Chen Ming furrowed his brow, asking seriously, "Miss Su, do you know who that person is?"

Su Zhining said, "The one who can evade my senses must be above Third Grade."

Third Grade?

Chen Ming immediately thought of the Third Grade expert who was spying from the rooftop in the morning. Could it be her?

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, he could still tell it was a woman.

Originally, he thought it was a passing strong person curious to watch the commotion. Now it seems, she’s probably here for something else.

"You could have just killed him directly earlier. Why incite discord and make them turn on their family?" Su Zhining’s slightly dissatisfied voice reached his ears.

Chen Ming looked up and met her reproachful gaze.

There it goes, the saint syndrome attacks again.

He sighed and said, "If that’s how you want to think, there’s nothing I can do."

Su Zhining’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and she said, "You’re saying I misunderstood you?"

"Of course." Chen Ming said matter-of-factly, "If I wanted to eliminate future troubles, the simplest way would be to exterminate the Qi Family. But I’m too soft-hearted, unwilling to commit such murder."

"But, I can’t just leave them be, waiting for them to seek revenge on me later, right? I’m not afraid, but my brother and sister-in-law don’t know martial arts. I can’t let them be in danger..."

Su Zhining interjected, "So, you want to plunge the Qi Family into internal turmoil, making them kill each other."

Chen Ming looked at her earnestly, "If you think this is inappropriate, just say the word, and I’ll go back now to kill every single one of the Qi Family."

"..."

Ultimately, Su Zhining silently turned her gaze away, no longer speaking.

Chen Ming found a good trait in her, though sometimes overly saintly, she at least reasoned, not insisting arbitrarily.

There’s still hope.

...

Qi Yanxiong’s death and the change of leadership at Jin Yuansheng quickly spread throughout Qingfeng City.

Jin Yuansheng monopolized the porcelain business and was considered the second-largest trading company after the Seven Great Sea Merchants in people’s minds. Qi Yanxiong was also a prominent figure, yet he died so suddenly, causing quite the stir.

There are various theories about Qi Yanxiong’s cause of death.

Some say it was an internal strife within the Qi Family, and Qi Yanxiong died at the hands of a family member.

Others say Chen Ming killed Qi Yanxiong.

There’s even talk that a mysterious figure took a liking to the profitable Jin Yuansheng, so they assassinated to take over the company.

Some even speculated it was pirates or the Six Gates who did it. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

For a time, rumors were everywhere.

Only the two consecrate at Jin Yuansheng present at the time, along with two others from Shang’an Trading Company, knew the truth. Having received Chen Ming’s instructions, they naturally wouldn’t leak it.

...

The next day, Chen Rui heard the news and immediately ran to his parents’ shrine to deliver the good news.

He naturally inferred that Qi Yanxiong’s death was related to his brother; he said he would go out to resolve the matter yesterday. Coincidentally, Qi Yanxiong was killed the same day.

Anyway, the vengeance for his brother’s false imprisonment had finally been avenged.

In front of the shrine, Chen Rui said many things.

In just four years, his brother Chen Ming had grown to such an extent that he could kill someone like Qi Yanxiong just like that.

Being in the same business, he was well aware of the vast difference between the current Chen Family and Jin Yuansheng.

He now felt like he was struggling to keep up with his brother’s pace.

"Father, Mother, please watch over us from the heavens..."

...

...

South of the city, Red Sea Gang.

This was originally a branch of the Giant Tiger Gang, now the main base of the Red Sea Gang.

The Red Sea Gang was now more formidable than the Giant Tiger Gang ever was; in just a few months, they had unified Qingfeng City.

In the backyard of the Red Sea Gang, inside a courtyard.

The door of the house pushed open from inside, and a man in his early thirties walked out. Several gang members outside the door immediately greeted, "Welcome Hall Master from closed training."

This man was Luo Hao, one of Red Sea Gang’s three Hall Masters, and also the disciple of the Gang Leader.

The Gang Leader didn’t like handling these mundane affairs; now the affairs of the gang were managed by the three Hall Masters.

A close confidant boldly asked, "Has the Hall Master made a breakthrough during this closure?"

A month ago, Luo Hao had an insight and decided to close off for training. For a whole month, everyone speculated that he was on the verge of breaking through to Fifth Grade.

Luo Hao said, "Made some progress, but there’s still some way to go to reach Fifth Grade."

Following was bathing and changing clothes.

"During my month of closure, has anything major happened in the city?"

Luo Hao casually asked while eating.

A subordinate said, "No major events, but there’s one thing the Hall Master might be interested in, that Chen Ming has completed his closure."

Chen Ming?

Luo Hao had a deep impression of this name, not because of Chen Ming’s strength, but because Admiral Zhao’s daughter stood up for him.

The daughter of Admiral Zhao is truly a rare beauty, and with such an illustrious family background, she actually fancies a boy from such an ordinary background.

It really makes one quite displeased.

Luo Hao naturally wanted to publicly teach that boy a hard lesson, but he was only holding back because of that Miss Zhao.

