Chen Lin stared at Zhou Feng and remained silent, but his thoughts were racing.
Men like Zhou Feng, who worked for money, could be found all over the streets—not just in Nanqing City, but everywhere else as well.
To be honest, compared to Zhou Feng, with whom he had never crossed paths before, Chen Lin hated Duan Xingze more.
Disaster should not be brought upon one's family, yet that man had lost all conscience and extended his poisoned hand toward Chen Lin's family. That behavior had simply touched Chen Lin's bottom line.
Still, even though Chen Lin did not hold much hatred for Zhou Feng, he knew that even if Duan Xingze had not sought out Zhou Feng, he would have found someone else. But asking Chen Lin to let Zhou Feng off so lightly was something he would never be willing to do.
In his previous life, Chen Lin had known that one could not always be too easygoing. Otherwise, others would not think you magnanimous—they would only think you easy to bully.
"Brother Chen, what do you think?" Seeing the plea in his elder brother's eyes, Zhou Le could only ask again helplessly.
Chen Lin glanced at Zhou Le, then said expressionlessly to Zhou Feng, "It is not impossible to spare you. I am simply afraid that some people might mistake me for someone easy to talk to, and then continue harming my family. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand, I understand. This sword is one of the treasured works of the Zhou Family's weapon smiths. It is a Famous Artifact Grade sword named Azure Gloom. Please accept it as this younger brother's small token of sincerity, Brother Chen." Zhou Feng earnestly handed Chen Lin the sword he had been holding ever since stepping down from the carriage.
"A Famous Artifact Grade sword?"
Chen Lin's heart stirred at those words. Most weapons sold on the market were merely Mortal Artifact Grade or Sharp Weapon Grade. Even Treasure Artifact Grade weapons were rarely seen, let alone Famous Artifact Grade ones.
Yet Zhou Feng had produced a Famous Artifact Grade sword worth ten thousand taels the moment he made his move. It truly exceeded Chen Lin's expectations and improved his impression of Zhou Feng considerably.
A good weapon could greatly enhance a martial artist's strength. Chen Lin had not disliked Zhou Feng much to begin with, and now he could obtain a Famous Artifact Grade sword for free. Nothing could have been better.
Suppressing the emotions in his heart, Chen Lin reached out and accepted the sword. He examined it for a moment, then pulled it from its sheath.
A streak of black light flashed. A sword as black as ink, its edge gleaming with a faint azure chill, appeared before Chen Lin's eyes.
The sword was 132 centimeters long overall, with a blade length of 105 centimeters and a width of 3.6 centimeters. Its tip was razor-sharp, and its blade radiated a bone-chilling coldness.
Though it did not look particularly large, it weighed a full 140 kilograms—heavier than even the great blade of Guan Gong from Chen Lin's knowledge. It was truly unbelievable.
Chen Lin casually swung it a few times. It felt somewhat light, but it would do. Swords were meant to follow the nimble and agile path anyway, so their weight did not have much impact.
After examining it closely for a while, Chen Lin suppressed the delight deep in his heart and sheathed the sword. "I know you were merely a middleman working for money, and that you did not deliberately target me. I like this sword very much, so I will accept it. Let this matter end here. I will not make things difficult for you over it again."
Seeing this, Zhou Feng, who had been tense the entire time, finally let out a heavy breath of relief. At last, this hurdle has been crossed.
Upon hearing Chen Lin's words, Zhou Le's stern expression eased considerably. Smiling, he said to Chen Lin, "Brother Chen truly is a straightforward man. If you need any weapons in the future, come find me. Our lineage has some skill in weapon forging."
"Alright. If I have any need in the future, I will surely trouble Brother Zhou for help." Chen Lin rose with the sword in hand.
Seeing this, Zhou Le and Zhou Feng also stood.
After the three exchanged cupped-fist salutes and said their farewells, Chen Lin strode home. Having obtained a Famous Artifact Grade sword for free, he felt even more confident about the Demon Slayer Envoy examination a few days later.
When he returned home, Father Chen and Mother Chen were excitedly wandering up and down through the eight or nine rooms vacated by the other two families, considering how to arrange their use. They did not notice Chen Lin's return.
