Chapter 194: Chapter 183: Trading Life for Survival
Chen Mansion.
Early in the morning, Old Li at the gate picked up a broom to sweep away the snow in front of the door. After a while, he was so tired that he couldn’t straighten his back, standing there and leaning on the broom to rest.
Suddenly, a determined young man walked over and asked, "Uncle Li, what are you looking at?"
"Second Young Master is here."
Old Li greeted him warmly before saying, "Both neighbors moved in just yesterday, yet they showed no courtesy, not even coming over to pay a visit."
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but shake his head.
This determined young man was Hong Zilin. Previously, the madam had half-jokingly said she wanted to adopt Li Jinchuan and him as her sons. Hence, the servants in the mansion called Li Jinchuan the First Young Master and him the Second Young Master.
When Hong Zilin heard this, he felt something was amiss. The same day, both neighbors on either side changed; that was too much of a coincidence.
"Let me help you."
He took the broom and, in a few sweeps, cleared the snow to the side, while asking, "I heard some burglars came yesterday?"
"Yes, fortunately, Protector Gu discovered them in time and killed those burglars. Alas, Qingfeng City has become increasingly chaotic recently. I’ve heard several families were robbed..."
"What about the bodies of those burglars?"
"After reporting to the authorities, the bodies were taken to the mortuary."
By this time, Hong Zilin had almost finished sweeping and handed the broom back to Old Li, saying, "I’ll pay my respects to my adoptive father and mother."
"Go ahead."
Old Li watched his back, feeling that this Second Young Master embodied the demeanor of the Second Master.
...
After entering the mansion, Hong Zilin first sought out Protector Gu Junrong, "Master Gu, what kind of people were those burglars yesterday?"
The day before, he had gone to the Huo Mansion to learn martial arts from Uncle Zhang Mingyu, returning home late, and only then learned of the matter from his mother. So he came early today.
Gu Junrong’s expression was grave, "Those three came with ill intentions, their strength far beyond mine. If someone hadn’t intervened secretly to kill them, I’m afraid..."
His heart was filled with lingering fear, and he dared not continue.
Hong Zilin’s heart sank; indeed, these were no ordinary thieves, "Master Gu, do you know who secretly aided us?"
"I don’t know. But I think it should be a friend of the Second Master. I have reported the matter to the First Master, who instructed me not to speak openly; since that person doesn’t wish to reveal themselves, we should act as if we don’t know."
Hong Zilin nodded, feeling heavy-hearted. Now, neither the enemy nor the ally was known, nothing was clear, like headless flies—it was most uncomfortable.
He smiled bitterly to himself, "Uncle, oh Uncle, what kind of opponent did you provoke in Jiangzhou City?"
The saying goes that the higher you climb, the colder it gets. When he learned that Uncle had been ranked sixth on the Cyan Cloud Ranking, he had already guessed that the Chen Mansion would eventually face trouble.
Now, Uncle Chen Ming had not returned, and the Chen Family lacked a backbone.
Coincidentally, recently, Qingfeng City had been in turmoil, with rumors flying everywhere. Many unfamiliar faces appeared in the city, even the most oblivious people knew something major was about to happen.
"Uncle, hurry back."
Hong Zilin then went to find Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda, who still had their carefree demeanor. Seeing him, they cheerfully greeted him.
Sometimes, he really envied their carefree manner.
But within the Chen Mansion, they were the strongest, reaching the seventh rank. If something really happened in the mansion, they would have to protect the adoptive father and mother.
After paying his respects to Chen Rui and Madam Wei, Hong Zilin sought out his uncle’s maids, Chunxiang and Xiaxiang, who were now at the eighth rank of cultivation, quite strong.
Counting it up, the strength of the Chen Mansion was quite strong now.
Two at the seventh rank, Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda.
Four at the eighth rank, Chunxiang, Xiaxiang, Master Gu Junrong, and himself.
Apart from that, there was a mysterious girl in the mansion, rarely seen, also of the seventh rank.
However, such strength was still far from sufficient to face the current crisis.
Hong Zilin felt a sense of danger and, after chatting with Chunxiang and Xiaxiang, left the Chen Mansion, deciding to investigate the background of the two new "neighbors" next door.
...
In the room, Chen Ming sat in a chair, with his left hand pressed against Yu Haitang’s back, and his right hand on Su Zhining’s back, continuously transmitting Gang Qi into their bodies.
Every so often, he took a Jade Dragon Pill.
Such days had already continued for ten days.
These two seemed like bottomless pits, as if no amount of Gang Qi was enough.
To others, his Gang Qi seemed endless, as more than ten days passed yet it hadn’t run out.
Only Chen Ming knew his Gang Qi was nearing its limit.
