I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 46 Pirates
Over the next month, Chen Ming visited all twelve martial arts schools and discovered that open-minded people like Shangguan Hong were in the minority. Most were stubborn old men who refused to spar with him no matter what he said.

He felt helpless, but he couldn't force the issue.

If you force it, you'll damage their reputation.

There's a saying: "Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents." If you really ruin someone's reputation, you've created a mortal enemy.

If he were alone, he would naturally have no worries. But he has an older brother and sister-in-law, as well as two adorable nephews and nieces at home, and he can't ignore their safety.

Therefore, he was unwilling to use extreme methods. He also did not force those who were unwilling to spar with him.

Only three families were willing to spar with him: the Shangguan father and son from the Sihai Martial Arts School, Master Li from the Chaoyang Martial Arts School, and the little-known Wu Family Martial Arts School.

Chen Ming would take turns visiting these three martial arts schools every day to spar and discuss martial arts with them. Occasionally, he would also spar with Zhang Mingyu.

After repeatedly defeating those of higher level than him, he gained 100 experience points each time. Adding the experience points from "teaching" the thirty-odd students, he could earn a total of over 160 points per day.

A month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The weather is getting colder day by day. Before we know it, autumn is coming to an end and winter is approaching.

That morning, Chen Ming was about to leave after instructing the group of students.

"Senior Brother Chen."

Suddenly, someone called out to him.

Among these students, only one person called him "senior brother," and that was Li Jinchuan, who had once studied martial arts at the Huo family mansion. He was also the only one over the age of fourteen.

After Huo Chengkun's death, the young men who were learning martial arts at the Huo residence all left. Not long after, Li Jinchuan suddenly came to his door, saying he wanted to learn martial arts with him.

Chen Ming did not refuse, and he studied for almost a year.

Li Jinchuan progressed rapidly, advancing from LV3 to LV8 in less than a year. Although he had laid a foundation at the Huo family mansion, this rate of progress was still astonishing.

Of course, Chen Ming had no intention of prying into his secrets.

He asked, "Is something the matter?"

Li Jinchuan said respectfully, "My elders wish to visit you, senior brother. May I ask when would be a convenient day for you?"

Chen Ming thought for a moment and said, "Let's do it tomorrow afternoon."

"Excuse me."

Li Jinchuan left after he finished speaking.

……

Chen Ming had just finished breakfast and was about to go out when a servant came to report, "Second Young Master, a high-ranking official from the Six Doors requests an audience."

People from the Six Doors?
He was puzzled. He had been strictly abiding by the law lately, so what were the Six Doors people doing here?
"Invite him in."

Before long, the person arrived. It was an old acquaintance, none other than Wang Yangming, the ninth-rank constable from last time.

Upon entering, he first bowed and said, "I heard that Young Master Chen has broken through to the eighth rank. Congratulations!"

"You're too kind, Lord Wang." Chen Ming returned the greeting and asked, "May I ask what brings you here, Lord Wang?"

"Young Master Chen, there's no need to be nervous. I just have some questions for you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming invited him to sit down. Servants then served tea.

Wang Yangming said, "Young master, do you know that things have not been peaceful in the city recently?"

"Oh?"

Chen Ming asked in confusion, "I haven't heard of that."

Have you heard about the major event that happened in the East China Sea recently?

"Sir, are you referring to the fight between the two pirate groups? I've heard a bit about that; these two groups have been fighting for almost ten years now."

Wang Yangming said, "This time is different. Zheng Kou was killed by Hong Kou, and a new pirate king has appeared in the East China Sea. The world is about to change."

Chen Ming didn't interrupt, knowing he would say something more.

As expected, Wang Yangming continued, "After Zheng Kou's death, some of his remaining followers surrendered, while others fled. Recently, a portion of them have come to Qingfeng City. These pirates have always been lawless, killing and robbing as if it were commonplace. In Qingfeng City, no one knows what they might do. Therefore, I've come today to ask Young Master Chen to keep an eye out for any strangers in the vicinity. If you spot any suspicious individuals, please send someone to the Six Doors to notify me."

