I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 52 Good People Don't Live Long

On this day, Qingfeng City was in complete chaos. The people Chen Ming sent out could not find out any definite information. They only knew that the streets were in a mess, with some people planning to flee and others preparing to take advantage of the chaos.

Every household kept their doors tightly shut, and people avoided going out whenever possible.

That very afternoon, a group of neighbors came and knocked on the Chen family's door, requesting to see Chen Ming.

Upon seeing the people, the elderly man at the head of the group said, "Young Master Chen, the world is in such chaos these days, and people are filled with fear. We have been neighbors for so many years, you cannot stand by and watch us die. We would like to ask you to step forward, organize people to patrol the streets, and guard against thieves."

Chen Ming immediately stated, "This is naturally my duty."

So he and the old man went door to door, gathering all the people living on the street together. After discussing the matter, each household agreed to send one able-bodied man.

Thirty-two households means thirty-two people.

Chen Ming gathered these people together and gave them a brief training.

He simplified the sword technique into three moves and taught them to them; those who didn't have swords could use sticks instead.

He demonstrated it to them personally, and then had them take turns attacking him.

"When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave will prevail. If it really comes down to fighting, you must not back down. Whoever is less afraid of death is more likely to survive... Show your courage and imagine that the person standing opposite you is your father's killer!"

Snapped!
"The force was too weak."

You defeated a level 0 enemy and gained 2 experience points.

Snapped!
"The angle is wrong."

You defeated a level 0 enemy and gained 2 experience points.

"..."

……

In this way, Chen Ming gained another sixty-four experience points.

Given the current situation, his introductory lessons have to be temporarily suspended. At least there's new income.

The neighbors studied very hard, all to protect their families, and their morale was naturally high.

Of course, these people are only good at dealing with opportunistic thugs. If they really encounter pirates, fighting them would just be suicide.

Therefore, these people patrol only to issue warnings. They carry gongs and will strike them immediately if they find anything amiss. Chen Ming will then rush over to handle the situation.

After arranging everything, Chen Ming went back.

Upon entering the courtyard, Master Liu, who was sitting in a rattan chair basking in the sun, said leisurely, "Your neighbors are truly blessed to have met such a kind-hearted martial artist like you."

Chen Ming listened to his sarcastic tone and was unsure whether he was praising or insulting him. "I've lived here since I was a child, and my neighbors have always been very kind to me. Since we have such goodwill, I can't just sit idly by."

"Good people don't live long," Master Liu sighed, then closed his eyes again.

"Master, let's have a friendly spar."

"Your yard is too small; you can't work out properly here."

……

It wasn't until the next day that Gu Junrong, who hadn't returned all night, brought back the news.

"Many people died."

As Gu Junrong spoke, his face was still pale, and his eyes were unfocused. "The Six Doors are full of corpses... My boss sent me to Manager Qian's place at the Four Seas Trading Company..."

"Yesterday afternoon, as night was falling... Manager Qian told us to go to the Six Doors... As soon as we entered, we were hit by a strong smell of blood..."

Seeing that his speech was somewhat incoherent, Chen Ming asked directly, "Who won?"

Gu Junrong shook his head, "I don't know either... I heard from them that it was a lose-lose situation. On the pirate side, they lost the White Dragon King. On our side, they lost Mr. Tie..."

"I heard that the Commandant was seriously injured... The other two inspectors from the Six Doors are also dead, and most of the black-clad constables are dead..."

"The other two dragon kings were also seriously injured... So Lady Sha went after them..."

"By the way, Chief Deng of the Giant Tiger Gang is also dead. Some people say that he was ambushed while trying to steal something from the White Flood Dragon King..." Just from his account, Chen Ming and Master Liu could already imagine how horrific the scene must have been.

Two fourth-rank officials died, and even the head of the Six Doors was seriously injured.

There's also the leader of the Giant Tiger Gang, a well-known figure in the city.

I wonder how Deng Ziyang would react if he knew his father was dead?
Chen Ming felt that this world was still too dangerous. After a storm, even fourth and fifth-rank officials could die in an instant.

As for the lower-ranking martial artists, even more died. Almost all of them were killed when the two dragon kings were injured and fleeing. They overestimated their abilities and tried to take advantage of the situation, and were killed as a result.

Among them were several of Gu Junrong's fellow apprentices.

"I also saw the bodies of Junior Brother Li, Senior Brother Wang, and Senior Brother Hou..." He said, his eyes reddening as he spoke of the three.

Chen Ming didn't know how to comfort him, so he just patted him on the shoulder to express his condolences.

These three people are all staunch supporters of Sun Shicai. Although they had a falling out with Gu Junrong and his group before, they were, after all, fellow disciples.

He analyzed, "Since those two dragon kings are injured, they certainly won't linger in the city. The other ordinary pirates are no threat. I believe Jiangzhou will soon receive the news and send people to quell the unrest. This turmoil will soon be over."

……

No matter who dies, life goes on.

The next day, neighbors from two nearby streets volunteered to join the patrol team, and Chen Ming agreed. As a result, the number of patrolmen suddenly increased to one hundred.

Every morning, Chen Ming would gather the people together and give them some practical training to gain experience points.

The neighbors didn't find it annoying at all; on the contrary, they felt very honored that an eighth-rank martial artist had taught them step by step and they could even demonstrate a few moves. This was something they could brag about for half their lives.

Seven or eight days passed in this way, and as the major sea merchants freed up their resources, they wiped out the small groups of pirates one by one. Qingfeng City gradually returned to its former order.

A few days later, about half a month after that great battle, the people sent by the governor of Jiangzhou finally arrived. A third-rank gold-clad admiral led a group of experts from the Six Doors.

The news spread like wildfire, and the whole city cheered. Some people even set off firecrackers to celebrate.

On Chen Ming's side, the patrol team was also disbanded, and everyone went home.

Gu Junrong and his two companions also took their families back to their own homes.

The Chen residence was finally much quieter.

A few days later, they moved back to their new home.

……

After the turmoil subsided, the city quickly returned to its former prosperity. With a third-rank expert in charge, everyone believed that no pirates would dare to cause trouble again.

Over the next few days, Chen Ming had to attend several funerals every day; four out of the twelve martial arts schools had lost people.

He also wants to be present for the deaths of the others, including those from Huo Men.

Even Zhang Mingyu, who usually didn't get along with them, led his men there.

Strangely, Sun Shicai did not show up.

Even though he was injured, after half a month of recuperation, surely he shouldn't be unable to attend a funeral?
Because of this incident, many people who were on Sun Shicai's side have become somewhat disheartened by him.

It was at these funerals that Chen Ming heard more details about the great battle that day.

"According to those three Flood Dragon Kings, they did not obtain the Gu family's 'Ten Thousand Mountains True Skill.' This skill has always been passed down orally within the Gu family, never written down, and only the family head can learn it. In this world today, only Gu Yanchang knows the contents of the skill..."

"It is said that Gu Yanchang has been unconscious since he was injured that day. Now, the only direct descendants of the Gu family are a boy and a girl, who are only about ten years old..."

"If only I had known this would happen, then that day..."

Chen Ming listened silently to their discussion without uttering a word.

On this day, after leaving the funeral and returning home, he opened the door and found a person lying on the ground with a lot of blood.

"Who?"

(End of this chapter)