[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback":3,"chapter-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-73":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising from Obscurity: My Martial Path Comeback",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2265908,4424,"Chapter 73: The Decisive and Ruthless Jiang Shijie","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-73",73,"\u003Cp>Southern District of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A den of villains and scoundrels!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire county’s elite reside in the eastern district, the most orderly part of the county seat; opposite the east lies the southern district, a chaotic mix of gangs and criminal factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Lin Xiuyong’s guidance, the group entered the southern district, passed through several alleys, and finally arrived at the mouth of a narrow lane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the lane’s entrance stood several young men, all bulky and muscular; Lin Chen glanced at them and knew these men had trained in the martial hall—some of the leaders likely had cultivated essence, while the rest were merely strong by brute force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even facing Lin Xiuyong in his lowly uniform, the man at the alley’s mouth showed no fear; the others’ gazes lingered hungrily on Jiang Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mere lowly government office runner—nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We wish to see Third Master Zhou. This is Young Master Lin, a martial hall student who has opened six acupoints.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiuyong knew he had no standing before these men, so he directly revealed Lin Chen’s identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the man’s expression changed instantly—he bowed with respect; those behind him grew tense. Opening six acupoints made one a towering figure in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since this one was so young—no one dared offend him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Lin, please!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hurriedly gestured them forward, dared not ask why they sought Third Master Zhou, but he had already given a subtle glance to a subordinate, signaling him to run ahead and warn Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their changed attitude, Lin Xiuyong lowered his voice: “Young Master Lin, I think Third Master Zhou will give you face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lin Chen could answer, Village Chief Zhao Canghu immediately spoke up: “Xiao Chen, don’t stir up trouble—just pay them off. Your priority is your martial hall studies. Anyone who holds ground in the eastern district isn’t simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu feared Lin Chen’s youthful arrogance. Third Master Zhou wasn’t fearsome himself—but his ability to survive in the southern district without being arrested by the government office meant he had powerful backers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Village Chief, rest assured—I know what I’m doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead man, standing a zhang away from Lin Chen’s group, halted at the gate of a courtyard. As Lin Chen and Jiang Qing approached, a disheveled woman, clothes torn, burst out from the inner chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bitch, if you try to run today, your daughter will be sold to a brothel tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deep voice from inside froze the woman in place; from Lin Chen’s angle, he clearly saw the agony on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a face full of despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Lin Chen felt Aunt Zhou’s body trembling beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Master, esteemed guests have arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead man’s expression didn’t change—he called out toward the courtyard. As Lin Chen and the others stepped inside, a middle-aged man emerged, bare-chested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were cruel; he swiftly scanned the group, lingering longest on Lin Chen and Jiang Qing, then smiled: “Ah, fellow students from the martial hall. Bring tea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A servant went to brew tea. Zhou noticed Jiang Qing’s icy expression, glanced at the stunned woman, and chuckled: “This woman’s daughter went missing. Knowing I have wide connections, she came begging me to find her. I don’t mind—but my men can’t work for free. Either pay, or… she’ll have to comfort my men. Isn’t that right, Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed. Third Master Zhou was arrogant, brazen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Helping find the girl” was clearly a lie—the girl had been kidnapped by Zhou’s men. She came begging, and Zhou, lusting after her, used the daughter’s whereabouts to force her compliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This seasoned villain wasn’t stupid. From his men’s early report, he must have guessed Lin Chen’s purpose: to demand the girl’s return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Lin Chen’s intent, yet still flaunting his arrogance in front of him—was he truly untouchable?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way here, Lin Chen had learned from Lin Xiuyong that Zhou had been a nine-acupoint martialist five years ago. But from his complexion, Zhou was clearly over forty—his true combat strength had likely sunk to six or seven acupoints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So was it Zhou’s powerful backer who gave him such confidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Master Zhou’s connections are well known—I’ve heard of them. I’ve come today hoping to borrow those connections to find a missing little girl from my village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen had no intention of dancing around—he stated his purpose plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looking for someone? Easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou agreed readily: “But as you see, my men are busy helping this woman find her daughter—they’re stretched thin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll pay so your men don’t work for free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu spoke up, pulling a silver note from his sleeve—ten taels: “This is tea money for your men’s trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen hadn’t expected the village chief to produce money, but Zhao’s glance told him: understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Endure for now—save Qianqian first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the killing intent in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou deserved to die—but