Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

The following morning, news of an explosion broke in the capital.

Candidate Ruan Wenhao colluded with the White Lotus Sect traitors, drugged the chief examiner Cui Mingchong with hallucinogenic drugs, and forced Cui Mingchong to hand over the exam questions. He is incorrigible and his crimes are unforgivable.

Ruan Wenhao was stripped of his official title and exiled to Lingnan, never to be employed again, and three generations of his family's close relatives were prohibited from taking the imperial examinations.

The chief examiner, Cui Mingchong, was demoted to magistrate of Jiangling County and ordered to leave the capital immediately, with no possibility of returning for five years.

At the same time, all exam questions were invalidated.

The emperor revised the exam questions for this special imperial examination, and the questions were distributed shortly before the exam. The chief examiner was changed to Grand Tutor Hua. Grand Tutor Pang was found to have been negligent in managing his household affairs and was confined to his home for three days to reflect on his mistakes.

Grand Tutor Pang: How can you blame me for this? She's just a courtesan; I could have just taken her as a concubine! My daughter isn't jealous, so why did she have to jump into the lake?
Grand Tutor Pang felt there was something fishy about this matter.

Even the most proud and arrogant courtesan should be prepared that Cui Mingchong could take Yunshuang as a concubine after marrying Pang Xiyan.

There's no need to worry about the ransom.

Who would dare ask Grand Tutor Pang's daughter for money?
Pang Xiyan sent a message to the madam, expressing her desire for Yunshuang to become her husband's concubine. If the madam did not send the bridal sedan chair over by evening, the brothel could close.

Are they pursuing "true love"?
Grand Tutor Pang was a man of wide experience and knowledge. He knew that in the world there were not only philanderers like Wen Liangong, Duan Zhengchun, and Li Zhaoting, but also devoted lovers who were committed to each other for life.

Grand Tutor Pang ordered, "Feng Yihan, go to the yamen and bring me the case file! You trying to scheme against my son-in-law? Do you really think I'm made of clay?"

Feng Yihan accepted the order and left.

Not long after, Feng Yihan brought over a pot of tea.

The tea was as red as blood and emitted a strange aroma.

Grand Tutor Pang asked, "What is this?"

Feng Yihan said, "Reporting to the Grand Tutor, I know absolutely nothing about tea and have no idea what it is. You can ask Imperial Physician Shu to identify its medicinal properties; Imperial Physician Shu is most skilled in this..."

"Then why don't you go quickly!"

Grand Tutor Pang raised his hand and tossed a teacup over.

Not long after, the imperial physician Shu Dafeng arrived, accepted two hundred taels of silver as a delivery fee, and began to examine the tea.

Shu Dafeng first had someone bring a small stove to warm the tea leaves. Once the tea was steaming, he fanned it a couple of times with his hand and took a slight sniff of the aroma.

"Grand Tutor, where did you get this? This kind of thing should have disappeared by the Tang Dynasty!"

"Imperial Physician Shu, this is a tonic that my student sent three days ago. He said it could clear the mind and improve eyesight, but after drinking it, I felt unwell all over."

"Do you experience nightmares, frequent hallucinations, and general weakness upon waking?"

"Physician Shu is truly insightful. I do indeed suffer from this ailment. Could it be that there is a deadly poison in this?"

"It is inappropriate to call this a poison, and it is even more inappropriate to call it a tonic. This thing is called Chang'an Black Tea, which first appeared in the Wei and Jin Dynasties."

The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove were fond of drinking this tea.

During the Tang Dynasty, a sorcerer improved the recipe for Chang'an black tea, increasing its medicinal effects dozens of times.

This medicine requires the blood of a woman born in an auspicious year, month, day, and hour. The woman must be abducted on her wedding day, her skull broken open, and her blood extracted.

A girl's marriage is supposed to be a joyous occasion, but the more joyful she is, the more resentful she becomes when she is turned into tea leaves.

The stronger the resentment, the better the effect of the tea.

This is a top-quality black tea that is more valuable than gold.

There is also superior black tea made from ordinary virgins, medium-grade black tea made from women filled with resentment, and finally inferior black tea made from eunuchs or castrated men.

Regardless of the type of black tea, it must be made with blood imbued with resentment and yin energy. After consuming it, one will experience a dreamlike illusion that is impossible to escape.

