Chapter 189: Chapter 178: The Curtain Rises

In the back courtyard of the Governor’s Mansion, a serene small garden, a graceful figure flickered back and forth, sword gleaming brightly in practice.

"Junior sister, you’ve been practicing for two hours. It’s time for a break."

A man in blue stood outside the courtyard, softly advising.

The person inside said nothing, only making the sword glow more urgent and fierce.

Pan Dingren couldn’t help but sigh, "I know you have grievances in your heart, but Mother acts for your own good."

Inside the courtyard, the sword light suddenly stopped. The figure revealed Zhao Xiyan, sweating profusely. She said softly, "How could I fault Master? I only blame myself for not working hard enough before, for being too weak to help him..."

Since rumors spread of Qin Changyuan seeking revenge against Chen Ming, Zhao Xiyan had been confined by her master, forbidden to step outside.

It’s been over a month now.

Seeing her like this, Pan Dingren was instantly agitated, "Junior sister, with your family background and looks, how could you worry about finding a good match? Why degrade yourself like this? Do you know—"

Zhao Xiyan looked pained, "I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Even though I know he’s already given up on me, I can’t forget him. Brother, teach me, what should I do?"

Hearing her words, Pan Dingren was even more infuriated, his suppressed words suddenly blurted out, "He’s getting married."

Zhao Xiyan was stunned, as if turned into a wooden statue.

Pan Dingren, unable to bear seeing her like this, sighed, "It’s Yu Haitang, ranked third in the list of beauties. You should give up."

Zhao Xiyan murmured, "No, impossible. I don’t believe it..."

"This is what Miss Yu’s Aunt said herself, spreading throughout the city. If you don’t believe it, you can ask my brother."

"Impossible..."

Seeing her lost and helpless, Pan Dingren thought it better to cut the pain short, steeling himself, "He’s marrying someone else. Why are you still thinking about him? Better to break off your thoughts early."

...

Thump, thump, thump.

Having just eaten, Chen Ming, in boredom, compared Su Zhining’s and Yu Haitang’s meridians when he heard a knock at the door.

Once again, it’s Qiuxiang.

He asked, "What’s the matter?"

Qiuxiang said, "Young Master Feng has arrived, and he’s brought two others, one surnamed Zhou, the other Gu."

He was curious, "What are they here for?"

"Should I let them in?"

"Let them go—forget it, let them come in."

Since Miss Yu has interceded, Qin Changyuan probably wouldn’t dare cause trouble again, this crisis being temporarily resolved, no need to drive them away.

Besides, he was actually quite bored.

Su Zhining and Yu Haitang mostly resting with eyes closed, not speaking with him.

After a while, Feng Siyuan’s loud voice was heard, "Brother Chen, heard you’ve become the Yu Family’s chosen son-in-law. What’s the matter, got so high and mighty hiding inside to receive us?"

Chen Ming said, "Not unwilling to bring you in, just it’s inconvenient."

Feng Siyuan shouted, "What’s inconvenient? Got beauties hidden in the room?

"Ahem... Brother Chen must have his reasons not letting us in. We can just sit outside." Zhou Weihao relieved him.

Clearly, he had realized there were others in the room.

At this moment, the always taciturn Gu Yuantao suddenly spoke, "Is that rumor true?"

Feng Siyuan and Zhou Weihao didn’t expect him to ask so directly, both somewhat surprised, momentarily speechless.

Chen Ming asked, "What rumor?"

Gu Yuantao replied, "The rumor in town is that Miss Yu is severely injured, not long for this world. Miss Yu’s Aunt has betrothed her to you to ward off evil. Once married, she’ll die and Miss Yu’s Aunt will kill you to accompany her."

"..."

Chen Ming thought, although outrageous, upon reflection, it did resemble Miss Yu’s Aunt’s style.

If Yu Haitang truly died, his fate wouldn’t be far off.

Yu Haitang suddenly opened her eyes and said, "Who is slandering my Aunt?"

Upon her words, the three outside were taken aback.

Like badmouthing someone to find the person right behind, Gu Yuantao felt his face flush, momentarily speechless.

No one expected that Yu Haitang, the mysterious, universally admired third-ranked beauty, would be in broad daylight inside Chen Ming’s room.

Feng Siyuan stammered, "Miss... Miss Yu?"

It was Zhou Weihao who reacted quickly, apologizing, "That’s just a rumor. Didn’t expect Miss Yu here, apologies."

Yu Haitang warned, "Chen Ming is just healing me. Those rumors of my Aunt betrothing me are false."

"Yes, yes."

The three outside could only respond thus.

As for their true thoughts, only they knew.

Afterward, Yu Haitang remained silent.

The three people outside also felt uneasy as if sitting on pins and needles, unsure of what to say.

It was Chen Ming who had seen larger scenes before, and spoke as usual, "You’ve come looking for me, surely not just to see me in a predicament?"

