Chapter 210 : Don’t Follow in My Footsteps
Chapter 210: Don’t Follow in My Footsteps
“Does your twin brother look exactly like you? Logically speaking, fraternal twins shouldn’t look the same—”
Chen Ming stopped halfway, noticing Xia Mudan staring at him blankly, eyes filled with doubt. He shook his head and said, “Forget it, pretend I never asked.”
This was another world, with transcendent powers. Twins that looked alike was nothing unusual.
“I’m fine now.”
Xia Mudan spoke shyly. Clearly, being this close had made her feel a little uncomfortable.
Chen Ming released her and sat back down on the embroidered stool by the bed.
She let out a small breath of relief, smoothing her hair by her temple. “My brother and I do share some resemblance.”
He asked, “The person you want to kill—is that the one who murdered your brother?”
“Yes.” At the mention of her enemy, hatred surfaced on her face. “I didn’t expect that thief to be prepared in advance, having invited a Second Grade expert to protect him. I was careless and suffered a heavy loss.”
So, her enemy was not an ordinary figure.
Chen Ming asked, “What cultivation does your enemy have?”
“Only an ordinary Third Grade.”
An ordinary Third Grade meant roughly Level 75, the kind who hadn’t yet grasped ‘Intent’, a middling level of Third Grade strength.
Chen Ming gauged her enemy’s approximate strength and asked, “What kind of person is he?”
Xia Mudan glanced at him, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
He chuckled. “I was being rude, I shouldn’t have asked.”
“That’s not what I meant, Brother Gu.” She grew anxious, afraid he had misunderstood. “That man is a Third Grade Inspector of the Six Doors Authority.”
“Oh!”
Chen Ming suddenly understood. No wonder she wanted to travel with him to Xiazhou City, and even invited him to stay together. Because he too was part of the Six Doors Authority.
From the start, Xia Mudan must have intended to use his identity as cover.
He asked, “Which one?”
In Xiazhou’s Six Doors, there were three First Grade Constables, each with at least three Third Grade subordinates. That made nine in total.
“It’s Zhu Wanlin!”
When Xia Mudan uttered the name, she nearly gnashed her teeth.
Chen Ming did indeed know him. Zhu Wanlin was the youngest Third Grade Constable in Xiazhou City, one who had risen with astonishing speed—ambitious, capable, and exceptionally talented. He recognized no kinship in his dealings, used ruthless methods, and was a man with the makings of a tyrant.
“He bore enmity with the Jiang Family?”
“No. I investigated—he has no grudges with the Jiangs. At first, I wasn’t entirely certain he was the murderer of my brother. But the day I went to probe his residence, I fell into a trap and was ambushed. Now, I’m sure he’s the killer.”
“Then who injured you?”
“Zhou Wentao of the Eight Righteous Gates. He is the most outstanding disciple of the Lineage of Righteous Sentiment. Second Grade peak, wielder of the peerless divine weapon, the Heartless Sword.”
The Lineage of Righteous Sentiment valued loyalty and obligation above all. They repaid every debt, avenged every grudge. They were famous for prioritizing sentiment over principle.
It was the most well-connected lineage within the Eight Righteous Gates. But likewise, because of debts of gratitude, they often committed muddle-headed acts.
Most likely, Zhou Wentao owed Zhu Wanlin a favor.
Seeing she had spoken so much, Chen Ming noticed her growing weary and said, “Rest well.”
He returned to his small courtyard, lost in thought.
Strictly speaking, this matter had nothing to do with him. But she was, after all, a woman he had bowed in matrimony with. He couldn’t just let her die.
For the sake of that Visualization Diagram her father had given him, he couldn’t ignore her either.
For now, staying in Xiazhou City was safe. Zhou Wentao hadn’t dealt a killing blow, clearly holding back out of regard for the rules of the Righteous Lineage.
Xia Mudan’s injuries were stable for the moment. Better to remain here, steadily improve their strength. Once Xia Shaowen advanced to the Divine Repository Realm, this trouble would no longer matter.
Thinking this, Chen Ming felt at ease. He brought out the Visualization Diagram and began to comprehend it.
……
The next morning, just as Chen Ming arrived at the Six Doors, his subordinate Zhang Dingce rushed over. “Sir, Lord Ruan is here. He’s waiting for you.”
Lord Ruan—the Warden, his direct superior.
Chen Ming quickly followed.
Before long, they reached the pavilion where the Warden conducted affairs.
“Enter.”
A deep voice sounded.
Chen Ming walked in and saw the Warden, Ruan Caihong, a man in his thirties with handsome features. Despite wearing the purple robe symbolizing a First Grade Constable, he exuded a somewhat carefree, roguish air.
“Your subordinate, Gu Xianyu, pays respects to Lord Ruan.”
Just as he was about to bow, his hand was lifted.
Ruan Caihong laughed heartily. “I only just heard yesterday that a young lord from the capital, gifted beyond compare, had arrived in Xiazhou. Never thought you’d become my subordinate. This is excellent indeed! Come, sit, drink with me.”