Chen Ming said solemnly, "I have an inescapable duty to do this."

Wang Yangming took out a stack of portraits and said, "These are portraits of pirates wanted in recent years. Take a look and try to memorize them. If you encounter them, notify me immediately." Chen Ming took the portraits and looked at them one by one.

It concerned the safety of the city, so he looked at it very carefully.

His hand paused when he saw one of the portraits.

The person in the portrait looks somewhat familiar, bearing a striking resemblance to someone I had seen not long ago.

Chen Ming remained expressionless and continued looking at the portraits. After finishing looking at the remaining ones, he returned them to Wang Yangming.

Wang Yangming asked casually, "Does Young Master Chen know Bi Haibo, the sixth disciple of Old Master Huo?"

"Of course I remember. He was my instructor when I was learning martial arts at the Huo family mansion. He taught me for four years. It's a pity he died young. I never imagined that the day I left the Huo family mansion would be my last."

"It's strange, but recently, someone saw a person on the street who looked exactly like Bi Haibo, who had been dead for several years."

"Is there such a thing?"

"Perhaps it's just that people look alike. If Young Master Chen were to see that person, he should be able to tell if he is Bi Haibo or not, right?"

"That's not necessarily true. I haven't seen Senior Brother Bi for many years."

Wang Yangming sat for a while longer, and seeing that he couldn't get any information out of him, he took his leave.

Chen Ming saw him to the door, thinking to himself, "I knew he wouldn't come looking for me for no reason."

Unexpectedly, Bi Haibo became a pirate.

He recalled that Bi Haibo looked exactly like someone who made a living at sea, tanned dark and with rough skin.

"No wonder Huo Chengkun claimed to the public that he was dead and that his personal disciple had become a pirate. If word got out, he would lose face and be implicated."

No wonder Zhang Mingyu was so nervous when he saw Bi Haibo that day. He even asked him to keep it a secret.

It is estimated that several of Huo Chengkun's disciples knew about this.

……

Chen Ming was unaffected by this incident and proceeded with his plan to go to the Wu Family Martial Arts School to spar with Master Liu.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw the gatekeeper, Old Li, push a servant-looking man out the door, cursing, "If you dare come here again, I'll break your legs."

As he spoke, he spat on the ground.

Chen Ming's face darkened as he walked over and asked in a deep voice, "Old Li, what's going on here?"

Outside the door, a servant-looking man lay on the ground, looking aggrieved, holding a red invitation card in his hand.

When Old Li saw that it was him, he quickly explained, "Second Young Master, this is someone from the Zhang family. They said their young lady is getting married next month and they came to deliver the invitation. This old servant was really angry, so I scolded him a few times, and he actually dared to talk back..."

Zhang family?

Chen Ming was stunned for a moment when he saw the grief-stricken look on his face before he realized who the Zhang family was.

The original owner's former fiancée, who unilaterally broke off the engagement after he was imprisoned.

He felt nothing, because all of this had happened before he transmigrated. He had no sense of reality.

However, his elder brother was still resentful about this matter and was furious at the Zhang family's heartlessness.

Now that the Zhang family's daughter is getting married, they actually dare to come to their door to deliver an invitation. Aren't they just asking for trouble?
Chen Ming reminded him, "Even if you're angry, you can't swear. People who don't know the situation might think we're bullying someone."

"I'm sorry, young master," Old Li quickly admitted his mistake.

He still felt somewhat aggrieved. This matter wasn't honorable for the Chen family either, and they couldn't very well make a scene and let everyone on the street know; that would be a disgrace to the second young master.

As they were talking, Chen Ming suddenly heard a roar, "The Zhang family still dares to show their faces here? They're courting death..."

Turning around, I saw my usually gentle and virtuous sister-in-law running out angrily, holding a broom upside down, looking like she was about to fight someone.

"Second...Second Brother..."

When Wei saw Chen Ming standing at the door, she quickly lowered her head, hid the broom behind her back, and was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear.

Chen Ming almost burst out laughing.

I never expected my sister-in-law to have such a fierce side.

(End of this chapter)