This method is extremely vicious and utterly immoral. Those who create it often meet a terrible end, ranging from the destruction of their families to the execution of their entire clan. Those who use it are mostly plagued by various illnesses.

During the Yongchang era, this creature wreaked havoc in Chang'an. Su Wuming, a disciple of Di Lianggong, along with Lu Lingfeng of the Lu family of Fanyang and Fei Jishi, a disciple of the Medicine King, captured the mastermind behind it all.

Chang'an black tea disappeared from that time onward.

I have only seen it in medical books.

Grand Tutor, this thing is extremely dangerous. If I am not mistaken, your disciple has been bewitched by the demons of the White Lotus Sect, or possibly the Encountering Immortals Gang.

Those wicked and evil cultists love this kind of hallucinogenic drug to deceive their followers.

Grand Tutor, I will prescribe a tonic for you. Please follow the prescription and get the medicine. You will recover in three days.

"Someone, bring me paper and a pen!"

As the head of the imperial physicians, Shu Dafeng was an extremely shrewd person. He knew that Grand Tutor Pang would not have drunk such strange red tea; it must have had some other origin.

However, Shu Dafeng was a doctor, not someone who came to judge or investigate cases. He simply followed Grand Tutor Pang's lead and analyzed the situation, then casually prescribed a tonic.

Grand Tutor Pang smiled and said, "Imperial Physician Shu, I recently acquired a rare medical classic. I can't understand it, and keeping it would be a waste. Please, Imperial Physician Shu, take a look."

"Thank you, Grand Tutor! Thank you, Grand Tutor!"

"Someone, take Imperial Physician Shu to the study!"

Shu Dafeng followed the steward to the study to read medical texts.

Grand Tutor Pang's expression turned cold: "Feng Yihan! Bring me that unfilial son Pang Tong! That White Lotus Sect demon sneaked up to my pillow, and he didn't even know!"

What was he doing in Chang'an?

What kind of business does Chang'an Miaoshoutang do?
Li Zhaoting, that reckless fool, accidentally wiped out a White Lotus branch and thought he could rest easy? There's no such thing as a free lunch! But this kid is really cunning!

How did he find the White Lotus branch?
Feng Yihan, you analyze this!

Feng Yihan smiled bitterly: "Grand Tutor! I think Li Zhaoting doesn't know that Miaoshoutang is a branch of the White Lotus Sect at all. He just sees them bullying the good and hates them!"
Many old villains who had lived in seclusion and lived carefree lives for decades were caught by Li Zhaoting because of their lax management of their subordinates.

Miaoshoutang is arrogant and domineering, and countless people have been bullied by them. If these people go to Li Zhaoting to complain, Li Zhaoting is very likely to take action.

Li Zhaoting didn't care about things like the White Lotus Sect's branch offices. Who would care about dead people?
Even the Heavenly Mandate Sect and the Azure Dragon Society don't care!
The White Lotus Sect's influence is waning.

So weak that the White Lotus Mother had to intervene personally; so weak that there wasn't even a saintess to inherit the Mother's position!

Grand Tutor, you don't need to care too much about them.

If Fairy Jinghuan dares to show herself, Li Zhaoting will definitely kill her immediately. Li Zhaoting has a spirit dog, and as long as Fairy Jinghuan leaves her scent, she will have nowhere to escape!
In terms of destructive power, it's not even as good as the Azure Dragon Society!
"Why don't we have someone keep an eye on the Green Dragon Society?"

Grand Tutor Pang said in a deep voice: "In times of chaos, the White Lotus Sect is greater than the Azure Dragon Society; in times of peace, the Azure Dragon Society is greater than the White Lotus Sect. Now we are in times of peace."

However, the distance between peace and chaos is not that great! If Bian Mouting's plan succeeds and the 80,000 Imperial Guards are wiped out, what will happen to the North?
The floods in Chanzhou have displaced countless people, presenting an opportunity for the White Lotus Sect! The Fairy Disenchantment will surely intervene!
Finally, bring Pang Tong to me!
That unfilial son! You scoundrel! You son of a bitch!

Even if he were my enemy, could he just stand by and watch the sorceress Jinghuan scheme against his sister?

