I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 175

"Miss Su!"

Chen Ming leaped into the nearby woods and soon found Su Zhining lying slumped in the mud, her spotless white clothes now covered in filth.

He strode forward and lifted her from the ground. He saw that her face was ashen, her lips were bloodless, and she was barely breathing.

Su Zhining opened her eyes with some difficulty. When she saw him, a strange light flashed in her eyes. She seemed to feel relieved and then slowly closed her eyes.

"Miss Su!"

Chen Ming felt as if his heart had been struck by a heavy hammer, and he shouted, "Don't sleep! I know a miracle doctor who can definitely save you!"

He leaped into the air and rushed towards Jiangzhou City at top speed.

……

No sooner had the two left than a graceful figure appeared before the black-clad man's corpse. She wore a long pink dress and remained silent as she looked at the unseeing eyes of the "Three Saints Sticks."

"Junior sister, you're so lucky to have met a man who is deeply in love with you..."

The woman sighed softly, as if it were a mixture of resentment, jealousy, and satisfaction.

……

"This is the first time I've seen your clothes dirty. How do you keep your clothes so clean?"

"Don't close your eyes, or I'll strip you naked..."

"How do you usually conceal your presence? You haven't taught me yet..."

"That person was right. If you die, I'll soon forget about you and find a woman even more beautiful than you..."

"..."

Throughout the journey, Chen Ming kept talking to Su Zhining, deliberately provoking her whenever she was about to close her eyes.

Finally, he returned to Changqing Hall.

"Senior, please save him!"

He forced his way in and saw Old Master Sun sitting in the hall, seemingly waiting for him.

He carried Su Zhining over.

Without asking any questions, Old Sun took her pulse for a while and said, "He suffered a backlash from his internal energy. He forced himself to attack even when his meridians were damaged, which caused his meridians to rupture. I can't save him."

Chen Ming's heart sank, but he still asked, "Senior, you must have a way, right?"

Old Sun stroked his gray beard and asked, "Do you really want to save her?"

Chen Ming said in a deep voice, "Senior, please speak freely. I will do anything to save her."

Old Master Sun said calmly, “Although I cannot save her, you can. The Xuanmu True Skill is a technique for saving lives. You can use Xuanmu True Qi to protect her heart meridian. As long as the True Qi continues, you can keep her alive.”

Does Xuanmu True Qi have this effect?

Chen Ming was both surprised and delighted. Without hesitation, he converted his true energy into Xuanmu true energy, pressed it against her back, and channeled the true energy into her body to protect her heart meridian.

A moment later, her increasingly faint heartbeat became stronger, and she finally regained her breath, which had been hanging by a thread.

Although, his breath was still very weak.

Seeing that it really worked, Chen Ming was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "And then?"

Old Master Sun said, "Then, it depends on herself. The Heavenly Alliance's 'Heavenly Heart Technique' is a supreme divine skill with its own wonderful uses. It can repair the damaged meridians in a few months at most, or a month at least. The key is you, can you hold on until then?"

"Thank you, senior." Chen Ming bowed solemnly.

Old Sun said, "No need to thank me. You're the one who saved her. What does it have to do with me?"

"I won't disturb you any longer."

Chen Ming picked up Su Zhining and got up to leave.

……

Throughout the entire process, Su Zhining's eyes never left Chen Ming. Only after they left Changqing Hall did she say quietly, "Why did you do this? Even if you break through to the fourth rank, your true energy will eventually run out. You can't last that long."

"What if I could?"

Chen Ming was overjoyed to know how to save her life and laughed, "If I can really save your life, how will you repay me?"

Su Zhining didn't speak, but simply closed her eyes, shifted slightly, and rested her head against his chest in a more comfortable position.

Before long, they arrived at the small courtyard next door.

"Master!"

"Master!"

"Brother!"

The three women were anxiously waiting, and when they saw him return safely, they were overjoyed. Just as they were about to go forward, they noticed the woman in white in his arms.

They were all taken aback by the white-clad woman's stunning beauty.

This was the first time Qiu Xiang and Dong Xiang had seen a beauty who could rival their former master in looks.

Huo Qianqian was seeing such a stunning beauty for the first time and stood there dumbfounded.

"Junior sister, thank you for coming to warn me. I can't take you back now, so Qiuxiang will take you tomorrow morning."

"No need, I can go back by myself."

"She is badly injured, and I need to go treat her. Please make yourself at home, junior sister."

Huo Qianqian watched as he carried the woman in white into the house without any attempt to hide it, and she felt a mix of emotions.

