I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 87: Separation

The weather was growing colder by the day, and the fallen leaves on the ground increased each day.

Until one day, when Chunxiang brought in a brazier full of burning charcoal, Chen Ming finally realized—winter had arrived.

After reaching the Seventh Grade, with Qi and blood flourishing and being impervious to heat and cold, he no longer felt the change in temperature as keenly.

Nevertheless, Chen Ming did not refuse the brazier. Though he didn’t need it, Chunxiang and Xiaxiang were still afraid of the cold. It could keep them warm.

That morning, before dawn had broken—

Chen Ming had risen early, sitting under the eaves, looking at the clusters of ice crystals hanging from the bare branches of the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.

"Sir, all the trainees have arrived. Fifty-three were expected, fifty-three are present. Please give your instructions."

At that moment, Hong Zilin finished the headcount and reported loudly.

Only then did Chen Ming turn to look at the trainees standing before him in rows, all standing tall and upright.

Even in the bitter cold, the youthful vigor unique to their age could not be concealed.

"Begin."

With a single command, the fifty-three trainees present began to take their stances and practice martial arts with practiced precision.

He remained seated on the rattan chair, occasionally casting a glance at a trainee.

Among these trainees, some had been training with him for over a year.

A few had laid down excellent foundations—it was obvious they also practiced diligently at home.

Judging from their progress, it was roughly possible to determine whose talent was high and whose was average.

Among these fifty-three people, if he didn’t intervene, only three might become martial artists before the age of twenty.

That number included Hong Zilin, who came from a martial family.

"No wonder there are so few martial artists in this world. The ratio of those with good talent is indeed small, and coupled with the monopoly of martial families and sects..."

Just as Chen Ming was pondering this, he noticed Li Jinchuan walking in through the Moon Gate.

Since breaking through to the Ninth Grade, Li Jinchuan no longer trained with the regular trainees.

Normally, he practiced in the courtyard where he lived.

Li Jinchuan walked up beside Chen Ming and respectfully bowed. "Senior Brother."

Chen Ming noticed a certain unease in his expression and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

"I came to bid farewell to Senior Brother. Thank you for taking me in."

"Your Uncle Rui has returned?"

"No, he sent someone to deliver a letter, asking me to go to Jiangzhou."

Chen Ming asked, "Is that person reliable?"

Li Jinchuan replied, "Very reliable. Uncle Rui arranged for a merchant caravan for me. We’ll depart early tomorrow morning."

Chen Ming nodded and said, "Once you reach Jiangzhou, send someone back to report your safety. If you ever run into difficulties in the future, you can always come back. That little courtyard will always be kept for you."

"Senior Brother—"

Li Jinchuan’s eyes suddenly turned red.

"Before you go, remember to bid farewell to my sister-in-law."

"Mm."

Li Jinchuan bowed once more before retreating.

Chen Ming looked at the youth’s slightly slender figure and felt a bit emotional.

He could tell that Li Jinchuan had his own story, but he had never pried.

As someone from the modern world who had worked in a professional environment, he had a strong sense of boundaries and never casually intruded into others' privacy.

Someone like Old Liu, who wrote to him voluntarily, was different—that showed they had real friendship.

……

After the morning training ended, the trainees left Chen Residence in small groups.

Chen Ming went to have breakfast with his family.

At the table, Madam Wei spoke about Li Jinchuan’s departure with an expression full of reluctance.

In her eyes, Li Jinchuan was like the ideal child—handsome, usually quiet, but very polite, dedicated in his training, and already a martial artist at such a young age.

She hoped her own son could learn from him.

Now, he suddenly announced he was leaving.

Naturally, she was reluctant.

……

At noon, after finishing his meal, Chen Ming took a carriage and left the residence.

As the medicine shop's business grew larger, his carriage was also replaced—with a big cart pulled by two horses, and its interior was quite luxuriously arranged.

According to his brother Chen Rui, now that he was a man of status, his carriage naturally could not look shabby.

Chunxiang even thoughtfully prepared a hand warmer in the carriage to keep his hands warm.

