I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 36 Order
"Second Young Master, the Eldest Young Master requests your presence."

At this moment, Chunxiang came over to report.

After a year of recuperation, she's finally not as thin as before, and her complexion looks much better, though she's still dark-skinned. I don't know if her skin is naturally this dark, or if it's from the sun exposure during her daily practice.

Chen Ming said to Deng Ziyang, "Excuse me for a moment."

Deng Ziyang laughed and said, "Alright, no need to entertain us. Go and do your work."

Chen Ming followed Chunxiang out of the courtyard and learned that a distinguished guest had arrived, and his elder brother had asked him to greet him.

Several of Huo Chengkun's nominal disciples arrived.

He went over to greet them with a smile, "Senior Brother Gu, Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Li, the arrival of the three senior brothers is truly an honor to our humble abode."

Gu Junrong, who was in the lead, presented a congratulatory gift, saying, "Congratulations on your housewarming, Junior Brother. I've come to offer my congratulations."

The other two also presented gifts and said some auspicious words.

After thanking him, Chen Ming accepted the gifts and invited the three into the main hall, where he personally accompanied them.

Then, guests kept arriving, and the two brothers were busy greeting them, their faces stiff with smiles.

Over the past year, Chen Ming has certainly made many friends. The pharmacy business has grown significantly, and Chen Rui has also gained many business associates. The number of visitors has been exceptionally high.

……

After a busy day, we finally saw all the guests off after dark.

Only a few "fellow disciples" remained.

Chen Ming had to go and accompany them. "I'm so sorry for neglecting you, my three senior brothers."

Gu Junrong laughed and said, "We're brothers, don't mention it."

Wang Mingkai chuckled and said in a strange tone, "Didn't Senior Brother Sun send someone over to offer his congratulations?"

Chen Ming knew he was referring to Sun Shicai, and said nonchalantly, "Senior Brother Sun is busy with important matters."

Anyway, he sent the invitation, which fulfilled his courtesy.

The disciples of the Huo family have now split into two factions. One faction is led by Sun Shicai, and the other by Zhang Mingyu.

Of Huo Chengkun's direct disciples, only his third disciple Zhang Mingyu, fourth disciple Sun Shicai, and seventh disciple Wen Zehao are still alive.

Wen Zehao did not go to Xiaoshui that day, which many people considered unfilial, and no one recognized him as a member of the Huo family anymore.

Of course, he also escaped with his life because of this.

Sun Shicai didn't go either, but he had a reason: he was injured at the time. In addition, as an inspector of the Six Doors, there were naturally many people who wanted to curry favor with him.

Many people disliked Sun Shicai and naturally followed Zhang Mingyu. Although he was the senior disciple, his cultivation was inferior to Sun Shicai's, and he didn't hold an official position, he had a strong sense of righteousness!

According to the order of succession, Zhang Mingyu naturally became the heir to Huo Chengkun's legacy in the martial arts world.

Chen Ming gained popularity for his charitable act of helping and sheltering Hong Mingquan's widow and son, and he also had a good relationship with Zhang Mingyu, so he naturally sided with Zhang's faction.

Of course, he would not offend Sun Shicai, and he never neglected to show proper courtesy.

Although the Huo family was split into two factions, there was no direct conflict between them, nor did they break off relations. On the surface, they remained harmonious.

Chen Ming quickly changed the subject and started discussing martial arts.

Gu Junrong and the other two became focused, each raising questions they had encountered during their daily practice, and then Chen Ming shared his experience and opinions.

It was less of a discussion and more of a suggestion.

They only called it a discussion to save face for the three of them.

After discussing martial arts and philosophy, all three felt they had gained a lot, and their doubts were swept away.

Gu Junrong sighed, "Junior Brother Chen's talent in martial arts is probably no less than Senior Brother Sun's. It's a pity that even Master can be blind. He actually missed out on such a prodigy as you."

His tone was full of regret.

Wang Mingkai chuckled self-deprecatingly, "My junior brother is so open with us. As the senior brother, it's truly embarrassing that I need his guidance."

Upon hearing this, both Gu Junrong and Li Qingchang blushed, their faces showing shame.

Chen Ming said solemnly, "We are all fellow disciples, why be so formal? Now that our master is gone, we should all work together and strive forward so as not to tarnish the reputation of our sect."

The three of them were all somewhat shaken upon hearing this.

Wang Mingkai was somewhat ashamed. "Hey, junior brother is right. I was narrow-minded and said the wrong thing. I'll punish myself with three drinks."

After saying that, he downed three cups in a row.

