Master Huo

"Uncle."

After entering the house, Chen Ming met his nephew, Chen Lide. The boy was only five, yet he acted like a little adult, solemnly bowing to him.

"So it's Little De."

A smile appeared on his face. He had wanted to pick the child up, but then remembered that he had just come out of prison and had not bathed yet. Instead, he patted the little fellow's head. "You've grown taller after just a few months."

Beside them, his ten-month-old niece, Chen Lirong, was being held by her wet nurse. She was not afraid of strangers at all, staring at him with her large, dark eyes.

Elder Sister-in-Law Wei Shi said, "A-Ming, go bathe and change first. The water has already been heated. Don't keep the clothes you changed out of—have Fusao take them away and burn them."

"Alright."

Chen Ming returned to the small courtyard that belonged to him. A large wooden tub had been set up in the room for him to bathe in.

It had to be said that the Chen Family's circumstances were fairly good. In these times, having a two-courtyard residence and being able to soak in a wooden tub already put them ahead of most households.

After washing up and changing into a new set of clothes, Chen Ming felt much fresher.

Before long, a maid brought him food. It was lunch.

After eating, he began practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

He mainly practiced a fist technique, the "Three Powers Fist." The three powers referred to Heaven, Earth, and Man. In truth, it was merely an introductory fist technique, but it was the one the original owner had practiced most proficiently.

He trained all afternoon, only stopping when someone came to call him for dinner as night approached.

Chen Ming opened his panel and saw that his proficiency had not increased in the slightest.

He shook his head. "At this rate, when will I ever become an expert? The Year of the Monkey, the Month of the Horse?"

The original owner's aptitude was truly terrible beyond words.

"I still have to rely on the system."

He began pondering it.

Dinner was quite lavish. The heartiest dish was a plate of braised pork knuckle, placed before Chen Ming.

Wei Shi did not take a single bite from it.

Chen Lide stared at the plate of meat, swallowing slightly, yet he did not dare reach for it.

"You suffered these past two days in there."

His eldest brother, Chen Rui, picked up the fattiest piece and placed it in his bowl. "Eat more."

"Thank you, Brother."

Chen Ming did not stand on ceremony, eating until his mouth glistened with grease.

He really had been starving. The food in prison was no better than pig slop. He had barely eaten anything.

After eating several pieces of meat, he picked up one for Wei Shi and another for his nephew. "You should eat too."

Wei Shi was stunned, suddenly at a loss. This was the first time her brother-in-law had ever served her food.

Before this, Chen Ming had never shown her a pleasant face. She understood why—her brother-in-law probably believed that she had urged her husband to cut off his funds for martial arts training.

Though she had complained in private that her brother-in-law's martial arts training cost too much and that no one knew when it would end, this matter truly had nothing to do with her.

The little adult Chen Lide looked at the piece of meat, then at his father. He was reluctant to put it back, yet did not dare eat it either. His face was full of conflict, and saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth.

It was Chen Rui who finally spoke. "Eat."

Wei Shi picked up the meat and put it into her mouth. Remembering the grievances she had endured over the years, her nose stung, and she nearly burst into tears.

Chen Lide ate the meat with a look of pure satisfaction.

After dinner, the two brothers spoke in the study.

Chen Ming explained, "Brother, I was framed."

He told him the entire story from beginning to end.

After hearing it, Chen Rui said, "In the end, you acted too rashly, which is why you brought this disaster upon yourself..."

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them somewhat. He knew his younger brother did not like hearing such things.

Chen Ming wore an expression of humble acceptance. "Brother's lesson is correct."

This reaction completely exceeded Chen Rui's expectations, and he felt greatly relieved.

After this ordeal, A-Ming could finally listen to advice. That counted as a good thing.

Chen Ming asked about the important matter. "Brother, how much did it cost you to get me out this time?"

"Don't worry about that. As long as we brothers stand united, we can always earn it back." Chen Rui did not tell him, instead asking, "What are your plans now? Why not come help at the medicine shop?"

Chen Ming shook his head. "No. Eggs can't all be put in one basket. I should find another way to make a living. I'm planning to look for an opportunity through my master."

