor, had never seen such methods before. In just a few words, he was completely fooled and felt that he had gone a bit too far.

wrong!

Male Gobi!

I was fooled by that little rascal Li Zhaoting.

How could it be my fault?

No matter what, it's all Li Zhaoting's fault.

With a harem of wives and concubines at home and countless lovers outside, he still indulges in philandering. His handsome looks, comparable to Pan An, and literary talent, surpassing Song Yu, gradually ignite the passion in Yan'er, a pure and innocent girl long untouched by worldly affairs, until it becomes an uncontrollable fervor. What frustrates Gu Mutian most is that Li Zhaoting first deceives him with sophistry, then, despite being severely injured, single-handedly holds off pursuers to rescue Shangguan Yan with unparalleled bravery. Not only does he show no gratitude, but he also travels a great distance to help her find her mother. Throughout their journey, his words and actions are those of a virtuous gentleman—a true chivalrous hero.

When Gu Mutian finally realized what was happening, the rice hadn't been cooked into cooked rice, but had turned into popcorn. This old bastard Gu Mutian could only suppress his impotent rage as he watched Li Zhaoting and Shangguan Yan's affectionate display.

Li Zhaoting added insult to injury: "Senior! You are Yan'er's master and her adoptive father. Now that Yan'er is getting married, you should be happy."

Gu Mutian let out a sound like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.

Happy?

I'm so happy I want to devour you alive!
As Shangguan Yan's master, Gu Mutian would be very happy if Shangguan Yan married a good man.

From the perspective of choosing a son-in-law, Li Zhaoting is the best choice. The only downside is that Li Zhaoting has more beautiful wives, concubines, and confidantes than the imperial harem. In a few years, he may have three thousand beauties. He truly lives up to the reputation of the Li family!

He has the style of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

What kind of style?
The Han emperor was so enamored with beautiful women that he longed for a woman who could topple a kingdom!

Gu Mutian's cultural level was quite limited; he was not good at poetry and prose. He only mentioned Li Zhaoting briefly when discussing Li Zhaoting with the old man from the border region.

Gu Mutian expressed his incomprehension: "The Han emperor was the emperor of the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. What is the relationship between the two? Taoist priests are just talking nonsense."

An elderly man from the frontier explained that this was called avoiding taboo. Bai Juyi was a man of the Tang Dynasty, and he couldn't point his finger at Emperor Xuanzong and curse him. He could only change the words to avoid being impeached for deceiving the emperor.

Gu Mutian stubbornly insisted that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had Yang Guifei, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Did Li Zhaoting have such a beauty by his side? Could he compare to her?
The elderly man from the border region said that Fairy Jingzhai has always been the most beautiful woman in the world, not to mention that Li Zhaoting's confidantes include the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect, the four accessories by the Holy Maiden's side, the Holy Maiden of Miao Jiang, the female overlord, and the "female champion" who easily suppressed these people.

The old man from the frontier even boasted, "The dignified Queen of Kucha and the Lord of the Sword-Forging City are only qualified to be ranked among the concubines. You do the math, Li Zhaoting's confidantes are not even comparable to the mere Yang Guifei?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Mutian was extremely anxious.

Li Zhaoting is handsome, dashing, highly skilled in martial arts, and incredibly talented. Yan'er is young and inexperienced; if she were to be captivated by him, she would be...

Despite rushing as fast as I could, I was still a step too late.

This fits Gu Mutian's "persona" perfectly.

In the original storyline, Gu Mutian and the old man from the frontier were super big shots standing on the mountaintop, but because they were standing so high, they were always a step too late.

Two Nascent Soul level experts trained several Foundation Establishment level alts and fought two Golden Core level bosses, ultimately resulting in heavy casualties and near annihilation.

"Arriving late" is the standard persona.

So what if you're highly skilled in martial arts?
They could only watch helplessly as Li Zhaoting linked arms with Shangguan Yan, winking and strutting around.

"Don't be angry... I'm not angry... Li Zhaoting is very handsome and highly skilled in martial arts... Li Zhaoting is the perfect son-in-law... I'm not angry..."

