Chapter 20

Half a month later, in Jiangling City.

At the best tavern in the city, Linjiangxian.

Chen Ang sat by the window, holding a copy of the I Ching in his hands, but his gaze was fixed on the broad Yangtze River, his eyes distant and profound. In front of him, Qu Feiyang glared at him angrily, ignoring Lan Fenghuang completely.

"Why do we have to bring this old woman along!" Qu Feiyang glanced at Lan Fenghuang with disdain and muttered, "She's ugly, stupid, can't even cook, and speaks Mandarin poorly. Bringing her along is completely useless."

Lan Fenghuang delicately nibbled on the exquisite pastries, paying no attention to her words.

"But the Five Poisons Sect will pay a high price to redeem her!" Chen Ang turned his head and said with a smile, "She's worth much more than you. The people from Miaojiang have already brought me over a dozen ancient texts from their region. Once they finish transcribing the Miaojiang witch doctors' techniques, there will be several more secret texts. No matter how you look at it, she is very useful!"

"Are you really going to write all of this into your medical book? Isn't that too generous to those who don't work for it?" Qu Feiyang grumbled, looking at the half-transcribed book in Chen Ang's hands with dissatisfaction.

"Writing and publishing knowledge should be a public service. Keeping it to oneself is the greatest taboo in scholarship! If everyone in the martial arts world had an open mind, the path of martial arts would have flourished long ago. Knowledge shared by all is profound knowledge. If you keep it to yourself, you'll only narrow your path." Chen Ang smiled.

"During the Song Dynasty, there were still innate martial arts masters, and grandmasters were abundant. But today, the martial world is full of petty people making a name for themselves, and in the tiger's mountain, monkeys are the kings. Doesn't this show the harm of keeping knowledge to oneself?"

"But why are you writing a medical book? Why not write a martial arts manual and spread it widely to promote the flourishing of martial arts?" Qu Feiyang suggested excitedly, gesturing with her hands.

"You've been by my side for months. How much have you learned?" Chen Ang looked at Qu Feiyang until she lowered her head in embarrassment. "If I write a martial arts manual, it might create one or two experts, but it would also stir up a storm of blood and rain in the martial world, and more experts would die than be created!"

"Even if a few experts are created, what use would it be for the greater martial arts world? Zhang Sanfeng and Dharma Master Bodhidharma, their martial arts realms are far above mine, but can Wudang and Shaolin stop the decline of martial arts?"

This made Qu Feiyang and Lan Fenghuang feel ashamed, and they sighed in frustration.

Chen Ang said calmly, "Now is the time for the flourishing of medical knowledge. People love to learn medicine and are willing to study and exchange knowledge. Great physicians are emerging one after another. Take Li Shizhen, for example, he is a great physician who is dedicated to writing the Compendium of Materia Medica, summarizing all the medicinal knowledge in the world. I admire him greatly!"

"Is there anyone in the current martial arts world like Mr. Li? Is there anyone with such great aspirations and actions? My book on surgery is a summary of my heart and soul. Publishing it will surely promote the flourishing of medicine. When great physicians and righteous heroes emerge, they will push this book to a new level, and I can learn from them. Isn't that better than getting involved in the martial arts world?"

"There isn't a single hero in the martial arts world! They fight for power and profit, and are nothing but tomb guardians, using any means to gain power. It's truly a cesspool!" Qu Feiyang slammed the table and said angrily.

At a nearby table, seven or eight men armed with weapons heard this and became furious. One of them, a thin middle-aged man, coldly snorted, "What are you, a little girl, talking about?"

Qu Feiyang gave him a cold glance and snorted, "With such scoundrels everywhere, no wonder the martial arts world is like this."

The man was furious. Seeing that Qu Feiyang was only a teenager, he didn't want to argue with her. He then noticed Chen Ang's indifferent expression, sneered, and approached, eyeing Lan Fenghuang's alluring appearance. He couldn't resist teasing her, "Hey, girl, you're quite charming. Come and have a drink with me!"

Lan Fenghuang gave him a cold look, and a flash of gold appeared in her right hand. A scorpion tail needle was already embedded in his neck. His face turned green, and he fell to the ground.

Qu Feiyang also clapped her white hands and laughed, "Come, I'll treat you to some peanuts!"

She picked up the plate in front of her and threw a handful of peanuts. Though they were only the size of a fingernail, they had the force of flying stones, hitting the men's faces and causing them to cry out in pain, collapsing in a heap.

"Great kung fu, a shower of flowers!" A loud laugh came from downstairs. When he said "great kung fu," he was still dozens of feet away. By the time his words reached the top, he had already entered through the window. It was a tall, lean old man. Chen Ang looked at him a few times and noticed his mixed internal energy and a slight injury at the Yongquan point on his feet.

The Yongquan point is a hidden and hard-to-injure spot. His injury was clearly caused by internal energy. Chen Ang immediately understood. He heard Lan Fenghuang exclaim in surprise.

"Xiang Wentian!"

"Xiang Wentian, the Heavenly King!"

