A Brutal Beating

The Firewood Room was dimly lit, thick with the damp smell of mold.

Li Yu was tied to a pillar with coarse hemp rope, a strip of cloth stuffed in her mouth. Her hair was disheveled, and her face was streaked with tears and terror.

At the sound of the door being kicked open, her whole body trembled, and she instinctively shut her eyes.

"Eldest Sister!"

The familiar voice made Li Yu snap her eyes open. When she saw Li Xiao rushing in, her tears burst through the dam at once. Choked sobs of "mmph, mmph" rose from her throat, like a child who had suffered a grievance as vast as the sky.

Li Xiao's heart felt as though needles had pierced it. He rushed to Li Yu in a few strides, yanked the cloth from her mouth, and hurriedly began untying the ropes.

The ropes had been tied tightly, biting deep into her flesh and leaving red welts behind.

"Little brother..." Li Yu threw herself into Li Xiao's arms and burst into loud tears. The fear and grievance she had suppressed finally erupted completely at that moment.

"It's all right now, Eldest Sister. I'm here. No one can bully you anymore."

Li Xiao held her tightly, his voice trembling as he gently patted her back to soothe her.

"It was my fault. I came too late."

He helped Li Yu to her feet. When he saw the rope marks on her wrists and the tears still wet on her face, the fury in his eyes surged again.

"Go outside and wait first. Don't wander too far."

Li Xiao's voice was heavy as iron.

"Once I'm done here, I'll take you home."

Li Yu knew what her brother intended to do. She tugged at Li Xiao's sleeve and choked out:

"Little brother, don't... don't hit too hard..."

Li Xiao nodded. Only after watching Li Yu stagger out of the Firewood Room did he turn around, his gaze landing on Granny Wang, who was cowering in the corner with all color drained from her face.

Granny Wang shivered beneath his stare and dropped to her knees with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing.

"Xiao'er... no, Youngster Li, I was wrong, I truly was wrong... Please spare me this once. I'll never dare again..."

Li Xiao walked toward her step by step and picked up a thick wooden club from the ground. Splinters still protruded from it.

He said nothing. The chill in his eyes made Granny Wang's pleas grow softer and softer.

Bang!

The club smashed viciously into Granny Wang's back. She let out a scream and curled up like a shrimp.

"If anything happens to my Eldest Sister, don't even think about leaving here alive today."

Li Xiao's voice was ice-cold, without the slightest trace of warmth.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The wooden club came down on Granny Wang again and again, every blow carrying Li Xiao's suppressed rage.

He avoided vital spots, deliberately striking only the fleshier parts of her body. The pain drilled into her heart, yet it would not kill her anytime soon.

Granny Wang's screams of agony echoed through the Firewood Room, gradually turning into feeble groans. She curled up on the ground like a stray dog that had lost its home, with none of her earlier arrogance left.

Only when his arms began to ache did Li Xiao stop and toss aside the club.

Granny Wang lay sprawled on the ground, covered in injuries and groaning weakly, unable to move.

"Remember today's pain." Li Xiao looked down at her from above, without a shred of pity in his eyes.

"If you dare set your sights on my family again, you and your son—

not one of you will live."

Granny Wang was in too much pain to speak. She could only signal with her eyes that she understood.

Li Xiao did not look at her again and turned to leave the Firewood Room.

He walked over to Li Yu and saw that she was still trembling, so he took off his outer robe and draped it over her.

"Come on. Let's go home."

He supported Li Yu as they made their way home step by step.

Li Xiao knew that today's matter was not over.

If he had found out any later, his Eldest Sister might have...

The anger in his chest had yet to fade. Beating Granny Wang once was nowhere near enough to vent it.

Ever since he had begun training in martial arts, Li Xiao felt that the violence in his nature had grown stronger.

This was the way of those who practiced martial arts: carry a sharp blade, and a Killing Heart arose on its own.