In fact, Fairy Jinghuan never intended to scheme against Grand Tutor Pang. Grand Tutor Pang held a high position and wielded great power; he was a cunning old fox among cunning old foxes, and not someone the White Lotus Sect could easily provoke.

The original intention behind scheming against Cui Mingchong and Yunshuang was essentially to stage a classic love story between a courtesan and a poor scholar, and then reap the rewards from the two love-struck ghosts.

Unexpectedly, Yunshuang drowned herself in the lake, and Cui Mingchong became the son-in-law of Grand Tutor Pang. Jinghuan mistakenly thought it was a drama of "a lovelorn courtesan betraying her lover" and left in anger.

In the years that followed, Cui Mingchong served as an official in other places and never returned to the capital, and the matter was gradually forgotten.

Until half a month ago, Cui Mingchong was transferred back to the capital and appointed as the chief examiner for this imperial examination. Cui Mingchong went to the lakeside to pay respects to Yunshuang, and was discovered by the Fairy Disenchantment.

Feng Yihan is quite right. Jinghuan has had a very difficult time these past few years. One branch after another has been destroyed, and one subordinate after another has been killed. Its power has been reduced by 80% or 90%.

Grand Tutor Pang was farsighted; he knew that while the White Lotus Sect could thrive in chaotic times, its ability to bewitch people would be severely weakened in times of peace and prosperity.

In order to improve her strength as soon as possible, Jinghuan wanted to take action against Cui Mingchong. She first bewitched Ruan Wenhao, told him the meaning of the poem, and asked him to threaten Cui Mingchong.

After that, he used Chang'an red tea to confuse Cui Mingchong, causing him to kill people one after another. Once his hands were stained with blood, he would then make the matter public.

At that time, Cui Mingchong will most likely commit suicide for love.

Such a suicide for love would not generate resentment or hatred, but only a profound and liberating enlightenment. For the Fairy Disenchantment, this is the most nourishing tonic.

This incident happened to be witnessed by Feng Suzhen, who startled Jinghuan and dispelled Cui Mingchong's inner demons. Before things escalated to the point of no return, Feng Suzhen instructed Cui Mingchong to report the matter to the authorities.

Jinghuan: Beep beep beep beep...

……

"Young man, my master has some matters to discuss with you. Please come with us!"

A man who looked like a butler blocked Li Zhaoting's way. Li Zhaoting was wearing Duan Fei's vest and looked simple-minded. He was so frightened by the butler that he took two steps back.

"I...I don't know you..."

"Young Master Duan, rest assured, my master sincerely invites you to do some small business with him!"

"Doing business? Or being a bodyguard?"

"Did Young Master Duan work as a bodyguard?"

"I'm not some young master, I'm a cargo courier for rich young masters! I used to be a bodyguard."

Li Zhaoting's acting skills are natural. When he played Duan Fei, he showed no sign of being slick or cunning. He was extremely honest and simple, and looked like a genuinely honest person.

Why not become a bodyguard now?

“My master said I was associating with evil spirits and heretics, so he expelled me from the sect. Then I met my monk master.”

"Master monk?"

"He said he likes that nickname!" "What kind of work does Brother Duan do now?"

"I have no livelihood."

"Without a livelihood, how will we eat?"

"The princess has rewarded me with a gold ingot!"

Li Zhaoting was led to a restaurant by the butler. The two walked and talked. The butler originally only wanted to get a few questions out of him, but after asking a few questions, he thought to himself, "Where did this idiot come from?"
The Honest Monk was known as the most honest monk, but he was only honest with his mouth; he was very dishonest in other ways. He drank alcohol, ate meat, and went to brothels; there was nothing he wouldn't do.

This simple-minded Duan Fei is a truly honest man. If he inherits the title of "Honest Monk," he may become the most honest "Honest Monk" in history.

He answered every question without any concealment.

"What does the princess want with you?"

"Learn martial arts!"

"You passed on the Tathagata Palm technique to the princess?"

"No, that princess is very stupid! I tried to teach her how to make the Buddha's light appear, but she just couldn't learn it!"

Why did the princess give you money?

She said it was for treating my injuries.

"Healing injuries?"

"You probably want someone to beat me up! Hey? Are you one of the princess's people? Are you here to beat me up? We made a deal! If you hit me, I'll hit you back!"

