Chapter 199 : The Disadvantaged Group
Chapter 199: The Disadvantaged Group
In the solemn and imposing council hall, only Chen Ming was left.
Facing such a First Grade Expert, he felt somewhat nervous inside.
Within the Six Doors Authority, there were many eccentric figures.
It was said that there was a God-Eyed Constable who could see through all disguises under heaven.
He wondered whether his disguise technique could fool such an Eye Technique.
At this moment, that Governor Liang got up and walked toward him.
He hurriedly saluted, “Greetings, Governor.”
“Virtuous nephew, no need for such formality.”
The sternness from earlier had vanished from Governor Liang’s face, replaced by a smile. He even patted Chen Ming’s shoulder to show closeness.
“I am an old acquaintance of your father. Just call me Uncle Liang.”
“Uncle Liang.”
Chen Ming naturally went along with it.
Governor Liang’s smile grew brighter.
“I have long heard that the Gu Family has gained a Gu Seventh Lang, who reached Fourth Grade at just over twenty—such talent is rare under heaven. Now that I see you today, you truly have the bearing of a dragon and phoenix, extraordinary indeed.”
He put on a modest look. “Uncle Liang flatters me.”
“Your family has deep scholarly and martial heritage. Since you happen to be here, why not join in? You saw it yourself—those people just now likely won’t be able to match the aristocratic sect disciples. Only you can help me.”
Chen Ming said with some difficulty, “This humble official still has to report to Xiazhou City…”
Governor Liang replied, “Rest assured, I will write an official document and send someone to Xiazhou City. I believe Shen Dingjun won’t refuse me this favor.”
“In that case, this nephew can only obey.”
He finally agreed, then curiously asked, “May I ask why Uncle Liang is targeting the Wan Family?”
Governor Liang said, “I have a grudge against the Wan Family.”
Just because of that?
He was so blunt that Chen Ming didn’t even know what expression to make.
So in the end, it was a personal vendetta.
…
That night, Governor Liang not only invited Gu Xianyu and Gu Yuyin to dinner, but after the meal also brought him to the study to chat.
His attitude was extremely cordial, as though treating his own family’s juniors.
Fearing that he would ask about the Gu Family’s current situation, Chen Ming took the initiative and asked him about martial arts—how to break through to Third Grade, how to condense sword intent, and so on.
That night, he truly experienced the benefits of one’s background.
As a Gu Family descendant, Gu Xianyu was treated in Wanlei City as an honored guest of a provincial governor, able to receive pointers from a First Grade Expert.
Even a few casual words from a First Grade Expert benefited him greatly.
It wasn’t until someone came looking for Governor Liang that Chen Ming took the chance to excuse himself, and under the servant’s guidance, returned to the small courtyard where he was staying.
“Seventh Bro, you really have the leisure—chatting with Governor Liang for two whole hours.”
From the courtyard next door came Gu Yuyin’s teasing voice.
The servant left first.
Chen Ming pushed open his small courtyard’s door and walked inside.
The Liang Family’s arrangements were considerate—two small courtyards connected, separated only by a wall.
Gu Yuyin, however, followed over, saying, “Back at the banquet, you called him ‘Uncle Liang’ so warmly.”
Chen Ming turned back and asked coldly, “Is there a problem?”
Gu Yuyin’s bright eyes swept over his face. “Looks like you really don’t know. This Liang Zongcheng has a grudge against our Gu Family.”
Chen Ming was startled. “Truly?”
“Of course. Back then, our Thirteenth Uncle stole the woman he loved, then discarded her like an old shoe, causing that woman to die in depression. Afterwards, Liang Zongcheng sought revenge on Thirteenth Uncle, but nearly died at his hands. He probably hates our Gu Family to the bone.
“My dear Seventh Bro, you came to Xiazhou without even investigating? I advise you not to stay in the Six Doors Authority. Otherwise, you might die without even knowing how.”
After speaking, Gu Yuyin turned and left.
She had basically called him stupid to his face—unable to tell friend from foe.
Thinking about Liang Zongcheng’s attitude toward him, Chen Ming felt his scalp tingle.
If what this cousin said was true, then Liang Zongcheng’s friendly demeanor toward him was likely honeyed words hiding a sword—there was another scheme at play.
Would a First Grade Governor really need to go to such lengths against a mere Fourth Grade Expert like him?
Right now, in the eyes of others, he was still Gu Xianyu, a Fourth Grade cultivator.
“Politics really is hard to navigate.”
No wonder Deng Ziyang quit the Six Doors Authority after just two years, choosing instead to roam the martial world.
The waters here ran far deeper than ordinary.
The problem was—today he had already agreed to Liang Zongcheng’s request to join the martial tournament for marriage, which meant he had accepted Liang Zongcheng’s order. It was too late to back out now.
He suspected that if he left without a word, Liang Zongcheng might immediately turn hostile and kill him on the pretext of defying orders.
So, this martial tournament—he had to participate.
If Liang Zongcheng truly wanted to get rid of him, he would likely not act openly, but instead arrange for him to die on the arena.
Only if he died there would the Gu Family have no grounds to object.
“Starting me off with such intensity, huh?”
Chen Ming then thought of Gu Yuyin again.
From her attitude, she clearly didn’t think much of Gu Xianyu.
