I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 261 Capital City
Gu Haochuan had a wide circle of friends, including some in Xiazhou City. These friends were members of the Eight Righteous Men, though they didn't specify which one, and he didn't ask.

During my stay in Xiazhou City, I stayed at this friend's home.

After nightfall, Chen Ming told Gu Haochuan before going out to find Xia Mudan.

After he left, Gu Haochuan's friend said in surprise, "Your nephew has done quite a few earth-shattering things in Xiazhou City. I never thought he would have to ask you for permission to go out."

Gu Haochuan smiled somewhat strangely, "Yes. My nephew always does things in a way that leaves no room for criticism."

……

"Young Master Gu, you're finally back."

As soon as Chen Ming knocked on Xia Mudan's door, a young maid saw him and burst into tears. "Miss has been taken away by the madam. She says she's going to marry her off to that old geezer in the palace. Please go and save her..."

His heart sank upon hearing this. "What exactly happened? Tell me in detail."

Then, the little maid sobbed as she recounted what had happened.

On the third day after Chen Ming left Xiazhou City, Xia's mother suddenly appeared and forcibly took Xia Mudan away. Under those circumstances, she could only find an opportunity to hurriedly tell the little maid a few words.

The maid stayed there, waiting for him to return.

This wait lasted for more than a month.

After listening, Chen Ming remained calm and asked, "Wasn't your wife locked up by Gang Leader Xia? How did she escape?"

"I don't know either, it seems someone in the gang released the lady."

"Where is Chief Xia?"

"do not know."

When asked where Xia Mudan was now, she still didn't know.

Seeing that she knew nothing when asked, Chen Ming stopped asking, told her to stay there, and then left.

On his way back, he thought to himself, "Being a kept man isn't so easy after all."

It's likely that the Prince of Yan's daughter was head over heels in love with Xia Shaowen when she was determined to marry him. But twenty years after their marriage, she changed her mind and decided to marry her daughter into the palace.

It's impossible to say that she never regretted this marriage.

Even though Xia Shaowen had already reached the first rank and was beginning to break through to the Divine Treasure Realm, he still couldn't defeat his wife, who came from a noble family.

For the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, who possessed twenty-seven states, what was a mere Divine Treasure Realm?

……

Two days later, after completing the formalities and making arrangements for his five subordinates, Chen Ming set off for the capital with Gu Haochuan and his nephew.

They traveled north, first by boat, and then by land after half a month.

When not in a hurry, Gu Haochuan was quite particular about his quality of life. He wanted high-quality food and household items, and he rode in luxurious carriages.

They traveled on and off for nearly a month before finally arriving in the capital.

From afar, Chen Ming could see a majestic and towering city wall, covered with the marks of time. It possessed an indescribable grandeur.

This is a magnificent city steeped in history. It is said that the number of people living here is as many as several million, which is an astounding number for this era.

As Chen Ming entered the city gate, he noticed that the ordinary generals guarding the city were all at the third rank of cultivation.

If you were to ask where the most skilled martial artists in the world resides, there's no doubt it would be the capital of the Great Jin Dynasty. Rumor has it that if you were to casually throw a brick at ten people, three of them would be of the third rank.

This is certainly an exaggeration, but the capital city does indeed have many masters.

The Number One Building in the World was built in all twenty-seven states, except for the capital.

The capital city is a place where hidden talents abound; no one knows which inconspicuous alley might harbor a peerless master. Legend has it that there once stood the "Number One Building Under Heaven" in the capital, but somehow it offended an unparalleled expert and was subsequently demolished.

After that, the First Restaurant Under Heaven withdrew from the capital and dared not set foot in the city again.

The carriage moved slowly down the street. Gu Haochuan reminded Chen Ming, "The capital is a dangerous place. There are many families more prestigious than our Gu family. Be careful not to act ostentatiously. If you offend someone you can't afford to offend, I can't save you."

"I will follow my fifth uncle's teachings."

Chen Ming knew this was a warning, and on the surface he naturally agreed solemnly, but only he knew what he was really thinking.

The Duke of Jingguo's mansion is located in the inner city, the most central area of ​​the capital.

If it weren't for Gu Xianyu's status, he wouldn't have been able to get in.

Before entering the Duke's mansion, Gu Haochuan said, "After you return home, focus on your cultivation and don't worry about anything else. The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is in a month. As long as you can secure a spot in the Immortal Abode for the Gu family, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

"it is good."

Chen Ming responded meekly, but he didn't really take it seriously.

It's possible that Gu Haochuan said this sincerely, but he would never entrust his fate to others.

He was at least safe before the Ghost Festival banquet.

During this period, I must do my utmost to improve my abilities.

Therefore, Chen Ming made a request, "Fifth Uncle, I want to spar with some second-rank experts to improve my combat skills."

Gu Haochuan frowned and said, "I'm afraid this matter will not be easy. There are only a few second-rank members in the family, and I can't just order them around."

