16: A river of blood

Chapter 16

The six people who arrived.

They were all elites of the Black Tiger Gang, most of whom had participated in life-and-death struggles.

Ma Jun was the strongest among them, having reached the third layer of the Body Tempering Realm, while the others all possessed the strength of the second layer of the Body Tempering Realm.

However, Ma Jun, who had been so smug just a moment ago, was instantly pinned to the doorpost by an arrow.

At the same time, he let out a pig-like shriek.

"Ah..."

"Who is it..."

"Get out here, you bastard!"

Ma Jun cried out in pain, simultaneously reaching out to pull out the arrow stuck in his chest.

But the arrow's force was too strong; it had passed through his body and was lodged in the doorpost. Several attempts only resulted in tearing pain, and the arrow remained motionless.

"Grab that woman!"

Ma Jun also realized at this moment.

No matter who attacked, as long as Cheng Yurou was captured now, it would be akin to seizing the initiative and possessing a death-exemption token.

The others immediately understood as well.

But they had only rushed out two steps.

Then several arrows pierced through the heels of the five men.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The five old members of the Black Tiger Gang were all knocked to the ground at this moment. The excruciating pain after being shot made all five of them let out pig-like screams.

As the five men lay on the ground, another volley of arrows rained down from the sky.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

They accurately shot through the heads of the five men, blood flowed everywhere, and the painful screams ceased abruptly.

At this point, Cheng Yurou also recovered.

She looked fiercely at Xu Ying; these people were all brought by Xu Ying.

After finally having a beautiful and happy future with Xiao Chen, this old woman dared to come and ruin it.

Cheng Yurou changed from her previous gentleness.

She even picked up a stone brick from beside the pool and smashed it towards Xu Ying's head.

"You slut!"

Cheng Yurou hit Xu Ying's face with a stone brick. Xu Ying was just an ordinary person who had not Cultivated. She usually relied on her identity as the village chief's wife to be overbearing and shrewish. Now, being hit by a brick, her nose bled profusely, her entire face instantly became distorted, and Xu Ying was dazed and dizzy from the blow.

But her usual arrogance also made Xu Ying instantly turn into a wild beast.

"You little slut, how dare you hit me..."

Before Xu Ying could finish speaking, Cheng Yurou swung the brick and quickly smashed it three more times repeatedly at Xu Ying's face until Xu Ying fell to the ground, barely alive, before she stopped.

This was what Xiao Chen taught her.

Strike while the iron is hot, don't celebrate too early.

Although Cheng Yurou didn't know what champagne was, she could guess that it probably meant not to celebrate prematurely.

Finally, a figure descended from the sky.

Jiang Chen's figure landed in the courtyard.

"Rou'er, how are you?"

Jiang Chen came to Cheng Yurou's side, looking at her hands, which were scraped by the brick, his eyes filled with heartache.

"I... I'm fine..."

Cheng Yurou felt Jiang Chen's concern, and while secretly delighted, there was also a hint of shyness, after all, there were still so many people watching.

There was even a disfigured Xu Ying on the ground.

Jiang Chen looked at Xu Ying's miserable state and sighed inwardly, thinking that Cheng Yurou also had a bit of a fierce side to her.

He had heard the commotion earlier and didn't have time to rush back; the arrows he shot were from nearly two hundred zhang away.

The arrows arrived before the person.

It was a good thing he had a bow and arrows, otherwise, it would have been troublesome.

At this moment, Ma Jun, seeing the corpses all over the ground, and the previously gentle Cheng Yurou, who had suddenly erupted and beaten Xu Ying with a brick, felt as if the world had changed.

"Kid, you've got guts! How dare you kill my Black Tiger Gang's men!"

"But even if you kill me, it's useless. Tomorrow, when my Black Tiger Gang's experts arrive, they'll first sweep two of your streets! Then they'll wipe out your entire village! You two will definitely not escape!"

"Release me now, and everything will be fine."

"Your only way to survive is in my hands."

Ma Jun now understood the situation and immediately showed disdain.

In his opinion, Jiang Chen definitely wouldn't dare to kill him.

Because he was different from the others.

Otherwise, he would absolutely not be able to withstand the wrath of the Black Tiger Gang.

Clang!

Jiang Chen pulled out a short knife from among the five corpses on the ground.

Then he sharpened it on a whetstone.

Ma Jun's heart skipped a beat when he saw Jiang Chen sharpening the knife, preparing to strike.

