I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 23 Making Friends
Guan Peng gripped the longsword upside down, letting the tip touch the ground. He lowered his head, looking at the gash on his chest, and said in a hoarse voice, "I've lost. Thank you for your mercy."

After saying that, he turned and left, clearly too ashamed to stay any longer.

"Second brother."

Deng Ziyang was a little worried and wanted to chase after him, but Zhuang Xiaotian stopped him, saying, "Big brother, let him go and let him calm down."

"This...sigh."

Deng Ziyang could only sigh.

Zhuang Xiaotian looked at Chen Ming, who was still standing in the arena, his gaze solemn.

This person's strength certainly surprised him, but what impressed him most was that although he and Guan Peng had treated this person with disdain, this person remained calm and unperturbed.

This cunning is what's truly terrifying.

If it were him, possessing such superb swordsmanship, anyone who dared to underestimate him would immediately retaliate.

He exclaimed, "Your senior brother is truly a man of great talent."

Deng Ziyang smiled wryly, "You might not believe it, but I really didn't know he had such strength. Otherwise, I would never have kept it from you just now."

……

You defeated a level 11 enemy and gained 100 experience points.

Chen Ming was overjoyed to see the notification finally appear; he actually had one hundred points.

Unexpectedly, this person was a level above him.

"It seems that increasing my proficiency in martial arts is the right path."

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard Deng Ziyang complain, half-jokingly, "Senior brother, you really kept this from me for a long time. When did you become a disciple?"

Chen Ming explained with a smile, "Brother Deng, you've misunderstood me. I just broke through half a month ago, and I only met you today. I haven't had a chance to talk to you yet."

Now that you mention it, it's no wonder he's not to blame.

Deng Ziyang was relieved and said, "Congratulations, senior brother, you have finally become a martial artist."

Hearing the sincerity in his tone, Chen Ming knew it was genuine and replied seriously, "Thank you."

Zhuang Xiaotian, who was standing to the side, seized the opportunity, cupped his hands in a bow, and said apologetically, "I was blind just now and neglected Brother Chen. I hope Brother Chen will forgive me."

Chen Ming stepped forward to help him up. "Brother Zhuang, you're exaggerating. I was the one who kept it from you first. I'm the one who should apologize. Here, I'll punish myself with a drink."

"Brother Chen, you are too magnanimous. I should be the one punished." Zhuang Xiaotian drank three cups in a row to show his sincerity.

Deng Ziyang shouted, "I think you're trying to take this opportunity to drink all my fine wine, aren't you?"

Once the matter was discussed openly, the small misunderstanding between the two was resolved.

The three sat down to drink again, but the atmosphere was different from before, and they started talking about martial arts.

They chatted more and more enthusiastically, and didn't want to leave even when it got dark.

Chen Ming originally wanted to go home, but Deng Ziyang insisted that he stay and sent someone to the Chen family to inform them that he was staying there overnight.

……

After nightfall. In the backyard.

"This Bagua sword technique may seem simple, but it actually contains many subtle variations, such as this move, 'The Milky Way Hangs Upside Down'..."

As Chen Ming spoke, he demonstrated with a knife.

Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian sat there, watching intently as he broke down each change and explained it in great detail.

Deng Ziyang had studied the "Eight Trigrams Knife Technique," so he naturally benefited greatly from it.

Although Zhuang Xiaotian had never learned this sword technique, he was able to apply it to other situations and figure out many of the difficulties in fighting others, so he listened attentively.

That's why the two of them liked to talk about martial arts with Chen Ming.

There's something there; he's genuinely teaching.

The conversation lasted until late at night.

Zhuang Xiaotian suddenly bowed to Chen Ming, "I am very grateful for Brother Chen's guidance today, which has resolved many of my doubts."

"useless."

Chen Ming helped him up and said, "It's not so much about giving pointers, but about exchanging ideas. If Brother Zhuang doesn't mind, we can spar another day. In the future, Brother Zhuang will be entering the Six Doors, and you will inevitably have to fight with others. It would be good to have more fighting experience."

Zhuang Xiaotian was greatly moved and said, "That is exactly what I wish for."

Deng Ziyang, who was standing nearby, added, "Count me in. It would be best if we could invite my second brother as well."

