Chapter 259: Romance Master Horse Lord

Chapter 259: Saint of Emotions, Uncle Ma

Zhao Qingxia’s prearranged temporary lodging was a secluded residence on Lianggang Changjie.

Weathered door gods stood on the two old doors, and a lone lantern hung under the eaves.

The sensor light in the lantern had long been damaged, though it could still sense Li Jun’s arrival, it couldn’t emit a single ray of light, only a buzzing sound from a short circuit.

Li Jun’s footsteps halted outside. With his current keen senses, it wasn’t hard to hear the hurried breathing of someone standing inside.

It was Wu Ya Duo Duo.

Li Jun sighed inwardly, and suddenly recalled scenes from the Chengdu Mansion, the bustling Ghost Street.

He remembered that cunning and vulgar old man, Wu Ya Hua, who ultimately faced death with equanimity.

Everything seemed like a lifetime ago, yet it was right before his eyes.

The creaking, rusted hinges of the door emitted a piercing screech.

Li Jun pushed the door open and saw the girl whose breath still carried a chill.

Wu Ya Duo Duo appeared haggard and thin, her already petite frame now even more gaunt. Two strands of yellow hair hung from her temples, and her horse-faced skirt was stained with patches of dust.

It was clear that under the siege of the Mo Ge troops, she had not fared well.

Beyond her appearance, the girl tried desperately to conceal it, yet in her eyes and brows, there was an involuntary hint of timidity and tension that weighed heavily on Li Jun’s heart.

After losing her closest kin, the girl no longer had the right to disguise herself with brute force.

“Old Ma, do you think Brother Jun might fly into a rage and punch me to death?”

In a room in the courtyard, Zhao Qingxia pressed his ear against the door, his face tense as he watched the equally anxious Ma Wang Ye, who stood just within reach, making the same gesture.

“What do you mean? What the hell did you do, you bastard?” Ma Wang Ye startled, his tone harsh as he asked.

“You old stud, where the hell are you thinking?” Zhao growled angrily. “I’m talking about the Mo Ge troops incident. If it weren’t for me, Duo Duo wouldn’t have gotten involved.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is. Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

Ma Wang Ye relaxed. “As long as you didn’t do anything that would outrage both man and god, with the deep bond I share with Old Li—we’ve braved life and death together in the Chongqing Mansion—he might beat you up, but he probably wouldn’t kill you.”

“That’s good enough.”

Zhao Qingxia exhaled a mouthful of foul air, his entire demeanor lightening.

Outside the door, the girl did not perform the usual curtsy of a proper maiden, bending her knees and bowing deeply.

Instead, she stood upright, executing the clasped-fist salute common among the disciples of the murky waters.

“Brother Jun, I understand everything about the old man. Don’t blame yourself—this is my chance to thank you.”

“Without you taking the blame for the remnants of the Chu Wu Gate, I’d have been torn apart by those jackals lurking in the shadows long ago. I wouldn’t have had the chance to join Tianzhi Hui, enter the ‘Non-Attack Research,’ and become a Mo Xu.”

Li Jun stepped aside, shaking his head. “I can’t accept this salute. If I hadn’t sought out the old master back then, you wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.”

“There’s no wall that lets no wind through. Being a descendant of the Chu Wu Gate—this secret couldn’t be hidden forever. Sooner or later, it would be unearthed, and like the old man, I’d have no way out. Now, at least the foundation my elders built with their blood and sweat hasn’t fallen into the hands of enemies. I’m more than satisfied.”

Wu Ya Duo Duo spoke softly. “If the old man’s spirit is still in the heavens, he would thank you too, Brother Jun.”

Li Jun fell silent for a moment, and for no reason, he thought of that wild girl in the Wu Ya Clinic, wielding a razor, reading forbidden books, shouting that she’d stab herself.

Alas, that Wu Ya Duo Duo had vanished and never returned.

“I’ve used the Chu Wu Gate’s martial arts injector. By the old rules, I’m half a disciple of the gate. I’ll take responsibility for their vendetta.”

Li Jun’s expression turned solemn, his words clear and resonant, echoing with weight.

He wasn’t speaking idly.

On Hongya Mountain that day, the hidden king of Honghu, Ding Huan, had offered to trade the identity of the one who destroyed the Chu Wu Gate for his own life.

But under those circumstances, Li Jun couldn’t stop—he could only choose to ignore it.

Otherwise, if Ding Huan knew, then the high-ranking members of Honghu must know as well.

His assignment to the Wa people’s area was bound to bring him into conflict with Honghu’s people. There would be plenty of opportunities to pry open that secret.

“Thank you, Brother Jun… Thank… Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Wu Ya Duo Duo didn’t feign refusal but expressed genuine gratitude.

