I Only Stomp on Weaklings

On this night, Chen Rui didn’t come home for dinner, and sent someone back to notify that he had social obligations.

Until midnight, everyone else in the Chen Mansion was asleep, only Chen Ming’s room was still lit. After reaching the Peak of Seventh Grade, his Qi-Blood was abundant, so he only needed two hours of sleep each day.

Thus, he was always the first to wake up and the last to sleep at home. His energy was incredibly full all day long. If this were Earth, he would practically be a sacred cow and horse.

Chen Ming was about to go to bed when he suddenly heard noises outside.

"Er Lang—"

It was the voice of his elder brother, Chen Rui, sounding like he had been drinking. With a creak, he pushed open the courtyard gate and came inside.

Chen Ming opened the door and let him in. Upon seeing the smell of alcohol all over him, he remarked, "Why did you drink so much?"

After he sat down, Chen Ming poured him a cup of hot tea to sober up.

"I’m happy today."

Chen Rui seemed in high spirits, his cheeks flushed, but his eyes were still quite lucid. He happily said, "Do you know who invited me tonight?"

"Who?"

"The Su Family."

Chen Ming casually asked, "Which Su Family?"

Chen Rui emphasized, "That Su Family."

That one...which one?

He was somewhat puzzled.

Chen Rui explained, "Su Chaosheng from the Su Family specially asked Manager Hao as an intermediary to invite me tonight and apologize, saying he didn’t know how ungrateful the Zhang Family was, and that their Su Family would never be related by marriage with them. During the day, they already went to break off the engagement..."

Chen Ming finally realized which Su Family it was—the same one that was going to marry Zhang Xinyi.

He found it both amusing and exasperating.

To be honest, he really didn’t take the broken engagement to heart, nor did he harbor any thoughts of revenge. After all, given the original host’s situation at the time, it was normal to have the engagement broken.

Whether on Earth or in Great Jin, the reality was the same.

Chen Rui spoke with resentment, "The Zhang Family is reaping what they sow!"

It was evident that he had been brooding over the broken engagement.

"Er Lang, our father was born into poverty, originally a farmer from the countryside. At the age of thirteen, through local connections, he went to an herbal shop in Qingfeng City as an apprentice for ten years. After mastering his craft, he continued working at the shop, trusted by the old shopkeeper. Once, he went alone to the mountains to gather herbs and accidentally found a century-old ginseng.

"On his way back, he encountered the old patriarch of the Zhang Family, who suddenly fell ill and looked like he wasn’t going to make it. To save him, our father took out the ginseng to keep him alive, just managing to bring him back to the city for treatment and save his life.

"Our father was benevolent, bearing a great responsibility to save a life. If the old shopkeeper had pursued it, he wouldn’t have cleared the debt even after another ten years. Luckily, the old patriarch of the Zhang Family was reasonable and personally thanked our father afterward. He originally wanted to marry his youngest daughter to our father but, in the end, the herbal shop’s old shopkeeper intervened first and took him as a son-in-law.

"Later, that led to your engagement with Zhang Xinyi. It was a childhood arranged marriage. Who would’ve thought, the heartless Zhang Family upon seeing you in trouble, kicked you while you were down, eagerly came to break off the engagement..."

Chen Rui grew angrier as he spoke, "Actually, after the old patriarch passed away, couldn’t we see the attitude of the Zhang Family? With your temperament, if such a thing happened, even if the Zhang Family didn’t say anything, you wouldn’t let Miss Zhang endure hardships with you. I originally thought, that after you returned, we would discuss finding a day to annul the engagement, but who knew..."

Chen Ming could understand his feelings; when the Chen Family was at its lowest, the Zhang Family, supposedly their closest relations, stepped on them. In his heart, they were probably more hateful than Jin Yuansheng.

He had no intention of pleading for Zhang Xinyi.

When the Zhang Family broke off the engagement when the Chen Family was most in distress, it was human nature. Now, as his cultivation grows stronger, others fear offending him; stepping on the Zhang Family is also human nature.

After calming his emotions, Chen Rui suddenly grabbed his arm, saying, "Er Lang, if you really still have affection for her, you could take her in, just not as a principal wife..."

Chen Ming replied seriously, "Brother, I said it before, I’m currently focused on my cultivation and don’t have plans for marriage."

Chen Rui worried even more, "Er Lang, Father and Mother’s greatest wish is to see you and me have children, to expand the Chen Family. You’re already twenty-two, how can I be at ease like this?"

Chen Ming laughed heartily, "Rest assured, the Peak of Seventh Grade is the Qi Blood Realm, even at seventy or eighty, Qi and blood are vigorous, still masculine, and can marry and have children."

