6: Chapter 6 Water Ghost? Cut it down!

The Water Ghost clearly hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary "prey" to possess such terrifying strength; despite pulling with all its might, the opponent remained as steady as Mount Tai.

A flash of astonishment crossed its murky eyes, which was immediately replaced by endless, venomous malice.

"Heh—!"

The Water Ghost let out a roar that didn't sound human. The sound was like fingernails scratching glass—sharp and ear-piercing—and it carried a spiritual shock wave enough to make an ordinary person lose their mind and soul.

But who was Lin Feng?

He was a ruthless man who had started his journey face-to-face with a zombie in a mass grave! This bit of mental pollution was nothing more than a gentle breeze to him.

"Trying to call my soul? Your voice is hideous!"

Instead of retreating, Lin Feng advanced. He allowed those ghostly hands to tightly grip his ankles as he lunged his body forward.

He wasn't trying to jump into the well; rather, he used the momentum of the forward lunge to transform the Hundred-Refined Steel Saber in his hand into a bolt of lightning that tore through the night!

There were no wasted movements, only extreme speed and precision!

[2.7x Critical Hit triggered!]

Swish!

The blade light flashed!

A soft sound, like cloth being torn, echoed in the air.

The Water Ghost's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. On its hideous, distorted face, the expression of malice instantly froze, replaced by a look of blankness and disbelief.

A thin line of blood extended from its forehead all the way down to its chin.

The next moment.

Pfft!

The Water Ghost's entire head split neatly into two along the midline. Dark green, foul-smelling blood and brain matter exploded, splashing everywhere onto the well walls.

The ghostly hands gripping Lin Feng's ankles lost all strength and slid off limply. The headless torso fell back into the well with a splash, sending out ripples. It soon went silent, leaving behind only a well of filth.

[Ding! Successfully slain a First-Tier Demon: Water Ghost!]

[Critical Hit Multiplier increased to 3x! Gained 150 Critical Points!]

"Whew..."

Lin Feng slowly straightened up and shook the foul blood off his blade. Feeling the Critical Hit Multiplier on the System panel jump from 2.7 to 3 and seeing his Critical Points increase to 200 (50+150), he felt a wave of satisfaction.

This Chief Constable Li Gang is truly a good man!

He delivers exactly what I lack. I should give him a 'Best Logistics Award' later.

To prevent the Water Ghost's corpse from causing any more trouble and to have evidence for his report...

Lin Feng found a rope and a hook and, enduring the stench, fished the headless corpse and the two halves of the head out of the well.

By the time he finished, the horizon was already turning the color of a fish's belly.

When the first ray of morning light shone into Willow Alley, the residents who hadn't slept all night cautiously pushed open their doors and windows, witnessing a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

They saw the young Constable Lin, covered in bloodstains, holding a hideous demon head split in two in one hand and dragging a similarly mangled corpse with the other. He walked out of the alley step by step, facing the rising sun.

In the eyes of the crowd, that figure looked like a Heavenly God descending to earth!

"It's... it's dead?"

"That Water Ghost... was killed by Lord Lin!"

"Heavens! Lord Lin is truly our savior!"

After a brief silence, the entire Willow Alley erupted in thunderous cheers and weeping. Countless commoners rushed out of their homes, kneeling and bowing to Lin Feng's retreating back, weeping with gratitude.

Overnight, Lin Feng's prestige in the south of the city reached its peak!

...

County Yamen.

When Lin Feng appeared before the other constables dragging the Water Ghost's corpse, the entire yamen courtyard fell silent.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the strangely shaped demon corpse and at Lin Feng's face, which was stained with blood yet as calm as still water. The shock in their hearts was beyond words.

Another demon case!

And solved by one person overnight again!

This kid... what kind of monster is he?

Chief Constable Li Gang received the news and hurried out of his office. The moment he saw the Water Ghost's corpse, the color drained from his face, making him look whiter than a dead man.

The certain-death trap he had meticulously designed had not only failed to kill Lin Feng, but had once again become a stepping stone for the other's rapid rise!

This time, Lin Feng didn't even need to promote himself. The rescued people from the south of the city spontaneously beat gongs and drums, and even pooled their money to make a banner that read "Exterminating Demons for the Dao, Protecting the People." They brought it to the yamen in a grand procession, specifically naming Lin Feng to thank him.

With things reaching such a scale, it was impossible for Magistrate Zhao Dehai not to know.

He held court again and highly praised Lin Feng in front of everyone in the yamen. Not only did he reward him with another hundred taels of silver, but he also publicly announced that the yamen's limited monthly quota of cultivation resources would be tilted in Lin Feng's favor.

This immediately ignited the jealousy of certain individuals.

"On what grounds! He's a newcomer, why should he get so many rewards and resources!"

In the crowd, a burly constable with a face full of scars couldn't help but roar in a low voice.

His name was Zhao Hu, and he was Chief Constable Li Gang's cousin's nephew. He had always been a bully in the yamen, considering himself the number one among the younger generation.

Relying on his Body Tempering level four cultivation and his relationship with Chief Constable Li Gang, Zhao Hu often bullied his colleagues. He had long been annoyed by Lin Feng, this sudden "celebrity."

Now, seeing Lin Feng completely overshadow him and even about to take away the cultivation resources that should have belonged to him, the fire of jealousy in his heart could no longer be suppressed.

After the court session was dismissed, Zhao Hu took a few lackeys and aggressively blocked Lin Feng's path on the way to the Martial Arts Field.

"You, surnamed Lin, stop right there!"

Zhao Hu raised his chin and looked at Lin Feng through his nostrils with a provocative expression.

"Don't think you're something special just because you killed two low-level demons. We veterans have worked hard for so many years, and our record books are full. Why should a green brat like you take all the benefits the moment you arrive?"

Lin Feng glanced at him. He remembered this man; relying on Chief Constable Li Gang, he acted like a tyrant in the yamen—he was just a brainless brute.

"What are you trying to say?"

Lin Feng asked calmly.

"I'm saying, you're not worthy!"

Zhao Hu took a step forward, glaring at Lin Feng with spit flying everywhere.

"The yamen's resources are for those with strength! What right does a guy like you, who rose up through luck, have? Do you dare to spar with me on the Martial Arts Field? If you can take three of my punches, I'll admit you're qualified and stay out of your way from now on! If you can't, then obediently hand over the reward silver and resources you just got!"

It was blatant provocation and robbery.

The surrounding constables watching the excitement grew in number. Even Chief Constable Li Gang pretended to be "passing by," standing not far away with his arms crossed, watching coldly.

He was just worrying about not finding an excuse to suppress Lin Feng, and his stupid nephew had delivered himself to the door.

Zhao Hu was at the Bone Refining Stage of Body Tempering level four; his bones and muscles had long been polished to be incredibly hard, difficult for ordinary blades to injure. In his view, no matter how much of a Prodigy Lin Feng was, he was at most at Body Tempering level two or three. Against Zhao Hu, he would surely lose!

This was the perfect opportunity to cripple Lin Feng and let him know who really called the shots in the Qingyang County Yamen!

Facing Zhao Hu's bluster, Lin Feng smiled.

He was just worrying about having nowhere to use his strength, and someone had offered their face up.

"Three punches?" Lin Feng shook his head.

Zhao Hu thought he was afraid and laughed triumphantly. "What? Scared? If you're scared, then kneel down and kowtow, and call me Lord Hu..."

"No."

Lin Feng interrupted him, his smile carrying a hint of playfulness. "What I mean is, it's too much trouble."

"To deal with trash like you, one move is enough."