I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 102: Protection

Chen Ming looked at the unconscious Jin Jianxiong and fell into deep thought. Was it that they were too weak, or was he too strong?

So far, he had faced three Sixth Grade martial artists.

Before his sword techniques could even be fully displayed, one had admitted defeat, one had collapsed, and another had turned to flee.

Something felt off.

Chen Ming couldn’t help but recall what Zhou Weihao had told him earlier about the classification of cultivation methods, and he muttered to himself, "Could it be that the difference between a Peerless Divine Art and a third-rate cultivation method is actually this vast?"

Upon further thought, the fact that Gao Mingchuan, Jin Jianxiong, and Cao Jiahui hadn’t managed to break through to Fifth Grade at their age was very likely due to limitations of their cultivation methods.

Zhou Weihao had mentioned that the worst cultivation methods were third-rate, but that didn’t mean there weren’t worse ones.

What the three of them cultivated were likely techniques that couldn’t even reach Fourth Grade—utterly substandard methods.

Chen Ming quickly understood the crux of the matter.

The true qi of a Peerless Divine Art not only dealt physical damage but also carried magical damage.

Those substandard techniques didn’t even offer magical resistance, so once they exchanged blows with him, they couldn’t withstand it for long.

So, fundamentally, the three Sixth Grades were simply too weak.

Had it been a Sixth Grade from an aristocratic family, the outcome wouldn’t have been so pathetic.

"Looks like the fact that I possess a Peerless Divine Art won’t stay hidden for much longer."

Chen Ming thought to himself.

Of course, this kind of thing was never easy to keep secret. Unless he never fought anyone.

Besides, with the rate at which he improved—far beyond the norm—even a fool could guess that he had some sort of secret.

This was also why he didn’t want to go to Jiangzhou City.

At that moment, Chen Rui, having heard the fighting was over, rushed over.

Seeing his younger brother standing there unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn’t ask why the fight broke out and instead focused on what to do next.

He asked, "What should we do with this man?"

Chen Ming thought for a moment and said, "Send two people to take him back. His home is located..."

Chen Rui suddenly dismissed the attendants and pulled his younger brother aside, whispering, "Just letting him go like this—won’t that cause problems later? Should we..."

He made a hand gesture of a knife slicing down.

Chen Ming was surprised. He truly hadn’t expected his elder brother to say such a thing. He couldn’t help but stare at him for a while, feeling a mix of emotions.

On the one hand, he was gratified by his brother’s growth.

On the other hand, seeing his once kind and compassionate brother becoming colder and more ruthless made him feel a bit sorrowful.

He said, "No need. It was just a sparring match. There’s no deep grudge or hatred."

After he said that, he clearly saw the "unconscious" Jin Jianxiong’s tense body relax, but he didn’t expose him.

Chen Rui, seeing that, nodded and went to call someone over.

...

This was merely a small episode and didn’t affect Chen Ming much.

After the man was sent off, he resumed his routine—eating when it was time to eat, reading when it was time to read.

Until the moon hung high in the sky, Chen Ming told Chunxiang and Xiaxiang to rest and sat alone by the window, reading a book titled 《Eastern Sea Travels》.

The book described the customs and cultures of the many island nations across the Eastern Sea.

He was engrossed when his ears suddenly twitched, and he called out alertly, "Who’s there?"

"It’s me."

Outside the courtyard, a figure flipped over the wall and entered.

The voice was very familiar.

Chen Ming immediately recognized him and said in surprise, "Brother Deng?"

It was Deng Ziyang.

He went over to open the door and let Deng Ziyang in, asking curiously, "Why didn’t you come through the main gate?"

Climbing the wall in the dead of night was reckless. Deng Ziyang wasn’t someone who did things without reason—he must have had a reason.

Tonight, Deng Ziyang looked different from usual—his expression was stern, and he was dressed in night attire, clearly trying not to be recognized.

He asked an odd question, "Brother Chen, do you trust me?"

Chen Ming turned serious as well and answered without hesitation, "I do."

"Good. Someone’s planning to harm you. Be cautious when you go out these days. Don’t ask where this information came from. When the time is right, I’ll tell you."

After saying this in one breath, Deng Ziyang instinctively glanced around, then lowered his voice further, "Don’t mention that I came to see you tonight. I have to go."