At this moment, the girl named Dongxiang said, "That must be the woman who appeared just now and saved the young master, right?"

She then remembered that a woman resembling a celestial maiden had appeared and saved Chen Ming's life. So it was her.

"She was injured while saving Senior Brother Chen, right?"

……

The next morning, Huo Qianqian left quietly without saying goodbye. She hadn't gone far when a carriage caught up with her; it was Qiu Xiang.

“Miss Huo, I’ve heard that the Xiaoshui Sect has very strict rules. If you go back like this, you might be punished. Let me escort you.”

Hearing her say that, Huo Qianqian couldn't bring herself to refuse. "Thank you for your trouble, little sister."

"Don't dare."

"How did you and Sister Dongxiang end up with Senior Brother Chen?"

"It's a long story..."

On the way, Qiu Xiang briefly recounted how they became Chen Ming's maids, and concluded by saying, "Young Master is kind-hearted. If it weren't for him saving us, we would probably still be living a life worse than pigs and dogs on the farm."

Huo Qianqian was shocked and couldn't believe that there were such cruel people in the world who would break the legs of maids and demote them to female slaves simply because they had done a poor job.

She used to have a maid named Xiao Hong. She died a few years ago at the hands of bandits sent by Sun Shicai, and she was heartbroken for a long time.

Even with pet cats and dogs, you develop feelings for them after spending a lot of time together, let alone people?
She and Xiao Hong grew up together; nominally mistress and servant, they were like sisters. It's truly incomprehensible how Qiu Xiang's previous master came to be.

However, she couldn't say much in front of Qiu Xiang.

Huo Qianqian couldn't help but wonder if her senior brother had offended their previous master because of this.

Finally, Xiaoshui arrived.

As soon as Huo Qianqian entered, she saw several imposing senior uncles and a group of fellow disciples who were either worried or gloating.

She was taken aback when she saw the scene.

Fortunately, Qiu Xiang came over, bowed gracefully, introduced herself, and then explained the situation to her.

Hearing that she was Chen Ming's maid, the elders of the Xiaoshui Sect could no longer keep a stern face.

"Miss Huo stayed out all night because she had an appointment with my young master. He specially sent me to explain on her behalf, and he will personally come to apologize in a few days."

"Young Master Chen, you're too kind." Uncle Ye's expression softened slightly.

After Qiu Xiang left, she did not punish Huo Qianqian in person, but instead called her into the room and gave her a severe scolding.

"I know you and Chen Ming are from the same sect, but you are now a disciple of the Xiaoshui Sect. Remember your place. Are you aware of the feud between Chen Ming and the Qin family? At a time like this, you still dare to see him?"

After saying that, seeing Huo Qianqian with her head down, she softened her tone and said, "Yesterday was the anniversary of your parents' death. Why didn't you tell your martial uncle? Is your martial uncle so heartless?"

Huo Qianqian could only bite the bullet and apologize, "I'm sorry."

"Alright, for the next month, you are not allowed to leave the courtyard. Reflect on your actions."

"Yes."

And just like that, the matter was quietly dropped.

Huo Qianqian's parents, however, have an additional "anniversary of death".

She knew that Qiu Xiang was helping her; otherwise, what awaited her today would have been a terrible storm, one that wouldn't have passed after just a month of confinement.

After getting to know the two maids, Qiu Xiang and Dong Xiang, she found them not only to be beautiful but also clever, quick-witted, and full of spirit. They didn't seem like maids at all.

Who could be the person who could train such an outstanding maid?
……

"What? Dong Kun is dead?"

In a magnificent courtyard of Tianxiang Tower, Qin Changyuan, who was practicing his sword, changed his expression upon hearing the news, and the sword in his hand flickered with an unpredictable light. It was clear that his emotions were in turmoil.

He asked in a deep voice, "Does that kid have a second-rank protector by his side?"

Dong Kun, nicknamed "Three Saints Cudgel," was a bounty hunter in his early years. He's a true tough guy, a seasoned veteran. His strength isn't weak even among those ranked third.

Even if he couldn't defeat a third-rank opponent, he could still escape.

Only a second-rank official could ensure his death on the spot, leaving him no chance to escape.

A second-rank official!
Qin Changyuan's face turned extremely ugly. The fact that Chen Ming could have a second-rank official protecting him showed that the power behind him was definitely extraordinary.

Even he didn't receive such treatment.

"Not a second-grade official."

