Three Major Events, Heading to the Chen Family Mansion

Luo Bin's brutal directness caught everyone off guard. With such bloody methods, if the wounds weren't properly treated, Liu Lang's life could very well hang in the balance.

All eyes fixed on the now somewhat burly youth, a chill creeping into their hearts. Without a word, he'd struck first and crippled the ringleader Liu Lang...

Wen Li and the other women flinched and turned away in panic. For all their earlier ferocity, it was just bluster—when it came to actual violence, they couldn't even be sure they'd dare to draw blood.

Luo Bin's voice carried a cold edge as he pointed at the unconscious Liu Lang: "What are you standing around for? Carry your boss to Jishi Hall next door and have Old Master Sun stop the bleeding. Let him rest up for a while..."

"Right, right."

The gang of ruffians dropped their makeshift weapons in terror, swarmed forward to lift the mangled Liu Lang, and carried him toward the door.

"Hold it."

A middle-aged man with some sense squeezed out a fawning, bitter smile: "Brother Luo, this... this whole thing, we brothers were blinded by greed. Who knew Scarface Liu had his eyes on your people?

Rest assured, since Hall Master Luo settled us here, we'll keep our heads down and stay out of trouble, hehe..."

Luo Bin stepped closer, forcing the men carrying Liu Lang back a few paces.

"Oh, and his medical bills should be on my tab. But I'm heading to the Chen Family Mansion for training tomorrow—you can send someone to ask the Second Young Master for the money then.

Go on, don't delay his treatment."

The group nodded like chickens pecking rice: "Yes, yes."

Then someone seemed to remember something, his face turning pale, eyes wide with fear as he shook his head: "No, no, no—we'll cover the medical costs ourselves. We wouldn't dare trouble Brother Luo..."

Wen Li was naturally stunning, a woman of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, her face bare of makeup yet radiating a ripe, gentle charm. Her dark hair was pinned up in a simple bun with a plain hairpin, a few loose strands falling by her temples, her cheeks fair as powdered jade.

Seeing Luo Bin's assertiveness now shattered the timid, cowardly boy she'd held in her mind. When Zhang Xin's wife had told her Luo Bin killed men at the docks to save their husbands, she'd found it hard to believe.

After all, in the two or three years they'd lived together, Wen Li thought she'd come to understand his character.

But the youth before her was both familiar and strange...

"Ah Bin... he really has grown into a real man."

Wen Li wore a moon-white fine cotton cheongsam, one Luo Bin had bought her two days ago. The fabric was soft and smooth, the color beautiful—a style she'd never dared to dream of before...

She didn't know where Luo Bin got the money for such things, but seeing his martial prowess today, she understood at once: with skills others could barely match, he could live well anywhere.

Zhang Xin's wife, Li Wan—her name was the opposite of her nature—now chimed in with a grin: "See, see? Sister Wen is the lucky one. Not only did her daughter escape to Tianhai with her, but here in Ping City, she's got young Luo looking out for her.

Ah, those gossips in the side rooms must be green with envy!"

Zhang Xin quickly let go of Xu Ping's arm and rushed to cover his wife's mouth, afraid she'd keep going: "Why does every good thing turn sour when it comes out of your mouth?"

"You useless tin spear, what's wrong with me saying a few words? Mmmph..."

"..."

After the gang of Liu Lang's underlings carried away his broken body, Luo Bin turned to Wen Li.

"Aunt Wen, if those foul-mouthed, filthy scum bother you again, come tell me. I'll have your back."

Wen Li unconsciously straightened her posture and nodded softly: "Mm."

Since Luo Bin was leaving for the Chen Family Mansion tomorrow to be "trained" by that Jiang family martial master, he'd likely be staying there for a while. Though Liu Lang's crew had been cowed by the example made of their leader, in a mixed-gender compound like this, someone was bound to try something. So Luo Bin instructed Zhang Xin: "Uncle Zhang, I'm going with the Chen Family's Second Young Master to train tomorrow. I probably won't be back for a while, so I'm leaving the compound's affairs to you and Uncle Xu.

If anyone else causes trouble, send word to me at the Chen Family Mansion."

