Chapter 148: Hearing of Marriage Trials Once More

Needless to say, this person was none other than Hu San, who had traveled a long distance to reach this place. Prompted by the city guards earlier, he had first visited a blacksmith shop to purchase arrows. However, finding no meteorite arrows, he had to settle for two hundred armor-piercing arrows instead. After that, he made his way to what was said to be the most famous tavern in Gold-Hiding City.

The dishes here were truly exceptional. Hu San had been sleeping rough in the wilderness for a long time, and due to his hurried journey, the occasional game he managed to bag on the road could hardly satisfy his hunger. Consequently, he indulged in a hearty feast here.

After drinking another cup of wine, Hu San fished out from his bosom a map drawn on some unknown animal skin. He unfolded it, took a look, and could not help shaking his head. In the end, persuaded by the city guards, he had after all purchased this treasure map.

Only upon inspecting it now did Hu San realize how rudimentary the treasure map truly was—so rudimentary that it was virtually useless for tracking anything down. There were merely a few lines sketched across a cluster of mountains, with a red cross marking the final location of the treasure. Apart from that, there were no other details whatsoever.

"No wonder nobody has ever been able to find it. Unless one turns Gold-Hiding City and the surrounding mountains completely upside down, how could anyone ever locate it? Perhaps the king of those days did it on purpose, and the genuine treasury is long gone from Gold-Hiding City."

Hu San smiled, intending to put away the so-called treasure map that had cost him ten taels of silver. Suddenly, a young gentleman attired in brocade robes walked over.

As picturesque as jade and possessing an air of peerless elegance, Hu San could practically swear on his own character that ever since he came out of the Qilian Mountains, he had never laid eyes on a man so stunningly handsome.

Of course, whether Hu San's character was worth anything at all was entirely another matter.

Given Hu San's current level of cultivation, although he could not fully fathom the other's aura, he could at the very least easily distinguish between male and female. The so-called art of disguise was a mere joke to his perceptions. Thus, he was utterly certain that the person before him was unquestionably a man—a man whose looks were by no means inferior to those of Yu Ning, Geng Yuhu, or Zichong.

"Pardon me, young master. My name is Han Liuyun. The seats upstairs are all full at the moment, and only this brother's table appears relatively spacious. Might I share a table with you? This meal can be charged to my account."

As soon as this person spoke, an air of scholarly refinement emanated from him, fitting the outward elegance he displayed quite well. If not for the emerald-green longsword he held in his hand, Hu San might have taken him for a mere scholar.

"Brother, please don't stand on ceremony. Sit wherever you like."

Hu San looked the other person up and down, rolled his eyes, nodded slightly, and then paid no further heed to this excessively handsome young gentleman, lowering his head once more to study the treasure map.

"Then I thank you, brother."

Han Liuyun smiled, placed his longsword beside him, and then called the tavern attendant over to order a flask of wine and a few dishes.

Before long, all of his dishes were served. As it turned out, whether in appearance, aroma, flavor, or anything else, they seemed vastly superior to the ones Hu San had ordered. It appeared these were the true culinary delicacies of the tavern.

Without being a regular patron, one would certainly have had no way of knowing about them. These dishes were not expensive, but each possessed unique characteristics, utterly incomparable to the so-called grand dishes Hu San had ordered earlier.

"Is brother also interested in this treasure map?"

The young man surnamed Han took a few bites of food, and seeing that Hu San was entirely absorbed in the map between bites, he offered a gentle smile.

"Oh? Could it be that Brother Han possesses some exclusive information?"

Hu San raised his head for the first time.

"Exclusive information I wouldn't dare claim, but if Brother Han truly wishes to make a discovery, you would do best to head to the Eighteen-Mile Post outside the city. There is a nine-in-ten chance that the genuine location of this treasure lies right there. May I ask brother's esteemed surname? Do try this green-stemmed vegetable. Although it doesn't look like much, it can only be found in Gold-Hiding City, and its flavor is truly unique."

"Oh! Many thanks for Brother Han's kindness!"

Hu San tentatively tasted a bite of the pitch-black so-called green-stemmed vegetable. At first, he felt only a mouth-full of bitterness, but immediately afterward, a sweet fragrance emerged from it, which in turn transformed into a gentle breeze that drifted lightly away. The transformation of flavors was truly wondrous.

Hu San could not help praising, "Indeed a fine dish! My surname is Hu, with the single given name San. Brother Han may call me Hu San."

"Judging by Brother Han's demeanor, you seem deeply familiar with this place. Could you be a local?"

"Haha, Brother Hu is too modest. I merely travel the martial world extensively and happen to know a few things about certain matters within the Wuzang Kingdom. I wouldn't call it deeply familiar, but if Brother Hu truly wishes to find the treasure, I could guide you to a few places where you might just make some discoveries."

"It's just that such things depend entirely on fate and timing, and winter is the best season for it, so I'm afraid it will pose no small difficulty."

Han Jiangliu raised his wine cup, clinked it against Hu San's, tilted his head back, and drained it in one go—somewhat departing from the scholarly refinement he had displayed earlier, appearing rather bold and unrestrained.

"Oh, I have just arrived here and was unaware of this saying. If Brother Han doesn't mind, why don't you tell me more about it?"

Hu San also finished his cup of wine, and the two began chatting casually back and forth.

