I Only Stomp on Weaklings

"Dear Brother Chen, if you are seeing this letter, it proves that I was not wrong about you. Entrusted by others, loyal to the task, you truly are a gentleman."

"What I am most concerned about are those two disciples; they are both good kids. I owe them a lot. In the future, they will be entrusted to you. Since they have been placed in your hands, you can arrange their futures. As a dead man, I won’t worry about so much."

"The half-book of secrets in the box is precisely the ’Six Yang Qi Cultivation Skill.’ As for why it is in my possession, that requires a detailed explanation from the beginning."

"I was born into the Xu Family, born the same day as the young master, and the madam believed I had a connection with the young master, so she made me the young master’s attendant student. Twenty-nine years ago, when I was twenty, one night a group of men in black suddenly broke in, killing everyone they encountered. The guards in the mansion fought desperately to resist."

"In the chaos, to help the young master escape, the butler had me swap clothes with the young master. Just as the young master left, a skilled fighter broke in and asked if I was the young master from the Xu Family. I thought, I must not bring shame to the Xu Family’s name, so I said, my name remains unchanged wherever I am. I admitted to being him."

"I thought I was doomed, but surprisingly, he didn’t kill me. Instead, he knocked me out and took me away."

"When I woke up, he told me he was Lord Xu’s sworn brother, and upon hearing that the Six Gates were planning to harm his brother’s family, he risked his life to save me."

"At the time, he was severely injured, and his mind was somewhat unclear. I really couldn’t bear to tell him the truth. Later, he entrusted me to Wu Martial Arts Hall, and before leaving, stuffed this half-book into my arms. He told me that only by collecting the ’Fiery Sun Divine Skill’ and cultivating it to the Realm of the Supreme Peak, would I have the power to avenge."

"After giving these instructions, he left, never to be seen again. And I changed my name, becoming the youngest disciple of Master Wu."

"The master had seen the young master and knew I was an impostor. Yet, after he understood the whole story, he still took me in and even wanted to betroth the junior sister to me. His kindness is something I can only repay in my next life."

"After I broke through to the Seventh Grade, I started researching this ’Six Yang Qi Cultivation Skill’ and for twenty years, I couldn’t make any progress. I fear only by first mastering the ’Three Yang Body Forging’ can it be done."

"In my life, I didn’t succeed in martial arts. In trying to save the young master, I instead deprived him of his last chance at life. I failed to meet my master’s expectations, caused discord among my fellow disciples, didn’t take care of the junior sister, and she died far away from home... Someone like me should have died long ago."

"Fortunately, you appeared. Only then did I realize there was a destiny at work, providing a reason why I am still alive today. On our first spar, I noticed you possessed the ’Three Yang Body Refining Skill.’ Back in the day, that was what the young master practiced. So once we fought, I recognized it."

"I tested you a few times and found you really knew nothing about the ’Fiery Sun Divine Skill.’ I decided to pass you the ’Six Yang Qi Cultivation Skill.’"

"However, I hope you will seriously consider it. I once heard the young master say this ’Fiery Sun Divine Skill’ originated from ancient times and has a great background. Later, I thought carefully, the Xu Family’s calamity might have been related to this divine skill. If you practice it, you will be carrying a huge karma. Once you choose this path, there’s no turning back."

"Brother, this cultivation technique is for you; you may dispose of it as you see fit. Whether you practice this divine skill or not, you don’t have to avenge the Xu Family. The sin will be borne by me."

"Brother, your talent, determination, and willpower far surpass mine. In the future, you are destined to become a hero like Lord Xu. I only hope you won’t end up like me, entangled in feelings and wasting your life."

...

The letter was very long.

After Chen Ming finished reading, he remained silent for a long time.

He finally understood why Old Liu was so despondent. It was because he owed too many people.

He owed his young master, he owed his savior, he owed his master...

He was burdened with the Xu Family’s deep blood feud and his master’s earnest expectations, yet he could not fulfill them. He couldn’t even break through to the Sixth Grade, let alone avenge them, and even the senior brothers in the martial hall didn’t accept him. The junior sister dismissed him, and even eloped with someone else...

To him, living was truly painful. If not for those two disciples, he might have ended his life long ago...

At this moment, Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda had already finished digging the pit.

Chen Ming put away the letter and the cultivation technique into his bosom. Then, he placed Old Liu’s most worn clothes and his favorite jar of daughter’s red wine into the pit and buried them.

He took out a dagger and engraved the words "Tomb of Liu Fu" on the tombstone.

Finally, he placed incense, paper, and candles in front of the grave and had the two youths kneel and pay their respects.

Chen Ming took out two cups, poured the wine from his wine pouch into them, spilled one cup on the grave, and drank the other himself.

He silently vowed, dear brother, when I gain fame throughout the world, I will return to toast you once more.

...

On the way back, Chen Ming was silent, looking out of the car window, lost in thought.

Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda dared not ask much.

During the two months they stayed with the Chen Family, it was the most comfortable time in their lives. They had less work, no scolding, meat to eat every day, and a stipend to collect, like a life in paradise.

The only thing was, the Second Master, when supervising their practice, was slightly stricter.

