Certain Kill

This family happened to be Fugui's. Fugui, his face crisscrossed with whip marks, stared in horror at Chen Shi, who had scaled the wall to get in.

Fugui's legs went weak, and he felt an urge to kneel and beg for his life.

Unaware of Fugui's thoughts, Chen Shi looked around and whispered, "Fugui, where are your parents?"

Fugui's parents were not home; he was alone.

Fugui stammered, "Th-they're outside cooking..."

"Cooking?"

Chen Shi frowned slightly, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Seeing him leave, Fugui finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't known Chen Shi before, which was why he dared to befriend him. Now that Chen Shi had saved him and become his benefactor, he felt a bit awkward.

But later, he heard that Chen Shi was the infamous "dead child," and all that remained in his heart was fear.

"A child who came back from the dead isn't human anymore. Who knows if it's the original person or a ghost occupying that child's body?"

His mother had told him, "Even if it's his own soul, it became a ghost first before becoming human again!"

Chen Shi walked out of Fugui's house and proceeded down the street, gradually hearing wails coming from the houses on either side of the road.

The wailing people seemed to want to cry out in pain but didn't dare, only managing to groan in low voices.

He looked around but still couldn't see a single villager.

Instead, every few steps, he saw an Imperial Guard standing by the roadside.

These Imperial Guards, seeing he was just a child and had come from Fugui's house, didn't question him.

The wailing grew quieter but still emanated from the houses on both sides.

He arrived at the center of Huangyang Village, an open space with a temple amidst ruins and a few large trees whose shade covered a wide area.

Here, over a dozen Huangyang Village villagers had set up four open-air stove platforms with iron pots, boiling water. There were also steaming bamboo steamers.

An old man was scooping boiling water to scald chickens and ducks for easy feather removal, while three villagers were stir-frying dishes. Several women squatted by the well, washing vegetables, fruits, and meat. Others were chopping vegetables and plating dishes at a prep table.

Several Imperial Guards stood around, watching them cook.

Despite the lively scene, these Huangyang Village villagers all bore injuries on their bodies and faces, marks of whipping.

It was almost noon, the time for preparing meals. Judging by the scale of Huangyang Village, they seemed to be preparing for a banquet, having brought out the best from every household.

As Chen Shi was looking around, an Imperial Guard saw his clean, fair face and beckoned him over, shouting, "Kid, come here! You'll help deliver the dishes!"

Chen Shi walked over.

"When the dishes are ready, take them to the temple," the Imperial Guard said, holding a leather whip. "The people in the temple are important guests from the Provincial City. Be observant. When you get to the temple, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't listen to what you shouldn't hear. Understand?"

"Understood, understood!" Chen Shi nodded repeatedly.

The surrounding Huangyang Village villagers heard his voice and looked over, stunned into silence.

The Imperial Guard flicked his whip and sneered, "What are you looking at? Get back to work! You, go and stir-fry! Hurry up!"

He was pointing at Fugui's father.

Fugui's father hurried over, glanced at Chen Shi, but dared not speak, lowering his head to stir-fry.

He was the village cook, invited to every wedding and funeral within a ten-mile radius. Although his dishes weren't as exquisite as those from city restaurants, their taste was no less inferior.

In just fifteen minutes, he had cooked four dishes.

Chen Shi, a white towel draped over his wrist, carried a tray towards the temple.

Fugui's father opened his mouth but said nothing.

Chen Shi arrived at the temple entrance and glimpsed a person lying in the ruins of the main hall. A large hole was in their head, blood and brain matter pooling on the ground. They were lying face down, propped on their side.

Chen Shi recognized the half-face.

It was Sanwang.

Blood surged in his chest, rushing to his head, leaving his mind blank. The sound of rushing blood filled his ears, like the roar of the wind!

In a daze, he remembered the strange dream from last night.

In the dream, Sanwang had warned him to flee quickly!

So...

Sanwang was truly dead.

He stood still for a moment, steadying himself.

Chen Shi lowered his head, stepped over the high threshold, and entered the temple.

The ancient temple was no longer arranged as it had been when he last visited. Previously, everything in the temple had been simple: only prayer mats, an altar, an incense burner, a shrine, and a bronze statue. Now, the prayer mats, altar, incense burner, and shrine had been moved out.

