I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 78 Insinuations
"I apologize for not welcoming you properly since you have come so late at night."

Despite his surprise, Chen Ming still remembered the proper etiquette.

Zhao Xiyan said, "Why all the formalities? Don't be so polite. I just came to see you—oh, you're injured?"

She noticed the wound on the web of Chen Ming's right hand.

Chen Ming said, "It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."

"Was it an injury sustained during your fight with Sun Shicai?" Zhao Xiyan wanted to ask with concern, but immediately sensed something was amiss and asked in confusion, "Wait a minute, you weren't injured then. How did you get this injury?"

It turns out she was there at the time.

Chen Ming thought to himself that he hadn't noticed the young lady was there at the time, and explained, "After returning home, I was ambushed by three thieves. I guess they were hired by Sun Shicai."

Zhao Xiyan's expression turned serious. She had witnessed Chen Ming's strength before; those three thieves were no ordinary people to have managed to injure him.

She asked, "Where are the three thieves?"

"Ran."

"Have you reported it to the authorities yet?"

"I reported it, and people from the Six Doors also came."

Chen Ming said this, but he held no hope in his heart.

The Six Doors sent a ninth-rank official in black, who clearly didn't take the matter seriously at all. After asking a few questions, he left.

Zhao Xiyan didn't say anything more.

"Don't stand, sit down and talk."

Chen Ming helped her sit in the rattan chair, then boiled water and brewed a pot of tea.

Zhao Xiyan glanced at the two plain-looking maids behind him and asked, "Are these your personal maids?"

"This is Chunhyang, this is Hahyang. Call them."

Chunxiang and Xiaxiang immediately bowed and said, "Chunxiang (Xiaxiang) greets Miss Zhao."

Seeing that the two maids' bowing postures were not very skillful, Zhao Xiyan's expression became even stranger. "Brother Chen is single-mindedly focused on martial arts, which is admirable."

She wasn't unfamiliar with plain-looking maids; several of the maids serving her younger brother were examples. But those were arranged by her mother, who worried that he was too young and lacked self-control, and that he would be distracted by beauty and neglect his studies.

For a martial artist like Chen Ming, who comes from humble beginnings, it's perfectly normal to be unrestrained in his pursuit of women after achieving a certain level of strength, taking concubines and keeping beautiful maids.

No martial artist would be blamed for such a thing; having descendants is the right thing to do.

Therefore, when she saw that the maidservant beside Chen Ming looked like this, she knew that he was a man of strong will and would not be swayed by beauty. Her opinion of him rose even higher.

Only those with lofty aspirations can restrain their desires.

Zhao Xiyan picked up the teacup with her slender fingers, took a sip, and then put it down, saying, "There are rumors that you're a martial arts fanatic who loves to spar with others. Is that true?"

"good."

Seeing her actions, Chen Ming knew that his family's tea was of too low quality to be palatable to her. He didn't point it out, but nodded and said, "As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Martial arts skills are not learned through training, but through fighting. It's just a pity that most martial artists in this world cherish their reputation and are afraid of losing and damaging their name, so they are unwilling to fight unless absolutely necessary."

Zhao Xiyan seemed to understand something. "Practice makes perfect? ​​No wonder your swordsmanship is so outstanding."

As she spoke, she picked up the cup of tea again, took another sip, and then put it down.

"I know a place where you can find many people willing to spar with you. It's quite dangerous, though. Would you like to go?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming quickly said, "Please tell me, young lady."

Zhao Xiyan said, "That place isn't open to just anyone; you need someone from my group to go in. I helped you, how are you going to thank me?"

"If Miss Zhao can do me this great favor, I will be forever grateful and will do my best to fulfill any requests in the future."

"That's what you said!"

Zhao Xiyan's eyes flickered as she thought for a moment before saying, "There's something else I want you to do. Consider this a favor you owe me. I'll tell you when I think of something else."

"it is good."

Chen Ming agreed.

Then, Zhao Xiyan extended her right little finger and said, "Then it's settled."

Isn't this a bit ambiguous?
Chen Ming thought to himself, but still stretched out his little finger and hooked it with her fair and delicate finger.

This scene was witnessed by the three maids present.

The beautiful maid behind Zhao Xiyan's expression changed slightly; she seemed to want to stop her, but held back. Chunxiang and Xiaxiang, however, looked at the beautiful girl disguised as a man with different expressions. They couldn't help but wonder, could this be the future mistress?

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly ambiguous, footsteps sounded outside, and a servant led a man in black into the courtyard.

The servant reported, "Second Master, this young lady came in through the back door and said she was looking for you."

