Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 8 Today the weather is fine and sunny, perfect for a funeral.
The next morning.

Li Zhaoting and Tang Zhuquan went to see Min Zihua to discuss the repurchase of their ancestral home. When Min Zihua saw that the eldest son of the Tang family had arrived, he immediately had someone bring out fine wine.

In order to avenge his elder brother, Min Zihua spent a lot of money to buy a mansion, build a site, and invite the leaders of ten gangs around Jinling.

Subsequently, Min Zihua traveled to Mount Wutai and donated 10,000 taels of incense money to Qingliang Temple, using his financial power to persuade the abbot, Master Shili, to come to Nanjing to uphold justice.

Min Zihua's work style can be summed up in two words.

Throw money around!

We pay anyone who comes!
Tang Zhuquan, a well-known figure in the martial arts world, was directly placed among the honored guests and served the finest wine and meat.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Zhaoting got straight to the point: "Second Master Min, I have come here with no other request than to buy back my ancestral home. I would be grateful if you could do me a favor."

Min Zihua smiled and said, "Young Master Li, I am not originally from Jinling. I bought the house only to seek justice. Since it is your ancestral home, I should do you a favor."

"It's easy!"

"May I ask what good plan you have, young master?"

“I’ll bring Jiao Gongli here. The two of you can confront each other in private. Repay kindness with kindness, and settle scores with scores.”

"Young Master Li, all I seek is justice. If you resort to torture, wouldn't that be forcing a confession?"

Min Zihua hurriedly refused, thinking to himself, "You're such a refined gentleman, like a scholar, but how come you speak and act more crudely than a brute? Where did you come from?"

Tang Zhuquan laughed loudly, "I'll act as notary. The Tang family's reputation in Hangzhou is good enough to serve as notary, isn't it?"

Tang Songting, the head of the Tang family, is a renowned Grandmaster of the Heavenly Gang, and Tang Zhuquan is a famous swordsman in the martial arts world. With the Tang family's reputation as a guarantee, they are much stronger than Master Shili.

The sectarianism in the martial arts world is no less intense than that among scholarly families, and at times borders on fanaticism.

"Thank you very much, Master Tang! Thank you very much, Young Master Li! This mansion will be yours once this matter is resolved!"

Min Zihua was so excited that he danced around the living room, rubbing his hands and scratching his ears.

Tang Zhuquan stayed to drink.

Li Zhaoting went to the Golden Dragon Gang to find Jiao Gongli.

After waiting for a while, accompanied by a gentle breeze, Li Zhaoting arrived carrying Jiao Gongli and said with a smile, "You two can stand up now, we'll be the witnesses!"

Min Zihua glared angrily at Jiao Gongli.

"You scoundrel! Give me back my brother's life!"

Jiao Gongli sighed and took out a letter.

This letter records what happened back then.

More than ten years ago, Jiao Gongli was a bandit.

One day, they learned that a high-ranking official was leaving office and would be passing through their mountain stronghold, so they planned to ambush him.

During the reconnaissance, it was discovered that the high-ranking official had hired Min Ziye, the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of the Huiyou镖局 (escort agency), to protect him. It was then discovered that Min Ziye was colluding with bandits, plotting to ambush and steal from the target.

He killed a high-ranking official, seized his wealth, rescued a damsel in distress, forcibly married the official's beautiful second daughter, and finally sold the bandits, becoming a great hero in the fight against bandits.

One gains wealth, fame, and popularity—isn't that wonderful!

Jiao Gongli was furious and killed Min Ziye. He ordered the high-ranking officials and the bandit leader to record the matter in detail and sent a letter to the Xiandu Sect to explain the cause and effect of the incident.

After that, Jiao Gongli retired from martial arts and founded the Golden Dragon Gang in Jinling. Although his martial arts foundation was not very strong, he had a large number of followers and could be considered a powerful force in the region.

Knowing that he was in the wrong, Master Huang Mu, the leader of the Xiandu Sect, made a gentleman's agreement: he would not seek revenge against Jiao Gongli, and Jiao Gongli would not spread the matter.

Min Zihua wanted to avenge his brother, but he could only pay an outsider to act as a witness, and that was the reason.

The letter in Jiao Gongli's hand bears the personal signature of Master Huang Mu, sealing the conclusion of the matter.

After reading the letter inside and out twice, and seeing his master's signature on it, Min Zihua took two steps back, feeling a tightness in his chest and a breath stuck in his throat.

