I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 83 Human Pill
"Brother Chen, if you can see this letter, it proves I haven't misjudged you. You are a true gentleman, always loyal to those entrusted with a task."

"What I worry about most are my two disciples. They are both good children. I owe them a lot. From now on, I will entrust them to you. Since they are entrusted to you, you can arrange things as you see fit. I am a dead man, so I won't worry about them anymore."

"The half-book in the box is the 'Six Yang Nourishing Qi Gong.' As for why it ended up in my hands, that requires a detailed explanation from the beginning."

“I was born into the Xu family on the same day as the young master. The madam believed that I was destined to be with the young master, so she made me his page. Twenty-nine years ago, when I was twenty years old, one night a group of men in black suddenly broke in and killed anyone they saw. The guards in the mansion fought desperately to stop them.”

"There was chaos at the time. In order to help the young master escape, the steward had me and the young master change our clothes. As soon as the young master left, a master barged in and asked me if I was the young master of the Xu family. I thought to myself, I must not tarnish the reputation of the Xu family, so I said, 'I will not change my name or surname.' I admitted it."

"I thought I was going to die, but to my surprise, the man didn't kill me. Instead, he knocked me unconscious and took me away."

"When I woke up, that person told me that he was Lord Xu's sworn brother. He had heard that the Six Doors were going to harm his sworn brother's family, so he risked his life to save him."

“At the time, he was severely injured and his mind was somewhat confused. I couldn’t bear to tell him the truth. Later, he entrusted me to the Wu family martial arts school. Before leaving, he stuffed this half of the book into my arms. He told me that only by collecting all the parts of the ‘Blazing Sun Divine Skill’ and cultivating it to the highest level would I have the ability to take revenge.”

"After giving his instructions, he left. He never appeared again. As for me, I changed my name and became Master Wu's youngest disciple."

“My master met the young master and knew I was an imposter. After learning the whole story, he still took me in and even offered to marry my junior sister to me. I can only repay his kindness in my next life.”

"After I broke through to the seventh rank, I began to study this 'Six Yang Nourishing Qi Gong'. For twenty years, I have been unable to get a foothold in it. I'm afraid I can only succeed by first mastering the 'Three Yang Body Forging Gong'."

"In my life, I failed to master martial arts. I tried to save the young master, but instead, I robbed him of his last chance to live. I failed my master's expectations, caused my fellow disciples to turn against me, and failed to take care of my junior sister, leaving her to die far from home... Someone like me should have died long ago."

"Fortunately, you appeared. Only then did I realize that there is a destiny at play, and why I have been forced to live until now. During our first sparring session, I discovered that you possess the Three Yang Body Forging Technique. Back then, the young master practiced this technique. So, I sensed it as soon as we exchanged blows."

"After several attempts to test you, I discovered that you truly knew nothing about the 'Blazing Sun Divine Skill.' So I decided to pass on this 'Six Yang Nourishing Qi Skill' to you."

"However, I still hope you will consider this carefully. I once heard the young master say that this 'Blazing Sun Divine Skill' is passed down from ancient times and has a very important origin. After thinking about it carefully, I'm afraid that the Xu family's calamity is related to this divine skill. If you practice this skill, you will bear a huge karmic burden. Once you choose this path, there is no turning back."

“Brother, I’m giving you this technique. You can do whatever you want with it. Whether you practice this divine skill or not, you don’t need to avenge the Xu family. I will bear this sin.”

“Brother, your talent, willpower, and perseverance far surpass mine. You will surely become a hero like Lord Xu in the future. I only hope that you will not be like me, troubled by love and wasting your life.”

……

The letter was very long.

After reading it, Chen Ming remained silent for a long time.

He finally understood why Lao Liu had been so despondent. It was because he had let too many people down.

He owed his young master, his savior, and his master...

He carried the blood feud of the Xu family on his shoulders, and his master's earnest expectations, but he truly couldn't do it. He couldn't even break through to the sixth rank, let alone seek revenge. Even his senior brothers at the martial arts school didn't respect him, and his junior sister looked down on him and eloped with someone else…

For him, living was truly unbearable. If it weren't for his two apprentices, he probably would have died long ago…

By this time, Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda had already dug the pit.

Chen Ming put away the letter and tucked the cultivation manual into his pocket. Then, he placed the clothes that Old Liu usually wore most often, along with a jar of Daughter's Red wine that he loved most in his lifetime, into the pit and buried them.

He took out a dagger and carved the words "Tomb of Liu Fu" on the tombstone.

Finally, incense, paper money, and candles were placed in front of the grave, and the two boys were made to kneel down and kowtow.

Chen Ming took out two cups, poured two cups of wine from the wine bag he carried with him, poured one cup in front of the grave, and drank the other cup himself.

I silently prayed, "Brother, when I am famous throughout the land, I will come and toast you again."

……

On the way back, Chen Ming remained silent, staring out the car window, lost in thought.

Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda dared not ask any further questions.

The two months they spent living with the Chen family were the most comfortable days of their lives. They had less work, didn't get scolded, ate meat every day, and received a monthly allowance. It was like living in paradise.

There was only one thing: this second master was a little strict when urging them to practice.

