38. ??? An Ancient Martial Arts Family? / 39. Bing Tang Lingxin's Dilemma

After the others left, Ling Feng didn't pay much attention; they were just casual acquaintances.

I leaned against the bridge railing. The willows by the roadside seemed to have sprouted only a few new buds today. The willow branches swayed in the spring breeze, like a traveler returning home on a snowy night shaking off the cold snowflakes.

Standing on high ground, Ling Feng could take in the entire view below the bridge. Tonight, spring was in the air; tomorrow, the world should be filled with flowers.

She leaned there until Su Xiaoxiao saw Ling Feng, then quickly greeted him.

Seeing the two carrying large bags and bundles, Ling Feng went over to help carry some of them.

"Can it be stored directly in the Destiny Space?"

Ling Feng's expression was calm as he spoke frankly, even his tone...

There was still a hint of dissatisfaction?

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao was startled and felt somewhat unsettled. After turning her head away, Ling Luoluo indicated that everything was normal, only explaining that Ling Feng already knew.

She had deliberately kept some with her to avoid arousing Ling Feng's suspicion, but it turned out Ling Feng already knew? Why bother pretending then?

"How... how did you find out?" Su Xiaoxiao was still somewhat surprised.

"Huh? I was talking to Luo Luo."

Su Xiaoxiao: "??"

Ling Feng pointed at Ling Luoluo with a calm expression, but he wasn't surprised at all that Su Xiaoxiao was Magical Girls.

If Xi Yan is Magical Girls, then it wouldn't be too surprising if her friend Su Xiaoxiao is also Magical Girls.

Besides, he already had enough Magical Girls and Astral Mark Girl around him, so he didn't care much about her. He remained calm and Ling Feng, as if nothing was amiss.

But Su Xiaoxiao was completely bewildered by Ling Feng's behavior and explanation.

"Could it be that you, Xi Yan, also..."

"Know."

"Do you mind?"

"It doesn't matter, it's not a big deal, and it's actually quite convenient, isn't it?"

Ling Feng waved his hand casually. What he said wasn't a lie, but that wasn't what truly displeased him.

The reason was that Ling Feng had waited for three hours for the two of them to arrive, and now he was starving. Although he didn't actually need to eat, he couldn't waste the opportunity to travel here, as the local cuisine was quite unique!

"So, what are we preparing for tonight..."

"I'm going to a banquet tonight!!"

Before Ling Feng had time to finish, Su Xiaoxiao took out three more tickets that she didn't know what they were used for from the things in her hand! She could only vaguely see the word "month" written on them!

"What kind of banquet? We're completely unfamiliar with this place, where did you get this stuff?" Ling Feng's eyelids twitched, and he was dumbfounded again.

"Brother Ling Feng, we bought this on the way!"

"Yeah, that's right. There was a lot of people gathered around the notice board just now, and we went to take a look out of curiosity. Then we heard that only scions of wealthy families could go there. It turns out it's just because the tickets are a bit expensive. Oh well, I just bought one on the way!"

Su Xiaoxiao spoke casually and cheerfully, which made her seem very natural. However, she noticed that Ling Feng's expression was a little strange, so she stopped talking.

Ling Luoluo looked bewildered and puzzled. She walked straight to Ling Feng's side and gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Brother Ling Feng, what's wrong? Don't worry, the tickets aren't expensive, only 50,000 each. The three of us together only have 150,000!"

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Ancient Martial Arts Families?

Upon hearing this, Ling Feng's thick eyebrows shot up in surprise. Fifty thousand for a single ticket?!

That's all??

Ling Feng was shocked.

What kind of ticket can sell for 50,000?! Why don't they just rob people?!

Ling Feng didn't say anything. After all, the girl was just spending her own money, and he couldn't very well say that this young lady was foolish and had too much money.

Ling Feng thought for a moment and then asked, "So where are we going now?"

"Hmm... It's said to be hosted by the Mu Family, a prominent family in Chongming City. Those who can attend are all influential figures, mostly businessmen with the financial means to buy tickets. Moreover, the tickets are limited, and we were lucky enough to snag some when we passed by!"

Su Xiaoxiao recounted what she had seen and heard, but regarding the banquet, she only felt it was quite novel and was going to have some fun; otherwise, she felt nothing more, just like any other day.

Walking down the street, Ling Feng noticed that many people were carrying swords and knives, which gave off a unique vibe, but also a sense of danger.

Isn't anyone in charge?

