A Law-Abiding Good Man

Not long after Zhuang Hong arrived at the Eternal Prosperity Gate to study martial knowledge, the gate inexplicably became much livelier.

Zhuang Hong often noticed people secretly watching him. Some men and women even pretended to be passing by before "naturally" greeting him.

The moment he politely responded, they would immediately leap into the air in excitement like five-hundred-pound children.

That day, Dancer invited him to the waterside pavilion on the lake for tea. He keenly noticed that many more pairs of eyes had soon appeared around them, repeatedly glancing toward the pavilion.

Zhuang Hong could not help asking, "Dancer, what is going on with these people?"

Dancer took a sip of tea and smiled faintly. "It seems you still do not know how great your reputation has become. These people came because of your name. They want to see the real 'Hand of God—Zhuang Hong.'

"The news that Hand of God—Zhuang Hong is staying at the Eternal Prosperity Gate on Lake Heart Island has spread everywhere. Huge numbers of people come to Lake Heart Island every day. At first, I tried to stop them, but there were simply too many, so I just let them pay to visit the island. The Eternal Prosperity Gate has made quite a profit during this time.

"I just wonder whether those who see you will be disappointed. After all, the image of you circulating outside is that of an eight-foot-tall, handsome, imposing, and extraordinary hero. Hee hee hee!"

After saying that, Dancer secretly examined Zhuang Hong's features and could not help covering her mouth as she giggled again.

If Zhuang Hong had not known that this woman was already nearing seventy, he would have thought she was merely in her early twenties...

Zhuang Hong swept his gaze over the surrounding crowd and chuckled. "I only killed a troll named Ge Mu. There is no need for all this."

Dancer said, "I thought you would be delighted to hear this news, but your reaction is so calm. You should know that being Number One Under Heaven means standing at the peak of mankind. That is the pursuit of all martial artists."

Zhuang Hong said, "That is too absolute. I know martial artists whose pursuits are not that. Besides, so-called Number One Under Heaven is not my pursuit either. Accidentally obtaining something I do not need would not make me particularly happy."

Dancer waved her hand. "I truly do not understand what you men are thinking. You are always chasing things you cannot see or touch."

She pulled a small gold plaque from her robes, played with it in her hand for a while, then handed it to Zhuang Hong. "This gold plaque engraved with 'Number One Expert Under Heaven' was sent to you by order of the Second Prince. It is considered fulfillment of his original promise, officially granting you the title of 'Number One Expert Under Heaven.'

"Now, Hand of God—Zhuang Hong, you are truly famous throughout the world. No one will question the title of Number One Expert Under Heaven again. Whether you want it or not, it is yours."

Zhuang Hong casually accepted it and examined it. The gold plaque was three fingers wide and one finger thick, made with ample material. The front bore the four large characters for "Number One Under Heaven," while the back was engraved with a majestic dragon-lion.

Zhuang Hong said, "Shouldn't this have been personally given to me? Why is it in your hands?"

Dancer casually replied, "It should indeed have been personally delivered to you, but I sent him away. I snatched this gold plaque from that eunuch. The Second Prince also wanted to invite you to his imperial palace and personally bestow the plaque upon you. Why did you not go?"

Zhuang Hong was speechless.

Could an official gold plaque really be snatched?

Martial artists truly held the imperial court in enough contempt, especially the powerful ones.

After playing with the gold plaque for a while, Zhuang Hong casually tossed it to Dancer. "If you like it, you can have this gold plaque. Consider it tuition for teaching me martial arts during this period."

Zhuang Hong carried quite a bit of gold with him, enough to ensure he would never lack food or clothing during his travels. He did not need another piece, and carrying too much gold would increase the burden of crossing through space.

More importantly, the title of Number One Expert Under Heaven truly held little appeal for him.

Dancer instinctively caught it and said in astonishment, "You are giving this plaque to me? As tuition?"

Zhuang Hong said, "I am serious."

Dancer said, "Do you not know what this gold plaque means now? It is not merely a gold plaque, but the supreme Sacred Object of the martial world—the pinnacle pursued by all martial artists. In this world today, only you, Zhuang Hong, are qualified to hold it."

