One Year Later

Great Jin, autumn of the ninth year of the Jinghe Era.

That day, the sky was clear and crisp—a rare fine weather.

Early in the morning, Lu Zhihao, just leaving the Yichun Brothel, sat in his carriage, still thoroughly drunk. Feeling a bit stifled, he opened the window for air.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped before an archway.

Lu Zhihao asked irritably, "Why aren't we moving?"

The driver said, "Young Master, we can't get through ahead."

"What's the matter?"

He stuck his head out and saw a crowd gathered at the entrance of an alley up ahead. The doorway was decorated with lanterns and bunting, as if celebrating some happy occasion.

He could vaguely make out the words "Chen Estate" on the plaque.

He asked, "Who's holding a celebration here?"

The attendant serving beside him volunteered, "I'll go ask."

Then he got off the carriage.

After a while, the attendant returned, his expression somewhat odd, and said, "Young Master, do you still remember that Chen Ming?"

Chen Ming?

Hearing that name, a deep resentment flashed in Lu Zhihao's eyes. He ground his teeth and said, "Of course I remember. If it weren't for him, how would I have been kicked out of Golden Source Commerce? And locked up by the old man for half a year."

Last year, he had been the biggest steward at Golden Source Commerce. Relying on his brother-in-law's connections, he'd landed a lucrative position, riding high and living the good life.

Then some greenhorn popped up and actually reported him to the old man, accusing him of embezzling and lining his own pockets!

Just thinking about it made Lu Zhihao's teeth itch.

Was that really stealing?

At Golden Source Commerce, every steward did the same thing—it was an unspoken rule under the table. Did the old man not know? He could only turn a blind eye.

But he'd had the bad luck to run into some stubborn fool who didn't know how to read the room.

Once an under-the-table rule came out into the open, the old man naturally wouldn't go easy. He took the chance to make an example of someone.

And he became that example.

Not only was he fired, but he was also locked up for half a year. After that, no matter how much he begged his brother-in-law, he couldn't get back into Golden Source Commerce.

He'd wanted to give that greenhorn a good thrashing and then finish him off, to vent the anger in his heart.

But then the old shopkeeper spoke up for the kid, and his brother-in-law didn't want the matter to blow up and make things ugly, so it just fizzled out.

Not long after, he heard that the kid had become a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist and even latched onto the Huo Manor.

Later, his sister tried to go after the kid's older brother but failed, and instead got a harsh scolding from his brother-in-law, who ordered her to stop making any more moves.

The more Lu Zhihao thought about it, the more frustrated he got. He kicked the attendant in anger and said, "Why'd you have to bring him up first thing in the morning? Bad luck."

The attendant rubbed the spot where he'd been kicked and said with a wry smile, "I didn't mean to bring him up. The road ahead is blocked because of their housewarming celebration."

"What did you say?"

Lu Zhihao was stunned. A surge of nameless rage welled up in his chest.

This was Show Water Street—houses here weren't cheap. The Chen Family had been pretty down-and-out a year ago, scraping together everything they had to bail Chen Ming out of jail.

And in just one year, they'd turned things around?

Seeing his enemy prosper was worse than killing him.

Just then, voices of discussion drifted in from outside: "Which family is this? So many guests have come."

"I hear it's two brothers named Chen, who run a pharmacy—the owners of Chunhe Pharmacy on Fragrant Water Street..."

"Chunhe Pharmacy, of course I know it. Their Cold Remedy is pretty effective. So it's theirs."

"I heard that a year ago, this Chunhe Pharmacy was about to go under. Then the second Chen son suddenly had a breakthrough and became a Ranked Martial Artist. The Chen Family turned things around overnight, and in just one year, they've bought such a big estate..."

"So that's the second Chen son. I hear he's apprenticed to Old Huo, not yet twenty, handsome as a jade tree in the wind, and still unmarried..."

"..."

Lu Zhihao listened to the young women and girls on the street all praising Chen Ming, and his heart grew even more bitter. He couldn't take it anymore and ordered, "Driver, take a detour."

The driver said helplessly, "Young Master, it's all blocked up behind us. We can't get out anytime soon."

