Chapter 132: Princess Hongyu

Chen Ming furrowed his brow and asked seriously, “Miss Su, do you know who that person was?”

Su Zhi Ning said, “To evade my perception, they must be at least a Third Grade.”

Third Grade?

Chen Ming instantly thought of the Third Grade Expert who had been peeking from the rooftop that morning. Could it have been her?

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, he still recognized that it was a woman.

He had originally assumed it was a passing expert, curious and stopping by to watch the commotion. But now, it seemed there might be another motive behind it.

“You clearly could’ve just killed him earlier. Why did you stir up conflict and let his own kin turn on him?” Su Zhi Ning’s slightly displeased voice slipped into his ears.

Chen Ming looked up and met her reproachful gaze.

Great, her Saintly Woman syndrome was flaring up again.

He sighed and said, “If you want to think that way, there’s nothing I can do.”

Su Zhi Ning’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly. She said, “Are you saying, I’ve misunderstood you?”

“Of course,” Chen Ming said as a matter of fact, “If I really wanted to eliminate all future threats, the simplest method would have been to wipe out the entire Qi Family. But I’m soft-hearted. I don’t want to commit such a massacre.”

“But still, I can’t just let them live and wait for them to come after me for revenge later, can I? I’m not afraid, but my brother and sister-in-law can’t fight. I can’t let them be in danger...”

Su Zhi Ning interjected, “So, you’re trying to plunge the Qi Family into chaos and make them kill each other.”

Chen Ming looked at her seriously. “If you think this approach is inappropriate, just say the word, and I’ll go back right now and slaughter every last one of them in the Qi Family.”

“……”

In the end, Su Zhi Ning silently turned her gaze away and said nothing more.

Chen Ming discovered a merit in her — although she sometimes acted overly like a Saintly Woman, at least she was reasonable and wouldn’t argue irrationally.

There was still hope.

……

Qi Yanhong was killed, and the news that Jinyuan Prosperity Trading had changed hands quickly spread throughout Qingfeng City.

Jinyuan Prosperity Trading monopolized the porcelain business. In the eyes of the public, it was second only to the Seven Great Maritime Traders. Qi Yanhong was also a big name, and now he was just dead like that — it caused a huge stir.

There were all sorts of theories about the cause of Qi Yanhong’s death.

Some said it was internal strife within the Qi Family, that he was killed by one of his own brothers.

Others said Chen Ming killed Qi Yanhong.

Still others claimed that some mysterious bigwig had taken a liking to the gold-raking Jinyuan Prosperity Trading, so he orchestrated an assassination to seize the firm.

There were even rumors it was pirates, or a dark hand from the Six Doors Authority.

For a while, the speculation was endless.

Only the two Devotees from Jinyuan Prosperity Trading who were present at the time, along with two others from Shang’an Trading Company, knew the truth. They had been given strict instructions by Chen Ming and naturally wouldn’t spill a word.

……

The next day, after hearing the news, Chen Rui immediately ran to his parents’ spirit tablets to share the good news.

He could easily guess that Qi Yanhong’s death was connected to his younger brother. Just yesterday, he had gone out claiming to settle the matter. And now, coincidentally, Qi Yanhong had been killed yesterday.

Regardless, the grudge from when his younger brother was framed and imprisoned had finally been avenged.

In front of the ancestral hall, Chen Rui spoke at length.

In just four short years, his younger brother Chen Ming had already grown to this level, killing someone like Qi Yanhong as easily as swatting a fly.

Being in business himself, he knew very well just how vast the gap was now between the Chen Family and Jinyuan Prosperity Trading.

He now felt more and more like he couldn’t keep up with his brother’s pace.

“Father, Mother, please watch over everyone from the heavens…”

……

…………

Southern city, Red Sea Gang.

This place was originally a stronghold of the Giant Tiger Gang, but now it served as the headquarters of the Red Sea Gang.

The Red Sea Gang’s influence now surpassed that of the Giant Tiger Gang at its peak. In just a few months, they had unified all of Qingfeng City.

In the backyard of the Red Sea Gang, within a courtyard.

The door of a house was pushed open from inside, and a man in his early thirties stepped out. Several gang members guarding the entrance immediately saluted, “Welcome back from seclusion, Hall Master.”

This man was none other than Luo Hao, one of the three Hall Masters of the Red Sea Gang, and also the disciple of the Gang Leader.

The Gang Leader did not like to handle mundane affairs, so the internal matters of the gang were currently managed by the three Hall Masters.

One close confidant boldly asked, “Did you have a breakthrough during this seclusion, Hall Master?”

A month ago, Luo Hao suddenly had a realization and declared he would enter seclusion. That lasted a full month. Everyone speculated that he was on the verge of advancing to the Fifth Grade.

Luo Hao replied, “I gained a little, but I’m still some distance away from Fifth Grade.”

After that came bathing and changing clothes.

“I’ve been in seclusion for a month. Has anything major happened in the city?” Luo Hao asked casually while eating.

A follower said, “Nothing major, but there is one matter Hall Master might be interested in—Chen Ming has come out of seclusion.”

Chen Ming?

Luo Hao remembered this name clearly, not because the person was particularly strong, but because the daughter of Inspector Zhao had stood up for him.

That daughter of Lord Zhao was truly a rare beauty, with such a prominent background, and yet she favored some inexperienced brat from an ordinary background.

