List of Handsome Men in the Martial Arts World

A Compendium of Handsome Men in the Martial World (Online Name: The Post-Martial World Era of Male Beauty)

Author: Ge Yang

Prologue: The Grand Tournament at Yunge Pavilion - A Difficult Match for a Green-Clad Woman

Chang'an Avenue.

In peaceful times, the people are prosperous, and everywhere is filled with song and dance. The capital city is the most prosperous city in the land, with countless extraordinary people and events. Although it is not as wealthy as the south of the Yangtze River, nor as fierce as the north, it has the advantage of a broad perspective. Ordinary festivities are unlikely to attract a large crowd of onlookers.

However, this event today caused hundreds of thousands of people throughout the capital to spread the news and marvel at it. Yunge, the premier restaurant on Chang'an Street, was completely surrounded by crowds. Even the Prefect of the Capital was alarmed and specially dispatched two hundred soldiers to maintain order.

Above the Cloud Pavilion, a diverse mix of people gathered. There were the most renowned scholars and literati, the young talents from various martial arts sects, the famously beautiful female warriors, and even nobles and royalty incognito. Of course, some idle commoners, out of curiosity, also squeezed into good spots to join in the fun.

Four scholars, dressed in scholar's robes and turbans, stood in the hall. Their handsome faces, usually so refined as they discussed poetry and literature, were now ashen, like defeated roosters. They faced a small table, behind which stood two maids, each holding an exquisite round fan, gently fanning the fragrant tea in a porcelain cup on the table. The steam from the tea rose slowly, dissipating, seemingly out of place in the tense atmosphere…

So, what left all the onlookers dumbfounded was either the four Confucian scholars, the two maids, or Xiangming?

Of course not.

The person whose gaze was focused suddenly sighed softly and gracefully rose from beside the small table. She extended her jade-like foot, clad in expensive silk shoes, and took two slow, deliberate steps forward, every movement drawing the breath of everyone present. However, the words that followed left everyone speechless.

"In this vast world, there is not a single person who can match my poem. There are thousands upon thousands of people in the world who call themselves talented, but it turns out they are all just empty words."

The four scholars' faces turned from green to white, then from white to green again, but they couldn't find the words to refute this arrogant statement.

The woman before him had her black hair half-gathered and half-loose, with a jade and gold hairpin tucked into her hair. Her face was softly covered with a layer of yellow gauze, revealing only her two slender phoenix eyes that shone with a sharp light.

The atmosphere was heavy for a moment before one of the scholars reluctantly spoke: "I have long heard that Miss Yin is exceptionally talented, not inferior to any man. Meeting her today, I know the rumors are true. She truly deserves to be called the most talented woman in the world. I am convinced."

Miss Yin chuckled lightly, her eyes remaining completely still: "It is the newly appointed top scholar, Lord Deng Qinghui. No wonder he has such a magnanimous spirit. However, today's matter cannot be resolved so easily with just a simple 'I admit defeat' from the top scholar."

A hint of annoyance flashed across Deng Qinghui's refined face. He barely managed to suppress his dissatisfaction and still said politely, "Miss Yin, isn't the purpose of today's Yunge Poetry Competition to make me bow my head and admit defeat? I am willing to admit defeat, so please, Miss Yin, stop here."

Miss Yin laughed again: "Is the top scholar blaming me for being too demanding?"

Deng Qinghui hurriedly said, "I did not mean that, Miss Yin has misunderstood."

"A misunderstanding?" Miss Yin sneered, her expression suddenly changing. "The day the top scholar gathered all the scholars in the land to humiliate my sister Mansi, is that considered a misunderstanding? Women are all ignorant and illiterate, is that considered a misunderstanding? Although my sister Mansi disguised herself as a man to become the second-ranked scholar, she did so through genuine talent and learning. Even the current emperor recognizes her talent, yet you bunch of pedantic scholars forced her to abandon her official post and leave the capital, wandering outside. Is that considered a misunderstanding?"

"This..." Deng Qinghui was speechless with shock, her heart filled with trepidation. So this was the reason she had set up the Cloud Pavilion challenge today!

This young lady, named Wuxiao, could compose poetry at the age of three, write prose at seven, and even write poems on the topics of the imperial examinations at the age of twelve. Her poems were read by chance by the prime minister, who was amazed by them, and she was thus awarded the title of the most talented woman. By the time she reached marriageable age, her poetic fame had spread throughout the capital, and students preparing for the examinations all used her poems and prose as models.

The Yin family had been booksellers for generations, but their fortunes declined after the early death of Yin's parents. Yin Wuxiao had no siblings and took charge of the household at the age of twelve. After Yin Wuxiao took over, the Yin family's business prospered day by day. Within five years, everyone in the capital knew that the Yin family had a prodigy who could excel in both literature and business, making them the richest family in the world.

"You scholars, gentlemen," Miss Yin said loudly, "Since you all spoke so arrogantly and looked down on women, don't blame me for being so competitive today. Yin Wuxiao has no other request than to ask all of you here to bear witness, and I also ask you, the scholar, to admit that women's talents surpass those of men."

"You!" Anger flashed across the faces of the four scholars simultaneously, and a clamor erupted throughout the Cloud Pavilion. From ancient times to the present, only men have been superior to women, and men have been noble while women are lowly. This Miss Yin actually dared to publicly demand that the top scholar of the imperial examination acknowledge that women are superior to men…

"Yin Wuxiao, you woman are far too arrogant!" A crisp, delicate shout suddenly broke the silence of the room.

A fragrant breeze wafted by, and to everyone's surprise, a young girl in red appeared on the spot. She was beautiful, her clothes flowing gracefully, and she carried a subtle fragrance.

What superb lightness skill! Some discerning people present sighed inwardly, recognizing that this woman was none other than the second young lady of the Yuwen family, a martial arts family, Yuwen Hongying, also known as Red Dew Hands.

In today's martial arts world, where powerful figures abound, the most influential are undoubtedly the "One Prefecture, Two Gangs, and Three Families." The "One Prefecture" refers to Baili Prefecture in Jiangnan; the "Two Gangs" are the Beggars' Clan and the Qiao Clan; and the "Three Families" are the Yan Family of Shanxi, the Zhang Family of Sichuan, and the Yuwen Family of Hubei. Yuwen Hongying's recent fame surpasses that of other members of the Yuwen Family, not because of her stunning beauty or her masterful Red Bell Flying Technique, but because of her undisguised infatuation with the young master in blue from Baili Prefecture.

The young master in blue robes from Baili Prefecture was of noble character and kind nature. His flawless appearance was breathtaking. The *Records of Handsome Men in the Martial World* testifies to this: "Boundless spring colors veil the blue-robed one, winter snow lingers, parting from his azure eyes; a cool autumn meets the bright moon, a summer night's carefree intoxication steals hearts." These four lines represent four exceptionally handsome men in the martial world, with Baili Qingyi at the forefront. Many young women in the martial world secretly admired Baili Qingyi, but none dared to express their love as boldly as Yuwen Hongying.

Why would Yuwen Hongying seek trouble with Miss Yin, who is outside the martial arts world? No one present could answer that question.

Miss Yin paused for a moment before saying leisurely, "So it is Miss Yuwen. What virtue or ability do I possess to trouble Lady Yuwen to come all the way from a thousand miles away to scold me? Alas, I am truly ashamed."

Yuwen Hongying gritted her teeth. This Yin Wuxiao was indeed sharp-tongued!

Without further ado, she pulled a scroll of paper from her sleeve: "Yin Wuxiao, you call yourself the most talented woman in the world, so you must have so

……