Chen Feng hesitated no longer. He rose and quietly followed.
He regulated his breathing, suppressing his presence to the barest minimum. A cold gleam suddenly flashed in his eyes.
Lin Yan was a martial artist, after all. No matter how dull he might be, he sensed Chen Feng closing in.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
"Y-you—!"
Before Lin Yan could finish, Chen Feng had already clamped a hand over his mouth.
There were no flashy moves, nor any great noise. Gripping his dagger, Chen Feng thrust it with all his strength into Lin Yan's throat.
A cold glint of steel flashed through the dark alley.
Pfft...
The blade pierced his throat.
Lin Yan's eyes flew wide. A gurgling sound rose from his throat as blood gushed out without end.
Lin Yan tried to call for help, but no sound came out.
Chen Feng clamped a hand over his mouth, holding on even as his palm grew slick with blood. He let Lin Yan struggle in agony, but kept him pinned down firmly.
After holding him there for a long while, Chen Feng confirmed that Lin Yan had stopped moving and let go.
The corpse toppled to the ground like a log.
Blood spread across the ground.
Chen Feng crouched and began searching him.
He found a money pouch containing a few taels of silver shards, along with a porcelain bottle bearing a paper label. The label had the character "Blood" written on it in brush ink, and the bottle held some unknown pills.
After a moment's thought, Chen Feng tucked them both into his own clothes.
He found nothing else.
After finishing the search, Chen Feng did not leave at once. Instead, he used his dagger to add several more wounds to Lin Yan's arm and back, then struck him hard on the back of the head.
He made the corpse look as if Lin Yan had been beaten to death by a mob.
Finally, Chen Feng wiped the blood from his hands and cleaned the bloodstains left on the dagger.
He walked to the mouth of the alley and glanced back at Lin Yan's body. Only after confirming that he had taken care of everything did he leave.
Taking advantage of the night, Chen Feng went to a secluded spot, pulled out the clothes he had prepared earlier, and changed out of his ragged outfit. Then he disposed of the dagger, money pouch, and clothes together.
By the time Chen Feng had finished all this and returned home, his heart still had not settled.
[First time killing someone... Experience +2000]
The next morning, at dawn.
Chen Feng arrived at the martial arts school early and continued practicing his fist forms and tempering his Qi Blood as usual.
His movements were quick, yet every step was solid. Each punch and stance stirred the Qi Blood within him, nourishing his bones and sinews. His Splitting Fist was fierce, and every so often, it cut through the air with a sharp whistle.
As he punched, his Qi followed his fist; as he drew it back, his Qi Blood returned to its source.
Every breath fit seamlessly into the next.
As he inhaled, his fists drew back and his chest and abdomen tightened, as if embracing a ball. As he exhaled, his fists shot out and the muscles throughout his body tensed in an instant.
His joints gave faint, crisp pops, and sweat trickled down from his temples.
After finishing a set, he slowly settled into his stance. Feeling the surging Qi Blood within him, he sensed a warm current throughout his limbs and bones, leaving his sinews and bones relaxed and refreshed.
Then, his abundant Qi Blood overflowed and spread outward from Chen Feng in an invisible ripple.
Chen Feng lightly clenched both fists, a sharp glint in his eyes.
He was only one step away from becoming a Martial Artist!
The other disciples stared in shock. None of them had expected Chen Feng to have come so far.
Though he had joined far later than they had, he had already taken the first step toward the Martial Artist's threshold. Their expressions were complicated; it was hard to tell whether they felt envy or jealousy.
"I should ask Senior Brother Zhao how to break through the Blood Refining Realm. Surely I can't just force my way through with Qi Blood..."
Chen Feng had only just taken a step when a familiar voice came from the courtyard gate—
"Brother Chen! Brother Chen!"
"Brother Meng, what's got you in such a rush?"
Chen Feng replied with a smile. In his eyes, Meng Zhaowu was one of the few friends he had.
"Come work for our association. You can stay at the Guest Courtyard in the evenings without it affecting your training. You'll only need to take care of a few odd jobs when you have time."
Chen Feng froze, then a smile of genuine warmth spread across his face.