Because he noticed that Jiang Chen wasn't sharpening the blade to make it keen.

Instead, he was dulling the blade.

"You... what do you want to do!?"

Ma Jun gasped, and although he was taller, Jiang Chen, at this moment, appeared to him like a true demon.

"Help me deliver a message to your gang leader."

"In your next life, be more careful."

Jiang Chen came before Ma Jun and slowly said.

Ma Jun's first reaction upon hearing this was that he would live.

But then his second reaction was, 'If it's just a message, why are you holding a knife?'

Before Ma Jun could even open his mouth to ask.

Jiang Chen had already plunged the knife into Ma Jun's throat.

Ma Jun's eyes widened instantly.

Blood continuously gushed from the wound.

The dulled knife, slit horizontally.

Ma Jun could even hear the sound of his blood vessels being forcefully severed.

His body twitched uncontrollably.

Ma Jun's eyes were wide, and in them, there was always a hint of disbelief.

Didn't you say you'd let me deliver a message... "Kill Value + 1"

There was a System prompt in his mind.

Xu Ying, who had suddenly fainted on the ground, trembled. Cheng Yurou, seeing this, quickly raised the brick, ready to smash it onto Xu Ying's head.

But Jiang Chen stopped her.

"I'll do it."

After saying that, he stomped on Xu Ying's head, crushing it.

Before, Jiang Chen might have tried to avoid some risks.

But now, there was no need to hide anymore.

A mere Black Tiger Gang posed no threat; when he went to town, he would casually eliminate the Black Tiger Gang.

As for Xu Ying and the others, they trespassed into a private residence in broad daylight and brutally committed violence.

According to the Dynasty's laws, Jiang Chen's actions were self-defense.

Since yesterday, Jiang Chen had gained a deeper understanding and experience of a world where Martial Dao reigns supreme.

No one cares about the lives of the weak.

How a weak person dies.

No one will dig into the details.

Unless you have a powerful background.

But clearly, Xu Ying was not, Ma Jun was not, and even the village chief, Jiang De, was not!

Since one is born in this Martial Dao world, the path forward is destined to be filled with bloodshed.

One must endure when it is necessary.

But when it's time to act, one must never be soft-hearted.

"Why is there only six Kill Value?"

Jiang Chen glanced at his panel.

Including Xu Ying, there were a total of seven people.

But he only got six Kill Value.

Apparently, killing Xu Ying just now did not provide Kill Value.

It should be that his Realm has improved, so the target Rank for obtaining Kill Value has also increased accordingly.

Many villagers gathered around.

But when they saw that the Black Tiger Gang members had all been killed, they all cheered and applauded.

"Great, Xiao Chen did a splendid job!"

"He truly is the hero of our village!"

"Kill these beasts!"

In these years, the village chief's family, in secret alliance with the Black Tiger Gang, had not spared their fellow villagers from exploitation. Everyone was angry but dared not speak. Even knowing these people were secretly colluding, they were helpless and could only be slaughtered obediently.

"Xiao Chen, there's a small slope north of the village, and below the slope is a culvert. If you throw the bodies there, they'll rot away in a few days..."

"Alright, alright, thank you everyone."

Jiang Chen dispersed the onlookers, then put the bodies into sacks and carried them out to dispose of them.

He didn't care if anyone would investigate; he just threw them away first, otherwise, the courtyard would get dirty.

Although they were moving to town tomorrow, this was still the old house, and it shouldn't be ruined.

Jiang Chen's name was still on the house deed.

Fortunately, although Cheng Yurou was physically delicate, her personality was quite strong. Even facing this bloody scene, she quickly adapted and wasn't scared stiff; instead, she meticulously washed the ground and packed their luggage.

By the time they finished tidying up, it was already dark.

The two simply rested for the night.

The next morning.

The two came to the graves of Jiang Dalei and Jiang Da An and offered sacrifices.

Then they boarded the donkey cart heading to the market. Their luggage wasn't complicated, just two boxes.

Although Cheng Yurou really wanted to take some bedding and such, Jiang Chen said they would buy those things in town.

Cheng Yurou thought that if it was difficult to make a living in town, it would be convenient to return then, so she left them at home.

Jiang Chen looked back at Da Huai Village, where he had lived for eighteen years.

Once he left, he didn't know when he would be able to return.

In a daze, he seemed to see a dark, snowy dawn, Jiang Dalei, thin and frail, holding a baby, wrapping his coat around the child, and stepping with almost frozen feet into Da Huai Village.