Min Zihua collapsed to his knees, limbs weak, his face flushed red, unable to utter a single word.

Li Zhaoting reached out and gently touched Min Zihua, calming his breathing. Min Zihua cried out "Ah!" and spat out a mouthful of dark blue blood, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"I...I...I..."

Min Zihua stared wide-eyed, pounding his chest and stamping his feet, unable to utter a single word, wishing he could die on the spot.

He had painstakingly sought revenge, but he never expected the truth to be like this: his own brother was vicious, ruthless, despicable, and shameless; he had killed his father and taken his daughter, and deserved to die.

On second thought, she looked at Li Zhaoting with gratitude.

If a heroes' gathering were to be held, and Jiao Gongli were to reveal this letter of faith in front of Shi Li and the others, the reputation of the Min family and the Xiandu Sect would surely be ruined.

For the sake of the reputation of the Xiandu Sect, Master Huang Mu will surely expel the Min brothers from the sect.

Currently, the confrontation is only taking place in private, and no more than a handful of people know about it. As long as Jiao Gongli doesn't reveal this matter, the Min family can preserve their reputation.

Min Ziye is dead; with death comes the end of debts.

Min Zihua is a good man, and Li Zhaoting has a very good impression of him. He doesn't want Min Zihua to suffer the consequences of Min Ziye's actions and end up being expelled from the sect.

Li Zhaoting said softly, "Second Master Min, the matter is over, people should look forward..."

"Where in this vast world can I find a place to belong?"

Min Zihua covered his face helplessly.

“My father-in-law is the prefect of Hangzhou. I can write you a letter of recommendation so you can become a constable in the prefectural government.”

"If you don't want to be a constable, my father has some businesses in Dali. You could work as a manager there. Dali has beautiful mountains and clear waters, perfect for cultivating one's character..."

Li Zhaoting didn't make sarcastic remarks; instead, he decisively offered two choices. To be honest, many conflicts in the martial arts world stemmed from people not being able to speak plainly.

Can't you just say what you have to say directly?
They kept it to themselves, creating mystery and misunderstandings until they died, only then did they realize their mistake!

Li Zhaoting was very straightforward.

I'm talking to you about something, helping you investigate the case, and preparing two escape routes for you—all for the sake of my family's ancestral home.

After a moment's thought, Min Zihua realized that although the Heroes' Gathering had not been held, the scene it caused was enormous, making it difficult for him to gain a foothold in Jinling. He decided it would be better to go to Dali.

"I will need your guidance in the future, young master." "Of course! Of course!"

Li Zhaoting quickly wrote the letter.

Min Zihua did not leave immediately, but wrote a letter to Shi Li and others to apologize, saying that the misunderstanding had been cleared up and that his elder brother had died of illness, not assassinated by Jiao Gongli.

Jiao Gongli was relieved and bowed to thank Li Zhaoting. Just as he was about to host a banquet to invite Li Zhaoting, a disciple ran over in a panic, his face full of shock.

"Master, something big has happened!"

The disciple fell to the ground with a "thud".

"What is it? Speak slowly! What kind of behavior is this, so impulsive and rash? Do you think the King of Heaven himself has come?"

Jiao Gongli remained calm and composed, completely forgetting how scared he was when Li Zhaoting single-handedly stormed the Golden Dragon Gang and confronted him, wetting his pants in fear!

"The witch is killing people! She's killing people!"

The disciple was frightened and his speech was slurred and incoherent, but he could barely make out what had happened.

It turned out that the experts Min Zihua invited included not only local gangs in Jinling, but also two other groups of powerful reinforcements.

The first is Master Shili of Qingliang Temple on Mount Wutai.

Second, Gui Xinshu, the invincible master of the Huashan School's divine fist.

Gui Xinshu sent his disciples ahead, and the disciple he sent out happened to be Sun Zhongjun, the most arrogant, lawless, and bloodthirsty "Flying Demoness".

Sun Zhongjun liked to hear praise and showed off his Huashan sword skills. He wanted to take the opportunity to make a big splash and persuade his senior brother Mei Jianhe to storm the Golden Dragon Gang's headquarters.

Jiao Gongli's eldest disciple, Luo Liru, stepped forward to pay his respects. Sun Zhongjun suddenly drew his sword, and with a single swing, Luo Liru's arm flew into the air, blood gushing out.