He wasn't the head of the family; the real power in the family was in the hands of Gu Xianyu's biological father. Chen Ming said, "Fifth Uncle, as you know, I only recently broke through to the second rank. I was able to kill Du Rusong entirely thanks to the Taiyue Sword. After that sword strike, the power of the Taiyue Sword was greatly reduced. With my current strength, I might not be able to win first place at the Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet. If I want to advance further, I need to find some second-rank opponents to hone my martial arts. The more, the better."

Gu Haochuan felt there was some truth to his words and pondered for a moment, wondering where he could find a second-rank master to spar with him.

Chen Ming suggested, "Back when I was in Xiazhou City, I often sparred with prisoners. My skills improved by leaps and bounds thanks to that. I just don't know if Fifth Uncle has any connections..."

Gu Haochuan glanced at him, and for some reason, a sense of unease flashed through his heart. He instinctively wanted to refuse, but the words caught in his throat.

He thought about it carefully for a moment, and finding nothing wrong with it, said, "I'll consider it."

As they were talking, the carriage drove into the gate of the Duke's mansion.

……

"Seventh Brother, from now on you will live with me. To outsiders, we will be fellow disciples."

Gu Zhengshan led Chen Ming to a courtyard and settled him in a side room.

Chen Ming readily agreed, and after the servants tidied up the side room, he settled in there.

"Brother Seven!"

Suddenly, an excited voice came from outside. Gu Yuyin ran over, bringing with her a fragrant scent. When she saw Chen Ming, she said happily, "You're finally back! I was so worried when I heard about your accident. I'm so glad you're alright."

Chen Ming smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, sister."

Gu Zhengshan rushed over upon hearing the news, "It's Yu Yin."

Gu Yuyin said, "Fifth Brother, why is Seventh Brother staying here? Doesn't he have his own courtyard?"

“His little courtyard is too far away. If he lives with me, our master can teach us together, which is more convenient.”

Gu Yuyin thought it made a lot of sense and said, "With Fifth Brother around, you won't have to worry about others bullying you anymore."

Gu Zhengshan said, "Things are different now. With Seventh Brother's current strength, who can bully him?"

“That’s true.” Gu Yuyin brought up something, “My eldest brother and fourth brother are both back. It’s rare to have everyone here for the Ghost Festival this year.”

Gu Zhengshan looked somewhat uneasy when he heard his eldest brother and fourth brother's names.

Chen Ming, however, knew perfectly well what was going on.

In the current generation of the Gu family, only the second and third sons are qualified to compete for the position of family head.

The eldest brother is too incompetent. He's almost thirty and still hasn't reached the third rank. He spends his days indulging in sensual pleasures.

The fourth son was quite talented, but he suffered a major setback in his early years, which made him taciturn. He stayed in a mountain villa outside the city and rarely went out.

The sixth brother is dead.

As for the eighth and ninth sons, they are all still young and pose no threat to the second and third sons.

The assassins sent to kill Gu Xianyu were, without a doubt, one of the second or third brothers.

The one who condoned all of this was none other than the current head of the family, Gu Haoran, who was also Gu Xianyu's biological father.

I just don't know how Gu Haochuan will report about him to Gu Haoran.

How will the Gu family's top management react to this?

……

Chen Ming's return to the Gu residence did not cause any disturbance.

Apart from Gu Yuyin visiting him, no one else came. The second and third brothers only sent gifts to congratulate him on breaking through to the third rank.

He later learned that it was Gu Haochuan who had spread the word that others should not disturb his practice.

That's good, it'll be quieter this way.

Chen Ming originally thought that Gu Haoran would summon him, but after waiting for two days, his adoptive father did not send anyone to summon him.

Instead, good news arrived.

Gu Haochuan helped him obtain a pass token that allowed him to enter the Heavenly Prison. With this token, he could enter the Heavenly Prison and interrogate prisoners of the second rank or below.

When Gu Haochuan handed him the token, he was overjoyed. Using the enemy's power to enhance his own strength was a brilliant move.

So, every day he would ride in the Gu family's carriage to the Imperial Prison, enter the prison with his token, and "spar" with the second-rank prisoners in the Imperial Prison by interrogating them.

It must be said that the imperial prison in the capital is truly extraordinary. It is similar in model to the prison in Xiazhou City, but on a much larger scale.

There were more than twenty prisoners who were of the second rank alone.

However, nine of them could not be interrogated, as they were considered important prisoners.

These prisoners were not only from the capital; half of them were brought to the capital from various prefectures of the Great Jin Dynasty for trial and imprisonment.

It is said that in another area, there are also more than a dozen first-rank criminals.

There were even quite a few powerful experts at the Divine Realm level imprisoned there, but they were locked up on the lower level. He didn't have permission to enter the lower level, so naturally he couldn't see those experts.

From then on, Chen Ming began his happy days of grinding experience. Every day he would set off early in the morning, and after "sparring" with more than a dozen second-rank experts, he would return to the Duke of Jingguo's mansion after dark.

(End of this chapter)