Command

"Second Young Master, the Eldest Young Master requests your presence."

Just then, Chunxiang came to report.

After a year of recuperation, she no longer looked as thin as before, and her complexion had improved considerably—though she was still dark. It was hard to tell if her skin was naturally that way, or if it was from practicing martial arts under the sun every day.

Chen Ming said to Deng Ziyang, "Excuse me for a moment."

Deng Ziyang chuckled. "Alright, no need to entertain us. Go handle your business."

Chen Ming followed Chunxiang out of the small courtyard and learned that an important guest had arrived—his elder brother wanted him to help receive them.

The visitors were several Disciples-in-Name of Huo Chengkun.

He walked over with a smile to greet them. "Senior Brother Gu, Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Li. Your arrival truly honors my humble home."

Gu Junrong, the leader, presented a congratulatory gift. "Congratulations on your move, Junior Brother. We came specially to offer our felicitations."

The other two also handed over gifts and said some auspicious words.

Chen Ming thanked them, accepted the gifts, and invited the three into the main hall, personally keeping them company.

Then, guests kept arriving one after another. The two brothers were busy receiving them, their faces stiff from smiling.

Over the past year, Chen Ming had indeed made many friends. As the pharmacy business grew larger and larger, Chen Rui had also gained many commercial acquaintances. A great many people came.

After a full day of work, once night fell, they finally saw off all the guests.

Only those few "fellow disciples" remained.

Chen Ming still had to go keep them company. "Three Senior Brothers, my apologies for the neglect."

Gu Junrong smiled. "We're fellow disciples of the same master. What are you saying?"

Wang Mingkai let out a strange, sarcastic laugh. "Did Senior Brother Sun send anyone to congratulate you?"

Chen Ming knew he was referring to Sun Shicai and replied nonchalantly, "Senior Brother Sun is a busy man with many affairs."

After all, he had sent the invitation over—he had fulfilled the proper etiquette.

By now, the Disciples-in-Name of Huo Manor had split into two factions. One was led by Sun Shicai, the other by Zhang Mingyu.

Among Huo Chengkun's personal disciples still alive, only the Third Disciple Zhang Mingyu, the Fourth Disciple Sun Shicai, and the Seventh Disciple Wen Zehao remained.

Wen Zehao hadn't followed to Xiaoshui that day, which many saw as an act of filial impiety. No one recognized him as part of Huo Manor anymore.

Of course, that also meant he had saved his own skin.

Sun Shicai hadn't gone either, but he had an excuse—he was injured at the time. Plus, as a Patrol Envoy of Six Doors, plenty of people naturally wanted to curry favor with him.

Many also disliked Sun Shicai, so they naturally rallied around Zhang Mingyu. Though as the senior disciple, Zhang Mingyu's cultivation was inferior to Sun Shicai's and he held no official position, he had righteousness on his side!

By the rules of succession, Zhang Mingyu had rightfully become the heir to Huo Chengkun's martial legacy.

Because of his kind act of sheltering and supporting Hong Mingquan's widow and son, Chen Ming had earned goodwill from many. He also had a good relationship with Zhang Mingyu, so he naturally leaned toward Zhang's faction.

Of course, he wouldn't go out of his way to offend Sun Shicai either. He never missed the proper courtesies.

Though Huo Manor had split into two factions, there were no direct conflicts between them, nor had they torn apart openly. On the surface, harmony still reigned.

Chen Ming quickly changed the subject and steered the conversation toward martial arts.

Gu Junrong and the other two focused intently, each raising doubts they'd encountered during their daily training, while Chen Ming shared his own experiences and insights.

Calling it a discussion was generous—it was more like guidance.

But out of consideration for their pride, he framed it as an exchange.

After this session of discussing martial arts and principles, all three felt they had gained a great deal, their doubts cleared away.

Gu Junrong sighed with emotion. "Junior Brother Chen, your talent in the martial path is probably no less than Senior Brother Sun's. What a pity—even Master could misjudge. He missed out on a prodigy like you."

His tone carried considerable regret.

Wang Mingkai let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Junior Brother holds nothing back from us, yet we, as senior brothers, need a junior to guide us. Truly shameful."

Gu Junrong and Li Qingchang both flushed with embarrassment at that, their faces showing shame.

Chen Ming said seriously, "We're all fellow disciples under the same master. Why be so distant? Now that Master is gone, we should unite and strive forward together, so as not to disgrace our master's name."

The three were visibly moved.

Wang Mingkai looked somewhat abashed. "Heh, Junior Brother's lesson is right. I was narrow-minded and spoke out of turn. I'll fine myself three cups."

With that, he downed three cups in a row.

Chen Ming drank along with him.