Lu Zhihao turned around and sure enough, saw several carriages parked behind, blocking the way completely—no room to turn around.

He was practically fuming mad, but could only slam the window shut in frustration.

The chatter outside kept coming.

"...Ah, it's good to become a martial artist. If my boy could achieve that much, I'd gladly give up ten years of my life."

"I hear the second Chen son has taken on many young students, giving them basic martial arts training. His tuition is much lower than the training halls. Why not send your second boy to give it a try?"

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. Look, those little boys in blue clothes over there are his disciples. Don't they look spirited?"

Lu Zhihao's heart stirred at that. He pushed the carriage window open again and looked toward the Chen Estate.

Sure enough, he saw a group of children, all around ten years old, wearing matching uniforms and lined up in two neat rows, offering congratulations on the Chen Family's housewarming.

Those ten-year-old kids wore solemn expressions, their movements crisp and uniform, naturally forming an imposing presence. It even startled the onlookers.

Lu Zhihao watched with a racing heart. That brat had actually drilled a bunch of children to this level.

Anyone would believe it was a military formation!

At the same time, a smile spread across his face, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The attendant beside him, seeing his master's sudden good mood, quickly asked, "Young Master, what are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing at that fool for not knowing the rules—he's digging his own grave."

Lu Zhihao laughed heartily, gloating as he said, "In this Qingfeng City, you can't just take on that many disciples whenever you feel like it."

The attendant looked confused. "Is taking on disciples something people regulate?"

In an excellent mood, Lu Zhihao explained patiently, "If you take on three or five disciples, no one cares. But if you take on twenty or thirty all at once, someone's going to step in. Just wait—soon there'll be a good show to watch."

The attendant reminded him, "Young Master, don't forget. The young master's brother-in-law told you not to go after this Chen the Second."

"This time, he's the one asking for it. What does that have to do with me?"

At the Chen Estate.

Outside was lively and bustling, but Chen Ming was entertaining honored guests in the back courtyard—Deng Ziyang, Guan Peng, and Zhuang Xiaotian.

Ten months had passed. Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian had both passed the military examinations smoothly, entered Six Doors as officers, and been assigned to small counties under their jurisdiction.

Now, their terms had just ended, and the two had returned to report on their duties. They happened to catch him moving house, so they came together to offer their congratulations.

As for Guan Peng, he was unlucky—his background check had failed, and he was weeded out.

Apparently, his grandfather's generation had been bandits and ended up on Six Doors' wanted list. Bad luck that Six Doors had dug it up.

This time, the four of them reunited, all in high spirits.

Chen Ming could clearly see the changes in the three. Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian were naturally brimming with confidence—they had ended their originally one-year internship early and were about to be made full officers.

Once they were made full officers, they would hold Ninth Rank official status!

Guan Peng, on the other hand, had gotten tanned and spoke less.

Mostly, the other two talked while he listened, rarely chiming in.

Chen Ming sighed inwardly. He could only say that everyone had their own fate.

Deng Ziyang also noticed Guan Peng's silence and asked him, "Second Brother, what plans do you have from now on?"

Guan Peng picked up a cup from the table and said, "I've already joined the Myriad Prosperity Commerce. I'm about to go out to sea."

All three were stunned.

"What? You're going to sea?"

"Are you out of your mind?"

"That's way too dangerous."

Guan Peng looked at their reactions, a faint smile spreading across his face, carrying an inexplicable meaning. "The waves at sea may be fierce, but the rewards are just as generous. Myriad Prosperity Commerce promised me that if I'm willing to go to sea, they'll teach me the Wan Family's 'Azure Wave Art.' If I don't take a gamble, I'll never be satisfied."

"Don't bother trying to talk me out of it. My mind's made up. I came here to say goodbye to you. You're my brothers and my best friends—just wish me smooth sailing on this journey."

With that, he raised the wine glass in front of him.

The three of them had nothing left to say. They raised their glasses and clinked them with his.

For a moment, a somber, heroic atmosphere hung between the four.

Seeing them like this, Guan Peng said, "What's with you all? Acting like I'm heading off to die. Relax—I care about my own hide more than anyone. I won't die that easily."