"Indeed, there is a matter." Zhou Weihao quickly replied, "Recently, a rumor has spread from somewhere regarding the secret about the death of the Sea Suppression King over twenty years ago."

He instinctively lowered his voice, "It turns out the Sea Suppression King died under unclear circumstances because he harbored the secret of the Longevity Mysterious Tomb, attracting the calamity that befell him."

"Such a thing exists?" Chen Ming was somewhat surprised, was Yu Haitang’s move really that swift?

She is so injured, yet she still wants to spread this matter. Truly persistent.

Feng Siyuan chimed in, "We initially didn’t believe it either, but this matter is spreading widely, detailed and believable. It appears there is substance to the rumor."

Chen Ming said, "Tell me more."

Zhou Weihao said, "It’s said that the Longevity Mysterious Tomb is guarded by five families, each family safeguarding a key. Only by gathering all five keys can the tomb be opened.

"Over thousands of years, three of these families have disappeared from the annals of history, and the keys they protected are nowhere to be found. Until a little over twenty years ago, the Sea Suppression King obtained one of the keys and learned of the secret of the Longevity Mysterious Tomb. Unfortunately, due to careless actions, he was betrayed by a close associate, and the secret leaked out. The Sea Suppression King was assassinated on his way back to the capital, with no survivors among his wife and children. Afterwards, even his confidants were all exterminated.

"However, the plotter behind it, despite all the scheming, never found the key. That key disappeared again with the death of the Sea Suppression King.

"Recently, however, rumors suggest that the key resides with Shang Jianfei from the former Qinghe Sword Sect!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming was puzzled and asked, "So, what exactly is the key?"

Zhou Weihao said, "No one knows. Yet many believe that once Shang Jianfei is found, the truth can be uncovered."

Chen Ming said, "Even if one obtains the key from Shang Jianfei, there are still four others to find. Gathering all the keys will likely be a task as difficult as climbing to the sky."

"That’s true, but given the secret of longevity involved, many have been stirred into action. Rumor has it, even the Six Gates are looking into the archival records of the Qinghe Sword Sect massacre from those years."

He asked again, "Where is Shang Jianfei now?"

Zhou Weihao replied, "Some say he has been hiding in Qingfeng City all along."

...

"Miss Su, Miss Yu, there’s something I’d like to discuss with both of you."

After Feng Siyuan and the other two departed, Chen Ming spoke to Su Zhining and Yu Haitang.

"What is it?" Yu Haitang asked.

Su Zhining did not speak, instead she opened her eyes and looked at him.

Chen Ming said, "I have to return to Qingfeng City, and I have to ask you to accompany me."

"Given the current situation, it’s not appropriate to leave..."

"I will have someone prepare a carriage and inform Madam Yu."

Yu Haitang was slightly stunned upon hearing this, realizing he was not discussing but informing them. A trace of anger flashed in her eyes, yet she chose to remain silent.

Now that her life and death were in Chen Ming’s hands, she was powerless to stop whatever he intended.

This sense of fate being beyond one’s control was truly terrible.

...

Shortly afterwards, Madam Yu rushed over, pushed the door open, and asked, "Why suddenly go to Qingfeng City at this time?"

Her face revealed no anger or joy, yet she emitted a sense of authority.

Chen Ming calmly said, "Recently, Qingfeng City might become chaotic, I’m worried about my family."

Madam Yu looked directly into his eyes and said, "I can send people to bring them to Jiangzhou, ensuring their safety."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Madam. However, the Chen Family has been rooted in Qingfeng Commandery for generations, it is difficult for them to leave their homeland."

"If that’s the case, I can send masters to protect them."

"No need, my family will naturally be protected by me."

Chen Ming refused to back down as he stared back at her.

"Very well."

In the end, Madam Yu took a step back and asked, "When will you leave?"

"Tonight."

...

That night, a gigantic carriage drove into the courtyard, but the entrance was too small to accommodate it, so the door was simply dismantled.

Chen Ming helped Su Zhining and Yu Haitang onto the carriage, while Qiuxiang, Dongxiang, Mei’Er, and Ju’Er accompanied them. Additionally, Madam Yu assigned a middle-aged man as a guard and an elderly man to drive the carriage.

Thus, the carriage left the Jiangzhou City that very night, headed in the direction of Qingfeng City.

Yu Haitang’s spirits noticeably improved, and she suddenly said, "I am really curious why you would risk offending my aunt and me just to bring us back to Qingfeng City. What kind of family members are you trying to protect?"

Chen Ming said, "You’ll soon find out."

His sudden decision to return to Qingfeng City wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea.

With rumors of the Longevity Mysterious Tomb about to arise, surely many from the martial world will converge on Qingfeng City. He was worried someone might use this opportunity to target his family.

This is something that cannot be ignored.

PS: Seeking monthly votes.