Chapter 2 Feeling Dizzy is Normal (2)

Chen Zhou did not respond; he simply continued swallowing the porridge. He was so hungry that he had no time to concern himself with anything else.

A starving man is no different from an animal.

He drank five bowls of porridge in one go, finally regaining some strength. However, he was still incredibly weak—his illness had left him so frail that he could not even sit up.

As he glanced around, Chen Zhou's eyes suddenly caught sight of something on the table beside him.

After a brief moment of thought, he reached out and discreetly grabbed it.

Tong Lian, oblivious, focused entirely on Chen Zhou, growing bolder by the second.

"Ahem, that's enough, sister-in-law," Chen Zhou coughed. "If you keep this up, I might actually die..."

Tong Lian finally noticed his fragile state. Chen Zhou was far too weak—so weak that he could not even withstand her advances.

"Erlang has been really tortured by Miss Han!

Tong Lian sighed resentfully. Seeing that Chen Zhou looked as though he might die at any moment, she could only give up unwillingly after just a taste.

By the time Shen Mao finally returned, the sky had already darkened. His expression was grim.

"Why did you come back alone? Where are the people from the Han family? Aren't they coming to take Erlang back?"

Tong Lian quickly adjusted her collar, suppressed her panic, and questioned Shen Mao.

Shen Mao did not answer immediately. He glanced at Chen Zhou, lying on the bed, then motioned for Tong Lian to step outside.

"The Han family ordered me to kill Chen Zhou."

When they arrived at the yard, Shen Mao whispered the truth.

"What?" Tong Lian was stunned. "Didn't Erlang say that Miss Han loved him deeply?"

Shen Mao spat on the ground. "Love him? He's a fool! In the Han family, he's treated worse than a dog!"

"But why would they ask you to do it? Erlang is your younger brother!" Tong Lian protested.

Shen Mao's face darkened. "So what if he's my brother?"

He had known from the start that the Han family was a pit of fire, yet he had still thrown Chen Zhou into it.

Tong Lian narrowed her almond-shaped eyes and said coldly, "You fool. Precisely because Erlang is your brother, you should have asked the Han family for more money!"

Hearing this, Shen Mao grinned. "Don't worry about that. The Han family already increased their offer—one hundred taels of silver!"

"That much?"

"Yes! With this money, we can pay off more than half of our debts!"

"In that case… let's get it done!"

Tong Lian made her decision without hesitation. She had been reluctant to part with the pretty boy, but the money was far too tempting.

Shen Mao nodded. "You go stand guard at the gate. I'll take care of it. By the way, how is he now?"

"He's so weak he can't even—cough, cough—anyway, killing him will be as easy as killing a chicken!"

"Alright."

Shen Mao grabbed a rag, soaked it in water, and stepped back inside the house.

Looking at the motionless figure on the bed, Shen Mao suppressed his inner panic and spoke with feigned concern.

"Brother, are you feeling any better?"

There was no response. Chen Zhou's eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady, as if he were asleep.

This made things much easier.

Shen Mao approached the bedside and continued, "Brother, someone as foolish as you will only suffer in life. For the sake of your big brother, rest in peace. Don't worry, I'll burn you some paper money every year."

He chuckled. "Oh, and while you're down there, be sure to bless me so I win every gamble!"

As he spoke, he pressed the wet rag firmly over Chen Zhou's nose and mouth.

At that very moment, Chen Zhou's eyes snapped open.

With all his strength, he swung his right arm, striking Shen Mao's neck.

A crisp pop!

Shen Mao's voice cut off abruptly. A hairpin had pierced his neck—directly into his artery.

Blood gushed out like a fountain. Shen Mao clutched his throat, staring at Chen Zhou in disbelief. His strength drained away like water slipping through fingers.

"You should take care of yourself, my dear brother..."

Some of the spurting blood splattered onto his face, giving his already striking features a sinister touch.

It was his first time killing someone. He should have been horrified, perhaps even nauseated. But he felt nothing—because he knew this was a battle of life and death. Either he killed, or he was killed.

