Sworn Brotherhood

Not marrying?

Chen Ming was stunned, his head full of question marks. He looked at Zhang Mingyu and saw that he didn't seem to be joking—and figured he wouldn't joke about something like this anyway.

He glanced at Hong Mingquan, whose grave expression confirmed it was true.

Chen Ming couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath. This young lady was truly willful, suddenly deciding not to marry, and only informing them on the very day the groom's family came to present the betrothal gifts.

He almost felt sorry for Wen Zehao.

For a moment, he didn't know how to react. After a pause, he muttered quietly, "How... how did this happen?"

Hong Mingquan grimaced. "Who knows what Little Junior Sister was thinking? One sentence—'I won't marry'—and she nearly drove Master to death. It was the first time I've seen him that angry. That slap almost landed..."

Zhang Mingyu said, "I think Little Junior Sister probably has someone else in her heart."

Hong Mingquan was startled. He looked up and glanced around, making sure none of the trainees were looking their way, then complained, "Third Senior Brother, you can't just say things like that."

"Come on, we all know it deep down. Little Junior Sister never opposed this marriage before. When we teased her about it, she'd just blush shyly. Why would she suddenly refuse to marry? She must have someone else she likes."

"You can't say that. Little Junior Sister has been arguing with Seventh Junior Brother these past few days. She's just throwing a tantrum."

Zhang Mingyu shook his head firmly. "Little Junior Sister may be a bit willful, but she's not that unreasonable. She wouldn't gamble with something as serious as marriage."

Hong Mingquan still didn't believe it. "How is that possible? In terms of looks and character, there are hardly a few in all of Qingfeng City who can compare to Seventh Junior Brother. How could Little Junior Sister take a liking to someone else?"

"Why not? Chen Ming isn't bad. Maybe the one she likes is him."

Chen Ming was startled by his words. "Don't say things like that. It could get someone killed."

Zhang Mingyu laughed heartily. "Just joking. Look how scared you got."

"You can't joke about that. If it gets back to Senior Brother Wen, won't he hate me to death?"

"That's true. If Seventh Junior Brother finds out who Little Junior Sister's heart belongs to, he'll definitely kill someone."

"Fifth Senior Brother, keep your voice down..."

"Qian'er, be honest with Grandpa. Have you taken a liking to someone?"

In Huo Qianqian's boudoir, Huo Chengkun sat in the outer room and finally asked the question.

"No."

Huo Qianqian was lying face down on the bed and replied stiffly.

"Then why did you suddenly refuse to marry Old Seventh?"

"I just won't marry him. If you force me, I'll die in front of you. If my parents were still here, they wouldn't force me... waaah..."

Huo Chengkun heard his granddaughter's crying and felt a headache coming on.

He knew she was faking it, but he still couldn't harden his heart. The fault was his—he hadn't taught her well when she was young, spoiling her too much and letting her develop this kind of temperament.

Ever since she was little, every time she cried like that, saying she had no father or mother, his heart would soften, and he'd give in to whatever she wanted.

But this time, he wouldn't give in so easily.

If she was this willful about marriage now, what would become of her later?

As long as he was still around, he could protect his granddaughter.

But what about when he was no longer in this world?

So, he decided to steel his heart and said, "Qian'er, if you don't want to marry, that's fine. But you have to agree to one condition."

The crying on the bed stopped immediately. "What condition?"

"If you can reach the rank within a year, then whether you marry or not in the future is up to you. If you can't, then you'll follow Grandpa's arrangements and marry obediently."

The bead curtain was pushed aside, and Huo Qianqian, with her hair disheveled, walked out. "I agree."

Huo Chengkun extended his hand. "Clap on it as a vow."

"I won't break my promise."

Huo Qianqian stepped forward solemnly and clapped hands with her grandfather.

Chen Ming had been soaking up gossip all morning, adding a little spice of scandal to his otherwise monotonous daily life.

At noon, he went to the Deng residence as usual.

When he reached the back courtyard, he spotted Deng Ziyang's figure.

He exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Deng, you're back?"

Deng Ziyang smiled. "The martial examination is over, so naturally I came back. Come, let me introduce you to two new friends I've made."

He pointed to the two young men sitting nearby. "This is Guan Peng, from Guan Family Fortress. He's skilled with a great blade."

"And this is Zhuang Xiaotian, from Guangtong. He's a master of flying daggers."

"Both of them are friends I met in the prefectural city."

"This is Chen Ming, my senior fellow apprentice. We both studied martial arts under Master Huo."

Deng Ziyang introduced the three of them to each other.

"A pleasure to meet you."

Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian exchanged a few polite words, clearly not taking Chen Ming seriously. They could tell from Deng Ziyang's introduction that this man wasn't a martial artist, so naturally he didn't warrant their regard. They were only being courteous for Deng Ziyang's sake.

Deng Ziyang and the other two started chatting about their experiences on the trip to the prefectural city.

Chen Ming sat nearby, unable to join the conversation, so he listened quietly.

"Going to the prefectural city made me realize I'm just a frog at the bottom of a well. There are so many talents in the world. Those Five Jades of Jiangzhou, around the same age as us, are already at the Sixth Rank."

Guan Peng said, "Brother Deng, don't sell yourself short. Those five are all direct disciples of major sects and sons of noble families. If you or I had such backgrounds, we might not lose to them."

Zhuang Xiaotian added, "They're just a step ahead. Once we enter Six Doors, who knows what the future holds?"

Chen Ming listened for a while and learned that the "Five Jades of Jiangzhou" were five outstanding young prodigies from Jiangzhou, under twenty years old and at the Sixth Rank.

No wonder Deng Ziyang felt a bit discouraged.

Comparing people only leads to frustration; comparing goods only leads to discarding them.

Hearing Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian's words, he understood why Deng Ziyang had become friends with them. They were all ambitious young men.

Deng Ziyang sighed again, "Luckily, those noble sons and sect disciples rarely take the martial arts exams, or else there'd be no room for us to rise."

Guan Peng laughed, "The court established Six Doors precisely to counter the noble families and sects, so naturally there are restrictions. Besides, how could those pampered young masters endure the hardships of Six Doors?"

Zhuang Xiaotian lamented, "For us commoners to get ahead is incredibly difficult. Entering Six Doors is dangerous, but it's our only way out."

Deng Ziyang suddenly slammed the table and said excitedly, "Well said. Precisely because it's hard, we need to stick together. How about we swear brotherhood today? Once we enter Six Doors, we can look out for each other."

"Good."

"Just what I was thinking."

The three were clearly getting carried away.

Deng Ziyang suddenly looked at Chen Ming, as if meaning to include him.

Chen Ming quickly said, "That's great. How about I act as your witness?"

"Fine!"

"Agreed."

Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian immediately took the cue, not giving Deng Ziyang a chance to speak.

So, with Chen Ming and Deng Ziyang's subordinates as witnesses, the three swore an oath of blood brotherhood.

They ranked themselves by age: Deng Ziyang was the eldest, Guan Peng second, and Zhuang Xiaotian the youngest.

They immediately changed how they addressed each other.

Overjoyed, Deng Ziyang sent someone to buy wine, wanting to drink to their hearts' content.

With all this commotion, Chen Ming's sparring session with them was delayed.

Deep in their cups, Qi Jun suddenly stood up, his face flushed, and said, "Brother Chen, I respect your fist techniques. Today, I want to test my saber skills against yours. Do you dare to accept?"

At this, the crowd cheered.

"Then let's do it."

Chen Ming naturally wouldn't refuse and agreed. With a thought, he opened his panel.

Level: 10

Current Points: 964

Cultivation Methods: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Layer, Perfected), "Three Yang Body Forging Art" (First Layer, 2/1000)

Martial Skills: "Three Powers Fist" (Proficient, 27/500+), "Bagua Saber Technique" (Beginner, 55/100+)

He began allocating points to "Bagua Saber Technique."