I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 208: Injuries

Chen Ming saw Jiang Wushuang’s face flush with both shame and anxiety. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.

He silently pulled the blanket over, covering her chest while leaving only the wound below her shoulder exposed.

On that fair, delicate skin was a wound that looked shocking to the eye.

Chen Ming felt some pity. Within the wound, there was a faint golden strand of Gangyuan, clinging to the flesh as if it had a will of its own. It gnawed at her insides, tugging at the wound and making it bleed continuously.

This was left deliberately by the enemy.

With that person’s strength, this sword strike could have killed Jiang Wushuang instantly. Yet, they chose to spare her life—injured but not dead. Given time, she would become a cripple.

How vicious!

The one who struck must have scrupled the Eight Righteous Gates. Not wanting to kill, they resorted to such a method.

Such an injury was extremely tricky.

The one who struck was at least Second Grade, with Gangyuan of far higher quality than his own. To expel it was beyond his ability. At minimum, he would need a First Grade expert.

What Chen Ming could do was take out some medicine he carried, sprinkle it on her wound to disinfect and stop the bleeding, then help bandage it to prevent infection.

Afterward, he sat to the side, waiting for her to wake up.

He did not call Xiaohuo in, nor did he let her fetch Jiang Wushuang’s maid.

For Jiang Wushuang to come find him in her state, rather than her personal maid, she surely had her reasons.

On the other hand, she probably did not want Xiaohuo to know she was a woman.

For women, reputation was still very important.

……

Unknowingly, dawn broke.

Jiang Wushuang, lying in bed, stirred and opened her eyes. She seemed to recall something, hurriedly touched her neck, and only after feeling a silver ornament did she sigh in relief.

Then, thinking of what happened last night, her face flared red like fire.

She touched her body and found she was wearing new clothes. They were obviously looser than what she usually wore. Looking down, she recognized they were ones Brother Gu had worn before. Shame overwhelmed her.

Creak—

The door opened, and Chen Ming entered. Seeing she was awake, he said happily, “You’re awake?”

Jiang Wushuang covered her face, turned her back to him, her shoulders trembling.

Chen Ming knew she was embarrassed and said openly, “Don’t worry. When I changed your clothes, I had my eyes covered.”

“Stop talking—”

Jiang Wushuang’s tone was flustered and anxious.

For a martial artist who had already condensed “Intent,” whether eyes were open or closed made no difference. In fact, with eyes shut, it was as though he had touched her with his “Intent”…

Chen Ming felt helpless. Women really were troublesome. Over such a trivial matter, was it necessary?

He would rather she still be that “Brother Jiang.” Treating wounds would not have been such a hassle.

He said, “Eat something first. Your injury is serious. The enemy left Gangyuan inside you—I can’t deal with it. You’ll need a trustworthy First Grade expert to help dissolve it. Can you find such a person in Xiazhou City?”

Jiang Wushuang still faced away from him, hiding her head like an ostrich. But at least she reacted.

She shook her head.

Chen Ming said, “Then I’ll take you home, to your father.”

After a moment, Jiang Wushuang whispered in a mosquito-like voice, “No. The moment we leave Xiazhou City, that person will track us and kill us.”

“Then, why don’t you write a letter and have someone deliver it to your Qian Money Gang, asking Leader Xia to save you?”

“……”

Jiang Wushuang’s body stiffened. Stammering, she said, “You… you already…”

Chen Ming said, “I guessed.”

Last night, when he discovered Jiang Wushuang was a woman, he had already guessed she was Xia Mudan.

After realizing this, many of his past doubts unraveled.

He had always wondered why Jiang Wushuang risked herself to rescue him from the Qian Money Gang. He thought of many possibilities, but none made sense.

Now it finally did.

Jiang Wushuang was Xia Mudan. Together with her father Xia Shaowen, she had set this scheme to marry herself off under another identity.

What she said earlier about her mother wanting to send her into the palace might not even be true—just her side of the story.

Originally, everything had gone smoothly. But then he suddenly appeared on the stage and defeated her in the contest, turning everything upside down.

Afterward, Xia Shaowen took advantage of the situation and forced him to marry her.

She then disguised herself as Jiang Wushuang again, abducted him before he entered the bridal chamber, and followed him all the way to Xiazhou City.

No wonder she had begged him not to deny their marriage as fake.

Truthfully, when Chen Ming pieced it all together last night, he was a little angry, feeling he had been set up.

But thinking further, since he ruined her grand plan, it was already generous she did not retaliate.

After all, he had brought this karma upon himself. Had he not entered the martial contest, none of this would have happened.

Chen Ming never thought that just to earn some experience points, he would end up tangled in such a mess. Updates are released by novelFirｅ.net

He said, “Let’s set this aside. Your injuries matter most. Hurry and write a letter, send it to your father.”

