I Only Stomp on Weaklings

In the following month, Chen Ming visited all twelve martial arts halls and found that enlightened people like Shangguan Hong were a minority. Most were stubborn old fools who refused to spar with him regardless of what he said.

He felt helpless but couldn’t force it.

If he really forced it, it would ruin their reputation.

There’s a saying that breaking someone’s source of income is like killing their parents. Truly ruining someone’s reputation would create a mortal enemy.

If he were alone, he naturally wouldn’t have any scruples. But he had an elder brother and sister-in-law at home, as well as a pair of adorable nephews and nieces, he couldn’t disregard their safety.

Therefore, he was unwilling to use radical means. He didn’t insist if they were unwilling to spar with him.

Three families agreed to spar with him: the father and son of the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, Master Li of the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall, and an obscure Wu Martial Arts Hall.

Chen Ming rotated daily among these three martial arts halls, sparring with them and discussing Martial Dao. Occasionally, he sought Zhang Mingyu for sparring.

After repeatedly defeating these higher-level opponents, each time he scored a hundred experience points. Along with "instructing" those thirty-odd students, he could earn over 160 points a day.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

The weather grew colder day by day. Unknowingly, it was already the end of autumn, with winter looming.

This morning, after instructing that group of students, Chen Ming was about to leave.

"Senior Brother Chen."

Suddenly, someone called out to him.

Among these students, only one addressed him as senior brother, that was Li Jinchuan, who once practiced martial arts at the Huo Mansion. He was also the only one over fourteen.

After Huo Chengkun’s death, these youths who were studying martial arts at the Huo Mansion all left. Not long after, Li Jinchuan suddenly sought him out, wanting to learn martial arts from him.

Chen Ming didn’t refuse; he had been learning for almost a year.

Li Jinchuan progressed rapidly, moving from LV3 to LV8 in less than a year. Although he had a foundation built at the Huo Mansion, the speed of such progress was still astonishing.

Of course, Chen Ming had no intention of probing into his secrets.

He asked, "Anything the matter?"

Li Jinchuan respectfully replied, "My elders wish to visit Senior Brother, may I ask when you would be available?"

Chen Ming thought for a moment and said, "How about tomorrow afternoon?"

"Thank you for your time."

After saying this, Li Jinchuan left.

...

Just after Chen Ming had breakfast and was about to go out, a servant came to report, "Second Young Master, an official from the Six Gates requests to see you."

Someone from the Six Gates?

He felt a bit puzzled. Recently he had been abiding by the law, so why would someone from Six Gates come?

"Invite him in."

Soon enough, a familiar face appeared, and it was the same Ninth Grade constable Wang Yangming from last time.

Upon entering, he clasped his hand in greeting, "I heard that Young Master Chen Er broke through to the eighth grade, congratulations!"

"You’re too kind, Officer Wang." Chen Ming returned the gesture, asking, "May I ask what brings you here today?"

"No need for concern, Young Master Chen Er, I simply have a few questions for you."

Hearing this, Chen Ming asked him to sit down, and a servant brought tea.

Wang Yangming said, "Do you know that the city hasn’t been very peaceful lately?"

"Oh?"

Chen Ming asked in confusion, "I haven’t heard about it."

"Have you heard about the recent major event in the East Sea?"

"Are you referring to the clash between the two pirate groups? I’ve heard a bit about it. Haven’t those pirates been fighting for nearly ten years now?"

Wang Yangming said, "This time it’s different, Zheng Kuo was killed by Hong Kou, and now a new pirate king has emerged in the East Sea. Times are changing."

Chen Ming said nothing, knowing he wasn’t finished yet.

Indeed, Wang Yangming continued, "After Zheng Kuo’s death, some surrendered, and others fled. Recently, a portion has arrived at Qingfeng City. These pirates have no regard for the law and consider murder and robbery as daily occurrences. Nobody knows what offense they might commit in Qingfeng City. That’s why I’m here today, hoping that Young Master Chen could keep an eye out for strangers nearby, and if you find any suspicious individuals, you can notify me at Six Gates."

