10: Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

In his quest for martial arts, he had previously come to Qinghe County to inquire.

Qinghe County had a total of three Martial Arts Halls: the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall, the Zhenyuan Martial Arts Hall, and the Changxing Martial Arts Hall.

The tuition fees for both the Zhenyuan and Changxing Martial Arts Halls were forty taels of silver.

However, the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall only required twenty taels.

Although Chen Linsheng did not understand the reason, he didn't care.

His only goal was to obtain a Cultivation Technique and then step onto the Martial Dao using the [spirit book].

Following the address he had inquired about, Chen Linsheng eventually found the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.

The Martial Arts Hall had a wide entrance, with a gilded plaque bearing the words “Yangwei Martial Arts Hall” hanging above the black lacquered gate, flanked by magnificent stone lions, presenting an extraordinary sight.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Upon entering, there was a massive training ground paved with bluestone slabs, where many apprentices in uniform martial attire were practicing, their shouts rising and falling.

A middle-aged man who looked like a steward approached him. After sizing up Chen Linsheng's plain clothing, he asked in a lukewarm tone, “What is it?”

“I've come to register to learn martial arts,” Chen Linsheng stated his purpose directly.

The steward led him to sit down nearby, took out a register, and asked, “Name and place of origin.”

“Chen Linsheng, from Xiaohe Village.”

“Mm.” The steward finished recording, looked up, and said, “The tuition fee is twenty taels.”

Although he was mentally prepared, Chen Linsheng's heart still twitched violently.

Suppressing the ache in his heart, he took out the two silver ingots from his pocket and pushed them forward.

‘I still have five taels left, just enough to pay the autumn tax.’

The steward skillfully weighed the silver, placed it into the counter, and then took out a certificate stamped with the Martial Arts Hall's official seal, handing it to him: “Keep this safe; this is your receipt for payment.”

Holding the light yet weighty piece of paper, Chen Linsheng felt a surge of excitement.

Finally... he had taken this step!

He carefully examined the certificate, wanting to see the specific arrangements, but when his eyes scanned the study duration, he froze.

“Two... two months?” Thinking he had misread it, he quickly looked up and asked the steward, “Sir, is this tuition fee for two months?”

The steward lifted his eyelids and said flatly, “That's right, twenty taels for two months.”

“But... but I heard the other two Martial Arts Halls only charge thirty taels for a whole year!”

Although Chen Linsheng only wanted to acquire an introductory Cultivation Technique, he found it completely unacceptable that the silver he had risked his life to earn was only worth two months of study!

Hearing this, the steward sneered, a hint of arrogance in his voice: “Hmph, how can their crude, shallow techniques be compared to my Yangwei Martial Arts Hall?”

“My Yangwei Martial Arts Hall charges one hundred and twenty taels per year, which is unique in Qinghe County! The Hall Master has decreed that new apprentices must first practice the introductory Cultivation Technique for two months. Only those who meet the standard may stay to continue their advanced studies and pay the subsequent fees. If they fail the assessment after two months, they must leave, and the twenty taels will not be refunded.”

“Given these conditions, the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall still sees a constant stream of visitors, which should tell you the status of this Martial Arts Hall in Qinghe County.”

One hundred and twenty taels!

Chen Linsheng was secretly stunned; this was simply an astronomical figure.

But then he reconsidered: if he could truly learn a superior Cultivation Technique and step onto the Martial Dao sooner, the investment would be worthwhile.

“I see. I apologize for my presumptuousness,” Chen Linsheng suppressed his emotions and nodded in understanding.

Seeing his understanding, the steward's expression softened slightly. He took a wooden token from a drawer and handed it to him: “This is your apprentice identity token. Keep it safe. The introductory Cultivation Technique and the specific rules will be announced during the group lecture ten days from now.”

Chen Linsheng took the wooden token; it felt smooth and warm to the touch, and the words “exerting might” were carved upon it.

Just as he was preparing to leave, a commotion suddenly arose from the other end of the training ground.

He saw several spirited Disciples surrounding a woman as they walked over.

The woman appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old, with a delicate face and a tall, straight figure. She wore a sharp, azure martial uniform and few ornaments, but her eyes held a compelling heroic spirit and coldness.

