Chapter 190: Miss A Bi, You Don

In Pingjiang Prefecture, there are three hundred bridges, waterways flowing like rivers, flowers and trees green without rain, clothes damp without rain.

Mu Wanzheng wore black clothing and black gauze, not a single inch of skin exposed; her gaze was distant as she studied Gu Qing before her. Raised since childhood by her master, the Hermit of the Deep Valley, she had been taught that all men in the world were slick-tongued and heartless, their kindness always hiding ulterior motives.

But Mu Wanzheng had been sent by her master to assassinate Lady Wang; her temper was erratic, her steed alluring, and she was unfamiliar with the land—already causing three troubles in Pingjiang, all resolved by Gu Qing. After helping her drive off martial artists for the third time, Gu Qing finally said: "I'll take you to Mantuo Manor."

Only then did Mu Wanzheng realize her target was known to Gu Qing.

Afterwards, Mu Wanzheng asked Gu Qing his name, then came to confront him after hearing his deeds at the Songhe Pavilion.

"You're good?"

Mu Wanzheng sounded doubtful.

"Good? Only good at winning fame."

A voice came from the water's surface, interrupting. Mu Wanzheng turned to see a boat suddenly appearing on Taihu Lake, rowed by a girl in green, her skin like jade, her face gentle. On the boat sat three villainous guests; the foremost was a scholar-dressed man who had just spoken of winning fame.

Upon finishing, the three villains leapt over. Mu Wanzheng saw one man, thin and frail, with sunken cheeks, a rat-tail beard, and drooping eyebrows—his appearance grotesque, yet his lightness skill extraordinary; when he landed before Gu Qing, it was as if a gust of wind had passed.

"I ask you—was this challenge letter placed in the main hall of Canhe Manor?"

The grotesque, slender man raised the letter, nearly pressing it against Gu Qing's face.

Mu Wanzheng glanced at the letter: it praised Murong Fu's famed reputation, then mocked that his achievements were nonexistent, that "Southern Murong" relied solely on bribes and hype to earn false renown, and that if Murong Fu had even a shred of shame, he should donate gold to cast a plaque for Gu Qing. Gu Qing, in turn, would award Murong Fu the title "Number One in Marketing."

Mu Wanzheng had a wild temperament and had been insulted often; she knew many martial world slurs. But this—Gu Qing inventing new terms like "marketing," and bestowing titles like "Number One"—was a depraved act she had never seen before.

"It was me."

Gu Qing admitted calmly.

"Good! Good! Good!"

The grotesque man laughed loudly: "Not wasted my journey here overnight—I've caught the spectacle!" As he spoke, Feng Bo'e lunged for Gu Qing's waist.

Gu Qing sidestepped, but Feng Bo'e pressed his advantage, crouching low, limbs moving in rapid succession—over ten strikes in a row. Gu Qing retreated or dodged each one, stepping back with a raised leg, evading them all.

Suddenly, Feng Bo'e circled behind Gu Qing, shouted "Watch out!" and drew a pale, gleaming knife, slashing backward at Gu Qing.

The blade came swiftly, like a breeze drifting past.

At that moment, Gu Qing suddenly moved. He made the most ordinary gesture—reaching out, pinching with two fingers—as if catching wind or shadow, he seized Feng Bo'e's blade between his fingers.

Feng Bo'e yanked the blade sharply, but felt its tip grow heavy, beyond his control.

Feng Bo'e had loved fighting since childhood, engaging in thousands of battles. Now, Gu Qing's two fingers held his long blade. Though startled, Feng Bo'e was delighted by such martial skill; using the blade as leverage, he instantly kicked upward with his foot toward Gu Qing's cheek!

"Crack!"

Gu Qing pinched—Feng Bo'e's long blade snapped. With a flick of his fingers, it struck the incoming leg, sending Feng Bo'e flying several zhang through the air before he plunged into Taihu Lake with a splash.

"Excellent finger strength!"

As Feng Bo'e hit the water, Gongye Gan leapt forward, striking with a palm blast of overwhelming force.

Gongye Gan, scholar-dressed, wielded the fiercest palm power in the south, known as "Number Two in Jiangnan." It was said that only Murong Fu of Gusu could match him in palm power. Once, he endured three blows from Qiao Feng, who deemed him a true hero and withheld the fourth.

"Let me test your so-called Number One palm power!"

As Gongye Gan struck, he remained at a distance—he knew Gu Qing could easily evade by stepping back. So he declared beforehand: "Let's test palm strength directly!" to force Gu Qing into a direct clash.

