Chapter 208: Disciple and Husband, Lady Zhejian

The heroes at Wangzhen Tower were astonished, and Lady Wen displayed her talent and wisdom.

She ascended the stairs step by step, defeating Bi Chunfu, killing the petty thief, and taking down Hu Bohong... swift and decisive, it only took her half an hour.

They went up to the third floor, where someone volunteered to test the lady's skills. He blocked the steps with a bronze cauldron, causing a stir among the crowd.

"It's the strange man who carries the tripod on his back. He's domineering and extremely eccentric. We have no idea when he climbed the tower."

"It is said that this man never leaves his cauldron, and eats, drinks, and relieves himself in it. He is short in stature but has immense strength. There was once a young girl from Daoxuan Mountain who insulted him. He imprisoned her in the cauldron and refused to let her out. In the end, the matter was only resolved when the elders of Daoxuan Mountain personally demanded her release."

...

...

Everyone had already looked over.

Wen Caishang remained calm as she walked towards the heavy cauldron blocking her path, saying softly, "Strange man carrying the cauldron... I may not challenge you, so why did you take the initiative to come?"

The strange man with the cauldron on his back stood on the third floor, the cauldron blocking the entrance to the stairs. He laughed through the cauldron, "Hahaha, this old man prefers to play with women. Beautiful lady, how about this? If you defeat me, I will naturally step aside."

"If you lose to me, I will still yield my position. But for the next few days, please stay in my cauldron for a few nights. We can chat about everything under the sun, exchange martial arts ideas, and enjoy ourselves so much that we forget all about home. How wonderful, hahaha, how wonderful!"

Hearing his words, everyone couldn't help but daydream. Such a beautiful woman, sharing a cauldron, in such intimate contact—the exquisite pleasure was something even the gods wouldn't trade. They all wore expressions of utter infatuation. Wen Caishang laughed, "Little old man, you're a bit lacking in skill when it comes to betting with me."

"Hmph!" said the strange man carrying the cauldron. "Little lady, you think you're so great just because you've shown off a few tricks. In that case, you won't be able to see the scenery on the third floor."

With a tap, the bronze cauldron trembled violently, producing a shrill sound. Of the thirteen seats on the third floor, half were empty. This was all because the strange man carrying the cauldron had acted arrogantly, blocking the stairs with the cauldron and preventing visitors from ascending.

The second floor has more than 30 seats, of which 40 or 50 people, based on their status and influence, are qualified to sit in higher seats on the third floor, enjoying a better view and a quieter environment.

But they were all stopped by the strange man carrying the tripod. The heroes on the second floor, including Zhang Xianhua, the Wind and Flower Sword, Zhao Ya, the Bone-Crushing Stele Hand, and Qi Kaiyan, the Sighing Sun Scholar, were all filled with anger upon hearing this, but they were helpless.

Wen Caishang lightly touched the bronze cauldron. The strange man carrying the cauldron coldly snorted, slapped the cauldron's handle, and the cauldron spun rapidly under the force, creating a whooshing sound and generating an extremely powerful suction force!

Those with weaker internal energy are drawn in by the suction force. They will spin with the cauldron, making hundreds of rotations in an instant, before being flung back – an extremely powerful phenomenon.

Several martial artists on the second floor had already experienced this move. Despite their best efforts, they could not neutralize it. The strange man with the cauldron on his back possessed a powerful inner energy that was beyond the reach of most.

Wen Caishang laughed and said, "It's just a trivial skill, you old man carrying a cauldron. It's not impossible for me to live with you in the same cauldron. But do you dare?"

The strange man carrying the cauldron said, "Hahaha, what wouldn't I dare to do? Even if a celestial being from heaven were to enter my precious cauldron, I would still call her... Hmm... This voice seems somewhat familiar?"

"Could it be...could it be...you..."

Madam Wen said, "Little Immortal, use the 'Unending Waves' move of the Azure Palm to strike here." She pointed to the handle of the cauldron.

Li Xian channeled his inner energy, and a mist of water filled the air. As he struck out with his palm, it was as if a giant wave was surging forth.

The cauldron trembled slightly, but continued to spin rapidly without any hesitation.

A slight tremor could be heard emanating from the cauldron, accompanied by the faint sound of surging waves, as if it were filled with water.

After a while, the cauldron began to shake more violently. The sound of the waves surged even louder, gradually gaining the momentum of a tsunami.

