Chapter 20: True love, for me, is not as good as a table of dishes with complete color, aroma, and taste

"In this old monk's view, benefactor and Wu Santong are not related. He committed a mistake, and his master will deal with it. If you can't stand it, punishing him once or twice is enough. Why use such a heavy hand?"

"Does the master think Zhuang is meddling?" Zhuang Buran looked lazy and easygoing:

"I just couldn't help but have the intention to kill. How is that meddling?"

While speaking, he lifted Wu Santong by the back of his neck like a ghost and soared up.

"Benefactor..."

The white-browed old monk couldn't help but soar into the air, attempting to chase, but a pebble flew over suddenly. He hurriedly struck a finger force, not wanting the fierce and domineering force attached to the pebble to far exceed his imagination.

Even though the pebble was shattered, that huge force hard-hit the white-browed old monk, and his body could not control itself and retreated seven or eight steps before unloading the force.

But the sharp-eyed guests had already discovered that his index finger was bleeding, clearly having suffered no small injury, and the scene became lively again.

On the other side, Zhuang Buran carried Wu Santong to the bamboo forest outside Jiaxing City, tapped his acupoints so that the Bone-Attached Needle would no longer act up, and threw him on the ground at will.

"Despicable villain, first hurting people with hidden weapons—is the successor of the Eastern Heretic just this unbearable?" Wu Santong lost the heart-wrenching pain from before and began to endure the pain of his broken legs, shouting angrily.

"Compared to you, it should be far from it." Zhuang Buran shook his head:

"Having unspeakable thoughts about the adopted daughter you raised—I think no matter how unbearable I am, I should be much better than you."

Wu Santong gritted his teeth and said angrily:

"What exactly do you want?"

"The Western Poison's 'Toad Technique', the Northern Beggar's 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms'—Zhuang has already obtained them. I just want to see how exquisite the Southern Emperor's 'One Finger Art' is."

Wu Santong's pupils shrank. He truly did not expect that this green-robed youth, suspected to be a successor of Peach Blossom Island, would actually want to plot for the unique skills passed down by his own master, and had already obtained the housekeeping skills of two of the Five Greats.

He said decisively:

"Wishful thinking. Do it, I will not even if I die..."

A pill suddenly flowed into Wu Santong's mouth, interrupting what he wanted to say next.

"Stop talking nonsense. Zhuang's specially made Soul-Bewitching Pill is most useful for people like you who have crooked minds and cannot control themselves, a beast in human clothing."

Zhuang Buran saw Wu Santong's eyes gradually become blurred, and the whole person entered a state of ignorance and unawareness, saying:

"Santong, today the master will test your 'One Finger Art' foundation. First, repeat the key points of this technique."

"Yes, master."

Wu Santong's expression was dull, and he recited the essence of 'One Finger Art' in a tone without any fluctuation.

For a long time, Zhuang Buran hung a trace of joy on the corner of his mouth and said lightly:

"This technique is worthy of being a unique skill for many years. The posture is simple, and the power is outstanding. It is divided into nine grades. Practicing to the fourth grade or above, one can enter the realm of finger sword, that is, where the finger force reaches, it is like an invisible sword, whether sweeping or pointing, it can hurt the enemy."

"From this, it can be inferred that the 'Six Meridian Divine Sword' is based on the 'One Finger Art' and is a more profound martial art."

He suddenly patted, and the palm force hit Wu Santong's heart. After sending him to the west, he walked toward the outside of the bamboo forest gracefully.

"Although it consumes a lot of energy when used, it has the effect of rapidly developing human potential to treat diseases, and can also increase internal strength and endurance, laying a solid foundation for internal energy. It is indeed a good skill for defeating enemies and protecting oneself."

Zhuang Buran kept savoring the exquisiteness of the martial arts he had obtained:

"The 'One Finger Art' is complete, and one can truly turn the tangible into the intangible, evolving an invisible air sword that can fight from a distance. Very good!"

"It is still the fist and foot skills that Zhuang likes the most. It is not in vain that I came here."

He suddenly glanced and found a familiar-looking figure, but his footsteps did not stop at all, and he left straight away.

"Hey, stop." Li Mochou blocked Zhuang Buran with red eyes.

"Miss Li, if Zhuang remembers correctly, we are already even."