Immediately afterwards, the two rushed towards the stunned Golden Dragon Gang disciples, unleashing their swords simultaneously and killing several people in succession, turning the headquarters into a river of blood. They truly lived up to their reputation as Flying Demonesses.

While Sun Zhongjun was arrogant in the past, he was not this arrogant. However, he provoked the disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect during dinner yesterday but did not gain any advantage.

Sun Zhongjun felt humiliated and wanted to use the Golden Dragon to help his disciple regain face, which is why he took the initiative to come to their door to provoke them.

Upon hearing this, Jiao Gongli immediately returned.

Li Zhaoting and Tang Zhuquan went along.

The same applies to Min Zihua. This whole affair started because of Min Zihua, and he clearly can't escape it!

Min Zihua was filled with doubts.

How could Gui Lao Er's apprentice be so ruthless?

Little did he know that Sun Zhongjun was smooth-talking and charming in front of Gui Xinshu and his wife, who were arrogant, conceited, and confused, and were completely fooled by their apprentice.

Sun Zhongjun could easily provoke Gui Xinshu and his wife into standing up for their apprentice with a few words. They were impulsive, easily angered, and ruthless, especially Gui Erniang, who had earned a lot of bad reputation.

When the group arrived at the Golden Dragon Gang, Sun Zhongjun and Mei Jianhe had already been tied up. Their martial arts skills were stronger than those of the outer disciples of the Golden Dragon Gang, but not as strong as those of Feng Suzhen.

Feng Suzhen lacked experience in the martial arts world and did not expect the Huashan disciples to suddenly attack and kill. By the time she realized what was happening, more than twenty Golden Dragon Gang disciples had already fallen under her sword.

Feng Suzhen immediately took action, flicking her five fingers to seal the acupoints of the two people, but she didn't know what to do next.

Killing him is inappropriate!
Releasing them is even more impossible!
Feng Suzhen has the potential to be a top scholar, but she has very little experience in the ways of the world. She has only read some stories and is seriously lacking in experience in handling such unexpected events.

Upon seeing Li Zhaoting, he immediately moved closer.

"My lord, I..."

"It's alright, I'll handle it!"

Li Zhaoting closed his folding fan, his eyes revealing murderous intent.

Jiao Gongli asked, "Young heroes, the Golden Dragon Gang and the Huashan Sect have no past grudges or recent feuds. Why have you stormed my headquarters? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Even though Sun Zhongjun was bound with ropes, he remained arrogant and shouted, "Old Jiao, your disciples are innocent, but Min Zihua's brother is not?"

Min Zihua stepped forward and bowed repeatedly, saying, "This is a misunderstanding between me and Uncle Jiao. I was previously deceived by a villain. My brother died of illness."

Sun Zhongjun glared and cursed angrily: "Bastard! You said your brother was killed by Jiao Lao'er, and we came all the way here to help you, and now you say it was a misunderstanding!"
Hey, Min, are you kidding me?
Do you think the Gui family is easy to bully?

How dare you mock the Huashan Sect?

Do you treat the heroes attending this gathering like clowns on a stage? How dare you! When my master arrives, I will certainly not let you off the hook!
"Release this old lady at once!"

Sun Zhongjun's ability to survive to this day is largely due to her eloquence in exaggerating and labeling others; by taking things out of context and making a few provocative remarks, she can get Gui Xinshu to stand up for her.

Min Zihua looked bitter and apologized repeatedly.

Jiao Gongli's face turned ashen.

The Golden Dragon Gang doesn't have many experts, so they certainly can't afford to offend the Huashan Sect. But even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. The Huashan Sect is thousands of miles away, so what gives them the right to act so arrogantly?
"Old Jiao, are you going to release him or not?"

Sun Zhongjun glared angrily at Jiao Gongli.

Jiao Gongli angrily said, "Sun Zhongjun, Mei Jianhe, you stormed my headquarters and killed my disciples. The Huashan Sect has quite the nerve. Do you really think we are easy to bully!"

"I bullied you, what are you going to do about it!"

A deep, resonant voice came from the doorway.

A middle-aged couple stood at the door.

Two silly kids returning home.

Gui Xin tree.

Gui Erniang.

Sun Zhongjun's face lit up with joy.

Li Zhaoting picked up the green bamboo staff.

Now that you're here, don't go back!
Today is a beautiful, sunny day, perfect for a funeral!

(End of this chapter)