Chen Rui naturally understood that reasoning, but after such an incident, who would dare employ him?

When he had first gone to Master Huo to learn martial arts, it had been made clear from the start. They paid to study martial arts, but there was no formal master-disciple relationship. They could stop going at any time, but they also could not act under Master Huo's name.

Master Huo treasured his reputation greatly. Would he take him in?

"Alright." Chen Rui did not dampen his spirits. He had to let him try.

Chen Ming recuperated at home for two days. On the third day, he brought gifts and went to visit his master, Huo Chengkun.

Instead, he was turned away at the door.

He was not discouraged. The next day, he called again, yet still could not even enter the gate.

For several days straight, he went to Huo Manor every day.

On the fifth day, he finally received permission to enter. In the main hall, he met Huo Chengkun.

Huo Chengkun was already over sixty. His hair was streaked with gray, though his body remained fairly sturdy. He held a dry tobacco pipe in his hand, puffing away with a miserable look on his face, resembling an old farmer to a tee. No one could tell that he was a martial artist.

"I am no longer your master. What are you here for?"

The moment he opened his mouth, he sought to draw a clear line between them.

Chen Ming respectfully bowed. "A master for one day is a father for life. Master may refuse to acknowledge this disciple, but this disciple will always respect Master in his heart."

Huo Chengkun raised a brow, his clouded old eyes examining him. His tone softened somewhat. "You didn't spend these years at Golden Source Commerce for nothing, it seems. Fine. Leave the gifts and go."

He was about to rise.

Chen Ming hurriedly said, "I heard Master accepted more than a dozen new junior brothers last year. How about I serve as their Sparring Partner?"

"No need."

"I don't want any money." Chen Ming knew exactly where this master's weakness lay.

"Oh?"

Huo Chengkun was indeed interested. "Then what do you want?"

Chen Ming said, "Only for Eldest Senior Brother to occasionally offer me some guidance."

Huo Chengkun shook his head. "Your aptitude was ordinary to begin with, and you have wasted several more years. You will never achieve anything in this life. Why waste more time?"

"My Iron Horse Stance has already broken through to the second level."

"Oh?"

Huo Chengkun walked over, grabbed his wrist, and his eyes brightened slightly. "You really have broken through. It seems you have not slacked off these past few years."

"I ask Master to grant me this."

Chen Ming bowed again.

Huo Chengkun was still hesitating when a cough suddenly sounded from behind the folding screen. Only then did he speak. "Fine. After all, we were master and disciple once."

That counted as an agreement.

Chen Ming was overjoyed and immediately thanked him. "Many thanks, Master."

Huo Chengkun's face hardened. "Don't celebrate too soon. I haven't finished speaking. Do not drag your messy affairs into my disciples' lives, or do not blame me for turning ruthless."

He promised, "Master, rest assured. The trouble I cause will never implicate Master or my junior brothers."

"And don't call me Master."

"Yes, Old Huo."

Seeing how sensible he was, Huo Chengkun's expression eased somewhat. "Alright, go back for now. Come again tomorrow."

"Yes."

Chen Ming finally took his leave.

Once he was gone, a sweet-looking girl of seventeen or eighteen emerged from behind the folding screen. Clinging to Huo Chengkun's arm, she said with a grin, "Grandfather, I knew you would help."

She was Huo Chengkun's granddaughter, Huo Qianqian.

Huo Chengkun snorted. "If not for the sake of his dead grandfather, I could not be bothered whether he lived or died. Qianqian, remember this well: never scatter kindness recklessly, or retribution will come."

Huo Qianqian said coquettishly, "I was merely doing someone a favor. This way, Xinyi can be considered to have made up for what she owed Chen Ming and can remarry someone else with peace of mind."

Zhang Xinyi was her close friend. She had originally been betrothed to Chen Ming.

After Chen Ming got into trouble, the Zhang Family reacted swiftly and immediately went to the Chen Family to break off the engagement.

Zhang Xinyi felt somewhat guilty about it. When she heard that Chen Ming had been turned away from the Huo Family's door for several days, she went to Huo Qianqian for help.

That was how today's affair came about.