Martial Arts Crossover: Zhao Min, your sidekick is really something else.

Zhao Min, who was only seventeen years old, looked quite pretty and innocent.

But Xiao Yaoqing really couldn't figure out how many twists and turns were going on in her mind.

However, since he had made up his mind to spend his days in the Prince's mansion and finish the system's sign-in tasks along the way, Xiao Yaoqing did not refuse and slowly nodded.

Seeing that he had agreed, Zhao Min immediately waved to her subordinates:

"Go and bring two horses over!"

horse riding?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yaoqing felt a surge of tension.

That's right. Back in his old place, the thing Xiao Yaoqing was best at riding was the bicycle.

That's completely different from riding a horse!

Although he had been to places like grasslands and Gobi deserts and ridden horses in scenic areas.

At most, the staff will lead you around on a wobbly stroll a couple of times.

Is it the same feeling to ride a horse as the people in this area?

What if I go up there and act clumsily, wouldn't I immediately give myself away?

But Xiao Yaoqing didn't have time to think about it much.

Zhao Min's subordinates are incredibly efficient.

Two tall horses, one black and one white, had already been led to them.

Without saying a word, Zhao Min jumped onto the white horse, tugged at the reins, and waited for Xiao Yaoqing.

Xiao Yaoqing stared at the black horse in front of him.

There was no other way but to bite the bullet and go for it!

Fortunately, I've been to scenic spots a few times, so at least I'm not so bad at not being able to climb a horse.

As soon as Xiao Yaoqing mounted the horse, Zhao Min lightly touched the horse's belly with her toe, and the white horse started to move forward.

The two elderly men behind him instinctively tried to follow.

Zhao Min didn't even turn her head, and said, "Master Lu, Master He, you don't need to follow."

The two elders of Xuanming paused, exchanged a glance, and something flashed in their eyes.

But since their master had given the order, they couldn't disobey.

Xiao Yaoqing imitated Zhao Min and gently kicked the horse's belly.

He was initially worried that this dark horse would give him a hard time.

As it turned out... nothing happened.

Sitting on horseback, he felt surprisingly stable, even with a sense of ease.

"what?"

Even Xiao Yaoqing himself couldn't understand it.

He even felt that he could ride a horse across the Gobi Desert and fly!

"Could this be a basic attribute the system gave me after I transmigrated?"

Actually, he guessed wrong.

Was the 25 years of pure internal energy he possessed just a joke?

With this kind of internal strength supporting him, controlling his body is no problem at all, and the slight bumps on the horse are nothing.

Regardless of the reason, Xiao Yaoqing was completely relieved.

He caught up with Zhao Min's white horse, and the two sped up together, galloping across the Gobi Desert.

They ran for an unknown amount of time, but couldn't even see a single Yuan soldier.

Zhao Min slowly pulled on the reins.

Xiao Yaoqing also stopped.

The two horses walked slowly side by side.

Zhao Min stared ahead, but her voice drifted over: "Tell me, what brings you to Dadu?"

"Um?"

Xiao Yaoqing was taken aback.

What else could I possibly want from coming to Dadu?

It's not like I came here voluntarily. I just opened my eyes and found myself transported to another world, okay?

If I really need a reason... could it be for the system check-in?

Who would believe that?

However, he wasn't surprised that Zhao Min asked that question.

After all, if someone suddenly appears who knows the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the Xuanming Divine Palm, it would be fake if they didn't have some purpose.

The images of Lu Zhangke and Hebi Weng flashed through Xiao Yaoqing's mind.

A slight smile played on his lips as he slowly spoke: "What else can someone who comes to the martial world hope for but a rich and promising future?"

That's right.

The two Xuanming Elders are only slightly inferior to the top masters of the world in one-on-one combat.

Aren't they willingly serving as dogs for the imperial court?

All they want is fame and fortune.

Zhao Min's lips curled slightly, her voice low but filled with laughter:

"A master who knows both the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the Xuanming Divine Palm is no ordinary person in the Central Plains martial arts world."

"How could someone like that be controlled by fame and fortune?"

Xiao Yaoqing smiled, his tone very casual:

"A great hero? I wouldn't call myself one. With my skills, I can't even compare to the Xuanming Elders. If they're willing to risk their lives for the princess, then I have even less reason to act superior."

At this moment, Zhao Min finally turned her face and stared into Xiao Yaoqing's eyes.

It was as if they were trying to find some flaw in those eyes.

But she found nothing.

Xiao Yaoqing's eyes were clear and innocent, showing no sign of lying.

Zhao Min's heart skipped a beat:

"Either this person is so cunning that it's impossible to fathom their true nature, or... everything they say is true!"

Of course, Xiao Yaoqing was telling the truth.

He is indeed no match for the Xuanming Elders right now.

If he could really take on those two old guys one-on-one, why would he still be holed up in the Prince of Ruyang's mansion?

Zhao Min stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

That smile was like ice that had been frozen on a snow-capped mountain for years, melting in the spring breeze.

"Master Xiao, you underestimate yourself too much."

As soon as she finished speaking, a glint flashed in her eyes.

He loosened his grip on the reins and slashed his palm at Xiao Yaoqing's face.

Xiao Yaoqing didn't even have time to react; he simply raised his hand to block on instinct.

"puff."

Zhao Min's forearm slammed into the palm that carried twenty-five years of internal energy.

"hiss--"

Zhao Min let out a muffled groan, gasping for breath in pain.

The tremendous recoil made her sway on the horse's back, almost causing her to lose her balance.

