Chapter 36: Command
“Second Young Master, the Eldest Young Master wants to see you.”
At that moment, Chunxiang came to report.
After a year of recovery, she no longer looked as thin as before. Her complexion had improved significantly, though her skin was still dark. It was unclear whether it was naturally that way, or if it was due to the daily martial training under the sun.
Chen Ming said to Deng Ziyang, “Please excuse me for a moment.”
Deng Ziyang smiled and replied, “No need to host us. Go take care of your matters.”
Chen Ming followed Chunxiang out of the small courtyard and only then learned that an esteemed guest had arrived, and his elder brother had asked him to help with the reception.
The visitors were several registered disciples of Huo Chengkun.
He walked over with a smile to welcome them. “Senior Brother Gu, Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Li, your presence truly brings glory to this humble abode.”
Leading the group, Gu Junrong presented a congratulatory gift. “Congratulations on your new residence, Junior Brother. We came specially to offer our well wishes.”
The other two also handed over their gifts and offered auspicious words.
After expressing his thanks, Chen Ming accepted the gifts and invited the three into the main hall, personally accompanying them.
After that, guests continued to arrive one after another.
The two brothers were busy receiving them all, their faces nearly frozen from smiling.
Over the past year, Chen Ming had indeed expanded his network of friends.
The pharmacy business kept growing, and Chen Rui had also gained many contacts in the world of commerce.
The number of visitors was enormous.
...
After a whole day of hustle, the sky finally darkened, and all the guests were seen off.
Only those few “fellow disciples” remained.
Chen Ming still had to go keep them company. “Senior Brothers, I truly apologize for the neglect.”
Gu Junrong smiled. “No need to be so formal among fellow disciples.”
Wang Mingkai gave a “heh” and said in a strange tone, “Senior Brother Sun didn’t send anyone to offer congratulations?”
Chen Ming understood he was referring to Sun Shicai and responded indifferently, “Senior Brother Sun is a busy man.”
After all, the invitation had been delivered, and he had fulfilled the formalities.
Now, the registered disciples of the Huo Residence had split into two factions.
One was led by Sun Shicai, the other by Zhang Mingyu.
Among Huo Chengkun’s personal disciples, the only ones still alive were the third disciple Zhang Mingyu, the fourth disciple Sun Shicai, and the seventh disciple Wen Zehao.
Wen Zehao hadn’t gone to Xiaoshui that day.
In the eyes of many, this was considered unfilial, and he was no longer acknowledged as part of the Huo Residence.
Of course, this also meant he managed to keep his life.
Sun Shicai didn’t go either, but he had a reason—he was injured at the time.
Moreover, as a patrol envoy of the Six Doors, there were naturally many who wished to curry favor with him.
There were also quite a few who disapproved of Sun Shicai, and they naturally aligned themselves with Zhang Mingyu.
Although Zhang was senior, his cultivation was inferior to Sun’s and he held no official position, but he stood for righteousness.
According to the succession order, Zhang Mingyu naturally became the inheritor of Huo Chengkun’s legacy in the martial world.
Chen Ming had earned the goodwill of many through his benevolent support of Hong Mingquan’s widow and child. His relationship with Zhang Mingyu was quite good, so he naturally leaned toward Zhang’s faction.
Of course, he didn’t go out of his way to offend Sun Shicai either. He never neglected any of the formal courtesies.
Though the Huo Residence had split into two factions, there was no direct conflict between them.
They maintained a facade of harmony.
Chen Ming soon steered the conversation toward martial arts.
The three of them became focused, each bringing up the difficulties they had encountered during their daily training, and Chen Ming shared his insights and experiences.
Rather than a discussion, it was more like instruction.
He only referred to it as “discussion” out of courtesy for their egos.
After this exchange of ideas on martial arts, all three felt they had gained greatly, their doubts completely resolved.
Gu Junrong remarked with emotion, “Junior Brother Chen’s talent in martial arts may not be inferior to Senior Brother Sun’s. What a pity... even Master had moments of oversight. He actually missed out on a prodigy like you.”
His tone was full of regret.
Wang Mingkai gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “Junior Brother holds nothing back, yet we as senior brothers need to rely on him for guidance. It’s truly embarrassing.”
Gu Junrong and Li Qingchang both flushed with shame upon hearing that.
Chen Ming said solemnly, “We are all fellow disciples. There’s no need for such formality. Now that Master is no longer with us, we should unite and forge ahead together, so as not to tarnish the reputation of our school.”
The three of them were somewhat shaken.
Wang Mingkai felt ashamed. “Heh, Junior Brother’s rebuke is warranted. I was narrow-minded and spoke out of turn. I’ll punish myself with three cups.”
As he spoke, he downed three cups in a row.
Chen Ming drank with him.
