Betraying Gratitude

"Why were those people so afraid of you?"

After closing the door, Chen Rui could not understand it and could not help asking his younger brother.

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

They had run to their doorstep and knelt to beg forgiveness.

Chen Ming explained, "They weren't afraid of me. They were afraid of Master Huo."

In Qingfeng City, the Giant Tiger Gang was the foremost gang. Other than it, none had amounted to much.

That Old Ghost Xiao from Wanli Gambling House was nothing but lowlife who loaned money at usurious rates. Bullying ordinary people was one thing, but if he provoked a martial artist, he would have been wiped out long ago.

Huo Chengkun was a renowned veteran of Qingfeng City. He had been famous for decades, with seven disciples, all ranked martial artists, and dozens of Disciples-in-Name. Though he had not founded a sect, he was a force no one could ignore.

Old Ghost Xiao probably thought he was Huo Chengkun's Disciple-in-Name. That was why he had been frightened enough to send his men over to carry thorny branches on their backs and beg forgiveness, offering apologies and compensation.

In truth, if he revealed his strength as a martial artist now, he could also make Old Ghost Xiao lower his head.

Chen Rui let out a long breath and said with relief, "Father truly made the right choice when he sent you to Master Huo to learn martial arts."

"But—"

He was still somewhat worried. "Wasn't that a bit too much? We've offended Wanli Gambling House too severely. It'll always be a hidden danger in the future."

He was a businessman and believed in harmony bringing wealth. Seeing his younger brother press them so aggressively just now had truly made him uneasy.

Chen Ming smiled. "Big Brother's lesson is right. Let me think of a way to remove this hidden danger."

Chen Rui relaxed and said, "Right. Ask Wanli Gambling House out for a talk. Once everything is laid out in the open, it'll be fine."

Chen Ming changed the subject and handed over the box in his hand. "Take this money. If it isn't enough, tell me."

Chen Rui did not refuse. There was no need for the two brothers to stand on ceremony.

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

Wei Shi and Chen Lide listened with shining eyes.

Even the wet nurse beside them, who was holding Chen Lirong, wore a proud expression, as though she shared in the honor.

Only when Xiao Hong saw the Eldest Young Master enter did she shut her mouth.

"You may all leave first."

Chen Rui dismissed everyone, leaving only his wife behind. Then he opened the box, took out two heavy silver ingots, placed them before her, and said, "You've worked hard during this time. From now on, you don't need to be so frugal."

Wei Shi stared blankly at the glittering silver in the box. "This... was it sent by those villains?"

"Yes. About a thousand taels."

"Uncle is truly so imposing now." Wei Shi murmured, then asked in confusion, "Then why was he so cowar— at Golden Source Commerce before?"

She had wanted to say "cowardly," but felt too embarrassed to voice it.

Chen Rui was actually puzzled as well. He always felt that after his younger brother entered prison, he had changed greatly.

Of course, they had not interacted much over the past few years. They only met twice a year. In truth, he did not know this younger brother very well.

He reminded her, "Remember this. Never mention the past in front of Erlang."

No matter what, Erlang surely did not wish to recall that unbearable past either.

Wei Shi hugged the two large silver ingots tightly. A full hundred taels. She nodded forcefully. "I understand."

No matter what Uncle had been like before, he was now the pillar holding their household steady.

At this moment, Chen Ming returned to his room, lit an oil lamp on the table, and began thinking about the future.

The first stage of martial cultivation was called the Sinew and Bone Realm. Its mark was the resonant chorus of sinews and bones. Those who reached it were called Ninth Rank martial artists.

He was now more than ten times stronger than before.

Without reaching this realm, one could never imagine how powerful a ranked martial artist was.

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

The Iron Horse Stance had already been cultivated to perfection. There was no room left to advance.

That would not be easy. No family would casually teach such things as cultivation methods.

Given Huo Chengkun's suspicious and cautious nature, he would most likely not accept him either. There were simply too many suspicious points about him. His aptitude was clearly ordinary, yet his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. It was hard not to make people wonder.