However, since they shared the same clan and interests were bound together—especially while traveling outside, risks were shared—
Though she often ridiculed him, she would still take the initiative to warn him when trouble loomed.
At least, along this journey, he didn’t have to worry about her harming him.
…
The next day, Gu Yuyin left first, using the excuse of needing to hurry on the road, taking her people out of the city.
By Chen Ming’s side, only a personal maid remained.
This was fine too—with those familiar with Gu Xianyu gone, leaving only a maid, there was no worry of his identity being exposed.
Every day, Chen Ming would go out to stroll around. Since he was here, he naturally wanted to experience the local customs.
On the very first day, he saw several fights breaking out—over trivial matters, tempers flared and hands were raised.
Bystanders seemed used to it.
Even when the Six Doors Authority arrived, the fighters did not stop.
The constables would wait until the fight ended, then merely have them compensate the shop for damages, without making any arrests.
Several fights in a row were handled this way.
Chen Ming found it eye-opening. He had long heard of Xiazhou’s fierce folk customs—truly living up to the reputation.
If this had happened in Jiangzhou, the Six Doors Authority would have arrested them without a word.
From this, it was clear that Xiazhou’s civilian martial artists were likely far stronger than those in Jiangzhou, so the Six Doors Authority’s enforcement was correspondingly softer.
Often, it wasn’t that they didn’t want to interfere, but that they couldn’t.
After a few days of strolling, he saw brawls breaking out daily over various causes, and twice people even died—yet the constables still didn’t intervene, treating it as a martial world feud.
Which, in truth, it was.
He also discovered that Wanlei City had an unusually high number of martial schools—at least a dozen by his count—and their masters were no weaklings, all at least Sixth Grade.
One day, near noon, Chen Ming found a restaurant and ordered some dishes.
Halfway through his meal, he suddenly overheard someone speaking of the False Tomb of Eternal Life, and pricked up his ears.
“…Two months ago, word spread through the martial world that the False Tomb of Eternal Life had appeared in Qingfeng City of Jiangzhou, causing a huge commotion. Many rushed there but couldn’t even enter the gate. They say at least ten peak experts were present then—even a First Grade Expert couldn’t get close…”
Someone asked curiously, “What happened afterward?”
“Afterward, it caused an even greater stir. They say it even provoked a great demon who had been suppressed for over a thousand years—the Immortal Demon Lord of the Cult of Eternal Life…”
“In that battle, nearly ten First Grade Experts died—a truly tragic affair. In the end, that Immortal Demon Lord possessed a young man and fell into a fire vein, vanishing without a trace.”
Hearing this, Chen Ming couldn’t help glancing at the speaker.
This man knew the matter so clearly—either he had been there or heard it from someone who had.
He looked like a middle-aged traveling merchant, his cultivation unclear.
At this moment, someone asked, “That Immortal Demon Lord should be dead by now, right?”
“If he calls himself ‘Immortal,’ he naturally wouldn’t die so easily. If he reappears, the world will be thrown into turmoil.”
Chen Ming couldn’t help glancing at the Phoenix Cry Sword on his table, thinking—That Demon Lord had been suppressed by my divine weapon.
Suddenly, someone said, “Nonsense! The Immortal Demon Lord has always been suppressed atop the Heavenly Extremity Mountain, guarded by experts from the Six Doors Authority and the Heaven’s Path Alliance. How could he have gone to Jiangzhou?”
The traveling merchant was about to argue, but when he turned his head and saw the speaker was wearing the uniform of the Six Doors Authority, his face changed immediately.
“This humble one was talking nonsense.”
He got up to leave.
As a businessman, he naturally couldn’t afford to offend someone from the Six Doors Authority.
But the Fifth Grade Patrol Envoy of the Six Doors Authority was relentless.
“Stop! Did I let you leave? Daring to spread rumors and maliciously slander the Six Doors Authority—come with me!”
The merchant’s face darkened. “Sir, I am innocent…”
The patrol envoy had already stepped forward, pressing down on his shoulder and sneering, “Come back to the yamen and explain yourself!”
“Stop!”
A loud shout came from the crowd.
A young man in black clothes stepped out, righteous indignation in his tone.
“What arrogance! He was just drunk and repeating a martial world rumor—what law has he broken for you to arrest him?
“In broad daylight, in plain sight—just because you’re from the Six Doors Authority, you think you can frame and arrest people at will? Is there no law left?”
This young man’s clothes were simple, but his voice was firm and righteous.
“That’s right! Why arrest him?”
“Is the Six Doors Authority above criticism now?”
“It’s people like you in the Six Doors Authority who have ruined the realm!”
“…”
Many onlookers voiced their support for the merchant.
The patrol envoy’s face turned iron-blue. He drew his saber and shouted angrily, “What, are you rebelling?”
The crowd’s voices faltered.
But the man in black was fearless.
With a cold laugh, he thrust out a sword.
Before the patrol envoy could react, he was sent flying, crashing to the ground, unconscious. His saber was broken in two.
“Good!”
Deafening cheers erupted from the scene.
The young man in black declared proudly, “Today is just a lesson. If you dare abuse your power again, I will take your life! Get lost!”
Not far away, watching the scene, Chen Ming felt something was off.
Why did it seem like the Six Doors Authority was the disadvantaged group here?