"Second Young Master, the First Young Master wants you to come over."
At this moment, Chunxiang came over to report.
After a year of recuperation, she finally didn't look as thin as before. She looked much better, just darker. It's unclear whether her skin was naturally this dark or if it was from daily training in the sun.
Chen Ming said to Deng Ziyang, "Excuse me for a moment."
Deng Ziyang laughed, "That's fine, you don't need to attend to us. Go do what you need to."
After leaving the small courtyard with Chunxiang, Chen Ming learned that an honored guest had arrived, and his elder brother wanted him to attend to them.
It was Huo Chengkun's registered disciples who had come.
He smiled and went to greet them, "Senior Brother Gu, Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Li, with the three of you here, truly our humble abode is honored."
The lead, Gu Junrong, presented a gift, "Congratulations on your new home, Junior Brother. We've come to offer congratulations."
The other two also presented gifts and expressed some blessings.
After thanking them, Chen Ming received the gifts and invited the three into the main hall, personally accompanying them.
Afterwards, guests continued to arrive. The brothers were busy hosting, smiling so much their faces stiffened.
Over the past year, Chen Ming had indeed made many friends. The medicine shop business expanded increasingly, and Chen Rui also made many friends in business circles. Attendees were numerous.
...
After a busy day, by nightfall, they finally saw off all the guests.
Only the few "fellow disciples" remained.
Chen Ming still had to accompany them, "Three senior brothers, I apologize for any neglect."
Gu Junrong laughed, "We're all fellow apprentices, no need for such words."
Wang Mingkai snorted, speaking in a peculiar tone, "Didn't Senior Brother Sun send anyone to congratulate you?"
Chen Ming knew he was referring to Sun Shicai, and nonchalantly said, "Senior Brother Sun is busy with important matters."
Anyway, he had sent the invitation, fulfilling his duty.
Nowadays, the registered disciples of Huo Mansion have split into two factions. One led by Sun Shicai, and the other by Zhang Mingyu.
Among Huo Chengkun's personal disciples, only the third disciple Zhang Mingyu, the fourth disciple Sun Shicai, and the seventh disciple Wen Zehao are still alive.
Wen Zehao didn't follow to Xiao River that day, which many saw as unfilial, and no longer regarded him as a part of Huo Mansion.
Of course, as a result, he saved his life.
Sun Shicai didn't go either, but he had a reason; he was injured at the time. Plus, as a Patrol Envoy of the Six Gates, there were naturally many who wanted to curry favor with him.
Many disliked Sun Shicai, so they followed Zhang Mingyu instead. Though as a senior, his cultivation wasn't as good as Sun Shicai's and he didn't hold an official position. But he had righteousness!
By rightful succession, Zhang Mingyu was, of course, considered the inheritor of Huo Chengkun's martial legacy.
Because Chen Ming helped and sheltered Hong Mingquan's widow and son, he gained considerable goodwill and had a good relationship with Zhang Mingyu, naturally aligning with Zhang's faction.
Of course, he wouldn't offend Sun Shicai; he never overlooked any courtesies due.
Though Huo Mansion has split into two factions, there hasn't been any direct conflict or falling out; on the surface, they maintain a harmonious appearance.
Chen Ming quickly shifted the topic to martial arts discussion.
Gu Junrong and the other two focused intently, presenting questions and doubts they encountered in their practice, while Chen Ming shared his experiences and insights.
Though it was described as a discussion, it was more like guidance.
Only considering the three's dignity was it called an exploration.
After a round of martial discussions, the three felt they gained a lot, with their doubts cleared.
Gu Junrong sighed, "Junior Brother Chen's talent in Martial Dao is probably no less than Senior Brother Sun's. It's a pity, the master missed out on such a genius."
His tone contained much regret.
Wang Mingkai snorted, self-mockingly laughing, "Junior Brother is candid with us, but as senior brothers, we actually need guidance from junior brother, truly embarrassing."
Upon hearing this, Gu Junrong and Li Qingchang both blushed, feeling ashamed.
Chen Ming said seriously, "We are fellow disciples; no need for formalities. Now that the master is gone, we should work together to uphold the reputation of our martial school."
The three were somewhat moved by his words.
Wang Mingkai felt a bit ashamed, "Heh, junior brother is right; it was narrow-minded of me to speak wrongly. I'll punish myself with three cups."
After speaking, he drank three cups consecutively.
Chen Ming drank along with him.
