Chapter 34: The Lu Family’s Twin Gems, Zhang Zhiwei, the Mastermind

If Zhang Zhiwei remembers correctly, this boy named Feng Ping is destined to become one of the Thirty-Six Thieves.

When the Thirty-Six Thieves were swearing their oath of brotherhood, they found themselves without wine. In an incredibly short span of time, Feng Ping used the Art of Fire Escape to travel over a thousand kilometers from the Qinling Mountains to Shaoxing, Zhejiang, retrieved several jars of wine, and returned to the Qinling Mountains.

A round trip of several thousand kilometers—such an ability, a piece of "black technology" essential for both domestic life and travel, as well as for murder and arson—is quite interesting!

It must involve spatial displacement and transportation, and over an ultra-long distance at that. It is a pity the principles behind it remain unknown. If I could witness it just once, I should be able to grasp some of its logic, integrate it into my own repertoire, and put it to use… Zhang Zhiwei mused to himself.

Although Zhang Zhiwei is arrogant—arrogant to the point of disregarding any opponent—what he disregards is the opponent, not the methods they employ.

Every sect with a history spanning centuries has its merits. Whenever Zhang Zhiwei encounters a new technique, he tends to dissect its essence, thereby gaining enlightenment for himself and acquiring new understanding and principles.

This is not difficult for Zhang Zhiwei. While it is often said that he values his internal cultivation (Nature and Life) over external techniques, this is merely his personal relative focus.

If compared to outsiders, Zhang Zhiwei’s command of techniques, and even his understanding of them, is truly appalling.

For instance, in the original timeline, Lu Jin used the state of the "Triple Transcendence" only once, and Zhang Zhiwei, delighted by the sight, saw through the flow of his Qi and his vital weak point at a single glance.

To thoroughly understand the Triple Transcendence, Zhang Zhiwei did not even use the Golden Light Curse or his Lightning Method. Instead, he used the most primitive and ordinary means—a single slap—to intercept Lu Jin’s Qi, forcibly breaking his state of transcendence.

One must realize that for a high-level technique like the Triple Transcendence, many people spend their lives following manuals and annotations without ever being able to enter the door.

Yet, Zhang Zhiwei, having only seen it used once, not only grasped the gist of it but even pinpointed the critical weak point…

What kind of peerless talent is this?

It would be no exaggeration to say that his comprehension is maxed out.

Before Zhang Zhiwei, any high-level technique can be grasped at a glance, stripped down to its essence, and understood at its core. Techniques have their limits, but the cultivation of Nature and Life is endless.

Therefore, for Zhang Zhiwei, the understanding of techniques is far less substantial than the never-ending cultivation of his own being.

***

"Should I let this boy Feng Ping put on a demonstration? Since he is already performing fire tricks, it wouldn't be much of a problem to perform a 'man-into-fire' act as well, would it?"

Zhang Zhiwei looked at the fire dragon and fire phoenix intertwined in mid-air, lost in thought.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two white-haired youths standing side by side on the street to the right of the painted barge. Both were leaning their elbows on the railing, dressed in white shirts and trousers.

The taller one had his hair neatly combed and a gentle expression.

The shorter one was a troublemaker, with messy hair and a defiant look.

"Brother Zhang, what are you looking at? Oh, them? They are my childhood friends from the Lu family, one of the Four Clans. The tall one is Lu Ren, and the one about my height is Lu Ci. Together, they are known as the 'Twin Jades of the Lu Family.' They are quite famous—have you heard of them?"

Lu Jin, who was applauding enthusiastically, noticed Zhang Zhiwei watching the two youths and introduced them.

Zhang Zhiwei asked with a smile, "The Twin Jades of the Lu family, of course I have heard of them. My master previously mentioned that the elder of the two has the potential to challenge for the title of the number one among the younger generation. Brother Lu, what do you think?"

"That is hard to say. I have been cultivating at the San-Yi Sect for the past few years, so I am not clear on the current strength of Brother Lu and Lu Ci. However, I believe that in literature there is no first, and in martial arts there is no second. Such things can only be determined after a bout!"

After Lu Jin joined the San-Yi Sect, he had never lost in sparring matches among his peers, including those older than him. Naturally, he possessed a certain pride; to make him admit he was inferior to the Lu brothers was impossible!

Zhang Zhiwei nodded, "Well said. In literature there is no first, in martial arts there is no second. It truly must be determined by a bout!"

If the original timeline remains unchanged, and barring any accidents, there will be a competition among the youth at the Lu family residence tomorrow.

However, this competition is destined to be very boring because he will participate.

