Chapter 20 There Are Always People Who Want To Harm Me

The magistrate of Changqing County might be furious, but those beneath him saw things differently.

To them, it wasn’t their son who had died—it was Zhao Shuanghe’s. Making money was far more important.

Besides, considering how terrifying the criminal’s combat record was, what would happen if they actually found him? Stumbling upon a demon-like figure in a dark room? 

Wouldn’t that just mean they were the next to die?

Only a fool would take orders seriously in such a situation. It was better to just turn a blind eye.

The storm was easily avoided, and Jiang Su’e quickly spoke up: 

"Young man, you should leave this troubled place as soon as possible!"

"Zhao Shuanghe is extremely vengeful. If you so much as provoke him, he’ll take ruthless revenge—let alone when his son has been killed?!"

"And a major case like this is bound to alert higher authorities, which will only bring more trouble!"

There weren’t any truly powerful martial artists in Changqing County, but Guanghan Prefecture, one level higher, was an entirely different matter.

"Yes…" Wu Haisheng agreed, nodding as he offered Chen Zhou some advice. 

"Perhaps we can hire a carriage and escort you out of the city together?"

Jiang Su’e shook her head. "A carriage is too conspicuous. The inspections at every city entrance must be strict right now. It wouldn’t be safe."

The couple was doing their best to help him, but Chen Zhou, the one most involved, simply sighed.

"When will the cycle of revenge ever end? It’s better to root out the problem at its source…"

Jiang Su’e and Wu Haisheng were stunned. Was he not planning to run away?

Sure enough, Chen Zhou continued: 

"Thank you both for your kindness, but there’s no need for me to leave. I still have things to do here."

Zhao Shuanghe was vengeful? So was Chen Zhou.

He wasn’t the type to hold grudges, but some short-sighted fools kept forcing his hand.

First, he had barely escaped one predicament, only to be thrown into another. The Han Mansion, Zhao Jing, the Black Tiger Gang, and now the county magistrate himself…

Why were there always people who wanted to make trouble for him?!

He had only just awakened [Fourth Calamity], and he wasn’t about to let this injustice stand.

Instead of waiting for his enemies to strike, it was better to take the initiative and clear them out first.

Besides, he could earn a considerable number of good deed points in the process. Letting these people live would be disrespectful to the "Record of Merits" in his mind.

Time to get started.

Jiang Su’e and Wu Haisheng realized his intentions. Their benefactor was truly fearless. Even in this situation, instead of escaping, he was planning to keep killing…

They were just ordinary people and had no way to influence his decision. Jiang Su’e could only say, "Benefactor, if you insist on doing this, please be careful…"

Chen Zhou nodded, then turned to Wu Haisheng. "Old Wu, you were a martial artist once. You must be familiar with the martial arts schools in Changqing County, right?"

"I know them well," Wu Haisheng nodded.

"Then tell me, which ones are the strongest, and where are they located?"

At present, Chen Zhou had only mastered a single basic martial art, "Thirteen Deadly Spears." His martial arts resources were lacking.

Against the likes of Lin County Lieutenant and the others, he hadn’t even used martial arts—he had relied purely on his talents, [Conquering People with Virtue] and [Fourth Calamity].

But now, with his accumulating good deed points, it was time to strengthen his abilities. That way, when he attacked the county government, he’d be even safer.

"Alright," Wu Haisheng explained. "There are three martial arts schools in Changqing County: Black Tiger Martial Arts School, Jisheng Martial Arts School, and Jingwu Hall."

"Black Tiger Martial Arts School is run by the Black Tiger Gang, and its owner is the gang leader."

"Jisheng Martial Arts School has branches in every county across Guanghan Prefecture and is said to be very influential."

"Jingwu Hall, on the other hand, has no major backing or territory. In fact, it’s run by a single person. But in my opinion, it’s the strongest of the three."

Chen Zhou nodded. He understood Wu Haisheng’s reasoning. In a chaotic place like Changqing County, those without power or connections wouldn’t survive.

The magistrate wielded absolute power, and the Black Tiger Gang acted as his enforcers. It was difficult for independent martial artists to operate here.

Yet Jingwu Hall, with no backing, had still managed to take root. That alone spoke volumes about its owner’s strength.

Wu Haisheng continued, "I studied martial arts at Jingwu Hall before. Back then, many people caused trouble when it first opened. The owner dealt with them all single-handedly."

"She’s a kind person, treats every student equally, and charges fair fees."

Wu Haisheng clearly respected the owner of Jingwu Hall. But Chen Zhou wasn’t concerned about her character.

He wasn’t looking for a teacher. He only needed to determine whether someone was worth sparing—or worth eliminating for good deed points.

If Wu Haisheng believed Jingwu Hall was the strongest, then it was worth investigating.

