Chapter 138: Second Grade Expert
After Zhuang Xiaotian left the Chen Residence, he pondered all the way home on how to properly handle the task Chen Ming had entrusted him with.
This was the first time Chen Ming had asked him for help—he had to make sure it was done flawlessly.
For him, creating a new identity wasn’t difficult. These past few years with the Six Doors Authority hadn’t been for nothing; it was a simple matter to fabricate a household registry.
However, such forged documents would be easily exposed upon investigation. That would never do.
He had to come up with a flawless method, one without a single loophole that anyone could uncover.
That would be a bit more difficult.
Zhuang Xiaotian thought as he walked. After rejoining a few of his subordinates, it was about time to return to the office. Suddenly, he heard a loud bang echo through the sky.
Startled, he looked up to see a firework bloom in the air.
“Something happened!”
This was the special signal used by the Six Doors Authority. Whenever someone encountered an enemy they couldn’t handle, they would release this firework to summon nearby Six Doors personnel for reinforcements.
This signal stirred unpleasant memories in Zhuang Xiaotian. The last time he had seen it, their small team had gone to assist—and three of the seven had died.
Within the Six Doors Authority, many referred to this signal as the “death knell.” When it appeared, it was akin to the ringing bell of death.
The Authority enforced military discipline. Anyone who failed to respond to the signal would be as good as dead if discovered.
“Let’s go.”
Though fear weighed heavily on him, Zhuang Xiaotian still steeled himself and rushed toward the site with his subordinates.
……
The signal had been launched from Zhengming Avenue, one of the busiest streets in the city, usually overseen by a Fifth Grade Patrol Envoy.
Unfortunately, that Fifth Grade Patrol Envoy had been injured during a mission the night before.
When Zhuang Xiaotian arrived at Zhengming Avenue, the once-crowded street was now deserted. As he scanned for the “enemy,” a man’s voice rang out.
“I’ve come today to seek justice from the Four Seas Trading Company. All unrelated people, get lost!”
That voice… why did it sound familiar?
Zhuang Xiaotian turned toward the direction of the voice. From afar, he saw that the former location of the Four Seas Trading Company had become a pile of rubble. A whole row of shops had collapsed, dust billowing into the sky.
Here to cause trouble for the Four Seas Trading Company?
Could it be him?
Zhuang Xiaotian suddenly remembered. That voice—he had just heard it at Chen Ming’s place. It was that middle-aged man named Ding Guangnan.
Was he here to seek justice for his nephew, Ding Guangnan?
At that moment, an aged voice rang out. “I don’t care who you are. If you dare make trouble at the Four Seas Trading Company, you die!”
Boom!
A deafening explosion followed.
Zhuang Xiaotian clutched his ears in pain. From the direction of the Four Seas Trading Company, a small shadow shot toward them, rapidly enlarging before crashing into a nearby pavilion, collapsing the entire building.
His pupils shrank as fear spread across his face. “A Third Grade! Run!”
He hadn’t even finished speaking when he turned and fled, wishing he’d been born with two more legs.
His subordinates snapped out of their daze only after seeing him flee, then followed in panic.
The Six Doors Authority did not permit desertion in battle—but there were exceptions. For instance, encountering a Third Grade expert warranted fleeing as far as possible.
Against an expert of the Third Grade or higher, sheer numbers meant nothing—it would only lead to pointless deaths.
Zhuang Xiaotian had never imagined that the seemingly down-and-out middle-aged man was actually a Third Grade expert!
This time, the Four Seas Trading Company was in deep trouble.
……
Elsewhere in the city, within a tranquil little courtyard.
A woman in red was listening to two maids report. “According to our informant in the Six Doors Authority, the Sand Sea General has been captured by Li Guangjie and is now imprisoned in the Six Doors Authority Prison.”
“What about Xiaoyu?”
Her tone was flat, as if she had already anticipated this outcome.
The maid replied, “It is said she was taken away by a black-clad man.”
“Oh?”
The woman in red’s eyes flickered slightly, her tone carrying a hint of surprise."What did that black-clad man take her for?"
"Unclear. That black-clad man’s strength was incredibly high and he specialized in Flying Knife Technique. At the time, Xiaoyu and the others were all captured by experts from the Six Doors Authority. That person suddenly appeared, unleashed a flying knife, and the Six Doors experts present fell to the ground one by one. He took Xiaoyu and left calmly. The others took the chance to dive into the sea and escape."
Upon hearing this, the woman in red fell silent for a while before finally asking,"Has the Six Doors Authority found out the black-clad man’s identity?"
