Chapter 262 : A Noble Person
Chapter 262: A Noble Person
【You have defeated an LV87 enemy, gaining 20,000 experience points.】
Chen Ming clasped his hands toward the middle-aged man lying on the ground, his face covered in blood, and said, “Brother He, I have offended you.”
The middle-aged man slumped against the ground, wiped the blood from his face, and replied with clear unwillingness, “With your swordsmanship? If I hadn’t been sealed by the Dragon-Sealing Needle for so long, you’d never have been my match.”
“That’s true.”
Chen Ming nodded. “Brother He’s swordsmanship is far superior. I’m nowhere near your level. I merely relied on the advantage of a divine weapon. My victory is hardly honorable.”
This man’s swordsmanship—by the standards of Heaven and Earth’s Lone Swan—had at least reached the sixth level.
The middle-aged man surnamed He gave a cold snort. “Good that you know. Boy, if you think you can use this method to steal the He Family’s sword technique, you’re gravely mistaken.”
“Brother He’s integrity is truly admirable.”
Chen Ming didn’t explain further. He called for the guards outside to enter, reseal the man’s cultivation, and send him back to his cell.
Inside the cell, a table of fine wine and dishes had already been prepared.
This was the compensation after his “interrogation.”
It was precisely because of such compensation that many Second Grade prisoners were willing to spar with him. Of course, these people were clever—they never used their signature techniques, fearing they might be stolen.
After all, they knew very well that even if they won, they wouldn’t be leaving the Heavenly Prison.
Naturally, Chen Ming didn’t bother to explain. This way, his victories came easier and saved him quite a bit of trouble.
Currently, he had eighteen regular sparring partners each day, earning a total of 360,000 experience points daily. After a month, that amounted to just over ten million.
Even when combined with his remaining four hundred thousand, it was still far from enough to advance to First Grade.
——
After finishing his experience-grinding session for the day, Chen Ming left the heavily guarded Heavenly Prison.
When the thick iron gates opened, he suddenly thought, It seems that every time I enter a prison, something happens. Hopefully, no one plans to break in this time.
The first time, back in Qingfeng City, he had gone to “spar” with the prisoners—and not long after, there had been a jailbreak.
The second time, in Xiazhou City, was even more outrageous—someone had boldly stormed into the prison, and the guards outside didn’t even react.
Chen Ming thought for a moment. But this is the Capital—filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. No one would dare cause trouble here.
Outside the Heavenly Prison, a carriage was waiting by the roadside—the one sent by the Gu Family to pick him up.
The coachman was an elderly man with divine light glimmering in his eyes, clearly not weak.
His daily duty was to escort Chen Ming—both to protect and to monitor him.
As Chen Ming boarded the carriage, he politely said, “Thank you, Uncle Li.”
The coachman, surnamed Li, was a man of few words. Upon hearing him, he only gave a slight nod. Once Chen Ming was seated, he flicked the reins, driving the carriage toward the Duke of Jingguo’s Residence.
Today had ended earlier than usual; the sun had not yet set—perhaps around four in the afternoon.
The carriage entered the residence through the back gate.
As soon as Chen Ming stepped down, a servant came and said, “Seventh Young Master, Fifth Master requests your presence.”
Conveniently, Chen Ming had been planning to find Gu Haochuan anyway, so he replied, “Lead the way.”
——
Gu Haochuan’s residence was rather remote and hard to find. Without someone guiding him, Chen Ming might not have found it at all.
The Duke’s mansion was vast—larger even than the Sea-Calming King’s Mansion in Qingfeng City. And this was in the Capital, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.
It was said that this estate once belonged to a prince of the former dynasty. When the Great Jin army captured the Capital, the first Duke of Jingguo had taken a liking to it and requested it from the Founding Emperor himself.
That alone showed just how powerful the Duke of Jingguo had been.
Entering the courtyard, Chen Ming bowed respectfully. “Fifth Uncle, you asked for me?”
Gu Haochuan looked him over and said, “You’ve been in the Capital for ten days and haven’t come to see me once. I wanted to see how much your swordsmanship has improved during this time. This is Luo, the chief guard—also a Second Grade expert. Spar with him for a few moves so I can take a look.”
“Yes.”
Chen Ming thought this was a perfect chance to demonstrate his recent “progress.”
The chief guard, Luo, was a middle-aged man of about fifty. As an outsider serving as a guard yet able to reach Second Grade, it showed that he was one of their own—likely a household-born retainer.
If he could advance one more level to First Grade, he might even become a consecrated guardian of the Gu Family.
Luo bowed respectfully. “Seventh Young Master, please instruct me.”
“Please, Chief Guard Luo.”
Chen Ming drew the Taiyue Sword, executing a single strike—Lone Swan Glides Through Shadows—and thrust straight toward Luo’s face.
Gu Haochuan’s eyes flickered the moment he saw that strike.
That sword already carried a trace of the true essence of Heaven and Earth’s Lone Swan.
This boy—had he truly made such great progress in such a short time?
The last time Gu Haochuan had seen him practice swordsmanship was more than a month ago on the ship.
In just over a month, his swordsmanship had undergone a qualitative transformation. What was once mere beginner’s insight had now reached the level of true mastery.
Among the Gu Family, even the most talented needed at least a year or two of polishing to achieve such progress.
For the first time, Gu Haochuan felt a hint of unease.
This youth was not only gifted but possessed extraordinary comprehension—rare in this world. In the present age, few could compare.