Chen Ming immediately said, "It's settled then, tomorrow afternoon." He had gone to great lengths to befriend Zhuang Xiaotian for this very reason. Now, he had finally achieved his goal.

Each win grants 100 experience points. If he could spar once a day, he could probably rack up dozens of points. It's worth the effort.

……

It was early morning, before dawn.

When Deng Ziyang arrived outside the courtyard where Guan Peng lived, he heard the sound of weapons cutting through the air and knew that Guan Peng was practicing his swordsmanship inside.

Since his defeat to Chen Ming yesterday, Guan Peng has been practicing his sword in the courtyard until late at night.

Clearly, that defeat had a huge impact on him.

Deng Ziyang stood outside for a while, waiting until Guan Peng finished practicing before pushing the door open and going in. "Second brother, good morning."

Guan Peng was sitting cross-legged on a stone bench, with his large knife across his lap. Hearing this, he opened his eyes and called out, "Big Brother."

Deng Ziyang advised, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war, so you don't need to take it too seriously."

"I'm sorry to have worried you, elder brother. After yesterday's battle, I realized that my swordsmanship is inadequate. I'm afraid I won't be able to establish myself in the Six Doors in the future."

Seeing that he didn't seem bothered by his defeat to Chen Ming, Deng Ziyang felt relieved and advised, "Second brother, practicing so hard behind closed doors won't be very effective. Third brother and I have arranged to spar with Senior Brother Chen this afternoon. Would you like to come along, second brother?"

A hint of hesitation flashed across Guan Peng's face as he recalled the humiliation of being defeated by Chen Ming's blade yesterday.

Back in his hometown, he was a genius, unmatched by any of his peers. Yesterday marked the first time he had been defeated by someone his age, leaving him with a profound sense of frustration.

He didn't want to experience that feeling a second time.

Guan Peng gritted his teeth and made a decision, "Count me in!"

Being defeated by Chen Ming was indeed a great frustration.

However, it also made him realize the shortcomings in his swordsmanship and showed him the direction for improvement. This was of great benefit to him.

Such opportunities don't come around often.

Deng Ziyang exclaimed happily, "That's great!"

With more contact, the second brother and Chen Ming can naturally eliminate their estrangement and misunderstandings.

He had a sworn brother on one side and a close senior brother on the other, and he hoped that the two could get along well.

……

After leaving Guan Peng's place, Deng Ziyang went to find Chen Ming.

Chen Ming had just gotten up and wasn't practicing his martial arts; he was sitting in the courtyard leisurely admiring the flowers.

"Senior brother has a refined taste."

"morning."

Chen Ming smiled and said, "The scenery here is really beautiful. Seeing such a view when I wake up in the morning makes me feel much more relaxed."

Deng Ziyang said, "With your current abilities, senior brother, you can live in a place like this in no time if you want to."

That's true; it's not too difficult for a ninth-rank martial artist to make money.

However, Chen Ming doesn't have a great need for money and doesn't want to spend too much energy pursuing wealth. He leaves the money-making business to his older brother.

He said, "There is something I would like to ask Brother Deng."

"what's up?"

Chen Ming then recounted in detail how Constable Wang from the Six Doors had come to his door to find him, and finally asked, "I have no grudge against that person, so why is he making trouble for me? If I hadn't just happened to break through to the ninth rank, I'm afraid I would have been badly injured, if not killed."

Deng Ziyang did not answer immediately, but tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table as he pondered.

He wasn't in a hurry; he picked up his water glass and took a sip.

After a while, Deng Ziyang said, "If I'm not mistaken, he's not here for you."

"That is?"

"Because you're a sparring partner at the Huo residence, not Huo Chengkun's disciple. Targeting you won't offend Huo Chengkun too much, but it will damage the Huo family's reputation, thus achieving the goal of establishing authority."

Hearing this, Chen Ming roughly understood, but he was still a little puzzled, "What benefit would he gain from doing this?"

"Because in the Six Doors, only by making meritorious contributions can one gain merit. Only with enough merit can one enter the Six Doors' armory and learn advanced martial arts."

"For the sake of merit, let alone Huo Chengkun, even the Gu family would dare to try and take a chance if given the opportunity."

(End of this chapter)