https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-645-Who-s-the-Real-Imbecile-Here-/12625745/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-647-The-Lute-Princess-Enters-the-Tent-at-Night/12625747/
Chapter 646: Jin Banfflower's Candid Words
Chapter 646: Jin Banfflower's Candid Words
Du Huan's poison was finally neutralized.
After all, he was a renowned martial artist from the Central Plains, and even if he was just putting on a show of modesty, the King of Kucha couldn't afford to ignore him.
So, the King of Kucha ordered his guards to take Du Huan away and assigned a servant to accompany him, instructing them to take good care of him.
And then...
The music resumed, and the dance continued. Maidens played musical instruments while dancers moved gracefully. A feast of fruits, wine, and meat was laid out in abundance.
Jin Banfflower picked up a few pieces of the diced Hami melon, nodding and shaking his head. Although it couldn't compare to the modern improved varieties, it was still pretty sweet.
The King of Kucha raised his cup in salute, "It turns out that Young Master Jin's martial arts are so profound. Please forgive my ignorance, Your Highness, for not recognizing your prowess earlier."
Wu Qingtian narrowed his eyes, unable to resist asking, "May I ask who Young Master Jin learned from? Du Huan is known as a ruthless assassin, swift and fierce in his attacks. I never expected him to be defeated by you in a single move, Young Master."
Everyone turned to look at Jin Banfflower.
Among the five experts invited by the King of Kucha, Du Huan was the most notorious and skilled. Aside from Wang Chong, who maintained his composure, the other three harbored a subtle fear of Du Huan.
Thus, Du Huan held a high position in this camp, considered the foremost among the King of Kucha's guests. He even harbored designs on the Pipa Princess, his words and glances gradually becoming less respectful.
Yet, this man was forced to his knees by Jin Banfflower in a single move and made to utter, "I am an imbecile with an unsound mind" a hundred times.
Even if Du Huan had been careless at the start, neither he nor the other four experts present could fathom how the second strike had landed.
Was this wealthy young master, who appeared to be a spoiled aristocrat, actually a top-notch martial artist?
"Are your ears working? I already said I've been practicing martial arts for ten years, had dozens of masters, and learned dozens of martial arts techniques. I am the epitome of both Northern and Southern martial arts!"
Jin Banfflower spoke nonchalantly, "I've spent so much money and learned so many top-notch skills. As for Du Huan, he merely poisoned his fingers with an iron ring. What kind of martial arts is that?"
"Do you understand the concept of 'the rich learn martial arts while the poor study literature'?" Jin Banfflower tapped the table, "If I hadn't spent so much money, how could I possibly have defeated him?"
Wu Baiyun's mouth twitched, and he asked, "According to your logic, does that mean that whoever has the most money has the highest martial arts skill?"
Jin Banfflower nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Of course! Why else?"
The Wu brothers fell silent, unsure of what to say. They glanced at Jin Banfflower with a mix of astonishment and skepticism.
Si Tu Liuxing asked curiously, "May I ask what martial arts you've learned, Young Master?"
"I've learned all kinds of martial arts!" Jin Banfflower replied earnestly, "Various weapons, fist and leg techniques, light body movements, mechanical hidden weapons, disguise and poisoning..."
"Of course, I'm most skilled with the sword!" Jin Banfflower brandished the sword in his hand, "Don't you think the sword is the coolest?"
Si Tu Liuxing lost his desire to speak as he gazed at the luxurious sword sheath adorned with jewels in Jin Banfflower's hand.
If it weren't for Jin Banfflower's display of his mysterious hand technique earlier, he would have planned to steal that sword tonight to solidify his reputation as the mighty thief of the Yellow River.
Wang Chong looked at Jin Banfflower, his interest piqued, "I wonder which school of swordplay Young Master Jin practices?"
"I know a lot of sword techniques, and I'm adept at many ultimate moves," Jin Banfflower boasted, "especially the Sword Drawing Technique, Celestial Fairy, and Life-Taking Fifteen Swords. They're even more powerful than the Taiji Sword, Wind-Returning Willow Sword, and Flying Dragon Great Nine Forms!"
Wang Chong was stunned and didn't know how to respond.
The Taiji Sword, Wind-Returning Willow Sword, and Flying Dragon Great Nine Forms were known as the Three Great Sword Techniques of the Mysterious Gate, the pinnacle of swordplay in the world. Anyone who learned even a few moves from these sword techniques could establish themselves in the martial arts world with diligent practice.
But as for the Sword Drawing Technique, Celestial Fairy, and Life-Taking Fifteen Swords...
He had never heard of them, and they were probably just random moves made up by those third-rate martial artists performing on the streets of the capital.
He even began to suspect that the unconscious Du Huan was an imposter. How else could a wealthy young master, deceived by a third-rate martial artist, take down Du Huan in a single move?
However, the Pipa Princess didn't pay much attention to Jin Banfflower's words.
Regardless of how unreliable he sounded, he had indeed defeated Du Huan in a single move and forced him to strike himself in the next, making him loudly proclaim his idiocy a hundred times.
The Pipa Princess had long disliked Du Huan, but she had endured it for the sake of the Kucha restoration. Now that she saw him thoroughly humiliated by Jin Banfflower, she felt greatly pleased.
Thus, the more she looked at Jin Banfflower, the more he grew in her esteem—a powerful martial artist, handsome and carefree, with a humorous tongue...
"I never expected Young Master to know so many sword techniques. I am full of admiration," the Pipa Princess said, raising her cup in salute.
"You're welcome!" Jin Banfflower returned the salute with a smile, "And you, Princess, have good taste, much better than those miscellaneous folks."
The Pipa Princess gestured to the maid behind her, who handed her an iron pipa.
"We have offended you earlier, Young Master. Please allow me to play a tune to make amends," the Pipa Princess said with a charming smile.
She placed the pipa on her knees and plucked the strings, producing a clear, melodious sound.
The pipa she used was not the modified version that had been introduced to the Central Plains, but the original curved-neck pipa. Logically, it had a narrower range and wasn't as sonorous as the pipa from the Central Plains.
However, the Pipa Princess chose a melody with a smaller range, and coupled with her superb skill, she produced a heavenly melody.
"Wonderful!" Jin Banfflower applauded, "Princess, your performance surpasses even the 'Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Dress' played by Liu, the musical master of Miaoxiang Tower in the capital."
The Pipa Princess gave Jin Banfflower a coquettish glance.
Obviously, although she had lived in the borderlands for a long time, she was not ignorant of the Central Plains and understood the subtle mockery in Jin Banfflower's words.
...
After the banquet, the Pipa Princess personally led Jin Banfflower and his companions to a tent.
"My father and I are currently in exile, so we have to make do with these humble accommodations. Please forgive us, Young Master," the Pipa Princess said with a smile, "Once we succeed in restoring Kucha, we will invite you to visit the Kucha palace."
Jin Banfflower said, "It seems like you're very confident about restoring Kucha, Princess."
The Pipa Princess fell silent for a moment before replying with a faint smile, "We have no other choice but to succeed."
Jin Banfflower nodded and turned to enter the tent, "Then I wish you success."
The Pipa Princess stared at Jin Banfflower's departing figure, her eyes wide, her chest puffed out indignantly. She couldn't help but ask, "Is that all you have to say?"
Jin Banfflower turned back and thought for a moment, "Lunch was sumptuous, so perhaps we can have a lighter dinner?"
Pipa Princess: ψ(｀ー)ψ
(End of Chapter)
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