Chapter 59: Third-Rate
That night, Chen Rui didn’t return home for dinner. He sent someone back with a message saying he had a social engagement.
It wasn’t until the Hour of the Rat (11:00 PM – 1:00 AM) that the rest of the Chen Residence had gone to bed.
Only Chen Ming’s room was still lit.
After advancing to the Seventh Grade, his qi and blood were vigorous—he only needed two hours of sleep each day.
Thus, he was always the first to wake and the last to sleep in the household. His energy was boundless all day long. If this were Earth, he’d practically be a superhuman workhorse.
Just as Chen Ming was about to sleep, he suddenly heard a commotion outside.
“Ah Ming—”
It was his elder brother Chen Rui’s voice.
He sounded drunk.
With a creak, he pushed open the courtyard door and walked in.
Chen Ming opened his door and let him in. Smelling the strong scent of alcohol on him, he asked, “Why did you drink so much?”
After he sat down, Chen Ming poured him a cup of hot tea to sober up.
“I’m happy tonight.”
Chen Rui looked to be in high spirits. His cheeks were flushed, but his eyes remained relatively clear. He said cheerfully, “Do you know who invited me tonight?”
“Who?”
“The Su Family.”
Chen Ming asked casually, “Which Su Family?”
Chen Rui emphasized, “That Su Family.”
That one… which one?
Chen Ming was a little puzzled.
Chen Rui explained, “Su Chaosheng from the Su Family specifically asked Shopkeeper Hao to act as an intermediary and hosted a banquet for me tonight to offer an apology. He said he hadn’t known how ungrateful the Zhang Family was. He swore their Su Family would never marry into such a household. During the day, they already went over to withdraw the marriage proposal…”
Chen Ming finally understood which Su Family it was—the one that had arranged to marry Zhang Xinyi.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
To be honest, he really hadn’t taken the broken engagement to heart and didn’t harbor any thoughts of revenge.
Given the original host’s circumstances at the time, being rejected was only natural.
Whether on Earth or in the Great Jin Dynasty, reality remained the same.
Chen Rui said with some bitterness, “The Zhang Family brought this upon themselves!”
Clearly, the broken engagement had always been a thorn in his side.
“Ah Ming, our father came from humble beginnings. He was a farmer in the countryside. At thirteen, a fellow villager introduced him to an herbal shop in Qingfeng City, where he apprenticed for ten years. After becoming a full-fledged practitioner, he stayed on as a shop assistant and earned the trust of the old shopkeeper.
“One time, while collecting herbs in the mountains, he chanced upon a century-old wild ginseng.
“On his way back, he encountered the Zhang Family’s old master who had fallen gravely ill and was on the brink of death. Our father, out of compassion, used that ginseng to keep the man alive until they could get back to the city for a doctor.”
“It was a great risk he took to save someone. If the shopkeeper had held him accountable, he’d have had to work ten more years to repay the debt. Fortunately, the old master of the Zhang Family was a reasonable man and later visited in person to offer thanks.”
“He even wanted to marry off his youngest daughter to our father, but the shopkeeper beat him to it and made our father his son-in-law.
“Later, that’s how your engagement to Zhang Xinyi came to be—it was a childhood betrothal.”
“Who could have expected the Zhang Family to be so heartless? The moment you hit rock bottom, they rushed over to sever the engagement…”
The more Chen Rui spoke, the angrier he got. “Actually, after the old master of the Zhang Family died, didn’t we already see the Zhang Family’s attitude? With your temperament, even if they hadn’t said anything, you wouldn’t have let their daughter suffer with you. I had planned to discuss with you about officially breaking off the engagement once you got out. Who knew…”
Chen Ming understood his feelings.
At Chen Family’s lowest point, it was the supposedly closest Zhang Family who had kicked them while they were down.
In Chen Rui’s heart, the Zhang Family was probably even more hateful than Jinyuan Prosperity Trading.
He had no intention of pleading on Zhang Xinyi’s behalf.
Back when the Chen Family was at its worst, the Zhang Family broke off the engagement—that was human nature.
Now that his cultivation had soared, and others feared offending him, stepping on the Zhang Family was also human nature.
After calming down a bit, Chen Rui suddenly grabbed his arm and said, “Ah Ming, if you really still have feelings for her, you can take her in, just not as your official wife…”
Chen Ming replied seriously, “Big Brother, I’ve already said, my heart is fully set on training right now. I have no intention of getting married for the time being.”
Chen Rui grew more anxious. “Ah Ming, Father and Mother’s biggest wish is to see us have children and carry on the family line. You’re already twenty-two. How can I not worry?”
