Chapter 201 He’s Also Surnamed Lin!
"Elder Jiang, I’ve seen quite a few so-called experts," Qiao Zishan smiled slightly, deliberately showing off his knowledge. "If there were any real martial arts experts, they would just be the kind of fighting masters who’ve learned Taekwondo."
"Hmph! Ignorant and foolish!" Elder Jiang snorted coldly. "How can you compare the crude arts of foreign barbarians with Hua Country’s martial way traditions? Taekwondo is nothing but fancy, theatrical moves. The martial way of Huaxia is the art of killing!
"If one reaches the realm of a Grandmaster, they can injure people with plucked flowers and flying leaves. Splitting stones and shattering metal becomes a simple matter."
"Keep bragging," Qiao Zishan chuckled, deciding not to argue with Elder Jiang.
Plucking flowers and flying leaves to injure people? Splitting stones and shattering metal? Even novels wouldn’t dare to make things up like that! The reality is that coaches of Taekwondo and Sanda are the real deal; they can break several bricks with a single kick.
As if sensing their disbelief, Jiang Mingyue said, "What my grandfather said is true. Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. You only refuse to believe it because of your own ignorance."
Li Ping said with a hint of jealousy, "You talk as if you’ve seen it yourself..."
Suddenly, her expression changed slightly as she recalled her experience in Wufeng Town. She looked toward the stern, where Lin Mu had been silent the entire time. He seemed to notice her gaze and gave her a slight smile.
At that moment, a cold sweat instantly broke out on Li Ping’s back.
Just then, Jiang Mingyue slowly stood up. Ignoring everyone’s confused looks, she took a leap, jumping directly from the boat onto the surface of the river.
"Hey...!" Ye Tong and the others cried out in alarm, thinking Jiang Mingyue was doing something rash.
Elder Jiang, however, simply chuckled.
Just as everyone expected Jiang Mingyue to sink into the river, they saw her lightly tap the water’s surface with the tip of her toe, gliding forward more than a meter. Her movements were graceful, like a fairy.
Qiao Zishan and the others’ eyes instantly went wide with shock.
Then, after leaping several more meters across the river’s surface as if she were on solid ground, Jiang Mingyue lightly spread her arms. Like a lark, she performed a backflip and landed gracefully back on the boat.
"Hah!"
With a sharp cry, Jiang Mingyue thrust out a fist, punching directly at the river’s surface.
BOOM!
The river’s surface instantly exploded, sending waves surging and a watery mist into the air.
Elder Jiang laughed heartily, "Girl, that’s enough."
Only then did Jiang Mingyue snort coldly and sit down next to her grandfather.
For a moment, the entire boat was eerily quiet. Everyone stared at Jiang Mingyue in disbelief. Although they had seen similar scenes in novels and movies, it was nothing compared to the shock of witnessing it with their own eyes.
Only Song Wenrou and Lin Mu’s expressions remained unchanged.
When everyone came to their senses, Qiao Zishan no longer had his previous lecherous look as he stared at Jiang Mingyue. He couldn’t help but swallow hard.
He couldn’t afford to provoke such a tyrannical woman. If she got angry and hit him like that, his body would never be able to take it. A gentle and delicate beauty like Song Wenrou was still a better fit for him.
"Yue’er, that palm strike just now was excellent. Your Internal Energy was controlled freely, and the explosive force was immense." Elder Jiang’s face was filled with a gratified smile. "In less than three months, you should be able to step into the realm of Inner Strength."
"That’s still nothing compared to you, Grandpa." Jiang Mingyue giggled and looked at the others with disdain. "So now you understand, right? What I did was just a cheap trick. It’s nothing in front of a true Martial Arts Grandmaster. I wouldn’t even last a single move against my grandpa. Back in his day, he was..."
"Ahem! Cough, cough!" Elder Jiang coughed heavily a few times.
Jiang Mingyue stopped, but said triumphantly, "In any case, this world is far beyond your imagination. Don’t be so arrogant as to think you know everything. That’s just a reflection of your own shallow ignorance."
After she spoke, the others all turned to look at Elder Jiang again, their faces filled with shock. They never would have guessed that this unremarkable-looking old man was a true master of the martial way.
Only Lin Mu’s expression remained unchanged. He even wore a profound, inscrutable smile.
