Blood Stains the Icy Stream

Cui Hao carried two buckets of water home.

Su Yun followed, bringing hot water. She knelt down to remove her husband's damp, cold boots and wash his feet.

Cui Hao sat on a low stool, watching his wife's bowed neck and focused profile. Listening to her chatter about trivial matters, the killing intent that had arisen because of Zhou Menglong became clearer, firmer, and more certain.

The soul of a transmigrator made him more awake and rational than his original body.

Rather than waiting for Zhou Menglong to make a move against him and Su Yun one day, it was better to strike first, just like he dealt with Zhou Menghu and Zhou Mengyue!

Besides, he had already killed two of his brothers, making it an irreconcilable feud.

He absolutely could not harbor any hope for a lucky break; that would be the greatest irresponsibility to himself and Su Yun.

It was strange, the Zhou brothers always seemed to have it out for him?

But upon closer thought, he understood.

The Zhou brothers weren't targeting just one person; they were targeting all honest, ordinary people who wanted to live a peaceful life!

Zhou Menghu intended to sell the village's young women, including Lingdang and Su Yun, into brothels for profit.

Zhou Mengyue wanted to burn the entire family of Old Man Lin, who refused to pay protection fees.

Their evil was systemic, targeting all "weaklings." He wasn't an exception; he just happened to have something they coveted.

Once he understood this, Cui Hao's last shred of hesitation vanished.

The next day, Cui Hao did not go to the martial arts school. While 'wandering' around the village, someone blocked his path.

"Xiao Haozi," Xu Liang reached out to stop him, "Zhang Si, Wang Gouzi, and I plan to go deep into Second Mountain tomorrow to try our luck and see if we can hunt some valuable big game."

"You're good at hunting too. If we go in a group, we can look out for each other, and we'll split the game equally, how about it?"

"Brother Xu, it's not that I don't want to go into the mountains with you to get rich..." Cui Hao sighed, putting on a worried expression. "My bow is broken, I can't go into the mountains."

"A broken bow is a big deal. Figure it out quickly, whether it's repairing it or buying a new one, get yourself a suitable bow. Once the bow is ready, we'll set another date to go into the mountains together! With us leading the way, it'll definitely be better than you wandering around alone!"

"I appreciate Brother Xu's kindness, but... to be honest, Brother Xu, I don't have the money to buy a bow yet. I was planning to go to the city these past couple of days to see if there were any odd jobs or short-term work I could do to save up some money first..."

Xu Liang was stunned for a moment, then turned and left. A moment later, he found Zhou Menglong.

"Brother Zhou, Cui Hao's bow is broken, so he can't go into the mountains with us."

"Remember to call me 'Gang Leader' next time," Zhou Menglong, who was practicing his horse stance, said without lifting his eyelids. "Lend him a bow."

Xu Liang turned and knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock!

"Xiao Haozi, open the door! You're in luck! Something good has happened!"

With a creak, Cui Hao opened the wooden door and politely asked, "Brother Xu, what good thing?"

"We can lend you a bow."

Cui Hao inwardly disdained, but his expression remained unchanged. "I can't use someone else's bow. You either lend me six taels of silver, and I'll buy a new one."

Six taels was a huge sum. Xu Liang retorted, "A new bow doesn't cost six taels."

"I'm buying a hardwood bow."

Only someone with 120 jin of strength could draw a hardwood bow. Xu Liang, who was 1.7 meters tall, took a step back and carefully examined Cui Hao. His body was much sturdier, and he was a full palm taller than him. He blurted out, "What did you eat?"

"I eat whatever there is. If Brother Xu isn't lending it, then please leave."

Xu Liang didn't have the money, so he went back to Zhou Menglong.

Zhou Menglong hesitated for only a breath. Thinking that the bow and woman would belong to him after Cui Hao's death, he took out three small silver pieces from his sleeve pocket. "Six taels. Give it to Xiao Haozi."

Xu Liang turned and presented four taels of silver to Cui Hao. "Take this to buy a bow."

