Chapter 393: Chapter 313: A Hero, is Also a Hero_3
"You’re their benefactor, of course they remember you," Min Ning replied.
"Benefactor..." Chen Yi mulled over the word, then chuckled and said, "In truth, I was merely driven by self-interest. At the time, it was first for the Lin Party and second for you."
Hearing this, Min Ning’s cheeks flushed slightly. She responded coldly, "Why bring that up now?"
"Because it’s the truth," Chen Yi said.
The three words hung in the air, and the two fell silent once again. Min Ning quickened her pace, walking ahead while Chen Yi followed closely behind.
They passed through the marketplace and arrived at a main road, walking briskly before turning a corner and crossing several avenues.
From afar, Chen Yi saw that he had arrived on the western outskirts of the Capital City, where the eaves of the Yuxiu Manor peeked out. It used to be a property under the Prince Mansion, which he later led people to confiscate.
Now, as they approached, the fearsome Protectors of the manor were nowhere to be seen, and even the plaque of "Yuxiu Manor" had vanished without a trace.
In its place were the four large characters of "Zhenqiang Martial Arts School."
From a distance, the sounds of children practicing martial arts could be faintly heard, accompanied by their rhythmic grunts and shouts.
Min Ning brought him here, leaving Chen Yi somewhat puzzled, though he still followed her to a nearby tavern, where she led him to a seat.
As they sat in the tavern, the waiter approached to serve them.
Chen Yi casually asked, "Wasn’t this Yuxiu Manor?"
"Ah, I’m new here and not too familiar," the waiter said after a moment of recollection. "But the head of that martial school has come here to drink a few times and mentioned some things."
"What kind of things?"
"The original owner of Yuxiu Manor, Master Feng, used to bully the Zhenqiang Martial Arts School, trying to forcibly acquire it. Leaning on the power of the Prince Mansion, he pressured the schoolmaster to surrender the land deed. The schoolmaster barely held on for four or five months, almost cracking under the strain. But then, in one night, Yuxiu Manor was confiscated. What a twist of fate! Not only was the martial arts school not acquired, but the schoolmaster even managed to buy Yuxiu Manor instead."
"Oh... is that so." Chen Yi looked at the Zhenqiang Martial Arts School and couldn’t help but sigh softly.
He had never considered before that by confiscating Yuxiu Manor, he would inadvertently save a martial arts school in the process.
After the waiter finished his enthusiastic recounting, he then asked:
"So, what will you two honorable guests be having?"
At that moment, Min Ning lifted her head and sternly asked:
"Waiter, don’t you recognize me?"
"You—you’re... Min Ning, Min Qianhu?!"
The waiter seemed to recognize Min Ning and stared at her, slack-jawed. After a moment, he quickly exclaimed:
"Benefactor! I’ll cover the cost of your wine myself."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi looked confused and asked:
"Benefactor?"
"Honorable guest, you probably don’t know. I originally worked odd jobs at Wuyong Inn. Who could’ve guessed that Tang Kumai came along with a whole bunch of Jianghu folks to surround the inn? That wasn’t even the worst part—we were ambushed again while being escorted away by Min Qianhu."
The waiter recalled the perilous situation and let out a sigh before continuing:
"Thank goodness for Min Qianhu and her comrades risking their lives to protect us, along with that man in black. I owe my survival to Min Qianhu and can’t thank her enough."
As the waiter spoke, Chen Yi suddenly remembered—it was the time he had disguised himself to rescue Min Ning.
Min Ning didn’t look at him but instead smiled at the waiter and said:
"The one you should truly thank is the person who lent a hand. I was merely a supporting role."
"Hey! That’s not how it works," the waiter said, waving his hand. "You’re a hero, and they’re a great hero. Heroes are heroes either way!"
Great hero...
When those two words were spoken, Chen Yi froze for a moment and suddenly found it incredulous.
"Truly a great hero?" he muttered to himself.
"What else could they be if not a great hero?" The waiter, noticing his question, sounded a bit annoyed as he pointed in a direction, giving a big thumbs-up. "The greatest of the great heroes."
Chen Yi stood in place, stunned.
After quite a while, he finally came to his senses and chuckled wryly.
When the tavern’s finest wine was served, Chen Yi poured himself a full bowl and said:
"People are strange, don’t you think? They’ll shower you with praise just because you’ve done something, without caring about your true intentions."
Min Ning drank the wine in her bowl and chuckled:
"People are strange like that."
Hearing this, Chen Yi shook his head and silently downed the wine in his bowl.
The two drank for an unknown amount of time, from morning until afternoon, chatting idly in between. They talked about the sights of the Capital City, tales of the Jianghu, and even trivial matters like lighting incense at a Daoist temple and household almanacs...
In the distance, the persistent sounds of martial arts practice from the children at the martial arts school continued to echo.
For some inexplicable reason, Chen Yi found himself slightly drunk. Today, in particular, he seemed unable to hold his liquor.
Meanwhile, Min Ning appeared lively. She suddenly slapped the table and got up fiercely.
"Hey, what’s gotten into you?" Chen Yi was startled.
"Chen Zunming, do you know you’re more famous than me?"
Min Ning’s face was flushed, and she spoke in a huff:
"I’ve been asking around everywhere, and the kids inside and outside the Capital City don’t know me—they only know you."
Seeing her fuss over this, Chen Yi couldn’t help but laugh.
But in that moment, with a flicker of movement, Min Ning suddenly dashed out, using Qinggong to leap over the high walls of the martial arts school in mere steps.
Startled, Chen Yi quickly got up and chased after her.
The moment he landed, he saw a group of martial arts-practicing children standing in place, all mesmerized by the two martial artists flying back and forth.
The instructor leading the children recognized Min Ning. Pointing to Chen Yi, he asked:
"Min Qianhu, who is this gentleman?"
Before Chen Yi could respond, Min Ning loudly declared:
"Chen Qianhu, Chen Zunming, Chen Daxia."
The string of titles left the group of worn-out children instantly full of energy. Before Chen Yi could react, they swarmed toward him in excitement.
Chen Yi stood dumbfounded, watching this scene unfold.
Min Ning had just mentioned that the children inside and outside the Capital City didn’t know her but knew him...
"Is it really Chen Qianhu? Really him?"
"Min Qianhu said she’d bring him next time, so it must be him."
"Great hero! We should call him great hero, Chen Daxia!"
The children swarmed and bounced around, cheering and shouting, repetitively chanting his name with enthusiasm.
The tipsiness rushed up, and Chen Yi felt a surreal warmth rise in his chest, rendering everything hazy and dreamlike.
He raised his head and looked in Min Ning’s direction.
The tips of Min Ning’s hair danced in the wind as she smiled softly and called out:
"Hey, Chen Daxia?"
Chen Yi paused in uncertainty.
So, it turns out... he had already become a great hero?