[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds":3,"chapter-high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-138":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","High Martial Arts Across Two Worlds",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2361109,4616,"Chapter 138: The Beautiful Widow","high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-138",138,"\u003Cp>Before the gates of the Divine Weapon Workshop, Cang Luo froze—he saw a beautiful woman...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, she was more accurately a beautiful widow; from her hairstyle, she clearly wore the coiffure of an ancient married woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was dignified, her movements elegant, radiating an aura of maturity and allure, with a faint air of cold detachment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the woman’s bearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for her figure, it left Cang Luo utterly stunned—even surpassing Yun Jiao’s elder sister, Yun Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only “curvaceous front and back” could describe it—no further elaboration possible!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her age? By appearance, she looked mid-twenties, but her bearing and hairstyle suggested she was over thirty—the very peak of desire...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the widow was leaning down, speaking to the young guards who were playfully loitering around the war chariot, and in just a few words, she sent them off—home for lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was magnetic: warm yet firm, with a touch of maternal radiance—utterly irresistible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo shook his head hard, took several deep breaths to quell his rising urges, then suddenly remembered his frail condition... instantly, the allure faded. Only then did he notice three others beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two were women, dressed in black martial attire, hair tied back neatly, swords at their waists—stark contrast to the widow’s elegance. They were clearly her bodyguards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third was Zhang Zi, a workshop attendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhang Zi, and recalling He Guan’s words, Cang Luo realized: the widow must be the owner of the Divine Weapon Workshop—the widow of the Shen family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo sighed: “He Guan wasn’t lying—your madam is truly a great, great, great beauty! Too bad, younger brother here is weak-bodied, unable to bear it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering this, he shook his head helplessly and slowly walked toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—he walked toward the war chariot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, He Jiu stepped past Cang Luo and appeared beside the widow, pointing at him and whispering urgently to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lu Zheng appeared, swiftly joining her side, giving a slight nod and addressing her as “Madam” in respectful tone, his expression calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cang Luo noticed him sneak a glance at the widow’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just him—after He Jiu and Lu Zheng emerged, Wang Zhonghu, Zhang Han, and other smiths and array masters followed, standing behind the widow, their dozen eyes greedily fixed on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo suddenly felt this woman was far from ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, how could a widow, husband dead, command these men? How could she preserve her husband’s legacy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at them—all bulging muscles, brimming with male hormones—absolute muscle brothers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could possibly handle them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that old lecher—he was a Wu Zun powerhouse, a sixth-rank smith, holding an exalted position in the workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did this woman rely on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her own cultivation? Some other method? Or did she have a powerful patron?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cang Luo pondered this, he reached the war chariot. He dared not look at the widow, instead focusing on mounting the external armor onto the chariot’s footboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng glanced at him and the chariot, instantly recognizing the external armor as the very one he had forged the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled and said to Cang Luo: “Young friend, is this the mechanical vehicle your master crafted? Old man has never seen such a small mechanical vehicle—especially one with only two wheels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can this even be called a mechanical vehicle? What use is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo smiled humbly but said nothing. After securing the external gear, he paused, then pulled out the chariot’s key and pressed the unlock button—the vehicle emitted a beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he hadn’t locked it when parking; there was no need to press the button. He simply wanted to show off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the widow and Lu Zheng and the others all froze at the beep, staring at the mechanical vehicle in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhonghu exclaimed: “Master, that mechanical vehicle just made a sound!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng frowned and snorted: “A sound makes it a mechanical vehicle? My hammer clanks too—is it a mechanical vehicle? Or are you a mechanical man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added: “Madam, don’t listen to He Jiu’s nonsense. If this thing counts as a mechanical vehicle, I can make one—much larger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the madam had arrived, He Jiu gained courage and softly defended: “Madam, I didn’t lie—it is a mechanical vehicle. It doesn’t need pushing or horses—it runs on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it has only two wheels, it doesn’t tip over. Truly strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng grew slightly angry, glaring at He Jiu, about to speak further—but the widow gently raised her hand, halting their argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turned to Cang Luo, stepped forward with a graceful smile, bowed her head slightly, and spoke softly: “I am Shen Ru...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her original name was Li Ru; she took the surname Shen after her husband’s death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused deliberately, then lifted her head to meet Cang Luo’s gaze, her eyes sultry, lips parting: “Young Master Cang, how does one operate this ‘mechanical vehicle’? Could you demonstrate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo felt uneasy under her gaze, involuntarily swallowing hard, and did not answer immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew her intent: she wished to confirm the chariot was truly a mechanical vehicle, then either purchase it or collaborate with his “master” to obtain its manufacturing method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo himself wanted to sell the manufacturing method—acquiring cultivation resources was the true path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no such method. The chariot wasn’t a mechanical vehicle at all. Even his “master” was fake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d invented the master only to safely sell weapon blueprints—not expecting to use the chariot for anything beyond showing off or carrying girls...