I Only Stomp on Weaklings

[You defeated an LV38 opponent again, earning 500 experience points]

[You defeated an LV38 opponent again, earning 300 experience points]

[...]

That day, Chen Ming spent his time in the prison of Six Gates, bringing the prisoners from cell B one by one, throwing them a knife, and dueling with each.

The so-called duel was essentially just beating and humiliating.

These prisoners, none of them were without injuries, how could they be his match?

The prisoners one by one were angry but did not dare to voice it.

However, not everyone cooperated.

Among them was a tough one, who, even when hearing the punishment of "solitary confinement," merely sneered, full of disdain.

Chen Ming always respected such tough guys and didn’t make things difficult for him, letting the prison guard take him back.

He then asked a nearby prison guard, "What is this person in for?"

"Murder. It’s said he killed the illegitimate son of Four Seas Trading Company’s owner, sentenced to death, just waiting for execution after autumn."

Four Seas Trading Company, huh.

Chen Ming realized, no wonder this person dared to kill even the son of the owner of Four Seas Trading Company, showing he is a daring person.

In Qingfeng City, those sea merchants are real giants, usually keeping a low profile, but their power is immense. However, their strength lies elsewhere, unlike the Gu Family’s kind of influence.

In terms of influence in officialdom, ten Gu Families cannot match one Four Seas Trading Company.

He asked curiously, "Why did he kill?"

The prison guard said, "I heard it was to stand up for a pair of orphans and a widow. A month ago, that young master wanted to seize their house, so he forged a debt note of her deceased husband to demand money. The woman was fierce, brandishing a kitchen knife ready to risk her life. That young master, angry and embarrassed, was going to kill her publicly. Ding Guangnan couldn’t stand it and stood up for them, beating that young master to death..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming instantly remembered that his sister-in-law had mentioned this at the dining table. It was quite a sensation at the time.

Unexpectedly, the tough guy just now was the main figure.

Chen Ming asked, "What is this Ding Guangnan’s background?"

"He’s from elsewhere, never reported his sect’s name, so we don’t know which sect he’s from. But no matter which sect, after killing the son of Four Seas Trading Company’s owner, is there any way out?"

From the prison guard’s regretful tone, he seemed to feel sympathy for Ding Guangnan.

This was the simple moral concept of the people in this world.

While Chen Ming was thinking, two more prison guards brought in another prisoner. Reading from the file, this person was called Fu Zhengyang, caught just two days ago, said to be from Wanzhou, several thousand miles away from Jiangzhou, making it totally impossible to verify his identity.

As soon as the prisoner arrived, he looked downcast and appeared very cooperative, unlike other prisoners.

Other prisoners either shouted, stayed silent, or showed disdain.

However, this one had no pride typical of a Seventh Grade Martial Artist. He appeared quite honest.

Fu Zhengyang looked about forty years old, with the demeanor of a merchant, although shackled, he wasn’t pierced through the shoulder blades. Upon entering, he bent down, grimaced, and said, "Lord, I’ve already told you everything I needed to, I really am just here visiting relatives..."

Chen Ming waved his hand, interrupting him, "I didn’t call you here this time for that."

Then, he gestured to the prison guard to unlock his shackles.

As usual, he tossed him a knife.

"As long as you can beat me, I’ll let you go. Even if you lose, I’ll give you a meal with extra meat."

Fu Zhengyang, initially timid, upon hearing about the meal, especially the meat, instinctively licked his lips. After hesitating for a few seconds, he steeled himself and picked up the knife from the ground.

He bravely said, "L-Lord, here I come, be careful."

Looking at him, Chen Ming thought, how could he still resemble a martial artist? He wondered how he had managed to reach the seventh grade.

"Come on."

Fu Zhengyang slashed at him with a knife which had some skill, clearly well practiced. However, this person did not really dare to strike him, the aim was way off.

Chen Ming backhanded and knocked the knife from his hand to the ground.

"Ouch."

Fu Zhengyang was startled, retreated a few steps, and quickly said, "Lord, you have high martial arts, I am not your match."

Just as Chen Ming was about to say something, he suddenly noticed a prompt popping up, his eyelids twitched.

[You defeated an LV42 opponent, earning 2200 experience points]

He was surprised, thinking he was mistaken, then upon closer inspection, it was indeed level 42.

According to the system’s level rules, level 40 and above was Sixth Grade.

This person was actually a Sixth Grade expert!

Chen Ming’s heart raced, yet his face remained calm. He called the prison guards back in, told them to re-shackle Fu Zhengyang, and take him back to his cell.