Though Gu Haochuan could not see through the youth’s true origins, he could still estimate his age—no older than thirty. The vigorous life force radiating from him could not be concealed.
“Enough.”
After a dozen exchanges, Luo was forced to retreat step by step, on the verge of defeat. Gu Haochuan suddenly spoke, stopping the spar.
Luo stepped aside, bowing deeply. “Seventh Young Master’s swordsmanship is unmatched. I am no match for you.”
【You have defeated an LV86 opponent, gaining 52,000 experience points.】
“Thank you for the match.”
Chen Ming smiled politely.
Gu Haochuan nodded approvingly. “It seems you truly haven’t been idle lately. Through actual combat, your swordsmanship has advanced greatly. Very good—keep it up.”
Seizing the chance, Chen Ming said, “Fifth Uncle, if I could spar with the First Grade prisoners in the Heavenly Prison, my progress would surely be even greater. Might Uncle help me with that?”
“Spar with First Grade prisoners?”
Gu Haochuan hesitated, then shook his head.
“This matter may not be easy. My friend in the Six Doors does not hold a high enough position.”
“In that case, forget it. Your nephew will take his leave.”
“Mm. Go on.”
After Chen Ming left, the smile on Gu Haochuan’s face gradually faded.
In truth, this matter wasn’t difficult at all. He simply… for some reason, felt a faint sense of unease toward the young man and had no desire to help him.
He thought to himself, With his current strength, getting fifth place in the Palace Night Banquet shouldn’t be difficult.
In the Capital, there were three individuals recognized as the strongest—each possessing the might to contend with First Grade experts.
These three stood above all others, unmatched.
Aside from them, the rest were merely newly advanced Second Grade experts, posing little threat to that boy.
That was precisely why Gu Haochuan didn’t want to stir up unnecessary trouble.
——
After leaving the small courtyard, Chen Ming cursed inwardly. The grand Duke’s Residence, and they can’t even handle such a minor matter?
He didn’t believe that for a second.
With such narrow vision and ambition, and they still dream of obtaining a slot to the Celestial Residence?
As he returned to his own courtyard, he saw a neatly dressed maid waiting anxiously at the door. The moment she saw him, she hurried forward excitedly.
“Seventh Young Master, you’re finally back! The Eldest Young Lady has an urgent matter and wishes to see you at once. Please, come quickly!”
“The Eldest Young Lady?”
Chen Ming was full of questions.
In the Gu Family, the only one who could be addressed as the Eldest Young Lady was the family’s sole legitimate daughter—
The only daughter born of the main wife, the Duchess of Jingguo, who herself was a princess of the royal house, a daughter of a prince. Her status was exalted beyond compare, and naturally, her daughter’s position within the Gu Family was extraordinary—practically untouchable.
To put it bluntly, she was the trueborn daughter. The rest, without exception, were all concubine-born.
The key point was, Gu Xianyu had never had any interaction with this Eldest Young Lady. Why would she summon him now?
He asked curiously, “Why does the Eldest Young Lady want to see me?”
“There’s an esteemed guest who wishes to meet you. Please hurry—don’t keep the noble guest waiting!” The maid was nearly frantic as she reached out to tug at his sleeve.
But of course, she couldn’t move him at all.
Chen Ming had no desire to go meet any so-called noble guest. No matter how noble the Eldest Young Lady was, what did she have to do with him?
“I’m not going. I need to cultivate.”
He flicked his arm, easily shaking off the maid’s hand, then walked into the courtyard and closed the door behind him.
The maid stomped her foot in frustration before turning to report back.
——
Hearing the commotion, Gu Zhengshan came out of his room, looking surprised.
“The Eldest Young Lady asked for you—why didn’t you go?”
“I said, I’m cultivating.”
After saying that, Chen Ming went straight back inside.
Gu Haochuan couldn’t even fulfill such a small request for him—wasn’t he allowed a bit of temper of his own?
A while later, there was a knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
Chen Ming had already recognized the footsteps but asked anyway, deliberately.
“Seventh Brother, it’s me.”
It was Gu Yuyin’s voice outside the door.
He said, “It’s late. Whatever it is, let’s talk tomorrow.”
“You turned down the Eldest Young Lady, made her lose face in front of the noble guest. Her expression back then—truly splendid.” Gu Yuyin giggled as she spoke, clearly delighted at the Eldest Young Lady’s embarrassment.
Chen Ming asked, “You came just to tell me that?”
Gu Yuyin replied, “Of course not. I was merely sent to deliver a message.”
After a brief silence, she continued, “That noble guest asked me to convey a question—have you forgotten your wife, the one with whom you once made a vow of eternal love?”
“……”
Chen Ming almost blurted out, When did I ever have a wife?
But he immediately knew who she meant.
Xia Mudan—summoned to the palace by imperial decree, soon to be conferred the title of Concubine Xia.
Since entering the Duke of Jingguo’s Residence, Chen Ming hadn’t heard a single mention of her name. It was as though the matter had never existed.
That, of course, was impossible. The news had long spread throughout the Capital. Even Gu Xianyu’s marriage to Xia Mudan was known to Gu Haochuan—there was no way others wouldn’t know.
There was only one explanation: someone had issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from mentioning it.
But silence didn’t mean the matter had ceased to exist.
And now, someone had come knocking because of it.
This—was precisely the variable Chen Ming had been waiting for.