I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 85: Hidden Expert of the Secular World

"Senior Sister, I’ll go in alone. You can head back first。"

The carriage stopped at the Huo Residence. Huo Qianqian got off and spoke to Xiao Zhuyun.

Xiao Zhuyun nodded and said, "Alright. Don’t come back too late。"

Huo Qianqian watched the carriage disappear into the distance before stepping into the residence she had lived in for over ten years.

This place should have been her home.

But now, she felt like a married daughter returning to her parents’ house—she could clearly feel that this place no longer belonged to her.

"Little Junior Sister。"

When she reached the backyard, Third Senior Brother Zhang Mingyu came forward to greet her. "Why didn’t you tell me in advance that you were coming?"

Huo Qianqian smiled awkwardly, then said, "Senior Brother, I came to bid you farewell. I want to burn an incense stick in front of Grandfather’s spirit tablet。"

The smile on Zhang Mingyu’s face faded, and he said emotionally, "Do you really have to leave? Now that our great enemy is avenged, you don’t need to rely on the Xiaoshui Sect..."

Huo Qianqian lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and softly said, "Senior Brother, there’s no need to say more... Since I’ve joined the Xiaoshui Sect, I will remain a disciple of the Xiaoshui Sect for life。"

Her voice was soft, but her tone was firm.

Zhang Mingyu sighed and said no more.

The two silently arrived at the ancestral hall in the back. Huo Qianqian lit three sticks of incense in front of Huo Chengkun’s spirit tablet and bowed three times.

"Alright, I’m leaving now。"

Huo Qianqian stood up.

"I’ll walk you out。"

The two walked out of the ancestral hall together.

Suddenly, Zhang Mingyu said, "Actually, I know why you didn’t want to marry the Seventh Young Master。"

He gazed into the distance as if recalling something. "One time, I accidentally saw you and Junior Brother Chen sparring, in that secluded courtyard to the north. After that, I saw it a few more times... I never told anyone about it。"

Zhang Mingyu gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I admit, I was resentful of the Seventh Young Master back then. He was the last to join the sect and hadn’t accomplished anything. Why should he inherit Master’s legacy? Later, when you refused to marry him, I can’t tell you how happy I was..."

Huo Qianqian just listened quietly, saying nothing.

They were almost at the main gate.

Zhang Mingyu turned to her and asked, "Junior Sister, why didn’t you tell him? If—"

"Senior Brother。"

Huo Qianqian interrupted him, pleading, "Since we were young, I’ve never asked you for anything. Now I ask one thing of you. Don’t tell him。"

Zhang Mingyu couldn’t understand why she insisted on this and said anxiously, "Why put yourself through this?"

At that moment, an autumn wind swept through, and the leaves of a tall ginkgo tree in the courtyard rustled down.

Huo Qianqian reached out her fair hand and caught a leaf. Her brows were shrouded in an indescribable melancholy—part sigh, part lament. "You wouldn’t understand。"

"Senior Brother, farewell。"

She gave him no chance to speak further, saluted, and left through the gate.

Zhang Mingyu watched her figure gradually disappear into the distance, feeling a bit of sorrow in his heart.

In truth, how could he not understand?

Little Junior Sister had endured so many hardships that she was no longer the willful and proud girl she once was. Yet deep inside, she was still that proud little Junior Sister.

...

To Chen Ming, friends coming and going was a common thing.

The departure of Xiao Zhuyun and Huo Qianqian merely meant he lost a sparring partner who could help him rack up 300 experience points every two days.

He didn’t feel sad about it.

On the same day the Xiaoshui Sect disciples left, Zhou Weihao came again.

Yesterday, their sparring was interrupted by Zhao Xiyan.

Today was the perfect time to make up for it.

Immediately, the two of them squared off in the backyard and started trading blows.

After a hundred moves, Zhou Weihao once again landed in a state of "narrow defeat"。

"Refreshing!"

Although Zhou Weihao lost, he acted as if he had won.

He grabbed a jar of wine from the table and drank it in one gulp.

The result of this heroic gesture was a fierce coughing fit from choking.

He was truly overjoyed.

For over a month, he had come to spar with Chen Ming every few days.