[Level: 67]
[Current Points: 440000]
[Cultivation Technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfection), "Five Elements True Skill (Missing)" (Sixth Level 1683000/2400000)]
[Martial Skills: "Three Talents Fist" (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Mastery), "Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship" (Mastery), "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" (Third Level 1322/300000)]
[Secret Technique: "Disguise Technique" (Mastery)]
Now his remaining points could only allow him to level up once more. It meant he could only persist for about five more days.
If they still hadn’t recovered, there would be nothing he could do.
At this moment, Chen Ming was studying the "Nine Yang Nourishing Spirit Technique," now unable to move his hands, so he had someone make a frame to hold the book.
When he wanted to turn the pages, he used Gang Qi. At this time, it tested his fine control over Gang Qi.
When Qiuxiang came to deliver meals, she mentioned something, "Young Master, a young man from your mansion is investigating us."
"Oh?"
Chen Ming became interested and asked, "What kind of young man is he?"
"About seventeen or eighteen years old, with a spirited appearance..."
From this description, he knew who it was. At that age, it could only be Hong Zilin.
"It’s him."
Chen Ming felt quite pleased inside. The boyish young man from back then had grown up and could now share the family’s burdens.
Previously, when he was at home, although Hong Zilin had a mature demeanor, he was solely focused on martial arts training and rarely bothered with other matters. During the months he was away, this boy had matured through experience.
He said, "It’s okay, let’s see what he can find out."
...
Two days later, Chen Ming’s Gang Qi was once again depleted, forcing him to add points again and level up.
[Level: 68]
[Current Points: 200000]
[Cultivation Technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfection), "Five Elements True Skill (Missing)" (Sixth Level 1923000/2400000)]
[Martial Skill: "Three Talents Fist" (Complete), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Complete), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Complete), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Complete), "Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship" (Complete), "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" (Third Level 1322/300000)]
[Secret Technique: "Disguise Technique" (Complete)]
After exhausting his Gang Qi, Chen Ming recovered once again, returning to a full state.
He glanced at the panel, just four thousand experience points short of being able to level up again.
"Where can I get four thousand experience points?"
While he was pondering, Yu Haitang abruptly asked, "How did you manage that?"
"Ah?" His thought process was interrupted, and he looked up to see her turning her body, staring at him with an inquisitive gaze.
"Your Gang Qi was clearly depleted, yet suddenly, it’s abundant and robust again?" Yu Haitang fixed her eyes on his, expressing intense bewilderment, "This is the seventh time already!"
Chen Ming knew that under these circumstances, trying to hide from these two women was almost impossible.
He looked serious and said, "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes."
"I don’t mind telling you. I obtained a secret technique before, called the ’Blood Burning Technique.’ By paying a certain price, I can restore my True Qi to its full state. As for the price, it’s merely ten years off my life."
"You’re lying."
Yu Haitang coldly said, "I’ve never heard of such a secret technique."
Chen Ming looked shocked, "Ah? You saw through me. Is my acting really that poor?"
"If you don’t want to say it, forget it."
Yu Haitang turned her head away, no longer looking at him. She seemed a bit angry.
At this moment, Chen Ming felt a surge of Gang Yuan within Su Zhining, which shook his hand loose. He was initially startled, then delighted, "Miss Su, you’ve recovered?"
Yet she remained as if meditating, silent, with even her breathing extremely faint.
He once again placed his palm on her back, only to be shaken off again in less than a second.
Chen Ming finally felt relieved, as this seemed to indicate she had mostly recovered. She no longer needed him to use True Qi to protect her heart.
It wasn’t easy; a full half month it took to pull her back from the brink of death.
Now, there was only Yu Haitang left.
Her complexion was much better than at the beginning, and he could sense her Gang Qi gradually recovering. Once it strengthened to a certain point, he could let go.
Chen Ming felt the pressure lift, freeing up one hand, which was a lot more convenient.
He was rejoicing when Qiuxiang came to knock on the door, "Young Master, a Captain Du from the Six Gates is here to see you."
Du Caiyue finally sought him out.
He said, "Let her in."
It’s not easy to hide from Du Caiyue, the local authority of Qingfeng City.
Not long after, Qiuxiang brought Du Caiyue in.
"Sir Du, long time no see."
At this moment, a curtain hung in the middle, separating Su Zhining and Yu Haitang. With Chen Ming now able to move one hand, it didn’t look so discordant.
Du Caiyue was taken aback seeing him like this and instinctively glanced inside the curtain, seeing people inside, and they were women.
She suddenly recalled some rumors passed on from Jiangzhou City.
However, she asked nothing, smiling, "Yes, long time no see. Unexpectedly, since our last meeting, you’ve become quite renowned as Chen Erlang, ranked sixth on the Cyan Cloud Ranking in Jiangzhou."
Our last meeting was just half a year ago.
"You’re too kind."
At this moment, Qiuxiang served tea.
Chen Ming asked, "May I know what brings Sir Du here?"
Du Caiyue instinctively glanced at the women behind the curtain, gritted her teeth, and said, "Have you heard of Paradise Island?"
