I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 231 Ye Qingmei

"Concession."

Chen Ming sheathed his sword but didn't leave immediately. He sat down with Xia Mudan at the stone table in the pavilion, drank some tea, and asked her, "How is Chief Xia doing?"

A hint of worry appeared in Xia Mudan's eyes as she shook her head and said, "There's still no news."

"Does your Money Gang have any other experts? Could you get them to come and support you?"

"The Money Gang originally had three elders. Two of them were my mother's people, and they were also captured and imprisoned by my father. The third one had to stay in the gang to keep watch and couldn't get away."

Undeterred, Chen Ming asked again, "What about the Jiang family? Can't they send even a single expert?"

Xia Mudan whispered, "The situation with the Jiang family is rather complicated. In short, they are all too busy to get away."

He was somewhat disappointed. He had been hoping that she could find someone of the first or second rank to break this deadly calamity.

Now it seems that, aside from the Money Gang, the Jiang family is probably also in considerable trouble.

Chen Ming then asked, "Do you have any close friends in this city?"

Xia Mudan shook her head cautiously, "I'm worried about being seen through, so I don't get close to others."

That's understandable, since she has to play two roles. If she makes some really good friends, she might accidentally reveal her true identity one day.

She said with some shame, "I'm sorry, Brother Gu."

"Did you do something wrong? Apologize right there."

Chen Ming glared at her irritably, then remembered something else, "By the way, how did you disguise yourself as a man? I couldn't see through the disguise at all."

Xia Mudan took out an item from her bosom, a silver ornament she had been wearing around her neck, and said, "This is a rare treasure. I found it in an abandoned garden when I was a child, when I went to my grandfather's house. As long as I wear it, I can disguise myself as another person. Even a powerful expert in the Divine Treasure Realm cannot see through it. It is because of it that I have not been discovered by anyone for so many years."

"Can you show it to me?"

"Give."

Xia Mudan placed the silver ornament in his palm. Her fingertips accidentally touched his palm, causing her long eyelashes to tremble a few times and two blushes to rise on her cheeks.

Chen Ming didn't notice her strange behavior. He was examining the silver ornament in his hand. It looked like some kind of mythical beast, but he couldn't recognize what it was.

Since it's a rare treasure, then—

With a thought, he activated the "Art of Weapon Manipulation" and immediately sensed the mystery within the silver ornament. It was as if a thought was transmitted to him, telling him how to use and function the object.

He was overjoyed; this item would be of great use to him. "Sister, can I borrow this for a while?"

Hearing his words, Xia Mudan looked up and said, "Brother, what are you saying? If you like it, I'll give it to you."

"That's so embarrassing."

"Anyway, the world will no longer need Jiang Wushuang." Her voice was very soft. After she finished speaking, she quickly looked up at him and saw that he didn't react at all. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Chen Ming stood up and said, "I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now. You should rest well at home and not go out."

Xia Mudan got up to see him off, but he had already walked away.

At this moment, Zhiqin complained, "That young master Gu is really something. Miss, you're not fully recovered yet, and he's already asking you to spar. What if you get hurt?"

"Alright," Xia Mudan said, making an excuse for him. "Brother Gu is only doing this for my own good, letting me stretch my muscles. Don't forget, I'm a third-rank official, not that delicate."

"..."

Zhiqin felt like she was caught in the middle, neither inside nor outside the family.

……

Several days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Xia Mudan's body has almost recovered, but she is quite troubled. She doesn't know what Brother Gu is busy with, leaving early and returning late every day.

He would leave before she even got up each day, and wouldn't return until the middle of the night.

She had been recuperating at home these past few days, but she learned from Zhiqin about the incident at the Six Doors a few days ago. Someone had broken into the prison and even released all the prisoners, including a first-rank expert.

It is said that the Six Doors suffered heavy casualties.

This was the first time in the five hundred years since the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty that such an event had occurred within the Six Gates of Xiazhou City. The entire city of Xiazhou was shaken.

Xia Mudan couldn't help but feel worried for Brother Gu. No wonder his five subordinates had such expressions that day, as if they had come to report a bad news.

Later, there were rumors that Brother Gu had performed a great service by killing two top-rank experts.

Upon hearing this rumor, she couldn't help but worry for him. It was probably false. How could a first-grade expert be so powerful that a third-grade expert could kill him?
I'm afraid someone within the Six Doors is trying to harm Brother Gu.

That thief must have accomplices; we might seek revenge against him someday.

There is absolutely no benefit to having such a reputation.

Xia Mudan couldn't help but worry about Brother Gu. Sitting in front of the mirror, she unconsciously frowned slightly, her face showing worry.

Zhiqin stood behind her, using a sandalwood comb to comb her hair, her long, beautiful hair cascading down like a black waterfall.

Ugh!
The maid couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Ever since she met that young master Gu, her mistress had frowned more often than in the past few years.

She simply couldn't understand why the young lady would be so preoccupied with such a man, always more sorrow than joy. What was the point?

"Miss, something interesting has happened in the city these past few days."

