I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 177: What Kind of Brain Circuit?

"Madam, you saw it too. This friend of mine has her meridians completely severed. I’m sustaining her heart vessel just to keep her alive. I truly cannot spare a hand right now."

Chen Ming explained with a bitter smile.

Before Madam Yu arrived, she had already heard a general overview from Old Sun. Upon learning that a woman had encountered a situation similar to E Niang’s—forcing a breakthrough at Third Grade, leading to a rampage of Gang Origin which nearly tore her meridians apart, leaving her with only a thread of life—she rushed over immediately.

While approaching just now, she had overheard the conversation between Chen Ming and the Third Grade woman. Discovering their relationship, her heart instantly sank.

Since the seriously injured woman was his lover, he would naturally prioritize saving her.

From the conversation earlier, this young man appeared to be affectionate and righteous. Even at a life-threatening moment, he refused to abandon his lover to save himself. Threats and bribes would likely be of little effect.

Madam Yu’s expression shifted subtly as she glanced at the white-clad woman sitting on the bed. Seeing her face pale, lips devoid of blood, her entire being exuding a sense of death.

She recalled Old Sun’s words—Chen Ming had carried this woman to seek him out three days ago.

That he managed to keep her alive till now showed that he indeed had some real ability.

Madam Yu drew a deep breath, as if making a decision."Young Master Chen, today I shall make the decision. I will betroth my niece to you. That old thing will be the bride price."

"……"

Chen Ming’s mouth opened in shock as he stared at Madam Yu standing at the doorway making such a public announcement—utterly dumbfounded.

No, he merely wanted to negotiate for better terms. But she was completely playing outside the rules, actually intending to marry off Yu Haitang to him—what on earth was she thinking?

She must have overheard his words and knew he already had a lover, yet still insisted on marrying her niece to him. This kind of brain circuit truly left him speechless.

On the bed, Su Zhi Ning, who had already closed her eyes, couldn’t help but open them, looking toward the elegant woman at the door. Her lips moved slightly, as if wanting to speak, but held back. Updates are released by novel{f}ire.net

Yu Haitang in Madam Yu’s arms also froze momentarily, then tried to object, but when she opened her mouth, she found herself unable to utter a single word.

"You’ve already accepted the bride price, which means you agreed to this marriage. My niece—you must marry her. And her injuries—you certainly can’t ignore them now, can you?"

Madam Yu gave her niece a gentle push. As if supported by an invisible force, she too landed on the bed, sitting side-by-side with Su Zhi Ning.

"She is my only niece. You must treat her well. Should anything happen to her, I will never forgive you."

With that, she turned and left. Creak— the door closed by itself.

The three people left in the room were left speechless.

Chen Ming looked at Yu Haitang, just as she also glanced his way, eyes filled with a warning,"Don’t take my aunt’s words seriously."

"Rest assured, miss. A celestial being like you—this one wouldn’t dare dream of climbing high,"Chen Ming replied immediately."Madam Yu only said so to ensure I don’t slack or show favoritism."

Madam Yu’s meaning was already clear.

If they wanted to live, all three must survive.

If Yu Haitang died, then the other two would be buried along with her.

This Madam Yu was every bit as domineering as her niece—simply irresistible. The difference was, her methods were subtler.

Had she started off with direct threats, it might have backfired with someone more unyielding. But this approach, which seemed nonsensical on the surface, actually broke the deadlock and left room for both advance and retreat.

Her words could be genuine—or not. It all depended on whether the injured woman could be saved in the end.

Yu Haitang’s expression eased slightly as she asked,"How far have you cultivated your 《Primordial Wood True Art》?"

Chen Ming did not answer. He slowly extended his hand and pressed it against her back.

Yu Haitang immediately felt a familiar yet distinct flow of true qi pouring into her body—gurgling, soft, and continuous—ultimately settling at the deepest point in her body, sealing a particular rupture.

She was startled and exclaimed,"You’ve reached Fourth Grade?"

"Mm."

Chen Ming didn’t feel like speaking. At present, both his hands were pressed against the backs of two women. He couldn’t even read a book. His true qi had to be split in two, doubling the consumption.

Whether he could hold out until they recovered remained uncertain.

The only good news was—with Madam Yu present, there was no worry about enemies coming to kill them.

Yu Haitang turned slightly to face him sideways, bringing her closer to Su Zhi Ning.

She looked at Chen Ming with a scrutinizing gaze."You should know, Fourth Grade is all about persistent effort. There’s practically no bottleneck from Fifth Grade to Fourth Grade. As long as one reaches Fifth Grade and has enough time, they are certain to reach Fourth Grade."

"And what of it?"

He understood this bit of common sense.

It was precisely why he thought of allocating experience points to 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》, enabling him to challenge a higher rank—fighting a Fourth Grade while being at Fifth Grade.

Because renowned Fifth Grade experts were few and far between. Most Fifth Grade cultivators secluded themselves, tempering their true qi, striving for an early breakthrough to Fourth Grade.

Even if he wanted to spar, he couldn’t find anyone.

