I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 85 The Hidden Master
"Senior sister, I can go in by myself. You can go back first."

The carriage stopped at the Huo residence. Huo Qianqian got out of the carriage and said to Xiao Zhuyun.

Xiao Zhuyun nodded and said, "Okay, don't come back too late."

Huo Qianqian watched the carriage drive away before stepping into the mansion where she had lived for over a decade. This should have been her home.

But now, she felt like a married daughter returning to her parents' home, and she could clearly sense that this place no longer belonged to her.

"Little junior sister."

When they reached the backyard, the third senior brother, Zhang Mingyu, came forward to greet them, saying, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Huo Qianqian smiled somewhat awkwardly, then said, "Senior brother, I've come to say goodbye. I'd like to burn some incense at Grandpa's memorial altar."

Zhang Mingyu's smile faded, and he said somewhat excitedly, "Do you really have to leave? Now that our great revenge has been achieved, you no longer need to rely on the Xiaoshui Sect for protection..."

Huo Qianqian lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and said softly, "Senior brother, you don't need to say anything... Now that you have joined the Xiaoshui Sect, you will be a disciple of the Xiaoshui Sect for life."

Although the voice was soft, the tone was very firm.

Zhang Mingyu sighed and said nothing more.

The two silently arrived at the very back of the mourning hall. Huo Qianqian lit three incense sticks in front of Huo Chengkun's memorial tablet and kowtowed three times.

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Huo Qianqian stood up.

"I send you."

The two left the mourning hall and walked outside.

Suddenly, Zhang Mingyu said, "Actually, I know why you don't want to marry Lao Qi."

He gazed into the distance, as if recalling something, "Once, I accidentally stumbled upon you sparring with Junior Brother Chen in that secluded courtyard to the north. After that, I saw you a few more times... I didn't tell anyone about this."

Zhang Mingyu chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I admit, I resented Lao Qi back then. He was the last to join the sect and hadn't accomplished anything. Why should he inherit the master's mantle? Later, when you refused to marry Lao Qi, I was overjoyed..."

Huo Qianqian listened quietly without saying anything.

We were almost at the gate.

Zhang Mingyu turned to her and asked, "Junior sister, why don't you tell him? If—"

"Senior brother."

Huo Qianqian interrupted him, pleadingly saying, "I've never asked you for anything since I was little. But now I'm asking you for one thing. Don't tell him."

Zhang Mingyu couldn't understand why she was doing this, and asked anxiously, "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Just then, an autumn breeze swept by, and the leaves of a tall ginkgo tree in the yard rustled down.

Huo Qianqian reached out her fair, delicate hand and caught a leaf. A layer of indescribable sorrow shrouded her brows, as if she were sighing or lamenting, "You don't understand."

"Senior brother, farewell."

She didn't give Zhang Mingyu another chance to speak, bowed, and left.

Zhang Mingyu watched her receding figure and felt a pang of sadness.

In truth, how could he not understand?

Having experienced so many changes, the junior sister is no longer as willful and arrogant as before. But deep down, she is still that proud junior sister.

……

In Chen Ming's view, the coming together and parting of friends is a common occurrence. For him, the departure of Xiao Zhuyun and Huo Qianqian was simply the loss of a training partner with whom he could gain 300 experience points every two days.

He didn't feel sad.

On the very day the Xiaoshui Sect disciples left, Zhou Weihao arrived again. He had been disturbed by Zhao Xiyan the day before, and the two had not been able to spar.

I can make up for it today.

The two immediately took their stances and began to fight in the backyard.

After a hundred moves, Zhou Weihao suffered another narrow defeat.

"happy!"

Although Zhou Weihao lost, he acted as if he had won. He picked up a jar of wine on the table and drank it down in one gulp. This bold action resulted in him choking and coughing violently.

He is really happy.

For the past month or so, he has been coming to Chen Ming's place every few days to spar. Although he can't win every time, he gains new insights after each match.