Chen Ming laughed heartily. “Don’t worry about that. Seventh Grade is the qi and blood realm—even at seventy or eighty, one’s vitality is still strong. I’ll still be able to marry and have kids then.”
But Chen Rui wasn’t comforted. He gave a bitter smile. “Are we supposed to wait until you’re old and gray? I may not live to see that day.”
“How can you say something so inauspicious? Come on, spit and say it again properly.”
“You…”
That night, the two brothers chatted for a long time, all the way until late into the night.
...
The following morning, an esteemed guest arrived.
The visitor was Lei Zhenguang, the old headmaster of the Sihai Martial School. Chen Ming personally went out to greet him with a smile. “Having the old headmaster grace my humble abode truly brings honor to these shabby walls.”
Lei Zhenguang's voice was like a booming bell as he laughed heartily. “I heard that you’ve broken through to the Seventh Grade, so I came specially to offer my congratulations.”
Previously, he had always addressed Chen Ming as “Young Master,” and looked down on Shangguan Hong for acting overly familiar with younger people despite his age—feeling that such conduct lacked a martial artist’s dignity.
But now, he called Chen Ming “old brother” with great familiarity.
Chen Ming said, “Old headmaster, if you were planning to come, you could’ve given me a heads-up so I could welcome you properly.”
“There’s no need for such formality between us. To be honest, I’ve been in seclusion these past six months. I just emerged yesterday and heard you’d visited me a few times. I felt quite guilty and then heard that you had reached Seventh Grade, so I came specially to congratulate you.”
“So that’s how it is. Please, let’s talk inside.”
Chen Ming invited him into the main hall.
Indeed, he had visited the Wind and Thunder Martial School a few times—not specifically to find Lei Zhenguang, but rather to spar with Lei Yucheng. However, the latter always came up with excuses to decline.
So after a few attempts, Chen Ming had stopped going.
He certainly knew that this old fox’s excuse of “seclusion” was just a pretext, but he didn’t bother to expose it.
In the main hall, Chen Ming took the seat of honor.
Behind him stood two dark-skinned maids as he hosted both Lei Zhenguang and Lei Yucheng, the two generations of schoolmasters.
After tea was served, Lei Zhenguang took two books from his robe and smiled. “I heard you’re quite interested in the techniques of our Wind and Thunder Martial School. These are the Lei Family’s Wind and Thunder Body Refinement and Wind and Thunder Sword Technique. Take them as a congratulatory gift, old brother.”
Chen Ming was sipping tea when he saw the two manuals placed on the table and paused, surprised.
He realized the old man had misunderstood and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Old Headmaster Lei, you’ve misunderstood. I only wished to spar with your grandson, not to covet your martial arts manuals. It’s just a personal hobby of mine—to cross hands with different people so I can examine my own shortcomings.”
“Ah, I see. Then I’ve misjudged a noble man with a petty heart.” Lei Zhenguang shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. He looked at the manuals on the table and said, “Did you know, in the martial world, warriors are generally divided into three ranks?”
“I’d be glad to hear the details.”
“People like us at Seventh Grade are considered third-rate. Sixth to Fourth Grade are second-rate. Only Third Grade and above are considered first-rate. There’s a chasm between each of these levels. Without the appropriate techniques, no amount of training can help you leap across them.”
Lei Zhenguang gave a bitter smile. “My Lei Family has passed down to the third generation with me. I reached Seventh Grade at thirty, and I’d say my talent isn’t bad. But in the more than forty years since, I’ve remained stuck at Seventh Grade, unable to advance. The reason is simple—our family’s martial arts can only take one up to the Seventh Grade.”
As Chen Ming listened, his expression turned serious.
He too was about to face this very bottleneck. The Three Suns Body Tempering Technique had only nine levels—reaching the pinnacle meant reaching the peak of the Seventh Grade.
Where to find the next suitable technique remained a mystery.
This was why, for martial artists, the top priority was to join a faction.
The first choice was, of course, a renowned orthodox sect—but that required great fortune.
The next best option was the Six Doors Authority.
Though it was difficult to earn merit, at least there was hope.
As for serving other factions or noble merchant families, that was the last resort—a path taken when no other was available.
Lei Zhenguang continued, “However, right now, old brother, a golden opportunity has presented itself to you.”
Chen Ming perked up. “I’m all ears, old brother.”
He had finally changed how he addressed the man, switching to the more intimate “old brother.”
A smile finally appeared on Lei Zhenguang’s aged face. “The newly arrived Lord Zhao is known for promoting young talent. Everywhere he goes, he hosts a martial gathering. He invites all local Seventh Grade martial artists under thirty. Those who perform exceptionally are rewarded—be it with divine weapons, personal instruction, or for those from humble backgrounds, even a second-rate martial arts technique. This is your chance, young brother.”