Chapter 54: He Who Kills Shall Be Killed (Rewritten)

By the lake!

The spring breeze blew, and the willow branches swayed.

At the boundary between Linhu Village and Liu Village, dozens of people had gathered.

On the Liu Village side, amid the crowd, stood a burly teenager, his shirt half-open, arms crossed, looking utterly casual.

“If you’re too scared to enter the water, just admit defeat—don’t waste our time here.”

The teenager shook his head boredly; on the Linhu Village side, a middle-aged man frowned: “Ever since the two villages competed for fishing grounds, warriors have been forbidden from participating. You Liu Village broke the rule first—why should we be forced into this unfair contest?”

Zhou Fei heard this and turned his gaze to the man, a flicker of cruelty in his eyes—he’d heard of this man from his grandfather.

Gu Hai, the best fisherman in Linhu Village.

If he, as a warrior, interfered in this dispute between the two villages, and Linhu Village later complained to the town, the worst outcome would be a rematch under the town mayor’s supervision.

But if he crippled a few of Linhu Village’s best fishermen, the result would still be Liu Village’s victory.

“Stupid fool, talking big!”

Zhou Fei lunged forward like a wild beast unleashed, charging at Gu Hai—several villagers in front of him were instantly knocked to the ground.

Seeing Gu Hai’s face twist with panic, Zhou Fei smirked cruelly and swung his fist without hesitation.

“Stop!”

Just as Zhou Fei’s fist was about to land, a thunderous shout came from behind the Linhu villagers, and everyone saw a figure leap over their heads, heading straight for Zhou Fei.

“A Qi-Opening warrior?”

Zhou Fei looked up and his pupils contracted—he’d heard from his grandfather that Linhu Village had produced a warrior this year, and he’d been top of last year’s martial academy class.

So what?

He’d spent two more years in the academy than this guy, and his realm was far superior.

“Good, come on!”

Zhou Fei twisted his fist and met the incoming palm.

Boom!

Their fists and palms collided—Zhou Fei staggered backward several steps before regaining his balance, his face filled with disbelief. He looked down at his right hand—it was swollen and red.

“Who are you?”

“Lin Chen, from Linhu Village.”

Lin Chen stared coldly at Zhou Fei, his eyes icy—he’d seen that punch from several zhang away and sensed something wrong: it carried Qi-Opening realm power. No ordinary person could withstand it.

This wasn’t just about claiming more fishing waters anymore!

“You’re Lin Chen?”

Zhou Fei’s eyes widened in shock—a disciple who’d only entered the academy two months ago? Even with a Qi-Opening Pill, he couldn’t possibly have caught up so fast.

Lin Chen wasn’t one of those flashy senior disciples with enough silver to rapidly boost his realm.

In the academy, without silver, you were nothing.

“Lin Chen’s here!”

Seeing Lin Chen appear, the Linhu villagers’ panic and fear vanished, replaced by excitement.

Liu Village had a warrior? So did Linhu Village.

“Xiao Chen.”

Behind Lin Chen, Gu Hai’s face was pale, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Lin Chen.

“Uncle Hai, it’s fine—help everyone up first.”

With Lin Chen standing guard, the Linhu villagers helped the men Zhou Fei had knocked down to their feet and led them to the rear.

“Xiao Chen, how did you get here?”

Zhao Canghu, the Linhu Village chief, stared at Lin Chen with confusion—he’d told Lin Mu to warn Lin Chen to stay away from the village.

“Chief, with this happening in our village, could I not come?”

Lin Chen smiled slightly—he’d already sized up the opponent after that exchange. This Liu Village man was only Qi-Opening Fourth Stage, and his martial technique was poorly practiced.

He hadn’t even mastered the most basic way to dissipate force.

Someone like this, who’d been bottom of his class when entering the academy, too proud to spar with others, afraid of losing face.

After spending time in the Jingshui Martial Academy, Lin Chen understood how it operated.

Those who entered after more than a year of cultivating essence were essentially left to fend for themselves—most of their focus was on advancing their cultivation realm, not mastering techniques or practical combat.

The cruel truth was, they’d used up all their time and energy just trying to advance—no spare strength left for combat or sparring.

“Xiao Chen, do you have confidence?”

Zhao Canghu lowered his voice. After that exchange, he’d seen Lin Chen had the upper hand—but he couldn’t rule out that Zhou Fei had been careless.

“Yes.” Lin Chen nodded.

Hearing Lin Chen say “yes,” Zhao Canghu understood.

Knowing Lin Chen as he did, if he hadn’t been sure, he wouldn’t have said it.

