Northern part of the city.
Within a massive slum.
Lu Chen fled all the way here at blazing speed, plunging straight into a ruined temple to hide.
Just as he had expected, word of his killing those beggars and Wu the Skinflint had already spread.
The entire city was now hunting for him.
Even the gates of all four sides of the city had been shut.
He had no chance of slipping away amidst the chaos now.
But he was not afraid in the slightest.
Since he had done this, he had long known what he would face. The greatest pity was that he still had not obtained any cultivation method.
If he could acquire a profound martial skill or cultivation method, his strength would certainly rise another level.
"Looks like I'll have to keep finding ways to search for martial arts."
Lu Chen pondered inwardly.
[Ding! Detected that your fine reputation has risen rapidly all along the way. It has finally reached the first stage: Slightly Famous. Reward obtained: Bronze Skin Iron Bones!] [Bronze Skin Iron Bones: The host's physical body is incomparably fierce and strong, automatically reducing all external damage by 80%!]
A voice suddenly rang out beside Lu Chen's ear.
"What? Bronze Skin Iron Bones?"
Lu Chen's eyes flashed.
The next moment, he felt his body becoming utterly different.
It was as though he had been cleansed by holy water, rapidly changing from the inside out. A layer of golden light seemed to spread from within his body, greatly improving his flesh and skin.
His heart filled with delight. The more he experienced it, the more he could sense the power of this talent.
All external damage would automatically be reduced by 80%!
What did that mean?
If an expert of the same level attacked him, even if he stood still, the other party would not be able to hurt him.
Yet one strike from his palm would directly take that person's life!
Even if someone several levels above him attacked, with 80% of the damage reduced, they might not necessarily be able to injure him.
This was simply a divine skill!
It was equivalent to the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt, allowing him to remain undefeated from the start.
"Heaven truly is helping me!"
Lu Chen rejoiced inwardly. With this talent, he might be able to kill his way straight out of the city.
Even if everyone besieged him, he now had complete confidence!
Just then.
He suddenly heard a burst of chaotic footsteps and discussion outside.
The tightly shut doors of the ruined temple were pushed open.
"Sister-in-law Zhang Rong, are you telling the truth? Lian'er really was kidnapped by a group of beggars earlier? And she nearly suffered at their hands?"
"Yes, I absolutely did not get it wrong. Besides Lian'er, there were several other innocent children. If not for that benefactor saving me, even I would have died there!"
"Those damned bastards deserved to be killed clean by the benefactor!"
"The benefactor truly is a great and kind man. Not only did he kill all those beggars who harmed people, he even killed that bloodsucker Wu the Skinflint. It really was deeply satisfying!" "That's right. Now we can only hope nothing happens to the benefactor, or we truly won't be able to live with ourselves."
"They're spreading word outside that the benefactor was possessed by demons. In my opinion, that's utter nonsense. It must be those yamen runners making things up!"
Lu Chen's heart stirred. One of the voices sounded exceptionally familiar, and he glanced outside suspiciously.
It was her!
The woman he had encountered earlier in the Beggar's Den.
She actually lived here?
He soon discovered that more than a dozen people followed beside the woman, men and women, old and young. Every one of them was sallow and emaciated, dressed in patched clothes and carrying all manner of tools, as though they had just finished working.
They set down their tools, pounded their shoulders, then returned to their rooms to prepare things and begin cooking. "Alas, these times... Rice prices rise every three days. If this keeps up, I'm afraid we won't even have the strength to work anymore. The merchants outside are blacker-hearted than the next. After a whole day of toil, we can only earn enough for half a meal!"
"Who says otherwise? Those black-hearted merchants all have ties to the yamen, with County Magistrate Lin Mingyuan backing them. Ordinary folk like us cannot do a thing to them."
"Lin Mingyuan, that dog of a thief, has scraped the land bare layer after layer. I truly hope someone will deal with him."
"Keep your voice down. Disaster comes from the mouth."
Someone warned.
"What are you all yelling about?"
Suddenly, a fierce shout came from outside.
Everyone's expressions changed, and they hurriedly turned to look.
At the doors of the ruined temple that had just been opened, two broad-shouldered, thick-waisted men rushed straight in.
Everyone's hearts tightened, and they immediately became uneasy. "They're from the Iron Scale Gang. They've come to collect the regular payment again."
"Two brothers, we truly haven't earned much these past few days. Could you please be lenient? Once we save up for a while longer, as soon as we have money, we'll definitely hand it over to you."
Several people stepped forward at once, their faces tense.
"Fuck off!"
Smack!
An old man past sixty was sent flying on the spot, spraying blood wildly and nearly passing out.
"Uncle Yang..."
Everyone's faces turned pale, and they hurriedly rushed over.
"You dare live in our houses without money? What do you take our Iron Scale Gang for? You already delayed the regular payment last month, and you still dare delay it this month? How fucking long are you planning to drag this out? Month after month, are you planning never to repay it?"
The man shouted fiercely. "That's right. You dare haggle with our Iron Scale Gang? Why don't you go ask around first? Do you really think we're running a charity?"
The other man shouted.
"No, no, please be lenient a little longer. We truly don't have any money."
"Give us a few more days. We'll definitely gather enough for the regular payment..."
"Sir, please show mercy. We beg you."
Their faces filled with panic as they pleaded.
"Scram!"
The first man suddenly let out a thunderous roar. Looking like a vicious god of death, his gaze swept around the courtyard. "No money, is that it? Then use something else to pay your debts!"
His eyes swept about wildly before suddenly falling upon the little girl from that morning. He grinned wickedly. "This little brat isn't bad. She'll do nicely as payment to our Iron Scale Gang!"
Whoosh!
His body lunged out like a savage tiger.
"My child!"
Zhang Rong's face filled with terror, and she hurriedly hugged her child.
Whoosh!
Smack!
A deafening crack rang out, accompanied by a miserable scream.
The man who had been pouncing toward the little girl instantly flew backward like a kite with its string cut, vomiting blood wildly. With a bang, he smashed into a distant wall. His neck twisted one hundred and eighty degrees, his body convulsed, and he died on the spot.
"Trash. Those who seize children die!"
Lu Chen spoke coldly, appearing as though out of nowhere as he casually wiped his palm.
[You killed an utterly evil lackey. Merit Points +5!]
Hm?
Lu Chen could not help but stare in surprise.
That high?
The sudden scene left both the remaining man and everyone else in the courtyard staring in disbelief.
Then the man shuddered, turned, and fled.
His companion had actually been slapped to death by this man!
How was that possible?
Was this a martial artist?
Did these paupers know a martial artist?
"Trying to leave?"
A brilliant gleam burst from Lu Chen's eyes as he lunged after him.
With such abundant Merit Points, he still wanted to leave? What a fool's dream!
"Spare me, sir! I'm with the Iron Scale Gang..."
Bang!
"Ah!"
A fist struck the man squarely in the back of the heart, blasting him flying. He crashed into the distance and died on the spot.
[You killed an utterly evil lackey. Merit Points +5!]
Another line of text appeared.
"It's him... Benefactor, it's the benefactor..."
The woman Zhang Rong muttered. Then excitement appeared on her face. She hurriedly grabbed her child and knelt down. "Thank you, Benefactor, for saving our lives again. Thank you, Benefactor..."
What?
Everyone beside her changed expression.
He was that Lu Chen? The Lu Chen who had killed a group of beggars and wiped out Wu Ji Porcelain Shop?
Once they realized it, everyone hurriedly knelt as well, banging their heads against the ground as they began giving thanks.
Before you continue