Li Zhaoting made a gesture resembling the first appearance of Buddha's light.

The butler thought to himself, "What's wrong with you? If I were ordered to beat you up, why would I bring you to a restaurant?"
In just a few words, the butler sketched out a psychological profile of Li Zhaoting: a simple-minded boy with unparalleled physical talent and top-notch martial arts skills, extremely lucky, clueless about human relationships, and suspected to be from the desert.

The people inside the restaurant were old acquaintances of Li Zhaoting.

The richest man in the world has 13,000.

No matter what big things he plans, money is of paramount importance. Wan Sanqian is homeless and travels around in various disguises, not only for his own enjoyment, but also to prevent anyone from finding his whereabouts.

Li Zhaoting pretended to be a country bumpkin visiting the city or a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden, looking around curiously.

Wan Sanqian coughed lightly: "I'd like to do some business with Brother Duan. May I ask, if I want the Tathagata Palm manual, what price would I need?"

Li Zhaoting glanced at Wan Sanqian, a sigh flashing in his eyes: "My lord, it's not that I'm unwilling to teach you, but your physical talent..."

Wan Sanqian laughed and said, "My physical talent is thousands of times worse than yours. I have been pampered since childhood and cannot endure the hardships of martial arts training. I know nothing about martial arts."

I was asked to buy the secret manual.

A fixed price: 300,000 taels!
What are your conditions, Mr. Duan?

Li Zhaoting waved his hand: "I don't want money! My wife is very rich! Sir, are you Wan Sanqian? I heard you are very capable."

How did you know I was Wan Sanqian?

My wife told me.

"How did your wife know that Wan Sanqian would come to you to buy the secret manual? Did your wife have some kind of precognitive ability?"

"Well... my wife said that if I show off the Tathagata Palm technique in the capital, some important person will definitely ask me for the secret manual. If it's a princess, it will definitely be Princess Wuyou from the Eighth Prince's family. If it's a marquis, it will most likely be the Iron-Blooded Marquis Zhu Wushi. If it's a wealthy merchant, it will definitely be Master Wan! Then I can make demands!"

"What conditions?"

"Rescue my father-in-law! He's imprisoned at the bottom of the dungeon. My wife said only three people can save him, and the other two are most likely unwilling!"

"Who are those three people?"

"One is Marquis Xiaoyun, Li Zhaoting, who imprisoned my father-in-law; another is the Eighth Prince; and the last one is the incredibly wealthy Wan Da Guanren!"

"Your wife is truly capable!"

A hint of doubt flashed in Wan Sanqian's eyes. Gu Jianhun had no relatives or friends and had made countless enemies. When did he develop such a clever daughter? And such a good son-in-law!
"My wife is amazing!"

Why didn't your wife come to the capital?

"Our child has just been born, and my wife is at home taking care of the baby. Mr. Wan, if you help me rescue my father-in-law, I will give you the secret manual!"

"I need two days!"

"Okay! I can wait!"

"I heard that Brother Duan used to be a bodyguard?"

"I did it for a while."

"Which escort agency is it?"

"Zhongyuan Escort Agency!"

Does this escort agency exist in the martial arts world?

Wan Sanqian is a man of great stature. The escort agencies he works with are all large-scale ones. Only people of Deng Dinghou's and Baili Changqing's caliber are qualified to do business with him.

The "Zhongyuan Escort Agency" that Li Zhaoting mentioned was not the Zhongyuan Escort Agency whose influence extended throughout the Central Plains, nor the Zhongyuan Escort Agency with the invincible Third Miss Zhao Yanling, but rather because the name of the chief escort was "Zhongyuan".

Wan Sanqian laughed and said, "Brother Duan! Since you used to be a bodyguard, let's follow the rules of the bodyguard agency. I'll hire you to protect me for fifteen days. How much?"

Li Zhaoting said, "According to the rules, it's 150 copper coins per day. The employer is responsible for food and lodging. If the employer is injured, the reward will be fully refunded!"

"One hundred and fifty..."

"Ok!"

"...cash"

"That's right!"

"Not one hundred and fifty taels?"

"We don't need that many!"

“I feel I really need it! If you don’t accept this price, I will feel hurt.”