If he enters the arena, what chance is there for anyone else?

Thinking of this, Zhang Zhiwei felt it was a pity. Such gatherings of the world of practitioners might not appear again for decades.

By the time this younger generation meets again, they will likely be major figures capable of standing on their own.

If they don't have a good fight now to create some talking points for the future, are they just going to mock Lu Jin for getting slapped later on?

Since both the future Thirty-Six Thieves and the Twin Jades of the Lu family are present, and I would like to see the techniques of the younger generation of each sect, why not let them have a go here?

Young people should be full of spirit. I will add fuel to the fire, and as the controller of the scene, I will ensure they remain unharmed!

As this thought took root in Zhang Zhiwei's mind, he could no longer resist. With his hands behind his back, he opened his palm, and a streak of invisible Qi, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, surged from his palm.

Immediately afterward, an incident occurred on the painted barge.

Feng Ping, who was controlling the flames to create the display of the dragon and phoenix, suddenly felt a massive force strike. Something pulled the fire dragon, causing it to lose control and crash toward the street on the right.

"Oh no!"

Feng Ping’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly exerted his fire-control ability, trying to pull the out-of-control fire dragon back.

But before he could pull it back, the dragon was torn apart.

Behind the scattering red sparks stood a pair of fierce, piercing eyes.

"Feng Ping, what is the meaning of this?"

Lu Ci glared at Feng Ping.

He had been sitting on the shore, watching the show with his brother, when with a "boom," a fire dragon came lunging at them with claws and fangs.

Who wouldn't be angry at that?

Not to mention, he was a person with a violent temper to begin with.

"Brother Lu, I am sorry, I am truly sorry. That was a mistake, a complete mistake. Please, do not take it to heart!"

Although he was unsure why it had gone out of control just now, he was in the wrong, so Feng Ping apologized immediately.

His attitude was quite sincere; for an ordinary person, a step back from both sides would have settled it.

However, Feng Ping had the misfortune of offending Lu Ci, known as a "mad dog."

To be attacked for no reason and then have it dismissed with a simple apology?

How could such a good thing exist in this world?!

Lu Ci shouted angrily, "Feng Ping, I think you did it on purpose. Who doesn't know about your fire-control skills? There were so many people around, yet that dragon of yours lunged straight for my face. And now you tell me it was a mistake? What do you take me for?"

"I really didn't do it on purpose. Why would I lunge at your face for no reason? I am at fault here, you tell me—how shall we settle this?"

As he spoke, Feng Ping recalled the reason for the loss of control. There was something suspicious about it; as Lu Ci said, his fire-control skills should not have allowed such a low-level error. Someone must have been messing with him.

"How to settle this?!"

Lu Ci looked at Feng Ping and noticed he was clutching a handful of silver coins, and he immediately made a calculation.

"How about this? Since your performance went wrong and nearly injured me, you can give me the silver you earned from the performance as an apology!"

As the second young master of the Lu family, one of the Four Clans, Lu Ci was not short of money, nor did he look down upon the small amount of silver in Feng Ping's hand. The reason he made this demand was simply to make Feng Ping feel the sting.

Because Feng Ping was a disciple of the Fire Virtue Sect, unlike clans, sects did not give their disciples large amounts of pocket money.

Compared to Lu Ci, Feng Ping was very poor; otherwise, he would not have taken this opportunity to rent a painted barge to perform and earn money.

***

Hearing that Lu Ci wanted him to pay, Feng Ping’s expression changed as a thought flashed through his mind.

His fire dragon had been nudged by a strange force, causing it to lose control and hit Lu Ci.

And among those at the scene, if one were to speak of strange forces, the Lu family’s "Ruyi Qi" was second to none.

A thief calling "stop thief" while being the thief himself?!

Feng Ping’s thoughts suddenly cleared.

They say that of the Twin Jades of the Lu family, the second is fierce and defiant, acting like a mad dog when he fights. And now he is biting me for no reason?!

Does he think my Fire Virtue Sect is made of soft persimmons?

Anger welled up in Feng Ping’s chest, and he shouted, "A thief calling 'stop thief'! Lu Ci, I think you are the one looking for trouble!"

A thief calling "stop thief"? Lu Ci was stunned. The villain accusing the victim first? You burned me with fire, and now you say I’m looking for trouble!

Lu Ci was so angry he laughed: "They say people from the Fire Virtue Sect have tempers like raging fire, and it’s true. However, others may fear your Fire Virtue Sect, but I, Lu Ci, do not. Today, this is not over!"

Lu Ci rolled up his sleeves, ready to jump onto the painted barge to settle the score.