The temple contained a Luohan bed and four armchairs. A young scholar sat on the Luohan bed, facing a woman. A chessboard was placed between them, and both were turned sideways, playing chess.

The other four armchairs were also occupied by people, all dressed as scholars and appearing very young. Some were drinking tea, others were eating dried fruit, all looking quite relaxed.

They must be disciples of the Zhao family, pampered and without any killing intent on them.

Several Imperial Guards stood beside them. One of them was exceptionally burly, towering over normal people by about two heads. He was as stout as a standing brown bear, with a sallow complexion and fierce eyes. He carried a Three-Eyed Firearm on his back, its muzzle still stained with dried blood.

In the center of the temple, an eight-immortal table with equal sides was set up, with six chairs around it.

The temple wasn't large. With these items, plus twelve people, a table with six chairs, and a bronze statue on a shrine, it felt somewhat crowded.

Chen Shi's gaze swept over these Zhao family disciples. They didn't exude a beast-like aura, but the six Imperial Guards behind them put immense pressure on Chen Shi.

The shrines floated behind the heads of these Imperial Guards, with Divine Embryos seated within.

They maintained their shrines and Divine Embryos with extreme vigilance, far from the useless sacks of wine and rice under Li Xiaoding!

They were combat experts!

Chen Shi had encountered three Zhao family Imperial Guards on the post road. He managed to eliminate one through surprise, another by using the terrain to his advantage, and the last one by ambushing him in the water. If it had been a head-on confrontation, Chen Shi feared he wouldn't have been able to withstand even one of their magic spells!

And here, there were a full six Imperial Guards with the same level of skill!

One of them was an expert among experts!

Chen Shi mentally divided them from left to right: Left One, Left Two, Left Three, and Right One, Right Two, Right Three.

But the one who truly made him feel endangered was Right Three, the bear-like Imperial Guard. Not only was his physique imposing and robust, but more importantly, his killing intent was incredibly strong. He was aggressive and warlike, undoubtedly having taken many lives, a master who had experienced life-and-death struggles!

Pairs of eyes focused on Chen Shi.

They hadn't seen Chen Shi before, but the moment he entered the temple, their gazes fixed on him and didn't waver.

As guards, their experience was too profound.

If Chen Shi had shown the slightest flaw or unusual expression, he would likely have been instantly dispatched by their Zi Wu Zhan Xie Swords!

"He will kill you all!"

The large, fat divine manifestation, huddled in the corner, saw Chen Shi and couldn't help but get excited, shouting, "He is Chen Shi, the murderer! He will kill all of you!"

But his words were unheard by anyone except Chen Shi.

Chen Shi's footsteps were steady, his demeanor normal as he approached the eight-immortal table.

Seated on the Arhat bed was Third Young Master Zhao, Zhao Yue. Opposite him, playing chess, was his sister Zhao Xue'e, who was delicate and possessed the dignified beauty of a young lady from a prominent family.

Zhao Yue straightened his back, sniffed the aroma of the food, and praised, "The country cook's food smells delicious. Everyone, let's be seated."

Chen Shi set down the food, took the towel draped over his elbow, and began wiping the table.

Zhao Yan stepped forward, about to pull out a chair. Chen Shi quickly bent down and wiped the chair clean with the towel.

Zhao Yan chuckled, "Third Brother, this child is very clever! It's rare to find such a clever child in the countryside!"

Chen Shi wiped the other five chairs one by one before inviting the other five Zhao family disciples to sit.

During the wiping process, he felt the bear-like Imperial Guard's gaze constantly on him, his hand gripping the handle of the Three-Eyed Firearm.

This person's pressure was too immense. As he wiped the table and chairs, he was actually looking for an opportunity to strike. However, this Imperial Guard made him realize that if he were to make a move, his head would be crushed the next moment!

Chen Shi remained silent, wiped the sixth chair clean, draped the towel over his elbow, and turned to leave.

He hadn't found any opportunity to strike.

If there was no opportunity, he would wait. He would eventually find one.

"Wait a moment!"

