I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 204: Quota in Hand

Chen Ming opened his eyes, meeting Peerless Young Master’s profound gaze. He stood up and said, “Thank you for waiting. Now, let’s begin.”

Peerless Young Master’s handsome brows tightened, sensing that this man’s temperament seemed as if it had undergone refinement, vaguely different from three hours earlier.

He drew his sword, the blade’s radiance like a clear spring, and slowly said, “The name of the sword in my hand is the Dragon Abyss Sword, a peerless divine weapon. If you feel this is unfair, you may borrow another peerless divine weapon. I can wait for you.”

Chen Ming’s gaze lingered for a moment on the sharp divine sword in his hand, faintly sensing the power within it, before saying, “No need. Let’s start.”

It was not that he was pretending to be aloof—he truly had nowhere to borrow one from.

In the whole of Ten Thousand Thunder City, as far as he knew, only two people possessed peerless divine weapons. One was Inspector Liang Zongcheng. This man bore an old grudge against the Gu Family; there was no chance he would lend it.

The other was Xia Shaowen, who naturally would not lend it either.

Of course, Chen Ming himself possessed a peerless divine weapon. But now, most of its strength was being used to suppress the Undying Demon Lord’s primordial spirit. If things became truly desperate, he could always draw it out later.

Peerless Young Master did not wish to take advantage of him and said, “Please.”

Chen Ming did not stand on ceremony and immediately struck.

Heaven and Earth’s Lone Swan!

His figure resembled a bird in flight, movements as graceful as a painting, yet dreamlike and illusory, like an antelope’s horns—impossible to trace.

…

“Ah—”

A startled cry came from the second floor.

Everyone present heard it clearly, but no one looked up. All eyes remained fixed on the duel atop the stage.

“Hm?”

Even Xia Shaowen gave a startled exclamation upon seeing this sword strike. This technique had already reached the threshold of mastery. What a fine youth—he had been concealing his strength earlier.

To possess such sword mastery at such a young age was truly astonishing.

Remarkable! Not only did he have peerless talent, but also a sword dao aptitude rarely seen in the world. Could this be the seed of a future Sword Saint?

The Gu Family was truly blessed, to produce such a peerless genius.

Xia Shaowen felt envy stir in his heart.

Suddenly, a thought arose within him: perhaps marrying Yun’er to him might not be such a bad idea?

…

Buzz!

The Dragon Abyss Sword in Peerless Young Master’s hand seemed to sense danger, erupting with a flash of deep-blue light that revealed every trace of Chen Ming’s sword trajectory.

With calm composure, he counterattacked. The Dragon Abyss Sword in his hand precisely intercepted Chen Ming’s Po Jun Sword!

Someone was cheating!

Chen Ming really wanted to file a report—this was too shameless!

The Dragon Abyss Sword not only exposed the path of his swordplay, but also seemed to come with AI auto-defense. Simply outrageous.

At this moment, he finally understood how those who once faced the Phoenix Cry Sword had felt.

It was enough to make one curse their luck.

Still, complaints aside, Chen Ming swiftly shifted his moves.

He did not intend to test Po Jun Sword’s edge against a peerless divine weapon.

Crossing Shadows Over Vast Desolation!

Geese Returning!

Blood Stains Autumn Sands!

…

Chen Ming shifted through successive moves, his speed dazzling to the eye, leaving onlookers unable to follow.

…

Those third-grade experts who had once been defeated by Chen Ming’s sword now finally understood, grinding their teeth in hatred. So this brat had been toying with them all along—he had never shown his true strength!

They were naturally filled with both anger and frustration.

Wu Zhenhang exclaimed with delight, “Good lad, his swordplay is this formidable!”

Beside him, Gu Yuyin’s eyes were dazzled. The duel atop the stage was already beyond her comprehension. Only upon hearing her cousin’s words did she realize that Seventh Brother’s strength was far greater than she had imagined.

And yet, Peerless Young Master, wielding the peerless divine Dragon Abyss Sword, still responded with ease. For a while, cheers surged like waves.

The weaker martial artists only saw that Peerless Young Master seemed to have the advantage. Only those with keen insight could see the truth.

To put it bluntly, Peerless Young Master was relying on the advantage of the peerless divine weapon.

In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged more than ten moves.

The crowd grew increasingly astonished. They all felt that Gu Qilang’s swordsmanship was beyond imagination. If it were them, they would have been defeated within three to five moves.

“How did he cultivate this?”

Among those present, more than ten third-grade martial artists, all proud geniuses, compared themselves against him and fell into doubt.

He was just over twenty, nearly a decade younger than they were, yet his strength far surpassed theirs. Compared to him, it felt as if they had lived like dogs.