Cui Hao glanced at Xu Liang's palm. "It's not enough."

"You're being picky now. It's only four taels. Take it or leave it."

"I don't want it." Cui Hao made a move to close the courtyard gate.

"Wait!" Fearing he would anger Zhou Menglong, Xu Liang added another two taels of silver, making it six taels. "Go buy the bow now, and we'll set off for the hunt at the third crow of the rooster tomorrow morning."

Cui Hao took the money. "Brother Xu, don't worry, I'll definitely pay you back as soon as possible."

"Don't be so polite, we're neighbors. See you tomorrow morning."

Cui Hao was genuinely grateful. "Brother Xu, you're a good person. I thank you for eight lifetimes..."

"Alright, alright," Xu Liang waved dismissively. "Hurry up and buy the bow."

He returned to the house to get the remaining four taels of silver from the robbery of Zhou Mengyue's group.

Along with the six taels of silver given by Xu Liang.

With a total of ten taels of silver, Cui Hao arrived at the 'Iron Drill Shop' in the city.

A moment later, Cui Hao emerged from the Iron Drill Shop, holding a two-stone iron-tipped bow and three Iron Arrows.

One stone is 120 jin, so two stones is 240 jin. Drawing a two-stone bow requires 240 jin of strength.

For a novice martial artist in the Mortal Martial realm, pulling a two-stone bow is difficult. Cui Hao's Broken Fist and his intimacy with Su Yun are both at Minor Accomplishment, granting him +10 Physique each. This allows him to draw the bow fully five to six times consecutively.

He wrapped the bow and arrows in cloth. Before it got dark, he headed home, finding a dark shadow waiting by the door.

"Xiao Haozi! You're back!" Wang Gouzi, who had been hunting with Xu Liang, stomped his feet, freezing. "Did you buy the bow?"

"I did. This is the new bow, but…" Cui Hao showed the bow wrapped in torn cloth, then changed the subject. "I need to practice at home for three days before I can go into the mountains to hunt with you guys."

"That's too much trouble. You can practice while hunting."

"No," Cui Hao refused, shaking his head. "You have to wait for me for three days."

Unable to persuade Cui Hao, Wang Gouzi turned and left.

Su Yun opened the small courtyard's wooden gate from inside. After Cui Hao entered, she immediately closed and barred it. Her movements were seamless, practiced to a heartbreaking degree.

"Brother Hao, not long after you left, Zhang Si and Wang Gouzi took turns guarding our door," Su Yun said worriedly. "I don't think they're up to anything good. We should just forget about hunting."

Pulling Su Yun into the main hall, Cui Hao comforted her. "Sister Yun, have you forgotten I'm in the Mortal Martial Realm?"

"Two feet can't fight four hands. What if…"

"There won't be a 'what if.' Let's eat, I'm hungry."

For the next three days, Cui Hao went hunting at dawn, practiced martial arts at the training hall in the morning, and returned home at dark.

It wasn't until the fourth day, on the third crow of the rooster, that Cui Hao met Xu Liang, Zhang Si, and Wang Gouzi at the village entrance.

"Xiao Haozi, I'm not going to mince words," Xu Liang, wearing a bamboo hat, complained. "Going out to hunt for you is more troublesome than a woman getting married."

"Brother Xu, I'm a scholar," Cui Hao replied with a fawning smile. "It's normal for things to be a bit more complicated."

Leaving the village, the four walked through the snow, leaving behind four long rows of footprints.

Guessing that Zhou Menglong would follow, Cui Hao glanced at his status panel again.

[Bedchamber: Minor Accomplishment (165/600)]
[Effect: Physique +10, Controllable Progress Points +115]

[Broken Fist Stance Training: Minor Accomplishment (25/600)]
[Effect: Physique +10, Damage Resistance +5, Bonus Damage +5, Critical Hit Rate +1]

[Archery: Minor Accomplishment (142/600)]
[Effect: Soreness -10, Arm Strength +10, Accuracy +10, Critical Hit Rate +1]

Of his three main skills, the 165 progress points in the Bedchamber were naturally all thanks to Su Yun.

