Trouble for the Zhao Family (Part 1)

[Weighted sprint: strength cap increased by 0.1]

[Weighted sprint: speed cap increased by 0.1]

[Weighted sprint: spirit cap increased by 0.1]

Upon returning to the village, Qin Yan immediately saw three notifications appear. To his surprise, his spirit cap had also increased by 0.1.

He couldn't help pondering whether a combined increase of 0.5 in his stats would raise his spirit by 0.1.

Or perhaps an increase of 0.3 in a single attribute would bring a 0.1 increase in spirit with it.

For now, the relationship between them remained unclear.

Qin Yan decided to wait and see, slowly raising his attribute values. He believed he would soon figure out the pattern.

He was silently turning this over in his mind.

Then a shout came from nearby.

Hearing the familiar voice, Qin Yan turned to see a boy about his age jogging over to him.

"Song Bao, what are you sneaking around for?"

Qin Yan looked at the boy in puzzlement. Song Bao was like a little brother among his peers, and the two were very close.

"Brother Yan, I saw your sister-in-law go back to her parents' home today. I reckon she went looking for her brothers. You'd better be careful!"

Song Bao glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, spoke cautiously.

Qin Yan's expression tightened slightly at the news.

Yesterday, he had been so busy venting his anger that he hadn't thought that far ahead.

But his expression quickly returned to normal, and he smiled at Song Bao. "A-Bao, thanks for the warning!"

He patted Song Bao on the shoulder.

Qin Yan wasn't particularly worried. Zhao He's brothers looked intimidating, but if they really fought, it was anyone's guess who would win.

Of course, he wasn't stupid enough to confront them head-on.

"Brother Yan, what are you going to do now?

"Your sister-in-law's brothers aren't easy to deal with. Why don't you hide in the mountains for a few days?

"It's not like there's much in your place anyway.

"If they can't find you, they won't be able to do anything to you."

Song Bao spoke with some concern.

"Don't worry. I know how to handle it," Qin Yan said calmly.

The flowers bloomed on two stems; let us turn to the other.

Zhao Family Village!

At Zhao He's parents' home, a group of burly men stared in fury at Zhao He, whose head was wrapped up like a zongzi. Their hearts ached for her.

"Father, you have to stand up for me! That Qin Yan has no respect at all for my husband or me, his sister-in-law.

"My husband's still lying in bed. He was almost crippled."

Zhao He wailed as if her parents had died.

Zhao Qinshi was holding her daughter, her heart aching. "That damned little bastard dared to beat my daughter like this! We have to make him pay."

Zhao Qinshi spoke through gritted teeth.

Old Zhao's face darkened, and he took a hard drag on his dry tobacco pipe.

That Qin brat had beaten his daughter into such a state. Did he really think there was no one in the Zhao family to stand up for her?

The Zhao family stood by their own, right or wrong. They could never let this matter rest.

"First, second, fifth, go find a few of your cousins and teach that little bastard Qin Yan a lesson. He dared to hit someone from the Zhao family, so show him what we're made of.

"But be sure to know your limits. Don't blow things out of proportion!"

After pondering for a while, Old Zhao spoke darkly.

"Don't worry, Father. I guarantee I'll put that brat Qin Yan in bed for ten days to half a month."

Zhao Wen thumped his chest and spoke with utter confidence.

After returning to the old house and thinking it over, Qin Yan first took the things he had bought to a mountain hollow behind the village that only he knew about.

He ate the steamed buns, which had gone slightly cool.

A brush knife and a bag of quicklime powder lay before him.

Qin Yan's eyes gradually turned fierce. Since they wanted to make trouble for him, they would naturally have to pay the price.

After finishing the buns, Qin Yan sat on the thick carpet of fallen leaves to recover his strength.

[Qin Yan]

[Talent: Infinite Physique]

Strength: 1.6

Speed: 1.6

Spirit: 1.3

He had now returned to peak condition. His strength and speed of 1.6 had already put his physical fitness well above that of an ordinary person.

With his beginner-level Unlimited Combat on top of that, he could definitely take on five or six people alone without a problem.

If it were a fight to the death and he held nothing back, he was confident he could kill every one of them.

The best defense was offense.

He had to take every advantage of surprise.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Yan tied the lime powder to his waist, slung the brush knife over his shoulder, and headed toward Zhao Family Village.

Banyan Tree Hollow!

This winding stretch of mountain road was the only route from Zhao Family Village to Clear Water Village. Thick vegetation grew all around, with several spots suitable for hiding in ambush.

Shortly after arriving, Qin Yan heard faint voices nearby.

His ears twitched. There were at least seven people.

He looked closely and saw that they weren't carrying any weapons, which would make dealing with them even easier.

"It's a shame there isn't quite enough time. Otherwise, a few traps would have been enough to give them a bellyful."

He sighed inwardly at the missed opportunity.

Qin Yan lightened his steps and quickly hid in a thicket suitable for an ambush.

"That little brat Qin Yan hasn't even grown all his hair yet, and he already wants to turn the heavens upside down.

"Today, we brothers have to loosen his bones for him and avenge our cousin."

The group walked along the road, relaxed.

Qin Yan was just a fourteen-year-old boy. The six of them could handle him easily.

The advantage was theirs; they couldn't see how they could lose.

"I want to cripple one of his legs."

A pair of venomous eyes showed above the bandages covering Zhao He's face. Qin Yan's blow with the teapot had not only broken the bridge of her nose but had nearly disfigured her.

He had to take revenge for this.

"Don't worry, fourth sister. I'll cripple him for you when the time comes!" Zhao Wu, the second Zhao brother, said darkly.

In his younger days, he had learned a trick or two from others. After he injured someone, the damage wouldn't be apparent at first. Without an experienced physician, the injury could easily be left to worsen, and crippled hands and feet were a common result.

"Thank you, second brother." Zhao He's face lit up with delight.

She was already thinking about how she would deal with that little brat Qin Yan later.

Hidden in the thicket, Qin Yan sneered inwardly.

You want to cripple me? I'm afraid you won't get the chance.

The distance between them grew shorter and shorter. Qin Yan already had a large handful of lime powder in his hand as he listened to them talk about how they would deal with him.

Now.

Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Yan sprang from the thicket like a startled rabbit.

His appearance caught the Zhao brothers completely off guard, leaving them staring in shock.

Before any of them could react, the lime powder had already engulfed the two men at the front.

Qin Yan closed in, channeled his strength into the tip of his foot, and drove a rising kick into the groin of the man closest to him, dropping him to his knees on the spot.

Aaaah!

"Second brother!"

It had all happened so suddenly. By the time the others reacted, Zhao Wu was already lying on the ground, howling in pain.

The other man was no better off. Blinded by the lime powder, he rolled on the ground in agony.

"Qin Yan! You little beast!"

Zhao Wen stared at Qin Yan, who had appeared out of nowhere, his eyes bloodshot and his expression utterly ferocious.

Qin Yan, having landed his blow, wore a mocking smile as he ran more than ten meters toward the forest.

He looked back at them and crooked a finger.

It was an enormous taunt, and anger rushed straight to Zhao Wen's and the others' heads.

"Fourth sister, stay here and watch over second brother and Zhao Sheng. Everyone else, come after him with me."

Zhao Wen led the other three burly men straight after Qin Yan into the forest.

I'm going to cripple this brat today!