The strange man carrying the cauldron cried out "Ah!" and flew backward, crashing to the ground. With a "thud," the cauldron tipped over, spilling a pool of clear water.

This scene was truly bizarre, leaving onlookers completely baffled.

Where did the water in the cauldron come from? How could a mere child's light palm strike defeat the strange man carrying the cauldron?

Li Xian was also puzzled.

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is... This is how to break the deadlock." The scholar Qi smiled broadly, holding a folding fan and gently fanning himself, suddenly realizing the truth and gaining clarity.

turn out to be…

The martial arts world is complex and vast, containing many techniques that counter each other. The strange man with the heavy cauldron on his back uses the "Calligraphy Rotating Force" to spin the cauldron. This martial art is extremely powerful; in this situation, most other martial arts are powerless against him.

It was like a whirlpool, blocking countless heroes of the martial world.

No matter how skilled you are in swordsmanship or how powerful your strength, it is impossible to move this great cauldron. The cauldron is thick and heavy, and it rotates rapidly, containing powerful internal energy that is in harmony with the natural cycle of the universe, endlessly generating life.

It can receive, neutralize, and counter any attack, making it seem capable of simplifying all martial arts techniques into something ordinary.

It actually contains profound martial arts principles.

However, there are always people more capable than oneself, and there is always something beyond one's understanding. Wen Caishang's martial arts principles were even deeper, and she ordered Li Xian to use "Unending Waves" to strike the handles of the cauldron.

The "Unending Waves" technique originally consisted of ten palm strikes, one after another, wave after wave. The continuous, relentless attacks created the endless waves, hence the name.

Li Xian unleashed a single palm strike, yet it stirred up a storm.

The palm force penetrated into the cauldron. The force swirled within the cauldron like a whirlpool, which in turn amplified the palm's momentum and built up its power. Like a wave, it was pushed back and forth, its momentum accumulating until it finally transformed into a towering tidal wave.

The strange man carrying the tripod was not defeated by Li Xian, but by himself. He was also defeated by his wife.

As for the water in the cauldron…

Li Xian's martial arts displayed extraordinary skill, almost lifelike. Then, the strange man carrying the cauldron continuously channeled his power, causing a qualitative change in his palm strikes. He actually absorbed water vapor, transforming it into water!

However… there is still one more hurdle to overcome in order to break this move. The person who uses the palm must possess a "perfect appearance," or have perfected the palm technique and undergone the second transformation of internal energy.

Only in this way can the palm strike and the strange phenomena remain in the air, lasting and never dissipating.

Only then can it be allowed to develop momentum.

"I admire her, I truly admire her. This woman's strength is simply unfathomable." Qi Kaiyan saw through this and sincerely praised her.

Zhao Ya said, "The same principle applies. If I had used the 'Black Water Iron Palm,' I could have broken this cauldron's power. Unfortunately... at the time, I was focused on a head-on confrontation. I used all my powerful palm techniques, trying to knock the cauldron away."

“Who exactly is this woman? With such knowledge, such beauty, and such wisdom… she is definitely not an unknown person. Moreover, the young man beside her, though young, displayed remarkable skill with that palm strike just now; he is quite talented!” Zhang Xianhua of the Wind and Flower Sword said.

The strange man carrying the tripod exclaimed in surprise, "Lady Broken Sword! You...you really came!"

Wen Caishang said, "You do remember me." She gracefully ascended to the third floor. Her white dress fluttered, her elegance unmatched, her eyes conveying a mixture of reproach and tenderness. But the softer her voice, the more terrified the strange man with the cauldron on his back became.

Wen Caishang said, "I'll carry your broken cauldron away. The Dragon Feast is about to begin. I won't break the rules of killing in the territory of the old dragon, so as not to get any bad luck."

"Wen Caishang!" The strange man carrying the cauldron had met the lady more than ten years ago. At that time, his Cauldron-Turning Technique was not yet perfected, and it was easily broken by Wen Caishang.

More than a decade has passed. The eccentric man who carried the cauldron believed his technique was perfected and sought out opponents to challenge him. No one could crack his cauldron-turning skill. He was quite proud of himself. He rushed to the Dragon Appreciation Banquet and, knowing that many heroes had gathered there, thought even more: "I created my own cauldron-turning skill, and I'll let those heroes taste it."

