"Quick, quick, quick..."

On the carriage, Lu Zhihao urged the coachman anxiously, "If we delay any longer, we’ll miss the excitement."

So, the coachman whipped the horse with great speed, speeding through the city at the fastest pace.

Lu Zhihao complained to the servant again, "I told you to wake me up early. Why didn’t you? If I miss seeing that kid’s misfortune, I’ll hold you accountable."

The servant lowered his head in grievance; how could he dare? There were two times before when he followed the young master’s order to wake him up early and got slapped twice solidly. No more mistakes; he wasn’t that foolish.

Finally, Xiushui Street arrived.

Lu Zhihao stuck his head out of the carriage window and saw the entrance of the Chen Mansion crowded with people, even more than yesterday. The whole street was jammed. Instantly, he became excited, "Looks like people from the Martial Arts Hall Association are still here, haha, let’s get off and watch the fun."

Saying this, he dragged the servant and jumped off the carriage, squeezing into the crowd.

Lu Zhihao scrambled to the Chen Mansion’s entrance, looked inside, only to find the situation different from what he expected.

That Chen Ming was unexpectedly sitting unharmed in the courtyard.

While at the entrance, stood a lineup of over a dozen people, each looking disheveled and injured, with two lying on the ground.

What’s going on?

Lu Zhihao was momentarily confused.

The servant whispered, "Young master, looks like Chen Ming beat the Martial Arts Hall Association people!"

Hiss—

Lu Zhihao noticed the discussions around him, first startled, then delighted, "Well done."

"Ah?"

The servant, hearing him, froze for a moment, thinking the young master must be mad.

Lu Zhihao chuckled, "Is the Martial Arts Hall Association easy to deal with? Chen Ming beat their people, they won’t let it go. Just wait, there’ll be a good show soon."

Indeed, there was some truth in this.

The servant pondered, when he heard a commotion outside.

Someone shouted, "The people from Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall are here."

"They’re coming, they’re coming."

Lu Zhihao looked excited, tiptoeing to look outside, soon the crowd automatically parted, only to see a group in dark blue practice uniforms walking over.

The person leading he recognized, was Yue Bin, an instructor from Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall, possessing an eighth grade cultivation. His Lingfeng Blade Technique was quite impressive.

Lu Zhihao was waiting to see the show.

It wasn’t just him; others were also waiting for the show.

Yue Bin walked to the entrance, without looking at the group standing there, first cupped his hands towards Chen Ming, "Yue Bin from Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall, greets Chen Erlang."

The words surprised everyone present.

Isn’t this too polite?

Many started to wonder, is Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall going to give in?

Others thought, maybe it’s the courtesy before the conflict, the reputable always follow this script.

...

Chen Ming saw that Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall sent someone well-mannered and returned the greeting, "Instructor Yue comes to exact accountability?"

He wanted to open a martial arts hall, naturally had already inquired about the largest martial arts halls in the city, who the experts were, what weapons they were proficient in, etc.

Yue Bin said, "Dare not, since you have an eighth grade cultivation, you qualify to open a martial arts hall. The premise is passing our Martial Arts Hall Association’s assessment. Today our people acted recklessly, offended you; hope for your forgiveness."

Everyone present heard these words clearly, greatly disappointed, many hissed in displeasure.

No one expected the dignified Martial Arts Hall Association, getting slapped in the face, actually chose to yield like this.

At this moment, Li Xiangrong, who had been pretending to faint on the ground, got up and said angrily, "Senior Brother Yue, are we letting this kid off?"

Yue Bin looked at him, expressionless, "This is the old Hall Master’s decision."

Li Xiangrong flushed with anger, unable to accept the reality, roared, "Where is the face of our Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall? Others will only think we feared this kid..."

Yue Bin’s face darkened, "You dare speak? If you hadn’t acted recklessly, it wouldn’t have turned into this."

Finishing, he turned to Chen Ming, "The Martial Arts Hall Association will compensate for your mansion’s gate, presenting five hundred taels of silver as apology. Hopefully, this matter will be settled."

Chen Ming was quite surprised, the opponent’s stance was so low, left him without reason to fight.

This Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall, really so cowardly?

Though disappointed, he still politely said, "Instructor Yue is so reasonable, Chen is impressed. Let the five hundred taels be for the medical expenses of these few people."

In this way, both sides took a step back, resolving the conflict.

