Chapter 6: Lu Hanwen

Feng Zi had long since sensed the aura of the person approaching, and only when the other party spoke did he slowly look toward him:

That was an elegant young man riding a brown steed, dressed in the attire of a Confucian scholar—

If not for the faint perception of the Qi and Blood Power filling the other party's body, Feng Zi would truly have mistaken him for an ordinary scholar!

Upon hearing this shout to stop, the young men in line subconsciously restrained their gazes.

But from the whispered murmurs of the Martial Artists, Feng Zi still learned the identity of that elegant young man:

This was none other than the eldest son of the Wutai County Magistrate, the greatest obstacle on his path to taking the top spot, Lu Hanwen!

Seeing the two still deadlocked, Lu Hanwen dismounted and walked quickly to their front: "Why, do you two intend to continue this private fight?"

Feng Zi naturally did not want to continue this boring stalemate, but the other party maintained a posture of exerting force, so it was truly difficult for him to stop immediately.

Yet before he could respond, the one who had attacked was the first to lodge a complaint: "Young Master Lu, you must see clearly, it is this piece of trash who is pestering me relentlessly!"

Trash...?

Hearing this evaluation, Lu Hanwen's movements faltered, and he looked at the two confronting each other with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Feng Zi naturally understood that when he sensed the Qi and Blood Power filling the other party's body, this Young Master Lu must have also sensed his own strength.

But since the other party was the County Magistrate's eldest son, he could not pick up on the "trash" talk, so he had to say helplessly:

"This brother should be the second son of the Liu Fuhu family; do you take my eyes for mere ornaments—

"You have consistently maintained an aggressive punching posture, while that brother has been responding passively; how can this be considered him pestering you relentlessly?"

Having said that, Lu Hanwen walked forward, intending to separate the two.

Feng Zi naturally understood, how could he let the other party truly intervene in such trivial matters?

He sighed lightly, then extended his right palm and pushed lightly against the chest of the person in front of him.

Although it was a "light" push, it was still a strike from a Martial Master.

That second son of the Liu Fuhu family could not withstand the force and retreated repeatedly, with traces of fresh blood actually spilling from the corner of his mouth!

The other party subconsciously wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said in terror: "You madman! Your strike is actually this vicious?"

"Do not make false accusations; you provoked this first, I merely gave a small punishment."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zi said with a calm expression: "If you can calm your mind and recuperate, your injuries will heal within three days, and it will not delay your participation in the Martial Assembly."

The other party glared at Feng Zi, but knowing he was no match, he had no choice but to hide behind the crowd in frustration.

As for the several constables guarding the County Government Office, they had long been accustomed to such things and did not step forward to stop the dispute between the two—

As long as no one was seriously injured or valuable items damaged, the government naturally would not bother with ordinary verbal altercations.

The other party was naturally not a lone traveler, but seeing that Feng Zi's strength was no longer what it used to be, the remaining Martial Arts Hall disciples who wanted to mock Feng Zi naturally hid away upon seeing this.

Not until the second son of the Liu Fuhu family retreated did Feng Zi realize one thing in hindsight, and he thought to himself:

"Come to think of it, I have been calling him 'the second son of the Liu Fuhu family' and seem to have never known his name... oh well, it is just a trivial matter."

He smiled and shook his head, shaking these random thoughts from his mind.

Seeing Feng Zi resolve the matter with such ease, Lu Hanwen walked forward and cupped his hands:

"Brother's methods are decisive, and you possess a benevolent heart; I admire you."

This was clearly flattery, and Feng Zi could only shake his head repeatedly: "Young Master Lu's words are killing me with kindness; I was merely parrying the moves as they came."

Seeing him point out his identity in one sentence, Lu Hanwen asked curiously: "I rarely venture out, how did you recognize me, brother?"

"Everyone else says so, so I just guessed, and it seems I guessed correctly," Feng Zi replied casually.

The other party accepted this answer and said with great emotion:

"Hmm... it is truly unexpected that in this small Wutai County, besides Brother Li Shou and me, there is actually a third Martial Master under the age of twenty!"

Hearing this, Feng Zi naturally understood that the martial arts prodigy of the Li Family Martial Arts Hall, Li Shou, was also a formidable enemy who, like himself, was at the Martial Master realm!

And upon hearing the content of their conversation, the surrounding Martial Artists were plunged into great shock—

"How is it possible, there is actually a third Martial Master?! This has truly never been heard of before!"

"What is the point of competing now... the gap between a Martial Master and a Martial Artist is like a chasm; is there any suspense left for the top three of the Martial Assembly?"

The Martial Artists present discussed it heatedly, and all of them had lost their fighting spirit to varying degrees.

Of course, for the two who were talking, they naturally would not pay attention to these insignificant opponents.

Feng Zi pondered for a moment and cupped his hands: "I am Feng Zi, I previously... practiced boxing at the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall."

Upon hearing this, Lu Hanwen realized with a start: "So that is it, Brother Feng is actually a brilliant student of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall, excuse my ignorance!"

As the eldest son of the County Magistrate, Lu Hanwen naturally heard the word "previously" in Feng Zi's words and had also witnessed the conflict between him and the disciples of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall.

It was impossible for the other party not to understand that the relationship between Feng Zi and the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall was likely not harmonious.

But on such an occasion, Lu Hanwen clearly understood that it was not appropriate to get to the bottom of it, so he smiled and looked behind him:

"It is truly unexpected that Master Zhao Feng, without a sound, has actually cultivated a Martial Master!"

Under Lu Hanwen's call, Zhao Feng, who had arrived late, slowly appeared from the crowd, his eyes full of complexity as he looked at Feng Zi.

As for what exactly the emotions were, Feng Zi could not say—

Gratification? Regret? Or resentment?

But regardless, ever since he joined the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall, the other party had done everything he could for him.

Feng Zi frankly cupped his hands and bowed slightly: "Master."

Since the other party had never truly treated him unfairly, he should observe the etiquette of a student.

Zhao Feng was silent for a long time, then finally patted Feng Zi on the shoulder and said: "You... are very good."

Having said that, the other party did not know what else to say, so he turned and left.

Seeing this, Lu Hanwen quickly said: "I have heard that the disciples of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Hall practice Fist Technique, while I practice Blade Technique; perhaps you and I can exchange some insights on the Dao of martial arts."

For this young master with high cultivation and a flexible mind, Feng Zi could not help but feel a trace of goodwill toward him.

But at the same time, he also understood that the reason the other party was willing to chat with him, and even helped him ease the awkwardness one after another, was ultimately—

It was simply because he was a Martial Master of a similar realm to him!

Otherwise... when had the other party ever looked squarely at those mediocre Martial Artists?

Regarding this, Feng Zi had long known it in his heart, but he had never realized this point so personally!

And Lu Hanwen's differential treatment also made him increasingly firm in his original intention for cultivation:

Only by constantly moving forward on the path of the Martial Dao, surmounting obstacle after obstacle, could one see a higher realm.

And only by doing so could he hold the fate of himself and his family in his own hands!