Chapter 2: The ox and horse's strength first shows its might; with staffs they establish prestige

Chen Wen's voice was not loud.

But it carried an undeniable calm!

Like a stone thrown into a panicked crowd.

It temporarily suppressed the ripples of the four splashes.

Panic still showed on every face, but seeing him grip the pointed wooden stick, his spine straight.

People seemed to have found their backbone, and subconsciously began to act.

Wang Ru was the first to react, hurriedly calling to several women:

"Quick!"

"Move the pot and the remaining food into the half-collapsed cellar at the back!"

"Cover it with the firewood stack!"

She then looked at the half-grown children and the elderly:

"You, go pick up some handy stones and sticks!"

"Don't run around, just stand behind Chen Xiaoge!"

In these chaotic times, even the weak and old seek survival.

They also deeply understand the truth that if they don't fight desperately, they will die.

The survival instinct drove them; although their hands and feet trembled, they still acted as told.

Zhang Cheng nervously swallowed saliva, also picking up a thick short stick from the wall corner.

He stood tightly beside Chen Wen, his voice trembling but striving to learn Chen Wen's composure:

"Brother Wen, I'm with you!"

Chen Wen glanced at him, nodded, and didn't say much more.

His attention had mostly focused ahead.

The chaotic footsteps and arrogant shouts grew closer.

"Damn, this godforsaken place, not even a bird would shit here!"

"Just now I clearly saw smoke over here; there must be fat sheep hiding!"

"Get out here, all of you! Otherwise, when the old men search you out, they'll chop you all up to feed the dogs!"

Seven or eight men in tattered clothes

yet with fierce light in their faces

charged into this relatively intact ruin area.

They held rust-blotted swords and spears, pitchforks.

Even some wooden sticks still wet with blood.

Obviously they had come all the way, looting and killing.

The leader was a burly man with a fleshy face and one blind eye.

He was exactly a minor commander under "One Gust" Hu Biao, nicknamed "One-Eyed Dragon".

They instantly saw Chen Wen's group, standing ready.

And the traces of the large pot still steaming, not yet fully hidden behind them.

In the One-Eyed Dragon's single eye, a greedy light flashed instantly.

He bared his yellow teeth:

"Hey! There really is goods! And even something hot!"

"Kid, be sensible and hand over the food and valuables."

"Kowtow a few times for the old men, and maybe they'll spare your dog's life!"

His lackeys behind him also broke into jeering laughter, waving their weapons.

They utterly failed to put the opposite group of weak, old, women, children, plus two half-grown kids in their eyes.

Chen Wen's heart beat fast, sweat soaking his palms made the stick a bit slippery.

He wasn't inexperienced in battle!

But before he followed a large troop!

Now, however, he leads, with those who rely on him behind him.

He cannot retreat!

He took a deep breath and stepped forward.

He held the stick horizontally before him, striving to steady his voice:

"Good heroes, we too are miserable folk fleeing disaster!

"Just this bit of food for subsistence, we give it to you……

"Then we will starve to death!"

"Could you show some courtesy and lift your noble hand?"

"Convenience?"

The One-Eyed Dragon seemed to have heard a huge joke and spat.

"My knife in hand is convenience! Cut the damn nonsense!"

"Brothers, give me……"

His words weren't finished when Chen Wen moved!

He knew negotiation was useless, strike first!

At the very moment he resolved to act!

The familiar heat current inside his body surged again.

— — 【Cow Horse System】 activated!

Not for production, but for this life-and-death battle!

【Current Status: Level1 (2x)】

【Effect Determination: Physical exertion

Conforms to the 'labor' category, strength and speed temporarily increased to 2x!】

No warning!

Chen Wen's body was like a bow instantly pulled to full tension!

He lunged out violently! Speed far beyond ordinary people!

"Huh?!"

The one-eyed dragon only felt a flash before his eyes; the youngster who had been just a few meters away was now right in front of him!

He could even see the icy resolve in the opponent's eyes and that pair of hands, scarred yet unusually steady!

"Courting death!"

The one-eyed dragon was also a veteran who licked blood from the blade; despite his shock, his reaction was not slow.

Instinctively, the notched waist knife in his hand swung forward!

But Chen Wen's speed was even faster!

With the 2x speed boost!

He ducked and slid, narrowly avoiding the blade.

