Chapter 8: The Strongest Warrior of the Star Sect

Jiang Mingzhe followed A'zi's gaze and saw a hulking, short man walking toward them, grinning broadly with a thick, long steel staff slung over his shoulder.

A'zi called him Eighth Senior Brother... Jiang Mingzhe's eyes flickered. He realized this must be the man from the original story who was eventually murdered out of jealousy by Zhaixingzi, though he had forgotten the man's name.

The short man wore the standard yellow robe of the Star-Moon Sect, with several glittering stars embroidered in gold and silver thread on his chest. His face was the color of fermented bean curd and shaped like a gourd, making it difficult to guess his age—he could have been forty, or perhaps twenty. His small nose and tiny eyes looked like little scars festering on a melon.

He stood less than 1.6 meters tall, yet his shoulders were exceptionally broad, and his arms were thicker than an ordinary man's thighs. With his barrel chest and thick back, he resembled a short, stout stone pillar.

The man glanced at Jiang Mingzhe and chuckled, "Heh, it took a lot of effort, but I finally convinced Chi Yanzi to forge this steel staff for me. Take a look—"

As he said "take a look," he gave his shoulder a jolt, and the steel staff suddenly soared more than two zhang into the air, falling straight toward the heads of A'zi and Jiang Mingzhe.

The move was incredibly sudden, and the staff was heavy and falling rapidly. Jiang Mingzhe had no time to react, but fortunately, A'zi let out a sharp cry; she used her left hand to push Jiang Mingzhe aside while she leaped to the side herself.

A'zi's shove was immensely powerful. As Jiang Mingzhe stumbled and fell, his vision blurred. The short man had already arrived at the spot where A'zi had been standing, caught the steel staff with ease, and burst into laughter.

A green hue flashed across A'zi's face. She hunched her shoulders and clenched her fists, shouting viciously, "Chuchenzi, have you lost your mind?"

Jiang Mingzhe suddenly remembered: this short man was indeed called Chuchenzi.

Chuchenzi's grin did not fade. "What's the harm in a little joke? Little A'zi, remember when you hid snakes in my chamber pot and bit my backside black and blue? Did I ever hold that against you?"

As he spoke, his small eyes rolled, his expression turning lewd. "Aha, could it be you were afraid of hurting this pretty boy? Heh, heh, heh, has little A'zi started thinking about men? Don't say your Eighth Senior Brother didn't teach you—there aren't many good eggs among these pretty boys. The better they look, the worse their intentions. Only men like your Eighth Senior Brother are the real deal!"

He kept winking and grimacing as he spoke, looking truly repulsive, like a gourd in heat.

Jiang Mingzhe felt a surge of anger. A'zi was still just a child, and for this gourd-faced man to say such base things—he instinctively clenched his fists, then helplessly let them go. He pressed his lips together, a longing for powerful martial arts growing within him like wild weeds.

A'zi's expression was unreadable. She seemed to be pondering something, but a moment later, she giggled and curled her lip. "Eighth Senior Brother, if you dare say that in front of the First Senior Brother, I'll admire you. Besides, I was only fierce to you just now for your own good. This is the master's newest disciple. If you had crushed him to death, do you know what the punishment is for killing a new disciple who hasn't even been here for two years? If you don't know, First Senior Brother will be sure to teach you well."

Chuchenzi's face changed slightly; he was clearly terrified of the First Senior Brother. He forced a laugh, "I said the kid was a pretty boy, when did I mention the First Senior Brother?"

A'zi clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Ah, so you're saying the First Senior Brother isn't as handsome or as fair as him!"

Chuchenzi's face turned even more purple. He shouted, "I never said that! The First Senior Brother is wise and martial, handsome and... and dashing! How could this sissy kid compare?"

In truth, while Jiang Mingzhe was handsome, his features were sharp and cold, as if carved by a knife, exuding a strong sense of masculinity; he was merely a bit pale.

Just as Chuchenzi finished speaking, a voice laughed, "Oh? So that's the impression I leave on my Eighth Junior Brother? Heh, though this new junior brother is indeed a fine-looking man. You call him a sissy—be careful, or he might master some deadly skills and come to settle the score with you. Haha, hahaha!"

All three snapped their heads around to see Zhaixingzi’s thin, long figure leaping through the air in the distance. With a few bounds, he disappeared into the maze of houses and alleys, leaving only his laughter echoing behind.

When Zhaixingzi had parted from A'zi and Jiang Mingzhe earlier, he had clearly headed in a different direction. It was unclear when he had returned or how long he had been eavesdropping.

Chuchenzi’s purple face turned deathly pale. He glared at A'zi, gritting his teeth as he hissed, "You little bitch, you deliberately led me into offending the First Senior Brother!"

A'zi’s face didn't look much better. She was naturally as fair as snow, and now she was devoid of all color. She snapped back, "Bullshit! If I had known he was there, would I have said he was better looking than the First Senior Brother?"

