I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 143 Long time no see
Chen Ming didn't take a carriage; the driver came with him and also didn't know the way. It was easier for him to walk.

I asked for directions, and it turned out the place was quite far.

He didn't mind; it was a rare opportunity to come out and explore the city.

Although he had been to most of Jiangzhou on his last trip, he was so focused on gaining experience points that he didn't pay any attention to the scenery and ended up leaving without a trace.

Now I finally have the leisure to properly appreciate the scenery of this big city.

Chen Ming walked all morning and finally arrived at the street. After asking a few people, he found the place on a street paved with bluestone slabs.

"Changqing Hall, this should be it."

He arrived at the entrance of a small clinic, glanced at the somewhat old signboard above it, and asked inside, "Excuse me, is Dr. Sun here?"

Just as he was about to go in, a man carrying a long sword walked out, his sharp gaze sweeping over him with an invisible pressure.

Chen Ming subconsciously stopped and did not go inside.

He felt a chill run down his spine; this man was definitely a master, and his strength was probably even greater than his own.

How could such a master be found in this unassuming clinic?
He was very confused.

This time, he came at the request of Doctor Wang.

Chen Ming's eye was injured by Zhao Shouchang's sword intent, and it was Doctor Wang who treated him. Seeing that Doctor Wang was not only highly skilled in medicine but also had noble medical ethics, he deliberately tried to befriend him.

When Doctor Wang heard that he was coming to Jiangzhou City, he asked him to bring some things to Doctor Sun of Changqing Hall.

Dr. Wang said that Dr. Sun was his teacher, and all his medical skills were learned from Dr. Sun.

Chen Ming had initially assumed that Changqing Hall must be quite famous, given that it had produced such an outstanding doctor as Doctor Wang. However, after asking around, he discovered it was located on an inconspicuous street in a working-class district, and the clinic itself was very small.

The swordsman stood in the doorway and said only two words, "Wait."

Chen Ming understood a little; someone must be receiving medical treatment inside, and the swordsman was the patient's guard.

"As expected of Jiangzhou City, it's teeming with experts. Even a random guard has the cultivation of a fourth-rank cultivator."

As he was thinking this, he heard footsteps inside, and a woman wearing a veil came out. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, judging from her figure and clothing, she was quite young.

Chen Ming glanced at them briefly before looking away and stepping aside. Only after the woman and the swordsman left did he enter the clinic.

"Excuse me, is Dr. Sun here?"

"Are you here to get your medicine?"

An elderly man with white hair and beard walked out. He looked very old, but he was in good spirits, making Doctor Wang look younger.

Chen Ming said, "You must be Dr. Sun. Dr. Wang Yimu asked me to come and bring you some things."

As he spoke, he handed over the bundle behind him.

"It's that child."

Doctor Sun's expression softened somewhat. He took the bundle and casually put it aside.

"There's another letter." Chen Ming took out the letter he always carried with him.

Dr. Sun asked him to sit down first, then unfolded the envelope and began to read.

……

Outside the street, in a seemingly ordinary carriage, a woman wearing a veiled hat, who had just come out of Changqing Hall, waited for a long time.

"That person from earlier hasn't come out yet?"

The swordsman sitting next to the coachman replied, "Yes, master."

"He wasn't there to get medicine after all. Have someone keep an eye on him and see who he is."

"Yes."

"Let's go back."

The carriage then slowly drove away.

……

After a short while, Dr. Sun finished reading the letter, put it away, looked at Chen Ming again, sized him up, and asked, "Are you Chen Ming?"

"That's me, junior."

"May I take your pulse?"

"of course can."

Chen Ming got up and went over to him, extending his hand in front of him.

Dr. Sun placed his fingers on his wrist and gently stroked his beard with his other hand.

After a while, he let go of her hand. "Xiao Wang said in his letter that you are quite interested in medicine."

Chen Ming said, "Medicine and martial arts are inseparable. Learning more about medicine is also very beneficial to martial arts."

“You sit here.”

Doctor Sun turned and went into the house. A moment later, he came out with a thick book and said, "These are some of my insights into medicine. I'll give them to you."

Chen Ming was taken aback and quickly said, "This—is too valuable, I can't accept it."

Doctor Sun shoved the book into his hands. “Take it. I have no disciples or descendants. If you leave it here, it will only be buried with me.”

"Well, thank you, senior." "You probably won't be returning to Qingfeng City so soon, right? If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me."

"Wouldn't that be too much of a bother for you, senior?"

"Normally, there aren't many people here, so this is just someone coming over to keep me company and relieve my boredom."

"Then I will respectfully obey your orders."

……

When Chen Ming returned to Feng Siyuan's place, he met Zhou Weihao and Gu Yuantao.

"Fine, you've arrived in Jiangzhou City, but you haven't come looking for us."

Upon meeting, Zhou Weihao complained, "We've been waiting for you here for ages."

Chen Ming offered a few explanations.