Yu Haitang continued,"Exactly because of that, there are almost no shortcuts at Fifth Grade. The more profound the cultivation method, the longer it takes at Fifth Grade. No matter how talented one may be, even cultivating a peerless method like 《Primordial Fire True Art》, it is absolutely impossible to reach Fourth Grade in just a few months."

Her expression was stern—her face all but saying, confess honestly, what secrets are you hiding?

Chen Ming felt like scratching his head, but recalling the consequences of letting go, he suppressed the impulse.

He said,"Speaking of which, I should thank you. In recent days, I had been studying the 《Primordial Wood True Art》 when I suddenly had an epiphany. I fully integrated the two arts. The two types of true qi generate and extinguish each other, transforming back and forth—thus, everything flowed naturally, and I stepped into Fourth Grade without obstruction."

"……"

Yu Haitang’s eye twitched. Chen Ming’s explanation reminded her of the moment she experienced qi deviation.

In fact, it started off quite smoothly. She had produced a strand of Primordial Fire True Qi in her body. However, just as she tried to strengthen it to a certain extent, the two types of true qi clashed. Her qi ran wild in an instant, nearly causing her to explode on the spot.

No one understood better than her just how difficult it was to merge the two true qis.

Yet in his mouth, it was as casual as a gentle breeze and flowing water.

Once again, she tasted that bitter feeling of being outclassed—in terms of talent and comprehension, she had been thoroughly crushed...

Yu Haitang had no idea what kind of transformation would result from merging the two true qis. Naturally, she couldn’t tell whether he was lying.

So she could only assume it to be true—for now.

……

At Tianxiang Tower, still in that same courtyard, Qin Changyuan was drinking with a courtesan in his arms when the coachman burst in and whispered a few words into his ear.

"What? He’s dead too?"

Qin Changyuan was both shocked and furious. The Third Grade expert he had hired this time was found in haste, and he had to offer a divine weapon just to persuade the man.

In the end, he still failed!

How could he not be enraged?

"How did this happen?"

"It was Madam Yu who intervened,"the coachman said in a low voice,"It’s said that Miss Yu suffered qi deviation during cultivation and her life is hanging by a thread. They sought many renowned physicians but none could help. For some reason, Madam Yu took Miss Yu to that Chen Ming, happened to run into him, and got rid of the man."

"What?"

Qin Changyuan was stunned."Qi deviation? How bad is her injury?"

"It’s said she has little time left to live."

"Why didn’t you say so earlier!"

Qin Changyuan exploded in rage and slapped the coachman hard.

The coachman was sent flying but quickly got back up. He blocked Qin Changyuan’s path, blood at the corner of his mouth, and said,"Young Master, it’s best you don’t go."

"Out of my way."

Qin Changyuan raised his hand to strike again.

"Miss Yu is currently in Chen Ming’s house. Word is, Madam Yu has already betrothed her to Chen Ming."

Qin Changyuan was struck like thunder, grabbing the coachman by the collar, his eyes bloodshot, face twisted in fury,"What did you say?"

"I said, Madam Yu has already betrothed Miss Yu to Chen Ming, so that she can spend her final days with the one she loves..."

"No—"

Qin Changyuan flung the coachman aside with such force that the courtyard wall was smashed apart.

"I don’t believe it!"

He rushed outside, but his pace slowed more and more, until he stopped completely before even leaving Tianxiang Tower. His face was lifeless as he muttered,"Why?"

Unfortunately, he would never receive an answer.

……

Knock knock.

Qiuxiang knocked on the door outside.

"Come in."

Chen Ming responded lazily.

Qiuxiang pushed the door open, holding a tray."This was sent by Madam Yu—two bowls of Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng Soup. There’s also a bottle of the finest Jade Dragon Pills for you, Young Master."

As expected of the wife of Cangyue Sect’s sect master. Thousand-Year Blood Ginseng was a priceless treasure, impossible to buy even with money. As for the Jade Dragon Pills, they were the top-tier pills for replenishing qi.

They were refined through secret methods unique to Cangyue Sect. There was no second source. The number of rare medicinal ingredients that went into making them was unknown—even Cangyue Sect didn’t have enough for themselves, let alone for sale.

Yet Madam Yu had sent a whole bottle.

Chen Ming had certainly benefited from Yu Haitang’s situation.

He said,"Give me one Jade Dragon Pill to try first."

Qiuxiang stepped forward, pulled the cork, and poured out a snow-white pill. Immediately, a fragrant medicinal scent filled the air. Just smelling it refreshed the mind.

She fed the pill to Chen Ming.

It melted the moment it entered his mouth. Within moments, a stream of heat rose in his dantian, quickly converting into the purest true qi. As it flowed through the meridians, it turned into fine strands of true qi, merging into the qi sea, replenishing the qi he had consumed.

As time passed, the replenishment speed increased.

"Madam said one Jade Dragon Pill is enough for a day. There are five here. More will be sent after they’re used up."

"Mm."

Chen Ming thought to himself, this Madam Yu really was going all out to save her niece.

Qiuxiang then asked,"Ladies, the Blood Ginseng Soup needs to be drunk while hot. Shall this servant feed you?"

"No need,"Yu Haitang replied.

"No, thank you,"Su Zhi Ning also declined.

Chen Ming said,"Bring some food over. I’m hungry."

"Yes, Young Master."