Chapter 574 - 551: Teahouse

’Crack!’

A pale white lightning suddenly streaked across the sky, lighting up the originally rather gloomy weather considerably.

’Rumble!’

Immediately followed by the rolling thunder.

’Splashing!’

Then, a torrential downpour like beads suddenly crashed down, and for a moment, the world was filled only with the crisp sound of ’pitter-patter’.

With the heavy rain, there often comes strong winds.

In a narrow forest path filled with vegetation, a large number of leaves detached from their branches and danced wildly in the air mixed with rain, and the stout shrubs on the ground were bent over, while puddles quickly formed on the ground...

Outside the path, a crude tea house rose from the ground, presumably a wild shop to provide a temporary stop for travelers suddenly besieged by the rain.

This small tea house, equipped with over a dozen faded wooden tables, was already half-filled with people.

Among these people.

There’s an old man in gray cloth, his face wrinkled, with bare mud-covered feet, and a woman with light makeup and pleasant features, holding a baby in her arms.

There are Jianghu wanderers wearing bamboo hats, holding swords and knives, exuding a fierce blood qi, and scholars with square scarves on their heads, dressed in white robes, gentle and refined.

In front of everyone, besides pancakes, beef, and peanuts, there’s also a pot of hot tea, steam swirling.

The scorching tea just happened to remove the chill from those who have walked through the rain.

The whole tea house, for a moment, was filled with the sounds of sipping and slurping.

Seeing the rain showing no signs of stopping, many tea goers started chatting out of impatience.

"Brother Ma, never thought I’d meet you here, it’s truly a coincidence from every corner of the world!"

"Father, I have a dry cloth here, quickly wipe off the water on your body to prevent catching cold."

"The chief examiner for this prefectural test is said to be a great scholar from Yunzhou, quite strict, and unbiased—I’m just not sure what kind of essays he favors."

The originally quite quiet tea house suddenly turned as lively as a marketplace.

"This June rain changes as quickly as a woman’s face, coming out of nowhere!"

"Hey, however heavy this rain, can it be as bad as the storms in the current Jianghu?"

In a corner of the tea house, a table of two men suddenly steered their conversation toward the Jianghu.

Immediately, other chatter around them naturally quieted down.

Everyone seemed to focus their attention on this table.

These two chatting men.

One appears to be around forty, wearing a red brocade, short and stocky with an air of wealth, always squinting as if constantly smiling, looking like a rural wealthy man.

The one sitting across from him, was about the same age but had a thin build, haggard complexion, as if underfed.

The exposed hands were bluish, lacking flesh, with bulging veins drawing attention.

"Brother Ma, what Jianghu storms are you referring to?" the wealthy middle-aged man asked puzzled.

"Isn’t it about those big monkeys with pigtails?

These past two years, they’ve turned our Great Qing martial world into chaos!" the blue-faced man said indignantly.

Upon hearing the term ’big monkeys with pigtails’.

Many tea goers present showed a look of astonishment, followed by smiles after realizing, with some even directly chuckling.

Gathering attention in the tea house, these two men discussing Jianghu shifts seemed oblivious.

Instead, their voices grew louder, for fear others couldn’t hear, and their content became even more bold and daring.

"Brother Ma, who are these big monkeys?"

"Hey, Brother Niu, you shouldn’t only focus on your thousand acres of fertile land, you should pay more attention to Jianghu matters."

"Brother Ma’s admonition is wise, but so who are the big monkeys then?"

"Who else, but those people from Wanma Country’s National Master’s residence!"

As soon as the word ’Wanma Country’s National Master’s residence’ was uttered, the atmosphere in the tea house fell silent.

Most showed an expression of surprise, clearly not expecting the two to be so bold and straightforward without reservation, singing in harmony.

The blue-faced man continued: "Wanma Country’s National Master has long wanted to crusade against our Qing Country.

Now the royal family is in turmoil, the only thing that makes them wary is our Great Qing martial arts world.

These past two years, people from the National Master’s residence have been out in droves, challenging this hero today, that celebrity tomorrow, causing chaos in Jianghu!"

"Well, if it’s fair competition, there’s nothing wrong with that, just each relying on their skills." the wealthy man laughed.

"If it were fair competition, I wouldn’t say anything, after all, our Great Qing martial arts world is not afraid to lose.

The problem is, these people from the National Master’s residence love using underhanded tricks!"

"What kind of underhanded tricks?"

"Poison, secretly harm, kidnap family members, sneak attacks at night—these are the three tricks.

Before the competition, they’ll restrain, threaten, and injure our martial artists in all sorts.

How can one lose in the upcoming competition?"

’Bang!’

A loud slap on the table startled everyone present.

It was the wealthy man, angrily slapping the table with his fat hand.

"Shameless!" His face turned red with anger, then paused and asked, "Being so shameless, doesn’t anyone take action?"

"Take action? Who can act!" the blue-faced man shook his head helplessly, "I heard their National Master had reached the legendary Grandmaster realm, possibly the number one in the world now!

Not just us ordinary people, but even the masters of the four major sects don’t dare to act!"

Upon hearing this, the others couldn’t help but discuss.

"Doesn’t our Great Qing martial arts have any Grandmaster experts really?"

"Sword Saint existed over a hundred years ago, slightly younger still—the former Sect Leader of the Hao Ran Sect, probably not in this world anymore..."

"...Well, the problem is serious, Grandmaster is undefeatable in this world. If Wanma Country’s National Master acts, who can stop him?"

"Haven’t the four major sects had any new Grandmasters in the last century?"

"I heard Manor Master of the Dominator’s Sword Manor secretly departed once but soon returned heavily injured, announcing a retreat.

Who do you think could harm the Sect Leaders of the four major sects?"

"Hiss..."

All the conversations revolved around the word ’Grandmaster’.

In this world, a Grandmaster is a real martial arts legend, admired by thousands, possibly more influential than the emperor.

Upon hearing Wanma Country’s National Master might break through to the Grandmaster realm, everyone couldn’t sit still, feeling a deep sense of crisis.

"Wanma Country’s National Master has four main disciples, all outstanding in martial arts, comparable to top Jianghu experts.

Lately, his youngest disciple, Tuoba Hong, is about to challenge ’Flatland Palm’ Li Weizhou, I’m afraid Manor Master Li will have a hard time!" the blue-faced man sighed.

"I don’t know if Li Weizhou will have a hard time, but I know for sure you’re going to have a hard time!"

Outside the teahouse, a cold voice suddenly sounded.

The voice penetrated deeply, as if resonating in everyone’s ears, not covered at all despite the pouring rain.

’Whoosh!’

As soon as the voice fell, a silver light suddenly shot into the tea house, rapidly targeting the young man!

It was so fast, none present could capture its movement trajectory.

...