Chuchenzi thought about it and realized she was right. He hadn't said the kid was better looking than the First Senior Brother. If A'zi were trying to stir up trouble, wouldn't the First Senior Brother be able to tell?

Yet, he had said that "pretty boys are no good," and the First Senior Brother would likely take that personally. He had offended him greatly. He couldn't help but curse inwardly: *Stinking bamboo pole, lecherous bamboo pole! You’re just a green-faced monster, why does it matter to you if I call someone else a pretty boy?*

But thinking of the First Senior Brother holding a grudge against him, he couldn't help but shiver. He glared viciously at Jiang Mingzhe, thinking that if it weren't for this pretty boy, he wouldn't have offended that "lecherous bamboo pole."

Jiang Mingzhe saw that he was shifting his anger onto him. He sneered internally but put on an expression of astonishment, eyes wide as he looked back and forth at the steel staff in Chuchenzi's hand. He muttered to himself, "So thick and so long... how many catties must this weigh? Senior brother, surely you aren't one of the divine generals under my immortal master's command? Otherwise, how could a mortal wield such a heavy weapon?"

His voice was very soft, like the buzzing of a mosquito, but Chuchenzi had a foundation in internal energy, and they were close enough that he heard every word.

The anger in his heart subsided by more than half. He thought that although this pretty boy was annoying, his taste was damn good.

He couldn't help but let out a cold snort, spinning the steel staff like a blade of grass with one hand before resting it lightly on his shoulder, his face full of arrogance.

Seeing Jiang Mingzhe’s feigned admiration, A'zi immediately understood. She stifled a laugh and said, "Junior brother, why haven't you paid your respects to our Eighth Senior Brother, Chuchenzi? Brother Chuchenzi is the sect's master of greatest strength. His lightness skills and hidden weapons are both superb, but his greatest mastery is the staff. With one strike, he could even club an elephant to death."

She then said to Chuchenzi, "Master was in a hurry to catch a six-winged iron centipede and hasn't had time to give him a Taoist name. His name is Jiang Mingzhe. Oh, and he's a fellow townsman of Master's."

"A fellow townsman of Master?" Chuchenzi’s expression shifted, his gaze becoming more cautious.

Jiang Mingzhe cupped his hands and bowed, "This younger brother greets the Eighth Senior Brother. On the way here, I heard Senior Sister A'zi say, 'Among the thirty-six, Chuchenzi’s strength is first.' I originally wondered how much strength a man could truly have, but seeing you wield this divine staff like a blade of grass, I realize my own ignorance. With strength like yours, if you were to serve in the imperial court, you would surely be named a Great General. The title of the world's strongest warrior would be yours for the taking."

He said this with a face full of admiration and a sincere tone. Chuchenzi couldn't help but burst into laughter, and as he looked at Jiang Mingzhe again, he seemed a bit more pleasing to the eye.

He nodded, "This junior brother truly has a good eye! Hahaha! This steel staff of mine is seven feet long, two and a half inches thick, and weighs one hundred and four catties. Forget our sect; looking across the entire martial arts world, I doubt anyone wields a heavier weapon! Hahaha! But as for being the world's greatest warrior, I can't be bothered. If I'm going to be anything, I'll be the third-greatest expert in the world!"

Though Jiang Mingzhe had been deliberately flattering him, he was still shocked to hear the weight.

He asked intentionally, "If I recall correctly, even Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade weighed only eighty-one catties. Senior Brother can wield a weapon of over a hundred catties—you are truly peerless in history. Why only third?"

Chuchenzi glanced at him with immense pride and mocked, "You look sharp, but it turns out you're a fool. The world's number one is Master, and the number two is First Senior Brother. I am powerful, but how could I be stronger than Master and First Senior Brother? Therefore, I am the world's third."

Jiang Mingzhe nodded repeatedly, "True, true. Master is an immortal; who in this world could compare to him? Senior Brother is truly the most insightful; I have been taught well."

Chuchenzi laughed heartily, thinking: *This kid only mentioned Master, not the First Senior Brother. Could it be that he thinks the First Senior Brother is too thin and doesn't respect him? That would be perfect! If this kid offends the First Senior Brother, the First Senior Brother won't keep staring at me...*

He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Which sect is this 'Guan Yu' from? To wield an eighty-something-catty blade, he must be quite strong. If I ever have the chance, I'd like to spar with him."

A'zi interjected, "That Guan Yu isn't a martial artist; he's an imperial general, I think. Eighth Senior Brother, let me take Junior Brother Jiang to collect his clothes and find his quarters first, then he can listen to your teachings."

Having just obtained a suitable weapon, Chuchenzi was eager to test his techniques. He smiled, "Fine, go ahead. When I have time later, I'll come visit the new junior brother."

With that, he strode away. A'zi rolled her eyes at his retreating back and whispered, "You big ginger, you buttered him up just to egg him on against the First Senior Brother? It's useless. This idiot may have great strength, but his courage is smaller than a mouse's. Your flattery was a waste of time."

Jiang Mingzhe smiled and nodded, saying nothing more as he walked forward with A'zi.