Volume One, Chapter 11: Clues from Ten Years Ago

Slap!
A crisp sound echoed as the bodyguard was knocked to the ground with a single blow.
He scrambled to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury. "You... you dare hit me!?"
Like a rabid dog, the guard lunged at Chu Ming.
But before Chu Ming could lift a finger, Lin Ba Hu stepped forward and flattened the bodyguard to the ground.
A chorus of wails arose, capturing the attention of the guards within the manor.
In moments, over a dozen guards surged out from inside, seeing trouble at the Huang family gates. Without hesitation, they rushed forward to deal with Lin Ba Hu and Chu Ming.
Yet, none of them managed even to touch the clothes of Chu Ming or Lin Ba Hu before they too were all laid low.
Meanwhile, the commotion outside caught the attention of the master of the Huang family.
He emerged from the manor, frowning deeply at the sight of his guards sprawled before the gates.
One of the guards, seeing the family master, hurriedly crawled up to report. "Master, they..."
The family master raised his hand to interrupt. "No need to explain."
Then, he walked over to Chu Ming and Lin Ba Hu, pausing to survey Lin Ba Hu for a moment before turning his gaze to Chu Ming.
Sizing Chu Ming up, the family master finally spoke. "Lord Tiger, what wind brings you here? Don't tell me you're bored with the territory of the Tiger Hall and fancy a bit of my Huang family's land?"
Lin Ba Hu chuckled. "Haha, that's not it at all, family master. Today, I've come especially to pay my respects. It's just that your guards seem to have misunderstood my intentions, thinking I've come to stir up trouble—hence the unpleasantness."
The family master replied with a cold, insincere smile. "A visit? Haha, people don't step into the temple without a reason. Lord Tiger, speak frankly—what brings you here?"
Lin Ba Hu hesitated for a moment. "Family master, I do indeed have a matter to discuss with you today."
With that, he looked at Chu Ming and introduced him. "Family master, this is Mr. Chu. Today, it's Mr. Chu who wishes to speak with you."
At these words, the family master's eyes flashed with surprise. Anyone whom Lin Ba Hu addressed as Mr. Chu must be extraordinary. He couldn't help but regard Chu Ming more closely.
Chu Ming smiled gently. "Family master, I hope you'll forgive me for coming uninvited today."
The family master nodded. "This isn't the place for conversation. Mr. Chu, please follow me."

Thus, under the family master's guidance, Chu Ming entered the manor's drawing room.
Lin Ba Hu remained outside.
Inside the Huang family's drawing room, the master arranged a seat for Chu Ming and ordered tea to be served.
He asked, "Mr. Chu, I see your skills are formidable. May I ask who your master is?"
Chu Ming smiled. "I am but self-taught, hardly comparable to the centuries-old martial tradition of your family."
The family master laughed lightly. "Mr. Chu is too humble. If you wish, I am willing to share some martial insights with you, but..."
Chu Ming changed the subject. "Family master, let's discuss the real business at hand."
"Indeed, business matters first. May I ask what brings Mr. Chu to my door?"
Chu Ming did not conceal his purpose. He explained that Yun Xue Yan required one of the Seven Sacred Medicines—the Flame Linglong Fruit—to treat her cold poison.
Hearing this, the family master's expression darkened instantly.
He responded coldly, "Did that old fool from the Yun family not tell you before you came that our Huang family and the Yun family are mortal enemies? And you expect me to hand over the Flame Linglong Fruit, one of the Seven Sacred Medicines, to treat Yun Xue Yan? Utterly delusional."
"Never mind that you're the one here today—even if that old fool from the Yun family himself came begging, I wouldn't agree."
Chu Ming regarded the family master with a slight smile. "No need to get so worked up, family master. Everything can be negotiated, can't it? You can tell me what price you require to part with the Flame Linglong Fruit. Perhaps I can meet your terms."
The family master sized up Chu Ming again, hesitated, then said, "It's not impossible for you to get the Flame Linglong Fruit, unless..."
He paused for several seconds, then continued, "Unless you sign a slave contract, and from this day forth, serve my Huang family as a slave for life. In that case, I might consider handing you the fruit."
Chu Ming sneered. "Family master, I suggest you reconsider carefully."
With those words, Chu Ming stood to leave.
Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a milky-white, ring-shaped Wind Chime Jade pendant displayed on the shelf.
Ten years ago, the Chu family was wiped out overnight. His parents fled with him, but ultimately, they could not escape death.
Chu Ming remembered clearly that the milky-white ring-shaped Wind Chime Jade pendant had belonged to his mother.

Memories surged over him like a raging tide, causing Chu Ming to tremble.
His eyes locked onto the pendant, his voice icy. "Where did that ring-shaped Wind Chime Jade pendant come from?"
The family master replied playfully, "You're referring to the Wind Chime Jade? Haha, that's a trophy of the Huang family."
Chu Ming gritted his teeth. "Well, well—a trophy!"
As he spoke, Chu Ming charged straight at the family master.
Sensing danger, the family master scrambled to defend himself.
A single punch sent him reeling backward until he struck a pillar, barely managing to steady himself, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"You little bastard, do you even know where you are? How dare you cause trouble here? Even with Lin Ba Hu outside, he won't be able to save you today!" the family master shouted in fury. "Men, seize him!"
With his order, more than a dozen martial artists poured in from outside.
These were the elite of the Huang family, far superior to ordinary bodyguards—each could easily handle ten guards at once.
This was one reason Lin Ba Hu dared not provoke the Huang family lightly.
But before Chu Ming, these martial artists were nothing.
Chu Ming's figure darted among them like a specter, each move accompanied by a scream of agony.
Within mere breaths, all the martial artists lay collapsed on the ground.
Chu Ming approached the ring-shaped Wind Chime Jade pendant, shattered the glass casing, and carefully took the pendant.
In a flash, he appeared before the family master, kicked him to the floor, then pressed his foot onto the master's head.
"Mr. Chu... please spare me, I'll give you the Flame Linglong Fruit!"
No matter how proud he was, the family master dared not challenge Chu Ming now.
Chu Ming ignored his pleas, his voice cold. "What happened ten years ago when the Chu family was destroyed?"