Making Connections

Guan Peng held his long saber in a reverse grip, letting its tip rest against the ground. He lowered his head and looked at the slash across the clothes over his chest, his voice hoarse as he said, "I lost. Thank you for showing mercy."

With that, he turned and left, clearly too ashamed to remain.

"Second Brother."

Deng Ziyang was somewhat worried and wanted to chase after him, but Zhuang Xiaotian stopped him. "Big Brother, let him go. Let him have some time alone."

"This... sigh."

Deng Ziyang could only let out a sigh.

Zhuang Xiaotian looked at Chen Ming, who was still standing in the middle of the courtyard, his gaze grave.

This man's strength had certainly astonished him, but what had left the deepest impression was that Guan Peng and he had treated him lightly just now, yet this man's expression had remained unchanged, without taking offense in the slightest.

That depth of composure was the truly frightening part.

Had it been him, with such superb saber skills at his command, anyone who dared look down on him would have been made to pay on the spot.

He sighed. "Your senior brother truly hides his light well."

Deng Ziyang gave a bitter smile. "You may not believe me when I say this, but I truly had no idea he possessed such strength. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have kept it from you just now."

You defeated a Level 11 enemy and gained 100 experience points.

When Chen Ming finally saw the notification appear, delight rose in his heart. A whole hundred points.

He had not expected that man to be one level higher than him.

"Looks like raising my martial skill proficiency is the right path."

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard Deng Ziyang complain in a half-serious, half-joking tone, "Senior Brother, you kept us in the dark far too thoroughly. When did you enter the ranks?"

Chen Ming smiled and explained, "Brother Deng, you've wronged me. I only broke through half a month ago, and I only met Brother Deng today. I simply hadn't found the chance to mention it yet."

Put that way, it truly could not be blamed on him.

Only then did Deng Ziyang let it go. "Congratulations, Senior Brother. You've finally become a martial artist."

Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Chen Ming knew it came from the heart. He said solemnly, "Thank you."

Seeing an opening, Zhuang Xiaotian clasped his hands and bowed apologetically. "Just now, I failed to recognize Mount Tai before me and treated Brother Chen with disrespect. I hope Brother Chen can forgive me."

Chen Ming stepped forward and helped him up. "Brother Zhuang, you're making too much of it. I was the one who hid things from you first. I should be the one apologizing. Come, I'll punish myself with a cup."

"Brother Chen is magnanimous. I'm the one who deserves punishment." Zhuang Xiaotian downed three cups in a row to show his sincerity.

Deng Ziyang cried, "I think you two are just taking this chance to drink all my fine wine!"

Once everything had been said, the little knot between them was untied.

The three sat down to drink again, but the atmosphere was now different from before as they began discussing martial arts.

The more they spoke, the more congenial they became. Even when night fell, none of them wished to leave.

Chen Ming had originally intended to return home, but Deng Ziyang insistently kept him there, sending someone to notify the Chen Family and having him stay the night.

After nightfall, in the rear courtyard.

"This Bagua Saber Technique looks simple, but it actually contains many hidden variations, such as this move, Galaxy Inversion..."

Chen Ming spoke as he demonstrated with his saber.

Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian sat there, watching with rapt attention as he broke down every variation and explained them with exceptional clarity.

Deng Ziyang had studied the Bagua Saber Technique before, so he naturally gained a great deal from it.

Although Zhuang Xiaotian had not learned this saber technique, he could still draw inferences from one instance to another. He gained many insights into difficult problems that arose when fighting others, so he listened just as intently.

That was why the two of them enjoyed discussing martial arts with Chen Ming.

When he had something to teach, he truly taught it.

Their discussion continued until deep into the night before they finally dispersed.

Zhuang Xiaotian suddenly bowed to Chen Ming. "Today, I have Brother Chen to thank for clearing away many of the doubts in my heart."

"You mustn't."

Chen Ming supported him and said, "It hardly counts as guidance. We were simply exchanging ideas. If Brother Zhuang doesn't mind, we can spar another day. Since Brother Zhuang plans to enter the Six Doors, you'll inevitably have to fight people. A little more practical experience would be beneficial."

Zhuang Xiaotian was greatly tempted by the suggestion. "It is precisely what I desire."

Deng Ziyang, standing nearby, also said, "Count me in. It would be even better if we could bring Second Brother along."

