Chapter 86: Martial Maniac
After Chen Ming entered the residence, he found that the inside was even more desolate than the outside.
Weeds sprouted between the bricks, and the large trees in the courtyard were overgrown with vines.
However, it could still vaguely be seen how high the specifications of this place once were. It was indeed larger and more magnificent than the Governor’s Residence he had once visited.
The buildings inside looked worn and dilapidated due to years of neglect.
Was this kind of place really inhabited?
With this doubt in mind, Chen Ming followed behind Zhou Weihao, walking deeper inside until they reached the rear courtyard.
After walking for more than ten minutes, a clean and tidy courtyard suddenly appeared before their eyes.
There were no vines on the walls, and the entrance wasn’t covered by all kinds of plants. It was as if a barrier existed here, preventing the encroachnt of vegetation.
"Senior."
Zhou Weihao stepped into the courtyard first.
Inside, many potted plants were arranged neatly, growing in an orderly manner.
They looked like so kind of flowers, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the blooming season—everything was a lush green, just leaves.
A hunched old man was crouched there, tending to the plants. He showed no reaction at all to their intrusion, as if he hadn't heard them.
Zhou Weihao walked over and stopped about a ter away, smiling obsequiously as he said, "It’s , Little Seventh from the Zhou Family. I’ve co to see you again."
The old man still gave no reaction. He carefully plucked a weed from the ground and placed it into the basket on his back. Then he slowly stood up, limping as he walked further inside.
Chen Ming observed from behind.
No matter how he looked at it, this was just an elderly cripple in his twilight years, nothing like a masterly senior expert.
Of course, he felt that although Zhou Weihao could be unreliable at tis, he wouldn’t joke about sothing like this. So he remained silent, quietly standing by the side.
Zhou Weihao, unwilling to give up, followed after him and said, "Today I brought a friend to et you. His na is Chen Ming, he lives in Qingfeng City, and he’s a trustworthy person. In the future, I’ll have him visit you often."
Chen Ming couldn’t help glaring at him but didn’t object.
The old man limped into the house.
Zhou Weihao didn’t follow inside and simply stood at the doorway waiting.
After a while, two hoes were thrown out from inside, landing at his feet.
Zhou Weihao picked up the hoes, pulled Chen Ming along and said, "Let’s get to work."
……
That day, Chen Ming followed Zhou Weihao and spent half the day weeding in that dilapidated residence, clearing all the weeds around the small courtyard.
They worked until dusk.
Only then did Zhou Weihao lead him back to the courtyard and return the hoes.
At that mont, the old man was sitting under an ancient tree, playing a mournful tune with two long and slender leaves.
Just from the lody, one could tell he was an old man with many stories.
"Senior, we take our leave."
Zhou Weihao pulled Chen Ming away.
Only after they left the gates of the residence and got into the carriage did Chen Ming speak expressionlessly, "So, you brought here today just to do manual labor?"
He was a dignified Seventh Grade Martial Artist, gaining hundreds of experience points a day, and yet he had co here to pull weeds for soone else. Didn’t he deserve an explanation?
Zhou Weihao said matter-of-factly, "You think just anyone can weed for that senior? Countless people want such an opportunity but can’t get it."
Chen Ming said, "Alright, then tell , what kind of expert is this senior, exactly?"
"Have you heard of the Sea-Calming King?"
"Of course. Who in Qingfeng City hasn’t heard of the Sea-Calming King? Don’t tell that senior is the Sea-Calming King."
"Of course not. But in terms of strength, that senior surpasses even the Sea-Calming King," Zhou Weihao said slowly. "That residence earlier was none other than the forr Sea-Calming King’s Mansion!"
Chen Ming nodded.
He had already guessed as much.
After all, for a courtyard more magnificent than the Governor’s Residence, who else but the forr Sea-Calming King could have lived there?
Zhou Weihao continued, "Everyone knows that back in the day, the Sea-Calming King had five top experts under his command. Of those five, four have recorded histories—Xu, Li, Wang, and Zhang. But there was one who remained shrouded in mystery. No one knows anything about him. So even doubt whether he ever existed."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ming understood. "You’re saying this man is the most mysterious expert under the Sea-Calming King? But how did he survive?"
