Chapter 19: Three Suns Body Tempering
“...So that’s what happened.”
Following Wen Zehao’s suggestion, Chen Ming explained everything once more to Huo Qianqian, who was standing opposite him.
Huo Qianqian, dressed in a light-blue training outfit, listened expressionlessly, her eyes fixed on a newly budded flower on the nearby tea tree.
Wen Zehao, standing beside her, looked pleased with how she was taking it and seized the moment. “Junior Sister, Chen Ming and I started training here in the same year, and we’ve gotten along very well. Don’t believe anyone else’s slander…”
Still, Huo Qianqian showed no reaction.
Only her maid, Chunmei—who knew her well—realized things were in trouble.
She frantically shot glances at Wen Zehao, urging him to stop talking.
Unfortunately, Wen Zehao saw nothing but Huo Qianqian and ignored everyone else.
Once Chen Ming saw things were out of his hands, he took his leave.
As soon as he left, Huo Qianqian’s cold eyes swept over Wen Zehao. “Wen Zehao, do you take me for a three-year-old?”
Wen Zehao was taken aback. “Where does that even come from?”
“Hmph.”
She turned and walked away.
Chunmei stomped her foot, disappointed, and gave him a glaring look before hurrying after her mistress.
“Junior Sister…”
Wen Zehao called anxiously, but dared not enter the courtyard.
He just watched helplessly from the gate.
...
What an idiot.
Chen Ming hadn’t walked far before hearing Wen Zehao’s aggrieved shouting and thought that to himself.
If the Huo Residence ends up under someone like that, the future won’t be bright.
He shook his head and returned to the training ground.
Then he resumed sparring with the trainees.
System Message: “You have defeated another Level 7 enemy and gained 2 experience points.”
System Message: “You have defeated another Level 8 enemy and gained 2 experience points.”
…
Zhang Mingyu sat in the pavilion, leisurely sipping tea with Fifth Junior Brother.
Every so often he glanced over toward Chen Ming’s direction.
That was why he didn’t object to Chen Ming being the trainees’ sparring partner—it made his life easier.
“Chen Ming does have some talent in boxing,” he commented. “We haven’t seen him in a few days, but his form seems to have improved again.”
He looked over at Hong Mingquan. “What do you think—at his level, would he be qualified to be an instructor?”
Hong Mingquan smiled. “Chen Ming can handle those kids easily; he’s more than qualified to serve as an instructor.”
Zhang Mingyu sipped his tea and tentatively asked, “Junior Brother, if I propose to our Master that he replace me in training these kids… do you think Master would agree?”
“Hard to say. The Master probably won’t let an outsider become an instructor.”
“Sigh.”
Zhang Mingyu let out a soft sigh.
Compared to staying here as an instructor teaching trainees, he longed even more to go out and make a name for himself. But the Master would never allow him to leave.
Naturally, he dared not defy his Master’s orders.
Chen Ming’s presence gave him a glimmer of hope.
Whether it works out or not, at least he had to try.
...
That entire morning, seventeen people came to spar with Chen Ming, gifting him a total of 34 experience points—considerably fewer than before.
The silver lining was that the minimum experience per win had now become 2 points.
He comforted himself with that thought.
In the afternoon, Chen Ming returned to the Deng Residence to spar with Qi Jun and the others.
“You finally made it, Senior Brother Chen…”
Qi Jun and the others were extremely enthusiastic.
Ever since they learned that their big brother was going to take the martial examination, they too had become restless, filled with anticipation, waiting for the day he joined the Six Doors so they could make something great of themselves together.
It was a rare occasion—Deng Ziyang’s eight underlings were all present.
By the time Chen Ming left, he had earned 16 experience points.
Altogether, that made 50 points.
…
Just like that, Chen Ming spent his days sparring with others to earn experience points, and his nights studying that martial art manual.
Life was very fulfilling.
Half a month passed in a flash.
That morning, just at dawn—
In the courtyard stood a line of young boys, around ten years old, arranged from tallest to shortest, wobbling unsteadily as they stood in stance.