Zhang Xin knew this meant Luo Bin had a bright future ahead and didn't dare slack off. He quickly agreed, and seeing how Luo Bin treated Wen Li, he understood clearly.

This was a youth who valued relationships and remembered debts of gratitude.

But the strides he'd taken were big. Just days ago, they'd all been mud-footed laborers fighting for the Pei Family, risking life and limb. Then Luo Bin had become a valued subordinate in Luo Wendi's eyes.

And after Feng Yi told them the details of the elite selection, they realized Luo Bin had already connected with the Green Bamboo Gang's backer. He might not be skyrocketing to success, but he'd never scrape for a living at the bottom again.

Zhang Xin thumped his chest and promised: "Ah Bin, rest easy. We brothers owe you our lives. Our wives and children are all here—I won't let any outsider slip through!"

Luo Bin smiled faintly: "Then I'm reassured. Oh, Uncle Xu, how's your injury?"

A warm current flowed through Xu Ping's heart as he boomed with honest cheer: "Don't worry, Ah Bin. Your Uncle Xu has thick skin. That club didn't faze me at all. I stopped, slashed Liu Lang a few times, and ended up catching my blade on his ribs—opened a nice gash. Came out ahead."

With the Pei Family's oppression gone, this extended family had huddled together for warmth in chaotic times, and their spirits were gradually lifting.

Luo Bin laughed: "Good to hear. Uncle Xu, you're a beast!"

In May, Ping City already carried the weight of early summer, sweltering and oppressive. This land was a constant stage for slaughter, starvation, homelessness, and gang wars.

Ever since the Westerners blasted open the gates of the former Great Li dynasty with their legendary enchanted cannons, it was as if thousands of years of written culture and moral teachings had been cast aside across this vast territory.

It was utter chaos.

In May, three major events had occurred in Ping City, causing the already simmering region to erupt with all manner of demons and monsters.

The first was the Chen Family's operation against the Pei Family, forcing the entire Pei clan to relocate to Tianhai.

The second was the appearance of many "evil spirits" along the banks of the Li River outside the city, said to be related to the Pei Family. Some foreign merchants wanted to enclose the land where the spirits appeared, claiming it was prime "yin-nourishing ground."

The third was the death of Old Master Chen Shuo, Chen Jing's grandfather...

The scorching sun was a bit stifling. Ruan Pei, informed by Luo Wendi, had taken a "Champion" brand car from the gang and drove to the former Pei Family mansion to pick up Luo Bin and head to the Chen Family Mansion.

This car, touted as worth eight thousand silver yuan, would take a dockworker decades of working without eating or drinking to save up for.

Luo Bin, seeing off Wen Li, Zhang Xin, Xu Ping, Li Wan, and other bold and hearty women, got into Ruan Pei's car.

The entire vehicle was pitch-black and gleaming, looking extremely luxurious under the sunlight. In this era of the Great Xin Republic, a car was something ordinary people wouldn't dare dream of in ten lifetimes.

Everyone watched the car drive away, their gazes full of envy.

Li Wan poked her husband and said, "Tell me, how did this kid suddenly change... and gain such abilities?"

Zhang Xin thought seriously for a moment, then explained, "Brother Feng Yi said that during the selection, A-Bin learned the Chen Family's superior martial arts. Could he really be a genius? I've seen it in him since he was little!"

Li Wan raised an eyebrow, looking speechless, then spat, "Pfft, you've only known him for less than three years, and you're talking about 'since he was little'..."

Wen Li covered her mouth and let out a snicker, and soon everyone was laughing.

"Old Zhang, you're really patting yourself on the back, hahaha!"

"Exactly!"

About twenty or thirty minutes later, Ruan Pei drove the car to the Chen Family Mansion.

Luo Bin looked out the window, weighing his options. He currently had no solid foundational mainstream cultivation method. Obtaining one from the Chen Family was undoubtedly the fastest path available, but he didn't know what price he'd have to pay...

Ruan Pei glanced at Luo Bin's slightly solemn expression, let out a light laugh, and explained with a kind face:

"Luo Bin, I imagine you're worried that the Chen Family values you because they're plotting something, right? If so, there's no need at all. Just relax—this matter will only benefit you."