Then he left just like that.

Chen Ming didn’t stop him or ask more questions. His expression simply grew more somber.

In truth, ever since Deng Ziyang had resigned from the Six Doors Authority and said he wanted to roam the martial world, upon his return, Chen Ming noticed many changes in him. It was as if he was carrying many secrets and had become much more reserved.

However, Chen Ming never asked—just like how Deng Ziyang had never questioned his secrets before.

He could feel Deng Ziyang was deliberately distancing himself, as if a rift had formed between them, and they were no longer as close as before.

He had experienced this before in his past life—friends who were once close in middle school would gradually lose contact after entering university.

But tonight, with Deng Ziyang sneaking into his home to warn him of danger, he realized Deng Ziyang might have been distancing himself just to avoid dragging him into trouble.

Chen Ming sat at the window, thinking for a long time. He never picked up that half-read book on the table again, not until the oil lamp extinguished on its own.

In the end, he opened the panel and allocated all experience points to the 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》.

Since danger was looming, it was only natural to first increase his strength.

[Level: 41]

[Current Points: 0]

[Cultivation Methods: 《Iron Horse Stance》 (Fifth Level, Perfected), 《Three Suns Body Tempering》 (Ninth Level, Perfected), 《Six Suns Qi Nurturing》 (First Level, 36999/100000)]

[Martial Techniques: 《Three Talents Fist》 (Mastered), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastered), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastered), Swallow Returns Sword Technique (Mastered), 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》 (Proficient 91321/200000)]

...

The next morning, as Chen Ming stepped out, he told the coachman, "To the Six Doors Authority."

Wang Mingkai, who was accompanying him and not one to keep secrets, immediately asked, "Senior Brother, what are we going to the Six Doors Authority for?"

「"To hire a bodyguard."」

「"A bodyguard?"」

She was clearly cultivating an extremely advanced technique.

Judging by her age, just over thirty, to already have the cultivation of a Fourth Grade Martial Artist—her talent was astonishing.

Zhao Xiyan had said that this Lady Du was expected to reach Third Grade within ten years. By then, she would be qualified to govern a region.

In any organization, high-level combat power was always scarce. Even within the Six Doors Authority, the advancement path of a Third Grade Expert would never be obstructed.

As long as one attained the strength of Third Grade, they would be granted the corresponding official rank.

At that time, being dispatched to govern a county would make her the highest official in that region—ruling with full authority over life and death.

Soon, waves of people came to register.

Chen Ming had no time to think further and began harvesting experience points. Although each person only provided forty points, the sheer number made up for it.

Today, even more people came than yesterday.

Before long, he heard a familiar name, "Gao Chenghao." It was the grandson of Gao Mingchuan. This person’s strength was quite good—Level 34—and provided him with 400 experience points.

In the afternoon, the sons of Jin Jianxiong and Cao Jiahui also came.

Chen Ming kept his word and let them pass, each receiving a number token.

...

In a flash, the day passed, and night began to fall.

Du Caiyue had sat there the whole day, not moving an inch, eating no food, drinking no water, like a rock. Such willpower greatly impressed Chen Ming.

He couldn’t have done it himself.

Only when it ended, and Chen Ming called for her to leave, did she open her eyes, stand up, and return to the carriage with him.

After a while, Du Caiyue suddenly spoke. "What’s the point of doing all this?"

This line showed that while she had been training, she had also been paying attention to Chen Ming.

Chen Ming smiled and replied, "To Lady Du, perhaps this means nothing. But to me, it is quite significant."

Du Caiyue looked at him coldly, waiting for an explanation.

Chen Ming pushed open the carriage window and watched the trees flying past outside, then slowly said, "Perhaps you don’t know, but when I first began learning martial arts, I couldn’t grasp the basics. Back then, it was Sun Shicai who taught me. He deemed me talentless and gave up on me. Because of that, I wasted years.

"It wasn’t until I was twenty and returned to the Huo Residence to serve as a sparring partner for new students that I began exchanging moves with others, gradually grasping the mysteries of the martial path and making progress.

"I believe there are many like me in this world—people learning martial arts who struggle early on. So I do what I can to help young ones, spending time guiding them on the martial path.

"Now I’m doing the same thing. I want those with talent and determination, though lacking cultivation, to not be overlooked. I want them to find worthy teachers. That’s all."

