Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to Secular Life Chapter Forty-One: An Exceptional Young Lady

The storyteller appeared to be quite fearless, surveying the room before speaking in an unhurried tone, “Heh, who would dare cause trouble in this place? The incident of Chen Budiao being injured is absolutely true! A wandering hero from the mountains told me about it, and yesterday, I passed by the Chen Sword Sect and saw it myself.”

He continued, “Do you know how terrifying the scene was? Filth! Chen Budiao was covered head to toe in filth—the stench reached me even from afar. Such a renowned hero of the martial world, reduced to this... ha ha ha…”

The others, imagining Chen Budiao’s disgrace, couldn’t help but laugh along.

“Bastard! Are you tired of living?” At that moment, the pale-skinned youth suddenly stood up, pointing his sword at the storyteller and shouting.

“Oh, esteemed guest, you should know where you are. I advise you to put your sword down,” replied the storyteller calmly, unperturbed.

No one had ever dared to cause trouble here, or rather, no one had ever caused trouble here and lived to tell the tale.

“Shuwan, sit down. This place belongs to the Demon Den’s faction—don’t act rashly,” Chen Buqun shook his head and spoke softly.

“But... it’s infuriating…”

Just then, the unruly little monk who had just entered glanced toward the corner, meeting Chen Buqun’s eyes…

Chen Buqun immediately stood up, “Damn it!”

“Brother…”

This time, it was the pale-skinned youth who tugged at his sleeve, a strange expression on her face. After all, Chen Buqun had just advised restraint, yet now he was the one standing up.

…

“Hmph! Let’s get back to the main story,” the storyteller said, seeing the youth sit down. “Did you know someone has successfully challenged the Eighteen Arhat Formation at Golden Mountain Temple? This is a feat for the history books. And coincidentally, the one who did it is named Xiao Yan.”

“Such a thing happened? Who exactly is Xiao Yan?”

“Xiao Yan? Now that you mention it, the name does sound familiar.”

Many people became curious about this Xiao Yan the storyteller spoke of.

“It’s said that Xiao Yan comes from a renowned family. His father, Xiao Zhan, was a famous master, though he died young…”

The storyteller grew more smug as he spoke.

“Hey, you’re getting off track…”

“Ah, sorry, let me continue. They say Xiao Yan stands eight feet tall, with a waist just as wide—like an ape…”

“Pfft…”

Nearby, the irreverent little monk had just sipped his tea and now nearly spat it out, seemingly stunned by the description, then looked down at his own frail body…

Something seemed amiss…

…

“To think Xiao Yan is so fearsome! He truly is a monster!” The bald merchant stood up, took a measuring stick, and praised admiringly.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“So, it’s no surprise that Da Vinci and Chen Budiao lost to him.” The storyteller inwardly relished the excitement in the room.

“Xiao Yan…” Chen Buqun stared into the distance, murmuring the name repeatedly as if in a trance.

“And not only that, Xiao Yan is rumored to be a madman—there’s nothing he won’t do. Oh, have you heard the story about Li Bai the hero?”

On stage, the storyteller dropped another bombshell, his smile simple-minded.

This time, the audience caught on quickly, tossing coins onto the stage—real tales from the martial world were far more thrilling than any fiction.

Moreover, many guests had an inkling of what the storyteller was about to reveal.

“Everyone has heard of this, I’m sure. That night, Li Bai hurried down from Golden Mountain Temple, his face flushed, and rushed into the Hall of the Divine Physician—do you know why?”

---

The storyteller paused, noticing everyone’s rapt attention, then continued slowly, “A tower… about this big.”

He gestured with his hands to illustrate.

…

“What? Why mention a tower?” a young gentleman asked, puzzled.

“You don’t know? Heh… let me tell you…” said a middle-aged man beside him.

“This… people actually do that?”

The young gentleman was flustered, glancing at the storyteller’s gesture, his cheeks turning red, unsure what to think.

The middle-aged man, sensing his thoughts, quickly snapped him out of it, “Are you crazy? Don’t even think about it.”

…

“Swish!”

At that moment, the sound of a sword leaving its sheath rang out.

The pale-skinned youth slammed the table, her sword aimed at the storyteller, shouting angrily, “Scoundrel! How dare you insult Brother Li Bai and Brother Budiao… I’ll kill you!”

“Wait…” Chen Buqun hurried to stop her, but only managed to grab her hair bun.

“Swish…”

Chen Buqun yanked, and a cascade of long hair floated in the air…

“A girl?”

Only then did someone realize the young gentleman was actually a young woman.

“My goodness… a peerless beauty…”

…

The girl’s hair was dark and silky, her white scholar’s robe unable to reveal her curves, yet lending her a classic, elegant charm.

But the storyteller had no time to admire beauty—her sword was already at his throat.

“Clang…”

The sudden clash of steel rang out, startling everyone…

Once their senses returned, they saw what had happened.

A little monk stood in front of the storyteller, holding a staff to block the girl’s sword.

“A monk?” The girl frowned coldly, “You come to such a filthy place? A disgrace to Buddhism? Then I’ll kill you as well!”

“Heh… don’t be so quick to kill… And you call this place filthy? Yet you came yourself,” the little monk smirked, inner energy radiating from him.

Seventh level internal skill!

“So… the little monk really is a martial artist, I’m glad I didn’t mock him earlier…” someone whispered.

“But his internal skill seems weak?”

Though most present were physically drained by wine and women, unfamiliar with martial arts, they could still sense the pressure.

At least, the aura from the girl was twice as strong as the little monk’s…

“I…”

The girl blushed at the monk’s retort, momentarily lost for words.

“Heh… quite pretty… pity she’s flat-chested…”

---

The little monk smiled faintly, staring at the girl’s figure for a long while before making his comment.

“Shameless pervert! I’ll kill you!” the girl shouted, thrusting her sword at the monk.

The Chen Sword Technique!

Fifteenth level internal skill!

The genius girl Chen Shuwan!

Each reputation was astonishing; as an outstanding young woman, even her chest was an A…

Outstanding = A?

That seemed about right…

…

So, to her, a mere seventh-level pervert was hardly worth attention.

“Shuwan, stand down…”

At this moment, Chen Buqun stepped forward.

“Brother… this person! I want to kill him!” Chen Shuwan remained with her sword pointed, refusing to retreat.

“You… sigh…” Chen Buqun sighed, shaking his head, “You are not his match…”

“Huh?” Chen Shuwan frowned, unsure if she’d heard correctly. “Brother… what did you say?”

“You. You are not his match.” Chen Buqun repeated, his gaze locked on the little monk.

“This…” The genius Chen Shuwan was reluctant, but finally lowered her sword.

“Heh… your brother is right.” The little monk looked smug, eyeing Chen Shuwan’s best features, licking his lips provocatively.

“You…”

Chen Shuwan stamped her feet in fury.

But just then—

Chen Buqun stepped forward solemnly, sword pointed at the little monk, “I will kill you!”

“Haha… but you’re not my match either…”

The little monk laughed.

“Even my brother’s ‘Cinder Sword’ couldn’t defeat you. As you said, the Chen Sword Technique is riddled with flaws,” Chen Buqun gritted his teeth, controlling his emotions, “But even if I am not your equal, I, Chen Buqun, will prove the pride of the Chen family of Jiangdong.”

Clang.

He drew his sword with force, aimed it squarely at the unruly little monk, then tossed it aside like garbage.

Fiery aura erupted from him, his rising momentum overwhelming everyone present.

Internal skill, fifteenth level.

Seventeenth level.

…

Twenty-fifth level!

Twenty-sixth level!