Pirates

Over the next month, Chen Ming visited all twelve martial halls and found that only a few, like Shangguan Hong, were open-minded. Most were stubborn old fossils who refused to spar with him no matter what he said.

He was frustrated, but he couldn't force the issue.

If he forced it, he'd be smashing their reputations.

There's a saying: ruining someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. If he really destroyed their reputation, he'd be making mortal enemies.

If he were alone, he wouldn't care. But he had his elder brother, sister-in-law, and a pair of adorable nieces and nephews at home—he couldn't ignore their safety.

So he didn't want to resort to extreme measures. If they didn't want to spar, he wouldn't push.

Only three halls were willing to spar with him: Four Seas Martial Hall with the Shangguan father and son, Chaoyang Martial Hall's Master Li, and the little-known Wu Martial Hall.

Chen Ming rotated through these three halls every day, sparring and discussing martial arts. Occasionally, he'd go find Zhang Mingyu for a bout.

Repeatedly defeating people at higher levels than him netted him a hundred experience points each time. Adding in the "teaching" of those thirty-plus students, he earned over a hundred sixty points a day.

Before he knew it, a month had passed.

The weather grew colder day by day, and without realizing it, autumn was at its tail end, with winter about to arrive.

One morning, after finishing his instruction with the students, Chen Ming was about to leave.

"Senior Brother Chen."

Suddenly, someone called out to him.

Among all the students, only one person called him "Senior Brother"—Li Jinchuan, who had once trained at Huo Manor. He was also the only one over fourteen.

After Huo Chengkun died, the youths training at Huo Manor had all left. Not long after, Li Jinchuan showed up at his door, saying he wanted to learn martial arts with him.

Chen Ming didn't refuse. Nearly a year had passed since then.

Li Jinchuan improved quickly. In less than a year, he went from LV3 to LV8. Even though he'd built a foundation at Huo Manor, this pace was still startlingly fast.

Of course, Chen Ming had no intention of prying into his secrets.

He asked, "Something on your mind?"

Li Jinchuan said respectfully, "An elder of my family wishes to visit you, Senior Brother. May I ask when you'd be free?"

Chen Ming thought for a moment. "Tomorrow afternoon will do."

"Sorry for the trouble."

With that, Li Jinchuan left.

Chen Ming had just finished breakfast and was about to head out when a servant came to report, "Second Young Master, an official from Six Doors requests an audience."

Someone from Six Doors?

He was puzzled. He'd been law-abiding lately—what did Six Doors want?

"Invite him in."

Before long, the guest arrived. It was an old acquaintance—the Ninth Rank constable Wang Yangming from last time.

As soon as he entered, Wang clasped his hands in greeting. "I hear Second Young Master Chen has broken through to Eighth Rank. Congratulations."

"You flatter me, Lord Wang." Chen Ming returned the gesture. "May I ask what brings you here today?"

"No need to be tense, Young Master Chen. I just have a few questions for you."

Hearing this, Chen Ming invited him to sit. A servant served tea.

Wang Yangming said, "Do you know, Young Master, that the city hasn't been peaceful lately?"

"Oh?"

Chen Ming looked puzzled. "I haven't heard anything about that."

"Have you heard about the big incident in the East Sea recently?"

"You mean the pirate gang fight? I've heard a little—those two groups have been fighting for almost ten years now."

Wang Yangming said, "This time is different. Zheng Kou was killed by Red Kou. A new pirate king has risen in the East Sea. Things are about to change."

Chen Ming didn't interrupt, knowing there was more to come.

Sure enough, Wang Yangming continued, "After Zheng Kou died, his remnants either surrendered or fled. Some of them have recently arrived in Qingfeng City. These pirates have no regard for the law—murder and robbery are second nature to them. No one knows what trouble they'll stir up here. So I came today to ask you to keep an eye out for any strangers in the area. If you see anyone suspicious, send word to me at Six Doors."

Chen Ming said solemnly, "I'll do my duty without hesitation."

