Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 161 - 10: Meeting Mo Again

Chapter 161 -10: Meeting Mo Again

“`

At the end of the month, the Chinese Martial Arts Association announced the first World Traditional Wushu Exchange Competition, welcoming all Chinese people across the straits and around the world, as well as foreign nationals who are passionate about traditional martial arts to participate. The events included Zhan Zhuang, lion dancing, and weapons routines. The grand prize was set to be as high as three hundred thousand yuan.

A combat fighting ring was established, open to all world fighting and combat styles. The grand prize for this was set to be as high as one million yuan. Limited to three people per country, it attracted countless eyes. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Israel, numerous responded,

Every TV station was competing to report on the event, with overwhelming publicity.

However, none of these had anything to do with Li Yan.

“A new officer has to set three fires, huh.”

Li Yan flipped through the photos in his hand, “But, these Muay Thai masters and retired special forces soldiers that you’ve found, can they be relied on?”

Lei Jing was busy writing something, draped in a white cheongsam with a low-cut, dewdrop neckline that was elegant without being provocative.

Upon hearing Li Yan’s question, Lei Jing lifted her neck, “They are indeed among the most renowned combat masters in their respective countries…”

“But, by tacit agreement, they took your benefits early on.”

Lei Jing winked playfully, remaining silent.

Li Yan nodded, “Just don’t mess it up.”

He looked down at the photo of the contestants, and there was Zhang Mingyuan among them.

“Once this is done here, I’m going back to Beijing tomorrow.”

“So soon? Won’t you stay a couple more days?”

Lei Jing stood up, her surprise and reluctance unclear whether they were genuine or feigned.

“I’d rather not.”

Li Yan shook his head and asked, “This Zhang Mingyuan, how do you plan to arrange things for him?”

“Mingyuan has great potential.”

Lei Jing said seriously, “If he’s willing, I plan to make him the new martial arts superstar.”

Li Yan didn’t reply.

Lei Jing felt a little awkward, “Of course, if senior brother is willing.”

“Not necessary.”

Li Yan flatly refused, he thought for a moment, then vigorously rubbed his nose, “Old guys’ methods may produce great talent, but they haven’t been effective. Look at Taekwondo… perhaps your way is the right one.”

He jabbed at the photo, “As for Zhang Mingyuan, have you asked for his opinion?”

Lei Jing’s eyes twinkled. “He, probably won’t refuse.”

Li Yan leaned his elbow on the table, slowly shaking his head, “Don’t think because he’s young, he’ll be easy to handle…”

…

“Didn’t you say that I could go back to Shandong this month?”

Zhang Mingyuan was wearing a white shirt, plain glasses, and had bright teeth; he looked refined and gentle, lacking any of the cold aura he had in the ring.

“My sister has been urging me several times. This semester is ending at school, and the teacher said that as a junior, I have to start preparing like a senior.”

He was scratching his head while speaking to Lei Jing across a chessboard.

Lei Jing adjusted her hair, looking pleasantly persuasive, “Mingyuan, this competition will be broadcast on TV and, plus, the prize money is quite substantial. With your skills, placing in the competition should be no problem. I can talk to Uncle Zhang for you.”

“This matter is not up to my dad, you should ask my sister.”

“Er…” Lei Jing pursed her lips and fell silent, then after a while, she said, “I can also find a way with Daojing.”

Zhang Mingyuan gave Lei Jing a look that suggested she was on her own.

“Dong dong dong~”

Lei Jing stood up to open the door for Li Yan.

The man and the boy’s gazes met.

“I’ll talk to him.”

Lei Jing nodded lightly, whispering “Please persuade her for me” in Li Yan’s ear, then she stepped out.

“`

She didn’t notice that after Zhang Mingyuan saw Li Yan, he murmured something about “Ten Cities Peak,” “just four months,” “monster…” and other words. Instead, she reached out and shut the door tightly.

Li Yan sat down across Zhang Mingyuan with a bold posture and asked, “How’s your sister doing?”

“So-so, stuck at an Awakening Degree of 39%.”

