I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 183 A Risked Life
Chen Mansion.

Early in the morning, Old Li, the gatekeeper, picked up a big broom and started sweeping the snow in front of the gate. After sweeping for a while, he got so tired that he could hardly straighten his back and stood there, leaning on the broom to rest.

Suddenly, a dashing young man walked over and asked, "Uncle Li, what are you looking at?"

"The second young master is here."

Old Li greeted them warmly before saying, "The two families next door just moved in yesterday, but they have no manners at all and don't even come to visit."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but shake his head.

This dashing young man was none other than Hong Zilin. Previously, the First Madam had jokingly mentioned that she wanted to adopt Li Jinchuan and him as her godson. Therefore, the servants in the mansion all called Li Jinchuan the Eldest Young Master and him the Second Young Master.

When Hong Zilin heard about it, he felt something was amiss. It was too much of a coincidence that both of his neighbors had changed on the same day.

"Let me help you."

He took the broom and quickly swept the snow to one side of the doorway, asking, "I heard a few petty thieves came yesterday?"

"Yes, thankfully Guard Gu discovered it in time and killed those petty thieves. Sigh, Qingfeng City is getting more and more chaotic lately. I heard several houses have been robbed..."

"Where are the bodies of those thieves?"

"After reporting to the authorities, the body was taken to the mortuary."

At this moment, Hong Zilin finished sweeping and handed the broom back to Old Li, saying, "I'm going to pay my respects to my godfather and godmother."

"Go."

Looking at his back, Old Li felt more and more that this second young master had the demeanor of a master.

……

After entering the mansion, Hong Zilin first went to find the guard Gu Junrong, "Master Gu, who are those petty thieves from yesterday?"

Yesterday, he went to the Huo residence to learn martial arts from his senior martial arts master, Zhang Mingyu. He didn't get home until very late and only then did he hear about this from his mother, so he came over early this morning.

Gu Junrong's expression was grave. "Those three were clearly hostile, and their strength was far beyond my capabilities. If someone hadn't secretly intervened and killed them, I'm afraid..."

He was still shaken and dared not continue speaking.

Hong Zilin's heart skipped a beat; that was definitely no ordinary thief. "Master Gu, do you know who secretly helped you?"

"I don't know. But I think it must be a friend of the Second Master. I've already reported this to the First Master, and he told me not to make a fuss. Since that person is unwilling to show himself, we should pretend we don't know anything about it."

Hong Zilin nodded, but his heart was heavy. Now, not knowing who the enemy was, nor who the allies were, and with no clear understanding of the situation, he felt like a headless fly – the most unbearable feeling.

He smiled bitterly to himself, "Uncle-Master, what kind of enemy did you offend in Jiangzhou City?"

As the saying goes, the higher you climb, the colder it gets. When he learned that his uncle had ranked sixth on the Qingyun List, he already guessed that the Chen family would sooner or later be in the eye of the storm.

Now that Uncle Chen Ming has not returned, the Chen family has no one to lead them.

However, recently, Qingfeng City has been in turmoil, with all sorts of rumors flying around. Many unfamiliar faces have appeared in the city, and even the most oblivious person knows that something big is about to happen.

"Uncle-Master, please come back soon."

Hong Zilin went to find Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda again. The two of them were still carefree and greeted him cheerfully when they saw him.

Sometimes, I really envy their carefree attitude.

Unfortunately, they are the strongest members of the Chen family now, having reached the seventh rank. If anything happens in the mansion, they will be the ones to protect their adoptive father and mother.

After paying his respects to Chen Rui and Madam Wei, Hong Zilin went to see his martial uncle's maids, Chunxiang and Xiaxiang, who were now at the eighth rank of cultivation, quite formidable.

All things considered, the Chen family is quite powerful now.

Two officials of the seventh rank, Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda.

Four eighth-rank officials: Chunxiang, Xiaxiang, Master Gu Junrong, and him.

Besides, there is another girl in the manor, whose origins are mysterious and who rarely shows herself. She also has the cultivation level of the seventh rank.

However, such strength is still far from enough to face the current crisis.

Hong Zilin felt a sense of crisis. After talking with Chunxiang and Xiaxiang, he left the Chen residence, deciding to investigate the background of the two newly moved-in "neighbors".

……

Inside the room, Chen Ming sat on a chair, his left hand against Yu Haitang's back and his right hand on Su Zhining's back, continuously channeling his internal energy into their bodies.

Every now and then, I would take a Jade Dragon Pill.

This has been going on for ten days.

These two people's bodies were like bottomless pits, as if no amount of internal energy could be supplied.

To others, his inner energy seemed inexhaustible; more than ten days had passed, and it still hadn't run out.

Only Chen Ming knew that his internal energy was almost depleted.

