I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 63: Martial Arts Meeting
The tenth day of the fifth lunar month is auspicious for travel, gatherings, making alliances, and moving into a new house.

On this day, the sky was clear and cloudless, a rare and beautiful day.

Chen Ming was dressed in a brand-new blue outfit, with a long sword at his waist, looking exceptionally heroic. He stepped out of the gate, waved to his elder brother and sister-in-law to indicate they didn't need to see him off, and boarded the carriage that had come to fetch him.

Seated inside the carriage was Zhang Mingyu.

"Senior brother."

He made a gesture and sat down opposite him.

Zhang Mingyu looked him over and praised, "Junior brother is becoming more and more dashing."

"Senior brother is becoming more and more majestic."

Chen Ming politely returned the compliment.

Mutual flattery in business is a social courtesy.

Zhang Mingyu said, "Junior brother, do you know that junior sister returned a few days ago?"

"I heard that she is now a disciple of the Xiaoshui Sect?"

“That’s right. My master’s wife was originally from the Xiaoshui Sect, and because of that connection, my junior sister naturally joined the Xiaoshui Sect and is now the sect leader’s personal disciple.” Zhang Mingyu’s tone was not without envy.

Chen Ming asked curiously, "I've heard that the Xiaoshui Sect is mainly composed of women, is that true?"

Zhang Mingyu nodded and said, "That's right. It's said that the founder of the Xiaoshui Sect was a woman, and her cultivation methods were more feminine and suitable for women to practice. Therefore, she has always only accepted female disciples. However, the Xiaoshui Sect doesn't restrict marriage. Didn't Master's wife marry Master?"

"How strong is the Xiaoshui Sect?"

"It is a first-rate sect."

Chen Ming felt a chill run down his spine. A first-class sect meant that several generations of this sect had produced first-class experts of the third rank or above.

The strength of the Xiaoshui Sect suddenly became clear.

Zhang Mingyu recalled something and said, "Speaking of the most famous female sect in the world, it has to be Fengming Palace in Ruzhou. Fengming Palace has stood in Ruzhou for over a thousand years and has always been one of the most prestigious sects in the world. Now it is even ranked among the nine great sects."

"It is said that Fengming Palace not only accepts female disciples, but also places a high social hierarchy on women. As a result, men in Ruzhou are not even allowed to practice martial arts, which is completely contrary to the natural order. If you ever travel the world in the future, never set foot in Ruzhou."

Chen Ming said in surprise, "Could this Ruzhou be the legendary Women's Prefecture?"

Zhang Mingyu nodded and said, "That's right, because this state respects women, many people call it the Women's State."

Chen Ming had heard of this "Women's Prefecture" before, but always thought it was just a legend. He never expected it to be true.

However, given that this is an all-female sect with such great strength, it is not surprising that they would do such a thing.

……

As the two chatted, they arrived at the governor's mansion without even realizing it.

After getting off the car, Chen Ming saw an incredibly grand gate, with two stone lions, each over two meters tall, standing at the entrance, looking extremely majestic.

The plaque above the main gate reads "Admiral's Mansion," written in bold, powerful strokes that convey a unique artistic conception.

Chen Ming couldn't help but take a few more glances, when suddenly he felt a wave of dizziness.

At this moment, Zhang Mingyu, who was standing next to him, reminded him, "Don't look at it. Those are the words written by a powerful expert who has condensed his intent. Looking at them for too long will strain your mind."

Chen Ming dared not look anymore, closed his eyes and calmed down for a while before recovering.

Suddenly, a sneer came from the side, "Where did this country bumpkin come from? He doesn't even know what 'yi' means, yet he dares to participate in the martial arts competition?"

The speaker was a young man of about twenty years old, dressed in fine clothes, with a sapphire the size of a pigeon's egg set in the sword in his hand, which looked extremely valuable.

The young nobleman wore a mocking expression.