Once that dangerous person was taken away, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing his back was drenched in sweat.

"What a close call—"

Chen Ming felt a wave of fear.

Who could have imagined that a place specifically for imprisoning Seventh Grade Martial Artists actually harbored a Sixth Grade expert? He even unlocked the shackles and wanted to spar with him.

If Fu Zhengyang had the slightest intention to kill, he would likely have met his end today.

Although Seventh Grade and Sixth Grade are only one grade apart, the difference in strength is like a chasm. They are completely on different levels. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

As for why this person wants to hide his true cultivation and how he managed to fool the members of the Six Gates, he really doesn’t care to know.

He only stays away from matters beyond his current level of strength.

...

Throughout the day, Chen Ming sparred with every prisoner in Cell B, totaling nine people, except Ding Guangnan.

He gained a total of 11,550 Experience Points, setting a new record for the highest daily total Experience Points.

This is truly a treasure land.

Chen Ming sparred individually with each person three times, he could say he had squeezed out every bit.

There was no need to hold back when dealing with prisoners here.

By the time he walked out of the prison, it was already afternoon. Before leaving, he took out a hundred taels and handed them to the Prison Chief of Cell B, instructing them to give the nine prisoners extra meals.

The extra meals didn’t need so much money, the remainder was naturally a perk for the Prison Chief. This was a mutual understanding.

...

In the following period, Chen Ming went to the main prison of Six Gates every day, rain or shine.

And unlike the first day when he went empty-handed, he would bring some drinks and food in different forms each day to reward the prison guards.

Building good relations with those in power would certainly bring no harm.

Chen Ming "interrogated" prisoners daily, except he no longer looked for Fu Zhengyang. As for the other eight prisoners, naturally, he would spar with each of them three times a day.

With this, he could earn a fixed 6,300 Experience Points daily.

This opportunity to earn huge Experience Points every day is not something that comes around often.

By the fifth day, new prisoners started getting captured again. Several days later, Cell B already housed thirteen prisoners.

Chen Ming was so engrossed in earning Experience Points daily that he forgot his worries.

However, good days like these won’t last forever.

That morning, Chen Ming, as usual, arrived outside the prison and unexpectedly ran into Chen Yong, "Lord Chen doesn’t need to go catch criminals today?"

Chen Yong’s face looked somewhat displeased, he pulled him aside, "Someone told Captain Yu about your daily visits to the prison. Unfortunately, it’s the prison affairs he’s in charge of. Due to matters concerning Inspector Sun, Captain Yu is quite hostile towards you. In light of the young lady, he won’t pursue it. However, starting tomorrow, they won’t let you enter anymore."

Damn Yu Xiuming!

Remember this.

Chen Ming’s eyes flashed with a cold gleam, his heart boiling with killing intent.

Originally, he neither liked nor disliked Yu Xiuming. But this guy actually meddled in his affairs, cutting off his shortcut to earning Experience Points.

This is a blood feud!

He said, "In any case, thank you for everything these past half month, Lord Chen."

Chen Yong replied, "If thanks are in order, it should be to the young lady."

"Each thanks is separate. I will naturally thank your lady. The care from Lord Chen during this time is also noted in my heart."

These words made Chen Yong quite pleased, and his smile became more sincere. He lowered his voice, "Young sir, there’s no need to worry, Captain Yu is in Qingfeng City to enhance his reputation. In a year or so, he’ll be reassigned. Once he leaves, the young lady naturally has ways to help you enter the prison again."

...

No matter what, he could still earn today, and Chen Ming felt much better.

He carried the drinks and food into the prison and distributed them to the guards.

Then, he had the guards bring the prisoners one by one.

Still following the previous sequence, starting with the three pirates who attacked him.

After rounds, he had someone bring Ding Guangnan over.

Ding Guangnan’s condition was worse than before, with more wounds on his body.

Chen Ming poured a cup of wine and said, "I’ve heard about your story; you’re a true hero, I toast to you."

Ding Guangnan remained still, lying on the ground, whether out of disdain for drinking with a Six Gates lackey or simply exhausted.

Chen Ming wasn’t upset; he drank the wine, then said, "This is my last visit. After today, we may never meet again. Do you have any last words?"

After a while, Ding Guangnan still didn’t respond.

Chen Ming sighed, drank another cup of wine, said no more, and had him sent back to the cell.

Then, he left the prison.

As he stepped out of the gate, he suddenly thought of the concealed cultivation Fu Zhengyang.

There were many stories here, and surely many hidden secrets.