It was really irritating.

Naturally, Luo Hao very much wanted to publicly teach that brat a lesson—harshly. It was only due to that Miss Zhao that he held back.

That follower clearly understood his master well and added another piece of news, “Inspector Zhao took his daughter to Jiangzhou. They just left two days ago and probably won’t be back anytime soon.”

“Oh?”

Luo Hao’s eyes lit up, gleaming with excitement. With Inspector Zhao’s daughter gone, who else could protect you now?

……

“Something bad has happened!”

Inside the ancestral hall, Chen Rui was confiding his thoughts to his parents when he suddenly heard the steward’s anxious cry. His heart skipped a beat as he asked, “Steward, what’s the panic about?”

“That Luo Hall Master from the Red Sea Gang has come knocking again, saying he wants to challenge Second Master.”

Chen Rui was no longer the flustered young lad he once was. Over the past few years, the Chen Residence had weathered numerous crises, and he had also gained experience.

So, even upon hearing that Luo Hao of the Red Sea Gang had come to challenge Ah Ming, he remained calm and asked, “Where is Ah Ming?”

最⊥新⊥小⊥說⊥在⊥⊥⊥首⊥發！

The steward replied, “I’ve already sent someone to inform him.”

“Let’s go take a look.”

Chen Rui set down the half-burned spirit money in his hand and walked outside, instructing as he went, “Send Guard Gu to the backyard. Don’t let anyone disturb the Madam and the young master or young lady.”

“Yes.”

“And send Bofu and Zhongda…”

Chen Rui issued his orders methodically. Before long, he arrived at the main gate, where the household servants were standing tensely like enemies at the gates.

“…They all say Chen Family’s Ah Ming is a hero, a youthful genius. I think he’s nothing but a turtle hiding under a woman’s skirt…”

Outside the gate, foul words echoed, followed by bursts of laughter.

Chen Rui felt a surge of anger.

Though he knew this was Luo Hall Master’s tactic to provoke Ah Ming, the words were still far too offensive.

What had happened just last month was still vivid in his memory.

It was the same Luo Hall Master from the Red Sea Gang, bringing his men to encircle their gate and stir up trouble, demanding Ah Ming come out and fight.

No matter how they explained that Ah Ming was in seclusion, they refused to let it go and were about to break in when Miss Zhao arrived and stopped the arrogant Luo Hall Master.

It was then that Chen Rui learned from Luo’s mouth who Miss Zhao really was—the daughter of the Inspector.

He was greatly surprised at the time. So Ah Ming actually knew the Inspector’s daughter, and their relationship was quite close.

“Chen Ming, if you don’t come out now, I’ll barge in. This time, there’s no Miss Zhao to help you. Let’s see how you’ll hide now!”

……

…………

In the backyard of the Chen Residence.

Chen Ming, listening to the voices outside, said helplessly to the woman in red sitting across from him, “I hope you’ll excuse me, Senior. I need to take care of something first.”

The woman in red sitting before him was also veiled, but her temperament was completely different from Su Zhi Ning’s. She had a vibrant, life-filled beauty and a wild gleam in her eyes—clearly a restless and unruly person.

She was the Third Grade Expert who had secretly sent a warning yesterday. Today, she had finally come to him. But coincidentally, just as she arrived, Luo Hao came knocking.

The woman in red looked at him intently. “Don’t call me Senior. I’m only a few years older than you.”

“Then how should I address you?”

“My name is simply Hong. You can call me Sister Hong.”

“Sister Hong.”

Chen Ming complied and stood up, saying, “Please sit for a while. I’ll be right back.”

With that, he turned and left.

The woman in red looked at the steaming tea in front of her and spoke, “Come out.”

The moment the words left her lips, a woman in white drifted down from the rooftop. It was Su Zhi Ning. She saluted the woman in red and said, “Su Zhi Ning of the Heaven's Path Alliance greets Princess Hongyu.”

A strange light flickered in the eyes of the woman in red. She said softly, “I never thought I’d hear someone call me that again in this lifetime…”

……

Outside the gate stood an extraordinarily luxurious carriage pulled by eight horses.

Behind the carriage followed over thirty gang members dressed in black martial attire, showcasing the grandeur of Qingfeng City’s number one gang.

Naturally, such a scene attracted many onlookers, who stood at a distance and murmured among themselves.

“This time, the Chen Family’s Ah Ming probably won’t be able to escape.”

“Serves him right. This guy used to challenge others everywhere. Now he’s the one cornered at the door. That’s karma, retribution without fail.”

“I heard Luo Hall Master reached Sixth Grade three years ago. His saber techniques are astonishing and he inherited all of Leader Pan’s skills. Ah Ming is likely no match for him.”

“Sigh, Ah Ming only broke through to Sixth Grade seven or eight months ago. His cultivation is certainly no match for Luo Hall Master…”

Most people did not believe in Chen Ming’s chances. Some even claimed he wouldn’t dare respond to the challenge.

“Maybe he’s just waiting for Miss Zhao to come and get him out of trouble again?”

“You don’t know, do you? Miss Zhao is no longer in the city. She went to Jiangzhou City with the Inspector.”

“Then he really can’t escape this time…”

Amid the chatter, the carriage door swung open, and Luo Hao stepped out dressed in black. His gaze was cold as he shouted, “Break in!”

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