Chen Ming said solemnly, "This is something I am obliged to do."

Wang Yangming took out a stack of portraits, saying, "These are portraits of the pirates who have been wanted for years. Have a look and try to remember them. If you happen to encounter any, notify me immediately."

Chen Ming took the portraits and looked through them one by one.

Since it concerned the city’s safety, he examined them carefully.

Until he saw one portrait, his movements paused.

The person in the portrait looked somewhat familiar, eerily similar to someone he had met not long ago.

Chen Ming’s face remained impassive as he continued to look, and after finishing the rest of the portraits, he returned them to Wang Yangming.

Wang Yangming seemed to casually ask, "Does Young Master Chen recognize Huo Master’s sixth disciple, Bi Haibo?"

"Of course I remember. When I was learning martial arts at Huo Mansion, he was my instructor for four years. Sadly, he passed away young. Who would’ve thought the day I left Huo Mansion would be our farewell?"

"It’s strange, someone recently saw a person on the street who looked exactly like Bi Haibo, who died years ago."

"Is there really such a thing?"

"Perhaps it’s merely a coincidence. If Young Master Chen sees that person, can you distinguish whether he is Bi Haibo?"

"That’s not a given, I haven’t seen Senior Brother Bi for many years."

Wang Yangming sat for a while longer but finding nothing, he bid farewell and left.

Sending him out of the gate, Chen Ming thought, I knew he wouldn’t come without reason.

Unexpectedly, Bi Haibo went and became a pirate.

He recalled Bi Haibo’s appearance, the typical look of someone who lived at sea, tanned with rough skin.

"No wonder Huo Chengkun declared him dead, his direct disciple running off to become a pirate, it would tarnish his reputation and implicate him."

No wonder Zhang Mingyu was so tense seeing Bi Haibo appear, even asking him to keep it secret.

I reckon Huo Chengkun’s disciples all know about this.

...

Unperturbed by this incident, Chen Ming stuck to his plan, preparing to head to Wu Martial Arts Hall to spar with Master Liu.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw Old Li at the gate pushing out a servant-looking person, cursing, "Dare to come again, I’ll break your leg."

While saying this, he spat on the ground.

Chen Ming’s face darkened upon seeing this, walking over and asking in a stern voice, "Old Li, what happened?"

Outside the gate, a servant-looking person lay on the ground, looking aggrieved with a red invitation card in hand.

Seeing him approach, Old Li quickly explained, "Second Young Master, this person is from the Zhang Family, saying the young lady will marry next month, and came to deliver an invitation. Unable to stand it, this old servant scolded him and he dared to talk back..."

Zhang Family?

Seeing his resentful expression, Chen Ming paused for a moment before recalling who the Zhang Family was.

The original’s former fiancée, the family that swiftly unilaterally annulled the engagement after he was imprisoned.

He felt no emotion about it, as these events occurred before he transmigrated. He had no real sense of them.

However, his elder brother was quite resentful over this matter, very angered by the Zhang Family’s heartlessness.

Now that the Zhang family’s daughter was getting married, they dared to come and send an invitation; wasn’t that asking for scolding?

Chen Ming advised, "Even if you’re angry, you shouldn’t curse. People might think we’re bullying others without knowing the situation."

"I’m sorry, Young Master." Old Li quickly apologized.

He still felt aggrieved; this matter was unpleasant for the Chen Family too, and couldn’t be shouted aloud. If people all around heard, it would shame the Second Young Master.

Just as they spoke, Chen Ming suddenly heard a roar, "Zhang Family dares have the face to come, courting death..."

Turning to look, he saw his usually gentle and virtuous sister-in-law storming out, wielding a broom, ready to scuffle.

"Sec...Second Brother..."

Wei Shi abruptly saw Chen Ming standing at the gate, hurriedly bowing her head, hiding the broom behind her, feeling deeply embarrassed.

Chen Ming almost burst into laughter.

Never thought sis-in-law could have such a fierce side.