Chapter 20: Armed with a Sharp Weapon, the Urge to Kill Arises

The young and old gathered at the scene were very curious to see what Shen Fang and his son were up to.

Shen Qing followed behind, exchanging glances with his uncle Shen Er, and also rushed over with the crowd.

By the time they arrived, Old Tian's house was already surrounded by people.

They heard a loud bang, just in time to see Chen Yuan kick open Old Tian's door.

Shortly after, Chen Yuan and his men threw Old Tian and his two sons out of the house.

Apart from Old Tian's residence, three other Tian Family households had their doors kicked open by Chen family members.

One of these households experienced a fierce conflict, with relentless smashing sounds.

After a while, a blood-soaked Tian Family hunter was forcibly pushed out by three Chen family members.

"Kneel down!"

The three Chen Family members were injured in several places, clearly indicating that the Tian Family hunter had fought back fiercely.

Chen Yuan appeared to intentionally let the many villagers witness this scene, stepping forward to ask, "What happened?"

"Tian Xiaohu and his family attacked us without a word as soon as they saw us coming; they must be guilty of something."

Blood-covered Tian Xiaohu fiercely raised his head and yelled in defense, "You were the ones who started it!"

Smack!

As soon as his words fell, Chen Yuan slapped him across the face.

He had been cultivating his Qi-Blood and was on the verge of entering the level of martial master; his strength was far greater than that of an ordinary man.

The slap knocked out one of Tian Xiaohu's teeth, making his already injured state even more pitiful.

His face covered in blood, he tried several times to get up but couldn't manage to rise from the ground.

Shen Qing, upon seeing this scene, furrowed his brows intensely.

He also recognized this Tian Xiaohu as one of the most capable young men in the Tian Family, a skilled hunter.

When his father was alive, he often went hunting with their family.

He hadn't expected Chen Yuan to beat him so brutally.

Even though he was an exceptional hunter, he was an ordinary man who stood no chance against martial artists.

At that moment, Tian Chuan's parents and others were also driven out of their homes.

The Tian Family members living in Hongshan Village were gathered together.

Chen Yuan scanned the Tian family and coldly said, "You Tian Family members killed two of my brothers. Out of neighborly harmony, I didn't trouble you, but you took our kindness for granted. Today, my grandfather called for a village meeting, and none of you attended; it seems you are ready to sever ties with us, aren't you?"

"Nobody informed us at all!" a young Tian Family hunter explained in a panic. "And how could we possibly have killed your brothers?"

"The day after my brother accidentally killed Tian Chuan, he went up the mountain and vanished; if it wasn't you, do you expect me to believe I killed my own brother?"

Chen Yuan's eyes flared with anger, his face murderous. He turned and asked Chen Lao, "Did you not inform the Tian family?"

Bowing, Chen Lao replied, "I did inform them, but for some reason, they didn't show up."

"You... are lying!" Tian Xiaohu, lying on the ground, glared fiercely at Chen Lao.

If looks could kill, Chen Lao would have died dozens of times over.

Chen Lao suddenly felt a chill all over his body.

The onlookers were incredulous, finding it hard to believe that the weaker Tian Family would initiate a conflict in such a situation.

Shen Qing in the crowd knew all too well.

The Chen Family Brothers were actually killed by him.

What Chen Yuan and his men were doing was framing the Tian Family.

The Tian Family members felt wronged and tried to argue, but Chen Yuan didn't give them a chance, kicking away the Tian Family member who tried to speak up.

"All of you deny it, huh?"

Chen Yuan lifted his chin and commanded, "Everyone, search their houses!"

Hearing this, Chen family members surged into the Tian family's house like a pack of wolves, wreaking havoc.

The Tian family's communal stove was toppled, and the large pot inside was smashed to pieces.

Cabinets, large jars, and beds were turned over. They were thrown out of the house.

With blood everywhere and the Tian family members, bruised and swollen-faced, crying intermittently, along with the sound of smashing from the house, the villagers suddenly felt a sense of sorrow shared by all.

"Chen Da, look what I found?"

A Chen family member turned up an elm wood bow from inside Tian Xiaohu's room and handed it to Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan caught the bow and looked it over, "This is my brother's bow. Why is it here with you?"

As Tian Xiaohu stared at the unfamiliar bow, even he could comprehend, "Chen Yuan, you're bloody framing me!!"

Chen Yuan lifted his eyelid and said, "According to the laws of Great Zhou, anyone who commits murder pays ten strings of coins and serves three months if they are commoners; twenty strings of coins and demotion for officials; a hundred strings of coins and conscription for doctors and martial artists; craftsmen are executed and their families enslaved."

"You killed my two brothers. All Tian family members shall be reduced to slaves."

At this moment, Chen Yuan revealed his dagger.

Tian Xiaohu, like a sick tiger caged, began to struggle violently, "Chen Yuan, you will not die a good death, none of your Chen family will. You killed my cousin first, then harmed our entire Tian family, I won't let you off even as a ghost."

Despite Tian Xiaohu's curses, Chen Yuan ignored him and pressed the Tian family members, "We've only found a bow. Do you have other accomplices who harmed my brother?"

The falsely accused Tian family had no such accomplices.

Yet Chen Yuan was not satisfied: "Hmm? Speak up!"

"Chen Da, I have something to say." Just then, Chen Dahu seemed to remember something.

"What is it? Speak!"

With the current situation, the Chen family had risen to prominence within Hongshan Village.

As someone on the periphery of the Chen family, Chen Dahu felt he had to cling to Chen Yuan and their influence by any means.

He saw through Chen Yuan's actions; their supposed quest for revenge was just a pretext to cause trouble.

Others might not know, but he was aware that according to Great Zhou's laws, laborers involved in a killing must only compensate with their lives and not involve their families.

Chen Yuan and his family wanted to enslave the Tian family to make money.

Remembering Chen Yuan's previous designs on Shen Fang, he stepped forward and said, "On the afternoon Chen Tai and Chen An went to the mountains, I saw Shen Qing returning from behind the mountains, carrying a wild roe deer, his chest bulging out, and he also had an extra bow and arrows."

"Everyone knows Shen Qing's hunting skills are poor. How could he have such large prey? These past couple of days, he's also been sending rabbits and chickens to the bookworm. There's definitely something fishy."

"He must have colluded with the Tian family, killed Er Tai and Xiao An, and that's how he got such a bounty."

Chen Dahu spoke astonishingly.

Upon these words, everyone was shocked, and all eyes turned toward Shen Qing.

Shen Qing was utterly bewildered.

He hadn't expected that while casually enjoying the spectacle, he would suddenly become the spectacle himself.

Chen Yuan, slightly surprised, glanced at Chen Dahu, finding his accusation quite suitable.

He had been worried about not having a chance to drag Shen Qing into the mess to sell off his sister.

It seemed like the solution came while he was merely hoping for it.

Chen Yuan stared at Shen Qing and demanded sharply, "Shen Qing, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Shen Er, present in the crowd, hurriedly defended, "Impossible. My nephew can't even kill a rabbit properly, how could he kill a person?"

"Is that so? Then a search of the house will tell!" said Chen Yuan ominously.

Shen Qing knew without thinking that Chen Yuan was looking to plant evidence on him again.

Regrettably, he didn't need to frame him.

Shen Qing stepped out from behind his uncle Shen Er and said with a smile, "No need for that, I am the one who killed him!"

Already proficient in the Nine Brocade Technique, Shen Qing, seeing all that the Chen family had done, felt a surge of murderous intent.