After the meal, both were thoroughly full and satisfied. Han Jiangliu chuckled heartily and asked, "I observe that Brother Hu is neither a local nor truly intent on finding the treasure. I wonder what brings you to Gold-Hiding City? I happen to know quite a few people in this city. If Brother Hu has any matters requiring assistance, please feel free to speak."

"Brother Han is unaware, but I am heading to Sky Bear City, and coming to Gold-Hiding City is merely passing through."

"Sky Bear City? Could Brother Hu also be heading there for the martial arts competition to win a spouse?"

Han Jiangliu's expression shifted slightly, and he then chuckled softly, "The beauty of Wu Ling'er from the Wu Family Manor is peerless throughout the martial world. If I may say so without offending Brother Hu, I am also heading there for Wu Ling'er's bride-seeking event."

"A bride-seeking event?"

Hu San felt a slight tremor in his heart, then shook his head, saying, "I have never heard of any such bride-seeking event, nor am I here for Wu Ling'er. I was simply entrusted by a senior to handle some personal business for him. What, is this martial arts bride-seeking event really so famous?"

"Hehe, it seems Brother Hu really does hail from afar. Right now, within our Wuzang Kingdom, who hasn't heard that the pearl of the Wu Family Manor in Sky Bear City is holding a martial arts tournament for marriage? I imagine the martial artists gathered in Sky Bear City by now are already numerous. This is not merely about marriage; it is said that the Wu family's hereditary Fierce Flame Skill is also involved."

"Although the Wu family has long been in decline, the formidable reputation of the Fierce Flame Skill still circulates in the martial world. Legend has it that once the Fierce Flame Skill is mastered to perfection, one stands among the very top tier of supreme experts. Only direct descendants of the Wu family knew the true cultivation method for the Fierce Flame Skill. Everyone previously thought the skill had been lost to history, yet unexpectedly, it still exists."

"Once selected as a son-in-law, not only do you win a peerless beauty's hand in marriage, but you also acquire a supreme martial art. Wouldn't you say such a matter is famous?"

Han Liuyun clicked his tongue in admiration, his desire for the Fierce Flame Skill apparently surpassing even his interest in the beauty.

"There is such a wondrous thing?"

Hu San revealed a curious expression, though a thought stirred within his heart, and he could not help muttering inwardly, "Good grief, the more I listen, the stranger it sounds. Surely it can't be such a coincidence?"

"Speaking of which, this affair is rather bizarre. Wu Xiong, the master of the Wu Family Manor, was never a particularly renowned figure. Who would have thought the Wu family actually possessed the Fierce Flame Skill? This matter has already been confirmed by Elder Qi of the royal expert council, so there is no mistake about it. If Wu Xiong hadn't died in battle at the Qilian Mountains, this matter probably wouldn't have been exposed."

"With Wu Xiong dead, those few individuals left in the Wu Family Manor are likely having a rather hard time. Incidents of vicious servants bullying their master happen from time to time, and other branches of the Wu family are also eyeing the family estate with covetous gazes. Pressed from both within and without, Wu Xiong's wife and children devised this method of seeking vengeance—one that secures them a reliable supporter for the future while avenging Wu Xiong. Quite remarkable, really!"

Han Liuyun sighed with emotion, but Hu San listened with a curling lip. He had to admit that Wu Xiong's family members were utterly outrageous. Why seek revenge for no good reason? Where was even a shred of Wu Xiong's capacity to see the bigger picture?

Vengeance?

Hu San chewed repeatedly on the implications of the word, then felt a flash of insight as he guessed that revenge was likely just a pretext; safeguarding the interests of their Wu Family Manor was the true objective.

It seemed these matrons of the Wu Family Manor were no simple characters either. If things went poorly, acquiring the Bear Fist might not go nearly as smoothly as imagined.

"And..."

Hu San glanced at the eloquent Han Liuyun seated across from him, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward as he secretly shook his head. "And this fellow is no simple character either. Although he looks frail and delicate, every movement of his is infused with a natural rhythm. I have only ever witnessed this kind of rhythm in a handful of martial artists, and without exception, those martial artists were all supreme experts."

If this fellow truly turned out to be what Hu San suspected—a supreme expert eagerly running off to court a bride—then the joke would be a massive one indeed.

"Could the secret of the Bear Fist have been exposed?"

With a sudden jolt in his heart, the thought flashed through Hu San's mind, making his entire body tense up.

When Han Liuyun finished speaking, Hu San smiled and said, "So that's how it is. No wonder everyone is swarming there. Hearing Brother Han tell it, even I am feeling somewhat tempted. Since Brother Han is also heading to Sky Bear City, why don't we travel together along the way and keep each other company?"

"Nothing would please me more! You and I, brother, hit it off instantly like old friends, and I happen to have no desire to part ways with Brother Hu just yet. Come, come! There's no rush to reach Sky Bear City; let us have a proper drink together today, and setting off tomorrow won't be a moment too late."

Han Liuyun was instantly overjoyed, though it was impossible to tell how much sincerity lay within his words.

Naturally, Hu San would not refuse. Now that there were complications at the Wu Family Manor, before investigating the truth of the matter, he was no longer in such a desperate rush to dash there, lest he walk blindly into someone else's trap.

Having experienced so much, Hu San might not have acquired much else, but caution was something already carved into his very bones.