The bear-like Imperial Guard spoke, his voice deep and resonant, making eardrums vibrate.

Chen Shi stopped, his mind racing with thoughts, wondering where he had revealed a weakness. The Imperial Guard continued, "Taste these dishes first."

Chen Shi turned around and picked up a pair of chopsticks.

Zhao Xue'e smiled, "He Lian Zheng, you're being a bit too cautious."

The Imperial Guard, He Lian Zheng, replied, "Caution prevents mistakes. After all, one person was killed yesterday, and the entire village was subjected to torture. It's hard to guarantee these wicked commoners won't harbor ill intentions and poison the food. Little one, taste each dish first. And don't leave after you've eaten."

Chen Shi agreed and extended his arm to pick up the first dish.

The dishes made by Fugui's father were ordinary country fare. The first dish was celery with wood ear mushrooms. The celery was crisp, with a unique aroma, and the wood ear mushrooms were tender and slippery, very refreshing.

Chen Shi took a bite and reached for the second dish.

This dish was spicy stir-fried chicken. It was made with a young rooster that had just started crowing. The chicken was cut into small pieces, marinated with ginger and salt, then coated in egg batter before being deep-fried. Afterward, it was stir-fried with chili peppers and green peppers, resulting in a smooth, spicy, and fragrant taste.

The third dish was stir-fried duck blood. Duck meat was soaked in its own blood, stir-fried in a pot with various spices to lock in the flavor to the maximum extent.

Chen Shi tasted three dishes and extended his arm to reach for the fourth. However, his arm was too short, so he moved to the other side of the table.

He leaned down and picked up the fourth dish: stir-fried bullfrogs.

Bullfrogs, also known as toad frogs, had their heads chopped off, their skin removed, and were washed clean. They were then stir-fried with plenty of salt and oil. Before serving, chili powder was sprinkled on top, making them savory and spicy.

Chen Shi had just picked up a bullfrog leg and put it in his mouth when he suddenly froze.

He was now on the opposite side of the table, separated from the burly He Lian Zheng by the table. As he ate the fourth dish, the people around the table relaxed, chatting and laughing. Only He Lian Zheng remained tense, still staring at him.

Now was a relatively good time to strike!

Chen Shi hesitated. Although this moment was good, it wasn't the optimal time.

He ate frog legs, chopsticks in hand, and planned to retreat.

He still had a second chance to deliver food.

Zhao Xue'e sat beside Chen Shi and said to Third Young Master Zhao Yue on her right, "Third Brother, how long has Fu Shank and the others been out? They still haven't returned."

Zhao Yue was also a little confused and said, "Logically speaking, they should have captured Chen Shi... Wait a moment!"

He saw the skin exposed on Chen Shi's body and was startled. A thought flashed through his mind: "Why isn't he injured?"

Everyone in Huangyang Village had been whipped, some to within an inch of their lives, but this boy delivering food had no whip marks on him at all!

Zhao Yue, worthy of being the Third Young Master of the Zhao Family and the leader of this operation, immediately grasped the key point. With a hint of nervousness in his expression, he signaled to He Lian Zheng opposite him.

He Lian Zheng understood and, without changing his expression, immediately stepped forward, intending to go around the eight-immortal table, while simultaneously reaching for the Three-Eyed Firearm behind him.

Zhao Yue also remained composed and said with a smile, "Since the food is fine..."

"Chii!"

Zhao Yue's eyes widened in disbelief as a chopstick penetrated his right temple, the tip emerging from his left temple, still stained with blood!

Chen Shi's right hand had driven the chopstick almost entirely into Zhao Yue's head. Zhao Yue's face was a mask of shock: "Why did he attack now?"

Chen Shi raised his left hand, and another chopstick flashed like lightning into Zhao Xue'e's chest, piercing the woman's heart.

Zhao Xue'e hadn't even registered what was happening. She had just turned her head to look this way. Because the chopstick had been inserted so quickly, she hadn't felt any pain.

"Where did I give myself away?" Chen Shi wondered inwardly.

--Thanks to Jin Buyi for the silver reward, which allowed Chen Shi to level up to a two-star!

Once he reaches one-star, a character card can be created, and readers can give characters hearts every day to help boost them!!!