I Only Stomp on Weaklings

"Just with that pretty-boy face of yours, you think you can be mentioned in the same breath as me?"

Wang Jinhu sized Chen Ming up and down, a murderous aura almost tangible in his eyes, enough to chill the soul.

Chen Ming’s heart tightened. This man had very likely cultivated some kind of Secret Technique, or his Cultivation Technique itself was very special, to form this kind of killing aura.

It also proved he had killed a lot of people; his real combat experience had to be extremely rich.

Chen Ming stared back at him, face calm, and asked, "And what do you intend?"

Wang Jinhu patted the broad-backed saber in his hand and said, "Have a bout with me. Let me weigh your worth and see if you’re qualified to have your name put alongside mine."

"Fine, you pick the time."

This was the inner court of the Imperial Palace, so of course they couldn’t start fighting here. They could only arrange another time.

Seeing him agree so readily, Wang Jinhu didn’t continue to pester him and went to find a place to sit.

Chen Ming also sat back in his seat.

At his side, Gu Zhengshan frowned and quietly reproached, "How could you agree to him? You’ve only just stepped into Second Grade, how can you be his match? Don’t forget—"

"Shut up."

Chen Ming shot him a glance. The cold gleam in his eyes made Gu Zhengshan involuntarily shiver; this was suppression that came straight from a gap in realm.

He said coldly, "When I do things, it’s not your turn to point fingers."

Gu Zhengshan clenched his teeth, his hand under the table suddenly tightening into a fist, then loosening after a while. Inwardly he cursed, planning to make this brat pay once this matter was over.

Chen Ming finally gained a bit of peace and quiet.

After a while, there was a commotion in the side hall. "Look, it’s the Four-Perfections Young Lord."

The newcomer was a handsome noble youth; in terms of looks, only Xia Mudan in her "Peerless Young Lord" disguise could compare.

Chen Ming looked closely and saw that this person’s face was like sculpted jade, with sword brows and starry eyes, and a noble air radiating from his whole body—truly a suave and elegant young lord.

There’s no way this one’s a girl too, right?

He muttered inwardly.

This "Four-Perfections Young Lord" had the surname Duan; as for his given name, no one knew. He was famed for his sword, saber, zither, and wine—those four perfections. Not only was his strength outstanding, his fame among the common folk far surpassed the other two.

He was basically a folk idol.

Just from the way he made his entrance, it was like a celebrity "street snap" back on Earth—seemingly casual, but in truth every movement was carefully designed.

He was followed by four beautiful maids who looked exactly the same, each holding something in her hands.

A sword.

A saber.

A zither.

And a jar of wine.

That alone showed just how flamboyant this person was.

Of course, everyone seated in this side hall was male.

The women were naturally in another side hall.

Among those present, there were plenty who couldn’t stand this "Four-Perfections Young Lord."

Chen Ming heard more than a few cold snorts; who knew how they were secretly mocking him in their hearts.

After the "Four-Perfections Young Lord" sat down, he said something to the maid at his side who was holding the sword. That maid then walked straight toward Chen Ming. "Sir, are you Gu Qi of the Duke Jingguo Residence?"

Chen Ming said, "I am."

The maid said, "My young lord says that if your performance at the night banquet is too poor, then do not tell outsiders that you and my young lord are mentioned in the same breath."

With that, she gave a curtsey, turned, and left.

Chen Ming found it quite amusing. After drifting around the jianghu for so long, he hadn’t expected that the ones who cherished their reputations the most would actually be this bunch of noble young lords.

One Wang Jinhu, one Four-Perfections Young Lord—both had gone out of their way to remind, or rather warn, him.

As for the remaining one, he wondered if he’d be the same.

After a while, the last young lord made their entrance.

This young lady-lord was dressed in a dark robe in men’s clothing. Her curvaceous figure was clearly outlined; she had no intention of hiding her identity as a woman.

Her name was Ling Qingying. As a woman, she was ranked alongside the other two and called one of the Three Young Lords, solely because her conduct and style were unlike that of ordinary women.

This much was clear from the fact that she had entered this hall full of men. She completely regarded herself as a man.

In Great Jin, women could inherit titles as well, as long as they had sufficient strength.

Her family held a hereditary Duke title, and a few years ago, she had already been established as Crown Prince. In the future she would inherit the title and become a female Duke.

As Ling Qingying stepped into the main hall, her gaze swept over the crowd, then suddenly she raised a hand.

Chen Ming felt a fierce Sword Intent shoot straight toward his face, transforming before his eyes into a sky full of starlight, dazzling enough to be mesmerizing.

He lifted his hand and lightly tapped one of the streaks of starlight.

The sky full of stars instantly vanished.

Ling Qingying had already withdrawn her hand. She gave him a glance, then found herself a spot and sat down.

This one really had guts, daring to make a move inside the Imperial Palace.

Chen Ming’s gaze swept around and he caught a glimpse of a general outside the hall, clad in a red cloak, whose figure flashed past. He thought to himself that Ling Qingying’s status was anything but ordinary, if even that guard acted like he hadn’t seen anything.

It seemed the rumor was true. Supposedly, the Empress Dowager was very fond of this young lady-lord and had summoned her into the palace many times.

With that, he had now seen all three of the most outstanding scions among the noble families of the Capital City, and who among them was stronger or weaker would become clear tonight.

