In the courtyard, Chen Ming was drinking wine while casually saying, "Brother Deng, I happen to have something I want you to help investigate."

"What is it? Tell me." Deng Ziyang, rarely in a good mood, had drunk a few more cups.

"You know the Wu Martial Arts Hall, right? How did the previous Hall Master die?"

Deng Ziyang slapped the table and said, "You’ve asked the right person. I’ve been looking through a lot of old case files recently and I happened to come across this case."

Chen Ming filled his cup and asked, "Who exactly killed him?"

"It was his eldest disciple Wu Yao, who was also his adopted son. Wu Yao always thought the teachings would be passed on to him, but it was given to Liu Fu, the last disciple to join. Out of dissatisfaction, he poisoned his master, stole the secrets of the Wu Martial Arts Hall, and fled. His whereabouts are still unknown."

He truly was killed by a disciple.

Chen Ming continued asking, "And then? What about Wu Hall Master’s daughter suddenly dying on her wedding night?"

Deng Ziyang sneered, "Sudden death? That’s all fake. In truth, that woman didn’t want to marry Liu Fu and eloped with someone else on her wedding night."

"That’s how it was."

Chen Ming drained his cup, feeling an extraordinary bitterness upon drinking.

All the pieces finally came together.

Old Liu truly had a bitter life...

His master was killed by a disciple who was also his adopted son. He had a falling out with several other brothers. In the end, the woman he loved eloped with another man.

No wonder he was mentally shattered, drinking away daily, leaving the Martial Arts Hall to decline.

...

"Brother."

Deng Ziyang drank up his cup, quickly finishing a whole jug of wine, he finally spoke of serious matters, "I came today to say goodbye."

Chen Ming was curious, "You’re being transferred elsewhere?"

He shook his head and said softly, "I’m planning to venture out and experience the world."

"Huh?"

Chen Ming was surprised, "What about your position at Six Gates?"

"I quit." Deng Ziyang drank deeply, "I’m done being stifled by this birdcage."

"..."

Chen Ming didn’t know what to say. After working so hard to pass the martial exam and finally landing a position, he just decided to quit like that?

Ever since his father passed away, his condition was a bit off. Unexpectedly, he made such a decision in the end.

He asked sternly, "Have you thought it through?"

Deng Ziyang nodded heavily, "I have."

"Alright, no matter what decision you make, I’ll support you."

Chen Ming understood that feeling all too well.

In a previous life, after graduating from university, he had also joined a major company. Although the salary was good, he lived in extreme discomfort during those two years.

Later, after much struggle, he resolutely resigned. His family couldn’t understand it at all; not a single person supported him, leaving him quite distressed.

Chen Ming knew that now, Deng Ziyang needed understanding from others.

Deng Ziyang appeared touched, but he didn’t say anything. He just asked the maid to fetch more wine; they won’t stop until they’re drunk tonight.

...

......

The next day, Deng Ziyang left, alone, with a bag and a sword, without telling anyone, and no one knew where he went.

It wasn’t until two days later, when Zhuang Xiaotian came looking for Chen Ming, that he learned why Deng Ziyang quit so abruptly.

Deng Ziyang’s direct superior disliked him because of his gang background, targeted him everywhere, and made things difficult for him in many ways.

On that day, Deng Ziyang finally exploded, lashed out at his superior, and resigned on the spot.

Zhuang Xiaotian sighed, "Sigh, brother has a straightforward and generous personality, but he’s also very proud inside. He’s not suited for mixing in Six Gates... He wasn’t willing to rely on you, so he had to wander afar."

Chen Ming knew there was another reason.

The Giant Tiger Gang was in the middle of internal strife, with three brothers vying for the position of gang leader, reaching a point where they were drawing knives. The Giant Tiger Gang had become chaotic.

He probably didn’t want to see the Giant Tiger Gang turn into such a mess and figured leaving would bring peace.

They were also drinking in the courtyard, and Zhuang Xiaotian was sitting in the same spot Deng Ziyang had been a few days ago.

Zhuang Xiaotian drank sullenly for a while, exhaled a turbid breath, and mentioned something else, "Recently, many Jianghu people have come to the city, including lots of young experts, all coming for Admiral Zhao’s Martial Arts Gathering. You must be careful."

Chen Ming said with some anticipation, "That’s great, my greatest wish in this life is to spar with all the world’s experts."

As long as their strength is weaker than his.

Zhuang Xiaotian shook his head, "Big brother is right, you’re just a martial arts fanatic. Oh, by the way, your junior sister is back, she came with the people from the Xiaoshui Sect."

Junior sister?

"You mean Huo Qianqian?"

"Yes. I was assigned to guard the city gate yesterday to check the origins of the Jianghu people entering the city. I happened to encounter the Xiaoshui Sect, among them was someone named Huo Qianqian. It wasn’t until others mentioned that I learned she was Master Huo’s granddaughter. By calculation, she must be your junior sister."

Zhuang Xiaotian spoke, a hint of longing in his eyes, "The Xiaoshui Sect, it seems, is composed entirely of female disciples. Among them, there’s one named Xiao Zhuyun, who’s nothing short of a celestial being."

It was the first time Chen Ming heard him praise a woman like that, sparking a bit of curiosity. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

If judged by beauty, Huo Qianqian counts as one, akin to a university belle in the previous life.

Zhang Xinyi and Zhong Shuyu were about the same.

Aside from them, he hadn’t seen any other particularly outstanding beauties.

It might also be related to his social circle, as it comprised primarily of the lower tiers of Jianghu society.

In a Wuxia novel, he’d be just a nameless background character, mostly male.

Actually, there were female martial artists too, but most of them weren’t very young. And for him, a man, to establish connections and spar with female martial artists seemed inappropriate.

He teased, "What, have you taken a liking to her?"

Zhuang Xiaotian laughed at himself, "How could that be? I inquired and found out she’s eighteen this year, already with Seventh Grade Cultivation. She’s the Sect Leader’s most favored disciple. Such a person, not someone I can fancy. It’s said that many noble sons from Jiangzhou are her admirers, and they followed along this time."

Chen Ming suddenly realized, "Is she also here to participate in the Martial Arts Gathering?"

"Of course, this is a Martial Arts Gathering hosted by Admiral Zhao. It’s a great opportunity for these sect disciples and noble sons to make a name for themselves. Such prestigious progeny are heavy on reputation, unlike you and me."

Chen Ming nodded, showing understanding.

When he was young and reading Wuxia novels, he thought it was absurd how characters valued reputation more than life.

Only after growing up, witnessing the internet era, and learning how online celebrities and influencers could make tens of millions or even billions, he understood that fame could indeed be monetized.

It was the same in ancient times, only the methods were different.

Like him, when he was in Ninth Grade, finding someone to spar with was incredibly difficult. Anyone he approached would refuse as their first response.

After reaching Eighth Grade, emerging famous after a battle in the Martial Arts Hall Association, he made many friends, slowly gaining some notoriety.

Now, at Seventh Grade, it’s much easier to forge connections with other Seventh Grade martial artists. In recent days, he’s almost visited all the Seventh Grade martial artists in the city.

Once they’re more acquainted, proposing a sparring match would likely be agreed upon by at least a third of them.

If it weren’t for the reputation he’d cultivated over the past year or more, how would things have gone so smoothly?