Revenge

A hundred thousand yuan in prize money.

A residential unit.

Mother Li and Li Yunyao, standing nearby, felt their eyes light up at Director Zhang's words.

Housing prices in this world had always been outrageous.

Though prices in the county town were lower than in the city, compared to Liuchuan County's average wage of less than a thousand yuan, even a single home cost no less than three hundred thousand.

Li Yunyao knew Sunshine Residential Complex. It was one of Liuchuan County's upscale developments; even its smallest ninety-nine-square-meter unit could not be bought for less than five hundred thousand.

"Thank you."

Li Pin did not stand on ceremony.

He knew perfectly well why the county was offering money and housing.

On Blue Star, this was called recruiting high-end talent.

Besides, he had truly risked his life to kill the Cat Demon. These subsidies were not much at all.

"If Martial Master Li hadn't made such a stunning debut yesterday, I never would have known Liuchuan County had such a young expert. Have you considered developing your career at the Martial Arts Association?"

Meng Shan smiled and took over the conversation.

"I plan to spend the coming period preparing for the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament. We can discuss everything after the tournament ends."

Li Pin said.

"Yes, yes, the martial arts tournament comes first."

As Meng Shan spoke, he studied Li Pin's youthful face.

Although he did not believe Li Pin would achieve any remarkable results in this martial arts tournament, in the future...

Perhaps in the eighteenth, or even the seventeenth, martial arts tournament, Li Pin would surely have a place among the top ten.

"These are Dragon Tiger Pills. They are quite effective at nourishing qi and blood. Martial Master Li, you wielded Dan Jin without having yet Embraced Dan. I hope this box of pills will be of some help to you."

As Meng Shan spoke, he produced an exquisite box.

Zhang Youping, standing beside him, glanced at the box and felt his heart jolt.

Dragon Tiger Pills!

These were internally supplied goods exclusive to the Martial Arts Association, circulated only within the association. Even money could hardly buy them.

He had wanted to befriend Li Pin, yet he had been unwilling to part with his Aged Mountain Ginseng.

And this box of Dragon Tiger Pills was worth no less than that ginseng.

Meng Shan had simply taken it out like that?

Li Pin gave it a look and quickly understood something.

"Thank you."

He accepted the Dragon Tiger Pills without refusing them, then said, "For the training location field on my Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament registration, I'll write Liuchuan County."

A smile immediately spread across Meng Shan's face.

"Good, good, good. When Martial Master Li rises above the crowd at the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament, I'll be able to bask in some of that glory as well."

Li Pin had taken his martial artist certification test in Canglong City. Unless he specifically filled it in otherwise, he would be considered a Canglong City martial artist. If he truly performed brilliantly at the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament, the credit would go to the Canglong City Martial Arts Association.

Of course, the Canglong City Martial Arts Association might not care much about a Level 2 Martial Artist.

But if it was a martial artist who could wield Dan Jin and was only twenty-two years old...

Once the Canglong City Martial Arts Association learned of him, it would absolutely not remain indifferent.

Meng Shan had secured this credit with a box of Dragon Tiger Pills. He had gotten a bargain.

After more than an hour of pleasantries, Meng Shan, Zhang Youping, and the others all departed.

Li Pin did not ask them to stay for dinner either.

There were more than a dozen of them, and he did not want Mother Li to tire herself out.

Once Meng Shan and Zhang Youping had left, Mother Li looked Li Pin over for a long while. At last, she said with immense gratification, "My son has made something of himself."

"Of course he has. My brother is the greatest."

Li Yunyao immediately jumped in.

"Tomorrow will probably bring more trouble. Whatever comes up, I'll handle it."

As Li Pin spoke, he glanced outside.

Quite a few townspeople were lingering outside, asking around for news.

Before long, the news that Li Pin had slain the Cat Demon and drawn a personal visit from major figures in the county would likely spread through all of Sanshun Town.

After some thought, he said to Mother Li, "I remember Sunshine Residential Complex isn't far from Yunyao's school. She'll be entering her final year of intensive preparation next year. Why don't you go there and stay with her?"

Originally, he had not considered changing Mother Li's living environment. On one hand, he feared she would not adapt; on the other, he intended to prioritize using his money for cultivation.

More importantly, Blue Star thinking had made him assume the town was very safe.

Yesterday's encounter had shown otherwise.

There was a reason housing prices and living costs were higher in county towns and cities.

They were far safer than rural towns.

"But the poultry at home, and the fields we planted..."

"We'll move after the Starfall Festival. As for the land, we can hire someone to keep an eye on it. We'll eat the poultry ourselves, and give whatever we can't finish to Eldest Uncle."

Li Pin said.

"Alright."

Mother Li nodded.

In truth, when it came to safety, the county town could not compare to the city, and the city could not compare to the state capital.

Li Mingxin, his third uncle, had built his career in the state capital, while Eldest Sister Li Yunyan had also married there. Li Pin's best choice should have been to buy a home in the state capital.

But housing there was expensive, costing two or three million for a single unit.

There was no hope of that before Li Pin finished competing in the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament.

Fortunately, it was only half a year. He was not in a hurry over such a short time.

Canglong City.

An upscale villa district.

Jing Gufeng, a board member of Hanyang University, looked at Jing Yunshan, whose swollen, reddened face had yet to subside and whose left eye could not even open...

He somewhat wanted to laugh.

But this was a serious occasion.

He frowned. "How did you end up looking like this?"

"Li Pin! Li Pin!"

Jing Yunshan's eyes were bloodshot, as though flames burned within them. "I want him dead! I want him dead!"

"Dead... dead what?"

Jing Gufeng blanked out. It took him quite a while to understand.

He had meant, "I want him dead."

It was just that several of his teeth had been knocked out and his gums were red and swollen, affecting his speech, so Jing Gufeng had misheard him at first.

"Dad, look at him. Yunshan has been beaten into this state. We have to deal with that Li Pin, or others will think the Jing Family is easy to bully."

Jing Zhengqi, Jing Yunshan's father, said from the side.

"What do you plan to do?"

Jing Gufeng asked.

"At the very least, expel him first. Then find an opportunity... hire a stronger martial artist and make him pay double, even tenfold, the price!"

Jing Zhengqi said viciously.

"Idiot!"

Jing Gufeng directly rebuked him. "Do you want everyone to know we're taking revenge through our power? Are you afraid my opponents won't be able to find something to use against me?"

"But Yunshan is your grandson! Li Pin beat him into this state. If we do nothing..."

"If you want revenge, using your authority to expel him is the stupidest method! Do you think, with his current status as a Level 2 Martial Artist, he would still care about a mere university diploma? And if you can find martial artists to deal with him, do you think he has no martial artists behind him? Fang Lingjue of Changfeng Martial Hall is no pushover!"

Jing Gufeng said.

"Then... then what do we do? The Jing Family is a prominent household in Canglong City. Your grandson can't just take this beating for nothing, can he?"

"Martial artists are different from us. While they enjoy privileges, they are also easily subjected to scrutiny."

Jing Gufeng glanced at Jing Yunshan. "I want you to apologize to Li Pin, seek reconciliation, and offer compensation on your own initiative!"

The moment Jing Yunshan heard that, his blood rushed to his head and his face flushed scarlet. "I won't go! Even if I die, I..."

"We are law-abiding citizens, so naturally we must handle matters according to the law! Not only do I want you to compensate him, I want you to offer enormous compensation. Let him name the amount! Three hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, anything is fine. It must be over one hundred thousand! Then..."

The Hanyang University board member sneered. "Accuse him of extortion!"