After a while, the utterly embarrassed Jiang Wushuang—no, Xia Mudan—finally whispered, “It’s no good. Father is likely attempting a breakthrough into the Divine Repository Realm. He must not be disturbed.”

Chen Ming thought it made sense. Xia Shaowen was a First Grade peak expert, and as master of a Secret Realm, he would surely enter it, seeking the chance to open the Divine Repository.

He asked, “Then what about your mother?”

“After a huge quarrel with Father, she was confined by him…”

“So, what you said before—that your mother wanted to send you into the palace—was true?”

“Yes. And she has already sent my birth date and horoscope into the palace. By now, the imperial decree summoning me may already be on its way. Otherwise, Father would not have been so angry as to imprison her, nor so urgent in marrying me off, nor in breaking through to the Divine Repository Realm.”

“…So, you lied to me, saying the emperor did not yet know, only so I would not tell anyone our marriage was fake?” Chen Ming felt his scalp go numb.

“Sorry, Brother Gu…”

Xia Mudan suddenly flung the blanket aside. Moving too quickly, her wound was pulled. Her face turned pale, and she coughed up blood.

Chen Ming rushed to grab her wrist and checked her pulse. Inside her, the alien Gangyuan had stirred again, wreaking havoc in her meridians.

Xia Mudan clutched his robe, her face paper-white, eyes full of pleading. “Brother Gu… I shouldn’t have deceived you… please… forgive me…”

“Don’t speak.”

Chen Ming frowned tightly, pressed his palm to her back, and infused his Gangyuan, attempting to suppress that alien energy.

But the moment his Gangyuan entered, it was shredded to dust.

“What a domineering power!”

Xia Mudan grew weaker. “It’s useless… that is the Sword Intent of a Peerless Divine Weapon…”

With that, she fainted again.

“Peerless Divine Weapon?”

Chen Ming turned his gaze to the “Dragon Abyss Sword” by the bed. No wonder it had turned dim yesterday. It must have met a rival, and yesterday’s battle consumed it greatly.

When Peerless Divine Weapons clashed, everything depended on their wielders’ strength.

Clearly, Xia Mudan’s strength was far inferior. Not only was her weapon injured, but she herself was also gravely wounded.

Watching her suffer, Chen Ming sighed. “It all depends on your luck now.”

He drew the “Phoenix Cry Sword.”

After devouring that golden flame and the Undying Demon Lord’s primordial spirit, this Peerless Divine Weapon had undergone mutations. Whether it had regained its former might was uncertain, but it had indeed gained peculiar abilities.

For instance, devouring Gu Xianyu’s soul and gaining his memories.

Now, he wanted to try whether it could suppress the Sword Intent inside Xia Mudan.

He unsheathed the sword. With a thought, he channeled its Sword Intent into her body, making her body the battlefield.

Moments later, he finally suppressed the Sword Intent within her.

Xia Mudan’s injuries stabilized.

“It really works!”

Chen Ming rejoiced. Though he could not purge the Sword Intent outright—that would trigger its ferocity and cause it to explode, tearing her apart—at least her condition would no longer worsen.

He then let Xiaohuo summon Jiang Wushuang’s maids to care for her. After giving instructions, he left.

……

Chen Ming went to the great prison behind the Six Doors Authority. With five subordinates, he prepared to inspect the cells.

The prison had two levels. The first held martial artists of Fourth Grade and below.

The second held experts of Third Grade and above.

Among them, seven had Third Grade cultivation. Three had been sentenced to immediate execution, soon to be beheaded. The other four had committed lesser crimes and would likely serve ten-plus years.

On the first level, Chen Ming merely put on a show, making a round.

When he descended to the second level, he carefully asked each prisoner’s name, background, and crimes.

Besides the seven of Third Grade, there were also three of Second Grade and two of First Grade.

Chen Ming entered the interrogation room, looked around, and ordered, “Bring He Fengyuan over. I want to question him.”

His subordinates exchanged unsurprised looks and went to fetch the prisoner.

Lei Chun, however, spoke up frankly, “Sir, you want to extract the martial arts he cultivates, don’t you? I advise you not to waste your effort.”

Chen Ming smiled. “Why?”

Lei Chun said, “These people are as tough as old ox-hide. They won’t give up their martial arts easily. And even if they recited them truthfully, would you dare to practice them? If they deliberately altered a key point, one practice could lead you to madness.”

Hearing this, Chen Ming knew she had surely seen such things happen before, always ending in failure.

He gave no explanation. Soon, the prisoner was brought in.

He dismissed his men, staying alone with the Third Grade criminal, a smile of excitement on his face. “Cross hands with me. If you win, there will be fine wine and good food.”