Chen Lan, who was tidying the open space in the courtyard, immediately brightened upon seeing Chen Lin return and noticing the sword in his Black Iron Sword Sheath. "Brother, that sword in your hand is so exquisite. Where did you get it?"
"Someone gave it to me," Chen Lin said with a smile.
"The two men from earlier gave it to you?" Chen Lan guessed. "They seemed very respectful toward you, Brother!"
"Yes. Before long, your brother will make everyone respect him." Chen Lin smiled and rubbed Chen Lan's head, then returned to his room to continue cultivating.
Two days later, before dawn had broken, Chen Lin rose early and practiced Basic Swordplay in the courtyard.
After nearly a month of tempering at the slaughterhouse, he had long since developed the habit of rising early.
Now that he no longer needed to work at the slaughterhouse early in the morning, Chen Lin could only devote all his time to honing his martial skills.
Adding points to upgrade cultivation methods and martial skills could only improve his comprehension of them; it could not improve his muscle memory or feel for them. Thus, whenever he had free time, he still needed to constantly familiarize himself with his cultivation methods and martial skills until they became completely his own.
Although there were not many days left before the Demon Slayer Envoy examination, Chen Lin felt that practicing Basic Swordplay several more times and improving his familiarity with both his martial skill and new weapon would still significantly increase his strength.
After breakfast, Chen Lin informed his family, then strode toward the War God Temple.
He first inquired about applying for a Demon Slayer Envoy examination slot. Then, after collecting the identity jade token made by the War God Temple, he headed straight for Nanqing City's southern gate.
Although he did not yet possess the status of a Demon Slayer Envoy, traveling to other cities would still bring some trouble.
However, with the identity jade token of a War God Temple member, leaving the city would at least not pose much of a problem.
As the city gate closest to the Two Realms Mountain Range, the southern gate was guarded most heavily and saw the fewest people entering and leaving the city.
After presenting his identification as a War God Temple member, Chen Lin was respectfully allowed out of the city by the Black Armored Army guarding the gate.
As the city nearest to demon beasts, Nanqing City required everyone entering or leaving to present identification, preventing those with ulterior motives from disrupting order within the city and giving demon beasts an opening to exploit.
Ordinary people outside the city who did not have a long-term residence within it could remain for no more than three days. After three days, they had to leave, or the Black Armored Army would forcibly escort them out.
Likewise, ordinary residents within the city needed identification to leave the city. This was a system established by the Yan State to prevent the population of each city from draining away too severely.
Those who could freely enter and leave Nanqing City without being restricted by this system were, aside from members of the continent's Four Great Powers, only martial artists with Demon Slayer Envoy status.
Although Chen Lin had not yet obtained the status of a Demon Purifier of the War God Temple or passed the Demon Slayer Envoy examination, as long as he did not travel to other cities, his identity as a War God Temple member was enough to ensure he could freely enter and leave Nanqing City.
After coming to this world for so long, this was Chen Lin's first time leaving Nanqing City!
Nanqing City had been built beside the Moon Hidden River. Dense rice paddies spread across the land near the city, and beyond them, dark green mountain ranges vaguely emerged into view. That was Chen Lin's final destination—the Two Realms Mountain Range.
The Two Realms Mountain Range stretched across the land from east to west, extending for thousands of miles without visible end. It was where the territories of humans and demon beasts met, concealing all manner of formidable wild beasts, ferocious beasts, and demon beasts.
Nanqing City had constructed three fortresses near the Two Realms Mountain Range, keeping constant watch over the movements of the demon beasts within. This was to prevent the demon beasts from flooding out of the mountains on a massive scale for some reason and bringing the Beast Tide's devastation upon Nanqing City.
After racing south from Nanqing City for eighty li with his sword on his back, Chen Lin finally reached the edge of the Two Realms Mountain Range after more than an hour.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Chen Lin could not help thinking of the Crimson Flame White Horse beneath Zhu Wei.
If he had such a fine horse now, traveling would surely take far less time.
As for why Chen Lin had suddenly come to the Two Realms Mountain Range to harvest Slaughter Points instead of continuing to leisurely gather them at the slaughterhouse—
It was because he had discovered that as his strength continued to rise, creatures relatively weaker than himself could barely provide him with any effective Slaughter Points anymore.
That was also the fundamental reason he had left the slaughterhouse early.
Before you continue