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo reflected: he’d been on the Yuanwu Continent for nearly three months. Aside from spotting mechanical vehicles via satellite over the Mo Family’s Mechanism City, he’d seen none elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did that mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant only the Mo Family’s Mechanism City could produce mechanical vehicles—the Mo Family held the core technology; no one else could replicate them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant mechanical vehicles were far more important, far more valuable, than he’d imagined—not common goods at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look: just this morning, after leaving the inn, several hostile bounty hunters immediately stopped him, demanding the chariot’s origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not quickly improvised that the rune-chariot was a joint project of the Mo Family and the Profound Heaven Sect, they’d have robbed him on the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cang Luo thought of this, he suddenly regretted buying and modifying the electric motorcycle—it was a burning coal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if, right now, he sold the chariot to the Divine Weapon Workshop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Told them the truth: he’d bought it at the Martial Alliance auction, his “master” couldn’t build mechanical vehicles—only designed the armor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pass the burning coal to someone else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cang Luo felt reluctant...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Cang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru, seeing Cang Luo’s prolonged silence and fixed stare, softly called his name, her breath sweet as orchid—making him dizzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo snapped back to reality, instinctively inhaling deeply, drawing her scent fully into his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So fragrant... slightly intoxicating...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru blushed faintly, giving him a playful, reproachful glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That look nearly captured him—he nearly lost his mind. Luckily, his frailty snapped him back to clarity...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo felt pitiful. He quickly averted his gaze, then mounted the chariot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru was surprised by his composure, and called again: “Young Master Cang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo remained silent, sat on the chariot, expression calm, inserted the key, started the engine, then gently twisted the throttle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chariot began to move slowly, circling the Divine Weapon Workshop crowd, before their stunned eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Lu Zheng was speechless, staring wide-eyed at the vehicle moving without wind or beast, unable to believe: “It... it’s truly a mechanical vehicle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others were equally awestruck—it was their first time seeing a mechanical vehicle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu immediately said: “I told you—it’s a mechanical vehicle, Madam...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru covered her lips in shock, and upon hearing He Jiu, exclaimed: “Young Master Cang, I wish to meet your master. Could you introduce me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo stopped the chariot and looked at Shen Ru coolly: “Madam, my master departed for Mechanism City this morning. I don’t know when he’ll return. I’m truly sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, Lu Zheng exclaimed: “Your master is a Mo Family Mechanic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Mo Family Mechanic—by definition, one who crafts mechanical vehicles and mechanical beasts, holding supreme status within the Mo Family’s Mechanism City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This boy’s master is a Mechanic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mortise-and-tenon joints, air-blood channels, movable tail fins...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were these designs meant for mechanical vehicles?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng couldn’t believe it. He released a faint aura of pressure, crushing Cang Luo—his face flushed, breath choked, meridians swelling as if about to burst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo immediately activated the Body-Annihilating Divine Art to resist, channeling Infinite Qi to heal himself—only then did the pressure ease slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is this old lecher trying to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is he really going to kill and steal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Cang Luo deeply regretted going to the Martial Alliance, buying the electric motorcycle, modifying the chariot...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just finished modifying it, hadn’t even returned to the Profound Heaven Sect to show off or carry girls—and already targeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And why did he just boast about his master returning to Mechanism City? Pure self-inflicted torment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo’s face twisted in pain. Lu Zheng paid no heed, intensifying the pressure. Shen Ru made no move to stop him—she watched Cang Luo calmly, judging whether his words were true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she watched, she suddenly realized Cang Luo was no ordinary man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though only at the Wu Jiang cultivation level, his core cultivation method was extraordinarily powerful—he was resisting a Wu Zun’s aura. Only a Grade-Ge method could achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would an outer disciple possess a Grade-Ge method?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could his master truly be a Mo Family Mechanic? Had his master taught him this method?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if his master was a Mo Family Mechanic, why had he joined the Profound Heaven Sect?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru couldn’t fathom it. Her thoughts raced, recalling the years of hardship she’d endured to uphold the Shen family’s legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prevent the Wang and Yin families from swallowing the Divine Weapon Workshop, she had submitted herself to the Governor of Danyang County—securing official orders, granting the Shen family a fragile reprieve...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo suffered terribly, forcing himself to endure, frantically devising a plan. After a moment, he gasped: “Let go of me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My master isn’t just a Mo Family Mechanic—he’s a guest of honor to the Sect Master of the Profound Heaven Sect. Ask him if you don’t believe me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Lu Zheng was startled—the pressure on Cang Luo vanished instantly, not withdrawn by Lu Zheng himself, but dispelled by Shen Ru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure gone, Cang Luo groaned and tumbled off the chariot—but didn’t hit the ground. He fell into Shen Ru’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Cang Luo felt as if he had fallen into two soft, fragrant clouds of cotton...