However, he was not yet a Martial Master, and he was no match for Chen Long.

But toward Granny Wang, who helped a tiger commit evil deeds, he absolutely could not show mercy.

When they returned home, Li Youde saw Li Yu come back safely and wept tears of joy. He clutched the siblings' hands and refused to let go.

Li Yu haltingly recounted what had happened. Li Youde wiped away tears as he listened, repeatedly cursing Granny Wang for being worse than a beast.

Li Xiao boiled hot water for Li Yu to wash her face, then found some Herbs that promoted blood circulation and dispersed bruising to apply to her wrists.

Only when he saw his Eldest Sister gradually calm down did the stone in his heart finally fall to the ground.

But he knew it was only temporary.

Chen Hu would never let the matter rest.

He walked into the courtyard, picked up his bow and arrows, and fired seven arrows in succession at the target on the Courtyard wall. Every arrow struck the Bullseye.

Basic Archery Technique experience +1

Basic Archery Technique experience +1

Basic Archery Technique experience +1

The numbers on the Panel were jumping, but Li Xiao's gaze grew ever more resolute.

He had to grow stronger—stronger, faster.

Early the next morning, when dawn had only begun to brighten the sky, Li Xiao tucked his remaining loose silver into his clothes and left home.

He did not head toward the Martial Arts Hall. Instead, he detoured to the small stall where Beast Luring Incense had been sold yesterday.

The gaunt Old Man Zhang was squatting on the ground, arranging his stall. When he saw Li Xiao arrive, he looked up and smiled.

"Youngster, did yesterday's incense work well?"

Li Xiao did not beat around the bush and asked directly:

"Do you have Beast Luring Incense that can lure wolves?"

Old Man Zhang froze for a moment, then looked Li Xiao up and down.

"Lure wolves? Those are vicious beasts. What does a youngster like you want with something like that?

Ordinary hunters avoid them like the plague."

"I have a use for it." Li Xiao's tone was calm, but his eyes were unwavering.

"I want the kind made specifically to lure a Wolf Pack. The fiercer, the better."

Old Man Zhang stroked his beard and thought for a moment. Then he pulled out a small black pottery bottle from beneath the stall. Several crooked patterns were carved into its surface.

"Take a look at this bottle of Howling Moon Incense.

It's made with wolf fur, evening primrose, and several kinds of Herbs that grow only near wolf dens. It works best on Wolf Packs and can lure them straight here by scent alone.

But this stuff is potent. You must be extremely careful when using it, or you'll wind up wrapping yourself in your own trap."

Li Xiao picked up the black pottery bottle and pulled out its stopper. A sharp, fishy odor mixed with the cold fragrance of plants rushed into his face, making his scalp tingle just from smelling it.

His heart tightened. The scent truly carried a wildness utterly different from the mild Beast Luring Incense from yesterday.

"How much?"

"This is a rare item. It costs Two Taels of Silver." Old Man Zhang held up one finger.

"I traded for this recipe from an old hunter when I was young. I'm the only one in the whole city who has it."

Two Taels of Silver was no small sum, but Li Xiao did not hesitate. He took out two taels of loose silver from his clothes and handed them over.

"I'll take it."

Old Man Zhang accepted the silver and handed him the black pottery bottle, then warned him again. "Remember, don't use too much of this incense. A little is enough;

and when you use it, make sure you have an escape route. Wolf Packs are cunning. Don't let them surround you completely."

"I understand."

Li Xiao tucked the black pottery bottle into his clothes and turned to leave.

Old Man Zhang watched his retreating back, rubbed his chin, and muttered:

"This youngster doesn't look like a reckless sort. What does he want to lure wolves for..."

Li Xiao did not look back. He hurried home, knowing that against people like Chen Hu and Granny Wang, hard fists alone were not enough. He needed methods they would never expect.

He touched the black pottery bottle in his clothes, and his eyes turned a little colder.

Some debts could not be settled only in the open.