These three "senior brothers" were the ones with whom Chen Ming had the best relationship among Huo Chengkun's numerous disciples. Unfortunately, they kept up the airs of being senior brothers, unwilling to spar with him.
To put it bluntly, they were afraid to lose, which would hurt their pride.
Through them, Chen Ming understood what it meant to 'live with face' in society.
They, having mingled in the martial world, weren't as straightforward as the youngsters like Deng Ziyang and the others. They had too many concerns and wouldn't easily engage in fighting.
Because once you lose, your reputation and status are lost.
Currently, all three were captains of guard teams for a firm, each leading a dozen men. If word got out that they were defeated by their junior brother, who would hire them as guards?
Chen Ming was also quite helpless; in the past ten months, very few martial artists were willing to spar with him.
Making lots of friends clearly wasn't going to work...
While the four were drinking heartily, suddenly Chunxiang's anxious voice came from outside, "…Master, allow your servant to report…"
From the commotion, it seemed someone was forcing their way in.
Wang Mingkai, already hot-tempered and having drunk alcohol, instantly became furious, "Which blind fool is causing trouble here?"
Then someone barged into the yard.
Chen Ming recognized the newcomer at a glance, somewhat surprised, "Senior Brother Cai?"
Chunxiang seemed wronged, "Second Young Master, he…"
He gestured, signaling her to withdraw.
Seeing it was Cai Zhonglin, Wang Mingkai appeared disgusted, "Oh, isn't this Cai, from Senior Brother Sun's side? What a rare guest."
Cai Zhonglin, noticing the rabid Wang Mingkai, also looked disgusted but was unwilling to exchange words with him. Arguing would compromise his status.
Turning to Chen Ming, he said, "Chen Ming, I came specifically to find you. Fourth Senior Brother asked me to bring you a message."
Chen Ming was curious as to why Sun Shicai would send someone so late.
He asked politely, "What instructions does Senior Brother Sun have?"
Cai Zhonglin glanced at Wang Mingkai and the others.
"You may speak freely; they are all fellow apprentices, no need to hide from them."
Cai Zhonglin cleared his throat and said, "Earlier, someone from the Martial Arts Hall Association complained to Fourth Senior Brother. They say you opened a hall and took on students without their consent. Is this true?"
So, it was about this matter.
Chen Ming understood and replied calmly, "I'm merely doing martial arts enlightenment with some ten-year-old children, not opening a martial arts school..."
"So, you did!" Cai Zhonglin impatiently cut him off, "Dismiss them immediately, and never take in students again. This is Fourth Senior Brother's order—"
Wang Mingkai snorted, "Senior Brother Sun's authority is quite something, ordering around. On what basis is he giving Junior Brother Chen orders? The Six Gates Patrol Envoy has no say here. Don't act with feathers as arrows."
"You—"
Cai Zhonglin, seeing him insulting Fourth Senior Brother, was furious but held back, turning his anger to Chen Ming, "Chen Ming, think carefully. If you refuse orders and trouble arises, Fourth Senior Brother won't be responsible for your life or death."
Chen Ming said indifferently, "That won't be a concern for Senior Brother Sun. Have you finished speaking?"
"Hmph! Reckless."
Cai Zhonglin, seeing his attitude, immediately left in a huff.
"Hahaha... Refreshing!"
Wang Mingkai laughed heartily, "Junior Brother Chen appears gentle and mild, but who knew he is so straightforward internally, just as I like."
Gu Junrong couldn't help but reproach, "Your loose tongue, can't you hold back a bit? You've made Junior Brother Chen offend Cai Zhonglin. Won't he embellish this to Sun Shicai? It could leave a major offense against us."
Li Qingchang also worried, "The Martial Arts Hall Association isn't easy to deal with. For those privately opening schools, they're never lenient; it's beat them to death or cripple them. They considered Senior Brother Sun's face, which is why they didn't come directly to your door. If Senior Brother Sun drops the matter, you'll be in trouble, Junior Brother."
Wang Mingkai remained silent, clearly aware of the implications.
Chen Ming smiled, "Don't worry, I have my own way of handling this."
He glanced at the interface, brimming with confidence.
[Level: 20]
[Current Points: 3923]
[Cultivation Technique: Iron Horse Stance (Fifth Level Perfection), Three Yang Body Refining Skill (Fourth Level 4/10000)]
[Martial Skill: Three Talents Fist (Proficient 55/500+), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Major Accomplishment), Zhuang's Flying Knife (Major Accomplishment), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Proficient 55/10000)]
At this moment, he had already reached the Eighth Grade Cultivation!