Compared to a month ago, his swordsmanship has improved significantly, with his signature move, "Sparkling Stars," now capable of producing seven sword stars with a single strike.

Before he left home, his father had said that it would take him at least a year to reach the Seven Star level. But now, he has achieved it in just three months.

All of this is thanks to Chen Ming.

Zhou Weihao put down the jar of wine in his hand and said, "Brother Chen, I'm taking you to see someone today."

Chen Ming said, "If you're going to take me to see some courtesan, then forget it."

He's only at the seventh rank now; it's far from the time for him to slack off.

Besides, despite his success within his own small circle, he's still just a nobody in Qingfeng City. Even the most sought-after courtesan in a brothel might not even notice him.

Could it be that he, a transmigrator, would have to lick the boots of prostitutes in brothels?
Therefore, he had little interest.

Zhou Weihao smiled and said, "I know that Brother Chen is devoted to martial arts, so I plan to take you to meet a great master. If you can get his guidance, you will benefit from it for life."

"A great master? What's his name?"

"You'll find out when we get there," Zhou Weihao said, keeping everyone in suspense.

……

"Due to some unforeseen circumstances, this senior became disheartened and went into hiding, living in seclusion in the city."

On the carriage, Zhou Weihao said, "I was entrusted by my elders to deliver a letter to this senior. Later, I learned about some of his past from them... After that, every time I went to Qingfeng City, I would pay him a visit."

"Unfortunately, I am not blessed enough to receive guidance from this senior. Perhaps you are worthy of his attention."

Hearing this, Chen Ming became even more curious about this "senior expert".

Are there still reclusive masters in this Qingfeng City?
I definitely have to meet him. Even if we can't become friends, knowing he exists will at least prevent me from accidentally offending him and dying without even knowing why.

The carriage traveled all the way to the north of the city and finally stopped in front of a rather secluded house.

"This is it."

Zhou Weihao was the first to disembark from the carriage.

Chen Ming followed behind him. After getting out of the car, he saw that the mansion was extremely grand and felt that it was even better than the governor's mansion.

However, it looked like it hadn't been repaired in a long time. The red paint on the gate was peeling off, and the walls were covered with moss and weeds.

"Let's go."

Zhou Weihao stepped forward and knocked on the door, saying loudly, "Senior, Zhou Xiaoqi has come to see you again."

After waiting for a while, there was no response.

"Senior, I'm coming in."

As Zhou Weihao spoke, he pushed the door open forcefully, and two women walked out. One was dressed in red and the other in green. Both wore veils, and the hanging silk covers obscured their faces, making it impossible to see their features.

However, judging from their figures, they must be exceptionally beautiful women.

He couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, and was surprised to find that Chen Ming beside him was also staring intently at one of the beauties. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, thinking, "It seems Brother Chen isn't entirely indifferent to women after all."

After the two women had walked away, Zhou Weihao closed the door again and said to Chen Ming, "Brother Chen, do you find it strange that I didn't greet them when they came to visit the senior?"

Chen Ming said, "These two are not showing their true faces, they definitely don't want to be recognized. Asking them rashly might be taboo."

"Brother Chen, although you have never traveled the martial world, you are extremely intelligent. By the way, Brother Chen, you kept staring at that woman in green just now. Do you know her?"

Chen Ming shook his head. "They must have mistaken you for someone else."

"Oh."

……

After the two women left the mansion, the woman in red suddenly said, "That man in black, do you know him?"

The woman in green whispered, "Miss, he doesn't know who I am."

The woman in red said calmly, "Is he the man you can't forget?"

The woman in green was so frightened that she immediately knelt down, saying in a panic, "Miss, I—"

"okay."

The woman in red helped her up and said, "As long as he doesn't ruin my plans, I won't do anything to him. Once this matter is over, if you want to stay in Qingfeng City, I will grant your wish."

The woman in green choked back tears, "Miss...I want to stay by your side and serve you for the rest of my life..."

"Silly girl……"

(End of this chapter)