“Zhou Quan, you owe our village an explanation.”

Emboldened, Zhao Canghu turned to an old man on the Liu Village side—Zhou Quan, the village chief.

“Explanation for what? My grandson was just joking with you. Everyone knows the fishing ground contest is decided by who fishes best—would my grandson really enter the water?”

As Zhou Quan spoke, his eyes flickered—he hadn’t wanted to end it this way, but seeing Xiao Fei’s silence, he felt an inexplicable unease.

Wasn’t Lin Chen only this year’s academy recruit?

Xiao Fei had been in the academy for a year already—he was Qi-Opening Fourth Stage.

Could Linhu Village really be producing another martial genius?

“Xiao Fei, let’s go!”

Zhou Fei stared deeply at Lin Chen. He’d heard of him, but until today, he’d never taken him seriously. A year’s head start meant lifelong dominance—and Lin’s family were just ordinary fishermen, while his grandfather was Liu Village’s chief, with far more silver to spend on martial advancement than Lin Chen.

Silver determined how far a warrior could go on the Dao—at least, that’s how he saw it.

But that single exchange had made him wary of Lin Chen.

“Lin Chen must’ve gotten a Qi-Opening Pill, and Linhu Village pooled silver to help him catch up—but they’ve surely spent it all. He’ll still fall behind eventually. I’ll let him go for now.”

This intervention in the fishing dispute was a plan he and his grandfather had agreed upon.

News that Linhu Village had pooled silver for Lin Chen’s academy fees couldn’t be hidden from Liu Village.

After hearing the news, his grandfather had devised a plan.

If Linhu Village could raise silver for Lin Chen, Liu Village could do the same for him.

By intervening in the fishing dispute, he’d show the villagers that having a warrior in their midst benefited everyone.

Then his grandfather would negotiate with the villagers to raise silver for his continued training—according to their estimate, they could gather a hundred taels.

Even though he hadn’t crushed Linhu Village this time, his goal was still achieved.

Now that Liu Village and Linhu Village were at odds, everyone had seen Lin Chen’s strength. If they didn’t raise silver to help him advance, next year Linhu Village would be bullying Liu Village.

Zhou Fei turned to leave—Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed: “You hit someone and think you can just walk away? There’s no such thing as free passes in this world.”

“What, you want to fight me?”

Zhou Fei halted, coldly glaring at Lin Chen: “I didn’t even use my full strength just now.”

“If you’ve laid hands on someone, you either leave silver—or leave your body.”

Hearing Zhou Fei’s words, Lin Chen’s lips curled in mockery—another coward who picked on the weak.

Gu Hai was Gu Fei’s father—Gu Fei was his brother!

Just because of that, he couldn’t let Zhou Fei walk away so casually.

“Good, Lin Chen! Don’t let them get away!”

A Linhu villager, hearing Lin Chen’s words, cheered loudly.

Zhao Canghu scowled at the man: “What’s all the shouting for?”

Then he turned to Lin Chen, serious: “Xiao Chen, don’t be reckless. Whatever you do, we all support you.”

“He’s just a bully who picks on the weak—Chief, rest easy.”

Lin Chen didn’t lower his voice. The moment he spoke, Zhou Fei erupted in rage: “You’re arrogant to the point of death! If you want to die, I’ll grant your wish!”

Zhou Fei roared, his hands forming a mantis stance, then lunged forward like a swift mantis, fists flying in rapid succession, targeting Lin Chen’s vital points.

The villagers watching from both sides reacted with opposite emotions.

Liu Village villagers smiled—they believed Lin Chen couldn’t match Zhou Fei; the earlier exchange was just a fluke. Linhu Village villagers, however, wore expressions of worry.

“Too slow.”

Lin Chen’s expression didn’t change. Zhou Fei’s punches looked fast—but only to ordinary people. To Lin Chen, their speed was nothing.

Only when the fists neared his face did Lin Chen calmly raise his palm.

Slap!

His palm struck with effortless grace, like a gentle breeze brushing the face—so casual, the spectators thought it almost lazy.

Yet that seemingly casual palm struck Zhou Fei’s arm with perfect precision.

Zhou Fei’s pupils dilated in shock—when Lin Chen’s palm hit his arm, a terrifying force surged through him, far stronger than the impact from their earlier clash.

His arm instantly went numb—he couldn’t even clench his fist!

Seeing the shock in Zhou Fei’s eyes, Lin Chen smirked—the power of his perfected Clear Wind Palm was beyond this man’s comprehension.

One strike had rendered Zhou Fei’s right arm useless. Lin Chen didn’t stop—he stepped forward, appearing instantly behind Zhou Fei, so fast Zhou Fei couldn’t react.

