Chen Ming instructed two maids to settle Zhong Shuyu comfortably, returned to the room, and took out the dozen or so pages Zhuang Xiaotian had given him.

Zhuang Xiaotian’s Flying Knife Skill was comprehended from these pages.

The technique he had just used, "Flying Rain," was also from one of these pages and was the only complete advanced technique.

This "Flying Rain" technique could only be fully executed by someone above the fifth rank, with extraordinarily strong True Qi. It was designed to handle group battles.

This was also the first time he used this move in combat, and its power was even more astonishing than he had imagined.

"Where did you learn the Soul Hooking Blade?"

Suddenly, Su Zhining’s voice sounded in his ear.

Chen Ming asked in surprise, "Soul Hooking Blade?"

The door creaked open, and Su Zhining, dressed in white, walked in. She had followed him all night, braving the sea breeze, yet her hair remained impeccable, not even a trace of dew on it.

Chen Ming watched in amazement, unsure if she was overly concerned with her appearance or had an extreme obsession with cleanliness.

Seeing that his expression was genuine, Su Zhining said, "The Biluo Sect, known for its concealed weapons, mastered three world-famous techniques: Soul Hooking Blade, Green Blood Pearl, and God Falling Nail. No one dared to provoke its members. Later, the Biluo Sect was destroyed, and these three techniques were lost."

"Since they’re lost, how do you know the technique I just used is the Biluo Sect’s Soul Hooking Blade?"

"Our sect has records about the Soul Hooking Hand."

Chen Ming said, "I’ve never heard of the Biluo Sect or the Soul Hooking Blade. All my knife skills are from these pages."

As he spoke, he handed over the papers in his hand.

Su Zhining glanced at the paper, hesitated slightly, but still accepted it and carefully flipped through.

She read very slowly, taking the time of an incense stick to finish the dozen pages.

Finally, after closing the last page, she looked up at him, "Did you really learn the Soul Hooking Blade from these incomplete contents?"

Chen Ming took back the pages, smiling, "I just figured it out myself."

Su Zhining’s gaze turned somewhat complicated, not knowing what to say for a moment.

She found it increasingly difficult to understand this man. Last time, when she taught him body technique, he seemed like an idiot. Yet he mastered excellent swordsmanship and was able to derive the infamous Soul Hooking Blade from these incomplete pages.

...

At dawn, Zhuang Xiaotian, as usual, reported to the Six Gates Government Office and found his superior absent. Upon asking, he learned that the chief had been wounded.

From his colleagues, he found out there was a secret operation last night, led personally by Captain Li with a team of skilled fighters, including his superior.

It’s said the battle last night was extremely fierce, with everyone below Captain Li suffering injuries.

Upon hearing his superior was still in the government office receiving medical treatment, Zhuang Xiaotian went with a few colleagues to visit.

The Six Gates had a medical hall that was usually empty but was crowded today.

Peng Xin lay in a corner, seeing a few of his subordinates approaching, he asked, "What brings you here?"

One of the subordinates said with concern, "Sir, we heard you were injured and we’re all worried."

"It’s a minor injury, nothing serious."

Peng Xin still had a flying knife embedded in him.

With only one doctor in the hall and overwhelmed with work, it wasn’t Peng Xin’s turn yet.

Zhuang Xiaotian noticed the flying knife in Peng Xin’s shoulder and a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.

A subordinate asked, "Sir, were you ambushed?"

They were curious, given the chief’s martial arts skills, how could he be struck by a flying knife?

In front of his subordinates, Peng Xin naturally explained, "The thief’s skill with concealed weapons was exceptional. All of us were wounded by this flying knife."

Zhuang Xiaotian and others turned and noticed several patrol envoys in the medical hall had the same type of flying knife embedded in them, leaving them astonished.

"Is there such a skilled weapon master in Qingfeng City?"

"And using flying knives no less."

To know, flying knives, unlike needles or poison darts, aren’t that discreet for concealed weaponry. So few people use flying knives as concealed weapons.

