Chapter 137: Biluomen
Chen Ming had the two maids settle Zhong Shuyu in, then returned to his room and retrieved the dozen or so pages that Zhuang Xiaotian had given him back then.
Zhuang Xiaotian’s Flying Knife Technique was comprehended precisely from these pages.
The move he had just used, “Rain of Flying Daggers,” also came from one of the pages—being the only complete high-tier technique among them.
This technique, “Rain of Flying Daggers,” could only be fully executed by those above the Fifth Grade, possessing formidable True Qi. It was designed specifically for group battles.
It was also his first time using this move in actual combat, and its power exceeded his expectations.
“You, where did you learn the Soul-Hooking Blade?”
Suddenly, Su Zhi Ning’s voice rang in his ears.
Chen Ming asked curiously, “Soul-Hooking Blade?”
The door creaked open, and Su Zhi Ning, dressed in white, stepped in. She had followed him through the night, exposed to the sea breeze for hours, yet her hairstyle remained immaculate, not even a single strand damp with dew.
Chen Ming couldn’t help but marvel. He wondered whether she was overly concerned with her appearance or simply suffered from extreme mysophobia.
Su Zhi Ning, seeing no sign of deceit in his expression, said, “In the past, the Biluo Sect excelled in hidden weapons. They had three hidden weapon techniques famed across the world: Soul-Hooking Blade, Blood Jade Bead, and Fallen Deity Nail. Their disciples roamed the world, feared by all. Later, the Biluo Sect was annihilated, and these three hidden weapon techniques were lost to history.”
“If they’ve been lost, how did you recognize what I used just now as the Soul-Hooking Blade from Biluo Sect?”
“Our sect holds records about the Soul-Hooking Technique.”
Chen Ming said, “I’ve never heard of the Biluo Sect, let alone any Soul-Hooking Blade. Everything I know about throwing knives, I learned from this.”
As he spoke, he handed over the pages in his hand.
Su Zhi Ning’s gaze fell on the papers. After a slight hesitation, she still took them and began reading carefully.
She read very slowly. The dozen or so pages took her a full incense stick’s time to finish.
Finally, she reached the last page, closed them, and looked up to stare at him. “You actually learned that Soul-Hooking Blade technique from these incomplete scraps?”
Chen Ming took the pages back and said with a smile, “Just figured it out on my own.”
Su Zhi Ning’s expression grew complicated. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
She found herself increasingly unable to understand this man. Last time when she taught him movement techniques, he had seemed like a complete fool. Yet now, he had mastered a remarkable sword technique, and even managed to learn the once-dreaded Soul-Hooking Blade from such incomplete notes.
……
After daybreak, Zhuang Xiaotian went to the Six Doors Authority office for his usual duties. Upon arrival, he found his superior missing. Upon inquiry, he learned that their boss had been injured.
From his colleagues, he found out that the previous night there had been a secret mission. Inspector Li had personally led over a dozen skilled men to apprehend someone. His superior was among them.
It was said the battle last night had been extremely fierce. Everyone below Inspector Li had sustained injuries.
Hearing that his superior was still in the office, being treated by a physician, Zhuang Xiaotian went along with a few colleagues to visit him.
Within the Six Doors Authority was a small clinic. Usually empty, today it was packed with people.
Peng Xin lay in a corner. Seeing several of his subordinates arrive, he asked, “Why are you all here?”
One subordinate spoke with concern, “Boss, we heard you were injured and were worried.”
“Just a minor wound. It’s nothing.”
Peng Xin still had the flying knife embedded in his body.
There was only one physician in the clinic and he was swamped. Peng Xin hadn’t even gotten his turn yet.
When Zhuang Xiaotian saw the flying knife stuck in Peng Xin’s shoulder, his eyes flickered with suspicion.
A subordinate asked, “Boss, were you ambushed?”
They all found it strange. With their boss’s martial skills, how could he have been struck by a throwing knife?
In front of his subordinates, Peng Xin naturally offered an explanation. “That thief’s hidden weapon skills were extraordinary. All of us, more than a dozen, were wounded by those flying knives.”
Zhuang Xiaotian and the others looked around and found that several Patrol Envoys in the clinic also had similar flying knives embedded in them. They were momentarily stunned.
“There’s such a master of hidden weapons in Qingfeng City?”
“And they’re using throwing knives, no less.”