After the carriage left the house, it galloped northward.

It had barely gone far when it suddenly came to a halt.

Hearing the clamor outside, Chen Ming was curious. In the middle of winter, why were there so many people outside? He asked the coachman, "What’s going on up ahead?"

The coachman said, "Looks like today is the day of the Autumn Execution. A lot of people are there waiting to watch the beheadings."

Public executions?

A thought stirred in Chen Ming’s mind.

The role of executioner wasn’t bad.

Killing a martial artist yielded far more experience than just defeating one.

However, he merely entertained the idea.

Given the Six Doors Authority's usual conduct, most of the time they executed criminals on the spot.

Few were captured alive, and even fewer sentenced to death.

There were only a handful every year.

Not worth it.

At the moment, the road was completely blocked, and he could only wait here.

After a while, the time arrived.

The executioner read aloud the criminal’s name and crime. His voice carried from afar.

Suddenly, Chen Ming heard a name—"Ding Guangnan." He immediately remembered.

This man was someone he had seen in the Six Doors Authority Prison.

He had acted out of righteousness and killed the illegitimate son of the Four Seas Trading Company’s owner, and had been sentenced to death.

This man had a backbone and had left quite an impression.

Unfortunately, he still had to die.

Amidst waves of cheers, those criminals’ heads must have already fallen.

After the crowd dispersed, the carriage was finally able to move forward again.

"Old Wang."

Chen Ming suddenly asked the coachman to stop, gave a few instructions, then jumped off the carriage and walked away.

He had the coachman find someone to collect Ding Guangnan’s remains and give him a proper burial, so that he wouldn’t be left exposed in the wild.

That was the only thing he could do for Ding Guangnan.

……

Chen Ming came alone to the entrance of the former Sea-Calming King’s Mansion and called out loudly, "Junior Chen Ming is here to visit Senior."

He waited a while before saying again, "Junior is coming in now."

Only then did he push the door open and enter.

Over the past two months, he came once every ten days.

At first, he came with Zhou Weihao. Later, after Zhou Weihao went home, he came alone.

The person inside was a First Grade powerhouse.

One had to understand, the strongest known expert in Qingfeng City—Governor Zhao Shouchang—was only Third Grade.

The undefeated pirate king on the sea, Red Sea Lord, was just Second Grade.

Such a powerful thigh to cling to—of course he had to find a way to hold on.

All he had to do was weed the place every ten days.

What couldn’t be done?

Chen Ming walked to the courtyard where Senior Shang lived.

The old man was still in his grey cloth clothes, barefoot, limping slightly as he watered the potted plants.

He bowed and said, "Senior, Junior Chen Ming has come to visit."

The old man ignored him.

After watering the plants, he went into the house and threw out a small hoe.

Chen Ming picked up the hoe and went outside to work.

Since winter began, even the weeds had withered.

The areas he cleared last time had no new weeds, so he moved further out.

He worked for more than an hour.

"Shang Jianfei!"

Suddenly, a shrill voice erupted, shattering the silence of this desolate mansion.

Chen Ming was startled.

Could it be someone coming to cause trouble for Senior Shang?

But that voice sounded a little familiar. He felt like he had heard it somewhere before.

He hesitated.

Anyone who dared cause trouble for Senior Shang was surely no ordinary person.

If a fight broke out, he could easily get caught in the crossfire.

The destructive power of a First Grade expert was no joke.

Maybe... he should run?

"So you’re hiding here..."

The voice came closer, tinged with venom, anger, and sorrow... like a cold wind from the depths of hell, every word coated in hatred and resentment.

It was her!

Chen Ming finally remembered who the voice belonged to.

That Junior Sister of Huo Chengkun—that old woman!

What was going on? She actually knew Senior Shang? Judging from the tone, their relationship wasn’t ordinary.

Something didn’t add up.

That old woman didn’t seem to be that strong, probably not even at Third Grade.

How did she have ties with Senior Shang?

And they seemed to have deep grudges.

"I should’ve known... hahaha..."

That deranged laughter made Chen Ming’s scalp tingle.