524 Tit for Tat; Measure for Measure (1/2)
Mei Xue Yan had realized that it might be improper continue talking on this subject. However, she still carried-on with a tranquil expression on her face, ”Ma Jiang Ming's appearance was certainly strange. But, what he did for a living was even more unique and distinct. He used to scream 'The Golden Gun won't fall' every day. In fact, he had to yell these words till his throat went hoarse with it. He-himself considers this as a disgrace from his past. However, some people would mention these words in front of him once he became famous. He disliked those who uttered these words on his face. After all, he considered it as a provocation. Anyway, wouldn't he die from rage if he considered it as normal? Therefore, he would use his strength to kill such people.”
”Big Sister, you..?” Guan Qing Han and Green Hunter flushed with anger. In fact, they could barely hide their displeasure at this. However, Dugu Xiao Yi opened with her big and round eyes, and asked with curiosity, ”The Golden Gun won't fall? What does that mean? Wasn't he talking about some wondrous medicine that would help men in standing tall and upright? Why didn't he like his old job? What's the real story?”
Mei Xue Yan tried to force a smile, but couldn't. She suddenly gave a blow on Dugu Xiao Yi's nose and spoke, ”Oh God! You're such a tiny girl. You might be able to understand the real meaning if you stopped talking for a while. You must not tell this to an outsider… but… but… the medicines which he used to sell had the same effect as that 'Hang a hundred pounds' you had once mentioned.”
Dugu Xiao Yi immediately began to blush from ear-to-ear. After all, the tiny girl had seen the effect of the 'hang a hundred pounds' medicine. Moreover, she had also learnt a little about the affairs between men and women after the fiasco she had brought about. However, she was lucky since everyone present in the immediate vicinity was a friend. She flushed with embarrassment as a result. But, she was unable to restrain herself from looking at Jun Mo Xie.
The little girl had believed herself to be secretive. However, everyone had noticed this little action of hers. And, they couldn't help but laugh. However, there existed another person apart from Dugu Xiao Yi who had shot a secretive glance at Jun Mo Xie… It was Miss Guan Qing Han.
She had observed that Jun Mo Xie had looked towards her with a 'savoring the aftertaste' look in his eyes as soon as he had heard these words. Wouldn't it be obvious as to what he was thinking about? He had certainly made an effort to stay calm, but he hadn't been able to prevent his face from heating up. In fact, his cheeks had unexpectedly turned a shade of vermilion.
”However, Ma Jiang Ming happened to meet a person in the brothel one day. Coincidentally, this man was an extremely unusual individual as well. However, an even more bizarre incident took place as soon as that man looked at Ma Jiang Ming. That man recognized Ma Jiang Ming to be an extremely talented individual with amazing innate skill in only one glance. And, he decided to accept Ma Jiang Ming as his disciple in that very moment. Soon after, Ma Jiang Ming began to follow his teacher. And, his teacher had extremely high hopes for him. However, the disciple came through on his teacher's expectations, and made a name for himself across the continent. Ma Jiang Ming and Ning Wu Qing gradually grew in strength, and joined the ranks of the other Great Masters of their era. And, they soon reached the peak levels of strength. Later on, Ning Wu Qing went to the Elusive Land of Immortals, and Ma Jiang Ming went to the Great Golden City. But, who could've thought that we would've seen him here?”
Then, Mei Xue Yan slowly spoke to warn everyone; in fact, there was a faint trace of caution in the depths of her pupils, ”This Ma Jiang Ming is an extremely temperamental person. He has different moods at different times, and none of his moods are in accordance with morality or logic. He might be good and tolerable towards others at one hour. But, he might kill anyone in the next hour. In fact, he would do that without giving any warning signs. Moreover, he often murders people who have nothing to do with him. He only relies on his own likes and dislikes. Therefore, it is better that you maintain a decent distance from him. He often moves his hands to kill people in an instant. Take me seriously. Even I won't be able to save you from him in time.”
”Doesn't this man's appearance tell something about a sinister plot at play?” Jun Mo Xie asked abruptly.
”Why do you say so?” Mei Xue Yan gave him a strange look.
”His master was a customer at a brothel. In fact, he was a committed customer. His master must've been a great expert of his era. However, he had still found it important to visit a brothel. Don't these aspects hint at a sinister cultivation method at play?” Jun Mo Xie continued in a 'matter of fact' tone, ”Also, Ma Jiang Ming was helping his then-master in running a brothel at that time. Therefore, that man might've liked Ma Jiang Ming since he would've presumed that the latter might've possessed this innate skill as well.”
”It would be wrong to take this for granted. It's indeed true that this Ma Jiang Ming has had a bad reputation in the past. He had done nearly all kinds of malicious acts in the past. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that there's no evil act he hasn't done. However, this man doesn't seem to have committed that sinful practice of cultivation. And, that's because… Firstly, he has never borne affectionate feelings towards anyone; nor has he had any entanglements of love. Secondly, he has never married a woman.”
Mei Xue Yan shook her head, and overruled Jun Mo Xie's theory. However, his argument had still pushed her into deep thoughts. She tried to get to the bottom of the matter; [How did it come about? After all, this can't be possible without any reason! Did the man receive Ma Jiang Ming as a disciple because they were practicing sinister methods of cultivation? Is that the justification for it?]
”There must be a reason for it,” Jun Mo Xie pondered over it. Suddenly, a grotesque smile appeared on his face. In fact, it looked extremely vulgar. It seemed that he had allowed his thoughts to run wild.
”What are you smiling at? What are you thinking about?” the baffled Mei Xue Yan asked abruptly; all the women turned to look at Jun Mo Xie in unison.
”I was just thinking about what you told me… You said that his master used to practice a strange technique. However, it is possible that his master wasn't able to see much success for some reason. And, that might've pushed him into changing his ways to do the exact opposite. And, that man must've turned in the reverse direction for his cultivation as a result, ”Jun Mo Xie spoke with a sinister smile on his face, ”It is possible that Ma Jiang Ming possesses some special characteristics. And, these special characteristics might be considered as defects by others. But, there's a chance that these characteristics fulfill the unique requirements of his master's unique cultivation method. And, this might've made Ma Jiang Ming a rare kind of an individual in his master's eyes? How else can we explain this strange behavior?”
Jun Mo Xie had suddenly and unfathomably recollected an extremely famous yet strange martial arts from his previous life — The Precious Sunflower Technique. He had spoken this out loud because of this sudden recollection. However, even Jun Mo Xie hadn't realized that he had stumbled across a huge fact with this whimsy thought!
[I will have to be doubly careful in case I happen to cross paths with him someday.] Jun Mo Xie secretly thought to himself.
”Where does that kind of a technique exist? How could Ma Jiang Ming be that lucky even if such a technique did exist? This is a completely bizarre thought. It's only a part of your crazy imagination!” Guan Qing Han, Dugu Xiao Yi, and Snake King looked at him as they rebuked. Their faces had turned red. However, Mei Xue Yan didn't act out like the other three nagging women. Instead, she wrinkled her eyebrows. In fact, it seemed as if she was thinking over something.
Ma Jiang Ming had already arrived in the hall below. He then exclaimed with a strange smile on his face, ”Ning Wu Qing? You're also here? Long time no see!”