Chen Ming had already seen who it was, and for some reason, he felt a sudden pang of unease. It was like being caught red-handed by a girl he was having dinner with.

It was Xiao Zhuyun who arrived; she was alone today.

Usually, Chunxiang or Xiaxiang would bring her over, but today it just so happened that the two of them stayed in the courtyard to serve her.

And that's how we ended up running into each other.

When Zhao Xiyan and Xiao Zhuyun saw each other, they were both visibly stunned.

Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.

"That's not right, why would I feel guilty? I have no romantic relationship with either of them."

Once Chen Ming thought about it, he felt at ease. He broke the silence with a smile, "It's quite a coincidence that you two ladies have come at the same time today. I'm truly honored. You two know each other, so I don't need to introduce you, do I?"

Xiao Zhuyun spoke first, "So it's Miss Zhao. I almost didn't recognize you. I didn't expect you and Brother Chen to be so familiar with each other."

In the dead of night, you, the daughter of a high-ranking official, actually disguised yourself and went to a man's house. Don't you have any shame?
Zhao Xiyan also laughed and said, "Why is Sister Xiao dressed in night clothes? I thought there were thieves going to attack Brother Chen again."

each other!

The two wore smiles, but their gazes sparked an unseen flame in the air.

Chen Ming had dated several girlfriends before and knew what women were like; he could sense the unspoken tension between them. He immediately changed the subject, "Senior Sister Xiao, have you found your sect's inheritance?"

Xiao Zhuyun looked at him, her gaze softening. "Yes, we found it. Sun Shicai wasn't lying. I came here specifically to thank Brother Chen."

Seeing her tender and affectionate demeanor, Chen Ming understood that she might not have any feelings for him; she was simply triggered by seeing his close relationship with Zhao Xiyan, which had activated her "female rivalry" instincts.

Before he could speak, Zhao Xiyan interrupted, "Sister should indeed thank Brother Chen. If he hadn't single-handedly held off Sun Shicai, how could Sister have retrieved the sect's treasures?"

This was a veiled criticism of her for abandoning Chen Ming while he was fighting someone to find something belonging to her sect.

Xiao Zhuyun naturally understood and said, "I know that Brother Chen is highly skilled and has superb swordsmanship. How could Sun Shicai be a match for him?"

I am very familiar with Chen Ming's abilities and even more aware of his personality. What do you know?
Zhao Xiyan asked with a smile, "I wonder how you intend to thank Brother Chen, sister? Are you going to repay me with your body? Alas, if Brother Qin and Young Master He knew, I wonder how heartbroken they would be!"

Even the slow-witted Shiraka and Natsuka could hear how harsh those words were.

Xiao Zhuyun's eyelids twitched slightly, and she said solemnly, "Miss Zhao, please be careful with your words. My relationship with Brother Chen is that of gentlemen."

Zhao Xiyan quickly stood up and said apologetically, "I see, I misunderstood you... I apologize. Don't worry, if I meet Brother Qin in the future, I will definitely do my best to explain for you."

A flash of anger crossed Xiao Zhuyun's eyes, and she suddenly said, "I heard that the Admiral once intended to arrange a marriage between the Qin family and the Seventh Young Master Qin. It's a pity that this marriage didn't go through. Could it be that Miss Zhao still has feelings for the Seventh Young Master?"

Zhao Xiyan smiled and said, "Sister, you don't know this, but my father did favor Brother Qin. However, I have always regarded him only as an elder brother, so I rejected this marriage proposal."

Chen Ming listened from the side, unable to get a word in edgewise. He thought to himself, "So this is how women in this world fight. To maintain their image, they can't swear, and they can't get angry, so they can only resort to innuendo."

It's quite interesting.

On the surface, he could only pretend not to understand, and finally found a chance to speak, "Ladies, it's getting late. The city is under martial law now, and it might be inconvenient if we stay any later."

After he said that, Xiao Zhuyun and Zhao Xiyan took their leave.

……

Chunxiang and Xiaxiang saw the two off separately. On their way back, they suddenly whispered to each other, "Could it be that they both like Second Master?"

"I'm afraid so. Look at how they were talking indirectly just now, they almost got into a fight, they must be jealous."

"I wonder which one the Second Master likes."

"Judging from the Second Master's appearance, I'm afraid he hasn't quite grasped the concept yet."

"I hope Second Master will not marry that Miss Zhao. I'm afraid the First Madam won't be able to control her."

“I’m more worried that Second Master will marry both of them at the same time, then our inner quarters will be quite lively.”

"..."

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(End of this chapter)