Chen Rui wasn’t comforted, but rather smiled bitterly, "Should I wait until you’re old and senile? I might not live to see that day."

"Brother, how can you say such unlucky words? Come, spit on it and say it again."

"You..."

That night, the two brothers talked for a long time, deep into the night.

...

The next morning, a prestigious guest came to visit.

The guest was the Elder Hall Master Lei Zhenguang from the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall; Chen Ming personally went out to greet him, smiling, "Elder Hall Master gracing this humble abode, truly illuminates it with radiance."

Lei Zhenguang, with a voice like thunder, laughed aloud, "I heard that my young friend has broken through to the Seventh Grade, specially came to congratulate you."

Previously, he always referred to Chen Ming as a young master, disdaining Shangguan Hong who, despite his age, fraternized with the younger generation. He felt Shangguan lacked the integrity of a Martial Artist.

Now, however, he was warmly calling him "young friend" at every turn.

Chen Ming said, "If the Elder Hall Master is coming, please give word ahead so I can go out and welcome you."

"Between us, there’s no need for such formality. I must say, I’ve been in seclusion for half a year. I emerged yesterday and heard that my young friend visited me several times. Felt quite apologetic, and upon hearing my young friend has broken through to the Seventh Grade, I specially came to offer congratulations."

"I see, come, let’s talk inside."

Chen Ming invited the guests to the main hall.

He did indeed visit the Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall several times, though not specifically to seek out Lei Zhenguang, more to spar with Lei Yucheng, but the latter kept finding excuses to avoid it.

So after a few attempts, he didn’t go again.

He certainly knew the old fox’s excuse of seclusion was just an excuse, yet didn’t expose it.

In the main hall, Chen Ming sat at the head position, with a pair of dark-skinned maidservants behind him, entertaining Lei Zhenguang and the two generations of hall masters.

After serving the tea, Lei Zhenguang took out two books from his robe, laughing, "I heard you’re quite interested in the martial arts of my Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall. These are the Lei Family’s ’Wind and Thunder Body Forging’ and ’Wind and Thunder Swordsmanship,’ as congratulatory gifts, I offer them to you."

Chen Ming was drinking tea when he saw the two manuals on the table and paused in surprise.

Realizing the other party misunderstood him, he couldn’t help but laugh, "Elder Hall Master Lei has misunderstood. I wanted to spar with your grandson, not out of desire for your Cultivation Techniques. It’s just a personal hobby, I enjoy confronting different opponents to understand my own shortcomings."

"I see. It seems I judged a gentleman by the heart of a small-minded person." Lei Zhenguang shook his head and chuckled self-deprecatingly, looking at the two manuals on the table, "Are you aware that in the martial world, Martial Artists are divided into three tiers?"

"I’d love to hear more."

"Martial Artists like us, in Seventh Grade, are considered third-tier. Sixth Grade to Fourth Grade are second-tier, and Third Grade and above are first-tier. The gap between these tiers is like a chasm. Without the appropriate Cultivation Techniques, no matter how much one practices, they cannot cross this gap."

Lei Zhenguang smiled wryly, "The Lei Family has passed down through three generations to me. At thirty, I reached the Seventh Grade, thinking myself fairly talented. But in the forty plus years since, I’ve remained stuck in the Seventh Grade, unable to make further progress. This is due to the limits of the Lei Family’s Cultivation Techniques, which can only be practiced up to the Seventh Grade."

Listening to this, Chen Ming’s expression turned serious as well.

He was soon to face this same dilemma, as the ’Three Yang Body Refining Technique’ has nine levels, perfecting it only reaches the Peak of Seventh Grade.

Where to find subsequent Cultivation Techniques remains unknown.

For a Martial Artist, the first major task is to join a force.

The best choice would naturally be a prestigious sect, though this requires considerable opportunities.

The next choice is Six Gates; though accomplishments aren’t easily gained, they carry hope.

Joining other forces, serving family merchant firms, is the last resort, with no choice left.

Lei Zhenguang continued, "But right now, there is an excellent opportunity for you."

Chen Ming, excited, asked, "I humbly seek your guidance, elder brother."

He finally changed his address to a more familiar "elder brother."

Lei Zhenguang’s old face finally broke into a smile, "The newly arrived Lord Zhao is known for his encouragement of fledgling talents and hosts gatherings wherever he goes. He invites local Martial Artists under thirty who are of Seventh Grade to participate. Outstanding performers will be given corresponding rewards by Lord Zhao, whether it be a Divine Weapon or personal guidance; for those from humble backgrounds, he may even impart a second-tier Cultivation Technique. This, my young friend, is your opportunity."

PS: It’s the end of the month, seeking monthly votes to hit the new book charts.