Qu Feiyang and Lan Fenghuang exclaimed in unison. Chen Ang, however, remained calm. Xiang Wentian was a famous figure, a loyal follower of Ren Woxing. He had some minor abilities to absorb energy, which explained the injury at his Yongquan point. His martial arts skills were only slightly inferior to Chongxu and Fangzheng, so he couldn't be underestimated.

"Mr. Xiang must have come here for a reason. What great matter could it be that requires your presence?" Chen Ang raised his cup and smiled, though he already knew the reason.

Xiang Wentian's greatest ambition was to follow Ren Woxing and dominate the Sun Moon Sect. He had come here because he had heard that Chen Ang could remove the Three-Corpse Brainworm Pill and was looking for help to deal with Dongfang Bubai, ideally to rescue Ren Woxing. Chen Ang, who could remove the Three-Corpse Brainworm Pill, was a thorn in the side of the Sun Moon Sect. They shared a common interest, and most people would not refuse such an opportunity.

But Chen Ang was not just anyone. He had removed the Three-Corpse Brainworm Pill from evil cults and sent them to find ancient texts and third-rate martial arts, showing no respect for the Sun Moon Sect or Dongfang Bubai. Xiang Wentian's strategy of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" might not work with Chen Ang.

"Brother Chen, you defeated the Five Mountains and suppressed the evil cults. I, Xiang Wentian, truly admire you. I heard you were discussing heroes upstairs. May I ask, who do you think is a hero in the current martial arts world?" Xiang Wentian's face showed no emotion, but he appeared magnanimous and generous.

"Oh? Could it be that Heavenly King Xiang also wants to vie for the title of hero?" Chen Ang smiled.

Xiang Wentian feigned modesty, "Not at all! I have neither supreme martial arts nor great spirit. How could I call myself a hero? But I heard that the Left Sect Master of Mount Song has great ambitions and wants to unite the Five Mountains. He has the spirit to dominate the martial arts world. Does he deserve to be called a hero?"

"Zuo Lengshan is a cunning and ambitious man, but his methods are despicable and his actions secretive. He is a true villain, not a hero," Chen Ang said coolly.

Xiang Wentian was secretly pleased by Chen Ang's criticism of Zuo Lengshan and asked, "What about Dongfang Bubai? As the leader of the evil cult, he has unparalleled martial arts and has dominated the martial arts world for over a decade. Does he deserve to be called a hero?"

"Dongfang Bubai's martial arts are high, but he has no interest in the martial arts world. He only wishes to watch flowers from his tower, living a peaceful and free life. How can such a person be called a hero?" Chen Ang said, looking up.

Xiang Wentian was overjoyed. This was a test, and seeing that Chen Ang truly had no fear of Dongfang Bubai, he felt relieved. "What about Chongxu and Fangzheng? They maintain the order of the martial arts world and uphold justice. Shaolin and Wudang are renowned. Can they be called heroes?"

"Guardians of the dead, how dare they call themselves heroes?" Chen Ang was blunt. Although Chongxu and Fangzheng were magnanimous, they were still bound by power and tactics. They were suitable as gatekeepers but were looked down upon by Chen Ang in the martial arts world. Compared to them, Qiao Feng was far superior.

Xiang Wentian slapped the table and said joyfully, "What about Dinger, Tiangmen, and Yibai? Can they be called heroes?"

Chen Ang laughed, "Ordinary people, how can they be called heroes? Only Yibai has some cunning, but his methods are despicable, making him a mere hypocrite!"

"Good hypocrite!" Xiang Wentian exclaimed, "Brother Chen, your words deserve a toast!"

He lowered his voice and said seriously, "In my view, the only heroes in the world are Sect Master Ren and Brother Chen!"

"Ha ha ha!" Chen Ang laughed so hard that tears almost streamed down his face. He pointed at Xiang Wentian, "What have I done to be mentioned alongside Ren Woxing? Does he even deserve it?"

Chen Ang flicked his foot, and a green sword landed in his hand. He laughed, "Ren Woxing is ambitious but lacks talent. He is incapable of great deeds and overexerts himself in small matters. He is shortsighted and petty. Calling him a despicable person is too much, but he is certainly mediocre. As a defeated general of Dongfang Bubai, how can he claim bravery?"

"Though I seek the Dao and am carefree, I cannot be called a hero. But to be mentioned alongside him is an insult to me!"

Xiang Wentian's face turned cold, and his hands trembled with anger. He said coldly, "What do you think of me, then?"

Chen Ang sneered, "Your magnanimity is fake, and your loyalty is treacherous. You seem to be a man of great righteousness, but in reality, you are a betrayer. You are a cunning and ruthless person, a false hero, no better than Yibai!" In Chen Ang's eyes, Xiang Wentian lacked great spirit and was only a good actor, comparable to Yibai as one of the two great actors in the martial arts world.

"Fine! Fine! I'll test your skills and see if you're just all talk!" Xiang Wentian could no longer contain himself. He waved his sleeves, and in a flash, he was in the air, launching a fierce attack with the speed of a hawk, creating a powerful aura. His speed was truly remarkable.