Gu Mutian closed his eyes and tried to hypnotize himself.

Otherwise, you might get so angry that you have a stroke on the spot.

In the days that followed.

Li Zhaoting and Shangguan Yan were a perfect match, their relationship as harmonious as a dragon and a phoenix, their love as sweet as honey, needing no further explanation.

Sword-Forging City and the Kingdom of Kucha both sent congratulatory gifts.

Congratulations to the "Western Regions Sisters" on the addition of a great member.

To be honest, Shangguan Yan is indeed worthy of being called a "general" in some aspects. She is not a good-for-nothing like Pan Feng or Xing Daorong. She is a true "general".

While not as formidable as the female tyrant Wang Shenglan, she possessed remarkable resilience, fighting on despite repeated defeats.

There is absolutely no problem in upholding the glory of the Western Regions.

While a harmonious relationship is certainly a good thing, Sifang City's foundation is too weak. In order to prevent Yan'er from getting overworked, Li Zhaoting must recruit some reliable talents as soon as possible.

Judging from the talent pool of Sifang City, Ouyang Feiying's governance ability is utterly incompetent. Apart from a bunch of arrogant but incompetent old bastards, there are no capable generals who can stand alone, and there is a severe shortage of civil and military personnel.

We cannot place all the blame on Shangguan Yan.

Li Zhaoting analyzed the emerging sects in the Western Regions, selected two that were suitable, and personally went to recruit them.

The first group recruited was the Flying Camel Tribe!

The flying camel tribe lives in "Camel City".

Camel City doesn't have flying camels, but there are a pair of marble-carved camels standing at the entrance, and inside there are dozens of camel caravans with more than two thousand camels.

People who have lived in the desert for a long time have a natural affinity for camels. Everyone understands that these dirty and smelly animals are more precious than gold and silver.

Gold and silver jewelry represent wealth.

The camel represents life.

You need to be alive before you can go out and make money.

In addition, camel caravans also represent wealth.

The basic standard for measuring the size of a caravan in the Western Regions was the number of camels it owned. The "Dashengkui" caravan, jointly established by the Mongols, Yuan, and Manchus, was known as the wealthiest caravan on the grasslands and had more than 10,000 camels.

The Flying Camel Tribe has more than two thousand camels, making them a middle-class tribe in terms of wealth.

Such tribes would not seek refuge with others unless they encountered external enemies; they have their own pride. Unfortunately, they have recently provoked a powerful enemy.

—Invincible Gate!

The Invincible Sect Master wanted to buy the secret manual passed down through generations of the Flying Camel Clan. When he couldn't buy it, he resorted to robbery, assassinating several elders of the Flying Camel Clan in succession. His methods were bizarre. The clan leader, Bai Xiong, organized counterattacks many times, but each time they failed. Not only did they not capture anyone, they also lost a lot of food and supplies.

Bai Xiong is very troubled.

Li Zhaoting is very good at solving problems.

Therefore, when Li Zhaoting appeared at the gate of Camel City leading his horse, Bai Xiong led eight elders out of the city to greet him, having already made plans together.

"Chief Bai Xiong of the Flying Camel Clan, together with the clan elders, pays respects to Hero Li and wishes him great success in his martial arts endeavors!"

"I have long heard of the Flying Camel Clan, and to meet Chief Bai Xiong today is truly a great honor in my life."

"Master Li's swordsmanship is divine, invincible, and unmatched in the Western Regions. My meager skills are nothing but child's play in front of Master Li."

Bai Xiong's words were partly praise, but also contained a few concerns. Li Zhaoting's reputation was too strange; in less than two months in the Western Regions, all his forces had met with disaster.

Before Li Zhaoting arrived in the Western Regions, there were large forces in the Western Regions such as the Sky-Supporting Sword Sect, Sword-Forging City, Sea Shark Palace, Supreme Alliance, Four Directions Gate, Four Directions City, and Mountain City.

