Ungrateful

"These people... why are they so afraid of you?"

After closing the door, Chen Rui found it hard to understand and couldn't help asking his younger brother.

During the day, they had been so arrogant. Even when they left, they still seemed unconvinced. How could they have become so humble by nightfall?

Running to his doorstep to kneel and beg for forgiveness.

Chen Ming explained, "They're not afraid of me. They're afraid of Master Huo."

In Qingfeng City, the Giant Tiger Gang was the top gang; none of the others had ever amounted to anything.

That Old Ghost Xiao from the Wanli Gambling House was nothing but a lowlife loan shark. Bullying ordinary folks was one thing, but if he ever provoked a martial artist, he'd have been wiped out long ago.

Huo Chengkun was a veteran of Qingfeng City, famous for decades. He had seven disciples, all registered martial artists, and dozens of nominal students. Though he hadn't founded a sect, he was a force no one could ignore.

Old Ghost Xiao probably thought Chen Ming was Huo Chengkun's nominal disciple, which was why he was so terrified that he sent his men to beg for forgiveness and offer compensation.

In truth, if Chen Ming revealed his martial artist strength right now, he could make Old Ghost Xiao bow his head too.

Chen Rui let out a long sigh of relief and said with satisfaction, "Father sending you to learn martial arts from Master Huo back then was truly the right choice."

"But—"

He still had some concerns. "Isn't this going too far? Offending the Wanli Gambling House so badly will always be a hidden threat down the line."

He was a businessman who valued harmony and prosperity. Seeing his brother press so aggressively earlier had genuinely made him uneasy.

Chen Ming smiled. "Eldest Brother's advice is well taken. Let me think of a way to eliminate this threat."

Chen Rui relaxed and said, "Right, just arrange a talk with the Wanli Gambling House. Clear the air, and it'll be fine."

Chen Ming changed the subject and handed the box over. "Take this money. If it's not enough, just tell me."

Chen Rui didn't refuse. Between brothers, there was no need for excessive formality.

When Chen Rui returned to his room, he heard the maid Xiao Hong vividly recounting to his wife how impressive the Second Young Master had been and how those thugs had slapped their own faces.

Wei Shi and Chen Lide listened with shining eyes.

Even the nanny holding Chen Lirong wore a look of shared pride.

Xiao Hong only fell silent when she saw the Eldest Young Master enter.

"You may all leave now."

Chen Rui dismissed everyone until only his wife remained. Then he opened the box, took out two heavy silver ingots, and placed them before her. "You've worked hard these days. No need to be so frugal from now on."

Wei Shi stared at the box of gleaming silver, her eyes fixed on it. "This... did those thugs send it?"

"Mm. About a thousand taels."

"Brother-in-law is really impressive now," Wei Shi murmured, then asked with some confusion, "But why was he so pathetic at Golden Source Commerce before—"

She had meant to say "pathetic" but felt embarrassed to say it.

Chen Rui was also puzzled. He always felt that his brother had changed a lot since leaving the prison.

Of course, they hadn't had much contact in recent years—only meeting twice a year. In truth, he didn't know his younger brother all that well.

He warned her, "Remember, never bring up the past in front of Erlang."

No matter what, that unbearable history was something Erlang surely didn't want to recall.

Wei Shi hugged the two large silver ingots—a full hundred taels—and nodded firmly. "I know."

No matter what her brother-in-law had been before, he was now the family's anchor.

At that moment, Chen Ming returned to his room, lit an oil lamp on the table, and pondered the future.

The first level of martial arts was called the Sinew and Bone Realm, marked by the sound of sinews and bones harmonizing. It was known as the Ninth Rank martial artist.

Now, he was more than ten times stronger than before.

Unless one reached this realm, they could never imagine how powerful a registered martial artist truly was.

"First, I need to find a cultivation method."

The Iron Horse Stance had already been trained to perfection, with no room for further progress.

That wouldn't be easy. Cultivation methods weren't something any family would casually teach.

Given Huo Chengkun's suspicious and cautious nature, he probably wouldn't take Chen Ming in either. The main issue was that Chen Ming had too many suspicious points—his talent was clearly mediocre, yet his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. That would inevitably raise questions.