……

As night fell, Jingwu Hall remained lively.

In the simple, dirt-floored martial arts arena, students trained hard before wooden dummies, their sweat glistening under dim lantern light.

Both men and women trained here—common folk from Changqing County who worked during the day and squeezed out whatever time they could at night.

They weren’t aiming to become grandmasters. They just wanted to learn a few moves to protect themselves.

On a high platform at one end of the training ground, a woman in black martial robes stood with her hands behind her back.

She had a strikingly beautiful face and an air of sharpness, like a drawn blade. 

At first glance, no one would suspect that this seemingly young woman—no older than twenty—was the owner of Jingwu Hall: Lin Yujing.

Standing atop the platform, she watched her students carefully, sometimes nodding in approval, sometimes giving pointers.

The students, grateful for her guidance, looked up to her with admiration.

After training, they gathered to chat. Tonight, there was only one topic of conversation—the Han family massacre.

"Do you all know who did it?" A young man in the center of the group spoke excitedly, eager to show off his inside knowledge.

"Who?!"

"Tell us already!"

The crowd leaned in, eager to hear.

Smug with the attention, the young man proudly announced: "It was the Han family’s brother-in-law. People saw him carrying a spear toward the mansion this morning!"

"On the way, he killed a few Black Tiger Gang thugs. Then the gang came after him—but he killed them too. Even their deputy leader was taken down!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

"Hahaha! Great news!"

"Double the celebration!"

"I’m killing a chicken for dinner tonight!"

For a moment, the training ground was filled with laughter and celebration.

Over time, the people of Changqing County had developed a habit of keeping their opinions to themselves. However, in Jingwu Hall, they felt at ease.

There was no oppression from the authorities here, and the owner, Lin Yujing, was approachable and firmly stood with the common people.

"Is the Han family's son-in-law really that powerful? I remember he was considered a fool, wasn't he?" someone asked skeptically.

Another person immediately objected, "What fool? He was just a wise man playing dumb!"

"Exactly! He got rid of a great menace in our city in one swift move. He’s a hero!"

"I swear, if that son-in-law escapes to my house, I’ll treat him like an honored guest—no, like an ancestor!"

"Yeah, right! If he really showed up at your door, you’d probably be scared out of your mind!"

Laughter erupted once again. Lin Yujing, standing silently to the side, listened to their chatter and couldn’t help but smile.

Just then, she noticed several constables approaching from a distance.

"Ahem." Lin Yujing cleared her throat softly, and in an instant, the room fell silent as if responding to an unspoken command.

The laughter ceased, and the students quickly straightened up, their expressions turning serious. It was reminiscent of a classroom suddenly quieting when a teacher walked in.

Moments later, the constables arrived at the entrance of the martial arts hall. They clasped their fists in greeting toward Lin Yujing before formally announcing:

"By order of the county magistrate, a curfew is now in effect throughout Changqing City. All residents must return home immediately. Anyone lingering in the streets will be charged with disturbing the peace!"

......

The crowd soon dispersed, leaving Lin Yujing alone in the vast martial arts hall. She closed the door and walked toward the backyard.

Having been established in Changqing County for years, Lin Yujing had built an intelligence network of her own. She knew more than most about what had truly happened in the Han family massacre.

The perpetrator was a man named Chen Zhou—the very same man who had once been the Han family’s son-in-law. Just yesterday, he had been expelled from the household, and today, he had wiped out the entire family.

There were many peculiarities surrounding the event. When he was driven out of the Han Mansion, he had been on the brink of death, yet the very next day, he became overwhelmingly powerful.

He had never practiced martial arts before, yet he had single-handedly slain multiple skilled warriors, cutting through them like a storm.

But what troubled Lin Yujing the most was a report from the bailiffs at the scene—Chen Zhou had been shot through the head and chest with crossbow bolts… yet he was still alive.

The first two facts were already difficult to believe, but this last one? It was simply beyond comprehension.

—This is absurd!

And yet… Lin Yujing couldn’t help but wonder—would Chen Zhou’s presence in Changqing County bring even greater upheaval?

Perhaps, amidst the coming chaos, she could seize an opportunity—an opportunity to finally fulfill her long-cherished wish…

Lost in thought, Lin Yujing suddenly halted.

A figure sat casually on the stone bench in her courtyard.

It was a young man in a gray shirt, handsome yet exuding an air of nonchalance. He rested his head against his right hand, his posture relaxed, as though he had been waiting for her.

When did he get here?!

Lin Yujing’s senses sharpened instantly, her guard rising. Meanwhile, the young man seemed amused by her reaction. His warm smile deepened as he greeted her:

"Hello, I’m Chen Zhou. Nice to meet you. Please take care of me!"

Lin Yujing’s heart suddenly began to race!