Zhao Pengju had not hidden at home. Instead, he had fled town with his mother, wife, and child.
They could no longer stay in Sanhe Town. The River Crocodile Gang would catch up with them sooner or later.
The group hurried through the woods, but with Auntie Li and the other woman both ordinary people, and a child to carry as well, they could not move too fast.
All along the way, Zhao Pengju burned with anxiety. He was deeply worried about Sun Zhenjiang's safety.
Zhang Qingyuan could tell, because Zhao Pengju had been distracted the entire time.
What he had not expected was that, after briefly growing bashful at his teasing, Zhang Junbao would now become preoccupied too.
Could women really hold that much allure for an eighteen-year-old boy?
That couldn't be right. I'd never heard of Zhang Sanfeng taking a wife.
Wait, Zhang Sanfeng never married, but he had been in love!
Zhang Qingyuan suddenly remembered that, seemingly, Zhang Sanfeng in every world ended up growing old alone, an old Taoist devoted to cultivating immortality in his later years.
But that did not mean Zhang Sanfeng's heart had never stirred...
Whichever world's Zhang Sanfeng it was, his youth always included a love he could never attain.
Guo Xiang in the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber version, Qin Sirong in Dicky Cheung's version, and Qiuxue in Jet Li's version.
One-sided yearning, loving without being loved, forgetting each other in the jianghu...
In short, there was no shortage of female leads around him, but none of those relationships ever amounted to anything in the end.
At that thought, Zhang Qingyuan sidled up to Zhang Junbao and asked quietly, "Hey, Brother Bao, what kind of girl do you like?"
"Huh?" Zhang Junbao froze, then blushed again. "What are you talking about, Brother Yuan? I really wasn't thinking about that."
"Still pretending? You nearly walked into a tree just now." Zhang Qingyuan teased him, patting his shoulder reassuringly. "Relax. We haven't really become Taoists yet. Besides, even if we do fully enter the faith to cultivate someday, it isn't as though Taoists can't marry. With Brother Yuan here, I'll definitely find you a good wife someday."
Zhang Qingyuan wore an expression that said he had seen right through him, leaving Zhang Junbao even more at a loss. He explained, "I really wasn't thinking about any of that."
"Then what were you thinking about?"
Zhang Junbao glanced back, then fixed his large eyes on Zhang Qingyuan. "Brother Yuan, those people from the Blood Lump Sect-would you say they're experts?"
"According to Brother Ju, they're fairly well-known even in Central Province."
"Since we started learning martial arts, we haven't really fought any established experts, have we?" A hint of anticipation shone in Zhang Junbao's eyes.
Zhang Qingyuan understood what he meant. "So, you have something in mind?"
Zhang Junbao nodded and said earnestly, "I want to give it a try."
Was Zhang Junbao a martial arts fanatic?
No.
He wanted to go back and fight purely out of human nature. He simply wanted to try it.
It was like being unable to wait to drive after getting a license. Everyone had that rush of novelty.
Even the thirty-something Zhang Junbao in Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber had been eager to roam the jianghu after creating the Wudang Nine Yang Skill, let alone an eighteen-year-old Zhang Junbao.
What?
Zhang Junbao in Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber had been forced to act? He had cultivated in seclusion at Wudang, read so many Taoist scriptures, attained a lofty state of mind, and long since grown past the age of fighting and killing?
Then where had the title Scruffy Taoist come from?
How had he come to hold the martial world in check for sixty years?
How had he earned the title of number one under heaven?
Where had that image of Sammo Hung's Zhang Sanfeng cursing people out come from?
Answer me!
If he truly never competed or fought for anything, letting things take their natural course and staying holed up in Wudang alone, had all those experts gone mad and run to Wudang to provoke him?
People always loved their preconceived notions. Because the hundred-year-old Zhang Sanfeng seemed like a gentle old immortal, they assumed he had been the same in his youth.
They ought to know that people changed.
Now that Zhang Qingyuan understood what Zhang Junbao wanted, would he agree?
As a transmigrator, Zhang Qingyuan knew full well how deep the waters of the jianghu ran.
He understood even better that someone like Zhang Junbao, destined to become a grandmaster of his generation, was also destined never to have a peaceful life.
Sometimes, even if he did not seek trouble, trouble would seek him.
Just like NPCs designed specifically to come over and help the protagonist level up.
So...
After weighing it over, Zhang Qingyuan slung an arm around his shoulders. "If you want to go, we'll go!"
Zhang Junbao smiled. Brother Yuan really does understand me best.
"All right."
Hearing that the two of them intended to go back, Zhao Pengju hurriedly raised his hand. "Count me in."
"You can't." Zhang Qingyuan refused.