The 142 progress points in Archery included 100 points from killing Zhou Mengyue and his eight men, and 42 points earned through diligent hunting and practicing archery.

The 25 progress points in the Broken Fist stance training were solely from arduous practice.

Analyzing the status of the three small panels, he discovered that only killing people caused the progress bars to grow significantly.

Slow practice was fine, but if he wanted to improve quickly, killing was a shortcut.

Cui Hao wouldn't kill indiscriminately, but that didn't include those who intended to harm him.

Passing the village below the mountain, they saw two emaciated frozen corpses by the roadside. The four merely glanced at them and crossed a ridge, arriving at the foot of Second Mountain.

"Brother Xu," Cui Hao asked with concern in the wind and snow, hearing the gurgling water beneath the ice, "Are we going into the mountain now?"

"Not yet, we're waiting for someone."

"Waiting for who?"

"Zhou Menglong. He's a Mortal Martial Realm martial artist. It'll be safer if he leads us into Second Mountain."

Cui Hao's heart lurched, as if squeezed by an invisible hand. He followed up, "What realm is Mortal Martial?"

Xu Liang smiled at Cui Hao. "You know quite a lot."

"I'm a scholar," Cui Hao explained with a dry chuckle. "It's natural that I know a bit more."

Looking at Cui Hao as if he were a dead man, Xu Liang said indifferently, "Mortal Martial Perfected."

Having begun his own martial arts practice, Cui Hao knew what Mortal Martial Perfected meant. It was a mountain he couldn't possibly overcome right now.

His back was quickly soaked with cold sweat, which then froze into ice shards in the biting wind. For a moment, Cui Hao was at a loss.

No! Once Zhou Menglong arrives, I'll be a trapped beast. Su Yun is still waiting at home…

Thinking of Su Yun, his fear began to transform into icy killing intent.

In the wind and snow, a blurry figure was approaching from the direction of the first ridge. Upon closer inspection, it was Zhou Menglong.

Xu Liang's face contorted into a fawning yet cruel smile. He dropped the pretense and revealed himself to Cui Hao. "Xiao Haozi, the sect leader is here. Your good days, and your wife's, are over! Hahaha!"

The final straw that broke the camel's back. Cui Hao feigned fear, his body trembling, and asked, "Brother Xu, we have no enmity… why?"

"Why?" Xu Liang, puffed up with arrogance, said, "Because…"

The moment Xu Liang let his guard down and turned to point in Zhou Menglong's direction, Cui Hao formed his hand into a blade and, channeling all his strength, fiercely stabbed towards his Adam's apple!

With a crack, Xu Liang's throat caved in over a large area. His trachea was severed, his neck broken.

Xu Liang grunted, instinctively clutching his neck, his eyes wide. He hadn't expected Cui Hao to attack so suddenly, nor so ruthlessly, giving him no chance to survive.

This palm strike, powerful and heavy, didn't send Xu Liang flying, but it did snap his throat and neck.

Zhang Si also hadn't expected Cui Hao to be so ferocious. He had just managed to cry out, "You...!"

Cui Hao's second move, 'Flag Split', had already struck his chest like lightning.

With a 'bang', Zhang Si's body flew backward, his eyes bulging, and he died on the spot.

Wang Gouzi reacted, his soul scattered in terror, and turned to flee. But he slipped and fell on the ice.

Cui Hao caught up. Recalling Wang Gouzi's surveillance at his doorstep and his covetous gaze towards Su Yun, his eyes turned cold. He stomped down, shattering the man's spine.

Pfft! Wang Gouzi's head lolled forward, and he vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, dying on the cold ice.

Not far away, Zhou Menglong saw the turn of events. He let out a world-shattering roar, his speed suddenly increasing, charging forward like a furious beast.

Glancing at the wildly charging Zhou Menglong, the immense pressure made Cui Hao unable to even consider a direct confrontation.

Grabbing Wang Gouzi's corpse, he decisively fled into the Second Mountain, a place he had never set foot in before!