She walked with a calm gait. Apprentices who were practicing stopped their movements wherever she passed, bowing respectfully and calling her “Third Martial Sister.”

Even from a distance, Chen Linsheng could feel a faint sense of pressure emanating from the Third Martial Sister.

Chen Linsheng's heart trembled, gaining a more intuitive understanding of the strength of a Martial Artist.

“That is the Hall Master's Personal Disciple, ranked third,” the steward explained casually. “The Hall Master and the Senior Brother led a team out a few days ago and have not yet returned. Therefore, the group lecture must be postponed by ten days.”

“Thank you for letting me know, Sir.”

Chen Linsheng withdrew his gaze, having formed a plan in his mind.

Ten days could not be wasted; it was the perfect time to further improve his skills.

He put away the identity token and left the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.

Walking to a deserted, secluded alley, Chen Linsheng quickly slipped inside.

He vigilantly scanned his surroundings, and after confirming he wasn't followed, he immediately took out his disguise materials from his satchel.

This time, he was even more meticulous than before.

Not only did he change his skin tone and eyebrow shape, but he also used paste to alter his facial contours. Then, he tore pieces of clothing from his bundle and stuffed them into his clothes to make his shoulders and back look broader.

He looked into a puddle; the face staring back was completely different from his previous one.

Not only did he look miserable, but his entire demeanor had become dull and ordinary.

Chen Linsheng believed that even the steward from the Martial Arts Hall wouldn't recognize him face-to-face.

“Now, it should finally be foolproof.”

Chen Linsheng murmured, wrapped up the clothes he had changed out of, took a deep breath, and headed toward the North Gate of the county town.

People were constantly coming and going at the North Gate. Chen Linsheng immediately spotted the several gang members wearing wooden tokens marked with the character “Medicine” on their waists, scanning the exiting crowd like hounds.

He sneered internally but kept his face expressionless, mimicking an ordinary villager—slightly hunched back, walking straight ahead with the flow of people.

He could feel a few glances sweeping over him, but they didn't linger.

Seeing that he was about to leave the city smoothly, he relaxed slightly.

However, just then, a slightly anxious Subordinate Leader of the Medicine Gang ran over and whispered, “How is it? Any discoveries?”

One sharp-eyed gang member pointed at Chen Linsheng's retreating figure and hesitated:

“Boss, that... the back looks a bit similar, but the face is completely wrong, and the demeanor...”

Before he could finish speaking, the Subordinate Leader impatiently slapped him on the back of the head and cursed:

“Who cares if it's him or not! Better to arrest the wrong person than let the right one escape! He's just a lowly commoner; won't we know after we grab him and interrogate him? Even if we arrest the wrong person, what can he do to us? Will he dare to resist? Chase him!”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing this, seven or eight gang members immediately rushed toward Chen Linsheng with fierce, menacing looks.

Seeing this, the surrounding pedestrians scattered in terror, their faces showing pity, but no one dared to speak out.

Hearing the shouts and rapid footsteps behind him, Chen Linsheng's face instantly became grim, and a long-suppressed fury shot straight to his head.

He knew the Medicine Gang was tyrannical, but he never expected them to be this shameless!

Without any evidence, based on just a shred of suspicion, they dared to forcibly arrest someone in broad daylight, treating human life like dirt!

The frustration and anger accumulated over the past few days, along with his hatred for the injustice of the world, completely erupted at this moment.

He could tolerate it no longer, nor did he need to!

“Since you are seeking death yourselves, don't blame me!”

Chen Linsheng's heart was filled with killing intent. No longer concealing himself, he burst forth with sudden power, leaping out like a cheetah and sprinting toward a dense patch of woods beside the official road.

“He ran! Quick, chase him!”

When the Medicine Gang members saw Chen Linsheng flee, they were delighted instead of surprised, viewing it as a sign of guilt. They shouted and rushed into the woods, causing pedestrians along the road to scream and scatter.

As soon as he entered the woods, Chen Linsheng was like a fish returning to the sea, using the trees to conceal himself after a few quick movements.

Like an agile monkey, he silently climbed a large tree, completely hidden by the dense foliage. He coldly watched the seven or eight Medicine Gang members cursing and rushing chaotically into the woods.

“Split up and search! That lowly commoner must be hiding!”