This caused Jiang Mingyue, who was in the middle of her boast, to frown slightly, a deep sense of displeasure welling up inside her.
This guy is really good at putting on an act.
Jiang Ming suddenly spoke up. "Grandpa Jiang, we’re practically family, right? I was wondering if you’re still accepting disciples? What do you think of me?"
If Jiang Mingyue is this powerful, how incredible must Elder Jiang be? If Elder Jiang took him as a disciple, he could get his revenge on Lin Mu once he mastered the martial arts.
"Yes, Elder Jiang, do you need a girl to serve you tea? I can do that too! Tee-hee," Li Ping added with what she thought was a cute and clever smile, which only earned her a look of disgust from Jiang Mingyue.
"Neither of you has the aptitude, and you’re too old besides. You should give up on that idea right now." Jiang Mingyue looked at Jiang Ming and snorted coldly. "As for you, while you may have some latent talent for the martial way, you’ve long since missed the optimal time to begin training. Don’t ever bring this up again."
Everyone was instantly disappointed.
However, Jiang Ming’s eyes darted around, and he said, "But Elder Jiang, we have another expert on this boat whose skills are no less than Miss Jiang’s."
"Oh?" Elder Jiang’s eyes lit up. "And who might that be?"
Jiang Mingyue was curious as well.
"Him!" Jiang Ming chuckled, pointing at Lin Mu. "Lin Mu participated in the River City martial arts contest and defeated several masters in a row."
"Lin Mu?" Elder Jiang’s brows furrowed slightly as he asked, "Your surname is Lin?"
"That’s right. His name is Lin Mu, and he’s a Martial Artist too," Jiang Ming said with a sly chuckle, deliberately pushing Lin Mu into the spotlight.
With Jiang Mingyue’s personality, she might actually challenge Lin Mu to a sparring match, and then...
Lin Mu’s smile didn’t waver, but the look he gave Jiang Ming carried a distinct chill.
Lin Mu smiled faintly. "It seems the warning I gave you before wasn’t enough."
Jiang Ming’s smile froze. He remembered that Lin Mu didn’t pull any punches when he got serious. "I was just stating a fact," he said awkwardly.
Elder Jiang observed Lin Mu carefully for a few moments before shaking his head. "Impossible. If he were truly a Martial Artist, there’s no way I wouldn’t be able to tell. His energy isn’t apparent, and he moves just like an ordinary person. He’s definitely not a Martial Artist."
Elder Jiang had always been confident in his judgment; he was certain he hadn’t made a mistake.
At that moment, Qiao Zishan asked, "So, Elder Jiang, compared to the two masters who are dueling today, are you more powerful?"
Elder Jiang shook his head, a bitter expression on his face. "How could my meager abilities possibly compare to those two Martial Arts Grandmasters?"
"One is Daoist Master Yunxu from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion, a True Immortal of Thunder Law. He became a Martial Arts Grandmaster thirty years ago, and his mastery of the Thunder Law is simply divine." Elder Jiang sighed and continued, "As for the other, he is the legendary Master Lin, whose techniques are said to be divine."
Jiang Mingyue pouted. "Grandpa, why be so modest? Daoist Master Yunxu is a true master of the martial way, I’ll grant that. But this Master Lin is just overhyped. He might not even be a match for me."
Hearing this, Lin Mu couldn’t help but be a little stunned.
Song Wenrou, however, simply looked at Lin Mu and covered her mouth to hide a slight smile, her eyes twinkling like stars.
"Do not be disrespectful to Master Lin!" Elder Jiang said sternly. "Since Master Lin dared to accept a life-and-death duel with Daoist Master Yunxu, he must be a person of profound strength. How can you be so rude to him!"
Jiang Mingyue pouted, clearly unconvinced.
It was Ye Tong who asked with some confusion, "You’re saying the two people dueling today are Daoist Master Yunxu and Master Lin?"
"That’s right." Elder Jiang’s face was filled with awe. "Rumor has it that Master Lin is not yet thirty, but has already become a Martial Arts Grandmaster. It’s also said his medical skills are divine. He is truly a peerless prodigy, a rarity in this world."
Ye Tong was shaken to her core and subconsciously looked at Lin Mu.
He... he couldn’t possibly be that Master Lin, could he?