Someone then said, "Xiaotian, you’re also skilled with flying knives. Do you know any flying knife experts in Jiangzhou?"

Zhuang Xiaotian shook his head and said, "Sir, my flying knives are just a childhood hobby, good for bird hunting at best, not for enemies. If even Sir doesn’t know, how could I?"

Peng Xin dismissed it after hearing him and continued discussing last night’s encounter with the man in black.

The more Zhuang Xiaotian listened, the more uneasy he felt, especially when Peng Xin described the flying knife technique—it was precisely the "Flying Rain" from the manual!

The man in black who injured nine experts from Six Gates and rescued someone last night couldn’t possibly be...

He dared not continue the thought.

Finally, Peng Xin said, "Since you are all here, pay attention to a particular woman. A portrait will be distributed soon, and if you see someone resembling her, report immediately."

"Understood."

Then, a few subordinates left.

...

In the afternoon, it was Zhuang Xiaotian’s turn to patrol the streets, and just as he was considering whether to visit Chen Ming, a servant from the Chen Mansion found him.

"Master Zhuang, Second Master requests your presence for a drink."

"Alright."

That suited Zhuang Xiaotian perfectly, and he informed his subordinate before heading out.

After reaching the eighth rank, he became a small leader with subordinates to command. Such tasks like patrolling didn’t require his personal involvement.

Following the servant to the Chen Mansion, he saw a disheveled middle-aged man standing outside the Chen family’s gate, one side of his waist hung a sword, the other a wine gourd.

Clearly, he was a low-level martial artist roaming the land.

He casually asked, "Who is this?"

The servant replied, "This man has been standing by the gate all day, claiming he received a favor from Second Master and must thank him personally. We couldn’t chase him away."

Just then, a maid came out and invited the middle-aged man inside.

Zhuang Xiaotian recognized her as Chunxiang, Chen Ming’s personal maid.

So, he followed her inside.

...

Chen Ming hadn’t left the house all day, waiting for the red-clad woman to appear, but she never did.

He had sent someone to invite Zhuang Xiaotian. While waiting idly, Chunxiang mentioned someone outside had been waiting to see him all day.

With nothing better to do, he asked Chunxiang to lead the person in.

Upon seeing the visitor, Chen Ming was surprised. He had seen this person before—it was the same disheveled middle-aged man whose path he crossed outside the city a few days back.

At that time, this middle-aged man was searching for Ding Nanguang.

"Why is he looking for me?"

Chen Ming wondered, then saw the middle-aged man bow deeply, "I am Ding Guangsheng. Last year, my nephew Ding Nanguang was killed. Thanks to you, my nephew’s body was collected and buried properly instead of being left in the wild. Your noble deed deserves my gratitude."

Caught off guard, Chen Ming hurriedly helped him up, saying, "Mr. Ding, there’s no need for this. I greatly admired your nephew’s righteous actions. My abilities were limited; this was the least I could do."

Watching from behind, Zhuang Xiaotian found the name Ding Guangnan familiar. After thinking for a moment, he remembered it was the young man who had killed the Four Seas Trading Company’s owner’s illegitimate son and was sentenced to execution last autumn. He was beheaded last year.

Unexpectedly, it was Chen Ming who saw to the burial of his body.

After expressing his gratitude, Ding Guangsheng left.

After he left, Zhuang Xiaotian walked into the courtyard and asked, "Is there something important for you to seek me so urgently?"

He didn’t ask about last night—such matters, the less he knew, the better. Whether or not Chen Ming was involved, what did it matter to him?

Chen Ming invited him to sit and said, "I called you over to ask for a favor. Help me establish a legitimate identity."

Zhuang Xiaotian’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his composure and asked, "Male or female? How old?"

"A female, twenty years old."

Hearing this, Zhuang Xiaotian knew it was no mistake. He swallowed hard and said, "Alright, leave it to me."