Chapter 118: The Changes in Qingfeng City

Seven or eight days later, Chen Ming had already entered the territory of Qingfeng County.

At this time, he had changed his appearance again, dressed like a traveling merchant.

Along the road, there were quite a few merchants like him, heading to Qingfeng County for goods.

It drew no attention at all.

There was only one day’s journey left to Qingfeng City.

At noon, Chen Ming was squatting by a roadside tea stall, gnawing on dry rations with a bowl of hot tea, together with several other merchants.

They were resting their feet.

The tea stall was packed with people, chatting about everything under the sun.

"...Qingfeng City is prosperous with merchants and travelers. In many ways, it’s not inferior to Jiangzhou City. Only one thing is lacking—there are no sects, and few experts. The youngsters at home have no way to learn martial arts."

"Haha, Brother Wang, that’s old news. Two months ago, a Third Grade Expert arrived in Qingfeng City and prepared to establish a sect named Dragon Tiger Sect. Then, last month, another formidable expert came and formed the Red Sea Gang."

"Is that true?"

"Absolutely true. The Dragon Tiger Sect has spread word of recruiting disciples. The young people of Qingfeng City are all eager to join. The Red Sea Gang also recruited many, sweeping away the small gangs like withered leaves..."

"..."

Chen Ming listened to their discussion, his brows furrowing involuntarily.

He hadn’t expected so much to have happened in Qingfeng City during his two-month absence.

What concerned him the most was that Third Grade Expert who had come to establish a sect in Qingfeng City.

Senior Shang had once sworn never to allow another Third Grade to set foot in Qingfeng City. Zhao Shouchang was already an exception.

Now, another Third Grade had appeared.

It seemed like Senior Shang had not intervened in this matter.

Could something have really happened?

Chen Ming couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

Just then, a sentence caught his attention: "Brother, have you come across a young man named Ding Guangnan? He should be in his early twenties. He came to Qingfeng City more than a year ago..."

Ding Guangnan?

Chen Ming found it odd.

That name had nearly faded from his memory, yet now someone brought it up.

He turned his head and saw a middle-aged man asking.

The man looked rather disheveled, carrying luggage, a long sword at his waist, and a gourd hanging from the other side.

Even from a distance, one could smell the alcohol on him.

Chen Ming only glanced once and then withdrew his gaze.

He was now just a merchant from out of town.

"No."

"Haven’t heard of him."

"..."

Those asked all shook their heads, saying they had never heard of that person.

That middle-aged man was quite persistent. He asked everyone in the tea stall, yet no one knew. In the end, he left the tea stall and walked toward Qingfeng City.

He didn’t ask Chen Ming or the others squatting by the road.

They clearly looked like merchants from other places—no need to ask them.

Chen Ming looked at his desolate back and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

That man was probably a relative of Ding Guangnan.

Once he arrived in Qingfeng City and learned of what had happened to Ding Guangnan, he would be heartbroken.

Although the incident happened a year ago, it had caused quite a stir at the time.

Surely, many still remembered.

Once that middle-aged man reached Qingfeng City, it wouldn’t take long before he learned the truth.

……

"A-Tu, let’s go."

A middle-aged man called out to Chen Ming after finishing his dry rations.

He clapped his hands, stood up, and followed at the rear.

That middle-aged man’s surname was Luo.

Everyone called him Old Luo.

He claimed to be in the spice business.

A warmhearted person, a few days ago, he had noticed Chen Ming traveling alone and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, even inviting him to travel together.

At first, Chen Ming thought he was a conman. But after several days together, he realized that Old Luo was genuinely kind-hearted.

Knowing it was Chen Ming’s first time doing business, he took extra care of him, teaching him many things—precautions for traveling the martial world and business insights.

All of this was based on experience. For a young man just starting out, such guidance was invaluable. It could save him from many detours.

Thus, Chen Ming had a good impression of Old Luo.

Unknowingly, night had fallen.

Following Old Luo and the others, Chen Ming arrived at a small town near Qingfeng City and stayed at an inn, in the cheapest shared sleeping quarters.

For merchants like them, saving money was the priority.

"My son is a few years younger than you. He’s learning martial arts from a fist master."

As the evening was still early, after dinner, Old Luo and Chen Ming squatted under the eaves, chatting casually. "I don’t expect him to become a great martial artist. Just knowing a bit of hand-to-hand combat is enough. He can come out with me to do business in the future and have some means to defend himself. The world isn’t very peaceful nowadays."

Chen Ming listened quietly beside him, seldom speaking. His current persona was that of a reserved, taciturn type.

As they spoke, they suddenly heard a commotion outside.

Many people rushed out to watch the excitement, but Old Luo advised, "When you're out and about, don’t stir up trouble. Don’t get involved in anything, even if it seems lively. You might get caught up in something unnecessary."

Naturally, Chen Ming nodded.

After a while, the commotion outside grew louder—it seemed a fight had broken out.

A little later, things finally quieted down.