Zhiqin could only try to amuse her mistress by telling her interesting stories. "They say that a few days ago, a stunningly beautiful woman came to the city. She called herself Ye Qingmei and declared that she would defeat all the masters in the world with her three-foot sword. This young woman already has the cultivation of a third-rank expert. On the first day, she defeated several young third-rank experts."

"Oh?"

Xia Mudan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What sect or school does this woman belong to? How dare she be so arrogant?"

Zhiqin said, "This Ye Qingmei claims to be from no particular sect or school. It is said that her swordsmanship is superb, her movements are extraordinary, and she has even comprehended the sword intent. In the past few days, more than a dozen third-rank cultivators have fallen to her sword. She is currently enjoying unparalleled fame." Xia Mudan said with some longing, "There is such an extraordinary woman in the world! What a pity—" Her tone was quite regretful.

Zhiqin knew what she was regretting. Now was not a good time to show herself and to have a chance to fight this extraordinary woman.

She said, "Once this matter is settled, there will definitely be an opportunity to get to know her in the future."

But then the young lady said, "I wonder if Brother Gu will make a move?"

Why are you bringing him up again?
Zhiqin was helpless. She wanted to find a new topic to divert her attention, but she kept circling back to Young Master Gu.

"I wonder what Brother Gu has been busy with these past few days..."

Just then, a maid hurried to the door and announced, "Miss, Aunt—that young master Gu has arrived."

In private, they all call him "son-in-law," since they've already gone through the wedding ceremony. They just don't dare call him that in front of the young lady.

Upon hearing this, Xia Mudan jumped up, her face beaming with delight.

"My dear lady!"

Zhiqin was so frightened that she grabbed her and pulled her back. What would it look like if she ran out to see Young Master Gu in such disheveled clothes?
Xia Mudan realized that this was inappropriate and quickly said, "Brother Gu, I will come over after I change my clothes."

Sure enough, Brother Gu's voice came from outside, "Okay."

……

After a while, Xia Mudan combed her hair, changed into a new outfit, and came out to see Chen Ming. Her eyes were gentle, and she gave him a graceful bow, saying, "Good morning, Brother Gu."

"morning."

Chen Ming was sitting at a table outside the courtyard eating snacks when he beckoned her over, saying, "These are snacks I had someone buy this morning, have a taste."

"Thank you, brother."

Xia Mudan sat down opposite him, picked up a pastry, took a bite, and exclaimed, "It's delicious! Which shop makes this pastry?"

Chen Ming said, "I don't know either. A subordinate bought it. I thought you would like it, so I brought it over for you to try. I'm glad you like it."

"I like."

"Look at this."

Chen Ming took out a long, rectangular brocade box from his pocket; it looked quite exquisite.

"what is this?"

Xia Mudan opened the brocade box and saw a white jade hairpin inside, flawless, elegant and understated.

A hint of surprise, anticipation, and disbelief flickered in her eyes. "This is—"

Chen Ming smiled and said, "I picked this out especially for you. Do you like it?"

"Ok!"

Xia Mudan nodded emphatically, her face flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of shyness and joy. "I like it very much."

He said, "Try wearing it."

She did as he asked, inserting the jade hairpin into her hair and looking at him expectantly.

"nice."

Chen Ming examined it for a while, nodded, and confirmed his judgment; this jade hairpin was indeed suitable for her.

This wasn't cheap; he spent all the money he had.

“I’ve felt really bad about giving you that precious treasure. I was thinking about what to give you in return, and when I saw this jade hairpin, I thought it would suit you perfectly. So I bought it especially for you.”

This is considered a return gift.

Xia Mudan said, "Thank you, elder brother."

Seeing that she was radiant, Chen Ming couldn't help but be infected by her joy and asked, "How have you been resting these past few days? Is your injury any better?"

"I'm almost fully recovered. Thank you for your concern, brother."

"That's good."

Seeing that he seemed about to take his leave, Xia Mudan said, "By the way, I heard that a woman named Ye Qingmei has come to the city and is challenging the local experts everywhere. Brother Gu, have you gone to meet her?"

A strange look flashed in Chen Ming's eyes as he said, "I've heard of it, but I've been too busy with official duties lately to get away. I have to go; Lord Hong just sent someone to summon me. I can't linger too long."

"Then you go, brother."

Xia Mudan rose to see him off, and after watching him leave, she remained standing there, unwilling to leave. She took off the jade hairpin, held it in her hand and caressed it, gazing at it for a long time, lost in thought.

……

After leaving the house, Chen Ming followed a constable in blue to the Six Doors.

He wasn't lying; Hong Yuze had indeed sent someone to summon him, saying it was something important.

Upon arriving at the Six Doors, they met Hong Yuze in the "Ze Shi Tang" hall, along with two other first-rank purple-robed governors, a man and a woman.

The man among them had a square face and a rather dignified demeanor.

When Chen Ming saw this person, he was greatly surprised.

This person was the very same first-rank military commander who was depicted in one of the five calamities he had been given by the tortoise shell.

(End of this chapter)