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of fulfillment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of happiness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of desire!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An uncontrollable, explosive arousal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But immediately after came a heavy sense of loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I... am too weak, unworthy of such blessings!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Cang Luo instantly deflated, the desire gone...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every change in Cang Luo over these few seconds—whether mental or physical—was fully sensed by Shen Ru, who held him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of confusion passed through Shen Ru’s eyes. What’s wrong with him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he have a physical problem? Like that dead man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru glanced at Cang Luo with curiosity, thought no more of it, and immediately helped him up. “Young Master Cang, are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then snapped at Lu Zheng: “Master Lu, cease your insolence! Withdraw!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I acted on impulse—forgive me, young friend...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng’s face was filled with wariness. He bowed in apology and quickly stepped back. He had not expected Cang Luo’s background to be so powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo said his master was a Mo Family mechanical artisan—he believed it, for only a Mo Family mechanical artisan could build a mechanical vehicle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Cang Luo had produced the armored design schematics for the vehicle, and over twenty weapon designs from yesterday and today, all far beyond Lu Zheng’s experience—these further proved his master was no ordinary man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, Cang Luo claimed his master was an honored guest of the Profound Heaven Sect’s Sect Master. Lu Zheng did not believe Cang Luo had the nerve to impersonate a Wu Huang cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taken together, he had no choice but to believe Cang Luo’s master was a Mo Family mechanical artisan. Though many questions remained, it was better to believe than to doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Lu Zheng felt a lingering chill, terrified of offending Cang Luo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru thought the same—that was why she intervened to save Cang Luo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just they two thought this way—Cang Luo himself thought the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, in crisis, Cang Luo had thought of using others’ strength against them and borrowing authority—he borrowed his “master’s” power and the Sect Master’s prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was a Mo Family mechanical artisan, a figure of high status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was the Profound Heaven Sect’s Sect Master, a Wu Huang cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would dare touch him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for exposure later? Deal with that after surviving this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might not even be exposed—his “master” had returned to Mechanical City; they could not verify the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they dared ask the Sect Master, they might grow even more cautious—after all, Cang Luo had been personally brought back to the Profound Heaven Sect by the Sect Master, who knew him, and the Chief Supreme Elder, Xuan Qiankun, knew him too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo took a deep breath, did not look at Lu Zheng, and shook his head slightly. “I’m fine. Thank you, Madam, for your concern.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru gripped his hand and said softly, “Young Master Cang, would you care to visit my estate for a while? We could discuss the matter of your appointment as guest armorer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She emphasized the word “satisfied,” speaking slowly, and as she did, she lightly scratched his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo shuddered and quickly pulled his hand back, silently cursing “fox spirit,” and shook his head. “No need. My master has returned to Mechanical City, and he would never agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yesterday, I took it upon myself to arrange the guest armorer matter—I was severely scolded by my master when I returned...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru lightly touched her crimson lips and smiled softly. “Young Master Cang, you misunderstand. How would I dare ask a Mo Family mechanical artisan to serve in Divine Weapon Workshop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I... wish to hire you, Young Master Cang, as the Divine Weapon Workshop’s guest armorer. What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me?” Cang Luo blinked, frowning. “I’m not an armorer, and my cultivation is low...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru shook her head gently. “You’re mistaken, Young Master. If you are a disciple of a Mo Family mechanical artisan, you must possess exceptional talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As you said yesterday, you need only design—the task should be easy for you, wouldn’t you agree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo hesitated. Should he accept? More income was always good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But hadn’t he just escaped the tiger’s mouth? Was he now stepping into a wolf’s den?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His master was fake—eventually, the truth would come out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo thought for a moment and said, “Madam, may I have a few days to consider?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.” Shen Ru nodded lightly. “Then... would you care to rest briefly at my estate now? Let me properly host you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo refused again. “Thank you for your kindness, Madam, but no. We’ll meet again someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Cang Luo reactivated the war chariot, turned the crank, and slowly drove away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Shen Ru made no further attempt to stop him, and Lu Zheng said nothing. Cang Luo exhaled in relief, then gradually accelerated, heading straight for the Profound Heaven Sect without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the guest armorer matter—deal with it later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Cang Luo departed, Lu Zheng immediately said, “Lord, the boy’s words may not be true...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Ru shook her head slightly, speaking firmly. “I will investigate myself. Do not act on your own initiative...”\u003C\u002Fp>",2675,"2026-06-21T06:04:04.528Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","cb61d47b97167e502bec68adbeb050465d201c0813060b8f1f4e98ed909c0f00","high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-139","high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-137",157,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhigh-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-cover.jpg"]