Younger Brother? Sinking Boat?

That night, the moonlight was as cold as frost.

Inside the Desolate House.

Shen Zhou lay on a pile of dry grass, gazing up at the star-filled sky, his thoughts racing.

Looking back on the past half-month since he had crossed over, from begging on the streets to scraping by to later using his cheat to kick down martial arts schools... all those experiences had helped him quickly fit into this world.

Sometimes, when he thought about his life in his previous world, it felt like a dream, somehow unreal.

Just as Shen Zhou was lost in thought, San Mazi's cheerful voice suddenly rang out beside him. "Boss, I counted it up. We have six hundred and seventy-three taels of silver now. You can't afford the Dragon Abyss Sword or Thousand Jun, but since we're heading to Flying Bird City, even after setting aside money for the journey, you can still buy yourself a long sword—Autumn Water—to use!"

Shen Zhou came back to himself and smiled. "No need. I used to want a sword because I thought only a good one would let me show what I could do. Now, whether the sword's good or bad doesn't matter that much to me. The wooden sword works just fine!"

San Mazi seemed to understand, but he didn't dwell on it. He just thought that not having to buy a sword was good, too. The money saved would be enough to buy him lots of tasty food.

A Dai suddenly said, sounding inexplicably melancholy, "We've lived in this abandoned house for so long. Now that we're leaving tomorrow, I'm actually a little reluctant."

That was right.

After kicking down the martial arts schools and saving enough money for the journey, Shen Zhou and the others had decided to set off for Flying Bird City the next day.

Training in martial arts was now the shared goal of all four of them.

Seeing that A Dai was feeling a little down, Shen Zhou moved over and slung an arm around his neck, deliberately teasing him. "You're not that old, so stop acting like a grumpy old man all the time. Think about it: tomorrow we're going to Flying Bird City, and you and Xi Mei will soon be able to learn martial arts and train. Then you can do what you want. Doesn't that make it less sad?"

Xi Mei softly murmured, "Mm," and her eyes began to shine with anticipation.

"Alright, we have a long journey tomorrow. Everyone should get some sleep."

After chatting a little longer, Shen Zhou urged everyone to rest. Before long, all four of them had drifted off to sleep.

"Are you sure it's this kid?"

"It's him!"

"But didn't you say the Wooden Sword Guest who kicked down your schools was a Transformation Realm expert, fifth or sixth grade? We've tied him up, and he hasn't even noticed. I just checked his body, too—there's not a trace of Yuan force, not even the slightest sign of gathered vitality. He's completely ordinary. You're not trying to fool us, are you?"

"Uh... Commander Chen, how could we dare fool you? How about... we wake him up and ask?"

"..."

Shen Zhou was sleeping when, sometime past midnight, a conversation stirred him from his drowsiness. When he opened his eyes...

Holy crap!

At some point, a huge crowd had appeared inside the pitch-black, dilapidated Desolate House. Torches lit the place as bright as day. It was like a scene straight out of a ghost story.

Shen Zhou came fully awake at once. He instinctively reached for the wooden sword beside him, but when he moved, he realized his whole body was tied up. A strip of cloth had been knotted over his mouth, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Shen Zhou's eyelid twitched. This is bad. Did kicking down all those schools expose my wealth and bring bandits after me?

He hurriedly looked to the side. When he saw that the Three Little Ones had been bound hand and foot just like him, unable to speak, he silently breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. As long as everyone's safe.

The Three Little Ones were terrified. Unable to speak, they could only keep mumbling through their gags, as if calling out, "Boss Zhou, save us!"

Shen Zhou gave them a reassuring look. Only then did he have time to size up the "bandits" in front of him. But when he looked closely, he froze.

Weren't these the owners of the fifty-eight martial arts schools?

In an instant, Shen Zhou seemed to understand what was going on. He seethed. These bastards can't take a loss. They actually waited until I fell asleep to sneak up on me and take revenge. Fine, fine... just you wait. Once I get my hands on my wooden sword, I'll teach you all how to behave!

Shen Zhou looked around and spotted a wooden sword only two or three steps away. It seemed he could reach it if he just rolled over.

Just as he was about to risk it, Commander Chen, the City Guard who had earlier been talking with Wu Chang'an, stepped forward. He yanked Shen Zhou up from the ground, untied the cloth over his mouth, and demanded coldly, "You're Shen Zhou, the Wooden Sword Guest?"

Shen Zhou had been about to stiffen his neck and say, "I am," but then a flash of inspiration crossed his mind. He recalled the conversation he'd overheard. Commander Chen seemed to doubt his identity because he was now just a weakling.

Besides, his sword wasn't in his hand. If he fought now, he'd be at a disadvantage.

So he rolled his eyes and put on a frightened look. "Sir, I... I'm not Shen Zhou. I'm his twin brother. My name is Sinking Boat!"

The fifty-eight school owners tilted their heads in unison. "???"

A younger brother?

Did that kid even have a younger brother?

The Three Little Ones' eyes widened, too. "!!!"

Sinking Boat?

What a carelessly chosen name!

Commander Chen's brows furrowed slightly. He asked, only half convinced, "His younger brother? Then where's your big brother?"

Shen Zhou answered with an honest, guileless face, "After my brother kicked down the schools, he took the signboards and sold them for money. Then he went to the Red Sleeve Tavern in the county to enjoy himself!"

"If you're his younger brother and friends, why didn't he take you along?"

"My brother said we're still too young and wouldn't let us go."

Heh heh...

Someone in the City Guard couldn't help laughing.

When they went out to enjoy themselves and didn't want to bring the younger boys from their families, they used the same excuse.