【Level: 67】

Current points: 440000

[Techniques: Iron Horse Stake (Fifth Level Completed), Five Elements True Skill (Missing) (Sixth Level 1683000/2400000)]

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 now has enough points to level up one more time. This means he can only last about five more days.

If they don't recover by then, there's nothing he can do.

Chen Ming was currently studying the "Nine Yang Spirit Nourishing Method." Since his hands were not able to move easily, he had a shelf made to hold the book.

When he wants to turn the pages of a book, he uses his inner energy. This is when his precise control over his inner energy is tested.

When Qiu Xiang came to deliver the meal, she mentioned something, "Young Master, a young man from your household is investigating us." "Oh?"

Chen Ming became interested and asked, "What kind of young man is he?"

"He was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a striking and handsome appearance..."

With that description, he knew who it was; the only one who fit that age was Hong Zilin.

"It's him."

Chen Ming felt quite gratified. The little boy who seemed like a little adult back then had grown up and was now able to share the burden of the family.

When he was at home, Hong Zilin, though mature beyond his years, was focused on martial arts and rarely concerned himself with anything else. In the few months he was away, the kid has certainly matured.

He said, "It's okay, let's see how far he can find out."

……

Two more days passed, and Chen Ming's internal energy was depleted again, so he had to add more points and level up.

【Level: 68】

Current points: 200000

[Techniques: Iron Horse Stake (Fifth Level Completed), Five Elements True Skill (Missing) (Sixth Level 1923000/2400000)]

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)]

Chen Ming's depleted internal energy was restored, and he returned to his peak condition.

He glanced at the panel and saw that he was 40,000 experience points away from leveling up again.

Where can I get 40,000 experience points?

As he was pondering, Yu Haitang suddenly asked out of the blue, "How did you do that?"

"Huh?" His train of thought was interrupted. He looked up and saw that she had turned to the side and was staring at him with a probing look.

"Your internal energy was clearly depleted, so why did you suddenly become full of energy again?" Yu Haitang stared intently into his eyes, expressing strong confusion. "This is the seventh time already!"

Chen Ming also knew that, given his current situation with these two women, it would be almost impossible for him to keep it a secret from them.

He said with a serious expression, "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Telling you won't hurt. I once obtained a secret technique called the 'Blood Burning Technique.' As long as I pay a certain price, I can restore my true energy to its peak state. As for the price, it's just a ten-year reduction in lifespan."

"you are lying."

Yu Haitang said coldly, "I have never heard of such a secret method."

Chen Ming looked surprised. "Huh? You saw right through me. Was my acting really that bad?"

"If you don't want to say it, forget it."

Yu Haitang turned her head away, no longer looking at him. She seemed a little angry.

Just then, Chen Ming felt a surge of internal energy within Su Zhining, which shook his hand away. He was startled at first, then overjoyed, "Miss Su, you've recovered?"

But she remained as if in a meditative state, silent and barely breathing.

He placed his hand on her back again, but it was shaken away in less than a second.

Chen Ming was finally relieved. It seemed that she had indeed recovered almost completely. He no longer needed to use his true energy to protect her heart meridian.

It wasn't easy; it took a full two weeks. We finally pulled her back from the brink of death.

Now, only one Jade Begonia remains.

Her complexion was much better than before, and he could feel that her internal energy was gradually recovering. Once it grew strong enough to sustain her life, he could let go.

With Chen Ming's pressure greatly reduced, he was able to free up one hand, which made things much easier.

Just as he was feeling pleased, Qiu Xiang came and knocked on the door. "Young master, a Commandant Du from the Six Doors requests an audience."

Du Caiyue finally came knocking on their door.

He said, "Please let her in."

As a local strongman in Qingfeng City, it wouldn't be easy to hide anything from Du Caiyue.

Before long, Qiu Xiang brought Du Caiyue over.

"Lord Du, it's been a long time."

At this moment, a curtain fell in the middle, separating Su Zhining and Yu Haitang. Now that Chen Ming could move one hand, it didn't seem so awkward.

When Du Caiyue saw him like this, she was taken aback. She subconsciously glanced inside the curtain and could see that there was someone inside, and it was a woman.

She suddenly remembered some rumors that had come from Jiangzhou City.

However, she didn't ask anything, and smiled, "Yes, it's been a long time. I never imagined that after our last meeting, you would be the sixth-ranked Chen Erlang on the Qingyun List in Jiangzhou."

It's only been half a year since we last met.

"you flatter me."

At this moment, Qiu Xiang served tea.

Chen Ming asked, "May I ask what brings Lord Du here?"

Du Caiyue glanced subconsciously at the woman behind the curtain, gritted her teeth, and said, "Have you ever heard of Paradise Island?"

(End of this chapter)