Sworn Brotherhood

Not getting married?

Chen Ming froze for a moment, his head full of question marks. He looked at Zhang Mingyu and saw that he did not seem to be joking—then again, he would not joke about something like this.

He looked at Hong Mingquan again. Seeing the solemn expression on his face, he knew this had to be true.

Chen Ming could not help drawing in a sharp breath. This young miss was truly willful. She had suddenly declared that she would not marry, and she had waited until the very day the other party came to present the betrothal gifts to inform them.

He even felt a little sorry for Wen Zehao.

For a moment, he did not know how to react. After a while, he finally murmured, "This... how did this happen?"

Hong Mingquan said bitterly, "Who knows what Junior Sister is thinking? One sentence of 'I won't marry,' and she nearly angered Master to death. It was the first time I had ever seen Master so furious. That slap almost came down..."

Zhang Mingyu said, "I think Junior Sister may very well have someone she loves."

Hong Mingquan was startled. He raised his head and looked around. Seeing that none of the trainees were looking their way, he complained, "Third Senior Brother, you can't spout nonsense like that."

"Enough. Everyone knows it in their hearts. Junior Sister had never objected to this marriage before. Sometimes, we would tease her about it, and she would blush all over. Why would she suddenly refuse to marry? She must have someone else in her heart."

"You can't put it that way. Junior Sister had a quarrel with Seventh Junior Brother these past few days. She is throwing a little tantrum."

Zhang Mingyu shook his head vigorously. "Junior Sister may be somewhat willful, but she is not so childish as to use a matter as important as marriage to vent her anger."

Hong Mingquan still did not believe it. "How could that be? In looks and character, there are only a few people in all of Qingfeng City who can compare with Seventh Junior Brother. How could Junior Sister possibly take a fancy to someone else?"

"Why not? Chen Ming is not bad either. Perhaps he is the one Junior Sister likes."

Chen Ming was startled by his words. "You can't joke about that. It will get me killed."

Zhang Mingyu laughed heartily. "Just a joke. Look how badly it scared you."

"You really can't make jokes like that. If it reaches Senior Brother Wen's ears, won't he hate me to death?"

"That is true. If Seventh Junior Brother finds out who Junior Sister's beloved is, he will definitely kill someone."

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

"Qian'er, tell Grandfather honestly. Have you fallen for someone?"

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

"No."

Huo Qianqian was lying facedown on the bed. Hearing this, she replied stiffly.

"Then why have you suddenly decided not to marry Old Seventh?"

"I just won't marry him. If you force me, I'll die for you to see. If my father and mother were still alive, they definitely would not force me... sob, sob..."

Huo Chengkun felt a wave of headache at the sound of his granddaughter crying.

He knew she was pretending, yet he still could not bring himself to harden his heart. The fault lay in how he had failed to teach her properly when she was young, indulging her too much and fostering such a temperament.

Ever since she was little, whenever she cried about being a child without parents, his heart would soften, and he would yield to her in everything.

But this time, he would not compromise so easily.

She was already being so willful over a matter as important as marriage. What would become of her in the future?

While he was still alive, he could naturally protect his granddaughter completely.

But what if he was no longer in this world someday?

Thus, he decided to harden his heart and said, "Qian'er, if you do not wish to marry, that is fine. But you must agree to one condition."

The crying from the bed stopped at once. "What condition?"

"If you can enter the ranks within a year, whether you marry in the future will be entirely up to you. But if you cannot enter the ranks, then you will listen to Grandfather's arrangements and obediently marry."

The bead curtain was lifted, and Huo Qianqian emerged from within, her hair disheveled. "I agree."

Huo Chengkun held out his hand. "A high-five as our oath."

"I will never break my word."

With a solemn expression, Huo Qianqian stepped forward and high-fived her grandfather.

Chen Ming had spent the entire morning enjoying the gossip, which brought a little scandalous amusement into his day-after-day dull life.

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

When he arrived in the rear courtyard, he saw Deng Ziyang.

He said in delight, "Brother Deng, you're back?"

Deng Ziyang smiled. "The martial examination is over, so naturally I came back. Come, let me introduce two new friends I met."

He pointed at the two young men seated beside him. "This is Guan Peng, from Guan Family Fortress. He excels with a broadsword."

"This is Zhuang Xiaotian, from Guangtong. His throwing-knife skills are unmatched."

"I met both of them in the provincial city."

"This is Chen Ming, my martial brother. We learned martial arts together under Master Huo."

Deng Ziyang introduced the three of them to one another.

"A pleasure, a pleasure."

Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian exchanged a few polite words, but it was obvious they did not think much of Chen Ming.

They could tell from Deng Ziyang's introduction that this man was not a martial artist, so naturally he did not catch their eye. They were only being courteous for Deng Ziyang's sake.

Deng Ziyang and the other two began discussing what they had seen and heard during their trip to the provincial city.

Chen Ming could not get a word in, so he sat quietly to the side and listened.

"Only after going to the provincial city did I learn that I am merely a frog at the bottom of a well. There are so many talents under heaven. Those Five Jades of Jiangzhou are about the same age as you and me, yet they already possess Sixth Rank cultivation."

Guan Peng said, "Brother Deng, there is no need to belittle yourself so much. Those five are direct disciples of great sects and children of prominent families. If you and I had such family backgrounds, we might not lose to them."

Zhuang Xiaotian also said, "They merely took the first step ahead of us. Once you and I enter the Six Doors, who can say what the future holds?"

After listening for a while, Chen Ming learned that the "Five Jades of Jiangzhou" were five outstanding young experts of Jiangzhou's new generation. None of them were twenty yet, but they already had Sixth Rank cultivation.

No wonder Deng Ziyang seemed somewhat discouraged.

When people are compared with people, one dies; when goods are compared with goods, one is thrown away.

Listening further to Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian, he understood how Deng Ziyang had become friends with them. They were all ambitious young men.

Deng Ziyang sighed again. "Fortunately, these children of prominent families and sect members rarely take the martial examination. Otherwise, how would we ever have a chance to rise?"

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

Zhuang Xiaotian sighed. "For poor-born people like us, it is terribly difficult to rise. Entering the Six Doors is dangerous, but it is also our only way out."

Deng Ziyang suddenly slapped the table and said excitedly, "Well said. Precisely because it is difficult, we must unite together. Why don't we become sworn brothers of different surnames today? Once we enter the Six Doors in the future, we can look after one another."

"Good."

"That suits me perfectly."

The three of them were clearly getting carried away.

Deng Ziyang suddenly looked toward Chen Ming, seeming to want to bring him into it as well.

Chen Ming hurriedly said, "That would be wonderful. How about I serve as a witness for the three of you?"

"Good!"

"Sure."

Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian immediately seized the conversation, not giving Deng Ziyang any chance to speak.

Thus, with Chen Ming and Deng Ziyang's group of subordinates as witnesses, the three mixed blood in an oath and became sworn brothers of different surnames.

After comparing their ages, Deng Ziyang was the eldest, Guan Peng ranked second, and Zhuang Xiaotian was the youngest.

They immediately changed how they addressed one another.

In his delight, Deng Ziyang had someone buy wine, determined to drink to their hearts' content.

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

When the wine was flowing freely, Qi Jun suddenly stood up. His face was flushed red as he said, "Senior Brother Chen, I admire your fist and footwork. Today, I want to compete with you in saber techniques. Do you dare accept?"

As soon as he said this, everyone burst into cheers.

"Then let's do it."

Chen Ming naturally did not refuse and accepted. With a thought, he opened the panel.

Level: 10

Current Points: 964

Cultivation Arts: "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 adding points to the Bagua Saber Technique.