I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 18 Nameless Kung Fu Technique
In the early morning, as the sun rises, its warm rays stream into the courtyard.

Chen Ming sat under the eaves, flipping through a book. The book looked like paper, yet it was incredibly tough, seemingly made from the skin of some kind of animal.

The book appears to be old, with slightly yellowed paper. The font used is also different from current mainstream fonts.

The book cover didn't have a title, but judging from the content, it was indeed a martial arts technique.

Such a technique, of unknown origin and without even a name, would be something that an ordinary person would never dare to practice lightly.

However, Chen Ming wasn't worried. He would know whether this thing was real or fake once he tried it.

Not long after, the maid Xiao Hong came to call him for dinner.

He then put away the nameless martial arts manual and went to have breakfast.

……

After having breakfast, Chen Ming went out to the Huo residence.

He has adjusted his condition in the past few days, and he didn't notice anything amiss when he was in close contact with Deng Ziyang yesterday.

Moreover, he hadn't gained any experience points while staying at home these past few days, which made him a little anxious.

How can I become stronger without experience points?

Around nine o'clock in the morning, Chen Ming arrived at the Huo residence on time, greeted the gatekeeper, and entered the house. However, he did not see Huo Qianqian's maid Chunmei for a long time, and he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

On second thought, her fiancé is back, why would he come to spar with her?

Moreover, she's getting married soon, so it'll be even less likely she'll come to challenge him to a duel.

From now on, there will be one less source of experience points.

Chen Ming felt somewhat regretful.

Before long, they arrived at the training ground.

"Junior Brother Chen."

Hong Mingquan was quite pleased to see him. "You've finally arrived. Those kids have been talking about you every day."

Fifth Senior Brother.

Chen Ming walked into the pavilion and explained, "I've been busy with family matters these past few days and haven't been able to get away. I'm sorry to have troubled you, Senior Brother."

Just then, Zhang Mingyu walked over. "Hey, I've heard all about it. Are you getting married soon?"

During this period, Chen Ming and Zhang Mingyu got along quite well, and the previous misunderstandings had long been resolved. After all, they saw each other every day, so there was no need to make things too awkward.

Hong Mingquan said, "I think we shouldn't settle down so quickly. Marriage is a major life event. Why not wait a few more years, and if we can overcome that hurdle, then it won't be too late to get married."

This is his advice as someone who has been through it all.

He was too eager to get married, and the woman he married was only of average appearance and family background. Later, he became a martial artist, but it was too late for him to regret it.

One of the rules of our sect is that a wife who has shared hardship should not be abandoned.

Zhang Mingyu disagreed with his opinion, saying, "Fifth Junior Brother, don't mislead others here. How difficult is it to break through to become a martial artist? Those who lack talent should be down-to-earth and not have unrealistic fantasies, which will only cause them more trouble."

Hong Mingquan dared not refute, only saying, "Senior brother is right."

Chen Ming lowered his head and drank his tea, offering no comment.

Actually, Zhang Mingyu is right. It's just that he's not an ordinary person.

Seeing that the conversation was getting a bit awkward, he changed the subject and asked about the famous masters who had appeared in Qingfeng City.

The two of them were naturally very knowledgeable about this topic.

"If we're talking about the most powerful expert who has ever appeared in this area, it should be the ancestor of the Gu family two hundred years ago, a peerless master of the first rank. From then on, the Gu family established its position as the number one family in this county..."

As the three were chatting, they suddenly saw Wen Zehao appear in the training ground and walk towards them.

Hong Mingquan and Zhang Mingyu suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Chen Ming got up to say goodbye, so as not to be an eyesore here.

"Chen Ming".

Unexpectedly, Wen Zehao called out to him, "You don't need to leave. Sit down and have a cup of tea with me."

Chen Ming felt somewhat confused. Why was this person being so hot and cold? Did he think this was a game? "No, thank you."

He politely declined and left the pavilion.

……

Zhang Mingyu found it a bit strange, "Didn't you dislike him? Why are you suddenly being so polite to him?"

Wen Zehao sighed, picked up the tea his fifth senior brother had poured for him, drank it all in one gulp, and said with a regretful look, "I finally understand why my junior sister was angry with me. It turns out she thought I was too petty."

Aren't you?

Zhang Mingyu and Hong Mingquan thought to themselves, but neither of them said it aloud.

Wen Zehao didn't notice their expressions, his mouth filled with bitterness. "She helped Chen Ming because her best friend Zhang Xinyi came to beg her. Sigh, why didn't she say so sooner? Because of this, my junior sister still won't talk to me."

Zhang Mingyu suppressed a laugh and said with a hint of sarcasm, "So, you're planning to make up with Chen Ming and have him explain things to your junior sister for you?"

"Ah."

"Unfortunately, they didn't appreciate it."

Wen Zehao snorted, "He dares? He's giving him too much face!"

At this moment, Hong Mingquan interjected, "I don't think this is a good idea. Junior Sister is very intelligent and dislikes people playing tricks on her. Junior Brother, you just need to interact with Chen Ming normally and avoid conflicts with him. When the news reaches her ears, she will naturally understand."

Wen Zehao shook his head and said, "When will that be? My junior sister's birthday is coming soon, and I need to get her to forgive me as soon as possible. I'll go find her now."

Zhang Mingyu and Hong Mingquan, the two fellow disciples, were left speechless.

……

"You want me to explain to Miss Huo that you didn't ostracize me or try to drive me away?"

Chen Ming looked at Wen Zehao with some shock after hearing his purpose for coming.

What kind of thought process is this, to say something like that to oneself?
This level of emotional intelligence is worse than even a middle school student's.

Wen Zehao nodded, "Yes. As long as you explain to Junior Sister, I can give you a Qi and Blood Pill."

His tone was as if he were giving alms.

Chen Ming thought for a moment and said, "I can go and explain to Miss Huo. It would be best if we went together."

"That's what I meant."

Wen Zehao was actually a little worried that he would talk badly about him to his junior sister behind his back, so he had already decided to go with her.

He took a bottle from his pocket and gave the payment first.

Fifty taels in hand.

Chen Ming never turned down money. After confirming that it contained a Qi and Blood Pill, he put it directly into his pocket.

……

…………

At the Xiao residence, a group of constables from the Six Doors were gathered early in the morning.

Someone died here last night.

Early in the morning, the Xiao family sent someone to report to the authorities.

Three constables searched the scene. The oldest of them said, "When the body was found, the door was locked from the inside, and the windows were intact. There were no traces left by a second person at the scene, and the deceased had no other injuries. This was a suicide."

The other constable nodded in agreement with this deduction.

Only the young constable, with sharp eyes, said in a deep voice, "I believe this is a murder case. Judging from the ligature marks on the victim's neck, it was not a suicide by hanging, but rather he was strangled."

The older constable sneered, "Since Lord Wang believes this is a murder, then go and investigate it yourself. Come back and overturn my conclusion when you find evidence and arrest the culprit."

After speaking, he walked away.

After the two constables left the Xiao residence, the younger one sneered, "Truly, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger."

The older constable said, "I saw long ago that he was an ambitious man. The new superior is so young, he must be determined to achieve something remarkable. This kid has his eye on that. If he can make some contributions, he might catch the eye of the new superior."

(End of this chapter)