"Did you know early on that Lu Zhanyuan changed his heart?"

"I just saw you and knew that your lover was a heartless man."

"Can you really calculate?"

"Believe it or not."

Just as Zhuang Buran turned to leave, Li Mochou's eyes were full of hope:

"Then do you think he will change his mind?"

"For the sake of you teaching me a good martial art, I will say one sentence." Zhuang Buran's tone was calm:

"You can fall in love with a peddler or a prisoner, you can even fall in love with a rebellious death row prisoner, but you absolutely cannot fall in love with someone who does not love you."

"Heaven created you as a woman so that you should be cared for, pampered, and happy, not... to ask for trouble."

"A woman, if she has no backbone and is always begging for pity from a man, then even the person you love will look down on you."

"Are you like that old monk, also trying to persuade me to let go?" Li Mochou's face froze.

"For me, if there is no profit to be made, I don't meddle, and I don't interfere with other people's lives. This is my favorite style of acting."

Zhuang Buran looked indifferent:

"So whether you let go or not, what does it have to do with me."

After speaking, he walked lightly and left in an instant.

Taihu Lake collars three states, and the waters of the southeast all return here, traveling five hundred miles, known in ancient times as the Five Lakes.

On this day, Zhuang Buran practiced 'Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms' and 'One Finger Art' diligently, and unknowingly walked to the side of Taihu Lake.

He saw the long sky and distant waves, looking at the green, seventy-two peaks green, standing in the thirty-six thousand hectares of waves, and his mood couldn't help but become more comfortable.

And not far away stood a girl in an apricot-yellow dress. Her expression was cold and stern, and her eyes made people feel that she had three parts of hostility.

"The old saying is good, the road faces the sky, each walks on one side. What does it look like for you to always follow Zhuang?"

"I love to go wherever I go, you can't control it." Li Mochou replied coldly.

Zhuang Buran smiled lightly:

"Hehe, you wouldn't be homeless, not knowing where to go, and that's why you are following Zhuang?"

"You are either practicing martial arts or practicing martial arts all day long. Don't you feel bored?" Li Mochou snorted coldly.

"Zhuang is obsessed with martial arts. Isn't it natural to practice martial arts all day?"

"During the time I was outside, I also met many people. People of your age who came to the Jianghu don't they all harbor a hero dream of making a name for themselves in their hearts?"

"To the point of wanting to do some righteous things like robbing the rich and helping the poor, killing corrupt officials and bullies, and acting on behalf of heaven. Why don't you have these thoughts?"

Li Mochou was somewhat puzzled:

"Being sought after by the Jianghu, getting the favor of beauties, and making a name for yourself—you don't want any of these?"

"Boring."

Zhuang Buran had a trace of laziness:

"Asking someone who claims not to be a good person to do good things is too difficult for others."

"Even if you don't think you are a good person, it shouldn't affect you being infatuated with people, right?" Li Mochou replied.

"You actually still believe in true feelings in the world. Haven't you been hurt enough?" Zhuang Buran clicked his tongue in wonder.

"I just want to know how you men view the word 'love'." Li Mochou's eyes dimmed.

Zhuang Buran hugged his shoulders:

"According to my previous view, if a woman falls in love with a gentle, steady, elegant, wise, and world-caring hero."

"However, this hero suddenly has an accident, loses his memory, loses his wisdom, and loses his ability to distinguish right from wrong, like a blank sheet of paper, becoming simple, stubborn, and ordinary."

"The hero loses his halo and becomes mediocre. If this woman can uphold her original intention, persevere, and like him as before, I suppose this is true love."

Li Mochou listened intently and couldn't help but pick up the conversation:

"If you men all have such requirements, can't I do it? Why did Lu Zhanyuan betray me?"

"Right time, wrong person, that's all." Zhuang Buran said lightly:

"The so-called love at first sight is just being moved by appearance. But after getting along, I found that under your gentle face, there is a strong and paranoid personality, and then I met a truly gentle and considerate beautiful girl, so naturally, I changed my heart."

He paused and said again:

"By the way, stupid girls who can uphold their original intentions and persevere are often good at messing things up. Zhuang is most annoyed by cleaning up messes for others."

"So, true love, for me, is not as good as a table of dishes with complete color, aroma, and taste."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 21 =====