Chapter 51: The Origin of the Aristocratic Family
“Brother Chen Ming.”
Chen Ming’s carriage had just gone a short distance when he heard someone calling out to him.
Lifting the curtain, he saw a familiar face.
“Master Liu?”
It was indeed Master Liu of the Wu Martial Hall.
He asked the coachman to stop and let Master Liu into the carriage.
Once the carriage started moving again, Master Liu looked at him with a strange expression. “Brother, you’re just leaving like this?”
Chen Ming shook his head and said, “A gentleman does not stand beside a crumbling wall. With Fourth Grade experts fighting, it's better to stay far away.”
Master Liu suddenly burst out laughing. “Looks like you truly have no idea.”
“Oh?”
He was a bit surprised.
Could there be more to this matter?
“I hope Master can enlighten me.”
Master Liu stroked his half-white beard. “Have you ever thought about why, in Qingfeng Commandery, the Gu Family is considered the number one aristocratic family? In terms of strength, wealth, and influence, the Gu Family falls far behind those seven maritime merchant families.”
“Is it because the Gu Family has a longer lineage?”
“Of course not. In fact, there’s an unspoken rule throughout all dynasties: only families that have produced Third Grade or higher martial artists are qualified to be called an aristocratic family.”
There was such a saying?
Chen Ming asked, “Why is that, Master?”
Master Liu looked at him even more strangely. “You don’t even know such a common fact? The one who taught you martial arts didn’t tell you?”
The implication was clear: he believed Chen Ming had a master teaching him martial arts.
Chen Ming replied sincerely, “I humbly ask for your guidance, Master.”
Master Liu was only surprised and didn’t press further. He said, “Because a Third Grade martial artist is beyond what ordinary people can contend with. Without another of the same level to hold them back, no matter how many men surround them, they can fight if they wish and leave as they please. On ancient battlefields, such a person was a match for ten thousand.”
“There are countless martial arts manuals in this world, but only those that can be cultivated to Third Grade or higher are called true martial arts.”
“The Gu Family once produced a Third Grade martial artist, so naturally, they have a true art passed down. Otherwise, do you really think those Fourth Grade pirates would personally attack the Gu Family over mere gold and silver?”
Chen Ming suddenly understood.
So those pirates had raided the Gu Family for the sake of that true martial art.
That explained why the Four Seas Trading Company had suddenly gathered all the martial artists in the city, joined forces with the Six Doors, and even brought in two sea generals under the Red Sea Lord—all for the true art held by those three Flood Dragon Kings.
“I see. Thank you, Master, for clearing up my confusion.”
Master Liu looked at him. “What, you’re not tempted by the true martial arts manual?”
Chen Ming chuckled. “I’m just a mere Eight Grade martial artist. Do I dare dream of stealing a martial art from a Fourth Grade expert?”
Master Liu said, “Few people in this world are as clear-headed as you.”
“Isn’t Master Liu the same?”
“I’m half in the grave already. What use do I have for a true martial art?”
Chen Ming noticed the brief flash of sorrow on his face and guessed that he must have suffered some misfortune to become so dispirited.
He said, “Greed clouds judgment—this has always been true.”
Master Liu pulled a leather wine pouch from his chest, unplugged the cork, took a sip, and said, “Speaking of true martial arts, I’m reminded of an old story.”
“Thirty years ago, the Sea-Calming King came to Qingfeng City by imperial decree to eliminate the Ocean-Overturning Dragon King. At the time, six major maritime merchants monopolized the shipping trade in Qingfeng City. These merchants were exceedingly extravagant—everything about their lives screamed wealth and luxury.”
“Coincidentally, the Sea-Calming King lacked ships and military supplies. So, he arrested the leaders of the six merchant families and forced them to pay ransom. It’s said he extorted tens of millions of taels of silver from them. With that money, he bought ships and recruited soldiers, and within a few short years, he wiped out the Ocean-Overturning Dragon King.”
Chen Ming finally understood why the current seven maritime merchant families kept such a low profile.
Turns out they had flaunted their wealth too much thirty years ago and were harvested like ripe crops.
Once bitten by a snake, one fears even a rope for ten years.
Master Liu continued, “Unfortunately, the Sea-Calming King made too many enemies because of it. The people behind those six merchants hated him to death. A few years later, he died mysteriously.”
“His former subordinates were also purged. One of them, a man surnamed Xu, was a deputy who stayed in Qingfeng City. He was a Third Grade expert but was arrested by experts from the Six Doors and escorted to the capital, where he soon died in prison.”
“His family disappeared overnight as well. Some say they fled to the countryside. Others say they were abducted, just so someone could extract the true martial art from them.”
Master Liu sighed, “Back then, I was about your age. I once saw Lord Xu’s presence firsthand. He practiced a technique called the Blazing Sun Divine Art. When he circulated his energy, he looked like a blazing sun—like a god or demon.”
“It’s said the Blazing Sun Divine Art has three parts: Three Suns Body Tempering, Six Suns Qi Nurturing, and Nine Suns Divine Containment. Sadly, after Lord Xu’s death, the technique was never seen again.”
Chen Ming had been listening with interest, but when he heard “Three Suns Body Tempering,” his smile almost froze.
Fortunately, Master Liu was gazing out the window, seemingly reminiscing, and didn’t notice his reaction.
He quickly regained his composure and asked tentatively, “Master seems quite familiar with Lord Xu?”
Master Liu replied, “All just hearsay.”
Like hell it was.
He even knew the three parts of that divine art by name. If he had no connection with the Xu family, that would be truly odd.
While thinking this, Chen Ming changed the subject. “Master, who do you think will win this battle?”
Master Liu sighed, “I don’t know who will win, but I fear many will die again this time.”
His gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, returning to Qingfeng City thirty years ago—where blades flashed, corpses piled high, and blood stained the rivers.
Now, thirty years later, the same scene was playing out once more in Qingfeng City.
He seemed to think of something and suddenly snorted coldly. “After the Sea-Calming King died, those merchants feared another figure like him would emerge. So, they bribed court officials with silver, ensuring that the highest-ranking Six Doors officer in Qingfeng City would only be a Fifth Grade Commandant. From then on, Qingfeng City has had no resident Third Grade expert. The disaster Qingfeng City faces today is the karma created by those merchants.”
Chen Ming timely steered the conversation away. “Qingfeng City will probably be in chaos for a while. Does Master have any plans?”
Master Liu said, “Naturally, I’ll shut my doors tight. With so many wealthy households in the city, I doubt those pirates would be interested in my shabby martial hall.”
Chen Ming extended an invitation. “Why not bring your disciples to stay at my place for a while? That way, even if pirates come, the two of us together can protect them.”
Master Liu fell silent, simply staring at him.
Chen Ming looked at him earnestly.
“If you don’t mind these old bones of mine, then I have no objections.”