The driver who came to report said with a solemn expression, "We have examined all the evidence at the scene. The person who made the move was at most a third-rank cultivator. Dong Kun was stabbed to death from behind with a sword. The person who made the move was not even a third-rank cultivator."

Qin Changyuan looked at him in surprise, "You mean..."

The coachman said, "It is speculated that Dong Kun and that third-rank official fought to the death, and Dong Kun was eventually killed by a sneak attack. That person was most likely Chen Ming."

"idiot!"

Qin Changyuan cursed angrily, but his expression relaxed.

It’s good that it’s not second-grade.

He suspected that Chen Ming might have someone backing him, and sending Dong Kun this time was a test. And this test has revealed it.

He grinned maliciously, "Since his third-rank subordinate is injured, find someone else to kill him. We need to be quick."

"Yes."

There are quite a few martial artists of the third rank or higher in Jiangzhou City. You can always find one or two who have something to ask of you.

In his view, it was a great deal to get a third-rank official position for the position of a fifth-rank captain.

……

In the small courtyard behind Changqing Hall, inside a room, Chen Ming sat on the bed, one hand pressed tightly against Su Zhining's back, the other hand holding a book and flipping through it.

Su Zhining lay on the bed, seemingly asleep, her breathing light, her face still pale, like a fragile piece of porcelain that would shatter at the slightest carelessness.

Chen Ming would occasionally turn to look at her, making sure she was still breathing before he felt relieved and continued reading.

He kept recalling the scene from last night, when Su Zhining, with her unparalleled grace, disregarded her own safety and forcefully saved him despite being seriously injured.

He really wanted to ask her, why are you so silly?

Was it simply because her master asked her to protect him?

He couldn't guess the answer, nor did he dare ask. He could only pick up this medical book to calm his chaotic mind.

Tuk Tuk.

Outside, Dongxiang knocked on the door.

He put down his book and said, "Come in."

When Dongxiang arrived with a plate, she said, "Young master, this is a piece of old ginseng sent over by Old Master Sun from Changqing Hall next door. He said he's going to make soup for this young lady."

"Bring it here."

Chen Ming took the bowl of ginseng soup.

Dongxiang then asked, "Should we get her a clean set of clothes to change into?"

"No need. You can go out now. I'll call you if I need anything."

"Yes." Dongxiang left and closed the door behind her.

Chen Ming woke Su Zhining up and fed her ginseng soup spoonful by spoonful.

Su Zhining did not refuse. After finishing the ginseng soup, she said, "Ten hours have passed. You're almost at your limit. Don't waste your true energy anymore."

"Don't underestimate me."

Chen Ming carefully wiped her mouth and said, "You know nothing about my strength, go to sleep."

Su Zhining gave him a deep look, then closed her eyes again.

……

Another day has passed in the blink of an eye.

When Su Zhining woke up for the third time, she saw that it was already daylight outside. She was surprised and thought, "It's been thirty-six hours."

He had just broken through to the fourth rank, yet his true energy was so profound.

For a typical fourth-rank cultivator, this kind of energy consumption method would deplete their true energy in just a few hours at most.

His true energy is at least ten times that of the other fourth-rank cultivators.

Even the senior brother in the alliance, who was known for his powerful true qi, was no more than that.

What kind of cultivation technique does he practice?
These thoughts flashed through Su Zhining's mind. She looked up and saw Chen Ming looking exhausted. She knew he was also nearing his limit and was just barely holding on.

She said softly, "That's enough. You've done your best."

Chen Ming's forehead throbbed, but his tone remained relaxed as he said, "I don't like hearing that. A real man is no exception. You'll never know how long I can last."

As he spoke, he silently added 240,000 points to his cultivation technique.

【Level: 61】

Current points: 1480000

[Techniques: Iron Horse Stake (Fifth Level Completed), Five Elements True Skill (Missing) (Sixth Level 243000/2400000)]

Martial Arts: Three Talents Fist (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang Family Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Return Sword Technique (Mastery), Vermilion Bird Sword Technique (Mastery), Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens (Third Level 1322/300000)

[Secret Technique: The Art of Disguise (Mastery)]

He leveled up, and instantly, boundless true energy surged out of his nearly depleted Qi Sea, filling his entire body and restoring him to his peak condition.

This is a hidden mechanism in the system; as long as you upgrade, you can be restored to peak performance.

This is the source of his confidence to persevere.

Su Zhining was stunned to see that Chen Ming's complexion had visibly regained its rosy hue, and that his surging true energy seemed to be overflowing from his body.

P.S.: Requesting monthly votes.

(End of this chapter)