Her voice choked, her clasped hands crossed over her waist, and she bowed deeply, a gesture of utmost respect from a woman, hiding her reddened eyes.

“Ah, what a fine girl. Just because she was born into a martial sect, she’s been bullied into this state.”

Ma Wang Ye sighed deeply, his red eyes flickering within his helmet. Suddenly, he raised his hand and slapped Zhao Qingxia hard on the head.

“You bastard, if you ever dare bully Duo Duo again, forget about your Uncle Li doing anything—I’ll hack you to death myself!”

Zhao Qingxia clutched his throbbing head, shouting angrily, “What the hell are you talking about, Old Ma? I have a purely comrade-in-arms relationship with Duo Duo!”

“Comrades?”

Ma Wang Ye let out a cold snort. “Do you know who I am? The number one flower-loving rogue of the Huangliang Divine Artifact Forum, the dream lover of the Mo family’s ghosts, undefeated in the battlefield of love, with a record of seven human lovers and twelve spirit lovers at once! Your petty feelings—I can see them as clearly as day with the eye on my ass!”

Zhao Qingxia gaped, stammering, “Is it really that obvious?”

“A young girl in love is poetic, but a young boy in love is just lewd! Tsk tsk tsk, the scent of lust on you—I can smell it from here, it’s overwhelming.”

“You’re a Mo Jia, what nose do you have?”

Ma Wang Ye exploded in fury. “Why the hell are you correcting me now? Are you tired of living?!”

Just then, a voice of shame and fury rang out from outside the door.

“Zhao Qingxia, what the hell are you babbling about in there? Get out here right now!”

“Huh?”

Zhao Qingxia looked puzzled at Ma Wang Ye, who chuckled slyly. “Sorry, I set up a loudspeaker in the courtyard and broadcast everything we just said.”

Zhao Qingxia’s face twisted in despair. “You old turtle!”

Ma Wang Ye lowered his voice. “Don’t be ungrateful, kid. From my vast experience in life-and-death battles, once we break through this barrier, everything that follows will be smooth sailing.”

Zhao Qingxia’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”

Ma Wang Ye declared boldly, “What kind of relationship do we have? Would I betray you? If we’re talking about charm, I’m at least a first-rate!”

“Thank you, Foster Father!”

“A child worth teaching!”

Zhao Qingxia quietly raised a thumb, then rubbed his face frantically until the smile on his lips was completely smeared away. Only then did he open the door and step out.

Clang.

A fist-sized object was hurled to the ground by the flushed-faced girl.

“It was all Old Ma’s doing—I didn’t know anything.”

Zhao Qingxia scratched his head, but suddenly felt a cold, piercing gaze on his side, like a sharp blade sliding along his neck.

“Old Ma, save me!”

Zhao Qingxia didn’t dare turn around, desperately sending a private mental transmission between Mo Jia and host.

What a useless fellow—Li Jun isn't his father, merely a newly minted senior brother, yet he can't even manage this minor incident!

Ma Wang Ye stepped beyond the threshold, his form swaying as he drew near Li Jun, lifting a hand to clasp the other's shoulder.

Brother Li, henceforth we shall be kin by blood and bond—how splendid! Do not wear such a grim expression; let us share a smile.

Li Jun's countenance darkened as he spoke coldly, "I have only just ascended to the rank of senior brother, yet a pig roots up my cabbage before my very eyes. Were you in my stead, could you summon a smile?"

"This is indeed a touch too precipitous," Ma Wang Ye muttered with an uneasy smile, the arm upon Li Jun's shoulder silently retreating.

"Was that sound just now your doing?"

Ma Wang Ye shook his head vehemently, denying, "What sound? Where? I know nothing of it. This must be Zhao Qingxia's handiwork!"

"Ah, you know as well—he is but an orphaned fool, ignorant of propriety and righteousness. It is my failure to have not instructed him properly; the blame lies with me!"

Zhao Qingxia, upon hearing this, gazed at Ma Wang Ye with an expression of utter disbelief.

You old turtle, have you sold me out so swiftly?

"Then it is Zhao Qingxia's own flamboyant schemes? Very well!"

Li Jun let out a cold chuckle, reaching forth to grasp Zhao Qingxia's collar and dragging him beyond the doorway. "Have you not long sought my aid in perfecting your mimicry martial arts? Today, I have the leisure!"

"But I have no time, Jun Ge—release me!"

As Zhao Qingxia's lamentations echoed, Ma Wang Ye's triumphant voice whispered in his ear. "Precisely so—let him endure greater torment, and Duo Duo's compassion shall deepen, their bond quickening! My meticulously devised scheme of bitter sacrifices, that dullard Li Jun, who frequents only brothels, shall never discern it!"