I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 62 I'll Not Take This Insult

In the courtyard, Chen Ming drank his wine and casually said, "Brother Deng, there's something I'd like you to investigate for me."

"What is it? Tell me." Deng Ziyang was unusually happy and drank a few more glasses.

"You know the Wu Family Martial Arts School, right? How did the previous master die?"

Deng Ziyang slammed his hand on the table and said, "You've come to the right person. I've been looking through a lot of old case files lately, and I just happened to come across this one."

Chen Ming refilled his glass and asked, "Who killed this person?"

“It was his eldest disciple, Wu Yao, who was also his adopted son. Wu Yao always thought that he would pass on his mantle to him, but who knew that he would choose Liu Fu, who joined the sect the latest, so he was dissatisfied, poisoned his master, stole the secret manual of the Wu family martial arts school and fled. His whereabouts are still unknown.”

He really was killed by his own disciple.

Chen Ming then asked, "And then what? What happened to Master Wu's daughter who died suddenly on her wedding night?"

Deng Ziyang scoffed, "What sudden death? It's all fake. The truth is, that woman didn't want to marry Liu Fu, so she eloped with someone else on their wedding night."

"So that's it."

Chen Ming downed the glass of wine in front of him, only to find it exceptionally bitter.

Now everything connected.

Old Liu's life is truly miserable...

His master died, poisoned by his disciple and adopted son. He also broke ties with several other fellow disciples. In the end, the woman he loved eloped with another man.

No wonder he lost his mind, drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day and letting the martial arts school decline.

……

"Senior brother."

Deng Ziyang finished his wine in one gulp, and soon the whole jar of wine was gone. He finally got down to business, "I've come here today to say goodbye."

Chen Mingqi asked, "Are you being transferred to another place?"

He shook his head and said quietly, "I'm going out to make my own way in the world."

"what?"

Chen Ming was taken aback. "So, your job at the Six Doors?"

"I quit!" Deng Ziyang shouted, looking up. "I'm not going to put up with this shit anymore!"

"..."

Chen Ming was at a loss for words. He had worked so hard to pass the martial arts exam and finally made it to the top. Now he was just going to quit like that?
He'd been acting strangely ever since his father died. Unexpectedly, he ended up making this decision.

He asked in a deep voice, "Have you thought this through?"

Deng Ziyang nodded emphatically, "I've thought it through."

"Okay, whatever decision you make, I will support you."

Chen Ming understood this feeling all too well.

In his previous life, after graduating from university, he also went to work for a large company with a high income, but he suffered a lot during those two years.

Later, after much struggle, he resolutely resigned. His family members didn't understand at all, and no one supported him, which made him very depressed for a time.

Chen Ming knew that what Deng Ziyang needed right now was understanding from others.

A look of gratitude appeared on Deng Ziyang's face, but he said nothing. He simply asked the maid to fetch some wine, saying that they would not leave until they were drunk.

……

…………

The next day, Deng Ziyang left alone, with only a bundle and a sword. He didn't tell anyone, and no one knew where he went. It wasn't until two days later, when Zhuang Xiaotian came to find Chen Ming, that he learned why Deng Ziyang had quit so suddenly.

Deng Ziyang's direct supervisor never liked him because he came from a gang and targeted him in every way, making things difficult for him.

That very day, Deng Ziyang finally snapped, confronted his boss, and resigned on the spot.

Zhuang Xiaotian sighed, "Alas, my brother is a man of forthright and generous character, but in reality, he is very arrogant. He is not suitable to work in the Six Doors... He is unwilling to seek your protection, so he can only leave for distant lands."

Chen Ming knew there was another reason.

The Giant Tiger Gang is currently embroiled in internal strife, with the three brothers locked in a fierce battle for the leadership position, turning the gang into a chaotic mess.

He probably didn't want to see the Giant Tiger Gang become like this, so he left to avoid seeing it again.

The two were also drinking in the courtyard. Zhuang Xiaotian was sitting in the same spot where Deng Ziyang had sat a couple of days ago.

Zhuang Xiaotian drank his wine in silence for a while, then exhaled a breath of stale air and brought up another matter, "Recently, a lot of martial arts figures have come to the city, including many young masters, all here for Lord Zhao's martial arts tournament. You'd better be careful."

Chen Ming said with some anticipation, "That's perfect. My greatest wish in this life is to learn from all the masters in the world."

The premise is that the opponent is weaker than him.

Zhuang Xiaotian shook his head and said, "Big brother is right, you are a martial arts fanatic. Oh, by the way, your junior sister is back, she came with the people from the Xiaoshui Sect."

Junior sister?
"You mean Huo Qianqian?"

"Yes. I was sent to guard the city gate yesterday to find out the origins of the martial arts people entering the city. I happened to run into a group from the Xiaoshui Sect. One of them was named Huo Qianqian. I only learned from others that she was Master Huo's granddaughter. So, she should be your junior sister."

As Zhuang Xiaotian spoke, a hint of longing flashed in his eyes, "This Xiaoshui Sect is actually all female disciples, and one of them, Xiao Zhuyun, is simply like a fairy descended to earth."

This was the first time Chen Ming had heard him praise a woman like this, and he became somewhat curious.

If we're talking about beauties, Huo Qianqian is one. In her previous life, she would have been considered a beauty queen in her university department.

Zhang Xinyi and Zhong Shuyu are similar.

Aside from them, he had never seen any other exceptionally beautiful women.

It might also be related to the circles he frequented; the circles he came into contact with were mostly people from the lower rungs of society.

In martial arts novels, they would be background characters who don't even deserve to appear with their names, and they are mostly male.

Actually, there are female martial artists, but they are all quite old. Moreover, it seems inappropriate for a man like him to go and befriend female martial artists and even spar with them.

He teased, "What, you've got your eye on her?"

Zhuang Xiaotian chuckled self-deprecatingly, "How could that be? I've inquired about her. She's eighteen this year and already has a seventh-grade cultivation level. She's the most valued disciple of the Xiaoshui Sect's leader. How could I possibly be interested in someone like that? It's said that many young masters from prominent families in Jiangzhou are her admirers, and this time, they've come after her too."

Chen Ming suddenly realized, "Could it be that she's also here to participate in the martial arts competition?"

"Of course, this is a martial arts tournament hosted by Admiral Zhao. For these disciples of various sects and young masters of prominent families, it is a great opportunity to make a name for themselves. These scions of famous families are different from you and me; they value their reputation very much."

Chen Ming nodded, indicating his understanding.

When I was a child, I read martial arts novels and saw that the characters valued their reputation more than their lives, which I found somewhat distasteful.

It wasn't until I grew up and entered the internet age, seeing news reports about online celebrities and influencers earning tens or even hundreds of millions of yuan a year, that I realized fame really can be monetized.

The same was true in ancient times; only the way it was manifested was different.

Just like him, when he was at the ninth rank, it was incredibly difficult to find someone to spar with. No matter who he asked, their first reaction was always to refuse.

After reaching the eighth rank and becoming famous in a battle at the martial arts guild, he made many like-minded friends and gradually gained some fame.

Now that he's reached the seventh rank, it's much easier for him to befriend other seventh-rank martial artists. In the past few days, he's visited almost every seventh-rank martial artist in the city.

Once we get to know them better, I'll suggest we spar; I believe at least a third of them will agree.

If it weren't for the reputation he's built up over the past year, how could things have gone so smoothly?
(End of this chapter)