“Lord, this—”
“Don’t call me Lord, too distant. Though I’ve not had dealings with the Gu Family, I have met your father a few times. If you don’t mind, you may call me elder brother.”
His enthusiasm brimmed with the simple sincerity of meeting a fellow countryman.
As he spoke, he pulled Chen Ming into a chair, personally poured two cups of wine, and asked excitedly, “It’s been years since I returned to the capital. I wonder how it fares now. Tell me, before you came, had the sword outside the Celestial Master Manor been taken yet?”
“Does the national guardian beast at Beigong still roar every midnight at the Hour of the Rat?”
“That strange man burdened with the Heaven’s Path Alliance—how far has he gone?”
“……”
Chen Ming was baffled. He had never been to the capital—how could he know?
In the end, he could only admit apologetically, “To tell the truth, I rarely left home before. Others never told me such things either. So I truly do not know.”
Ruan Caihong looked at him in surprise, then sighed with regret. “So you’re that kind of martial fanatic. Then you’ve missed out on much. You’ll learn in time—life holds many wonders besides martial cultivation.”
Chen Ming had no response.
Ruan Caihong’s story was well known. His family was among the great aristocrats, though not nobility, and thus not in the same circle as the Gu Family.
It was said that, in his youth, he had been unrestrained and committed many reckless deeds. After one grave mistake, he was demoted to Xiazhou City to reflect.
But he had fallen in love at first sight with a woman there, vowing never to marry another. For her, he even severed ties with his clan. His father had been so enraged he nearly expelled him.
From then on, Ruan Caihong remained in Xiazhou.
Such a man, in ancient times, was called a sentimental fool.
In modern times, he’d be called lovestruck.
That had been more than ten years ago. Whether he regretted it after marrying her, no one knew.
Clearly, he missed the capital deeply. Meeting a fellow native made him especially warm.
After three rounds of wine, slightly tipsy, Ruan Caihong finally changed the subject. “Little brother, I heard you and Xia Mudan already bowed as husband and wife. Does the Gu Family know?”
Chen Ming emptied his cup and replied, “Not yet. But they will soon.”
After all, Gu Yuyin had many Gu Family guards with her. News of such magnitude would surely be reported back.
“You must handle it carefully, don’t follow in my footsteps.”
There was genuine regret in his tone.
Chen Ming sighed. “Big brother, you don’t know—the situation I’m in is no better than yours.”
Ruan Caihong pondered aloud. “Seems there’s more to this. Indeed, Xia Shaowen suddenly holding a martial contest for marriage is odd in itself. Still, with the prestige of the Duke Qin’s Mansion, such troubles are hardly worth fearing.”
Hardly worth fearing? It was seizing the Emperor’s woman!
Chen Ming only shook his head and said no more.
Before the Emperor made a move, he had to amass enough experience. Worst case, he could abandon this identity.
……
That afternoon, Chen Ming finally found an excuse to leave. He went to the prison and brought each of the nine Third Grade prisoners to the torture chamber for a round.
【You defeated another LV76 opponent, gaining 24,000 experience points.】
As before, defeating the same person again halved the reward.
After nine fights, he had gained 200,000 experience points.
Leaving the prison, he opened his panel.
【Level: 70】
【Current Points: 769,875】
【Cultivation Methods: “Iron Horse Stance” (5th Layer Perfection), “Five Elements True Art (Incomplete)” (7th Layer 203,324/10,000,000)】
【Combat Techniques: “Three Talents Fist” (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returns Sword Technique (Mastery), “Vermilion Bird Sword Technique” (Mastery), “Phoenix Dances Through Nine Heavens” (4th Layer 3,543/400,000), “Heaven and Earth’s Lone Swan” (2nd Layer 23,781/2,000,000)】
【Secret Arts: “Disguise Technique” (Mastery)】
……
That night, Ruan Caihong hosted a private banquet for Chen Ming, ordering a table full of dishes. Both changed into casual attire and chose a private room, just the two of them, without even wine companions.
Chen Ming, emboldened by drink, asked, “Big brother, you’ve lived in Xiazhou City for many years. Do you know much about the Eight Righteous Gates?”
Ruan Caihong warned, “There isn’t a single normal person in the Eight Righteous Gates. Best avoid them.”
He asked, “Why do you say that?”
Just as Ruan Caihong was about to explain, he suddenly stood.
Chen Ming frowned in confusion, when footsteps quickly approached. With a bang, the door swung open.
In came a breathtakingly beautiful woman, clad in a red gown, exuding a mature allure unique to married women. But right now, her expression was rather stormy.
Ruan Caihong looked shocked. “Wife, why have you come?”
So this was his wife—the woman for whom he had broken with his clan.
She truly was stunning, and carried herself with grace.
Her eyes shifted, and she smiled. “I heard my husband was entertaining a distinguished guest. I thought I’d come and offer a toast.”
Chen Ming’s lips twitched.
Judging from the way she had barged in just now, she was clearly here to catch him in the act.
Who would have thought—Ruan Caihong was henpecked.