Du Caiyue sneered coldly. "You think they’ll be grateful to you? If they really join the discipleship of those two Third Grade Experts, they’ll step all over you the first chance they get."

Chen Ming replied calmly, "If one only does something for the sake of being thanked, then they shouldn’t do it. Helping them—what does that have to do with them?"

That sentence made Du Caiyue stare at him deeply. Her sneer faded, and her expression turned serious. "I will urge Yan’er to stay far away from you. People like you—either you're a truly righteous and compassionate gentleman, or you're a cunning villain pretending to be one."

"……"

Indeed, women in their thirties were hard to fool. Total waste of words.

Chen Ming had merely made up an excuse to hide the truth about his system, but he hadn’t expected to be judged like this.

He was about to speak when he suddenly noticed Du Caiyue’s sharp gaze warning him.

What did that mean?

Though puzzled, Chen Ming cooperated by staying silent.

It was eerily quiet all around.

Even the wind had stopped.

His heart tightened as he realized something and warned, "Mingkai, be careful!"

Just then, with two piercing neighs, the carriage overturned.

Chen Ming reacted instantly, breaking through the window and landing on the ground.

He saw seven or eight black-clad figures emerging from the surrounding woods, encircling him.

These men had their faces covered, only their blood-red eyes showing.

One of them spoke in a hoarse voice, "This is the one the Demon Heir personally named. Remember, capture him alive."

Demon Heir?

What kind of thing was that?

Chen Ming gripped his sword tightly, his face grave, joining up with Wang Mingkai who had just dismounted.

"You’ve got the wrong person, haven’t you? I, Chen, bear no grudges with any of you. Why ambush me here?"

As he spoke, he had already allocated all the experience points he gained today into his cultivation.

Over four thousand points in total.

【Level: 42】

【Current Points: 0】

【Cultivation Methods: 《Iron Horse Stance》 (Fifth Level, Perfected), 《Three Suns Body Tempering》 (Ninth Level, Perfected), 《Six Suns Qi Nurturing》 (First Level, 79652/100000)】

【Martial Techniques: 《Three Talents Fist》 (Mastered), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastered), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastered), Swallow Returns Sword Technique (Mastered), 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》 (Proficient 91321/200000)】

Chen Ming felt like magma had exploded within him. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his skin visibly turned red.

That sinister man earlier now hissed, "Ask the King of Hell in the afterlife. Attack!"

All eight black-clad men lunged at once.

"They’re all Sixth Grade!"

Chen Ming’s heart sank.

Just from their movement techniques, he could judge their strength.

Sending eight Sixth Grade Martial Artists against him—they were really overestimating him!

At that moment, he had no time to think about Du Caiyue still in the carriage. Facing eight enemies, there was no room for distraction.

The only one he could trust was the sword in his hand!

In a flash, the two fastest enemies closed in. He could even see the madness and hunger in their bloodshot eyes.

Like two starving wolves.

At this time, the surging true qi in his body hadn’t fully settled. He forcibly drew on his qi and swept his long sword outward, using a move called "Blazing Stream Strikes the Sky," slashing at the two in front.

Clang!

His long sword deflected one enemy’s blade and pierced the chest of the other.

At the same time, his shoulder was slashed.

"Ah!"

From the side came Wang Mingkai’s tragic scream.

Just one clash, and he was already dead.

Chen Ming steeled himself and focused completely.

【You have slain an LV40 enemy. Gained 20000 experience points】

"Add points!"

He didn’t bother checking how much experience he had—he directly invested it into the 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》.

As soon as he did, his head exploded with insight.

Chen Ming forced himself to stay alert and swung again, unleashing "Blazing Soul Binds the Dragon," blocking the third and fourth enemies’ strikes, and then threw a swift, ruthless kick.

Bang!

That kick, infused with all his true qi, sent the second enemy flying.

【You have slain an LV40 enemy. Gained 20000 experience points】

A one-hit kill!

At the same time, the fifth enemy arrived and slashed his back, searing pain erupting.

"More points!"

Chen Ming roared and immediately poured the newly gained experience into the 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》 again.

In that moment, he felt his brain explode with the sudden influx of sword comprehension.

His eyes turned red—he looked utterly deranged.