Chapter 46
"Six, why did we just let it go like that?"
The two thuggish followers walked alongside Six, puzzled.
"Let it go!? Pah!"
Six spat on the ground, his face fierce.
"I knew it! There's no way Six would just let this slide!"
"That kid is still a temporary constable for the Town Guard. If we caused trouble in his courtyard during the day, things could escalate, and we might end up worse off! Instead of that, it's better to settle the score tonight!"
"So Six is planning to..." One of the followers leaned in cautiously, making a specific hand gesture.
Six turned to look back at the Chen family courtyard, a cold sneer on his face.
Wait until tonight, and you'll see what's coming for you!
That Chen kid has the protection of being a temporary constable for the Town Guard. If we caused trouble during the day and things got out of hand, we might not come out on top. But at night...
At night, who would know who did what!? Even if they knew, where's the evidence?
"Erya, if something like this happens again, you must protect yourself first. If they want money, just give it to them."
Chen Ping'an carefully helped Chen Erya up, his heart aching as he spoke.
"That's the money you worked so hard to earn, brother! It's for important things in the future. I can't just give it to them!" Chen Erya, who had been putting on a brave face earlier, now couldn't help but feel wronged. "There were over two taels of silver in that pouch, and he took all of it!"
"It's okay, it's okay, Erya." Chen Ping'an hugged Chen Erya tightly, comforting her.
"Brother~" The little girl couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
No matter how strong she tried to be, no matter how grown-up she acted, she was still just a nine-year-old child. Scenes like the one she had just experienced might sound simple, but in reality, even some adults would struggle to recover from such an ordeal, let alone Chen Erya.
"It's all small stuff. It'll pass." Chen Ping'an gently patted the little girl's back.
As he held his sister, his eyes turned cold as he looked at the overturned food and the mess in the courtyard.
He had told his sister that if it happened again, she should just give them the money. But in his heart, there wouldn't be a next time.
He wouldn't allow himself to let Chen Erya go through something like that again.
If cultivating martial arts couldn't protect his family, then what was the point of it?
After comforting Chen Erya for a while, the little girl's emotions slowly stabilized. She looked at the mess and the food scattered everywhere, feeling a bit heartbroken. "All this food is wasted."
"It's okay, Erya," Chen Ping'an said with a smile. "It's just food."
"But... we used up almost all the groceries we bought today. Now we only have a few eggs left at home." Chen Erya sounded a little down.
"We'll make do with something simple tonight. Tomorrow, we'll have a feast!" Chen Ping'an tried to lighten the mood. "Erya, you go ahead and start cooking. I'll clean up here."
"Mm." The little girl nodded.
Dinner that night was simple: two bowls of rice and a large plate of scrambled eggs.
After dinner, Chen Ping'an began practicing the Locust Stone technique. Chen Erya watched from the side, though she often seemed lost in thought, as if pondering something.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The rhythmic sound of stones hitting the wall echoed, and the white marks on the wall had almost merged into a single white patch.
As time passed, experience symbols continued to flash before his eyes.
+1!
+1!
+1!
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Peak of the second level of Qi and Blood
Martial Arts: Iron Shirt (Mastered), Locust Stone (Beginner, 15/15)
"Enough experience points!"
Seeing the faint "+" sign, Chen Ping'an focused his mind and clicked on it without hesitation.
Whoosh~
Tiny specks of starlight once again flowed into Chen Ping'an's brow. At the same time, a flood of insights and experiences related to the Locust Stone technique—its techniques, applications, and clever variations—surged into his mind.
Locust Stone—Small Achievement!
In addition to improvements in technique and skill, the Qi and Blood in Chen Ping'an's body began to boil. The energy circulated through his body, connecting and strengthening his tendons.
At this moment, his body was undergoing a miraculous transformation.
After about ten breaths, the boiling Qi and Blood in Chen Ping'an's body gradually calmed down.
"The third level of Qi and Blood—Tendon Transformation—is complete!"
Feeling the unified strength coursing through his body, Chen Ping'an was filled with boundless confidence. It was as if even a mountain of rocks stood in his way, he could punch through it with a single strike.
With a slight flex of his body, a series of cracking sounds echoed—this was the sound of his tendons resonating, a sign that he had reached the Tendron Transformation level.
Tendon Transformation—strength of a thousand pounds!
"A gentleman's revenge may take ten years, but for me, ten years is too long. Revenge is best served tonight!"
Chen Ping'an glanced at Chen Erya, who was still weighed down by worry, and made up his mind.
Tiger Run Alley, a Tiger Head Gang outpost. Though it was more accurate to say it was Six's home.
For small-time gang leaders like Six, their own homes often doubled as gang outposts.
Six had been brooding over the earlier incident. After leaving the Chen household, he collected the monthly fees from a few more homes. Then he bought plenty of food and drinks, and with his two followers, he feasted at his place. After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them lounged around, chatting.
"Six, that Chen kid really disrespected you. How are we going to deal with him later?"
One of the followers, a thug with a buzz cut, spoke with a slightly red, drunken face.
"How else? He disrespected Six like that—just kill him!" the other thug said.
"He's still a Town Guard constable. Killing him would cause too much trouble. Let's just leave him with some scars to teach him a lesson!" Six downed a large bowl of wine in one gulp. "Oh, and that little sister of his. She's young, but that won't stop us from having some fun."
"Six, you're the best!" The two followers cheered in unison.
The three of them continued eating snacks, drinking, burping, and boasting as they waited for midnight to arrive.
"A bunch of scum, deserving of death!"
Outside the house, standing silently in the courtyard, Chen Ping'an's face darkened as he listened to the conversation inside.
He wore a hood over his head, his presence completely unnoticed.
Having reached the third level of Qi and Blood—Tendon Transformation—not only had his strength increased dramatically, but his control over his body had also improved significantly. He could move silently, infiltrating this place without a sound.
After observing for a while and confirming that there were only three people inside, Chen Ping'an didn't hesitate any longer. He kicked the door open and burst in.
"Who's there!?"
Although Six had been drinking, he was still a martial novice. Hearing the noise, he jolted awake and stood up.
At the same time, Chen Ping'an's fist slammed into the thug closest to the door.
A bone-cracking sound echoed as the thug's chest caved in, his internal organs rupturing.
Blood splattered, instantly soaking his clothes.
"Ugh... ugh..." The thug collapsed to the ground, his survival instincts driving him to struggle, but it was futile.
At the same time, the other thug, the one with the buzz cut, was swept off his feet by a kick from Chen Ping'an.
The sheer force behind the kick was something the thug couldn't withstand. The power was so immense that his leg bone snapped instantly.
In just a few seconds, the two Tiger Head Gang thugs had been rendered helpless.
Chen Ping'an, now at the third level of Qi and Blood, was on a completely different level from ordinary people.