Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

As Mu Nianci drank the warm medicinal soup, she said...

"It's really strange. I had just fallen asleep when a figure inexplicably appeared in my mind. The figure didn't make a sound, it just kept practicing its boxing techniques over and over again."

"At first, my daughter thought she had been ambushed, but she couldn't wake up no matter what she did. In desperation, she could only imitate the figure's palm technique over and over again."

"As soon as my daughter started learning, many more blue and red lines appeared on the figure. At first, I didn't understand, but later I realized that it seemed to be a meridian diagram for the circulation of true qi."

"During my dazed state, I seemed to sense that you had been here, Father. But as soon as I stirred my mind, the figure's moves became chaotic, and I could only patiently follow along and learn. Only after I had mastered them did the figure disappear, and then I was jolted awake."

"But I always felt like it was only a short while, and I didn't realize that so much time had passed outside."

As she spoke, Mu Nianci seemed to be deep in thought. She struck out with her palm in mid-air, instantly creating multiple palm shadows with six or seven variations. Each variation concealed countless hidden moves, making it truly infinitely versatile.

She practiced casually, and within a small space, her palm shadows overlapped one after another, as if drawing out countless phantoms. Her palm techniques were ever-changing, yet completely silent.

As she casually placed her palm on the table, five palm prints were silently left on the surface, each half an inch deep, looking lifelike as if they had been carved.

The father and daughter stared at each other speechlessly. Mu Nianci looked at her crystal-clear right hand in disbelief, unable to believe that she had caused it.

"Father, could it be... that we've encountered a deity?"

Yang Tiexin was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said, "There is a master in this Zhige Tower. I'm afraid you must have impressed him in some way, Nianci, to have been taught this martial art."

Then he smiled and said, "That's good. Your martial arts have improved, and we, father and daughter, are safer now. Even if your father is gone in the future, you will be able to protect yourself."

"Father, what nonsense are you talking about?" Mu Nianci said coquettishly.

Yang Tiexin just smiled and remained silent. The father and daughter whispered to each other for a while, then got up and left the restaurant, preparing to explore Daxing Prefecture.

………………

The small building in the backyard.

"Does the young master have his eye on that Miss Mu?" Butler Su asked from the side.

Su Yuchen smiled and sighed, "They say that once you enter the martial world, you are no longer in control of your own destiny. In this world of outlaws, how many people can truly stay true to themselves? This Miss Mu is kind-hearted; it is fitting that she has this destiny."

Then he waved his hand and said, "It was just a whim, a chance for her. If she can seize it, that's her destiny, you don't need to worry about it too much."

Having confirmed that Su Yuchen had no other intentions, Butler Su could only retreat helplessly.

Su Yuchen smiled and shook his head, naturally understanding what Butler Su meant, but he did not intend to leave any offspring.

"My heart belongs only to myself and to the Way..."

………………

Later that evening, the Yang family father and daughter walked in through the door. The restaurant became even more lively, with many people gathered in the center of the hall under the list, discussing it endlessly.

Many storytellers from restaurants and teahouses gathered in the crowd, listening to the discussions of the people around them and writing furiously, hoping to take this opportunity to adapt several stories into novels.

"Manager Su, I have a question for you, but I don't know..." Yang Tiexin said to the person behind the counter.

Butler Su raised his head and said, "Master Yang, please speak frankly. If it is within my power to make a decision, I will agree."

"Thank you! Thank you!" The Yang father and daughter were beaming with joy.

Yang Tiexin cupped his hands and said, "My daughter and I have come from afar and would like to borrow an open space in front of the restaurant to set up a martial arts arena for my daughter to find a husband. I wonder if you could do us this favor?"

Butler Su frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Master Yang, please forgive my bluntness. Your daughter is fortunate to have encountered such an opportunity, and she has a bright future ahead of her. Why ruin her future? Perhaps you should reconsider this martial arts contest to find a husband."

"This... could you please enlighten me, shopkeeper?" Yang Tiexin was somewhat confused upon hearing this, wondering what the meaning of the promising future he was talking about was.

Butler Su smiled, picked up a rag, looked down at the counter, and said, "Fate brings us together and fate takes its own course. As for the challenge, I agree."