Where are the government officials? Where are the police?

Su Xiaoxiao and Ling Luoluo didn't seem to care much about this. Chongming City was already famous for the existence of genuine martial arts, although many people still remained skeptical. But since they were here, they could only do as the Romans do.

The distance was quite far, so Ling Feng, Ling Luoluo, and Su Xiaoxiao boarded a carriage together. Su Xiaoxiao didn't like the slow pace of the sedan chair procession.

After paying by scanning a QR code with their mobile phones, the group set off. In ancient times, the person who drove the horse-drawn carriage was called Yu or Yu. There were "drivers" who specialized in driving horse-drawn carriages as early as the Zhou Dynasty.

This was Ling Feng's first time riding in this kind of thing, and he found it quite novel. However, when he saw the young "driver" in sportswear through the curtain, he felt a strange sense of unease.

The visual effect is just like a white-collar elite in a suit and tie going to the fields to plow the land, which looks very awkward!

What puzzled Ling Feng was that when the young "driver" heard Su Xiaoxiao mention that they were going to the Mu Family, he showed an expression of admiration and longing, which seemed to contain a kind of fanaticism.

Ling Feng remembered that Zhao Ping had told him on the train that his fiancée was from the Mu Family and that she was supposedly quite powerful, but he didn't know the specifics.

After thinking about it carefully, Ling Feng remembered that Zhao Ping hadn't contacted him or sent him a message since they parted ways after getting off the bus.

"Has he already married into the family so soon?"

Ling Feng secretly guessed what was going on, so he didn't think too much about it!

About twenty minutes later, the carriage arrived at its destination: the Mu Family's mansion where the banquet was being held!

The compound is surrounded by white walls and drooping green willows, with a three-bay gatehouse and covered walkways on all four sides.

The entrance was bustling with activity, with guests and pedestrians coming and going in an endless stream.

At the entrance, several beautiful young women were greeting guests. They were all dressed in tight-fitting cheongsams, black stockings, bright red lips, and alluring veils. Their swaying figures and captivating charm were on full display, and they were very enthusiastic!

The two ticket inspectors were also busy checking tickets and invitations, and were equally overwhelmed.

Above the bright red lacquered gate hangs a black plaque made of golden nanmu wood, on which are inscribed three large characters: "Zhaidi Mo" (宅邸沫).

The night sky was cool and still, with red candles flickering inside the windows. The palace's golden roof and red doors, with their antique style, evoked a sense of solemnity.

When Ling Feng and his group entered, there were already quite a few people there. The interior decoration was a combination of modern and ancient styles, and it was equipped with modern public toilets.

Inside the mansion, interconnected paths are dotted with rocks, and a plaque inscribed with "Joy in Red, Delight in Green" hangs above the five-room porch.

The entire courtyard was magnificent and elegant, with a lush and exquisite garden. The backyard was filled with roses and peony bushes, and a pond.

The Fragrant Stream converges here and flows out of the Grand View Garden. A white stone path spans the Fragrant Stream, leading to the other side.

The buildings are designed in a fresh and elegant style. The dark tiles and white walls decorating the door frames and window lintels resemble an ink painting, complementing the rural scenery perfectly.

However, compared to the outside of the manor, Ling Feng estimated that the environment inside the manor was probably comparable to their school, as it covered a huge area!

The surrounding area was filled with tables of all sizes, but there were less than half the people there. Su Xiaoxiao pulled the two of them to find a seat and they sat down.

"Brother Ling Feng, it's so lively here! Is there going to be some kind of performance later?" Ling Luoluo asked excitedly.

"Yes, the decor feels simple and elegant. You know what, I think this would be a great location for filming a period drama!" Seeing that there weren't many people around, Su Xiaoxiao took out her phone and started taking pictures.

She planned to post it on her WeChat Moments first, to let her group of spoiled rich kids still in Yanjing see what was going on, and to stop them from thinking about luxury cars, villas, cruise ships, and private jets all day long!

Of course, Su Xiaoxiao didn't forget Luo Xiyan and her roommates either. She remembered that one of her roommates had gone on a trip abroad this year. Didn't she realize what time it was? Running around during the pandemic! Just causing trouble for the country!

Ling Feng had been somewhat absent-minded since he sat down, staring at his phone. He felt like something was off.

"Hello everyone, judging from your appearance, you must be from out of town, right? May I sit with you at the same table?"

While I was thinking, a voice suddenly broke in.