One must know, throwing knives were considered relatively large hidden weapons—far less discreet than flying needles or poisoned darts. Thus, few chose to specialize in throwing knives as hidden weapons.
At this moment, someone asked, “Xiaotian, you’re skilled with flying knives. Do you know of any experts within Jiangzhou who specialize in them?”
Zhuang Xiaotian shook his head and said, “Boss, I just fiddled around with throwing knives when I was a kid—good enough to hit birds maybe, but not real enemies. Even you don’t know about it, how would a subordinate like me?”
Peng Xin had only asked casually. Hearing this, he didn’t press further and began talking about his encounter with that black-clad man the night before.
The more Zhuang Xiaotian listened, the more uneasy he became—especially when Peng Xin described the technique used by the flying knife. His heart skipped a beat. Wasn’t that exactly the “Rain of Flying Daggers” recorded in the manual?
That black-clad man from last night, the one who injured nine Six Doors Authority experts and rescued someone—could it be…
He dared not think further.
Peng Xin concluded, “Since you’re all here, keep an eye out for a certain woman. A portrait will be distributed soon. If you see someone resembling her, report immediately.”
“Yes.”
Then, several subordinates departed.
……
In the afternoon, it was Zhuang Xiaotian’s turn to patrol. As he pondered whether or not to visit Chen Ming, a servant from the Chen Residence found him.
“Lord Zhuang, my Second Master invites you over for a drink.”
“Sure.”
This suited Zhuang Xiaotian just fine. He said a word to his men and left.
Since reaching Eighth Grade, he had become a minor leader and had a few subordinates at his disposal. Street patrols like this no longer required his personal attention.
Following the servant to the Chen Residence, Zhuang Xiaotian saw a disheveled middle-aged man standing outside the gate, with a longsword hanging from one side of his waist and a wine gourd from the other.
One look told him this man was a low-level martial artist wandering the jianghu.
He casually asked, “Who is that?”
The servant replied, “He’s been standing there all day, claiming he owes Second Master a debt of gratitude and wants to thank him in person. We’ve tried to chase him off, but he won’t leave.”
Just as he finished speaking, a maid walked out and invited the middle-aged man inside.
Zhuang Xiaotian recognized her—it was Chunxiang, Chen Ming’s personal maid.
So he followed behind her and entered.
……
Chen Ming hadn’t left the house all day, waiting for that woman in red to appear. Yet after an entire afternoon, she never showed.
He had sent someone to invite Zhuang Xiaotian. While idly waiting, he heard Chunxiang report that someone had been outside all day asking to see him.
With nothing better to do, he instructed Chunxiang to bring the man in.
When he finally saw the person, Chen Ming was startled. He had seen this man before—just a few days ago outside the city when returning. A disheveled middle-aged man.
Back then, the man was looking for Ding Guangnan.
“What does he want from me?”
Puzzled, Chen Ming watched as the man bowed deeply. “I am Ding Guangsheng. Last year, my nephew Ding Guangnan was killed. It was thanks to you, young master, for ordering his corpse to be collected and buried, sparing him the humiliation of being left to rot in the wilderness. Your noble deed deserves my deepest respect. Please accept this bow.”
Chen Ming quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, “Mister Ding, there’s no need for this. Your nephew’s righteousness truly moved me. I only regret that my abilities are limited and this was the least I could do.”
Zhuang Xiaotian, who had followed behind, watched this scene and found the name Ding Guangnan familiar. After a moment’s thought, he remembered—he was the young man who had killed the illegitimate son of the Four Seas Trading Company’s owner and had been sentenced to autumn execution. He had been beheaded last year.
He hadn’t expected that it was Chen Ming who had arranged for the corpse to be collected.
After expressing his gratitude, Ding Guangsheng took his leave.
Only after he left did Zhuang Xiaotian step into the courtyard and ask, “You called me over so urgently—what is it?”
He didn’t mention last night’s events. The less he knew about things like that, the better. Whether or not Chen Ming was involved had nothing to do with him.
Chen Ming invited him to sit and said, “I need your help with something. Help me get a legal identity.”
Zhuang Xiaotian’s heart jolted, but his face showed nothing as he asked, “Male or female? How old?”
“It’s a woman, twenty years old.”
At that, Zhuang Xiaotian knew there was no mistake. He swallowed hard and said, “Alright, leave it to me.”
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.