"Why?" Zhao Pengju pouted, his manner subdued.
Half a year ago, he could have strutted around with his head held high. Now, he was just the little brother.
The capital he had taken such pride in was gone. Zhang Qingyuan called the shots now.
Zhang Qingyuan reasoned with him. "Auntie Li and your wife are both defenseless women, and there's your son too. Could you bear to leave them here?"
"That's right, son. Your mother isn't afraid, but your wife and child..." Auntie Li was clever and immediately seized on his weak spot.
Zhao Pengju sighed. Zhang Junbao also said in complete earnest, "Brother Ju, your martial arts are too weak. It isn't just Auntie Li and your wife who need your protection. If we take you along, we can't be sure we can protect you once the fighting starts."
Zhang Junbao spoke the truth, but the truth hurt most.
Zhao Pengju's heart ached. So I'm one of the people who need protecting now.
"All right, I won't go." He gave in, then looked up and pleaded, "When you get back, if Brother Sun is still alive, please make sure you save him. We'll wait right here."
"Don't worry," Zhang Junbao promised.
"Be careful."
In Sanhe Town, the Dry Flood Dragon Gang had already lost.
Sun Zhenjiang and the others were top experts in Sanhe Town, but against the Blood Lump Sect disciples from outside, experts like them had suffered what amounted to a dimensionality-reduction strike.
That was the jianghu. Great heroes had their helpless predicaments, and small fry had their sorrows.
Knowing a handful of moves was enough to rule a small place like a local emperor, provided no outsiders came to interfere.
In less than two hours, the Dry Flood Dragon Gang's members had been beaten into ruin, and the rest had knelt in surrender.
The deputy gang leader had died fighting, and Sun Zhenjiang had been captured and taken to the River Crocodile Gang's headquarters.
He had thought he would be executed immediately, but only upon arriving at the River Crocodile Gang's headquarters did he learn that his sworn brother was still alive and had even stormed the headquarters to rescue his family.
Sun Zhenjiang was genuinely happy for his brother.
Li Guan was furious. He had never expected Zhao Pengju to be so formidable-not only had he turned the tables and killed a Blood Lump Sect disciple, he had also stormed the headquarters and killed the deputy gang leader.
He vented his anger on Sun Zhenjiang. After whipping and torturing him, he ordered his men to tie him up in the middle of the courtyard and keep watch over him, making sure he did not die.
He even sent people out to spread word about Sun Zhenjiang. He was certain Zhao Pengju would return to rescue him once he heard.
At the same time, he also had to soothe the Blood Lump Sect's roaring fury.
"Rest assured, my lords. I've made all the arrangements. Zhao Pengju will definitely come back to save him."
The only five of the Twelve Fiends present remained silent, their expressions grave. They had never imagined losing a brother on such a minor assignment.
Li Guan did not dare say too much. Watching their expressions, he offered an ingratiating smile. "I never expected Zhao Pengju to be so formidable either. I really underestimated the Cangshan Sword Sect."
"Idiot!" One of them slammed the table and roared, "The Cangshan Sword Sect may have a reputation, but that damned Zhao Pengju certainly doesn't.
"If he had any outstanding talent, why would he have left the mountain and gone home?
"Someone else killed our brother and your deputy gang leader!"
"What? There's another expert?" Li Guan was stunned. He had heard nothing about any experts arriving lately. Could it be... Something occurred to him. "Could someone from the Cangshan Sword Sect have come?"
The man shook his head. "It wasn't anyone from the Cangshan Sword Sect. Whoever killed our man didn't use sword techniques."
"Then who could it be?"
Li Guan could not guess. Who else could Zhao Pengju possibly know?
Just then, a lackey ran in from outside and shouted, "Bad news! Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao have fought their way here! They're demanding we release Sun Zhenjiang!"
The five Blood Lump Sect disciples immediately rose, but Li Guan remained utterly unconcerned, as though he had not heard clearly who had come. "It's fine, it's fine. Those two aren't experts. They're a couple of fortune-telling frauds from our town. Just leave them to me."
The five men knitted their brows and looked at him suspiciously.
Li Guan said, "Don't worry. Why use an ox-cleaving blade to kill a chicken? I'll be right back."
With that, he took the saber a subordinate handed him and strode out of the hall, shoulders swaying, muttering, "They must have eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall. Now just anyone dares come here and mouth off at me."
But before he could descend the steps, a streak of blue light flashed, and Li Guan flew backward into the hall, crashing into the rear wall.
The five men rose again and looked outside. Two young Taoists were smiling at them.
Their leader turned to Li Guan dubiously. These are the frauds you were talking about?
Explain yourself. Someone with martial arts like this isn't an expert?