Wan Sanqian was not joking. The wealthy and powerful Wan Da Guanren would feel ashamed to be seen with a bodyguard who only paid 150 coins a day!
Wan Sanqian had someone deliver the employment contract. Li Zhaoting wrote his name on it, and Wan Sanqian asked, "As your employer, may I ask you to demonstrate your martial arts skills and let me see what you're capable of?"

Li Zhaoting nodded: "Okay! Let's go to the wilderness outside the city! This restaurant is so beautiful, it would be a shame to destroy it! I'll buy you some stones!"

"Shoot a rock?"

"Smash a rock with a single palm strike!"

"No need, let's just stay here! Whoever can break any item here wins!"

"You don't need me to pay?"

"This restaurant is mine! I'm going to smash it to pieces! Watch out! Don't hit me!"

"My lord, take a good look!"

Li Zhaoting unleashed a palm strike at the table, but a green figure appeared in front of it, flashing past with a body as soft as cotton, deflecting Li Zhaoting's palm strike.

The Four Ghosts of Western Hunan!

The bodyguard that Wan Sanqian relied on most!
He is skilled at using "Phantom Divine Skill" to deflect force, and can engage in a fierce battle of attrition with the enemy, eventually exhausting them to death.

In terms of deflecting force, the Four Ghosts of Xiangxi are unparalleled in the martial arts world, earning them the nickname "Indestructible".

Li Zhaoting, disguised as Duan Fei, could not use his own martial arts skills or his favorite fighting style; he had to appear honest and composed.

"Om~~"

As the chanting of Buddhist hymns resounded, the first rays of Buddha's light appeared.

Li Zhaoting swung his palm at the Four Ghosts of Xiangxi. The Four Ghosts of Xiangxi formed a battle formation to receive the attack. They thought that the power of this palm strike would be similar to the previous ones, and prepared to deflect the force. Unexpectedly, one palm strike was followed by another, and the layers of palm strikes were like a raging sea, with a total of thirteen layers.

What surprised the four ghosts of Xiangxi even more was that this palm could penetrate the body's protective true energy and strike the internal organs. If they were not highly skilled and adept at deflecting force, they would be seriously injured with just one move, and at most they could only last for seven or eight moves.

Li Zhaoting struck again with his first move, this time with a golden lamp and a Buddha lamp, which ignited a raging fire around him. He then followed up with a Buddha questioning the monastery, which activated the formless sound energy.

The four ghosts of Xiangxi each occupied a position, and their eight hands attacked Li Zhaoting's acupoints at the same time, using their unique method of dissolving internal force to dissipate Li Zhaoting's true energy. Unexpectedly, Li Zhaoting casually assumed a horse stance and became rooted to the ground, like a golden Arhat, his body radiating a golden light, unmoving, indestructible, and without leakage or defilement!
This is a scene after the supreme protective divine skill of the Tiantai Sect, "Weituo's Indestructible Body," has been mastered. It is no less powerful than the Shaolin "Vajra Indestructible Body Divine Skill." As long as one's true energy is not depleted, even if the enemy fires thousands of arrows and unleashes hundreds of internal energies, one can remain as immovable as a mountain.

The Four Ghosts of Xiangxi were good at defense but not offense, and they had almost no offensive moves. Li Zhaoting adopted a defensive stance, and they followed suit. The five of them stared at each other blankly.

Wan Sanqian laughed loudly, "Alright! Alright! Brother Duan has passed! From today onwards, you will be Wan Sanqian's personal bodyguard, earning 15,000 taels of silver per month."

Steward, take Brother Duan to the silk shop to make a few sets of clothes, and then send some incense to the honest monk. Next spring, repair the Tiantai sect.

"Brother Duan, please go change your clothes!"

Li Zhaoting left with the butler.

Wan Sanqian asked, "So? Is this Duan Fei real or fake? What is his background?"

The Four Ghosts of Xiangxi said, "Duan Fei used the Tathagata Palm, which is the most refined and pure form, not the Tathagata Divine Light. Duan Fei's palm power is profound and vast, lacking the sharp energy that Li Zhaoting used when he attacked. Duan Fei's internal strength is Buddhist Zen Kung Fu, while Li Zhaoting's foundational mental technique is the Longevity Mantra. Based on the information we have so far, the two have no connection!"

"Go and investigate the Central Plains Escort Agency!"

"Yes, sir!" (End of chapter)