Commander Chen abruptly yanked Shen Zhou closer. His eyes were as sharp as knives as he stared into Shen Zhou's, pressing him for an answer. "Is what you're saying true?"

Shen Zhou's heart pounded under that stare, but he steadied himself and replied, "It's true. I wouldn't dare deceive you, sir."

Commander Chen watched him for a while but saw no flaw. He tossed Shen Zhou back onto the pile of grass, then turned to the school owners and coldly gave his orders. "Leave two people here to watch these few. The rest, come with me to the Red Sleeve Tavern to capture Shen Zhou."

As he fell, Shen Zhou went with the momentum and rolled over. Without drawing attention, he got his hand around the wooden sword on the ground.

Footsteps sounded...

The City Guard and a group of school owners began filing out.

Now that Shen Zhou had the wooden sword in his grasp, he felt more at ease. But he didn't erupt into action right away. Instead, he looked at Tie Zhan and Ma Hong, the two school owners left behind to keep watch, and asked, "Why did you two capture us?"

Ma Hong was a straightforward man who wasn't much for scheming. He seemed to believe that the person in front of him really was Shen Zhou's younger brother, Sinking Boat. So he didn't hide anything, only sighing as he answered, "Kid, don't blame us. This was all Lord Wu's idea."

Lord Wu?

Shen Zhou furrowed his brows. "But we haven't offended the city lord."

Tie Zhan gave a cold laugh and cut in. "That's because 'your brother' was too arrogant, kicking down every martial arts school in the city one after another. The city lord is wary of his strength and afraid he might challenge him for the position of city lord, so he's using us as his weapon to deal with him."

Shen Zhou understood everything now. His voice turned cold as he asked, "What will happen to my brother after you capture him?"

Ma Hong answered honestly, "The city lord ordered us to cripple his cultivation and drive him out of the city. Don't worry. We won't kill you."

By now, everything was clear.

The corner of Shen Zhou's mouth curled. At last, he stopped pretending. He raised his eyes, and all the pitiful weakness on his face vanished. His expression turned cold as he looked at Commander Chen and the others, who were about to leave the courtyard, and called out, "Hey, there's no need to go. Shen Zhou... he's right here!"

At the shout, Commander Chen and the others, already close to leaving the Desolate House, stopped in their tracks and abruptly turned to look inside.

Bang...

The Entry activated.

Yuan force surged.

Shen Zhou gave a light twist, and the ropes around his body snapped apart. He rose calmly to his feet, vitality swirling around him, pressing down on everyone with an air that brooked no offense.

"???"

The sudden change inside the house left Ma Hong and Tie Zhan stunned.

What was going on?

Wasn't this guy a martial arts novice? How had he suddenly...

Their bodies jolted, and they snapped back to their senses. Ma Hong cried out, "No, you're Shen Zhou!"

With that, Ma Hong and Tie Zhan immediately attacked, rushing at Shen Zhou from the left and right.

Cold light flashed in Shen Zhou's eyes. He gave a single-handed shake.

Aow!

A phantom dragon appeared out of nowhere, mighty and overbearing.

Ma and Tie were instantly blasted backward and hit the ground, their eyes wide with terror.

Shen Zhou paid the two no further attention. He went straight to the Three Little Ones and flicked a finger. They were freed as well.

"Boss Zhou!"

"Brother Zhou..."

Shen Zhou waved them away. "Stand back, or you might get hurt by accident."

His voice was calm, but his tone was more serious and solemn than ever before.

The Three Little Ones looked at him as though they were meeting him for the first time, but they quickly came to their senses and hurried to hide.

This time, Boss Zhou was truly furious!

By now, the people outside had also recovered from their shock.

Commander Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, something like flames flickering within them. He glared at Shen Zhou and shouted, "You little brat, you dared to trick us?"

As soon as Commander Chen finished speaking, Shen Zhou blurred before his eyes and appeared right in front of him.

"What? So fast!"

Commander Chen's expression changed drastically. He had only just moved to attack when, in the next instant, Shen Zhou seized him by the throat and lifted him one-handed.

Shen Zhou said coldly, "I was sleeping peacefully here. Then you suddenly barged in in the middle of the night, tied us up without a word, and now you're saying I tricked you?"

"Ghk..."

Shen Zhou tightened his grip. Commander Chen struggled desperately, his face turning red as he struggled to speak but couldn't get a single word out.

Even more terrifying was how strong the guy in front of him was. Not only had he moved so fast that Commander Chen hadn't been able to react, but now that he was restrained, he couldn't fight back at all.

What kind of strength was this? Maybe even the city lord couldn't manage it.

"How dare you attack him!"

"Let go of our Commander Chen!"

By now, the surrounding City Guard had finally come to their senses. They shouted angrily, drew their blades, and swung them at Shen Zhou.

Shen Zhou didn't even look at them. He wrapped Yuan force around his wooden sword and swept it once.

Terrifying Sword Qi poured out like a floodgate bursting open, like a volcano erupting. In an instant, it exploded outward.

Bang! Bang! Bang...

More than ten City Guard had their armor shattered and were blasted into the air. They landed more than ten meters away, gravely injured and vomiting blood, unable to get back up.

The Desolate House fell silent once more.

The school owners who had been preparing to attack were so frightened by that move from Shen Zhou that none dared to move.

Too strong!

They had all fought Shen Zhou before, but back then, he'd seemed like someone they could at least touch. He hadn't yet seemed so far above them, so utterly unbeatable.

But today was different.

Shen Zhou was now terrifyingly strong—so strong it made their hearts pound with fear, so strong that none of them dared even think of attacking him!

Someone seemed to realize something, and his pupils trembled violently. "Could it be... he's a Celestial Firmament Realm expert?"