I'm here in the martial arts world just to find love.

After Jiang Chao introduced himself, the two became acquainted... at least that's what Jiang Chao thought.

People in the martial arts world exchange names, regardless of whether the names are real or fake; the attitude is extremely important, as this is a rule of the martial arts world.

"Brother Chu, I'm curious, why didn't you travel to Yunzhou with your master and fellow disciples, but instead went to participate in the martial arts tournament all alone?"

Jiang Chao changed his tone, leaned forward slightly, and asked in a low voice:

"Could it be that you secretly slipped out of the house?"

Upon hearing Jiang Chao's question, Chu Ning's heart tightened immediately.

When we first met, how did he realize at a glance that I had secretly slipped out of my house?

Could it be... that he's a spy sent by my father to follow and monitor me?

Chu Ning was secretly on guard, and his gaze toward Jiang Chao was clearly filled with a sense of wariness.

This martial arts tournament in Yunzhou is said to be a grand affair, gathering a multitude of heroes and young prodigies. As a member of the Chu family, one of the representative martial arts families of Western Shu, Chu Ning naturally yearns to attend.

She had diligently practiced martial arts since childhood, waiting for the day when she could make a name for herself in the martial arts world and become a renowned heroine admired by all, just like her mother had done years before, bringing fame and glory to her family.

Unfortunately, her father, Chu Yuanshan, was a stubborn man who insisted that since she was a girl, she could learn martial arts for self-defense, but she should not easily get involved in the conflicts of the martial arts world.

They say the martial world is treacherous, people's hearts are complicated, and swords are merciless. She, a young girl who is inexperienced in the ways of the world, is going to that seemingly joyous but actually bloody and dangerous world, and she will probably suffer a lot.

Chu Ning was extremely dissatisfied with these words. Why could others do it, but I couldn't?

The girl retorted loudly, "Didn't my mother also venture out into the world at my age?"

Her father remained silent for a long time before calmly saying, "You are different."

These words, seemingly plain, are like an invisible knife, cruelly negating all of Chu Ning's efforts and sacrifices over the past sixteen years.

In order to catch up with the martial arts progress of his fellow disciples, Chu Ning practiced diligently day and night, without interruption in the heat or cold, and never slacked off for even a moment.

But a seemingly caring remark from her father rendered all her efforts futile.

This left Chu Ning with a lingering resentment that he found difficult to let go of, so he could only lock himself in the training room every day for intensive cultivation.

Half a year ago, I heard that the martial arts world was in turmoil again, and that a peerless secret manual had appeared in the world. It was related to the inheritance of martial arts. For a time, undercurrents were surging among the major martial arts sects.

It was a time when mountains crumbled and rivers overflowed, and a storm was brewing.

To avoid conflict and catastrophe for the world, several prestigious sects jointly issued a notice, deciding to convene a martial arts conference to discuss the matter and try to quell the dispute as soon as possible.

  

This is also a good opportunity to let the energetic young people from all families loosen up their muscles and get some experience, show their faces at the martial arts tournament, and broaden their horizons.

As one of the martial arts families in Western Shu, the Chu family was naturally among those invited. Upon hearing this news, Chu Ning was overjoyed and couldn't wait to attend. However, due to her father's influence, the group, led by an elder of the Chu family, refused to take her along.

Chu Ning was indignant that while all the other members of her clan whose martial arts skills were inferior to hers had gone, she was the only one who couldn't.

However, her father kept a very close watch on her, and she had no way to disobey him, so she had to give up.

About two weeks ago, her father seemed to have received some news and hurriedly left the Chu family, which gave her the opportunity to sneak out.

The young woman decided not to participate in the martial arts tournament as a member of the Chu family. Since you refuse to take me along and think I'm not strong enough, then I'll go by myself!

Wait until the martial arts tournament, then defeat the other young prodigies in one fell swoop, make a name for yourself, and let's see what you have to say then!