Chen Ming also joined in the drinking. These three "senior brothers" were the ones Huo Chengkun had the best relationship with among his many disciples. It was just a pity that they maintained their senior brother status and were unwilling to spar with him.

To put it bluntly, it's because they're afraid of losing and losing face.

From them, Chen Ming understood what it meant to live with dignity.

Having roamed the underworld, they weren't as innocent as Deng Ziyang and his two friends. They had too many reservations and wouldn't easily resort to violence.

Because if you lose, your reputation will be severely damaged, and you'll lose all your value.

The three of them are now guard captains for the merchant guild, each with a dozen or so men under their command. If word got out that they were defeated by their junior brother, who would want to hire them as guards?
Chen Ming was also helpless. In the past ten months, very few martial artists were willing to spar with him.

It seems that making many friends won't work.

The four were drinking heartily when suddenly Chunxiang's anxious voice came from outside, "...Young master, please allow me to go and inform him..."

Judging from the noise, it sounds like someone forced their way in.

Wang Mingkai was known for his fiery temper, and after drinking, he flew into a rage, yelling, "Who's the blind fool who dares to come here and cause trouble?"

At that moment, the newcomer also barged into the courtyard.

Chen Ming recognized the person at a glance and said with some surprise, "Senior Brother Cai?"

Chunxiang said with a wronged expression, "Second Young Master, he..."

He waved his hand, signaling her to step back.

When Wang Mingkai saw that it was Cai Zhonglin who had arrived, he looked disgusted. "Oh, isn't this Cai, who's with Senior Brother Sun? What a rare guest."

Cai Zhonglin looked at Wang Mingkai, that mad dog, with a displeased expression, but didn't want to waste words with him. To argue with him would be beneath his dignity.

He turned to Chen Ming and said, "Chen Ming, I came here specifically to see you. My fourth senior brother asked me to pass on a message to you."

Chen Ming was quite curious. Why did Sun Shicai send him over so late?
He asked politely, "What are your instructions, Senior Brother Sun?"

Cai Zhonglin's gaze swept over Wang Mingkai and the other two people beside him.

"Speak freely, they are all our fellow disciples, there's no need to hide it from them."

Cai Zhonglin cleared his throat and said, "Today, people from the martial arts guild went to Fourth Senior Brother to complain. They said you opened a school and started accepting students without their permission. Is that true?"

So that's why I came here.

Chen Ming understood, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I'm just giving some ten-year-old children an introduction to martial arts, not opening a martial arts school..."

"Then it's settled!" Cai Zhonglin interrupted him impatiently. "Disperse everyone immediately, and forbid them from taking on any more disciples. This is Fourth Senior Brother's order—"

Wang Mingkai scoffed, "Senior Brother Sun, you've got quite the airs of an official, giving orders like that. By what right do you give orders to Junior Brother Chen? The Six Doors' inspector has no authority over this. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."

"you--"

Cai Zhonglin was furious when he saw that Chen Ming had insulted his fourth senior brother, but he managed to suppress his anger and turned to glare at Chen Ming. "Chen Ming, have you thought this through? If you disobey orders and cause trouble in the future, your fourth senior brother won't care whether you live or die."

Chen Ming said calmly, "That's none of your concern, Senior Brother Sun. Have you finished speaking?"

"Hmph! I don't know whether to live or die."

Seeing his attitude, Cai Zhonglin immediately turned and left.

"Hahaha... so happy!"

Wang Mingkai laughed heartily, "Junior Brother Chen looks refined and gentle, but I didn't expect him to be such an upright person. He's just my type."

Gu Junrong couldn't help but complain, "You have such a foul mouth, can't you just shut up a little? You've made Junior Brother Chen offend Cai Zhonglin. When he gets back, won't he just add fuel to the fire in front of Sun Shicai? He's really offended him."

Li Qingchang also worriedly said, "That martial arts guild is not to be trifled with. They never show mercy to those who open martial arts schools without permission; they always either kill or cripple them. They haven't come directly to our door because of Senior Brother Sun. If Senior Brother Sun abandons his post, you'll be in trouble, Junior Brother."

Wang Mingkai also fell silent, naturally aware of the implications.

Chen Ming smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have my own way of dealing with this."

He glanced at the panel, filled with confidence.

【Level: 20】

Current points: 3923

[Techniques: Iron Horse Stake (Fifth Level Perfection), Three Yang Body Forging Technique (Fourth Level 4/10000)]

Martial Arts Skills: Three Talents Fist (Mastery 55/500+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang Family Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Return Sword Technique (Mastery 55/10000)

At this moment, he had already reached the eighth rank of cultivation!

(End of this chapter)