Yue Bin did not refuse, only reminded, "However, I hope you will abide by the rules of the Martial Arts Hall Association. The old Hall Master is awaiting your arrival."

Chen Ming said, "Three days later, I will certainly pay a visit."

...

The bustling scene ended anticlimactically.

The most disappointed was naturally Lu Zhihao.

"What Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall, letting people ride on their heads and defecate, yet they still endure it! Absolute cowards..."

In the carriage, Lu Zhihao cursed the people of Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall with the most venomous words.

He was nearly driven mad with anger; he had gotten up early specifically to come here, eagerly hoping to see that guy suffer great misfortune. Instead, he ended up witnessing him display his prowess openly.

Disappointment, anger, mixed with an indescribable fear, completely broke his defenses.

The servant beside him was somewhat worried, as the young master’s enemy had reached Eighth Grade Cultivation. Even Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall was unwilling to provoke him...

This fact made him feel quite uneasy.

He hadn’t forgotten how the young master had humiliated the guy initially, setting him up to be imprisoned, nearly dying inside.

Thinking about all this, he couldn’t suppress his fear.

He knew the young master was hysterical because he was scared too.

In his rage, Lu Zhihao didn’t go home but went to Drunken Immortal Pavilion to indulge in alcohol; after dark, he went to Yihong Courtyard, intending to vent out on a lover when suddenly someone stormed in and took him away.

He dared not resist because he recognized them as people sent by his brother-in-law.

...

Lu Zhihao was taken to a secluded courtyard where he met his brother-in-law, Qi Xingdong, the Young Master of Jin Yuansheng.

In the study.

Just past thirty this year, Qi Xingdong, who already had two patches of whiskers on his lips, was at his desk engrossed, not looking at the escorted Lu Zhihao. "Smelling of alcohol, take him away to sober up."

Thus, Lu Zhihao, who had just called out "Brother-in-law," was taken away again.

After finishing writing, Qi Xingdong asked an elder beside him, "Uncle Zheng, how is my writing?"

Uncle Zheng chuckled, "Young Master surely asks the wrong person since I’ve spent a lifetime battling with abacuses and know next to nothing about calligraphy."

Qi Xingdong put the brush in the wash and cleaned it, laid it down casually, picked up a towel to wipe his hands, and said, "Uncle Zheng, have a seat."

"Thank you, Young Master." Uncle Zheng sat on the chair beside him.

Qi Xingdong didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point, "Uncle Zheng, do you still remember Chen Ming?"

Elder Shopkeeper Zheng said, "Of course, I do. In his grandfather’s lifetime, he had some relations with me."

Being a cautious person, he left out unnecessary words.

Qi Xingdong knew he wouldn’t make a statement easily and cursed him silently as an old fox, then proactively said, "Speaking of which, when he was at Jin Yuansheng, he was diligent and smart, loyal to his duties, a rare talent. Unfortunately, Zhihua was useless, and forced him away, causing such unpleasantness. Each time I think about it, I regret losing such talent."

Old Shopkeeper Zheng was somewhat confused, not understanding why he suddenly brought up old matters, and asked, "Young Master’s intention is?"

Qi Xingdong said, "I’d like Uncle Zheng to act as a mediator. What happened back then was wrong on Zhihua’s part. Let Zhihua personally apologize, hoping he won’t hold a grudge against Jin Yuansheng."

"This—"

Elder Shopkeeper Zheng grew even more perplexed, wondering if the third young master had changed his character, or...

Qi Xingdong said, "Uncle Zheng might not know, but Chen Ming has already broken through to Eighth Grade. Such talent is truly remarkable."

Eighth Grade?

Elder Shopkeeper Zheng was taken aback, finally understanding why Qi Xingdong wanted him here so urgently as a mediator to resolve this matter.

"I won’t go!"

Just then, Lu Zhihao heard their conversation, rushed in, and knelt on the ground, "Brother-in-law, are you actually afraid of a mere Eighth Grade Martial Artist?"

Qi Xingdong said expressionlessly, "If you don’t go, I’ll break your legs and present them to him for disposal."

"Brother-in-law—"

Lu Zhihao’s face turned pale, looking at him incredulously. When he met his brother-in-law’s cold gaze, he felt as if plunged into an ice cave.

His sister may have been just a concubine, but "Brother-in-law" had always doted on her.

Who would have thought...

It was all fake.