Opportunity!

Chen Linsheng's eyes sharpened, and his hand reached for the leather pouch at his waist.

The next moment, several pebbles, like life-taking flying locusts, shot toward the crowd from different angles, accompanied by sharp whistling sounds.

Listening to the sound to determine position, Curved Flying Stones!

“Ah! My eyes!”

“Pfft!”

“My leg! My leg!”

Screams instantly erupted!

Two people had their eyeballs burst open by the pebbles and rolled around tragically, clutching their faces.

Three others were also struck by pebbles in vital points like the knees and wrists, instantly losing their ability to fight and falling to the ground, wailing.

Only the Subordinate Leader reacted the quickest. Hearing the wind, he swung his saber to block, and with a “clang,” he knocked away the pebble aimed at his face. However, the web of skin between his thumb and forefinger was numb from the impact, and his heart was filled with dread.

“He's up there!” the Subordinate Leader roared, furious and shocked.

Just then, a figure plunged from the tree like a specter, aiming straight for a gang member who was about to shout.

The gang member felt a blur before his eyes. The wrist holding his saber was seized by an iron-vice grip; intense pain shot through him, and the weapon changed hands.

Chen Linsheng spun with the momentum, and the cold blade effortlessly sliced across the man's neck, spraying blood!

“You're courting death!”

Another nearby gang member saw this, roared in anger, and chopped down with his saber.

Chen Linsheng didn't even look. The Major Achievement [Cleaver Technique] naturally circulated, and the steel saber he had seized traced a smooth, rounded arc, the saber light forming a curtain!

Impenetrable!

“Clang!”

The gang member felt a force that was both yielding and mighty transmit through his weapon; his saber was directly swept aside, leaving his center exposed.

Chen Linsheng shifted his feet, his body moving like lightning. The miraculous effect of [One Thread Crossing] allowed him to instantly change positions, and the blade reversed in a sweep, causing another person to collapse, clutching his spurting throat.

In the blink of an eye, two of the seven or eight men were dead, and three or four were heavily injured.

The remaining two gang members, seeing how fierce and ruthless Chen Linsheng was—killing people like slicing vegetables—were so scared their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and they turned to run.

“Trying to run?”

Chen Linsheng's eyes were cold, and the pebbles in his hand shot out again.

“Crack!”

“Ah!”

The pebbles accurately broke the leg bones of the two men, causing them to scream and fall to the ground.

The only person left standing on the scene was the Subordinate Leader.

He was shocked and terrified, but his viciousness was primarily triggered. Seeing Chen Linsheng's exceptional skill, he violently tore open his outer garment, revealing a black piece of hard leather armor underneath. He sneered, “You little bastard, you've got some skill! But I'm wearing armor. Let's see how you break...”

Before he finished speaking, he intended to draw Chen Linsheng to attack his chest, thereby looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

However, Chen Linsheng never showed mercy when killing, nor did he waste words.

The instant he tore his clothes, Chen Linsheng moved!

The power within his body surged, all of it pouring into the steel saber in his hand. His figure shot out like an arrow leaving the bowstring, the tip of the saber aimed directly at the leather armor!

Armor-Breaking Strike!

The saber light condensed, carrying an unstoppable sharpness!

“Puch—!”

There was no anticipated clash of metal, only the dull sound of a sharp blade tearing leather and slicing through flesh!

The hard leather armor, on which the Subordinate Leader had pinned his hopes, was sliced open effortlessly down the middle, like paper, before the [Armor-Breaking Strike]!

The blade continued with irresistible force, its momentum undiminished, directly cleaving the Subordinate Leader in two from chest to abdomen!

Blood and internal organs spilled onto the ground. The sneer on the Subordinate Leader's face froze, transforming into extreme terror and disbelief, before his consciousness plunged into eternal darkness.

Chen Linsheng stood with his saber held horizontally, his chest slightly rising and falling.

His gaze swept over the heavily injured gang members on the ground, and then, with swift movements of his hand and saber, he finished them off one by one.

Chen Linsheng stood amidst the wreckage and corpses, his eyes still cold.

He quickly searched a few of the bodies, taking the scattered silver and the ruined leather armor he found. Then, his figure flashed, and he darted into the woods, disappearing after a few leaps.