Therefore, they used a cauldron to block the entrance to the third floor, forcing Feng Huajian, Zhao Ya, and others to retreat.

But fate is fickle, and defeat is inevitable. The moment Li Xian struck, he already knew that Lady Zhejian had arrived.

But to save face, unwilling to lose again, refusing to accept defeat, they stubbornly persisted, continuing to exert force to turn the cauldron. This only fueled their inner turmoil, ultimately leading to a complete and utter defeat.

The strange man with the cauldron on his back looked grim and said, "Although you broke my Cauldron-Turning Technique, this move is not my trump card. It's just a martial art I created, and you exploited a loophole to gain an advantage. Hmph! Lady Broken Sword... you are indeed powerful, but more than ten years have passed. How dare you say you can definitely defeat me?!"

"Kick me out of Wangzhen Tower? Hmph! You underestimate me!"

Wen Caishang said calmly, "I'm here having tea and water, and I see that you really have no appetite. Please leave for a while so that we can both be at peace. This is not a way of kicking you out of the building."

The strange man carrying the tripod softened his expression. "That's more like it. If you had said so earlier, I'm not an unreasonable person, and I would have accommodated you."

He carried the large cauldron on his back and went downstairs with an upright posture. He intended to choose a seat on the second floor.

Wen Caishang said, "I can smell your scent from the second floor, so please come out."

The strange man carrying the cauldron cursed, "What a keen nose! Fine, fine. Women." He slunk out of the building. Turning at the end of the street, he put down the cauldron and poured out the cool air.

"What a perverted woman...she's gotten stronger again...she's gotten stronger again!" The strange man carrying the cauldron stroked the cauldron and found a palm print on it.

Wen Caishang gently touched it, and the mark was left behind. The power contained within her palm still lingered. The strange man carrying the cauldron reached out to touch it, but suddenly his hand bones cracked and shattered…

As if he had exchanged a palm strike with Wen Caishang.

"The palm strike adhered to the cauldron, impressive, impressive." The strange man carrying the cauldron hoisted his beloved cauldron and fled into the distance as if escaping.

Inside Wangzhen Tower.

The name "Lady Broken Sword" immediately sparked heated discussions. Many heroes and valiant figures, who had become famous later, had never heard of her. They inquired everywhere about her deeds. However, those who truly knew of her prowess all fell silent, daring not to speak of it.

On the third floor.

Lady Wen noticed that nearly half the seats were empty; the place was spacious and open on all sides. A gentle breeze was blowing, and looking westward, she could see a lush, verdant forest.

A dark pool is visible. A python dwells within, about to transform into a dragon.

"Madam Broken Sword, it's a pleasure to meet you." An elderly man in fine clothes greeted her respectfully.

Wen Caishang returned the greeting, pulled Li Xian over, and said, "Little Xian, please greet the senior. His name is 'Hong Muya,' and his martial arts name is Tongmu Laoren."

Li Xian respectfully said, "Greetings, Senior Hong."

Hong Muya said, "Hahaha, what a fine young man, truly handsome. Madam Wen, may I ask this is your...disciple?"

Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Yes and no."

Although Hong Muya was curious, he dared not ask any questions. There were eight guests present, all of whom were powerful figures from the Yunan Road and Longxiong Road regions.

The python-dragon travels along the Benhua River. The powerful figures from both places either admire the dragon or slay it. But those who gather in Dragon Claw Town are all there to "admire the dragon."

They consider each other companions.

Therefore…the lady did not commit murder. She only killed one petty villain to intimidate the heroes.

Di Bin, the Devouring Toad Hand, strode over and said respectfully, "With Madam in charge of this banquet, it seems we're practically guaranteed to win."

Wen Caishang said, "Hero Di, you flatter me. I am but a weak woman, how dare I steal the limelight? You heroes are the main force of this banquet. I am merely bringing my young master to broaden his horizons."

Di Bin and Hong Muya exchanged glances, both thinking, "Our young master? I didn't expect that after Lady Zhejian disappeared for so long, there would be a young man by her side. Judging from their relationship, it seems like master and disciple, or perhaps they are both master and wife, or disciple and husband?"

He was immediately curious, but since it was not a good time to offend the lady, he didn't ask anyone.

"Senior Wen, there are guest rooms upstairs. Please come in and rest." A voice came from upstairs.

(End of this chapter)