Logically speaking, those people killed the four top experts under the Sea-Calming King, so there was no reason they would spare him, leaving behind a potential threat.
Zhou Weihao said, "It’s not that they didn’t want to kill him—they couldn’t. Back then, this man’s talent was astounding. He was just one step away from reaching the supre pinnacle. With only one sword, he fought four First Grade experts alone, killed two of them, and then left at his leisure. After that, he vanished without a trace."
First Grade?
Chen Ming’s eyelid twitched.
That shriveled old man just now was actually a First Grade expert?
Zhou Weihao chuckled and said, "Who would have thought he was hiding in the forr Sea-Calming King’s Mansion all along?"
He then began to recount the senior’s life story. "This senior’s surna is Shang, a native of Jiangzhou. He ca from humble beginnings—his family was in the wine business. He possessed extraordinary talent and displayed remarkable aptitude in swordsmanship from a young age. Later, through soone’s recomndation, he joined a sect and never looked back. By the age of thirty, he reached Third Grade and beca famous throughout the land."
When Chen Ming heard this, he knew a twist was coming.
He was also quite curious. How did such a dazzling figure fall so far?
Zhou Weihao glanced at him. "Brother Chen must be wondering how such a senior ended up like this? Everything began when he was twenty years old."
"At the ti, Senior Shang sought to break through to Sixth Grade, so he ventured to Jiangzhou. There, he began to make a na for himself. Not long after, he t a young woman surnad Jiang. Miss Jiang was a peerless beauty and ca from a prestigious family. She greatly admired Senior Shang, helped him out of trouble multiple tis, and even saved his life. Later, she helped him join a sect."
Zhou Weihao sighed. "Just imagine, Brother Chen, how does one repay such deep kindness from a beauty?"
As Chen Ming listened, he started to feel sothing was off.
Why did this story sound so familiar?
He heard Zhou Weihao continue, "Not long after, Miss Jiang was bestowed in marriage by the Emperor. The imperial decree could not be defied. Even though she was unwilling, she had no choice but to marry for the sake of her family. By the ti Senior Shang heard the news and rushed over, it was already too late. The deed was done. What could he do?"
He sighed again. "You’ve probably guessed it—the one who married Miss Jiang was the Sea-Calming King. Later, the Sea-Calming King was sent to Qingfeng City to eliminate pirates, facing imnse difficulties. He was ambushed multiple tis, and once the consort was even hard. At the ti, Senior Shang had already reached Third Grade. When he heard about this, he disguised himself as a gardener at the Prince’s Residence to protect the consort."
"After that, Senior Shang often saw the consort in distress. Upon learning that it was due to the Sea-Calming King’s troubles, he couldn’t help but secretly resolve those issues, just to earn a smile from her."
"Eventually, the Sea-Calming King wiped out the pirates, and Senior Shang quietly withdrew. Not long after, he heard of the Sea-Calming King’s death. Sensing sothing amiss and worried about the consort, he rushed to the capital, but again, he was too late. He could only carry the consort’s body while breaking through heavy encirclent. After her death, disheartened, he buried her at the Sea-Calming King’s Mansion and stayed to accompany her alone for more than twenty years."
"Sigh, Senior Shang loved deeply—what a tragic tale."
Chen Ming realized that this guy had gone through all this just to hint at sothing.
Zhou Weihao probably saw Chen Ming and Zhao Xiyan as a reenactnt of Senior Shang and that Miss Jiang.
He feared Chen Ming would end up like Senior Shang, so he deliberately brought him to et the senior and share this story.
Chen Ming thought, you’re overthinking it—I’m not so love-struck fool.
Chen Ming asked, "If you were in Senior Shang’s shoes, what would you do?"
Zhou Weihao grinned, "? I would’ve sealed the deal long ago—wouldn’t even give her a chance to marry soone else. What about you? If it were you, what would you do?"
Chen Ming replied, "If it were , I’d focus on cultivation. Once I had enough strength, I’d kill everyone who wronged her and avenge her."
"And after getting revenge?"
"Continue cultivating."
Zhou Weihao laughed heartily. "You really are a martial maniac."
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