Zhang Mingyuan’s words came out rapid-fire, and Li Yan looked at him oddly.

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“What about me, aren’t you going to ask me?”

The young man was both embarrassed and angry.

Li Yan laughed, “Don’t you just tell me? So, how’s your sister getting on?”

Zhang Mingyuan turned away, “I’ve already asked. You are just her childhood friend, at most a childhood sweetheart. My sister’s already married. You? No chance.”

Upon hearing this, Li Yan hung his head and gently swept the chess pieces on the table to the side with the back of his hand.

“I just wanted to see her, nothing more. After all, I can’t hog all the good things in this world, right?”

Li Yan’s tone was somewhat wistful. Thinking of something, Zhang Mingyuan hesitated for a moment before saying glumly,

“We live in Zibo, my sister opened a bar there, the address is…”

Zhang Mingyuan was detailed and did not hide anything.

“Okay, thanks.”

Li Yan stood up decisively and walked out. By the time Zhang Mingyuan snapped out of his daze, Li Yan was already at the door.

“You’re leaving just like that? Weren’t you supposed to persuade me to join the competition on behalf of Lei Jing?”

Li Yan turned around, “If you enjoy rolling in the field of fame and profit, go for it. If not, don’t bother. You’ve already risked your life several times; don’t you know what you want?”

He slammed the door shut. Lei Jing waited outside for a while.

“How did it go, senior brother?”

Li Yan sighed and said helplessly, “The kid’s stubborn. Can’t be persuaded.”

…

Once Guan Yantao’s funeral was over, the matters in Guangdong were no longer related to Li Yan. Zhang Mingyuan’s plans, Lei Jing’s political maneuvers—all came to an end.

Li Yan had a few bites of Lei Jing’s farewell feast and then got on the plane back to Beijing.

Outside the window was a vast expanse of blue. Li Yan bit his finger, overwhelmed by the mythological materials organized by Professor Wu.

On the laptop, Li Yan tapped the keyboard; the upper half contained branches of the Chu Region Divine System and their corresponding deities, including Li Yan’s own ideas and theories regarding heritage compatibility.

The lower half included Kui Xing, the Nine Offspring of the Dragon, Bai Ze, and even the obscure General Cat from An Nan, with their abilities and appearances noted down.

Li Yan cross-referenced these with Professor Wu’s materials.

“Mo, with an elephant’s trunk, rhino’s eyes, ox’s tail, and tiger’s feet, its form wards off evil. Born in the southern valleys, eats iron and copper—feeds on nothing else.

The chubby man who claimed to be “Mo” probably had powers related to fantasies or dreams. However, neither Bai Juyi’s “Praise for Mo Screen” nor the mentions of Mo in “The Classic of Poetry · Erya” recorded any relationship between Mo and dreams. Such associations are often found in Japanese novels and storytelling books, referenced by Liang Qichao during the modern vernacular Chinese movement, which was influenced by Japanese language.”

Moreover, Gu Huo Bird was mentioned as early as the Han dynasty, but records of the Gu Huo Bird as a celestial maiden in “The Hook-Sunk Tales of Ancient Novels” were produced during the Republic of China…

No matter the vast powers Yan Fu possessed, those eccentric heritages were not all derived from a distant barbaric era. They stretched from the Warring States period down to the Republic of China, evolving with folk customs over time.

Thinking from another angle, the three Yan Fu events Li Yan experienced were all intricately linked with history. From Red Ghost, Deng Tianxiong, to Liang Ye, they were all vivid and unforgettable. Is the so-called Yan Fu Fruit really different from our world? According to Mo’s words, could this world also be a Yan Fu Fruit…

At this thought, Li Yan shuddered at the power of Sifan.

“It seems I did make the right decision by not joining Sifan,” Li Yan reflected.

“Exactly, at least by not joining Sifan, it’d be much harder for you to return to this world again,” someone chimed in, but Li Yan didn’t lift his head and simply asked:

“You promised me three gifts. Why do you always fail me at critical moments?”

The chubby man sat next to him, fiddling with his seatbelt. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but freeze in his seat.