This lesson went on for an entire afternoon.
Chen Ming didn't expect that Zhuang Xiaotian's Flying Knife Skill contained so many techniques. No wonder Deng Ziyang couldn't stop praising it.
He used to think it was just mutual flattery.
From the simple One Stone Two Birds to the upgraded versions like Meteor Chasing Moon and Separation, and then to advanced techniques like Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers and Mother and Child Linked Rings, Zhuang Xiaotian knew the methods for all of them.
However, due to his limited skill, the success rate for many advanced techniques was low; they might not succeed even once in ten tries.
In an afternoon, Chen Ming only got a general idea. It was impossible to learn them all at once.
Zhuang Xiaotian also left him a few pages of paper, which were the few pages of secret writings he had obtained by accident, recording precisely some advanced techniques.
Many of these techniques involved True Qi methods, meaning that these hidden weapons techniques required at least Ninth Grade to master.
The Sixth Grade Martial Dao, also known as the True Qi Realm, is when one has cultivated True Qi.
Chen Ming felt like he had found a treasure, mastering these hidden weapons techniques could definitely serve as his trump card.
Therefore, after returning home, he kept researching the content on those pages, continuously practicing the techniques that Zhuang Xiaotian had taught him.
...
The next morning, after Chen Ming gave the group of young boys their Martial Dao enlightenment class, he received another 50 experience points.
"It seems I can consider opening a martial arts school, specialized in enlightenment for younger children."
He thought to himself.
With the changes at the Huo Mansion, whether he can continue as a sparring partner there is uncertain, he needs to plan early.
There are quite a few martial arts schools in Qingfeng City, and for one, he's not well-known, and for another, his Martial Arts were learned from Huo Chengkun. Without Huo Chengkun's consent, he definitely can't teach them casually to others.
The techniques Chen Ming is currently teaching those kids are the most common Tiger Form Pile Skill, a widespread basic technique.
So, he chose this brand-new path.
Moreover, he wouldn't charge tuition, even providing food and lodging. He believed it would quickly attract many people.
Contemplating his "entrepreneurial" plan, Chen Ming went to the dining table and saw that his elder brother Chen Rui was still not there. He asked curiously, "Didn't elder brother come back again last night?"
"Yes."
Madam Wei had a worried face, "Yesterday when I went to the shop to deliver food to the eldest, I saw his troubled expression. I'm afraid it's no small trouble. It's just that he wouldn't tell me, so I secretly asked the shop hand."
"Did you find out anything?"
"I only found out there was a problem with a batch of medicine at the pharmacy, and it's due in a few days. If delayed, it would require compensating a large sum of money."
Chen Ming immediately felt relieved, this was not something major.
He comforted Madam Wei, "Sister-in-law, there's no need to worry too much. The fact that brother didn't mention it to me means he believes he can resolve it himself. You have to trust him."
Hearing that, Madam Wei felt relieved to some extent.
Chen Ming had no plans of interfering in this matter.
He believed in his brother's abilities.
Besides, even if things went awry, it wouldn't matter much, at most they would lose some money, consider it tuition.
...
After breakfast, Chen Ming didn't go to the Huo Mansion but went to the Deng Family, planning to see Zhuang Xiaotian and Guan Peng off.
Upon arriving at the Deng Family, he found out they had already departed.
He hurried along, left the city, arrived at Ten Mile Pavilion, and saw Deng Ziyang and the others bidding farewell affectionately.
"Brother Chen, didn't I tell you not to come?"
Zhuang Xiaotian complained with his mouth, but his face was full of delight.
Guan Peng also said, "Brother Chen, just in time, I originally wanted brother to pass this along. Now I can give it to you directly."
He said, placing a white porcelain bottle into Chen Ming's hand.
"What is this?"
"In these days, I've greatly improved my saber technique thanks to Brother Chen's guidance. I don't have much to give, just two Solid Essence Pills, as a small token of gratitude."
"This... is too precious. I can't accept it."
Chen Ming quickly tried to return it.
The Solid Essence Pill is greatly beneficial to Ninth Grade Martial Artists, helping them advance in cultivation, with a single pill costing hundreds of taels of silver, difficult to purchase even if you have the money without the right channels.
Guan Peng naturally refused to take it back, directly stating that once a gift is given, there is no reason to take it back.
After a bit of back and forth, Chen Ming eventually accepted.
After chatting for a bit, Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian still left.
Chen Ming looked on with reluctance while Deng Ziyang chuckled and said, "Why are you more upset than I am, their sworn brother?"
You don't understand.
Chen Ming sighed.
After all, two bundles of experience points just left like that.
It's important to know, these two could provide him with 50 experience points regularly, 20 from one, 30 from another.
With no way to currently go to the Huo Family.
And now with them gone.
His only source of experience points now comes from those twenty-something young boys learning martial arts.
...
When Chen Ming and Deng Ziyang got back to the city, it was nearly noon. They simply went to a big restaurant, intending to have a good meal.
Just after drinking a glass of wine and chatting, they suddenly overheard from the next table, "...didn't expect a Sixth Grade expert to just die like that, with no warning at all."
Chen Ming and Deng Ziyang exchanged glances, both a bit surprised.
A Sixth Grade expert, there aren't even ten in all of Qingfeng City, all are renowned, who exactly has died?
They perked their ears to listen in.
"No way? How could a Sixth Grade expert die so easily? You better not be spouting nonsense."
"If you don't believe, go to the Huo Mansion and see, they've already hung up the white lanterns…"
"..."
Huo Mansion?
Hearing this word, both Chen Ming and Deng Ziyang found it hard to believe.
Among the Sixth Grade experts in Qingfeng City, only one bore the surname Huo.
Deng Ziyang suddenly stood up, rushed to the next table, and shouted, "You just said Huo Chengkun died? How did he die?"
"Let go... how would I know..."
Chen Ming quickly held back Deng Ziyang, asking the people at that table, "When did this happen?"
"Just this morning... they had already hung white lanterns, and all the servants wore mourning... I saw it with my own eyes..."
Deng Ziyang glared at him, "If you're lying, I'll come back and take your head."
With that, he turned and left.
He left the restaurant, didn't even wait for a carriage, and ran straight toward the Huo Mansion.
Chen Ming followed him, his mind in a mess.
How did Huo Chengkun suddenly die?
Could it be that his junior sister really made her move on him the day before?
...
In no time, Chen Ming and Deng Ziyang arrived outside the Huo Mansion.
Looking at the white lanterns at the entrance, Chen Ming felt a heaviness in his heart.
Deng Ziyang stood at the entrance for a long time, not making a move to knock.
Behind him, Chen Ming couldn't see his facial expression clearly, pondering over what would become of the Huo Mansion now that Huo Chengkun was gone.
After a while.
Deng Ziyang turned around, mumbling, "You old fool, how could you just die like this?"
"How could you just die like this?"
"I haven't even surpassed you yet, haven't even seen your regretful expression, how could you just die like this?"
As he spoke, tears began to gather in his eyes.