Looking up, they saw a young man about the same age as Ling Feng and the others. He was dressed in fine silk and satin, was very polite, and had his long hair neatly tied up with a hairpin, giving him an elegant demeanor.

Great, very energetic!

"Are you also here for the banquet? If you don't mind, you can join us."

Su Xiaoxiao was very welcoming and, without saying anything, directly invited the young man to sit down.

"Thank you, Miss!"

Upon seeing this, the young man clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply in gratitude.

Ling Feng was in a daze and didn't pay much attention. After all, the seat was meant to be occupied. However, he was a little confused by the young man's actions.

It has that TV drama vibe!

"Um, nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Lan Five, you can just call me Xiao Wu. I'm different from other young masters, I'm very easy to get along with."

After sitting down, Lan Five didn't stand on ceremony and immediately began to chat at length with a smile.

Su Xiaoxiao found it quite interesting and chatted with him for a while without minding. Ling Luoluo listened from the side, not knowing what to say, but just listening to the two of them talk with a curious expression.

"You're all travelers visiting Chongming City, right? How about it? I know some nice places; I'll take you there sometime."

"Sure, we're not familiar with this place either. It would be much more convenient to have a local explain things to us. We heard that the Chongming City Martial Arts Tournament is coming up soon. Are those martial arts techniques real?" Su Xiaoxiao asked curiously.

"Hmm, how should I put it?" Lan Five scratched his head, actually he didn't know how to explain it either.

"They do possess martial arts skills, but it's not like the rumors that noodle shop chefs or cleaning ladies are all martial arts masters. The real martial arts secrets are actually held by a few ancient martial arts families, like the Mu Family who are attending this banquet today!"

"Really??" Su Xiaoxiao became even more interested and continued to ask.

"Wow, that's amazing..." Ling Luoluo was also a little stunned, and subconsciously shook her head.

"Well, never mind, I wasn't supposed to say too much, but since you're all outsiders, it doesn't matter if you know, so I'll tell you." Lan Five sighed softly and nodded subconsciously.

"Only a few core disciples of ancient martial arts families truly possess kung fu skills. The so-called Martial Arts Tournament is merely a way to select the best among them. As for the others, they are at most small fry who know a little bit of physical skill, and there's nothing to see here."

"The hype and publicity are just to attract traffic. In short, I don't recommend ordinary people participate. The dojo is extremely dangerous. Any fight could result in serious injuries, or even death on the spot!" As he spoke, Lan Five's tone became somewhat extreme, as if he still felt lingering fear.

He gives the impression that he has a story to tell!

"This..."

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned.

Ling Luoluo was also stunned.

As for Ling Feng?

He was still lost in thought and had no idea what the others were discussing.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Troubles of Bingtang Lingxin

"Isn't anyone going to do anything about it? Or call the police?"

Su Xiaoxiao's eyebrows furrowed, and she immediately asked, knowing the seriousness of the matter.

"In Chongming City, don't even think about calling the police. The entire city is practically controlled by a few powerful families, and the police stations outside are all staffed by their people. Even if an outside prosecutor comes, it won't do any good. You're new here and don't understand the weight of this situation."

Lan Five leaned forward slightly and spoke cautiously, looking inexplicably flustered.

"So, never risk your life for the championship prize. The prize for the top three isn't particularly valuable; it's mainly about getting something rare or unusual. The truly valuable prizes are usually only the championship prize. I've heard from people that the championship prize in the past once included a priceless luminous pearl!"

"So you're saying everything else is pretty bad?" Su Xiaoxiao asked again.

"The lowest price would be at least a few million."

Lan Five spoke casually; he had that much pocket money every month anyway, so he didn't really care. He just liked watching the excitement!

Just then, a group of people suddenly rushed in from outside the door. A large crowd gathered around, and a distinguished young man stepped out from the crowd to greet them.

The young man was handsome, with a sculpted face and distinct features. His angular face was exceptionally beautiful, and he held a silver-white folding fan behind his back.

His appearance might give off an air of carefree abandon, but the sharp glint in his eyes makes him someone to be reckoned with.

There were many onlookers, Su Xiaoxiao naturally noticed them. However, she was quite surprised when she saw the handsome young man among them.

"Isn't this the idiot we ran into at the food street last time?"

"Is he the guy you told me was trying to seduce Su Yun?"

Following Su Xiaoxiao's gaze, Ling Feng felt somewhat strange and speechless.

Of the three, only Ling Luoluo didn't know what was going on and looked completely bewildered.