Seven or eight days later, Chen Ming had entered the territory of Qingfeng Commandery, once again taking on a different appearance and dressing as a traveling merchant. On the road, there were quite a few merchants like him preparing to head to Qingfeng Commandery for supplies, making him hardly noticeable.

Only a day’s journey remained to Qingfeng City.

At noon, Chen Ming crouched beside a roadside tea stall, munching on dry food with a group of other traveling merchants while sipping hot tea.

They were taking a break.

The tea stall was crowded with people, chatting about various topics from the ends of the earth.

"...Qingfeng City thrives with trade, many places are not inferior to Jiangzhou City, but it has one downside, no martial arts sects and few skilled fighters. The younger generation at home wanting to learn martial arts find no pathway."

"Haha, Brother Wang, that’s old news. Two months ago, a Third-Grade expert arrived in Qingfeng City preparing to establish a sect called Dragon Tiger Sect. Last month, another formidable fighter came and founded the Red Sea Gang."

"Really?"

"Absolutely, Dragon Tiger Sect announced recruitment, and the young people in Qingfeng City are eager to try. The Red Sea Gang also recruited quite a few people, crushing other small gangs like decayed branches..."

"..."

Listening to these discussions, Chen Ming furrowed his brow.

Unexpectedly, after being away for over two months, so much had happened in Qingfeng City.

What concerned him most was the Third-Grade expert who came to Qingfeng City to establish a sect.

Elder Shang once vowed not to let any Third-Grade enter Qingfeng City. Zhao Shouchang was already an exception, and now another Third-Grade is here.

It seems Elder Shang has not intervened in this matter.

Could something have happened?

Chen Ming couldn’t help but worry.

Just then, a sentence caught his attention, "Brother, have you come across a young man named Ding Guangnan, in his early twenties, he came to Qingfeng City over a year ago..."

Ding Guangnan?

Chen Ming felt a hint of surprise. This name had almost slipped to the corners of his memory, yet here he was hearing it mentioned again today.

He turned his head for a look and saw that the person asking was a middle-aged man, looking somewhat unkempt, carrying luggage, with a long sword hanging from his waist and a gourd on the other side.

Even from a distance, the smell of alcohol was detectable.

He took just one glance and withdrew his gaze.

He was now merely a traveling merchant from elsewhere.

"No." "Never heard of him." "..."

The people being asked said they had never heard of the person. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The middle-aged man persevered, questioning everyone at the tea stall, but none knew. Finally, he left the stall, heading towards Qingfeng City.

He didn’t ask Chen Ming or the other traveling merchants squatting by the roadside, as these people obviously came from elsewhere and needn’t be questioned.

Watching his desolate figure, Chen Ming couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

This person must be Ding Guangnan’s elder, and when he arrives in Qingfeng City and learns of Ding Guangnan’s tragic fate, who knows how sorrowful he would be.

Though the incident happened a year ago, it caused quite a stir, and surely many still remember. This middle-aged man won’t take long to find the truth upon reaching Qingfeng City.

...

"A-tu, let’s go."

A middle-aged man called to Chen Ming after finishing his dry food.

He clapped his hands, got up, and followed at the end.

This middle-aged man was surnamed Luo, known as Old Luo, claiming to be in the spice business. A warm-hearted person, a few days ago, seeing Chen Ming alone, he stepped up to converse and invited him to travel together.

Initially, Chen Ming thought he might be a swindler, but after a few days together, he found Old Luo to be genuinely kind-hearted. Knowing it was his first time in business, he took special care of him and taught him many things, tips for navigating the jianghu, and quite a bit on business acumen.

These were all invaluable experiences, and such guidance was precious to a novice, preventing him from taking many wrong paths.

Hence, Chen Ming had a good impression of Old Luo.

Before he knew it, night had fallen.

Chen Ming followed Old Luo and the others to a small town near Qingfeng City, arriving at an inn, choosing the cheapest large communal bed.

For these traveling merchants, saving whenever possible was the way.

"My son is a few years younger than you, learning martial arts from a boxing master."

The evening was still young, and after dinner, Old Luo squatted under the eaves, chatting idly with Chen Ming, "I don’t expect him to achieve anything great, just learning some basic moves is enough. Later, he can follow me in business and protect himself. Times are uncertain now."

Chen Ming listened quietly, hardly speaking. His persona now was that of a silent character.

Just as they were talking, a kerfuffle sounded from outside.

Many ran out to see what was happening, but Old Luo advised, "When out, avoid getting involved in trouble, don’t join the crowd out of curiosity to avoid getting caught up in a crisis."

Chen Ming naturally nodded.

After a while, the commotion grew larger, seemingly evolving into a fight.

A bit later, peace finally returned.

When those who went out to see the spectacle came back, they recounted that a few young women had arrived wanting several upper rooms, but finding them occupied, they went to negotiate with the tenants, which led to a conflict and brawl.