He thought it over but couldn't come up with a good plan. He'd have to take it step by step.

Still, he had to keep going to Huo Manor to keep farming experience points.

"As for my breakthrough, I'd better keep it quiet for now," Chen Ming thought to himself.

His original reason for wanting to break through quickly as a martial artist was to resolve his family's difficulties. He hadn't expected this incident to bring him a windfall, which should be enough to get them through this crisis.

So it was better to keep a low profile.

Once Chen Ming had made up his mind, he blew out the oil lamp and went to bed.

Over the next few days, Chen Ming didn't go to Huo Manor. He stayed home to stabilize his cultivation level.

The main issue was that he had just broken through, and he couldn't help but let his sharpness show—it was too easy for others to notice. He needed a few days to settle down.

Meanwhile, at Huo Manor.

In Huo Qianqian's boudoir, she was pacing anxiously in a lake-green training outfit. When she heard the footsteps of her maid, Chunmei, approaching outside the door, she hurried over to open it and asked urgently, "Well? Did he come?"

"No."

Huo Qianqian was deeply disappointed. She slumped onto the edge of the bed, her delicate brows tightly furrowed. "Why hasn't he come these past few days?"

Chunmei said softly, "I heard something happened at his home?"

Huo Qianqian immediately perked up. "What happened?"

But Chunmei hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but held back.

"Oh, just tell me already! You're driving me crazy!"

"Miss, Young Master Wen has been back for two days and even brought you a special gift, but you wouldn't even see him. Instead, you spend all day asking about another man..."

Chunmei stammered nervously.

Huo Qianqian was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. "What nonsense are you talking? Are you daring to gossip about me now? Looking for a beating!"

She raised her hand as if to strike.

Chunmei quickly begged for mercy. "Miss, I won't do it again..."

Huo Qianqian wasn't about to let her off easily. She hit her several times on the arm before finally calming down. "Don't ever mention that surname Wen in front of me again."

"Oh."

Chunmei replied, aggrieved.

"Now tell me—what exactly happened at his home?"

"Well... I heard it from others. His family is arranging a marriage for him."

"Ah—"

As Huo Qianqian was still in a daze, a voice came from outside. "Qianqian, open up! I've come to see you!"

Seeing that her mistress didn't react, Chunmei quietly reminded her, "It's Seventh Miss Zhang."

Seventh Miss Zhang, Zhang Xinyi, was Huo Qianqian's close friend. She was also Chen Ming's former fiancée.

Huo Qianqian said softly, "Go open the door."

Zhang Xinyi was seventeen this year, delicate and charming, wearing an apricot-yellow long dress. As soon as she entered the room, she grabbed Huo Qianqian's hand and asked in surprise, "Qianqian, why are you dressed like that?"

"I was planning to practice martial arts. Why are you here?"

Zhang Xinyi said wistfully, "I'm about to get married. I wanted to see you before the wedding."

"So soon?"

Huo Qianqian couldn't help frowning. "You just broke off the engagement with the Chen family, and now you're marrying someone else right away. Is that appropriate?"

Zhang Xinyi said gloomily, "My father's orders are hard to defy. What can I do?"

Huo Qianqian sneered. "Your father is so opportunistic. I heard that back then, Chen Ming's father once saved your grandfather's life, which is why the two families arranged this marriage. But the moment Chen Ming fell on hard times, your family kicked him while he was down and broke off the engagement. Now you're rushing to marry someone else—it's truly disgraceful."

Zhang Xinyi felt a pang of discomfort. She knew Huo Qianqian was speaking the truth, but hearing her father criticized to her face was unbearable. She couldn't help defending him. "My father had no choice. He was forced into it."

Huo Qianqian's disdain deepened. "Ha, forced into it? So that's an excuse to be ungrateful?"

"Huo Qianqian!"

Zhang Xinyi was furious. "How dare you speak of my father that way?"

"Hmph, if your father can do such things, why should he be afraid of others talking? Let me tell you, your Zhang family will regret this sooner or later."

"You—"

Zhang Xinyi was both hurt and wronged. She never expected her close friend to say such harsh words.

She couldn't bear to stay any longer. Covering her face with her hands, she turned and left.