She herself is a trained martial artist, although not a top expert, she has been practicing since childhood.

But if that kind of strength were applied to an ordinary person, their arm would probably be broken long ago.

Zhao Min covered her arm and turned to glare at Xiao Yaoqing.

The expression on her face changed, turning slightly aggrieved, and she actually began to complain:

"How can you be so heartless? It hurts so much!"

Xiao Yaoqing was stunned.

Why is this girl suddenly acting all cute and coquettish?

Zhao Min's eyes held a hint of resentment and a touch of petulance. Paired with her angelic face, it truly softened one's heart.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yaoqing didn't fall for it.

In the original novel, Zhao Min's coquettish manner was very effective in fooling the naive Zhang Wuji in the early stages.

Others might be able to read it, but Xiao Yaoqing knew Zhao Min's personality perfectly.

Every time this girl adopts this posture, it means she's up to something again.

Xiao Yaoqing then coughed lightly and said calmly, "Why did the princess suddenly attack me? I was merely protecting myself."

God is protecting himself.

Should we hire a lawyer to defend you?

But at that moment, a hint of surprise flashed across Zhao Min's eyes.

That's right, she was putting on this aggrieved act not because she was really in unbearable pain.

On the surface, she was clutching her arm as if she was in great pain, but in reality, her fingers had already secretly reached for the flying needles hidden in her sleeve.

He was just waiting for Xiao Yaoqing to show a guilty or distressed expression so he could take the opportunity to hit him again.

But to her utter surprise, Xiao Yaoqing was completely unmoved by her.

It really proved her earlier angry words true—"She really doesn't know how to cherish a woman at all."

If this were a modern girl, she'd probably just yell, "You deserve to be single forever!"

But at this moment, Zhao Min was more shocked than anything else.

Indeed, this time, she truly felt the powerful internal energy within Xiao Yaoqing's body.

Judging from Xiao Yaoqing's face, he looks to be in his early twenties at most.

However, his internal strength was ridiculously high, completely unlike what one would expect for someone his age.

This made Zhao Min feel increasingly uneasy.

So she simply asked directly, "Master Xiao, there's something I've always been curious about."

Xiao Yaoqing: "Please speak, Princess."

"Judging from Master Xiao's appearance, he's only a few years older than me, so why is your internal energy so profound?"

"Master Xiao, you didn't start practicing martial arts from the womb, did you?"

Practicing martial arts?

Xiao Yaoqing smiled inwardly, but didn't say it aloud: I've never practiced any martial arts at all, it's just because you don't have a system.

But this couldn't be said outright, so Xiao Yaoqing simply smiled and replied:

"Princess, everyone has secrets they don't want to tell, doesn't they?"

Zhao Min stared into Xiao Yaoqing's eyes, her eyes narrowing slightly, a clear light flashing in them.

Do you remember how Prince Ruyang praised his daughter?

"Her eyes are so sharp they seem to see right through people; no one's thoughts can be hidden from Minmin."

But at this moment.

Zhao Min realized that she couldn't see through Xiao Yaoqing in front of her.

It was precisely for this reason that this princess, who had always refused to admit defeat, secretly made up her mind:

"Everyone has secrets, right? I'd like to see how long you can keep them hidden in my Ruyang Prince's mansion!"

Zhao Min was actually quite puzzled when she called Xiao Yaoqing out this time.

She was, of course, familiar with the Xuanming Elders' unique martial art, the Xuanming Divine Palm. Forty years ago, after the death of Bai Sun Dao Ren, this supreme skill disappeared from the martial arts world. It wasn't until more than ten years ago, when Lu Zhang Ke and He Bi Weng suddenly sought refuge with the Prince of Ruyang, that she learned that the two had picked up the Xuanming Divine Palm again.

But this Xiao Yaoqing in front of him is so young, much younger than when Bai Sun Dao Ren died. Logically speaking, he has absolutely no connection with Bai Sun Dao Ren.

Could it be... that Bai Sun Dao Ren didn't actually die? He just pretended to be dead and fooled everyone?

Zhao Min's mind raced, and this was the only possibility she could think of. She didn't know Xiao Yaoqing's ability to directly copy martial arts from the Xuanming Elders, so she could only guess along this line of reasoning.

Judging from Xiao Yaoqing's attitude today, even if he asked, he probably wouldn't get any information.

However, Zhao Min remained calm.

As long as Xiao Yaoqing stays in the Ruyang Prince's Mansion, there's plenty of time; sooner or later, we'll be able to find out his true colors.

Without saying anything more, she simply turned her horse around and uttered a single sentence:

"Come with me back to the Prince's Palace!"

"drive!"

Looking at the dashing figure on the Gobi Desert, Xiao Yaoqing had to admit that the girl was indeed likable. If only she didn't have so many ulterior motives, she would be even better. But then again, if she really didn't have those little schemes, would she still be Zhao Min?

Xiao Yaoqing was too lazy to think about all this nonsense, so he turned his horse around and followed Zhao Min's back, galloping all the way towards Dadu.

As they approached the city gate, a thought suddenly popped into Xiao Yaoqing's mind.

That's not right.

Didn't the system say that you can randomly copy martial arts skills by making contact with the other party? He just exchanged a move with Zhao Min, so why didn't he hear a thing?

Although Zhao Min wasn't a top-tier martial artist, she had practiced martial arts since childhood and had a broad understanding of almost all the styles of martial arts in the Central Plains. Logically speaking, one could at least learn something from her.