Suddenly, Chen Ming spoke up, "Starting tomorrow, you will have an extra hour for your daily practice."

"what?"

Both of them looked miserable.

Then he added, "Double the monthly pay."

"Yes."

The two were immediately filled with enthusiasm, eager to return to their training. They were used to hardship since childhood; if their monthly pay doubled, what was an extra hour of training each day?
Chen Ming had already realized that these two were the type who lacked ambition and were content with modest wealth. They only moved a few steps when provoked. The best way to motivate them was with money. He owed Old Liu such a huge favor; he should at least train these two of Old Liu's apprentices to be competent.

……

When Chen Ming returned home, the doorman, Old Li, said, "Second Master, Young Master Zhou and Young Master Deng have been waiting for quite some time."

"understood."

He sent Lao Liu's two apprentices away and returned to the backyard alone, where he saw Zhou Weihao and Deng Ziyang chatting, their tone quite heated, and he didn't know what they were discussing.

Over the past month, Zhou Weihao had been seeking him out for sparring every few days. He had also run into Deng Ziyang a few times, and the two quickly became acquainted.

Chen Ming approached and listened, "...In terms of beauty, naturally the girl Zixue from Jiangzhou is superior. She truly has the spirit of autumn water and the bones of jade..."

"That's because you haven't seen Miss Wanyu from Tingyin Pavilion. She's a beauty of unparalleled grace, her smile could topple kingdoms..."

It turns out they were discussing women.

That's why they get along so well.

As soon as Chen Ming entered the courtyard, the two, their faces flushed with arguing, began to say, "Brother Chen, do you think Miss Zixue is more beautiful, or Miss Wanyu...?"

"stop."

Seeing them pushing and shoving each other, Chen Ming quickly stopped them and said, "I haven't even seen them, so how can I comment? Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When a woman is beautiful enough, it's hard to say who's better. They're probably all equally stunning."

Although the two were not very satisfied with his attempts to smooth things over, there was nothing they could do.

Zhou Weihao said, "Next time, I must take Brother Chen to meet Miss Zixue."

Deng Ziyang said, "It's a pity that Miss Wanyu has reformed and entered the Langya Prince's Mansion. It will be difficult to see her peerless beauty again."

Chen Ming had no choice but to change the subject, "What brings you two here?"

Zhou Weihao finally remembered the important matter and said, "Indeed, a major event has occurred. The perpetrators of the attack have finally been caught. This morning, Lord Zhao personally went to interrogate them."

Chen Ming asked, "Oh? You finally caught them? Who did it?"

Zhou Weihao looked around and, seeing that no one was around, lowered his voice and said, "They are members of the Longevity Cult."

Chen Ming was startled. It really was the Longevity Cult?

He lowered his voice as well, "Has the Eternal Life Cult really made a comeback?"

"really!"

Zhou Weihao nodded solemnly, "This is what Lord Zhao said himself. This group is the most cruel and bloodthirsty sect in the Eternal Life Cult, called the Blood Demon Sect. Do you know what their purpose is in hunting down those young masters from noble families?"

"what?"

"Refining a Human Pill." Zhou Weihao's expression was extremely solemn. "It is said that the disciples of the Blood Demon Sect have a secret technique that can refine a martial artist's blood, flesh, and essence into a Human Pill. As long as an ordinary person takes the Human Pill and digests it, they can directly become a martial artist."

As he spoke, his tone turned sinister. "Two ninth-rank martial artists can refine one ninth-rank human pill. Three eighth-rank martial artists can refine one eighth-rank human pill. Five seventh-rank martial artists can refine one seventh-rank human pill. That's why, once the Blood Demon Sect disciples appear in the world, they hunt down martial artists like madmen to refine human pills."

Chen Ming felt a chill run down his spine. He exchanged a glance with Deng Ziyang next to him and saw that Deng Ziyang's face was also pale, clearly frightened by what Zhou Weihao had said about the Blood Demon Sect.

No wonder the Eternal Life Church is called a heretical cult, hated by everyone and an enemy of the world. The Blood Demon Sect's methods naturally make it an enemy of all martial artists in the world.

The fact that the Longevity Cult has not been completely eradicated to this day shows just how thick its health bar is.

Chen Ming said with some worry, "With the reappearance of the Longevity Cult, I'm afraid the world will be in turmoil from now on."

Zhou Weihua sighed, "Yes, when Lord Zhao reports this matter, it will surely shake the world." After saying that, he comforted him, "Actually, there is no need to worry too much. Once the people of the Longevity Sect appear, the Heavenly Dao Alliance will send disciples over. The Longevity Sect cannot cause any trouble."

Chen Ming nodded, thinking that it was best not to go out for the time being.

At this moment, Deng Ziyang suddenly asked, "Brother Yang, have you ever met any disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance? Are they really as unreasonable as the rumors say?"

Zhou Weihao seemed to recall some unpleasant experience. His face showed fear and disgust as he shook his head and said, "It's not just unreasonable, it's downright domineering."

He was unwilling to say more, only saying, "At least, the disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance don't kill people easily. In this respect, they are much better than the evil people of the Longevity Cult."

PS: Third update, please vote with monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)