I Only Stomp on Weaklings

After entering the mansion, Chen Ming found it even more desolate inside than outside. Weeds were sprouting from the brick seams, and the large trees in the courtyard were overgrown with vines.

However, one could still vaguely make out the high standards of this place, which was indeed larger and more grandiose than the Admiral’s Mansion he once visited.

The buildings inside looked dilapidated due to years of neglect.

Could anyone really live in such a place?

With this doubt in mind, Chen Ming followed behind Zhou Weihao, continuously walking until they reached the backyard.

After walking for another ten minutes, a neatly groomed courtyard suddenly appeared before them.

The walls had no vines, and the doorway wasn’t covered by various plants. It was as if a barrier existed here to prevent the invasion of plants.

"Elder."

Zhou Weihao walked into the courtyard first, seeing it filled with potted plants growing in an orderly fashion. They seemed to be some kind of flower, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the blooming season, so there was just a sea of green leaves.

A hunched old man was squatting there tending to the plants, utterly oblivious to the two intruders.

Zhou Weihao walked over and stopped a meter away, wearing a fawning expression, and said, "It’s me, Xiaoqi from the Zhou Family. I’ve come to see you again."

The old man still showed no reaction, carefully pulling out a weed from the ground and putting it into a basket on his back. Then he staggered as he stood up and limped inside.

Chen Ming observed from the back, regardless of the angle, this was just a frail, disabled old man, nothing like a venerable master.

Of course, he believed that although Zhou Weihao was sometimes unreliable, he wouldn’t joke about such things. He just stood quietly by.

Zhou Weihao, unwilling to give up, caught up and said, "I’ve brought a friend to meet you today. His name is Chen Ming, he lives in Qingfeng City, and he’s a reliable person. In the future, I’ll have him visit you often."

Chen Ming couldn’t help but glare at him, but he didn’t refute.

The old man limped into the house.

Zhou Weihao didn’t follow him in, he just stood at the doorway waiting.

After a while, two hoes were thrown out from inside, landing at his feet.

Zhou Weihao picked up a hoe, pulled Chen Ming along, and said, "Let’s get to work."

...

That day, Chen Ming followed Zhou Weihao, hoeing the grass in this ruin-like mansion for half a day. They cleared all the weeds around the small courtyard.

They worked until dusk.

Only then did Zhou Weihao lead him back to the small courtyard to return the hoes.

At this time, the old man was sitting under an old tree, playing a mournful tune with two long, thin leaves. One could tell from the melody that this was an old man with many stories.

"Elder, we’re leaving now."

Zhou Weihao pulled Chen Ming away.

It wasn’t until they left through the mansion’s main gate and got on a carriage that Chen Ming expressionlessly said, "So, today you brought me here just to work?"

He, a dignified Seventh Grade Martial Artist, normally gaining hundreds of experience points a day, had actually come here to pull weeds for someone else. Didn’t he deserve an explanation?

Zhou Weihao naturally replied, "Do you think just anyone can get the chance to hoe for this elder? So many people want this opportunity but can’t get it."

Chen Ming said, "Fine, then tell me, what kind of a master is this elder?"

"Have you heard of the Sea Suppression King?"

"Nonsense, who in Qingfeng City doesn’t know of the Sea Suppression King? Don’t tell me that elder is the Sea Suppression King."

"Of course he’s not, but in terms of strength, this elder is above the Sea Suppression King," Zhou Weihao slowly said. "The mansion just now was the former Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion!"

Chen Ming nodded, he had somewhat guessed this point.

After all, aside from the Sea Suppression King of those days, who else could have such a magnificent courtyard, even more imposing than the Admiral’s Mansion?

Zhou Weihao continued, "As everyone knows, back then the Sea Suppression King had five great warriors under him. Of these five, four have left behind remarkable feats: Xu, Li, Wang, and Zhang. But there was one, who remains mysterious; no one knows anything about him, and some even doubt his existence."

Chen Ming understood upon hearing this, "Are you saying this person is the most mysterious warrior under the Sea Suppression King? But how did he survive?"