The idea may be wonderful, but the reality is extremely cruel.

Within the territory of Western Shu, things were alright; because of the Chu family's reputation, people in the martial arts world dared not be too presumptuous. But once they left Western Shu, the situation changed.

Chu Ning was scammed when buying things, overcharged at hotels, robbed while traveling, and extorted after saving someone, among other things.

She encountered all sorts of bad luck.

Having stumbled and fallen along the way, Chu Ning, who originally believed that everyone in the martial arts world was a chivalrous person, and that even villains adhered to the code of honor, finally tasted bitterness.

This world of martial arts seems to be filled with extreme malice towards women.

Later, she had to disguise herself, no longer appearing as a woman, but instead posing as a man to hide her true abilities.

Seeing that his words had silenced the woman dressed as a man in front of him, whose expression was constantly changing, Jiang Chao wondered to himself, "Could it be that my casual remark has actually come true?"

Could this Miss Chu in front of me have really sneaked out of her home?

On second thought, it's not impossible that such a thing could happen.

After all, he himself is a living example.

She also sneaked out of her home.

No one has ever stipulated that women cannot yearn for the chivalrous spirit of the martial world.

Every year, chivalrous heroines emerge from nowhere in the martial arts world, so it's not a rare occurrence.

With this in mind, Jiang Chao no longer hesitated and immediately extended the invitation again in a sincere tone:

"If Brother Chu doesn't mind, I'd like to travel with you to Yunzhou to meet the young prodigies of those prestigious sects. We can also look out for each other on the way."

After saying that, without waiting for "Chu Liuxiang" to reply, Jiang Chao grabbed the wine pot in front of him, tilted his head back, and drank the little wine left in it in one gulp.

The boy's bold and unrestrained actions left Chu Ning slightly stunned.

He immediately became a little anxious. Why was this person so overly familiar?

Is that your wine that you're drinking?

Aren't you afraid I'll poison you?

Thinking this, he blurted out, "Aren't you afraid I'll poison you?"

Jiang Chao was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then burst into laughter:

"Brother Chu and I hit it off immediately, so I trust you completely. Besides, aren't you drinking with me too?"

"..." Chu Ning's lips twitched. He thought to himself, this fool really doesn't know the dangers of the world. Doesn't he know that people's hearts are the most unpredictable and fickle thing in the world?

What if I were some kind of villain, lying in wait for someone to fall into my trap, and had poisoned the drink beforehand? If you were so careless and just picked it up and poured it into your mouth, wouldn't you be doomed?

But despite her thoughts, Chu Ning was ultimately determined to be a renowned heroine in the martial arts world, not some villain.

Hmph, you only got this heroine because you've encountered someone who has endured hardships yet remains true to her original aspirations, otherwise...

However, all the previous speculations about this person's identity also dissipated.

If her father had secretly sent someone to protect her, he certainly wouldn't have acted so openly.

Jiang Chao chuckled to himself when he caught a fleeting glimpse of smugness on the other person's face.

This Miss Chu is quite interesting.

Let alone poisoning wine, even the most widely circulated, most potent, and rumored to be incurable poison in the martial arts world, capable of killing even ordinary martial arts masters, was used by Jiang Chao as a refreshing summer drink.

His title of "the unicorn of Jiangnan" is not an empty name.

"Brother Chu, this wine... is truly lacking. It's tasteless and bland, like it's been diluted with water. How about I treat you to a drink?"

As he spoke, Jiang Chao waved to the waiter who was standing at the door looking around.

The waiter's eyes lit up when he saw this generous young江湖客 (jianghu traveler), and he quickly ran over.

"Sir, what would you like to order?"

Jiang Chao smiled and handed over a silver ingot, saying:

"Bring over two jars of your best and strongest liquor, and also a few good dishes."

The waiter quickly pocketed the silver ingot, beaming with joy.

"Alright, please wait a moment, sir!"