As Shen Mao collapsed lifelessly to the floor, there was no joy in Chen Zhou's expression. Killing Shen Mao wasn't enough. There was still his dear sister-in-law outside. He had succeeded in his surprise attack once, but what should he do next...?

Just as he was racking his brain, the Record of Merits and Virtues in his mind suddenly emitted a golden glow. The ancient book flipped open by itself, and new words appeared on the blank page:

[Help a gambler quit gambling. Good deed value +1. Good deeds can be used to improve martial arts skills.]

What?!

Chen Zhou was momentarily stunned before he recalled that Shen Mao had been a chronic gambler, drowning in debt.

Shen Mao had sold him to the Han family just to pay off those debts. Worse yet, he had even sent Tong Lian to accompany his creditors, treating it as a "payment method."

To be fair, although Tong Lian was unfaithful, she truly loved Shen Mao—she never left him.

Or perhaps… she simply enjoyed it.

Wait, that's not the point...

Still, did this actually count as a good deed?

Thinking about it rationally… it did. After all, a dead man couldn't gamble!

No issues there!

Chen Zhou was baffled by the Record of Merits and Virtues' bizarre logic. However, the book continued to write:

[Since this is your first time using this book, you have unlocked a new martial arts talent.]

A talent?!

Chen Zhou's eyes lit up. A flood of information rushed into his mind.

[Martial Arts Talent: Conquer People with Virtue]

[Conquer People with Virtue (Beginner): Slightly enhances physical constitution. Can be upgraded.]

[Note: Only when you have a strong body will others be willing to listen to you.]

As he acquired the talent, the next moment, Chen Zhou felt a serious illness, which quickly melted away like snow under the scorching sun.

The moment he acquired this talent; his body underwent an astonishing transformation. The sickness that had ravaged him dissolved like snow under the scorching sun. Not only did he recover, but he became healthier and stronger than ever before!

His thin frame swelled with muscle, his body transforming into one of perfect proportion—like a sculpture carved from white jade.

Feeling the raw power coursing through his body, Chen Zhou was so astonished that he nearly gasped aloud.

You call this a "slight improvement"?!

Even in his past life as an overworked corporate slave, he had never felt this good!

...

Meanwhile, Tong Lian was standing at the courtyard gate, scanning the surroundings cautiously. Their village was remote, and with nightfall approaching, no one would be outside.

It should be over by now. After all, Chen Zhou was nothing more than a sickly weakling. It wouldn't take long.

Such a shame for someone with such a pretty face... Tong Lian sighed.

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly heard a thud from inside the house, as if something had fallen.

"Struggling so hard? He can't even—"

Tong Lian smirked, turned her head—and froze.

A tall, striking young man in a white robe was walking toward her with steady strides.

His face was cold, his black eyes indifferent. In his right hand, he held a stone pillow. Her mind went blank.

"Chen Zhou?!"

What's going on? Wasn't he bedridden? How was he suddenly so full of life?

Before she could react, bloodstains on his cheek and the object in his hand made everything horrifyingly clear.

Tong Lian spun around and ran, screaming at the top of her lungs: "Help—!"

Bang!

Before she could finish, a heavy force slammed into the back of her head. Her vision blurred, and she collapsed to the ground.

As her consciousness faded, she heard a soft chuckle: "Nice shot—three points!"

Chen Zhou muttered words she couldn't understand, his steady breathing brushing against her ears. Tong Lian suddenly felt her entire body being lifted as Chen Zhou grabbed her from behind.

At any other time, she might have been overjoyed—but now, all she felt was the sheer terror of impending death.

Because Chen Zhou's right arm was locked tightly around her neck.

"Ahem…"

Tong Lian's face flushed red as she struggled frantically, a choking, guttural sound escaping her throat.

Chen Zhou spoke softly, as if soothing a child:

"Shh... Sister-in-law, be quiet. Just take a deep breath. Feeling dizzy is normal. It'll be over soon."