After saying that, he ignored the Yang father and daughter and sat down behind the counter to start flipping through the account books. The Yang father and daughter could only return to their guest room in the backyard, looking completely bewildered.

Chapter 453 Butler Su's Advice

Backyard guest room.

"Father, you don't need to take Manager Su's words too seriously. The martial arts contest to find a husband is just a temporary measure. We should focus on finding out where Mother and my brother are first," Mu Nianci said, trying to comfort Yang Tiexin, who looked hesitant.

Yang Tiexin shook his head and said, "Finding Kang'er and his mother is important, but your matter is also important. Alas, it's just that I'm too ignorant to understand what Manager Su meant."

Seeing the look in Yang Tiexin's eyes, Mu Nianci shook her head and said, "I don't understand either."

Yang Tiexin slammed his hand on the table and said, "No, we have to get to the bottom of this. Father will go and have a good talk with Manager Su tonight."

………………

As evening fell, Yang Tiexin kept a close eye on things. When he saw that the front yard was starting to close, he gritted his teeth, took out a two-tael silver ingot, and went to the front yard.

"Manager Su, would you do me the honor of having a meal with me?" Yang Tiexin said, placing the silver on the counter.

"Pfft..." The two men who were putting up the door panels looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

"Su Bei, Su Lei, have you forgotten the rules?" Butler Su said, his eyes narrowing.

The two men's expressions changed, and they hurriedly slapped themselves several times until their faces turned red.

Butler Su snorted coldly and said, "Get to the back and reflect on your actions. If this happens again, see how I deal with you."

Watching the two leave in a hurry, Butler Su cupped his hands and said, "This servant was ignorant and offended Master Yang. Please don't take offense. Tonight, I'll treat you to dinner. Master Yang, would you do me the honor of joining us for a drink?"

As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and the silver ingot on the counter flew into Yang Tiexin's sleeve. Before he could refuse, Butler Su had already pulled him to sit in a corner of the lobby.

Yang Tiexin bowed apologetically and said, "It was my presumption. Manager Su's identity is extraordinary, and I was unaware of it, which is why I made a fool of myself."

Butler Su shook his head and said, "When you're out in the world, you have to give yourself your identity. These two lads have become increasingly presumptuous lately, so it's a good opportunity to teach them a lesson so they won't cause any big trouble someday. Don't worry about it, Master Yang."

"Shopkeeper Su, you're too kind. Just call me Brother Yang," Yang Tiexin said, waving his hand.

Butler Su pondered for a moment and said:

"Well then, I'm older than you, so I'll take the liberty of calling you Brother Yang. You don't need to stand on ceremony, just call me Brother Su. Let's not be so formal with each other."

"Brother Yang, are you asking why I didn't approve of your father-daughter martial arts contest to choose a husband this afternoon?"

Yang Tiexin nodded and said, "My family has fallen on hard times, and I am not quite clear about the key points. I would appreciate your guidance, brother."

Butler Su nodded and said:

"It's not really a big secret; you'll understand as soon as I explain. Brother Yang, you and your daughter have seen a lot along the way. Have you ever seen any wealthy family marry a girl who was chosen through a martial arts contest as their principal wife?"

"Daughters value their reputation."

“Those wealthy families all go through the proper procedures of matchmaking and betrothal. Even if they are willing, they would not allow their sons to marry a girl who is recruited from outside the family.”

"To put it bluntly, your daughter's martial arts skills were only average before, not even reaching the level of a first-class master. Now, thanks to this opportunity, she has barely entered the threshold of first-class."

"The reason you've traveled this far unscathed is simply because those wealthy families disdain marrying a girl like her. Never underestimate those powerful families; after all, with such a large fortune, which household doesn't have a few skilled guards to protect it?"

"Besides, it's good that you didn't encounter a master. But if you really did encounter a shameless master and you lost, and that person wanted to take your daughter as a concubine, would you be happy?"

"Should you respond or not at that time?"

"Martial arts competitions are fine; we can make friends through martial arts. We're all people of the martial arts world, and some bumps and bruises are inevitable. But if it's a martial arts contest to find a husband, then that's just self-degradation, putting your daughter's face on the ground and trampling on it."