Hearing this, Gu Qing stood firm. Only when Gongye Gan's palm force neared did he extend his hand straight out.

The palm moved lightly, as if devoid of strength—but this was precisely the essence of the Flower Relocation Palace palm technique.

Seeing this palm, Gongye Gan realized all escape routes were sealed. He pressed his foot down and unleashed his full power.

"Boom!"

The palms collided. Gongye Gan's hand suddenly reversed, slamming hard against his own chest—blood spurted from nose and mouth as he flipped backward, falling into Taihu Lake alongside Feng Bo'e.

"Dǒu Zhuǎn Xīng Yí?"

The burly man cried out in shock.

To Deng Baichuan, Gu Qing's move was unmistakably the Murong family's "Use Their Own Method Against Them."

"Is it truly Dǒu Zhuǎn Xīng Yí?"

Gu Qing lifted his palm lightly, gazing at Deng Baichuan.

Deng Baichuan and Gongye Gan had once followed Murong Bo; they knew the Gusu Murong arts best. That palm had looked like Dǒu Zhuǎn Xīng Yí, but upon closer thought, its core differed. A new technique using "Use Their Own Method Against Them" had emerged in the martial world.

"May I ask, what is the name of this palm?"

Deng Baichuan asked.

Seeing Huā Yí Jiē Yù, Deng Baichuan knew he could not win today. At this moment, he understood why Gu Qing had so stubbornly targeted Murong Fu—their martial arts were too similar; one must surpass the other.

"Huā Yí Jiē Yù—divine and demonic alike cannot resist."

Gu Qing withdrew his hand and asked Deng Baichuan: "Has Murong Fu not returned?"

Gu Qing left the letter, openly mocking, precisely to force Murong Fu to return and dethrone the Dǒu Zhuǎn Xīng Yí reputation.

"Huā Yí Jiē Yù—divine and demonic alike cannot resist…"

Deng Baichuan repeated Gu Qing's words, realizing Gu Qing would inevitably challenge Murong Fu. He bowed slightly and said: "My young master has urgent matters elsewhere—he is not at Canhe Manor. When he returns, he will surely come to seek your skill."

"Very well."

At this moment, Gu Qing became surprisingly reasonable: "I believe he will come find me."

As he spoke, Gu Qing did not lift his foot or bend his knee—suddenly he was on the boat, seating himself calmly, gazing at the green-clad girl, smiling: "Miss A Bi, row us to Mantuo Manor."

In the revised edition of The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, new elements were added—the Xiao Wu Xiang Gong of the Xuanyao Sect is hidden within Mantuo Manor.

A Bi was always gentle, but Gu Qing had insulted Murong Fu maliciously and defeated Feng Bo'e and Gongye Gan—she found him detestable. She frowned and refused: "I won't take you." Her speech carried Suzhou dialect—half-local, half-standard Wu dialect, her anger sounding like a pout.

Gu Qing leaned close to A Bi's ear and whispered: "Miss A Bi, you wouldn't want Murong Bo's coffin to suffer an accident, would you?"

A Bi gasped: "What do you intend to do?"

Gu Qing lay back on the boat, casually saying: "When I delivered your challenge letter, I also dug up Murong Bo's coffin. If you want it back—hmm."

The threat was unmistakable.

A Bi froze, glancing at Deng Baichuan.

Deng Baichuan roared: "Gu Qing, your martial skill is formidable—but your family's graves? They're not guarded by martial arts!"

The Murong family used "Use Their Own Method Against Them." Gu Qing dug up their grave—didn't he fear they'd dig up his?

"I don't care."

Gu Qing smiled: "If you can find my family's burial ground, dig away!"

Gu Qing truly wasn't afraid the Murong family would dig up his graves.

!

Deng Baichuan turned beet red. Feng Bo'e, just surfacing, spat blood and struggled to charge Gu Qing.

Gu Qing remained calm, turning to Mu Wanzheng: "Miss, this is the boat to Mantuo Manor. Will you join us?"

Mu Wanzheng had watched silently throughout. Seeing Gu Qing provoke one after another, dig up the Murong family's grave, and now force them to row to Mantuo Manor—such hatred, even if she were the most reckless, she dared not touch it. She refused immediately: "I'll go myself!"

Saying this, she ignored the probing stares of Deng Baichuan, Gongye Gan, Feng Bo'e, and turned away.

"A Bi, row—take him there!"

Deng Baichuan returned to the boat; Feng Bo'e climbed aboard too.

