Deputy Gang Leader Lin had been immersed in martial arts for many years. Even though he was frightened to the point of nearly wetting himself, his body still subconsciously resisted. He stretched out his broad, black palm and aggressively chopped toward Chen Zhou's shoulder.

He practiced Iron Palm Kung Fu. All his skills were concentrated in this pair of iron palms, which was why he had killed Zhao Jing so easily.

But Chen Zhou did not dodge or evade, allowing the palm to strike him.

Bang!

A muffled sound rang out. The palm strike, originally powerful enough to split bricks and shatter rocks, was absorbed as if it had sunk into the sea. It landed on Chen Zhou's body as lightly as a feather.

To an outsider, it might have looked like he was receiving a massage.

Deputy Gang Leader Lin's face filled with astonishment. At the same moment his palm landed, his throat was crushed!

[Eliminated the leader of a second-tier gang. +100 good deeds.]

Deputy Gang Leader Lin, much like Han Jinrong, was a complete villain. The full 100 good deed points pleased Chen Zhou.

Thanks to his [Fourth Calamity] talent, even after being struck by multiple arrows, Chen Zhou remained unscathed. He wouldn’t suffer injuries, let alone a fatal wound.

For him, there was no difference between an arrow striking his body or his head; the same amount of health would be deducted either way.

In the lower-left corner of his vision, Chen Zhou's health bar was no longer full—it had dropped by a quarter.

"This health bar may look short, but it's surprisingly durable. I guess I’ll need to take dozens of arrows before I finally go down. Wow, I really am the legendary king of endurance!"

Chen Zhou sighed. This was precisely why he had chosen to take Deputy Gang Leader Lin’s attack head-on. In his current state under [Fourth Calamity], he could afford to exchange injury for injury—or even life for life!

At the same time that Chen Zhou killed Deputy Gang Leader Lin in a single strike, County Lieutenant Xiao seized the opportunity to turn and flee!

His heart was filled with unprecedented terror.

He had worked in the government for nearly ten years, rising from constable to head constable, and finally to county lieutenant. He had handled hundreds of cases and had seen many horrors... but never anything like this!

This man had survived an arrow to the head—he wasn’t human at all!

The sheer impossibility of the situation shattered Lieutenant Xiao’s will to fight. Nothing else mattered now. His eyes were locked on the gate that grew closer and closer. If he could just make it outside, if he could just escape... he still had hundreds of crossbowmen at his disposal!

He could still turn things around!

Sunlight from outside spilled onto County Lieutenant Xiao, just as he neared the door. He was so close. But then, an overwhelming force surged from behind him—like a tiger’s maw clamping down—gripping his left arm tightly.

Chen Zhou was faster and caught him from behind!

"Sorry, this road is blocked."

The cold voice made County Lieutenant Xiao’s scalp tingle. He didn’t dare turn around. The veins on the back of his right hand bulged as he gripped his sword tightly and slashed backward with all his strength!

The powerful aura of a seventh-level cultivator of the second realm erupted. In this life-or-death crisis, County Lieutenant Xiao’s strike carried the greatest force he had ever mustered.

Clang!

A shockwave of sword energy burst forth. The impact sent a strong feedback through his right hand, causing a sharp pain that nearly made him drop his weapon.

But at the same time, County Lieutenant Xiao could feel his blade strike true—it had severed tendons and bone!

He had just cut off one of Chen Zhou’s hands with a single strike!

"It worked!" County Lieutenant Xiao felt a momentary surge of joy. But his triumph was short-lived—because the massive force gripping his left arm didn’t weaken. Instead, it tightened!

His body was forcefully spun half a circle, and he found himself facing the young man in blue. Chen Zhou stood before him, indifferent, his arms perfectly intact. Not only had his limb not been severed, but there wasn’t even a single wound. Only his sleeve had been torn, exposing a small hole.

"What... how is this possible? I clearly cut off your..."

County Lieutenant Xiao’s horrified words were abruptly silenced as Chen Zhou’s fist slammed into his face!

Bang!

Like an avalanche, the overwhelming force caved in County Lieutenant Xiao’s face, and he crashed to the ground like a fallen boulder!

But Chen Zhou wasn’t done. He stretched his arms as if pulling a bowstring, then launched a flurry of devastating punches, his fists crashing down on Xiao Xianwei like a raging storm!

Chen Zhou didn’t know any sophisticated boxing techniques, but even if he used something as crude as the "Turtle Fist," his sheer strength alone was enough to smash his opponent to death!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of fists striking flesh echoed through the study like firecrackers. Only after another line appeared in the "Record of Merits and Virtues" did Chen Zhou finally stop:

[Eliminated a corrupt official of the second realm. +100 good deeds.]

Chen Zhou let out a breath. In the blink of an eye, both Deputy Gang Leader Lin and County Lieutenant Xiao had been slain.

"Thank you both for showing me the dangers of arrogance. I will remember this lesson."

Chen Zhou spoke solemnly. His path of vengeance had been too smooth, nearly unstoppable. This had made him overconfident. He had been reckless, falling for their trick—killing someone with a borrowed knife.

If he hadn’t awakened [Fourth Calamity], he would already be dead by now.

County Lieutenant Xiao and Deputy Gang Leader Lin had reminded him to be less arrogant and impatient.

Chen Zhou immediately began searching their bodies. Just moments ago, they had searched his; now it was his turn to return the favor.

Unfortunately, apart from money, he found nothing useful. Why didn’t people carry martial arts manuals with them?

Looks like I’ll have to resort to some other tricks.

......

Outside in the courtyard, hundreds of crossbowmen and Black Tiger Gang members stood frozen in place, their expressions filled with shock and confusion.

Less than half a minute after County Lieutenant Xiao and his companion had entered the study, their screams had echoed out.

This caused an instant wave of panic among those present.

What was happening?

Could it be that Chen Zhou had taken them down? Impossible. They had fired so many arrows at him. How could he still be alive?

Everyone turned to the highest-ranking official among them, a middle-aged constable, for guidance. He was the chief constable of Changqing County.

Swallowing his fear, the constable spoke calmly, "Everyone, raise your crossbows and prepare to fire!"

But before they could take aim, a figure staggered out of the study.

It wasn’t County Lieutenant Xiao. It wasn’t Deputy Gang Leader Lin.

It was the last person they wanted to see.

Chen Zhou walked out, his posture upright despite his disheveled clothing, his body covered in blood.

But most shocking of all... were the arrows lodged in his body!

Two arrows pierced his head. Two more were buried in his chest.

Yet he still stood.

For a brief moment, silence gripped the entire Han Mansion courtyard.

Everyone had the same terrifying thought:

Why... why isn’t he dead yet?!