not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his current cultivation pace, he’d reach the Internal Organs stage within two years. By then, killing Zhou wouldn’t draw retaliation—even Zhou’s powerful patron wouldn’t risk a feud with a cultivation master over a decayed, lowly martialist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lin Chen was about to speak, a gust of wind swept past him—Jiang Qing, standing beside him, vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Chen looked again, Jiang Qing stood where Zhou had been. Zhou himself lay sprawled on the ground, having crashed through the window and fallen outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the courtyard and at the gate, Zhou’s men surged forward—but Jiang Qing merely glanced at them, and they froze in place, unable to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have one incense stick’s time. If you don’t hand over the girl by then, you die. Not just you—your entire family, your children—all dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qing’s voice was icy, radiating endless chill. Lin Chen’s pupils contracted—he had never seen this side of Jiang Shijie before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Lin Chen, the village chief and others stood gaping, stunned into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou crawled up from the shattered window frame, face bloody—but before he finished speaking, a flash of cold light answered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dagger sliced through the air, piercing Zhou’s abdomen like a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qing hurled the dagger, ignored Zhou, and turned to Lin Chen: “Lin Shidi, Sister today teaches you a lesson: in martial arts, strength is supreme. Kill a man like this, and no one will avenge him. Even if you slaughtered every soul in this courtyard, the martial hall would stand behind you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou’s men, hearing Jiang Qing’s words, turned pale with terror. They hadn’t expected this beautiful woman to speak so ruthlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did she think they were?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen fell silent—he understood Jiang Shijie’s meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She struck Zhou first, then shattered the psychological defenses of his men with those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou trafficked children—his men must know where the children were hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Shijie, for your teaching. I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on Zhou’s men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D-don’t kill me—I know where Third Master hid the kidnapped children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I know too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou hid them in the courtyard across the street—that house belongs to him too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Village Chief, go find Qianqian first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen gave Zhao Canghu a glance, then led the village chief and his brother away from the courtyard. Jiang Shijie was here—these men couldn’t stir up trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opposite courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen kicked open the gate. Several burly men seated at a stone table, drinking, froze—before they could react, Lin Chen had already struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Flying Swallow Technique and perfected Clear Wind Palm, within moments, the men collapsed like piles of mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went so hard because he saw, against the left courtyard wall, several children stripped naked, standing there, their bodies bruised purple and blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, Gu Fei—find them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Lin Chen spoken than Aunt Zhou rushed into the inner chamber—and soon, a cry of weeping echoed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cry of joy after a loss regained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Chen, won’t this cause you trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu stared at the abused children, his face grim. But his thoughts went further—he saw worry in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Village Chief, don’t worry. Killing these scum won’t affect me. Ask Brother Lin if you don’t believe me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xiuyong smiled helplessly—he had no idea how to handle this, but since Lin Young Master looked at him, he had to grit his teeth: “Village Chief, rest easy. Young Master Lin is a martial hall student. Even our government office can’t arrest him directly. And Zhou’s gang? They’ve committed countless crimes—they deserve this. Young Master Lin has rid the people of a scourge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu relaxed, stepped toward the fallen men, glanced at the long knives on the table, then picked one up and stabbed each of them repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen was baffled by the village chief’s actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Officer Lin, you saw—Xiao Chen only injured them. In the end, I couldn’t bear it—I killed them with the knife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Canghu still wasn’t reassured. He was old anyway—if this blew up, he’d take the blame. In his heart, anyone could suffer—but Lin Chen must not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Village Chief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen sighed helplessly. Though the village chief’s act was like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell, it warmed him—he felt Zhao Canghu’s deep care for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Chen, go check on your Shijie. I’ll handle this with your brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Chen returned to Zhou’s courtyard, he saw corpses littering the ground—and Jiang Shijie, standing calmly in the center, spotless. He was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Shijie meant every word—she had killed them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thank you to friend 20170716…… for your exclusive support. I checked your backend—you’ve only tipped this book. Thank you to friend 20230610235…… for your 23 monthly tickets—I’m stunned! Who knew 23 were possible? Also thanks to all other friends for your monthly tickets!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1654,"2026-06-19T20:25:56.550Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","85dfc450c6de16ca4de0d68d179024c5c9dcb79229669d7b2dcd780c72570165","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-74","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-72",591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]