Chapter 1969: Wang Yuyan Wants to Be a Female Hero—The Martial Arts Scripture Is No Ordinary Artifact

"My heavens, are those really people of the Wu Lin? They're incredibly powerful!"

"Yes, who would've thought a few young girls could pull up the willow tree as easily as pulling up a scallion."

Only after Mu Wanzhen's group had left did the bystanders approach and replant the willow tree.

Even they needed two or three people to lift the willow tree, yet the others had simply gripped it lightly and pulled it free—such skill left everyone present stunned, marveling at the impossibility.

"Big Sister Mu, shall we head straight to Xingxiu Sea?"

On the other side, Zhong Ling remained exhilarated, wanting to test whether she could lift anything she saw.

Zhu Zhu and Wang Yuyan and the others were much better.

Though their hearts were as buoyant as Zhong Ling's, they restrained themselves, not roaming about seeking targets to test their strength.

"Ladies, please wait!"

At that moment, a group of ragged beggars emerged from an alley.

The leader stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and held out an invitation: "The Wuxi Branch of the Beggar's Sect, by order of Chief Qiao, invites the young ladies to attend the Beggar's Sect Assembly."

Zhong Ling exclaimed in surprise: "The Beggar's Sect is inviting us to their assembly? How strange—we have no connection to them at all!"

Mu Wanzhen sneered: "There's trouble coming to our door. Let's see who has the audacity to provoke us."

With a distant grasp, the invitation appeared three feet before her, and she flipped it open lightly.

"Apricot Grove?"

Seeing this place name and recalling the original story, Mu Wanzhen immediately suspected: "Could it be Kang Min, foolishly trying to pin the blame on me? I'm not Qiao Feng—if you dare, I'll wipe your Beggar's Sect clean!"

The Beggar's Sect numbered tens of thousands, produced nothing, yet most managed to thrive, becoming elder figures of the Jianghu and living in luxury—naturally, their inner workings were far from clean.

The original story did describe this, just not so bluntly.

Quan Guanqing, master of framing and scheming; Bai Shijing, who murdered his brother and slept with his sister-in-law…

Any one of these figures would be enough to shame a righteous sect, yet the Beggar's Sect had several at once.

When the top is corrupt, the bottom follows.

The lower ranks of the Beggar's Sect, one can well imagine.

Though this sect certainly had heroes who acted for country and people, it also carried the historical atrocities of the Beggar's Sect.

Kidnapping, mutilation, trafficking people…

These things must not have been rare!

Having traveled the Jianghu with her mother since her teens, Mu Wanzhen understood the people of the Jianghu all too well.

Too many in this world wore faces of righteousness while secretly engaging in theft and debauchery.

Zhong Ling's eyes sparkled: "Big Sister Mu, shall we go?"

She was just bored for a place to show off her martial arts!

Even Wang Yuyan's eyes lit up.

She had previously memorized countless Wu Gong manuals but possessed no cultivation base; the appearance of the Tai Xuan Divine Incantation had instantly filled that gap, granting her extraordinary power.

Knowing all martial arts under heaven, plus possessing extraordinary strength, she too longed to test just how strong she had become.

Mu Wanzhen sneered: "Since Chief Qiao has invited us, we might as well go and see what's going on."

With those words, the beggars led the way.

Mu Wanzhen's group strode forward, heading toward the city outskirts.

In no time, they arrived at a grove of trees.

At this moment, the grove was already filled with a large gathering of Jianghu figures.

There were ragged beggars, and monks clad in cassocks…

Compared to the original story, all the characters were now present.

Upon their arrival, the Beggar's Sect immediately parted to form a path, guiding them to the center.

A tall, imposing man stepped forward, bowed, and said: "We apologize for troubling you. One of our disciples witnessed you killing the Four Evils, so our brothers suspect that Deputy Chief Ma was killed by you—we've invited you here to witness the truth. Please forgive the inconvenience."

Mu Wanzhen sneered: "Ma Dayuan? He doesn't even deserve to die by my hand."

At her words, the entire crowd erupted.

Since Qiao Feng took power, the Beggar's Sect had risen to its zenith, growing stronger by the day, nearly overshadowing Shaolin as the supreme force in the Wu Lin.

Under such dominance, the Beggar's Sect members had grown arrogant, viewing everyone as insignificant.

Mu Wanzhen's remark offended every single member of the Beggar's Sect present.

If she disdained even the deputy chief, how could she possibly respect anyone else in the sect?

"Bold indeed!"

With a roar, a white-bearded Beggar's Sect elder leapt forward, aiming straight for Mu Wanzhen.

Wang Yuyan's eyes brightened; she reached out, snatched a longsword from a bystander's belt, spun it into a flourish, and charged forward.

"Big Sister Mu, let me try!"

·· ··· Please give flowers···· ········

Having gained extraordinary power for the first time, Wang Yuyan naturally couldn't sit still.

Moreover, after learning her true origins and suffering a great blow, she no longer wished to be the gentle, water-like maiden her mother had raised her to be.

Now, she would become a female hero.

Swordlight blazed, exquisitely refined.

One moment her technique was the Qingcheng Sect's Songfeng Swordplay; the next, it shifted to the Thirty-Six Swords of Ailao Mountain—leaving the Jianghu onlookers dumbfounded.

Most crucially, the young girl's sword techniques flowed together with uncanny brilliance, like the ceaseless rush of Changhe and Dahe; within three moves, Bai Shijing was barely holding on.

"Clang!"

On the fourth move, Wang Yuyan's sword struck Bai Shijing's broken-armor spike, flipping it away; the blade flashed, already resting against his throat.

Bai Shijing was dumbfounded for a moment.

Was he really this weak, defeated in the blink of an eye by a teenage girl?

Even if she had been cultivating Wu Gong since the womb, how much skill could she possibly have?

Even Qiao Feng was stunned.

The two had exchanged no more than four moves—so fast they were like lightning and sparks of flint—and before he could even react, it was already over.

"Miss, splendid swordsmanship!"

Qiao Feng praised her without cease, yet in his heart was already thinking of how to rescue his good brother.

Just then, Wang Yuyan stepped back one pace, gave her long sword a flick, and slid it steadily back into its scabbard.

Zhong Ling watched, her eyes bright, about to rush out.

If Sister Wang could do it, why couldn't she?

Just as she was thinking this, she felt her body grow light—it was Mu Wanqing gripping the back of her collar and lifting her whole person up.

"Zhong Ling, stop this Hu Nao. Yuyan's family learning is extraordinary; how could you possibly compare? Just stay on the side!"

Zhong Ling pursed her lips, somewhat deflated.

She too wanted to be a heroine, just like Sister Wang—swish, swish, a few sword strokes and a master defeated beneath the blade. How majestic that would be.

Wang Yuyan found it amusing to watch, yet also felt a pang of tenderness. She said, "Sister Ling'er, in the future I'll teach you Wu Gong. Once your Wu Gong bears fruit, Sister Mu won't have anything more to say."

Zhong Ling's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Just now, in those few moves, Wang Yuyan had stepped with lotus-light tread, her sword-light like lightning—and had already become the idol of Zhong Ling's heart.

If she too could be this formidable, that would truly be wonderful!

Although Sister Mu was formidable, she was too far beyond her reach. Sister Wang's style, on the other hand, seemed something she might be able to learn as well.