Chen Ming held a discipline ruler in his hand, patiently correcting each of their postures.
He said, “Same rule as always. The last three to hold out get malt candy.”
As soon as they heard there was malt candy to be had, several of the little ones began to salivate, determined to win that sweet prize.
After a while, some of them began to falter. Like a chain reaction, several gave up in quick succession.
In the end, only four remained.
Their legs were trembling, but they still clenched their teeth and persevered.
A little later, one of them finally dropped out.
Three remained.
Chen Ming didn’t call for a stop.
What followed was a contest between the final three.
In the end, it was a boy named Li Jian who lasted the longest.
Though his clothes were the poorest in quality, his determination was the strongest.
His family lived in the next alley. His father and elder brother were carpenters.
After receiving his malt candy, Li Jian didn’t tear it open to eat it right away. Instead, he carefully tucked it into his chest.
“Next, I’ll check if any of you were slacking.”
After letting them rest and recover a bit, Chen Ming had them stand firm, then walked over and gave them each a push.
Each push sent a boy tumbling over.
System Message: “You have defeated another Level 0 enemy and gained 2 experience points.”
…
That was precisely why Chen Ming had taken these boys in.
They provided easy experience points.
This system was rigid—so long as he knocked someone down, it counted as a “defeat.”
Each time yielded at least two experience points.
Even if the opponent was just a ten-year-old boy.
These ten boys gave him 20 experience points per day.
Far more effortless than serving as a sparring partner at the Huo Residence.
If someday he took in a hundred students, he’d gain 200 points a day.
Chen Ming figured he’d basically found a way to exploit a bug in the system.
…
Around eight o’clock, the boys left.
It had been agreed from the start—lessons would last an hour each morning.
Then it was time for breakfast.
Chen Ming ate while pulling up his system panel.
Level: 10
Current Points: 960
Cultivation Methods: Iron Horse Stance (Level 5, Perfection), Three Suns Body Tempering (Beginner 2/100)
Martial Skills: Three Talents Fist (Proficient 27/500+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Beginner 55/100+)
“So the unnamed manual is called Three Suns Body Tempering.”
He was delighted.
After spending half a month studying it, he had finally understood the cultivation method just last night.
Next, he could start adding points to boost its proficiency.
After finishing his meal, he returned to his small courtyard and added 100 points.
Level: 10
Current Points: 860
Cultivation Methods: Iron Horse Stance (Level 5 Perfection), Three Suns Body Tempering (Level 1 2/1000)
Martial Skills: Three Talents Fist (Proficient 27/500+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Beginner 55/100+)
Instantly, he felt a surge of heat coursing through his body, as if a mysterious transformation was taking place.
It was subtle, and he couldn’t quite discern its exact effect just yet.
“Weird, the level 1 only requires 1,000 experience points?”
Chen Ming found this a bit strange.
When Iron Horse Stance reached the Level 5, it had needed a full 2,000 points. Why did this one need less after leveling up?
“Looks like there’s still a lot about this system worth studying.”
Suddenly, someone called nervously from outside, “Second Young Master, an officer from the Six Doors is here.”
Someone from the Six Doors?
Chen Ming’s expression sharpened. He acknowledged the call and walked out.
…
In the main hall, a constable wearing a black uniform sat assertively, blade at his waist and eyes sharp.
Though young, the official garb lent him an air of authority.
Chen Rui sat beside him, clearly trying to remain composed, but visibly nervous.
Only when he saw his younger brother enter did he finally relax a little and hurriedly said, “This is Lord Wang from the Six Doors. He says he has some questions for you.”
“I’ll leave you two to talk.”
With that, he left.
Chen Ming studied the constable.
Black uniform—it meant he held the lowest rank in the Six Doors: Ninth Grade.
Even so, he was still an official.
And the old saying went—civilians should never go against officials.
Chen Ming respectfully saluted. “Lord Wang, may I ask what you want to know? I’ll tell you everything I can.”
Wang Mingyang was scrutinizing him as well, not missing a single detail. When he finally spoke, his tone was harsh and aggressive. “Was it you who killed Xiao Lin?”