After hearing what Steward Su said, Yang Tiexin felt ashamed and stammered, "This...this is my fault. I...I never thought of these things."

Butler Su comforted her:

"Brother Yang is a man, so he is not as meticulous as a mother. It is inevitable that he will make some oversights. Fortunately, it is not too late now."

“Daxing Prefecture is the central capital of the Later Jin Dynasty, and there are many talented and extraordinary people there. However, there are always some who have ulterior motives. You should be careful. If you make a mistake, you could ruin your daughter’s future and it will be too late to regret it.”

"If you were to choose a husband through a martial arts contest, there's nothing I can do if you lose, since it's a matter of mutual consent and I can't force you. But a martial arts contest is different. I'm confident I still have some influence, and no one will dare to cause trouble outside the restaurant."

Yang Tiexin could only nod in agreement.

At that moment, a figure flashed by. Yang Tiexin's vision blurred, and two waiters were already standing to the side. They cheerfully placed two dishes and a pot of wine down. One of them said, "Manager, Su Bei and Su Lei both know they were wrong, you see..."

Butler Su snorted and said, "You all better watch out. Those two are a lesson for you. Anyone who dares to do it again will be in for a beating. If the young master doesn't punish you, I'll beat you to death."

"Yes, yes, yes." The two waiters responded repeatedly, realizing that Steward Su was truly angry, and dared not plead any further.

………………

After the two men disappeared in a flash, Butler Su shook his head and sighed, "Hmph, they've learned a few rudimentary skills and they really think they're experts. They're all getting restless."

Yang Tiexin said with a wry smile, "The waiters in your restaurant are no ordinary people. It would be a waste to use such good skills as waiters."

Butler Su shook his head and said ambiguously, "It's their good fortune to be able to stay. Countless people would love to stay in the restaurant but don't have this opportunity."

As he spoke, he pointed to the backyard and said, "But to be frank, Brother Yang, even if your daughter gets a stroke of luck, her martial arts skills are only about the same as the boys in my family. This Daxing Prefecture, this world, is full of hidden talents. Don't underestimate anyone in the world."

Yang Tiexin nodded and said, "I have learned a lot and thank you for your guidance, brother. I will punish myself with a drink."

Butler Su clinked glasses with him.

Yang Tiexin then said, "I have another matter to ask. I wonder what kind of opportunity you were referring to this afternoon?"

Butler Su pondered for a moment and said:

"It's not that I can't say this. If it were anyone else, it would be fine, but for your daughter to be favored by my young master, that's fate. Otherwise, how do you think your daughter acquired such martial arts skills?"

"To be honest, my brother, the young prince of the Zhao family has been trying to curry favor with us for years, but my young master has never even seen him. It was only because my young master praised your daughter for her intelligence and unwavering loyalty that she was able to get this opportunity."

"If your daughter could gain the favor of my young master, she might very well become a famous figure. However, such an opportunity is probably not easy to come by."

"The reason I'm saying these words is because I'm afraid that if things get messy between you and your daughter, it will not only harm your daughter but also tarnish my son's reputation, which would be unpleasant."

Chapter 454 Setting up a Challenge

It is said that Steward Su and Yang Tiexin had a very pleasant conversation. Since he knew that Su was a descendant of the old general Yang, Su inevitably offered some advice during their conversation.

Although Yang Tiexin didn't know why Manager Su's words were so instructive, nor did he know what the so-called 'young master' was thinking, he seemed to have no ill intentions.

The night was deep, and after finishing their pot of wine, the two parted ways.

………………

"According to Father's words, Manager Su's intentions were indeed good," Mu Nianci said after hearing Yang Tiexin's account.

Yang Tiexin was no longer drunk, though his face was flushed. He said, "We shouldn't speak too deeply with someone we don't know well. We should be wary of what this Manager Su and the young master behind him are up to. Ah, the older you get in the martial world, the more timid you become. I only hope you marry into a good family safely."

Mu Nianci shook her head and said:

“My daughter and I have nothing. Even our martial arts skills were given to us by someone else. Even Master Qi might not have such skills. What else is there to scheme for?”