Another palm struck.

This one landed on Zhou Fei’s back.

Since Zhou Fei wanted to make Uncle Hai bedridden for a year, Lin Chen would make Zhou Fei lie in bed for a year too.

Crack!

This time, every villager present heard the sound of snapping bones.

It was only this crack of bone breaking that made the villagers realize how devastating Lin Chen’s seemingly casual two slaps had been.

Thud!

Zhou Fei spat a mouthful of blood after his spine was shattered by Lin Chen’s palm, his body crashing rapidly toward the ground.

“Little Fei!”

Zhou Quan, seeing his grandson collapse, his face flushed with rage: “This is a village dispute—how could you strike so brutally? Your heart…”

Swish!

Lin Chen’s piercing gaze swept over him; the cold fury in his eyes made Zhou Quan’s body tremble, his lips quivering, the words he meant to say dying on his tongue.

“I struck too hard? If I hadn’t arrived in time, Uncle Hai would’ve been ruined. He who kills shall be killed; those who strike with cruelty must bear the consequences.”

Seeing Lin Chen defeat Zhou Fei in two moves, Zhao Canghu had been stunned at first, but now, hearing Lin Chen’s words, he immediately pointed at Zhou Quan and roared: “Zhou Quan, you old bastard—your grandson got what he deserved for being outclassed!”

“I… I won’t argue with you. I’m taking him away first.” Zhou Quan snorted.

Lin Chen smiled, eyes half-lidded as he looked at Zhou Fei, lying like a dead pig on the ground: “You can take him—but Zhou Fei injured seven men from our village. Each gets three taels in compensation. Pay up first.”

Taking someone away isn’t that easy.

Since he’d already offended Liu Zhuang, Lin Chen decided to offend them thoroughly. Had he not feared the backlash from completely crippling Zhou Fei, he wouldn’t have just broken his spine—he’d have shattered it entirely.

“Three taels compensation? Impossible!” Zhou Quan’s face turned crimson with fury.

“You don’t have to pay. Then keep waiting. The longer you delay, the less I can guarantee your grandson will ever cultivate again.”

Lin Chen planted his foot on Zhou Fei’s back. If he was to play the villain, he’d do it thoroughly. All the young men of Liu Zhuang were watching—let them remember this moment, let them fear it!

“Father, saving Little Fei is urgent!”

“Father, take him to get healed now, or he’ll be ruined for good!”

Hearing his two sons’ pleas and seeing Lin Chen’s icy gaze, Zhou Quan took a deep breath: “Fine, we’ll pay—but I don’t have the money on me. I’ll need to return to the village to fetch it.”

Villages aren’t towns. Even as village chief, Zhou Quan wouldn’t carry twenty taels in silver notes on his person.

“Pay the money before you take him. Without seeing the silver, your grandson stays. Or—if you dare—try to take him from me yourself.”

Hearing this, the young men of Liu Zhuang all stepped back instinctively.

Rush forward and snatch him?

Didn’t they see Zhou Fei already lying on the ground? They’d just be walking to their deaths.

“Older son, go home and get the money. Younger son, go to town and find a physician!”

Zhou Quan gritted his teeth and ordered his sons. Lin Chen ignored the old man entirely, turning his gaze toward the villagers of Linhu.

“Xiao Chen, well done!”

“Hah! That’s how you handle it! Liu Zhuang thought having Zhou Fei meant they could act without restraint—but turns out he’s useless.”

“Three taels compensation? I should’ve let Zhou Fei punch me earlier.” One villager looked regretful.

“Forget it, Wang Erzi—you were the first to run when Zhou Fei charged.”

…

…

The villagers of Linhu were jubilant, sharply contrasting with Liu Zhuang’s silence.

The villagers of Liu Zhuang couldn’t fathom it: Zhou Fei had entered the martial academy two years before Lin Chen—how could the gap be so vast?

Perhaps driven by desperation to save his son, Zhou Fei’s father returned with the money quickly—round trip took barely fifteen minutes.

“Here’s your money. Now let him go.”

Zhou Fei dared not approach Lin Chen; he handed the money over to Zhao Canghu.

“Take him away.”

As Lin Chen moved his foot, he pressed his toe down slightly harder. Zhou Fei, already unconscious, showed no reaction—but that extra pressure deepened his injuries further.

Nearly four thousand characters this chapter—another chapter will be added tonight. Brothers, can you spare a monthly vote? We might be launching mid-month; without early exposure on the new book monthly vote chart, let’s gather as many votes as possible now and see if we can make the list!

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(End of Chapter)