"Not yet."
"Alright, you may go for now."
Once the two maids had left, a strange look appeared in the woman in red’s eyes. She murmured softly to herself,"You really do know how to surprise me..."
In truth, what she feared most was that Chen Ming would stumble into a trap set by the Six Doors Authority and be captured as well—that would be quite troublesome.
She had informants within the Six Doors Authority and happened to know of the grudge between Li Guangjie and Chen Ming. If Li Guangjie used this opportunity to kill Chen Ming, she would suffer a huge loss.
Unexpectedly, not only had Chen Ming avoided danger, but he had also unleashed extraordinary might, injuring over a dozen Six Doors experts and rescuing Xiaoyu.
This was far beyond her expectations.
Her curiosity about this man deepened.
As she was thinking, she suddenly turned her head to look in a particular direction. A hint of joy flashed in her eyes."That one has finally taken action. Four Seas Trading Company, let me see the strength you’ve hidden in the shadows."
……
"?"
Inside the room, Chen Ming, who had been immersed in reading, suddenly felt a pang of unease. He jerked his head up, looking southeast, and touched his heart which was still pounding wildly, perplexed."What’s going on?"
"A Second Grade expert has made a move."
Su Zhi Ning’s voice sounded timely by his ear, with an added weight of seriousness.
Chen Ming was somewhat surprised."Second Grade? Who is it?"
Su Zhi Ning did not reply. Clearly, she did not know either.
He sighed helplessly. Qingfeng City was becoming increasingly dangerous. Even Second Grade experts were fighting within the city.
Let alone now that Zhao Shouchang wasn’t in the city—even if he were, could he even stop it?
Chen Ming no longer had the mood to read. He took out the sword jade given to him by Senior Shang, placed it against his brow, and began comprehending the sword intent within.
Gradually, his emotions calmed as he became immersed in that sword intent.
……
After nightfall, the woman in red finally arrived. She appeared outside Chen Ming’s door without a sound. When she pushed the door open, she startled him, and he instinctively reached for his sword.
"Sister Red! You’re finally here."
Seeing the visitor, Chen Ming pretended nothing had happened and withdrew his hand, rising to greet her.
She sat down on a chair across from him and asked,"What were you reading?"
"A movement technique."
She glanced at the cover and shook her head."This technique doesn’t suit you."
Chen Ming humbly asked for guidance."Please enlighten me, Sister Red."
"Your True Qi is supremely firm and pure yang. It should be a Pure Yang Technique. This《Phantom Step》does not align with your cultivation method. Remember, a cultivation method is the foundation of a martial artist. Whether it’s sword techniques, saber techniques, fist techniques, or movement techniques, they all must complement your cultivation method to achieve double the results with half the effort."
"I see. But this is the only movement technique I have, so I can only study it for now."
"I actually have a movement technique that complements your cultivation method. I’ll deliver it to you in a few days."
"That would be most appreciated."
Chen Ming quickly expressed his thanks, not declining. He knew this was the reward she was offering for rescuing Zhong Shuyu.
This Sister Red was indeed straightforward.
He suddenly remembered something and asked,"Sister Red, it seems there was a commotion in the city today. A powerhouse above Third Grade made a move."
The woman in red nodded."Yes, it was a Second Grade."
"Does Sister Red know which senior it was and why he acted?"
"That man’s surname is Ding. He was once a disciple of the World’s Number One Tower, but violated the sect’s rules and was expelled. Since then, he disappeared without a trace. This time, he made a move and destroyed the Four Seas Trading Company’s storefront, killing several of their Devotees. It is said his nephew was killed by someone from the Qian Family, so he came seeking revenge."
The more Chen Ming heard, the more shocked he became.
So the Ding Guangsheng who had visited him earlier that day… was actually a Second Grade expert?
He was truly the most modest martial artist Chen Ming had ever seen—and a Second Grade expert at that.
Unbelievable.
Suddenly, he recalled something. The third part of《Blazing Sun Divine Art》was still in the hands of the Four Seas Trading Company. If Ding Guangsheng destroyed them, wouldn’t he never be able to complete this divine art?
He asked anxiously,"Then is the Four Seas Trading Company finished?"
The woman in red said,"Not necessarily. A lone Second Grade might not be enough to destroy the Four Seas Trading Company—at most, they’ll be severely weakened. Even a broken ship has three pounds of nails, let alone the Four Seas Trading Company."
Hearing that, Chen Ming finally felt at ease.
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