Although he never won, he gained new insights after every bout.

Compared to a month ago, his swordsmanship had reached a new level, especially one representative move—Scattered Starlight.

He could now unleash seven points of sword stars with a single strike.

One should know, before he left home, his father told him it would take at least a year to reach the level of seven stars.

Yet now, he had achieved it in only three months.

All of this was thanks to Chen Ming.

Zhou Weihao put down the wine jar and said, "Brother Chen, today I’m taking you to meet someone。"

Chen Ming said, "If you're taking me to see some courtesan from a brothel, forget it。"

He was still at Seventh Grade, far from a point where he could afford to slack off.

Besides, even though he was making waves in his small circle, in Qingfeng City, he was still just a small fry. In a brothel, a courtesan might not even look at him.

What, was he, a proper transmigrator, supposed to grovel for a prostitute?

So, he was thoroughly uninterested.

Zhou Weihao smiled and said, "I know Brother Chen is wholly devoted to the martial path, so I plan to introduce you to a true master. If you can get his guidance, it’ll benefit you for life。"

"A master? What's his name?"

"You'll find out when we get there。" Zhou Weihao kept the suspense.

……

"This senior, due to certain mishaps, became disheartened, hid his identity, and now lives incognito among the common folk。"

In the carriage, Zhou Weihao said, "Previously, I was entrusted by an elder in my family to deliver a letter to this senior. Later, I learned some of his past from that elder… since then, I’ve visited him every time I come to Qingfeng City。"

"Unfortunately, my fortune is shallow, and I’ve never received his guidance. Perhaps, you might catch his eye。"

Hearing this, Chen Ming became even more curious about this so-called “hidden expert.”

Was there really a hidden master in Qingfeng City?

He had to meet him.

Even if they couldn’t be friends, just knowing this person existed would prevent accidental offense in the future that might get him killed without even knowing how.

The carriage traveled all the way to the north of the city, finally stopping in front of a rather secluded residence.

"This is the place。"

Zhou Weihao got off the carriage first.

Chen Ming followed behind.

After getting off, he saw that the mansion was magnificently built—more impressive than even the residence of the Inspector-General.

However, it looked long neglected.

The red paint on the main gate had peeled, moss grew thick on the walls, and weeds were everywhere.

"Let’s go。"

Zhou Weihao stepped forward and knocked on the door, loudly saying, "Senior, it’s Little Seventh Zhou here to visit you again。"

They waited for a while, but there was no response.

"Senior, I’m coming in。"

Zhou Weihao spoke as he pushed the door open, only to see two women walking out from inside—one in red, the other in green. Both wore veiled hats, the silk veils hanging down to obscure their faces, making their looks unrecognizable.

But judging from their figures, they were undoubtedly rare beauties.

He couldn’t help glancing at them a few more times and was surprised to find that Chen Ming beside him was also staring at one of the women intently.

He secretly chuckled—so, Brother Chen wasn’t completely indifferent to women after all.

Once the two women walked away, Zhou Weihao shut the gate again and said to Chen Ming, "Brother Chen, are you wondering why I didn’t greet them since we’re all visiting the senior?"

Chen Ming said, "These two didn't show their true faces. Clearly, they don’t want to be recognized. Asking questions without permission would likely offend them。"

"Brother Chen may not have roamed the martial world, but you're remarkably perceptive. By the way, just now you kept staring at the woman in green—do you know her?"

Chen Ming shook his head. "Must have mistaken her for someone else。"

"Oh。"

……

As for the two women who had left the residence, the woman in red suddenly asked, "Was that man in black earlier someone you know?"

The woman in green softly replied, "Miss, he doesn't know my identity。"

The woman in red said indifferently, "He’s the one you've been pining for, isn’t he?"

The woman in green immediately knelt down in fright, panicked, "Miss, I—"

"Enough。"

The woman in red pulled her up and said, "As long as he doesn’t interfere with my plans, I won’t do anything to him. When this matter is over, if you want to stay in Qingfeng City, I’ll allow it。"

The woman in green choked with emotion, "Mi...ss... I want to serve you for life..."

"Silly girl..."