After thinking it over and over, he still could not come up with a good solution. He could only take things one step at a time.

However, he still had to keep visiting Huo Manor. He needed to continue farming experience points.

"I should keep my breakthrough quiet for now."

Chen Ming thought to himself.

His main reason for wanting to quickly break through and become a martial artist had been to resolve his family's predicament. Unexpectedly, this incident had happened, bringing him a windfall that should be enough to help his family weather this crisis.

So it was better to keep a low profile.

After making up his mind, Chen Ming blew out the oil lamp and went to bed.

Over the next few days, Chen Ming did not go to Huo Manor. He stayed home to stabilize his realm.

He had only just broken through, and he could not always control the sharpness he gave off. Others could easily notice it. He needed a few days to settle himself.

Meanwhile, at Huo Manor.

In Huo Qianqian's bedchamber, she wore a lake-green outfit suited for martial practice and paced anxiously around the room. Only when she heard the maid Chunmei's footsteps outside did she hurry over to open the door and ask anxiously, "Well? Did he come?"

"No."

Huo Qianqian was deeply disappointed. She sat down on the edge of the bed as though all her strength had drained away, 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 asked, "What happened?"

But Chunmei hesitated, seeming to want to speak but holding back.

"Oh, hurry up and tell me. You're making me frantic."

"Miss, Young Master Wen returned two days ago and even brought you a gift specially. Yet you won't even see him once. Instead, you spend every day asking about another man..."

Chunmei spoke haltingly.

Huo Qianqian was stunned at first, then flew into a rage. "What nonsense are you talking about? You dare make up stories about even me? Are you asking for a beating?"

She raised her hand as though to strike.

Chunmei begged repeatedly, "Miss, I won't dare again..."

How could Huo Qianqian spare her? She smacked her arm several times before finally venting her anger. "Don't ever mention that Wen-surnamed man in front of me again."

"Okay."

Chunmei answered aggrievedly.

"Tell me. What exactly happened at his home?"

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

"Ah—"

While Huo Qianqian was still lost in thought, a voice sounded from outside. "Qianqian, open the door. I came to see you."

Seeing that her mistress had no reaction, Chunmei quietly reminded her, "Seventh Miss Zhang is here."

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

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

Zhang Xinyi was seventeen this year. She was delicate and charming, dressed in an apricot-yellow long gown. After entering, she immediately looped her arm through Huo Qianqian's and asked curiously, "Qianqian, why are you dressed like this?"

"I was about to go practice martial arts. Why have you come?"

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

"So soon?"

Huo Qianqian could not help frowning. "You just broke off your engagement with the Chen Family, and now you're turning around to marry someone else immediately. Is that appropriate?"

Zhang Xinyi said faintly, "A father's command is hard to defy. What can I do?"

Huo Qianqian sneered. "Your father is truly too snobbish. I heard that Chen Ming's father once saved your grandfather's life, which was why your two families arranged this marriage. Then when Chen Ming fell into hardship, you kicked him when he was down and broke off the engagement. Now you can't wait to marry you off to someone else. It truly makes people despise you."

Zhang Xinyi felt a wave of discomfort. Although she knew everything Huo Qianqian said was true, she still could not bear to hear someone criticize her father to her face. She could not help defending him. "My father has his own unavoidable difficulties."

Huo Qianqian was even more disdainful. "Heh, difficulties? Do those two words give him the right to betray gratitude and forsake righteousness?"

"Huo Qianqian!"

Zhang Xinyi grew angry. "How can you speak of my father that way?"

"Hmph. If your father dared to do such a thing, is he afraid of others talking about it? Let me tell you, the Zhang Family will regret this sooner or later."

"You—"

Zhang Xinyi was both hurt and wronged. She had never imagined that this friend would say such ugly things.

She no longer had the face to remain there. Covering her face with one hand, she turned and left.