When the people who had gone out to watch returned, they said a few young women had arrived, wanting a few premium rooms. But the premium rooms were already full, so the women approached those staying there to negotiate.

A disagreement broke out—and then the fighting started.

Those who had gone to watch all remarked how stunning those martial women were, and how domineering.

The people they beat up were left in a miserable state.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming thought to himself—could they be from the Xiaoshui Sect?

When he heard of young martial women, Xiaoshui Sect was the first that came to his mind.

Of course, the conflicts of martial world folk were far removed from these merchants—just something to chat idly about after meals.

……

By noon the next day, their group finally arrived at Qingfeng City.

Old Luo needed to go to the east side of the city—there was the largest spice market in Jiangzhou over there. Before parting, he said, "A-Tu, I’ll be staying in the city for a month or two. If you run into any trouble, come find me at the Jiang Clan Assembly Hall on the east side. At the very least, I can get you a bowl of rice."

"Alright."

Chen Ming nodded and turned to merge into the crowd.

Soon after, he turned left and right into a deserted alley.

After a moment, his appearance had completely changed, wearing a different set of clothes, and walked out from the other end of the alley.

No one noticed that a young man named "Run Tu" had vanished forever into that alley.

After Chen Ming assumed a new identity, he swaggered into the Drunken Immortal Tower, planning to enjoy a good meal.

For the past three months, he had been away, spending most of his time on the road. He hadn't been picky about food—carbohydrates came from dry rations, protein mostly from dried meat.

Today, he could finally have a proper meal.

He requested a private room and ordered a full table of fine dishes, tasting them one by one.

Halfway through the meal, he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

At first, he paid it no mind, but the argument grew louder and burrowed into his ears.

"...That so-called number one expert of the younger generation is nothing more than a coward. Our Hall Master personally issued a challenge, yet he didn’t dare to accept. What a joke."

Another voice retorted passionately, "He entered seclusion three months ago—everyone in Qingfeng City knows this! Your Hall Master chose this exact time to challenge him. What a crafty plan..."

Hmm?

As Chen Ming listened, something felt off.

Number one expert of the younger generation... entered seclusion for three months...

This... are they talking about me?

"Seclusion? I say he’s just scared, too timid to face the fight."

"Nonsense... Back then, Chen Ming executed a Seventh Grade Patrol Envoy in public. Would someone like him ever fear a mere Hall Master from the Red Sea Gang?"

"..."

They really are talking about me!

Chen Ming thought to himself that quite a lot had happened during his “seclusion.”

He wondered what cultivation level that Hall Master from the Red Sea Gang had?

To dare challenge him—it was probably Sixth Grade.

While listening to the argument outside, he continued savoring his meal with great interest.

By the time he had nearly finished eating, the two quarreling groups had also wrapped up and left separately.

Chen Ming was a bit surprised.

With how heated it got, neither side ended up fighting.

……

Not until the middle of the night did Chen Ming sneak back home by climbing over the wall in the dark.

Though the past three months had brought storms to Qingfeng City, with many formidable outsiders stirring up chaos, it seemed the Chen Residence had remained unaffected.

Everything at home was the same as before—nothing had changed since he left.

Chen Ming silently returned to his courtyard and saw Chunxiang keeping watch at the door.

"Who’s there?"

Chunxiang was extremely alert.

Noticing a shadow in the darkness, she immediately picked up a dagger.

"It’s me."

Chen Ming walked over.

Hearing his voice, Chunxiang trembled.

When she saw his face clearly, tears streamed down her cheeks.

She covered her mouth tightly, afraid she might cry out loud.

Seeing her like this, Chen Ming knew she must have endured a lot these past three months.

Feeling a bit of pity, he walked over and patted her head. "You’ve had a hard time."

Chunxiang cried even harder, yet shook her head desperately. After a while, she said with a sobbing voice, "Young Master, you’ve finally returned..."

Chen Ming asked, "Where’s Xiaxiang?"

"She’s inside, asleep... We take turns keeping watch. I’ll go wake her."

"No need. Let her sleep." Chen Ming pulled her to sit beside him and said, "Come, tell me what happened during the three months I was gone."

Chunxiang hadn’t yet calmed from her emotional excitement. Hearing his words, she didn’t know where to begin.

Chen Ming poured her a cup of water and asked, "I heard someone issued a challenge to me last month?"

Chunxiang nervously took the cup. Hearing his words, she was startled. "You already knew?"

"Mm, I heard about it on the way back. The Red Sea Gang didn’t trouble my big brother, did they?"

"They tried to force their way in, but luckily Miss Zhao arrived in time and stopped them. Otherwise..."

"Miss Zhao?"

Chen Ming asked curiously, "Is it the same Miss Zhao who visited before? She came back?"

"Mm, she returned a month after you entered seclusion. Upon learning you were in seclusion, she didn’t disturb us. She just instructed the maids to notify her once you came out."

Chen Ming said, "Then I must find a chance to thank her properly."

If not for her stopping them, the false seclusion might have been exposed.

That could have led to suspicion, possibly linking him to the Mad Saber.

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