Feng Bo'e had drawn his knife from behind Gu Qing and shouted "Watch out." Gu Qing had held back when striking, sending him into the water unharmed. Gongye Gan, injured by Huā Yí Jiē Yù, bore the worst internal wounds—following would only burden them.

Moreover, Gongye Gan needed to return to Canhe Manor to verify whether Murong Bo's tomb had been excavated.

But whether dug up or not, Gu Qing's hatred value among Canhe Manor's people was already maxed.

Any slightest opportunity, they would fight Gu Qing to the death.

Gu Qing cared nothing for this hatred. Instead, he called out to Gongye Gan: "You owe me one tael of gold."

Gongye Gan, blood on his lips, turned around.

"My title of 'Perfectly Virtuous Man' lacks weight in the martial world."

Gu Qing said calmly: "So everyone I defeat must give me one tael of gold. In the future, I'll melt these gold pieces into a plaque inscribed 'Number One Under Heaven.' Gongye Gan, Feng Bo'e—you two are part of 'Number One Palm' and 'Number One Finger,' respectively."

Gu Qing entered this martial world to fight.

Gongye Gan turned purple with rage. In the martial world, victory and defeat were common—but to treat men as pedestals, etching their defeats forever—this was a deep, bitter grudge.

Yet to Gu Qing, such hatred was like lice—too many to care.

A Bi exhaled sharply, walked to the stern, and began rowing. Her flushed face, pale skin, and emerald dress created a peculiar charm.

Deng Baichuan and Feng Bo'e sat upright in the boat, each regulating their breath, assuming the most ready combat stance.

Taihu's lotus leaves were dense, with a thousand channels and tributaries. Only those familiar with the waterways could find their way. A Bi rowed into the lotus grove, turning left, then right, wasting time on the water with Gu Qing.

"Miss A Bi."

Gu Qing suddenly spoke: "In the martial world, I hold ten Number Ones: Sword Art First, Palm Power First, Finger Strength First, Lightness Skill First, Hidden Weapons First, Poison Art First, Fist Art First, Internal Power First, Strength First, Wisdom First. Think carefully—can you deceive me?"

His meaning: he had seen through A Bi's subtle intentions.

A Bi wrinkled her nose and scoffed: "Arrogant fool! Aren't you afraid a true martial master will smash your reputation?"

Gu Qing smiled: "Actually, my reputation has been smashed before."

This sparked interest in Deng Baichuan and Feng Bo'e.

"After mastering my arts, I declared myself 'Number One Poet' in Bianliang, hoping to meet the great literary figures of the age. Then I met the Minister of Rites, Su Dongpo. The moment I saw him, I knew he was a monster—no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't defeat him. So I surrendered on the spot and yielded the title 'Number One Poet' to him!"

Gu Qing spoke of this without shame, even smiling.

A Bi nearly laughed in fury.

Su Dongpo was now fifty-seven or fifty-eight. His "Water Melody: When Will the Moon Appear?" was known throughout the land. Everyone knew who the true Number One Poet was—yet Gu Qing had the audacity to claim he'd yielded the title to him…

"Your face is so thick, no wonder you can claim the title 'Perfectly Virtuous Man.'"

A Bi mocked.

"Back then, there was a girl, nine or ten years old, named Li Qingzhao. She pointed at my nose and mocked me. That girl had a sharper tongue than you."

Gu Qing said: "She told me to keep the title 'Number One Poet,' not to give it up—to pass it down for a thousand generations. But I thought: recognizing oneself, stepping back—that's wisdom. So I yielded the 'Number One Poet' title to Su Dongpo, and gained 'Number One in Wisdom' instead. A win-win."

A Bi actually laughed in anger and said, "Has your title of 'Number One Wisdom' been acknowledged by Master Dongpo?"

"It doesn't need Master Dongpo's acknowledgment."

Gu Qing said seriously, "Many in the Jianghu don't understand the wisdom of stepping back and withdrawing. Whenever I encounter someone stronger than me in palm power, sword technique, fingertip force, lightness skill, or internal energy, I immediately yield the title of 'Number One' to them."

"That is my wisdom."

"But when I meet those stubborn fools who refuse to admit defeat, I will punish them harshly—crack their skulls, seize their wealth, and use it to cast a plaque bearing the title 'Number One Wisdom.'"

Those worthy of being the base for 'Number One Wisdom' are all brainless people.

A Bi, hearing this, murmured, "After all that, your Jianghu wisdom of knowing when to yield and when to advance must be real."

(End of Chapter)