This gold plaque had been officially issued by the imperial court, and coupled with Zhuang Hong's extraordinary achievements, it had already become a symbol.

A symbol recognized by everyone.

That meant this gold plaque had become the Sacred Object martial artists dreamed of.

Any martial artist who obtained this gold plaque would be granted the title of Number One Expert Under Heaven.

In other words, only the true Number One Expert Under Heaven was worthy of possessing this gold plaque.

Hearing Dancer put it that way, Zhuang Hong immediately understood.

But precisely because the plaque had become the ultimate object of pursuit for martial artists, Zhuang Hong could not take it with him.

In this world, the gold plaque represented "Number One," but in his hands, it was merely money for buying things...

Seeing Dancer's serious expression, Zhuang Hong could not help smiling. "I understand the significance of this gold plaque, but that is exactly why I do not want it."

"Why?"

"You know that I am only a martial artist who has just opened the Sky Bridge. I am still far from becoming an Earth Treasury Warrior. I am only an ordinary man. I was able to kill Ge Mu solely because my physique is special. You cannot think I am exceptionally powerful just because my physique is special. In reality, I am not that strong..."

Seeing the disbelief on Dancer's face, Zhuang Hong continued, "Put it this way: in terms of martial cultivation, I am still a hundred and eight thousand miles behind all of you. This gold plaque is the supreme object pursued by martial artists. Of course, I could keep it, since it is gold and worth quite a bit of money, but it is not suitable for now.

"Besides, I have a proposal..."

"What proposal?"

"I will temporarily entrust this gold plaque to the Humanity Eternal Prosperity Gate for safekeeping, in exchange for the Eternal Prosperity Gate agreeing to two conditions."

"Let me hear them."

"First, teach me a sword technique, a blade technique, and a whip technique. Though my strength is great, my fighting skills are far too crude compared with yours. I cannot fully use my advantage in strength, so I need to learn advanced combat techniques."

Dancer casually said, "Easy enough. I can personally teach you all of those. What is the second condition?"

"Open the Scripture Pavilion of the Eternal Prosperity Gate to me and allow me to read whatever I wish. What do you think?"

Dancer rubbed the gold plaque in her hand, hesitating for a moment.

Zhuang Hong was not a disciple of the Eternal Prosperity Gate, so according to the rules, he was not permitted to freely consult the books in the Scripture Pavilion. But if the Eternal Prosperity Gate kept this plaque, the benefits would be immeasurable. Most importantly, they would gain a favor from Zhuang Hong...

After thinking for a moment, Dancer made the decision outright. "In that case, I agree. Rules are dead, but the plaque is real. I will explain it to Senior Brother Zi Xiang, the sect master. I am sure he will agree."

Zhuang Hong said, "Then it is settled."

In truth, Zhuang Hong had previously used his spatial ability to secretly read some books. Doing this now merely made it more official.

After all, he considered himself a law-abiding good man.

The next day, holding the access token Dancer had given him, Zhuang Hong swaggered into the Scripture Pavilion.

To Zhuang Hong's surprise, the disciple guarding the entrance did not even inspect his access token. Instead, he greeted Zhuang Hong with a smile. "It is an honor to meet you, Hero Hand of God!"

Then he personally led Zhuang Hong inside and introduced the various collections to him.

Zhuang Hong rubbed his chin and thought, It seems having a great reputation is rather useful.

There were more books in the Scripture Pavilion than Zhuang Hong had imagined.

Tao Te Ching commentaries, geography and culture, astronomy and divination, detailed studies of races, strange tales and curiosities, martial theories, hidden secrets of the human body, cultivation manuals and secret arts, fists, kicks, blades, and swords...

There was everything imaginable, like a treasury of worldly knowledge.

The fact that such a place was completely open to Zhuang Hong was enough to show how highly the Eternal Prosperity Gate regarded him.

Unfortunately, Zhuang Hong was still a complete novice by martial artists' standards. Aside from that plaque, perhaps he could not offer them much more.

After considering it, Zhuang Hong went to the martial theory section, casually pulled out a copy of "From Troll Talent to Human Martial Arts," and began reading it carefully.