I Only Stomp on Weaklings

"Junior Brother, this is truly a huge surprise."

After the initial shock, Zhang Mingyu was filled with immense joy, standing up excitedly and pacing back and forth in the courtyard. He could already foresee the immense reputation this news would bring to their sect once it spread.

Two people in the sect had simultaneously broken through to the seventh grade, and both were so young.

He had previously felt the heavy burden on his shoulders and was anxious. At this moment, all his worries vanished completely.

With himself and Chen Ming around, who would dare to underestimate the Huo Sect?

Yang Zhidong wanted to say a few congratulatory words but found himself unable to utter "Junior Brother."

This was a seventh grade at twenty-two years old. If such talent were born into a prominent family or joined a famous sect, the achievements would be unimaginable...

In the end, he could only echo, "Yes, it’s truly impressive."

To break through from the eighth grade to the seventh in just over half a year, this was beyond what mere words like "impressive" could describe.

...

The news that Huo Chengkun’s two disciples had broken through to the seventh grade spread through the city like wildfire, becoming the most talked-about event besides Admiral Zhao entering the city.

The following morning, people came with gifts to congratulate them.

Initially, Old Li at the gatehouse was baffled, as these people claimed they were there to congratulate the Second Young Master on breaking through to the seventh grade, and he repeatedly insisted that they must have gotten it wrong.

How could he not know about his young master’s breakthrough?

After sending away two groups of people, when a third wave came knocking, Old Li began to have doubts and hesitated before rushing to find the Second Young Master.

"Second Young Master, there are people outside asking to see you, saying they’re here to congratulate you on your breakthrough to the seventh grade. What do you think...?"

Then, Chen Ming said, "If they are not acquaintances, just send them away, saying it’s inconvenient for me to meet guests."

Old Li exclaimed with joy, "So, Young Master, you really are at the seventh grade?"

"Yes."

Upon receiving confirmation, Old Li felt like he was walking on air; the Second Young Master was actually at the seventh grade?

Despite the excitement, he felt a little resentful that even the family hadn’t been informed and had to hear it from outsiders.

Oh, the eldest young master probably still doesn’t know...

Old Li knew this was a tremendous joy for the family, and after sending the visitors away, he immediately sent someone to the pharmacy to fetch the eldest young master.

...

"Er Lang, you... you really are at the seventh grade?"

Chen Rui burst into Chen Ming’s small courtyard with no regard for his image, breathless and slightly disheveled. His emotions were visibly intense.

"It’s true." Seeing him so excited, Chen Ming explained, "I got back too late last night, and you were already asleep, so I thought I’d tell you when you returned home today..."

"Seventh grade... Our Chen Family actually produced a seventh-grade martial artist..."

Caught in his own excitement upon Chen Ming’s acknowledgment, Chen Rui struggled to form coherent sentences.

He knew Er Lang would eventually advance to the seventh grade but didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. How long has it been?

Eight months, only eight months.

Right, I must first inform our parents’ spirits in heaven about this good news...

Chen Rui turned and left, preparing to burn incense in prayer before their parents’ memorial tablets.

Watching his elder brother’s hurried departure, Chen Ming knew perfectly well what he intended to do; this elder brother truly was a devoted son.

Soon, the whole family received the news, and everyone came to congratulate him.

Notably, his sister-in-law, Mrs. Wei, was all smiles, asking him what delicacies he wished to have, and offered to cook them herself.

...

One family’s joy is another’s sorrow.

While the Chen Family was in high spirits, on the other side, the Su Family was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere.

The Su Family was in the wine business, operating a winery with ancestral brewing techniques passed down for generations, making them a wealthy family.

The current head of the family, Su Chaosheng, was a shrewd businessman who had just closed a major deal and was ready to invest in expanding the winery. In a few years, the output could double.

To his dismay, early in the morning, he heard troubling news.

Su Chaosheng, at forty-nine and well-preserved, looked noticeably grim, "Are you sure you heard correctly? Is it that Chen Ming who broke through to the seventh grade?"

The steward standing before him replied, "No mistake. Among Huo Chengkun’s disciples, only three were originally at the eighth grade, and there’s only one named Chen Ming. Master, regarding the young master’s marriage..."