These forces include martial arts masters such as Song Lingxiao, Jianzun, Qianluo, Helianba, Guan Yutian, Ren Qianxing, Beitang Mo, Ouyang Feiying, and Bantianyue.

Just as Li Zhaoting arrived in the Western Regions, the underground water veins of the Qingtian Sword Sect were cut off, and the entire sect sought refuge with the Kingdom of Kucha.

Following this, Sword Master became Li Zhaoting's father-in-law. Helian Ba, Ren Qianxing, Beitang Mo, Ouyang Feiying, and Bantianyue died one after another. Qianluo fled to the Central Plains. Guan Yutian was disheartened and, like harvesting half of the leeks, completely reaped all the top masters of the Western Regions martial arts world.

The Sea Shark Palace, Supreme Alliance, Four Directions Gate, Mountain City, and other forces were either destroyed or captured.

Those experts who managed to escape from these sects either sought refuge with the Queen of Kucha or joined the Sword Forging City.

Coincidentally, both the Queen of Kucha and the Lord of Sword Forging City were Li Zhaoting's lovers. Even more coincidentally, after Ouyang Feiying and Bantianyue died, Li Zhaoting's lover Shangguan Yan became the Lord of Sifang City and was recruiting talents on a large scale.

In less than two months, major martial arts sects in the Western Regions were either destroyed or surrendered to Li Zhaoting's lover. Surrender meant survival, while those who resisted were doomed. Bai Xiong even suspected that Li Zhaoting and Fang Yeyu had long been colluding and tacitly rigging the matches.

Otherwise, these things cannot be explained.

So many sects were destroyed one after another.

So many masters were killed one after another.

Li Zhaoting reaped all the benefits.

What a terrifying ability this is!

Bai Xiong was under immense psychological pressure.

In this situation, saying the wrong thing could lead to the extermination of an entire clan. Li Zhaoting doesn't even need to take action himself; just a few words are enough to incite countless conflicts.

The martial arts world of the Western Regions highly reveres the strong.

With Li Zhaoting's martial arts skills, he only needs to reveal a little something on his face, even a trivial hint, to make countless people draw their swords and fight, just to curry favor with him.

Bai Xiong was filled with unease, and Li Zhaoting also felt very troubled, as it concerned their reputation. If Bai Xiong were assassinated, they would not be able to clear their name even if they jumped into the Yellow River.

—I really came here with sincerity!

—Bai Xiong, you absolutely must not die!
After the banquet, the two discussed specific matters.

Li Zhaoting cut to the chase: "Clan Chief Bai Xiong, I don't like beating around the bush, I'll state my conditions directly."

On behalf of Sifang City, I welcome the Flying Camel Clan, including all members, including Chief Baixiong and the caravan.

In return, Chief Bai Xiong can become the Marshal of the Four Directions City Army, commanding all the troops in the Four Directions City. The elders can serve as his deputies, and the proud and fierce soldiers of the Flying Camel Clan will be personally managed by Chief Bai Xiong.

Secondly, I heard you're having a little trouble. I can help you resolve it by wiping out the Invincible Sect and gifting you three volumes of sword manuals and three volumes of saber manuals from the Flying Camel Clan.

The rest you can discuss yourselves.

I'm too lazy to discuss trivial matters or haggle. Chief Bai Xiong, you have three days to make a decision. I look forward to cooperating with you.

Finally, just a quick note: if Chief Bai Xiong encounters any trouble, I'm very good at mediating conflicts.

Goodnight, Chief Clan Chief!

Li Zhaoting left the palace to admire the night view of the city, which was so different from that of the Central Plains. He watched the young men and women of the Flying Camel Tribe singing and dancing, silently blending into the crowd.

Bai Xiong went to discuss this matter with the elders.

The Flying Camel Clan possesses a great treasure, but their martial arts foundation is relatively weak, so they must rely on a powerful local strongman.

The question is, at what price can it be sold?
Bai Xiong and the elders held a heated discussion.

Li Zhaoting wandered around aimlessly.

The following day, news spread from the palace.

—Bai Xiong was assassinated and poisoned!
(End of this chapter)