Chen Ming said, "At last, someone has stepped forward. It seems those pirates have gone too far and affected the business of several major sea merchants."
This was a good thing. In Qingfeng City, the ones who truly called the shots were the Seven Great Merchants. They had merely grown used to keeping a low profile and hiding behind the scenes.
But at a time like this, they had no choice but to show themselves.
Those pirates had robbed the Seven Great Merchants themselves. If they still took no action, who knew how badly things would spiral out of control?
Zhang Mingyu said, "Those pirates are insane. They do not just steal silver—they enjoy murder and arson too. The night before last, Golden Source Commerce's warehouse was set ablaze by them. The fire burned for an entire day and night. The Qi Family is in real trouble this time. They will probably lose everything they invested this year."
Chen Ming had already heard about this. His enemies had suffered misfortune, so he should have been pleased. But... according to the original owner's memories, that was an old warehouse, decrepit and abandoned for a long time.
Yet Golden Source Commerce had now announced to the public that most of this year's goods had been reduced to ashes in that fire.
Something was not right.
It reminded him of the tale of the Fire Dragon Burning the Granary.
These thoughts flashed through Chen Ming's mind as he said, "Still, Four Seas Trading Company is acting like a sick man grasping at any medicine. Even if they gather every martial artist in the city, how will they deal with those Fourth Rank Jiao Kings?"
The lack of top-tier fighters was a fatal problem.
Zhang Mingyu said, "I heard Four Seas Trading Company hired two Fourth Rank experts from outside. They should be enough to handle those Jiao Kings."
Chen Ming nodded. "If that is true, then by gathering the strength of all the city's martial artists, they really can drive this band of pirates away."
Half an hour later, Chen Ming and Zhang Mingyu arrived at Six Doors together.
Although Four Seas Trading Company had gathered manpower for this matter, the meeting place was Six Doors.
This was his first time setting foot in the highest authority in the city.
Both of them had proof resembling invitations. Only after the guards at the entrance inspected them were they allowed in. Someone led them to a spacious main hall.
The hall was solemn and imposing, with dozens of people standing within it.
Chen Ming spotted quite a few familiar faces. The masters of all twelve martial halls had arrived, including Hall Master Liu of Wu Martial Hall.
Several people standing in the center possessed extraordinary bearing.
One of them wore a blue official robe. He was most likely Blue-Robed Commandant Yu Xiuming, Six Doors' highest-ranking official in the city, with cultivation of at least the Fifth Rank.
He looked to be around thirty and was remarkably young. There was an air of nobility about him, and Chen Ming had heard that his family background was exceptional.
Another was a gray-clad old man in his fifties, most likely Manager Qian of Four Seas Trading Company.
Chen Ming did not recognize the other three.
He also saw several members of Golden Source Commerce's Qi Family.
The Giant Tiger Gang's leader, Deng Yuhu, Deng Ziyang's father, and others were present as well.
It seemed that every martial artist and merchant in Qingfeng City with even a bit of influence had come.
"Junior Brother, let me introduce you. This is..."
Zhang Mingyu led him around, introducing him to acquaintances.
As Huo Chengkun's third disciple, Zhang Mingyu had quite a wide circle of connections.
The entire Six Doors Yamen had now become a vast social gathering. Familiar faces clustered together in twos and threes, forming one social circle after another.
There were overlaps between the different circles, tangled together in a complex web.
New faces like Chen Ming were few, and many people were quite interested in him.
He took the opportunity to meet quite a few people. Though they exchanged only a handful of words, this gave him an opening. In the future, he could naturally pay them visits and proceed step by step.
Half an hour later, nearly everyone had arrived.
Manager Qian gave a light cough and clapped his hands sharply, drawing everyone's attention. Before long, the hall fell silent, and all eyes turned toward him.
He said in a deep voice, "I trust everyone knows why this old man has invited you here. In recent days, the remnants of Zheng Kou have been committing murder and arson in the city, robbing wealth and growing more arrogant by the day. They leave us no path to survival, so we can only rise up and resist..."
Chen Ming listened below without the slightest ripple in his heart. He even felt like yawning.
It felt like he had returned to his student days, listening to a school leader give a speech.
Yet the people around him had their emotions stirred. One after another, they became indignant, clearly moved by Manager Qian's words.
"...On behalf of Four Seas Trading Company, this old man has invited two Fourth Rank experts to join you in exterminating those pirates."
Then several people walked out from inside.
At the front stood a man and a woman. Their gazes were like lightning, and they made no effort to conceal the fierce aura around them, giving everyone an immense sense of pressure.
One glance was enough to tell that they were formidable experts.
The only concern was how much fighting spirit the two possessed.
Mercenaries hired like this could usually only fight favorable battles. Once the tide turned against them, they might run faster than rabbits.
As Chen Ming was thinking this, he heard Manager Qian introduce them. "This is Iron, skilled with the axe. This is Sand, skilled with the long whip."
It was a very brief introduction, even omitting their names.
Someone asked, "These two are unfamiliar faces. May I ask which sect or school they come from?"
Iron kept a stern face and said in a hoarse voice, "It is inconvenient to disclose."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone understood that the pair's origins were likely improper.
In this world, every martial artist placed great importance on family background and lineage, especially those with greater strength. Most of the time, a single sentence—I am a disciple of such-and-such sect—could settle a dispute.
That was why martial artists valued their reputations so highly.
If they did not even dare reveal their family background or lineage, what decent path could they possibly have come from?
Perhaps they were traitors expelled from their sects. That would still be the better possibility.
They might even be members of a demonic cult. That was the most terrifying possibility of all.
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
Suddenly, someone burst into wild laughter. "Hahaha! Since when have Iron Sea General and Sand Sea General beneath the Crimson Enchantress pledged themselves to Four Seas Trading Company?"
Iron's identity had been exposed, but his expression did not change. He still said in that hoarse voice, "Poison Jiao, you have actually delivered yourself into our net today. Get out here and die."
The hall immediately erupted in uproar.
These two were actually the two great Sea Generals under the Red Sea Lord!
Four Seas Trading Company had actually hired two pirates to deal with another band of pirates. What an absurd move.
The instant this thought flashed through Chen Ming's mind, he grabbed Zhang Mingyu and ran.
What a joke. A massive melee between Fourth Rank martial artists was about to break out here. If they did not run, were they waiting to die?
Poison Jiao King roared angrily, "A defeated underling dares speak such wild boasts before this king?"
Three figures flew out from the crowd, rushing separately toward Iron Sea General and Sand Sea General.
"Hmph, such nerve!"
That was the last thing Chen Ming heard. It seemed to be Blue-Robed Commandant Yu Xiuming's voice.
He was the chief official of Six Doors, yet he was actually joining forces with two pirates to battle three other pirates...
"What a pity. This was a battle between Fourth Rank experts."
After leaving the Six Doors Yamen, Zhang Mingyu said regretfully, "How wonderful it would have been to witness that battle with our own eyes."
Chen Ming did not feel the same way. So long as he kept his feet on the ground and continually found people to spar with, he would reach that realm sooner or later.
That was why he did not want to remain in a place that might bring danger.
"Senior Brother, this place is dangerous. We should return first."
"You go ahead. I want to stay." Zhang Mingyu was unwilling to miss such an opportunity.
Chen Ming did not bother with him any further and left alone.
Before you continue