Zhou Weihao persisted, finally saying, "You're treating us tonight at Tianxiang Restaurant."

"Maybe next time, the competition for the Azure Cloud Ranking is just around the corner..."

"Come on, you really want to compete for a ranking? It's not that I look down on you, but do you know how many young masters have emerged in Jiangzhou in recent years?"

Zhou Weihao poured cold water on his enthusiasm, saying, "The Five Heroes of Jiangzhou from a few years ago are all now at the fourth rank of cultivation. That takes up five spots. In recent years, several more formidable figures have emerged. Jiang Shihua from the Jiang family, Li Yuqi from the Wushan Sect, Ji Qianxing from the Ji family... These are all peak fifth-rank experts, and their strength is extraordinary."

Gu Yuantao, who was standing to the side, also nodded slightly in agreement.

Both of them were at the sixth rank of cultivation, and a few years younger than Chen Ming. They had no hope this year, and would be too old for the next. They had essentially missed out on this grand event.

As martial artists, they were more aware of the gap between Chen Ming and people like Jiang Shihua, Li Yuqi, and Ji Qianxing.

Only someone like Feng Siyuan, who couldn't master martial arts, would have such blind confidence in Chen Ming.

In their view, Chen Ming's talent was indeed extraordinary, and if given another year, he would definitely be a strong contender for the Qingyun Ranking. But now, he was far from it.

Don't be fooled by his dominance in Qingfeng City, where he has yet to encounter a worthy opponent. That's because there aren't any truly formidable masters in Qingfeng City.

In the last two or three decades, martial arts in Qingfeng City have declined drastically. Chen Ming's record is not very convincing.

The people he defeated before were all weaklings from humble backgrounds with no way forward.

Those currently participating in the Qingyun Ranking competition are all the most outstanding disciples from aristocratic families and sects, and they all practice top-notch techniques and martial arts.

These people are among the best in their level.

No matter how powerful Chen Ming is, the time it took him to break through to the fifth rank is simply too short. How can he compete with those experts who have broken through to the fifth rank in two or three years?
Finally, Zhou Weihao said, "Being able to spar with these top masters of your generation will be extremely beneficial to your future. As for the outcome, there's no need to worry about it."

He added, "So, you should come with me to Tianxiang Pavilion tonight. Let me tell you, a new courtesan has emerged this year, outshining all the others. I saw her last time, and she was absolutely breathtaking—"

Suddenly, a woman's voice came from the side, "Brother Zhou, are you talking about the peonies at Tianxiang Tower? I'd like to see them for myself."

Upon hearing this voice, Zhou Weihao felt as if something was choking him. He glared angrily at Feng Siyuan beside him before turning his head to look at Zhao Xiyan, who had walked in from outside.

She was still dressed in men's clothing, holding a folding fan. Her personal maid followed behind her. At this moment, she was looking at Zhou Weihao with a half-smile.

Zhou Weihao chuckled, "Isn't this Young Master Zhao? Long time no see, you're even more dashing than before. Oh, right, I just remembered I have some important business at home, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he slipped away.

Gu Yuantao said nothing, cupped his hands in greeting, and left.

Feng Siyuan wanted to say something, but seeing Zhao Xiyan staring intently at Chen Ming, he wisely shut his mouth and left.

……

Chen Ming looked at Zhao Xiyan, who stood before him, now more mature and seemingly with a fuller bust, and felt a mix of emotions. "Long time no see."

It has been quite a while, almost three months.

More than two months ago, Zhao Shouchang returned to Qingfeng City, but she stayed in Jiangzhou City. During that time, she wrote him several letters.

However, after not seeing each other for so long, we have indeed become a bit estranged.

Zhao Xiyan's eyes were a little red. "Are you still upset that I came to Jiangzhou City with my father?"

Chen Ming said, "How could I blame you? Leaving at that time was the wisest choice. If you had stayed, the Admiral probably wouldn't have been able to keep me."

The more understanding he was, the more clearly Zhao Xiyan felt the distance between them, as if an invisible wall stood in front of her, preventing her from getting any closer.

Everything is clearly getting better.

Since Chen Ming broke through to the fifth rank, her father's attitude has changed. Although he didn't say it explicitly, he has tacitly approved and will no longer hinder her.

"I've stayed in Jiangzhou City because my father found me a master, as I mentioned in my letter. Did you receive the letter I wrote to you?"

Chen Ming nodded and said, "I received all the letters you sent. I was worried that it would interfere with your training, so I didn't reply. I'm relieved to know that you're doing well in Jiangzhou City."

At this moment, a servant came to report, "Young Master Chen, someone outside is requesting an audience."

"understood."

Chen Ming looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late. Why don't you go back first to avoid being punished by your master? I'll come see you another day."

After saying that, he left, politely but distantly.

Zhao Xiyan watched his retreating figure, tears streaming down her face.

She couldn't understand how things had turned out this way.
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(End of this chapter)