Su Chaosheng’s face twitched, gripping the armrest tightly, his eyes dark.

He had underestimated Chen Ming after all...

This name first reached his ears half a year ago.

It was then he learned that the Zhang Family girl, whom his only son adored, had once been engaged. This martial artist named Chen Ming was not yet twenty-one and already at the eighth grade.

Back then, Su Chaosheng was furious, scolding his wife and son who had deliberately concealed this. But with the situation set in motion and his son desperate to marry the girl, there was no way to change it.

In the end, he had no choice but to accept it grudgingly.

An eighth grade was still not enough to pose a threat to the Su Family.

However, in just half a year, Chen Ming broke through to the seventh grade.

Admittedly, even at the seventh grade, he still posed no threat to the Su Family.

The problem was that Chen Ming was only twenty-two years old, and that’s what was so daunting!

Thinking of this, Su Chaosheng felt a chill down his spine, uneasy and restless.

At this moment, the steward quietly reminded, "After being rejected in marriage, many sought to propose to Chen Ming, yet he found none to his liking. Perhaps, his feelings for Miss Zhang linger..."

Su Chaosheng’s scalp tingled at the thought. It was as if he could envision Chen Ming, with his martial prowess perfected in ten years’ time, recalling the humiliation of the broken engagement, destroying the Su Family with a few words...

"Hiss—"

Su Chaosheng inhaled sharply, making a decision, "Go, bring Chang’Er here."

"Yes."

Shortly after, the steward brought Su Family’s only son, Su Youchang, over.

"Father, you wanted to see me? Is it about my marriage?"

Su Youchang was beaming with joy, about to marry the beauty he longed for.

His marriage to Zhang Xinyi had been tumultuous. Without the unexpected incident six months ago, they would have long been wed. Why else would it drag on until now?

Raising his head, he was met with his father’s grim expression and his heart sank, "Father, you..."

Su Chaosheng spoke coldly, "I have inquired. Years ago, the Chen Family saved Old Master Zhang’s life, and the two families made a marriage pact. After Old Master Zhang and the Chen Family’s elders passed away, the Zhang Family committed the disgraceful act of breaking the engagement. How can our Su Family ally ourselves through marriage with such ingrates? This marital arrangement is hereby annulled. I will arrange for someone to withdraw the proposal from the Zhang Family."

Su Youchang was utterly staggered as if hit with a hammer, unable to fathom why his father had suddenly reversed his stance, blurting, "Father, you can’t annul the engagement... you mustn’t..."

"Someone come here."

Su Chaosheng hardened his resolve, calling on the family servants, "Confine this rebellious son to his room. Without my orders, he is not to be let out."

Thus, several servants stepped forward, lifting Su Youchang to carry him toward the rear courtyard.

"Let me go... Father... you promised I could marry her..."

"Father... I will marry no one else but her in this life..."

"..."

Hearing his son’s cries of utter despair, Su Chaosheng’s temples throbbed, and he gritted his teeth, declaring, "This unfilial son!"

A moment later, his wife rushed over at the commotion, "What happened, Husband? Why are you locking up Chang’Er all of a sudden?"

"It’s your pampering!"

Su Chaosheng scolded his wife, "An indulgent mother spoils the child. Speak another word, and I’ll divorce you."

His wife had never seen him this furious and turned pale with fright, unable to voice a single word.

...

The Su Family acted swiftly, sending a representative to the Zhang Family before noon to annul the engagement, even refusing the return of the betrothal gifts as if avoiding a plague.

In the back courtyard.

"Miss, something terrible has happened..."

In the pavilion, Zhang Xinyi was embroidering when she suddenly heard her maid rushing over in a panic, making her inexplicably uneasy. Distracted, she pricked her finger with the needle.

Seemingly unfazed, she merely asked, "What’s happened?"

"That Su Family... the Su Family..." The maid couldn’t finish her sentence before breaking into tears, "They’ve come to annul the engagement... Ah... Miss, what do we do?"

Zhang Xinyi’s heart clenched tightly, her mind buzzing, as if she could no longer hear anything.