Reasonably, those who killed the four great warriors of the Sea Suppression King shouldn’t have spared him, leaving a potential threat behind.

Zhou Weihao said, "It’s not that they didn’t want to kill him; they couldn’t. Back then, this person was extremely talented, just a step away from entering the Realm of the Supreme Peak. Alone, with just his sword, he fought against four First Grade experts, killed two, and then left at his leisure. Since then, he’s been missing."

First Grade?

Chen Ming’s eyelid twitched, that frail-looking old man was actually a First Grade expert?

Zhou Weihao gave a sneer and said, "No one would have thought he’d be hiding in the former Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion."

He then introduced the elder’s life, "This elder, surnamed Shang, was from Jiangzhou, born to a humble family running a wine business. He was exceptionally talented, exhibiting extraordinary talent in Sword Dao at a young age. Later, he was introduced to a sect and rose to fame. By the age of thirty, he had reached the Third Grade, becoming a renowned figure."

Chen Ming, upon hearing this, knew there had to be a twist. He was also curious how such a talented individual could end up like this.

Zhou Weihao glanced at him, "Chen, you’re probably wondering why he ended up this way. It all goes back to when he was twenty."

"At that time, Elder Shang wanted to break into the Sixth Grade, so he ventured into Jiangzhou, where he began to shine. Soon, he met a lady surnamed Jiang, Miss Jiang was a great beauty, from a prestigious family. She highly appreciated Elder Shang, helped him out of trouble multiple times, even saving his life. She later helped him get into a sect."

Zhou Weihao sighed, "Imagine, how should a man repay such a deep affection from a beautiful lady?"

As Chen Ming listened, he began to feel something was off.

This story sounds a bit familiar?

Then Zhou Weihao continued, "Not long after, Miss Jiang was granted marriage by the Emperor, and it was impossible to defy the imperial edict. Even if she was unwilling, to avoid implicating her family, she had to marry. By the time Elder Shang got the news and rushed over, it was too late. What’s done is done, what could he do?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He sighed, "I’m sure you guessed it; the man Miss Jiang was to marry was the Sea Suppression King. Later, when the Sea Suppression King was ordered to Qingfeng City to suppress pirates, he encountered significant resistance and frequent assassination attempts, one of which even involved the Princess Consort. By then, Elder Shang had reached the Third Grade. Upon hearing about this, he disguised himself as a gardener at the Prince’s Mansion, to protect the Princess Consort."

"Afterwards, seeing the Princess Consort distressed, and finding out it was because of the trouble the Sea Suppression King was in, he couldn’t help but step in to solve problems for the Prince, just to bring a smile to the lady’s face."

"Later, after the Sea Suppression King had wiped out the pirates, Elder Shang quietly withdrew. Until later, when he heard about the Sea Suppression King’s death, he found it suspicious and rushed to the Capital City, but once again, he was too late. He could only fight his way out with the Princess Consort’s body. After she died, he was disheartened and buried her in the Prince Mansion, spending over twenty years alone accompanying her."

"Sigh, Elder Shang’s deep affection truly is tragic and pathetic."

Chen Ming realized it; this guy had taken him on this long detour, actually hinting at himself.

In Zhou Weihao’s eyes, he and Zhao Xiyan were akin to Elder Shang and Miss Jiang, a mirror image. He was worried that Chen Ming would end up like Elder Shang, hence the introduction today. Taking the opportunity to share their story.

He thought to himself, you’re overthinking it; I’m not that obsessed with love.

Chen Ming said, "If you were Elder Shang, what would you do?"

Zhou Weihao laughed, "Me? I’d have cooked the rice long before, never giving her a chance to marry anyone else. What about you? If it were you, what would you do?"

Chen Ming said, "If it were me, I’d devote myself to training, and once I had enough power, I’d kill all those who wronged her and avenge her."

"What then, after the revenge?"

"Continue training."

Zhou Weihao laughed heartily, "You really are a martial arts fanatic."

PS: Requesting monthly votes.