Zhang Mingyu frowned, about to speak. Chen Ming spoke first, "I am ignorant and have made a fool of myself in front of you, young master." The young nobleman raised an eyebrow and said, "You do have self-awareness." He then walked into the governor's mansion with his companion.

A potential conflict was thus averted.

Zhang Mingyu looked at him with some surprise, feeling that he understood his junior brother even less.

On such an important occasion as today, he actually tolerated being called a country bumpkin. Is this still the same Chen Ming who dared to confront the martial arts guild right after breaking through to the eighth rank?
Chen Ming said, "Let's go."

He looked completely nonchalant, as if he hadn't taken what had just happened to heart at all.

Zhang Mingyu couldn't help but say, "This is the Governor's Mansion. No matter who it is, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble here. Why be afraid of them?"

Chen Ming laughed and said, "Why bother arguing with someone like that? Let's go, we'll be late."

As she spoke, she pulled him through the gates of the governor's mansion.

……

Not far away, in a seemingly inconspicuous carriage, a young man dressed in white mocked, "Is that the youngest seventh-rank official in your Qingfeng City? What a coward!"

His companion was a young man dressed in black with a cold and stern face, who ignored his words.

The young man in white shook his head and said, "It seems that since the great chaos thirty years ago, your Qingfeng City has never recovered. Among the younger generation, apart from you, there are few decent ones. This person is a good example of that."

The young man in black remained silent, only gently pressing the sword resting on his lap, his gaze growing increasingly profound.

The young man in white was surnamed Zhou and named Weihai. He came from the Zhou family in the neighboring Qinglin County. He was a cousin of the young man in black.

The cold-faced young man in black was surnamed Gu, named Gu Yuantao, and was a survivor of the Gu family, the most prestigious family in Qingfeng City. Half a year ago, the Gu family was almost wiped out by pirates.

Not long ago, the fourth-rank official from the Gu family also succumbed to his injuries. Now, only two members of the direct line remain, both of whom escaped the calamity because they were in other places.

After this dramatic change in the Gu family, Gu Yuantao became taciturn and rarely spoke, even in front of his cousin.

Zhou Weihao was quite worried about his cousin's condition and sometimes tried to get him to talk, but it didn't work.

Just then, he suddenly spotted a familiar carriage and exclaimed, "Look, it's a carriage from the Xiaoshui Sect. It must be Miss Xiao who has arrived."

He clearly saw a change in Gu Yuantao's eyes, but he still didn't speak or look up.

That's it, even Xiao Zhuyun can't pique his interest...

Zhou Weihao was anxious. Just then, the carriage of the Xiaoshui Sect drove over. The curtain was lifted, revealing a bright and beautiful face. Her skin was as smooth as jade and her fragrance as delicate as an orchid.

The woman was in her early twenties, her beautiful face showing a hint of worry. "Is Brother Gu in the carriage?"

Zhou Weihao quickly lifted the carriage curtain slightly and said, "Greetings, Miss Xiao. My cousin is in the carriage."

Xiao Zhuyun said apologetically, "I was shocked to hear of the Gu family's misfortune and was unable to come to Qingfeng City to offer my condolences. I hope Brother Gu will forgive me."

A subtle emotional fluctuation appeared on Gu Yuantao's cold face, but he still restrained himself and finally spoke, "Miss Xiao is very kind."

Xiao Zhuyun said, "I am relieved to see that Brother Gu is alright. Please accept my condolences, Brother Gu."

"Thank you."

Gu Yuantao turned to his cousin and said, "It's time to go in."

Xiao Zhuyun was about to say something when someone caught up and called out to her, "Miss Xiao..."

……

Zhou Weihao turned his head and saw Xiao Zhuyun surrounded by several young men from Jiangzhou. He asked his cousin Gu Yuantao, "Cousin, why are you doing this?"

Gu Yuantao's face remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard him at all.

(End of this chapter)