These three "senior brothers" were the ones among Huo Chengkun's many disciples with whom he had the best relationship. Unfortunately, they clung to their seniority and were always unwilling to spar with him.

In plain terms, they were afraid of losing and losing face.

From them, Chen Ming understood what it meant to live for one's reputation.

Having been around the jianghu, they weren't as pure-hearted as Deng Ziyang and the other two young men. They had too many concerns and wouldn't easily fight anyone.

Because once you lost, your reputation would take a heavy hit, and your standing would plummet.

All three of them were now serving as Guard Captains for the Merchant Guild, each with over a dozen men under their command. If word got out that they'd been beaten by their own junior brother, who would still hire them as guards?

Chen Ming felt helpless too. Over the past ten months, barely any martial artists had been willing to spar with him.

The path of making widespread friends seemed to be a dead end.

The four of them were drinking heartily when suddenly Chunxiang's anxious voice came from outside. "...Young master, please allow this servant to announce you..."

From the commotion, it sounded like someone had barged in.

Wang Mingkai, hot-tempered by nature and fueled by alcohol, erupted in anger. "Which blind fool dares to make trouble here?"

Just then, the intruder stepped into the courtyard.

Chen Ming recognized him at once and said in surprise, "Senior Brother Cai?"

Chunxiang looked aggrieved. "Second Young Master, he..."

Chen Ming waved his hand, signaling her to withdraw.

Seeing that it was Cai Zhonglin, Wang Mingkai sneered with disgust. "Oh, if it isn't Senior Brother Sun's lackey Cai. What a rare guest."

Cai Zhonglin, faced with Wang Mingkai's mad-dog attitude, looked equally put out but refused to trade insults with him—beneath his dignity.

He turned to Chen Ming. "Chen Ming, I came specifically for you. Fourth Senior Brother sent me with a message."

Chen Ming was curious. What business did Sun Shicai have sending someone over this late?

He asked politely, "May I ask what Senior Brother Sun's instructions are?"

Cai Zhonglin's gaze swept over Wang Mingkai and the other two.

"Speak freely. They're fellow disciples; no need to hide anything from them."

Cai Zhonglin cleared his throat. "Today, people from the Martial Hall Guild came to Fourth Senior Brother to complain. They said you've been taking disciples without their approval. Is that true?"

So that's what this was about.

Chen Ming understood and replied with neither humility nor arrogance. "I was only giving some ten-year-old children a basic introduction to martial arts. It's hardly opening a school..."

"Then it's true!" Cai Zhonglin cut him off impatiently. "Send them all away immediately and stop taking disciples from now on. That's Fourth Senior Brother's order—"

Wang Mingkai let out a snort. "Senior Brother Sun sure throws his weight around, huh. 'Order.' By what authority does he give orders to Junior Brother Chen? A Patrol Envoy of Six Doors has no say in this. Don't wave a chicken feather like a command arrow."

"You—"

Cai Zhonglin flushed with anger at the insult to Fourth Senior Brother but held back, turning his glare to Chen Ming instead. "Chen Ming, think carefully. If you disobey and stir up trouble later, Fourth Senior Brother won't lift a finger to save you."

Chen Ming said flatly, "No need for Senior Brother Sun to worry about that. Are you done?"

"Hmph! Courting death."

Seeing Chen Ming's attitude, Cai Zhonglin flicked his sleeves and left.

"Hahaha... how satisfying!"

Wang Mingkai laughed heartily. "Junior Brother Chen looks gentle and mild-mannered, but inside you're just as straight-backed. I like that."

Gu Junrong couldn't help but complain. "That mouth of yours—can't you rein it in? You've made Chen offend Cai Zhonglin. When he gets back, won't he embellish the story to Sun Shicai? You've thoroughly pissed them off."

Li Qingchang also voiced his concern. "The Martial Hall Guild isn't to be trifled with. They show no mercy to those who open schools without permission—either beat them to death or cripple them. They only held back out of respect for Senior Brother Sun. If he washes his hands of this, you'll be in trouble, Junior Brother."

Wang Mingkai fell silent, fully aware of the stakes.

Chen Ming smiled. "Don't worry. I have a way to handle it."

He glanced at his panel, brimming with confidence.

Level: 20

Current Points: 3923

Cultivation Art: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Layer, Perfected), "Three Yang Body Forging Art" (Fourth Layer, 4/10000)

Martial Techniques: "Three Powers Fist" (Proficient, 55/500+), Bagua Saber Technique (Mastered), Zhuang Family Flying Daggers (Mastered), Swallow Returns Swordplay (Proficient, 55/10000)

At this moment, he had already reached the Eighth Rank!