Wang Yangming took out a stack of portraits. "These are wanted pirates from recent years. Take a look—memorize them if you can. If you run into any of them, notify me immediately."

Chen Ming took the portraits and examined them one by one.

Since it concerned the city's safety, he looked very carefully.

Until he reached one particular portrait. His hand paused.

The person in the portrait looked oddly familiar—extremely similar to someone he'd seen not long ago.

Chen Ming kept his expression neutral and continued looking. After finishing the rest, he handed them back to Wang Yangming.

Wang Yangming asked, as if casually, "Do you know Bi Haibo, Old Huo's sixth disciple?"

"Of course I remember. When I was training at Huo Manor, he was my instructor for four years. A pity—died young. I never thought the day I left Huo Manor would be our final farewell."

"Strange thing, though. Lately, someone's been spotted on the streets who looks exactly like Bi Haibo, dead these past few years."

"Is that so?"

"Could be a resemblance. If Young Master Chen saw the man, you'd probably be able to tell if he's Bi Haibo or not, right?"

"Not necessarily. It's been years since I last saw Senior Brother Bi."

Wang Yangming sat a while longer. Seeing he couldn't pry anything loose, he took his leave.

Chen Ming saw him out the gate, thinking to himself, I knew it—he wouldn't come looking for me for no reason.

He hadn't expected Bi Haibo to have become a pirate.

He thought back. Bi Haibo's appearance—sunburnt dark, skin rough and coarse—was exactly that of a man who made his living at sea.

"No wonder Huo Chengkun had to announce he was dead. A personal disciple turning pirate—if word got out, he'd lose face. He'd even be implicated."

No wonder Zhang Mingyu had been so tense when he saw Bi Haibo show up that day. And had asked him to keep it secret.

Probably all of Huo Chengkun's disciples knew about it.

Chen Ming wasn't affected by this interruption. He still planned to head to Wu Martial Hall to spar with Hall Master Liu.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw Old Li, the gatekeeper, shoving a pageboy-looking fellow out the door, cursing, "Come knocking again, and I'll break your legs."

With that, he spat on the ground.

Chen Ming's face darkened. He walked over and asked in a low voice, "Old Li, what's going on?"

Outside the door, the pageboy lay sprawled on the ground, looking aggrieved, a red invitation card clutched in his hand.

Seeing Chen Ming approach, Old Li quickly explained, "Second Young Master, this is someone from the Zhang Family. They say their young lady is getting married next month and came to deliver an invitation. I just couldn't stomach it, so I gave him a piece of my mind, and he had the nerve to talk back..."

The Zhang Family?

Chen Ming looked at his indignant face, paused for a moment, then realized which Zhang Family he meant.

The family of his predecessor's former fiancée—the one who'd hastily unilaterally broken off the engagement after he was thrown in prison.

He felt nothing. All that had happened before he transmigrated. It didn't feel real to him.

Still, his eldest brother held a grudge about it, furious at the Zhang Family's heartlessness.

Now the Zhang Family's daughter was getting married, and they had the gall to come deliver an invitation? Wasn't that just asking to be cursed at?

Chen Ming reminded him, "No matter how angry you are, you can't curse people. Anyone overhearing would think we're the ones bullying others."

"Sorry, Young Master." Old Li quickly apologized.

He still felt a bit wronged. This affair wasn't honorable for the Chen Family either. He couldn't exactly shout it from the rooftops and let the whole street know—that would only shame Second Young Master.

Just then, Chen Ming heard a roar: "The Zhang Family has the nerve to show up? Looking for death..."

He turned to see his usually gentle and virtuous Elder Sister-in-Law charging out, a broom held upside down, looking like she was ready to fight to the death.

"Er... Erlang..."

Wei Shi suddenly spotted Chen Ming standing at the door. She quickly lowered her head, hiding the broom behind her back, utterly mortified.

Chen Ming barely managed not to laugh out loud.

He never expected his Elder Sister-in-Law to have such a fierce side.