…

Not far away, an old man in purple robes, his bearing awe-inspiring, stood on a balcony overlooking the dueling stage outside the Qian Money Gang. His expression was grave.

Beside him, Liang Zhengye grew more alarmed the longer he watched. Suddenly, he said excitedly, “Father, this boy must not be allowed to live! Otherwise, within ten years, the Gu Family will have another peerless swordmaster!”

This elder was none other than Ten Thousand Thunder City’s ruler, First-Grade Inspector Liang Zongcheng. His long beard stirred in the wind as he sneered, “Who would have thought Gu Haoran was so foolish, sending such a son to Xiazhou? Seems he has grown senile, unable even to control strife among his own children.”

“Father—”

“Enough. I have my own plans.”

Swept by his father’s gaze, Liang Zhengye finally calmed. For now, the most urgent matter was to prevent the quota from falling into the Wan Family’s hands. If that happened, Father’s breakthrough into the Divine Repository Realm would face no obstacles.

Once Father stepped into the Divine Repository Realm and advanced further to become a Red-Robed Inspector of the Six Doors Authority, even the Gu Family would be powerless against the Liang Clan.

For the sake of this great endeavor, that boy had to be spared for now.

Liang Zhengye said, “Though that boy’s swordsmanship is exquisite, compared to Jiang Wushuang, who wields a peerless divine weapon, he still falls short.”

A peerless divine weapon not only had such functions, but also saved its master vast amounts of qi essence. To put it bluntly, for the same strike, Gu Xianyu needed seven parts strength, while Jiang Wushuang required only five.

Jiang Wushuang already stood in an invincible position. As long as the fight dragged on, Gu Xianyu would be doomed to defeat.

“Unless… he has already comprehended Sword Intent—”

No sooner had the words fallen than sudden change struck atop the stage. Jiang Wushuang’s body abruptly stiffened, and Gu Xianyu’s longsword finally broke through the Dragon Abyss Sword’s defense, thrusting toward his brow.

“Stop!”

Seeing Jiang Wushuang in peril, Xia Shaowen shouted loudly, about to intervene.

But Gu Xianyu had already withdrawn, leaping several zhang away.

“How is this possible?”

Liang Zhengye cried out in disbelief and fury. “Could Jiang Wushuang have thrown the fight?”

At his side, Liang Zongcheng pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone somber. “It’s Sword Intent.”

“Sword… Intent?”

Liang Zhengye’s expression froze.

He had truly comprehended Sword Intent?

…

Jiang Wushuang stared at the falling strand of hair before his eyes. His gaze finally cleared as he looked at the tall, graceful figure of Gu Xianyu standing not far away. His eyes flickered with complex emotion.

Only to hear Gu Xianyu ask, “Do you wish to continue?”

“It is my loss.”

He shook his head, ignoring the resentful buzzing of the Dragon Abyss Sword in his hand, and sheathed it. “Your swordplay is superb. I am no match.”

After speaking, he walked from the stage, somewhat desolate.

Seeing him admit defeat so straightforwardly, Chen Ming’s favor for him rose. Through sound transmission, he said, “Rest assured, I have no intention of marrying Lady Xia.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Jiang Wushuang stumble, nearly tripping.

Chen Ming could not help but find it amusing. Was there need to be so shaken?

It seemed these two were mutually devoted.

That was good. In that case, it could be said to be killing two birds with one stone, granting them their happiness.

Chen Ming turned around and said loudly, “Who else refuses to accept this?”

The crowd below was utterly silent. Even Peerless Young Master, who wielded a peerless divine weapon, had been defeated. Among the younger generation, who else could be his opponent?

At this moment, Xia Shaowen stood up, smiling broadly as he said, “Very good. I hereby announce that Young Master Gu Qi is my son-in-law.”

“Wait—”

Chen Ming was about to declare that he had no intention of marrying his daughter when Xia Shaowen suddenly grabbed his arm, leaving him unable to speak.

Damn!

He was stunned, glaring at Xia Shaowen and frantically winking.

What are you doing pulling me like this? Doesn’t a father know his own daughter already has someone she loves?

But Xia Shaowen ignored him and continued, “If any of you friends have time, you may stay and drink a cup of wedding wine before you leave. Today, I will host their wedding.”

What?

Chen Ming was shocked. Could it really be this hasty?

Wasn’t this the same as forcing a marriage at knifepoint?

…

“Sword Intent! It was truly Sword Intent!”

Wu Zhenhang was still immersed in shock, unable to recover for a long time. His father had once said that he might grasp Sword Intent within five years, and before the age of forty, he could break through to the second grade.

That had already been considered extremely high praise.

Yet this Gu Qilang was only twenty and had already mastered Sword Intent.

If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.

“Brother, something’s wrong.”

Only when his younger sister Wu Xiuyan tugged at him urgently, calling several times, did he finally snap out of it.

