I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 18: Nameless Martial Arts Manual

In the early morning, as the sun rose, warm sunlight spilled into the courtyard.

Chen Ming sat beneath the eaves, flipping through a book.

The material of the book looked like paper, yet it was extremely tough—it seemed to be made from the hide of some kind of animal.

The book appeared to have some age, as the pages were slightly yellowed.

The characters written on them were different from the current mainstream script.

There was no title on the cover, but judging from its content, it was indeed a martial arts manual.

Such a manual with an unclear origin and not even a name—ordinary people would never dare to casually practice it.

But Chen Ming wasn’t afraid.

Whether this thing was real or fake, he would know as soon as he tried it.

Before long, the maid Xiaohong came to call him for breakfast.

He put away the nameless manual and went to eat.

…

After breakfast, Chen Ming left the house and headed toward the Huo Residence.

Over the past few days, he had adjusted his state of mind quite well.

Even during yesterday’s close interaction with Deng Ziyang, he hadn’t revealed anything.

Besides, staying at home these days hadn’t earned him a single experience point, which made him a bit anxious.

How could he grow stronger without experience points?

Around nine in the morning, Chen Ming arrived punctually at the Huo Residence. After greeting the gatekeeper, he entered. However, he did not see Huo Qianqian’s maid Chunmei, which left him feeling somewhat disappointed.

Then he thought again—her fiancé had returned. How could she still come and spar with him?

Moreover, she was about to get married. By then, it would be even more impossible for her to come challenge him.

In the future, one less source of experience points.

Chen Ming felt a bit regretful in his heart.

Before long, he arrived at the training grounds.

“Junior Brother Chen.”

Hong Mingquan was delighted to see him. “You’re finally here. Those kids talk about you every day.”

“Fifth Senior Brother.”

Chen Ming walked into the pavilion and explained, “There were some matters at home these past few days. Sorry for making you worry.”

At that moment, Zhang Mingyu also walked over. “Hey, I heard the good news. Are you about to get engaged?”

Over this period, Chen Ming had gotten along quite well with Zhang Mingyu.

The previous misunderstanding had long been put to rest.

After all, they saw each other every day—it wasn’t necessary to remain hostile.

Hong Mingquan said, “I think it’s better not to rush. Marriage is a lifelong matter. Better to wait a few more years. If you can break through that major barrier, it wouldn’t be too late to marry then.”

This was advice from someone with experience.

Back then, he had been too eager to marry.

The wife he took, whether in terms of background or looks, was just average. Later, when he became a martial artist, it was too late for regrets.

The sect’s rules included one: ‘A wife of humble origins must not be abandoned.’

Zhang Mingyu, however, disagreed with him. “Fifth Junior Brother, don’t mislead the younger ones. Breaking through to become a martial artist is immensely difficult. Those without sufficient talent must remain grounded. Don’t harbor unrealistic fantasies—it only adds to one’s troubles.”

Hong Mingquan didn’t dare refute and simply said, “Senior Brother is right to admonish.”

Chen Ming kept his head down, sipping tea, and made no comment.

In truth, Zhang Mingyu wasn’t wrong. It was just that Chen Ming wasn’t an ordinary person.

Sensing the awkward silence, he changed the topic and asked about the famous experts that had emerged in Qingfeng City.

On this topic, the two of them naturally spoke with great familiarity.

“To speak of the most powerful expert from this area, it would be the ancestor of the Gu family two hundred years ago—a peak First Grade master. That secured the Gu family’s position as the top clan in this prefecture…”

As the three of them chatted, they suddenly saw Wen Zehao appear on the training grounds, walking in their direction.

Both Hong Mingquan and Zhang Mingyu fell silent at once, and the atmosphere turned awkward.

Chen Ming stood up, ready to take his leave, not wanting to be an eyesore here.

“Chen Ming.”

Unexpectedly, Wen Zehao called out to him, “You don’t need to leave. Come, sit and have a cup of tea.”

Chen Ming felt puzzled.

Why was this man acting hot and cold? Did he think this was child’s play?

“No, thank you.”

He declined politely and left the pavilion.

...

Zhang Mingyu found it strange. “Didn’t you dislike him? Why are you suddenly being so polite?”

Wen Zehao, however, sighed. He picked up the tea Fifth Senior Brother had poured him and drank it all in one gulp, his face full of regret. “I finally understand why Little Junior Sister is angry with me. It turns out she thinks I’m too petty.”

Weren’t you?

Zhang Mingyu and Hong Mingquan thought this in their hearts but didn’t say it aloud.

Wen Zehao didn’t notice their expressions. His tone was full of bitterness. “She helped Chen Ming because her close friend Zhang Xinyi came to ask her. Sigh, why didn’t she say so earlier? Just over this matter, Little Junior Sister still refuses to speak to me.”

Zhang Mingyu stifled a laugh and said teasingly, “So, you plan to reconcile with Chen Ming and have him explain things to Little Junior Sister for you?”

“Mm.”

“Too bad, he didn’t seem too willing.”

Wen Zehao snorted, “He wouldn’t dare? I’m already giving him face!”

At this point, Hong Mingquan interjected, “I actually think this isn’t a good idea. Little Junior Sister is extremely intelligent and hates those who play tricks. Junior Brother, you only need to treat Chen Ming normally and stop clashing with him. Once word of that reaches her, she’ll naturally understand.”

Wen Zehao shook his head. “Who knows how long that would take? Junior Sister’s birthday is coming up soon. I need her to forgive me before then. I’ll go find him now.”

He left behind the pair of senior brothers, Zhang Mingyu and Hong Mingquan, who looked at each other speechlessly.

...

“You want me to explain to Miss Huo that you weren’t excluding me or trying to drive me away?”

Chen Ming looked at Wen Zehao with shock after hearing his request.

What kind of brain circuit would lead someone to say something like this?

This emotional intelligence wasn’t even on par with a middle schooler.

Wen Zehao nodded. “Right. As long as you explain to Little Junior Sister, I’ll give you a Qi and Blood Pill.”

His tone made it sound like he was offering charity.

Chen Ming thought for a moment and said, “I can go explain it to Miss Huo. Best if we go together.”

“That’s exactly what I had in mind.”

Wen Zehao was actually a little worried that he might talk behind his back to Little Junior Sister.

He had already decided to tag along.

He pulled a bottle from his robe and handed over the payment first.

Fifty taels secured.

Chen Ming never had issues with money.

After confirming there was a Qi and Blood Pill inside, he tucked it directly into his robe.

...

...

At the Xiao Residence, a crowd of Six Doors officers had already gathered early in the morning.

A person had died here last night.

At dawn, the Xiao Residence had sent someone to report the case.

Three constables searched the scene. The oldest among them said, “When the body was discovered, the door was locked from the inside, and the windows were intact. There were no traces of a second person at the scene, and no other injuries on the deceased. This was suicide.”

Another constable nodded in agreement with this conclusion.

Only the youngest constable, his eyes sharp, said in a low voice, “I believe this was a murder. Look at the marks on the deceased’s neck—this wasn’t hanging. He was strangled.”

The older constable sneered. “Since Lord Wang believes it’s murder, you investigate it yourself. When you find evidence and catch someone, then come back and overturn my conclusion.”

With that, he flung his sleeve and left.

After the two constables exited the Xiao Residence, the younger one sneered. “Truly a case of a calf not fearing the tiger.”

The older constable said, “I’ve long seen that he’s an ambitious type. The new superior is young and surely wants to make a mark. This kid sees the opportunity—if he can earn some merit, he might just get the new superior’s favor.”