...

Finally, night fell.

Led by the eunuch, Chen Ming and the others entered the main hall.

The main hall of the Qianyuan Hall was enormous, even larger than a football field. Over a thousand people sat on the left and right sides respectively, and the position in the very center belonged to the Royal Family.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live without end!"

Everyone present saluted the supreme ruler seated high upon the dragon throne.

After that, they also saluted the curtain hanging down behind the dragon throne. "We pay our respects to the Empress Dowager!"

Chen Ming finally saw the Emperor’s true face. He looked refined and cultured, well maintained, appearing just over thirty. Seated high on the dragon chair at this moment, he naturally carried an air of majesty.

As for the Empress Dowager seated behind the curtain, he could only vaguely make out a graceful silhouette.

Seated beside the Emperor was the Empress. She was not a breathtaking beauty of peerless grace, but her temperament was gentle and demure; it was just that her complexion did not look very good.

It should have been affected by the recent matter at court, where they had tried to force the Emperor to depose the Empress.

Further to the side were two concubines, both extremely beautiful, each with their own charms.

Next to the Emperor were the Royal Family. Today they were here as spectators. This Mid-Yuan Night Banquet was set up for the meritorious nobles; the Royal Family did not participate.

Chen Ming spotted Xia Mudan at a glance. Amid the crowd she stood out like a crane among chickens, born a protagonist; no matter where she was, she was always the focus of the crowd.

Xia Mudan was also looking at him, her expression still considered restrained.

The moment Chen Ming’s gaze met hers, he shifted his eyes away. In this kind of setting, to keep staring at the Emperor’s future concubine was, after all, improper.

Next, an old eunuch at the Emperor’s side stepped out and, in his shrill voice, said a few formulaic words—nothing more than exhortations for the ministers to unite as one and safeguard the Great Jin realm for ten thousand years and the like.

Chen Ming barely listened, his mind occupied with the power struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Some of the institutions of Great Jin were quite interesting. Be it the Empress Dowager or the Empress, neither of their family backgrounds was particularly illustrious. There were even no rumors of the Empress Dowager or the Empress having any family members at all.

It was as if they were both orphans.

That was of course impossible; it only showed that the origins of these two were mysterious—so mysterious that they could not be revealed to the world.

There was, in all likelihood, some secret hidden within.

The Emperor was not the Empress Dowager’s flesh and blood. In theory, in such a relationship, as the Empress Dowager, unless she treated the Emperor as a puppet, she would most likely be no match for him.

Yet in Great Jin at present, the Empress Dowager’s faction was clearly suppressing the Emperor’s side.

There was only one possibility: this Empress Dowager wielded an incomparably powerful strength.

As Chen Ming was thinking this, he finally heard the eunuch get to the main point. "...According to the rules set by the Taizu, on the Mid-Yuan night, the sons of meritorious nobles and important ministers may all enter the Merit Tower to undergo trial. In the end, the ten who gain the highest military merits will each obtain a quota for a Secret Realm. The top five will obtain quotas for the Immortal Estate. Those who wish to participate in the trial may step to the center."

At last, it begins!

But what in the world is this Merit Tower?

Chen Ming felt somewhat puzzled. Regarding how exactly the contest would be conducted at the Mid-Yuan Night Banquet, the Gu Family had never told him.

He had originally thought it would be some sort of arena battle; now it seemed that was not the case.

At this moment, Gu Haochuan, seated beside him, said, "Xiaoqi, go. Just do your utmost."

"Yes."

Chen Ming rose to his feet and walked to the center.

In the end, nearly a hundred people stood in the middle of the hall.

He could not help but click his tongue in amazement. No wonder the Great Jin Court could suppress the world; everyone present here was at least of Third Grade Cultivation, and there were no few of Second Grade as well.

And this was only the sons of meritorious families and high ministers, not counting the Six Gates and the Royal Family.

With such strength, they could crush any other power.

The Emperor waited for a while; seeing that no one else stepped forward, he said, "Beloved ministers, slay many foes and return triumphant."

With that, he waved his hand.

A white light suddenly enveloped the more than one hundred people present, and in an instant, they were all transported away.

...

"What is this place?"

Chen Ming only felt his sight blur and he was already within a strange space. He cautiously scanned his surroundings and found the terrain here complicated, with mountains and rivers and even forests.

Could this be a Secret Realm?

As he was thinking this, a sudden sense of danger rose in his heart. Without thinking, he activated his Body Technique and vanished from where he stood.

Whoosh!

An arrow embedded itself in the spot where he had just been standing, the fletching still trembling slightly.

Chen Ming hid atop a large tree and looked toward the direction from which the arrow had come, faintly seeing quite a few figures in the forest.

"Good Body Technique!"

A tall, burly general clad in black armor walked out from the forest, followed by a dozen or so soldiers wearing the same kind of armor.

These men were clearly elite troops at a glance.

It was just that the style of their armor was a bit strange, not like that of Great Jin.

The general shouted in a loud voice, "Children, the time to kill the enemy has come. For the glory of Great Wei!"

"For the glory of Great Wei!"

The soldiers behind him shouted in unison, then charged toward Chen Ming with murderous intent.

Great Wei?

Great Wei was already destroyed.

Chen Ming silently complained in his heart, and instead of clashing head-on with these men, his figure flashed and he disappeared.