These three “Senior Brothers” were the ones Chen Ming was closest with among Huo Chengkun’s many disciples.
It was just a pity that they clung to their seniority and were always unwilling to spar with him.
To put it bluntly, they were afraid of losing, and it would be too humiliating.
From them, Chen Ming had come to understand what it meant that “a man lives for his face.”
Having been around the martial world, they weren’t as straightforward as Deng Ziyang and the other young men.
They had too many concerns and would not easily engage in combat with others.
Because once they lost, their reputation would take a severe hit, and even their market value would plummet.
All three of them now served as security captains for trading firms, each commanding over a dozen subordinates. If word got out that they were defeated by a junior, who would still hire them as guards?
Chen Ming felt helpless.
Over the past ten months, martial artists willing to spar with him were few and far between.
It seemed that the path of making friends widely wouldn’t work out.
The four of them were drinking heartily when suddenly, Chunxiang’s anxious voice came from outside, “...Young Master, please allow this maid to go and report first...”
Judging from the sounds, someone had forced their way in.
Wang Mingkai, being hot-tempered and now also drunk, immediately became furious. “Who’s the blind fool? Coming here to cause trouble?”
At that moment, the person had already barged into the courtyard.
Chen Ming recognized him at a glance and said with some surprise, “Senior Brother Cai?”
Chunxiang looked aggrieved. “Second Young Master, he...”
He waved his hand, signaling her to retreat.
When Wang Mingkai saw it was Cai Zhonglin, his face filled with disgust. “Yo, isn’t this Cai from Senior Brother Sun’s side? What a rare visitor.”
Cai Zhonglin, upon seeing Wang Mingkai the mad dog, looked annoyed as well but did not want to waste words.
Arguing with him would lower his status.
He turned to Chen Ming and said, “Chen Ming, I came here specifically to find you. Fourth Senior Brother asked me to deliver a message.”
Chen Ming was quite curious. What did Sun Shicai want this late at night?
He asked politely, “May I ask what instructions Senior Brother Sun has?”
Cai Zhonglin’s gaze swept across Wang Mingkai and the others.
“Feel free to speak. We’re all fellow disciples—there’s no need to hide anything from them.”
Cai Zhonglin cleared his throat and said, “Today, someone from the Martial Arts School Guild filed a complaint with Fourth Senior Brother, saying that you opened a martial school and accepted disciples without their approval. Is this true?”
So that was what this was about.
Chen Ming understood now and replied calmly, “I merely offered some martial enlightenment to a few ten-year-old children. It’s not exactly opening a school...”
“So you admit it!” Cai Zhonglin impatiently interrupted him. “Dismiss them immediately. No more accepting disciples in the future. That’s an order from Fourth Senior Brother—”
Wang Mingkai gave a cold laugh. “Senior Brother Sun sure throws his weight around. Giving out orders now? What authority does he have to command Junior Brother Chen? As a patrol envoy of the Six Doors, this doesn’t fall under his jurisdiction. Don’t go waving a feather duster like it’s an imperial decree.”
“You—”
Cai Zhonglin, furious at the insult to his senior brother, glared angrily but managed to suppress it. Instead, he stared at Chen Ming. “Chen Ming, you better think it through. If you disobey, and trouble comes your way, Fourth Senior Brother won’t care whether you live or die.”
Chen Ming replied coolly, “No need for Senior Brother Sun to worry about that. Are you done speaking?”
“Hmph! Ignorant fool.”
Seeing his attitude, Cai Zhonglin stormed off immediately.
“Hahaha… now that was satisfying!”
Wang Mingkai laughed heartily. “Junior Brother Chen may seem gentle and mild, but I didn’t expect him to be a man of such backbone. Right up my alley.”
Gu Junrong couldn’t help but chide, “That foul mouth of yours never knows when to stop. Now Junior Brother Chen has thoroughly offended Cai Zhonglin. He’s bound to exaggerate things to Sun Shicai. That’s quite a grudge to make.”
Li Qingchang also said worriedly, “The Martial Arts School Guild isn’t to be trifled with. For anyone opening a martial school without approval, they’ve always either crippled or killed them. They spared you only out of respect for Senior Brother Sun. If he washes his hands of it, you’re in real danger.”
Even Wang Mingkai fell silent. He understood the severity of the situation.
Chen Ming smiled. “Don’t worry, I have my own way of handling this.”
He glanced at the panel, confidence swelling within him.
【Level: 20】
【Current Points: 3923】
【Techniques: Iron Horse Stance (Fifth Level Perfection), Three Suns Body Tempering (Fourth Level 4/10000)】
【Martial Skills: Three Talents Fist (Proficient 55/500+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Advanced), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Advanced), Swallow Returns Sword Technique (Proficient 55/10000)】
At this moment, he had already reached the Eighth Grade cultivation level!