Those who went out to see the spectacle were all amazed, talking about how beautiful those young women of the martial world were, and how domineering their actions, beating people miserably.

Hearing this, Chen Ming wondered if they might be people from the Xiaoshui Sect.

Young women from the martial world immediately brought the Xiaoshui Sect to mind.

Of course, such conflicts among martial people were too far removed from these traveling merchants, merely topics for idle conversation over tea and meals.

...

By noon the next day, their group finally arrived in Qingfeng City.

Old Luo needed to head to the east of the city, where the largest spice market in Jiangzhou was located. Before they parted ways, he said, "Ah Tu, I’ll be staying in the city for a month or two. If you run into any trouble, you can come and find me at the Jiang Clan Association Hall in the east of the city. At the very least, you’ll have a bowl of rice to eat."

"Alright."

Chen Ming nodded and turned to walk into the crowd.

Soon after, he twisted and turned, entering an uninhabited alley. After a moment, he had changed his appearance and clothes and walked out from the other end of the alley.

No one noticed that a young man named "Run Tu" had permanently disappeared in that alley.

After changing his identity, Chen Ming boldly headed to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, planning to have a good meal.

In the past three months, he had been mostly on the road, not being picky with his meals, relying mainly on dry rations for carbohydrates and jerky for protein.

Today, he could finally have a good meal.

He ordered a private room, setting up a table full of delicious dishes, sampling each.

Halfway through his meal, he suddenly heard a commotion outside. Initially, he paid it no mind, but the arguing grew louder, piercing his ears.

"... The so-called number one young expert is just a coward. Our Hall Master personally went to deliver a challenge, and he dared not respond. It’s laughable!"

Another voice responded passionately, "He went into seclusion three months ago. Who in all of Qingfeng City doesn’t know? Your Hall Master chose this time to challenge him, what a clever scheme..."

Huh?

As Chen Ming listened, he felt something was off.

The number one young expert, who had been in seclusion for three months...

This... Could they be talking about me?

"What seclusion? I think he’s just scared and didn’t dare to accept the challenge."

"Nonsense... If Chen Er once killed a Seventh-Grade Patrol Envoy in broad daylight, why would he fear a minor Hall Master from the Red Sea Gang?"

"..."

They are really talking about me!

Chen Ming thought, realizing that quite a lot had happened during his ’seclusion’.

I wonder what was the cultivation level of that Hall Master from the Red Sea Gang?

If he dared to come challenge me, he was probably of the Sixth Grade.

As he listened to the argument outside, he continued to savor his food.

By the time he was nearly finished, the two groups outside had also ended their quarrel and gone their separate ways.

Chen Ming was a bit surprised that the argument was so heated, yet neither side resorted to violence.

...

It was not until the latter part of the night that Chen Ming returned home, climbing over the walls in the darkness.

Although Qingfeng City had experienced a tumultuous three months, with many powerful newcomers stirring up trouble, it seemed the Chen Mansion remained unaffected.

The household was just as it was when he left, unchanged.

Chen Ming quietly reached his courtyard and saw Chunxiang guarding the door.

"Who’s there?"

Chunxiang, ever vigilant, noticed a shadow in the darkness and quickly grabbed a short knife.

"It’s me."

Chen Ming walked forward.

Chunxiang trembled at the sound of his voice, and when she saw his face clearly, tears welled up and she covered her mouth, afraid her cries would escape.

Seeing her like this, Chen Ming realized she had endured a lot during these three months. Feeling a bit of sympathy, he went over and patted her head, "You’ve worked hard."

Chunxiang began to cry even harder, shaking her head vigorously. After a while, she spoke through her sobs, "Young Master, you’re finally back..."

Chen Ming asked, "Where’s Xiaxiang?"

"She’s inside, sleeping... We’ve been taking turns standing watch. Let me go wake her."

"Never mind, let her sleep." Chen Ming pulled her down to sit beside him, "Come, tell me what’s happened in these three months while I was gone."

Chunxiang had yet to calm from her excitement, and for a moment, she didn’t know where to begin.

Chen Ming poured her a cup of water, saying, "I heard someone challenged me last month?"

Chunxiang, startled to hear this, took the cup with a bit of worry, "You already know?"

"Hmm, I heard it on the way back. The Red Sea Gang didn’t trouble my elder brother, did they?"

"They intended to barge in, but fortunately, Miss Zhao arrived in time and stopped them. Otherwise..."

"Miss Zhao?"

Chen Ming was curious, "Is it the Miss Zhao who visited before? Is she back?"

"Yes, she returned a month after you went into seclusion. She learned that you were in seclusion and didn’t disturb us further, just instructed us to inform her when you came out."

Chen Ming said, "I’ll have to find a chance to thank her properly."

If she hadn’t intervened, his fake seclusion would have been exposed, and it might have sparked suspicion linking him to Mad Saber.

PS: I have some errands in the morning, so there will only be two updates today.