Chen Ming immediately said, "Then it's settled. Tomorrow afternoon."

He had put so much effort into befriending Zhuang Xiaotian for precisely this reason. Now, he had finally achieved his goal.

One victory meant a hundred experience points. If they could spar once every day, he could probably gain dozens of points each time. It was worth putting some thought into.

Early in the morning, before the sky had fully brightened.

Deng Ziyang arrived outside the courtyard where Guan Peng was staying. Hearing the sound of a weapon slicing through the air from within, he knew Guan Peng was practicing his saber.

Ever since losing to Chen Ming yesterday, Guan Peng had been practicing in the courtyard, only stopping late into the night.

Clearly, that defeat had dealt him an enormous blow.

Deng Ziyang stood outside for a while, waiting until Guan Peng had finished practicing before pushing open the door and walking in. "Second Brother, morning."

Guan Peng was sitting cross-legged on a stone bench, his large saber laid across his legs. At the sound of Deng Ziyang's voice, he opened his eyes and called, "Big Brother."

Deng Ziyang advised, "Victory and defeat are commonplace in battle. You don't need to take it too much to heart."

"I've made Big Brother worry. After yesterday's battle, I deeply realized the shortcomings in my saber technique. Once I enter the Six Doors, I fear I may not be able to gain a foothold."

Seeing that he was not merely upset over losing to Chen Ming, Deng Ziyang was finally reassured. He persuaded him, "Second Brother, training bitterly behind closed doors like this will not yield much. Third Brother and I have arranged with Senior Brother Chen to spar together this afternoon. Would Second Brother like to join us?"

A trace of hesitation flashed across Guan Peng's face, and he recalled the humiliation of losing beneath Chen Ming's saber yesterday.

Back in his hometown, he had been a genius. Among people his age, not one could match him. Yesterday had been the first time he had lost to someone his own age, and it had brought him a tremendous sense of defeat.

He did not wish to experience that feeling a second time.

Guan Peng gritted his teeth and made his decision. "Count me in!"

Losing beneath Chen Ming's saber had indeed been deeply discouraging.

But it had also made him understand the flaws in his saber technique and shown him the direction in which he could improve. It was immensely beneficial to him.

Opportunities like this did not come often.

Deng Ziyang said happily, "That's wonderful."

As long as they spent more time together, Second Brother would naturally be able to resolve the estrangement and knot in his heart with Chen Ming.

One was his sworn brother, while the other was a senior brother close to him. He hoped the two could get along amicably.

After leaving Guan Peng, Deng Ziyang went to find Chen Ming.

Chen Ming had just risen and had not begun training. He was sitting leisurely in the courtyard, admiring the flowers.

"Senior Brother is in fine spirits."

"Morning."

Chen Ming smiled. "The scenery here is truly lovely. Waking up in the morning to a view like this makes one's heart feel much more at ease."

Deng Ziyang said, "With Senior Brother's current strength, as long as you wish it, it won't be long before you can live somewhere like this."

That was indeed true. For a Ninth Rank martial artist, making money was not especially difficult.

However, Chen Ming had little need for money and did not wish to spend too much energy pursuing wealth. He could leave earning money to his elder brother.

He said, "There is something I would like to ask Brother Deng about."

"What is it?"

Chen Ming gave him a detailed account of Detective Wang from the Six Doors coming to find him, then asked at the end, "I bear no grudge against that man, so why did he target me? If I had not happened to break through to the Ninth Rank, I fear that even if I didn't die, I would have been skinned alive."

Deng Ziyang did not answer immediately. His fingers lightly tapped the stone table as he pondered.

Chen Ming was in no hurry. He lifted his cup and took a sip of water.

After a while, Deng Ziyang said, "If I'm not mistaken, he probably wasn't targeting you."

"Then who was he targeting?"

"Because you serve as a sparring partner at Huo Manor, yet you aren't Huo Chengkun's disciple. Making an example of you would not offend Huo Chengkun too deeply, while also damaging Huo Manor's reputation, thereby achieving the goal of establishing his authority."

With that explanation, Chen Ming roughly understood, though he was still somewhat puzzled. "What benefit does that bring him?"

"Because in the Six Doors, only merit earns merit points. Only with enough merit points can one enter the Six Doors' Martial Repository and learn profound martial arts."

"For merit points, let alone Huo Chengkun—even the Gu Family, if the opportunity arose, they would dare to test them."