Wu Zhenhang asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wu Xiuyan said anxiously, “Brother Gu Qi seems to have been forcibly restrained by Master Xia. He said tonight they will be wed.”

Before coming here, Chen Ming had already told them he would not marry that Xia Mudan.

Wu Zhenhang could not help but laugh, saying, “Then Brother Qi is truly blessed with fortune. For Master Xia’s daughter to be ranked on the Supreme Beauty List, she must be of peerless beauty, enough to match Brother Qi.”

Wu Xiuyan stomped her foot and said, “Marriage is arranged by parents’ orders. How can it be treated like a child’s plaything?”

Wu Zhenhang spread his hands and said, “Master Xia is a first-grade expert. With Brother Qi in his hands, even I can do nothing. Cousin Yuyin, what do you think?”

Gu Yuyin snorted. “Serves him right. Since he had no intention of marrying Xia Mudan, why did he step onto the stage? What does he take others for?”

Suddenly, someone beside them spoke. “I fear this matter is not so simple.”

Wu Zhenhang turned his head and saw that it was Peerless Young Master. He had come over at some point. Thus, Wu Zhenhang asked, “Brother Jiang, what do you mean?” Thıs text ıs hosted at novel•fire.net

Jiang Wushuang said, “Why would the Xia Family be in such a rush to marry off their daughter? Is that not suspicious? With Miss Xia’s appearance and reputation, why would they need to resort to a martial contest marriage? There must be a reason.”

The three of them had not thought of this angle, but now they realized it.

Indeed. Xia Mudan was a peerless beauty. Why would she ever lack suitors? Why force her into marriage with Gu Xianyu? And why so urgently, marrying today itself…

Wu Xiuyan’s face suddenly changed. “Could it be that Miss Xia had an affair with another man and is already with child? Master Xia would not want scandal to spread, so he hurried to marry her to Brother Qi—”

Wu Zhenhang quickly covered his sister’s mouth. Seeing Jiang Wushuang’s expression grow unpleasant, he hastily said, “My younger sister has always been careless with her words. Please do not take offense.”

Jiang Wushuang flicked his sleeve angrily and walked away.

Wu Xiuyan struggled free from her brother’s hand, dissatisfied. “Why did you cover my mouth? I was only making a guess…”

“Silence! How can such things be spoken so recklessly? If word of this reaches the ears of the Qian Money Gang, it will become a deadly grudge.”

Wu Xiuyan saw that he was truly angry and dared not speak further.

…

“One bow to Heaven and Earth.”

“Second bow to the elders.”

“Husband and wife bow to each other.”

“Send them to the bridal chamber!”

In front of Xia Shaowen, Chen Ming had no power to resist at all. Like a puppet on strings, he went through the entire wedding ritual, and at last was escorted into the bridal chamber.

It had to be said—the Qian Money Gang’s efficiency was truly high. In only half an afternoon, they had set up both a wedding hall and a bridal chamber.

Everything was fully prepared.

After entering the bridal chamber, Chen Ming sat expressionlessly at the bedside, enduring the teasing of the guests. Only after the cross-cup wine had been drunk did the others finally leave.

He looked at the bride across from him, her head veiled in red, and thought: could it be that she too had been controlled by her father, with no say in the matter?

“Well then, I am now a married man.”

Fortunately, this was just a false identity. He felt no psychological burden, and simply treated it as experiencing a wedding of this era.

“Why did Xia Shaowen force his daughter to marry me?”

Chen Ming pondered this question. “And why so hastily? This is highly unusual.”

At that moment, Xia Shaowen’s voice came from outside. “Son-in-law, may I have a word with you?”

Chen Ming was speechless. Whether he could leave or not depended on this man anyway.

As he thought this, he found he could move again.

He stood, saw the bride still sitting unmoving, and walked out. Pushing the door open, he found a refined, ancient-style middle-aged man waiting outside. Chen Ming said with no expression, “Master Xia, what is the meaning of this?”

Xia Shaowen chuckled. “Son-in-law, don’t be angry. Please come with me.”

Chen Ming followed him into the study.

Truth be told, he had encountered first-grade experts in that cavern before. But only today did he realize the immense gap between third-grade and first-grade.

In front of Xia Shaowen, he had no ability to resist, not even to move. It left him utterly powerless.

Such strength was despair-inducing.

Once inside the study, Xia Shaowen took out a golden object and placed it before him, saying, “Son-in-law, this is what you want.”

Chen Ming looked closely. It was a golden token, carved with complex inscriptions. He picked it up. It was heavy, yet clearly not made of gold, for it was far too hard.

He looked at Xia Shaowen, waiting for an explanation.

Xia Shaowen said, “This is the pass to enter the secret realm. One token represents one quota.”