After seeing Lin Yan threaten Chen Feng the day before, Meng Zhaowu had come up with this plan. He intended to use the Fuxing Merchant Association's influence to protect Chen Feng.
"Thank you for the kind offer, Brother Meng, but..."
Just as Chen Feng was about to politely refuse, a martial arts school instructor walked into the courtyard and came over to him. "Zhou Guanzhu wants to see you."
Chen Feng patted Meng Zhaowu on the shoulder. "Thanks, but I have another plan. I won't forget your kindness."
With that, he followed the instructor deeper into the martial arts school.
The Dragon Walk Martial Arts School was large. The front area was reserved for the disciples to practice, with flat grounds paved in bluestone. The rear area housed the instructors and Formal Disciples' quarters.
The Hall Master sometimes stayed at the school, but most of the time he lived in his residence in the Inner City.
Chen Feng stood outside the main hall and raised a hand to knock softly on the wooden door.
"Come in."
A steady voice came from within. It was Zhou Bingzhong, the Hall Master of the Dragon Walk Martial Arts School.
Chen Feng pushed open the door and bowed. "Master."
The main hall was not large. A dark ebony Grand Tutor Chair sat in the place of honor, while a cup of steaming tea rested on the side table beside it. A bronze incense burner with beast-shaped handles gave off the faint fragrance of Chen Shui Incense.
Zhou Bingzhong wore a gray martial robe. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, and he carried an imposing air even without showing anger. Second Senior Brother Yao Xingzhi sat to one side, his build upright and refined but not imposing.
"Greetings, Senior Brother."
Yao Xingzhi nodded, his manner cool.
Zhou Bingzhong gestured toward the wooden stool in front of the table. "Sit."
Chen Feng did as he was told, sitting with his back straight and his expression calm.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
Chen Feng shook his head. "This disciple does not know."
"I heard you had a conflict with Lin Yan yesterday?"
"That is true."
"Do you know the rules of our school? Disciples must get along with one another. They must not turn on their Fellow Disciples."
Zhou Bingzhong watched Chen Feng quietly, his expression unchanged. Beside him, Yao Xingzhi studied Chen Feng's eyes, as if hoping to find some clue in them.
Chen Feng's expression remained blank, but inwardly he was already trying to guess Zhou Bingzhong's intentions. Perhaps he had already heard that Lin Yan was dead.
"This disciple understands. That is why I let Lin Yan insult me yesterday without getting into a fight with him."
Zhou Bingzhong continued, "What grievances do you have with Lin Yan? Can you tell me about them?"
Chen Feng fell into thought, then nodded.
"My family was once close to the Lin Family. I was even betrothed to Lin Jingshu, Lin Yan's younger sister. Later, the Lin siblings happened to meet Li Shuxian of the Li Family..."
At this point, a trace of resentment flashed across Chen Feng's eyes at just the right moment.
"Li Shuxian..." Yao Xingzhi furrowed his brow. "That young talent from the Li Family? Li Shuxian, whom people praise as the Literary Star descended from heaven?"
"That's right."
Chen Feng lowered his eyes and continued, "Li Shuxian took a liking to Lin Jingshu, and the Lin Family wanted to bring the two of them together..."
Even without Chen Feng saying another word, Zhou Bingzhong and Yao Xingzhi both knew what had happened next.
Li Shuxian had taken first place in the County Examination, Prefectural Examination, and Palace Examination in succession, becoming a licentiate. He was at the height of his fame, his prospects blazing like the midday sun.
And with the Li Family behind him, the matchmakers who came to propose marriage had practically worn a path to their door. The Lin Family could never let such a golden son-in-law slip through their fingers.
"But didn't you say Lin Jingshu and you..." Yao Xingzhi trailed off. Seeing Chen Feng lower his head, he swallowed the rest of his words.
"That's right. I became a stain on Lin Jingshu's name. The Li Family would never let Li Shuxian marry a woman who was already betrothed, and the Lin Family could never give up this chance to soar..."
Bitterness seeped into Chen Feng's words.
"I was too foolish back then. I thought Lin Jingshu was being forced. In the end... my family was destroyed."
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