"Although my daughter is somewhat beautiful, I'm sure that young master's martial arts skills are too much for her. In my daughter's opinion, it's more of a matter of pity. We don't need to worry too much. There's always a way out."

Yang Tiexin did not express his opinion, but stood up and said, "It's getting late, you should get some rest. Tomorrow we'll set up a martial arts contest and make friends from all over the world. We don't need to use the sign for the martial arts contest to find a husband yet."

………………

The next day, around noon, the Yang family father and daughter set up a place outside Zhige Tower, openly and generously making friends through martial arts. Those with money could support them financially, and those without could simply show their presence.

Zhige Tower was already a renowned place in Daxing Prefecture. When they suddenly encountered such a formidable person, who clearly had the consent of Zhige Tower, some people naturally had some ideas. Whether they wanted to take the opportunity to test their abilities or to make friends, heroes from all walks of life gathered there.

Su Yuchen stood quietly in the private room on the third floor, watching with Butler Su by his side. At this moment, a burly man on the stage was using a grappling technique to force Mu Nianci to dodge and weave, looking extremely dangerous.

The man's gait was earth-shaking; he weighed three or four hundred pounds. His short arms were surprisingly agile. Facing the enemy head-on, his grappling hands never left Mu Nianci's shoulders and arms, seizing her joints and vital points at every turn.

Mu Nianci was known for her agility, whether it was her own Free and Easy Wandering Kung Fu or the Hundred Transformations Palm she later learned. At this moment, she looked dangerous, which caused the crowd below to gasp in surprise. She always managed to avoid the grappling hands with great skill.

However, after only ten moves, Mu Nianci realized that this big man was purely using external martial arts, relying on physical strength to overwhelm others. Immediately, she swayed her body like a butterfly flitting among flowers, her figure appearing and disappearing intermittently. Her left hand made a phoenix beak gesture, while her right hand was unpredictable, constantly probing the big man's vital points on his chest and back with a series of "slap slap slap slap..."

Mu Nianci was too fast, and the big man lost track of her for a moment. He became flustered and frantically searched around, but lost his composure.

Unfortunately, Mu Nianci lacked the skill of using an opponent's force against them, and her internal strength was insufficient. Although she kept striking the big man, it was like a leaf trying to shake a tree, seemingly insignificant. For a moment, the two were locked in a stalemate.

After thirty moves, Mu Nianci's movements became increasingly agile, like a raccoon, always able to catch the big man's blind spots, appearing and disappearing intermittently; the big man became more and more anxious and irritable, and as he turned around again, Mu Nianci leaped into the air, her right palm like playing a pipa, her fingers brushing past the big man's eyes.

With his eyes restricted, the burly man instinctively panicked and retreated, his footsteps clattering as he reached the edge of the arena.

Amidst the gasps of the crowd, Mu Nianci lunged forward, using the burly man's own strength to deliver a series of palm strikes. The burly man lost his footing, stepped into empty air, and tumbled to the ground.

"it is good!!!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Yang Tiexin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling incredibly lucky. How could he face Mu Nianci's biological parents if he had lost his daughter to such a strong man?

At this moment, Mu Nianci, standing on the arena, was also somewhat out of breath, and repeatedly cupped her hands in greeting to all directions.

Some people who loved to watch the spectacle saw that it was such a beautiful young woman and immediately threw a handful of copper coins at her; others followed suit and soon threw in quite a few copper coins.

Mu Nianci did not disappoint the onlookers. With a light step, she grabbed a poplar iron spear from the side of the arena, rubbed her hands together, and flicked it to create seven or eight spear flowers. The spear flowers accurately pierced through the copper coins that were still flying in the air. Then, with a flick of the spear, the copper coins landed on the gong in Yang Tiexin's hand.

"it is good!!!"

The crowd cheered again. Mu Nianci took the opportunity to demonstrate her spear skills, which were elusive and agile, her body following the movement of the spear. The spear was like a dragon, and the red tassel at the tip of the spear was like the whiskers of a dragon. Her spear skills were superb, and she swept the copper coins scattered on the ground and flying in the air onto Yang Tiexin's gong.

"It's the Yang family's 'Returning Spear' move."