At the same time, the sharpened wooden stick in his hand thrust out like a snake from its hole.

Using the momentum of his charge, he viciously stabbed toward the one-eyed dragon's abdomen!

Pfft!

A muffled thud!

The wooden stick, after all, was not metal, so it didn't pierce all the way through.

But the tremendous impact force, far exceeding expectations (2x strength!),

nevertheless struck solidly against the one-eyed dragon's belly!

"Ow——!"

The one-eyed dragon let out a pig-slaughtering wail, his eyes bulging out.

His whole body bent over like a cooked shrimp.

The waist knife clanged to the ground, and he clutched his belly with both hands.

In so much pain he couldn't speak, only able to suck in cold air.

All this happened in the blink of an eye!

Everyone was stunned!

Whether it was the one-eyed dragon's lackeys or the refugees behind Chen Wen,

all stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they saw.

One encounter! Just one encounter!

The fierce one-eyed dragon was knocked down by a kid wielding a wooden stick?!

Chen Wen himself was also taken aback.

He knew the system could boost him, but he didn't expect the effect to be so immediate!

From that strike just now, he felt his strength and speed had almost doubled.

The opponent's seemingly fierce moves appeared full of flaws in his eyes.

His confidence surged instantly!

He violently pulled out the wooden stick, bringing a spray of blood.

He turned to face those lackeys still dazed.

He pointed the blood-stained tip at them.

His voice carried a hint of deliberately suppressed coldness and ruthlessness:

"Who else wants to give it a try?!"

The youth Zhang Cheng watched, his blood boiling, his face flushed with excitement.

He also raised his wooden stick and shouted sharply:

"Who else?!"

Wang Ru and the elderly and weak behind her, seeing this, felt their fear lessen.

Their will to survive was ignited, and they all picked up stones and wooden sticks they had gathered.

Although still afraid, they also let out shouting to bluff:

"Get out!"

"Let's fight them!"

The bandits looked at their leader convulsing on the ground, in agony.

Then they looked at Chen Wen, whose eyes were icy and whose stick tip dripped blood.

Then they looked at the refugees who had suddenly become fierce; their momentum instantly dropped by half.

They were used to bullying the weak; they had never seen such a ruthless person.

Moreover, the opposing side was numerous and strong, although most were old and weak.

If they really fought, their side might not come out well.

You… you guys wait!

A quick-witted lackey put on a fierce front and shouted.

He and his companions, in a panic, lifted the constantly screaming one-eyed dragon and fled the ruins in disarray.

They ran back much faster than they had come.

Only after their figures had completely vanished behind the broken wall did Chen Wen slowly let out a breath.

His back was already soaked with cold sweat.

The hand gripping the wooden stick trembled slightly, not from fear, but from overexertion and the weakness after an adrenaline surge.

【System Notice: Repelled threat, protected labor results, evaluation: Effective! Reward Diligence Points (WP)+15】

【Current Level: 1(102/100)】

【Experience full, upgrade?】

Can upgrade now!

And repelling enemies also gives WP rewards!

Chen Wen felt a surge of excitement, but now is not the time to study this.

"We won… we won!"

Zhang Cheng was the first to jump up and cheer.

The joy of surviving the disaster instantly infected everyone, and people threw down the weapons in their hands.

They looked at each other and smiled, some even wiping away tears in excitement.

In the looks directed at Chen Wen, besides earlier gratitude, there was now deep awe and conviction.

Wang Ru stepped forward, looking at Chen Wen's still-bleeding tiger's mouth and slightly pale face.

She worriedly said: "Chen little brother, are you alright? Your hand…"

"It's fine, just a minor injury."

Chen Wen shook his head, temporarily suppressing the thought of upgrading, as there were more important matters now.

"Aunt Wang, we shouldn't stay here long."

Hu Biao, having suffered losses, will surely not let this rest!

"He will definitely bring more people back for revenge."

He swept his gaze over the crowd, his tone firm and unyielding:

"We must immediately prepare to relocate!"

The just‑arisen joy was instantly scattered by a greater sense of crisis.

But this time, no one panicked again.

Everyone's eyes turned to Chen Wen, awaiting his next order.

Chen Wen felt the weight of this trust, and the system in his mind that could be upgraded.

To survive, to find Mother and little sister.

This path, he seemed to have finally grasped a clue, though danger still lurked ahead.