Suddenly, Chen Ming said, "Starting tomorrow, you will add one more hour to your daily cultivation time."

"Ah?"

The two of them looked pained.

Then, he added, "The stipend will be doubled."

"Yes."

The two immediately felt motivated, eager to return and start training. Since childhood, they’ve been used to hardship, and if their monthly stipend could be doubled, what’s an extra hour of practice each day?

Chen Ming had realized that these two belonged to the type with no great ambitions, content with small gains. Just a whip to make them take a few steps forward. To ignite their enthusiasm, silver worked the best.

He had received such a favor from Old Liu, at the very least, he should train Old Liu’s two disciples into talents.

...

Returning home, Chen Ming was informed by the household manager, Old Li, "Second Lord, Young Master Zhou and Young Master Deng have been waiting for half a day."

"Got it."

He sent off Old Liu’s two disciples and returned alone to the backyard, where he found Zhou Weihao and Deng Ziyang engaged in a lively conversation, discussing something quite heatedly.

Over the past month, Zhou Weihao had sought him out for sparring every few days. He had run into Deng Ziyang a few times, and the two quickly became acquainted.

Approaching them, Chen Ming overheard, "...In terms of beauty, naturally Jiangzhou’s Miss Zixue is superior, she’s truly like autumn water for eyes, jade for bones..."

"That’s because you haven’t seen Miss Yu from Tingyin Pavilion, she’s a rare beauty capable of toppling nations with a smile..."

It turned out they were discussing women.

No wonder the two could chat so well together.

As soon as Chen Ming entered the yard, the two red-faced from debating, quickly asked, "Chen, who do you think is more beautiful, Miss Zixue or Miss Yu..."

"Stop."

Seeing them push against each other, Chen Ming quickly stopped them, saying, "I’ve never seen them, how could I judge? Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When a beauty reaches a certain level, it’s hard to tell who is superior, it’s likely they are evenly matched."

Though they were somewhat dissatisfied with his noncommittal response, they had no choice.

Zhou Weihao said, "Next time, I must take you to see Miss Zixue."

Deng Ziyang said, "Unfortunately, Miss Yu has retired from the public eye, joining Prince Langya’s Mansion, making it almost impossible to see her unparalleled beauty again."

Chen Ming had to divert the topic, "Why have you come to see me?"

At last, Zhou Weihao remembered the important matter, saying, "Indeed, a major incident has occurred, the culprits of those attacks have finally been caught. Early this morning, Master Zhao went to interrogate personally."

Chen Ming asked, "Oh? They’ve been caught? Who are the culprits?"

After looking around to ensure no one else was present, Zhou Weihao lowered his voice to say, "The followers of the Longevity Evil Cult."

Chen Ming paled with shock, it truly was the Longevity Sect?

He also lowered his voice, "Is the Longevity Sect really rising from the ashes again?"

"Indeed!"

Zhou Weihao nodded solemnly, "This was spoken by Master Zhao himself. This group belongs to the most merciless and murderous branch of the Longevity Evil Cult, called the Blood Demon Sect. Do you know why they hunt down those noble young masters?"

"What?"

"To refine Human Pills." Zhou Weihao’s face turned incredibly grave, "It is rumored that disciples of the Blood Demon Sect possess a secret technique that can refine a martial artist’s flesh, blood, and energy into a Human Pill. Ordinary people, upon consuming the pill and digesting it, can directly become martial artists."

His voice turned chilling as he continued, "Two Ninth Grade martial artists can be refined into one Ninth Grade Human Pill. Three Eighth Grades can be refined into one Eighth Grade Human Pill. Five Seventh Grades can be refined into one Seventh Grade Human Pill. Because of this, once disciples of the Blood Demon Sect emerge, they will madly hunt martial artists to refine Human Pills."

Chen Ming felt his scalp tingle and exchanged a glance with Deng Ziyang beside him, seeing his face had also turned pale, clearly frightened by Zhou Weihao’s revelations about the Blood Demon Sect.

No wonder the Longevity Sect is labeled a cult, universally condemned and opposed. The Blood Demon Sect’s methods naturally set them against all martial artists in the world.

That the Longevity Sect has not yet been completely eradicated shows how resilient it is.

Concerned, Chen Ming said, "With the Longevity Sect reemerging, I fear the world will become turbulent once more."

Zhou Weihao sighed, "Yes, when Master Zhao reports this matter up, it will surely shake the world." Then he comforted, "In reality, there’s no need to worry too much. Once the Longevity Sect’s men appear, the Celestial Dao Alliance will send disciples over; the Longevity Sect won’t be able to cause much trouble."

Chen Ming nodded, thinking it best not to venture out recently.

Just then, Deng Ziyang suddenly asked, "Yang, have you ever seen disciples from the Celestial Dao Alliance? Are they really as unreasonable as the rumors say?"

Zhou Weihao seemed to recall an unpleasant experience, his face showing both fear and dislike, shaking his head, "Unreasonable is an understatement, they are utterly domineering."

Yet he was unwilling to elaborate, merely saying, "At the very least, Celestial Dao Alliance disciples won’t casually kill people. In this regard, they are far better than the monsters of the Longevity Evil Cult."

PS: Third update requesting monthly votes.