The attendant clearly understood his master well and provided some information, "Admiral Zhao has taken his daughter to Jiangzhou; they left just a few days ago and probably won’t be back soon."

"Oh?"

Luo Hao’s eyes lit up with excitement. With Admiral Zhao’s daughter not around, let’s see who can protect you now?

...

"Something terrible has happened!"

In the mourning hall, Chen Rui was confiding his thoughts to his parents when he suddenly heard the butler’s urgent call. Slightly startled, he asked, "Butler, what’s got you so flustered?"

"That Master Luo from the Red Sea Gang is causing trouble again; he says he’s here to challenge Second Master."

Chen Rui was no longer the panicked boy he once was. Over the years, the Chen Mansion had weathered many crises, and he had become seasoned.

So, even though he heard that Luo Hao from the Red Sea Gang wanted to challenge Erlang, he remained calm and asked, "Where is Erlang?"

The butler replied, "I’ve already sent someone to inform him."

"Let’s go and see."

Chen Rui put down the half-burned paper money in his hand and walked outside, instructing as he went, "Have Protector Gu guard the backyard; don’t let anyone disturb Madam, the young master, and young miss."

"Yes."

"Also, have Bofu and Zhongda..."

Chen Rui organized everything methodically. In no time, he had arrived at the main gate, where the household’s servants stood as if facing a formidable enemy.

"... Everyone says the Chen Family’s Erlang is outstanding and a young genius. I think he’s just a coward hiding beneath a woman’s skirt..."

Outside, vulgar words were followed by a burst of laughter.

Chen Rui felt a surge of anger rising within him.

He knew it was Master Luo’s ploy to provoke Erlang, but the words were truly detestable.

The events of last month were still fresh in his mind.

The same Master Luo from the Red Sea Gang had gathered his men at their door, urging Erlang to come out and fight.

No matter how they explained that Erlang was in seclusion, they wouldn’t drop the matter. Just as they were about to force their way in, that Miss Zhao arrived and stopped the arrogant and overbearing Master Luo.

It was from Master Luo’s mouth that he learned Miss Zhao’s identity—she was the daughter of the Lord Admiral.

Chen Rui had been extremely surprised at how Erlang knew the Admiral’s daughter and that they had quite a deep connection.

"Chen Ming, if you don’t come out, I’m going to break in. This time, Miss Zhao isn’t here to help you. Let’s see where you’ll hide?"

...

...

At the backyard of the Chen Mansion.

Chen Ming listened to the voices coming from outside, somewhat helplessly speaking to the woman in red sitting across from him, "Please forgive me, I need to handle this first."

The woman in red had a face covered by a veil. Despite that, her temperament was entirely different from Su Zhining, possessing a vibrant beauty with a wild look in her eyes—clearly someone immensely untamable.

She was the Third Grade expert who had secretly warned him yesterday. Today, she finally came to see him, but coincidentally, Luo Hao made his challenge just as she arrived.

The woman in red looked at him with bright eyes, "Don’t call me senior; I’m only a few years older than you."

"Then how should I address you?"

"My single name is Hong; you can call me Sister Hong."

"Sister Hong."

Chen Ming readily obliged, got up, and said, "Please sit for a while; I’ll be right back."

With that, he got up and left.

The woman in red watched the steaming tea in front of her and spoke, "Come out."

As soon as she finished speaking, a woman in white gently descended from the roof—it was Su Zhining. She bowed to the woman in red, "Su Zhining of the Celestial Dao Alliance greets Your Highness Princess Hongyu."

A peculiar gleam flashed in the eyes of the woman in red, and she softly said, "I never thought I’d hear someone call me that in my lifetime..."

...

Outside the door, a luxuriously adorned carriage stopped, drawn by eight horses.

Trailing behind the carriage were more than thirty gang members in black outfits, displaying the grandeur of the largest gang in Qingfeng City.

This spectacle naturally attracted many onlookers, who stood at a distance, discussing the scene.

"This time, Chen Family’s Erlang might not be able to avoid it."

"Serves him right. This guy used to challenge others everywhere, and now he’s the one blocked at the door. It’s the cycle of retribution, reaping what he’s sown."

"I’ve heard that Master Luo was already a Sixth Grade three years ago; his saber technique is astonishing and a true inheritance from Master Pan. I’m afraid Young Master Chen might not be his match."

"Alas, Young Master Chen only broke through to Sixth Grade seven or eight months ago. Naturally, his cultivation falls far short of Master Luo’s..."

Most people didn’t favor Chen Ming, and many even speculated that he probably wouldn’t accept the challenge.

"I bet he’s waiting for Miss Zhao to come and resolve the situation for him, right?"

"You might not know this, but Miss Zhao isn’t in the city right now. She’s gone to Jiangzhou City with the Lord Admiral."

"Then this time, he really can’t escape..."

Amidst such discussions, the door of the carriage swung open, and Luo Hao, dressed in black, stepped out. With a cold gaze, he ordered, "Break in."