Conflict

Pan Yun stared fixedly at Lin Qing, who had not retreated a single step and whose breathing remained steady. A storm surged within him.

"How is this little brat even possible?"

"I heard he was only at the Skin Refining Realm. How could he take one of my blows head-on without being at a disadvantage?"

"Why was his attack just now so forceful and precise?"

Pan Yun roared inwardly as an unprecedented sense of danger welled up inside him.

This boy could not be allowed to live. Otherwise, he would become a grave threat in the future!

A murderous glint flashed in his eyes as the blood and qi within him surged.

He summoned the full strength of the Tendon Opening Realm. His fingers curled slightly, and his bones and tendons crackled faintly.

He was clearly prepared to throw caution to the wind and attack again.

He was determined to kill Lin Qing with a single blow.

Lin Qing remained expressionless. At worst, he would risk exposing his strength at the Second Barrier Realm and fight him.

"Enough!"

A stern shout rang out, like cold water splashed into boiling oil.

Head Constable Wang strode forward and stood between them. His expression was solemn as his sharp gaze swept over Pan Yun and Lin Qing.

"Shopkeeper Pan, Young Master Lin. In broad daylight, before everyone's eyes, you dare fight in the street. Do you think the law means nothing?"

Head Constable Wang's voice was not loud, but it was cold.

"Anyone who makes another move will be arrested under the law!"

The constables behind him also gripped the iron blades and chains at their waists, watching the two men like hawks.

Pan Yun's movements faltered. His chest heaved as he forcibly suppressed the killing intent that was on the verge of bursting out.

He could afford to disregard Lin Qing, but he could not openly defy the authorities, especially without any solid evidence.

He took a deep breath and slowly lowered his guard.

But his cold eyes still fixed on Lin Qing like a venomous snake.

"Head Constable Wang."

Pan Yun pointed to a middle-aged man nearby.

"This man can testify. While on watch at Security Hall last night, he saw Fan Kui speaking in front of Benevolent World Hall. How is that not evidence?"

The middle-aged man hurriedly nodded like a pecking chicken. "Yes, Constable! I was on duty last night. I really did see Fan Kui talking with Lin Qing. Afterward, he came skulking around our shop. He must have been scouting the place in advance!"

Head Constable Wang furrowed his brow slightly and looked at Lin Qing. "Lin Qing, what do you have to say? Why did Fan Kui come to see you in the middle of the night?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Lin Qing once more.

Lin Qing remained calm and met Head Constable Wang's eyes without hesitation. His voice was detached. "In answer to the constable, Fan Kui knocked on my shop door last night because his father, Old Fan, had died of his injuries. His family was poor and couldn't afford a burial, so the body was left at the public mortuary. He came to borrow money from me so he could lay his father to rest."

He paused, his gaze passing over Fan Kui's cold body on the ground, a complicated look in his eyes.

"I took pity on his filial devotion, and we're neighbors, so I lent him three strings of copper coins to see to the funeral. The people at the public mortuary should be able to confirm this, too."

"As for why he later went to Security Hall and why he set the fire, I truly have no idea."

Lin Qing explained the reason for the loan clearly and reasonably.

He admitted only to offering limited help out of neighborly goodwill.

Head Constable Wang listened and gave a slight nod.

He had worked cases for many years and knew the hardships ordinary folk endured.

He had also heard a little about Old Fan's family. The White Horse Gang had driven them into a corner.

Now that the man was dead, they could not even afford a coffin. How wretched.

Fan Kui was still just a boy. What he had done was extreme and against the law, but the despair behind it was enough to make anyone sigh.

He looked at Fan Kui's body, curled on the ground and smeared with blood.

Then he looked at the two contracts in Lin Qing's hand, stained with blood, and understood most of what had happened.

The boy had used this desperate, tragic act to settle everything and repay Lin Qing for the kindness he had once shown him.

"Alas..."

Head Constable Wang sighed, his tone touched by a rare note of sympathy.

"He was a boy with real spirit. What a pity..."

He waved to the constables behind him and ordered, "Men, gather up the body, take it to Mass Grave Hill, and bury it somewhere."

"Yes, sir!"

Two constables stepped forward, wrapped Fan Kui's body in a straw mat, and carried it away.

"As for these White Horse Gang ruffians, they broke into the shop and beat a boy to death. Arrest them!"

"Yes, sir!"

Several constables immediately brought out ropes and bound the injured ruffians.

Seeing this, Feng Bing revealed his unwillingness.

He had originally meant to force the Fan Family to hand over their house and land deeds.

But he had never imagined that the boy would be so resolute.

Pan Yun watched the scene, his face dark enough to drip water.

His accusation had been brushed aside by Lin Qing with such ease.

And Head Constable Wang from the authorities clearly seemed more inclined to believe Lin Qing's explanation.

He stared at Lin Qing and squeezed a cold snort through his teeth, his voice full of scorn. "Young Master Lin, you certainly have a way with people!"

"Three strings of copper coins bought you a hotheaded fool willing to set himself on fire for you, and you even got two land deeds out of it. Now that's a shrewd bargain!"

He stepped forward until his face was almost touching Lin Qing's and lowered his voice.

"But there's a long road ahead..."

"The mountains are high, the roads far, and the martial world treacherous."

"From now on, Young Master Lin, be careful wherever you go and whatever business you do. Watch your step. Don't take a wrong turn, or you might tumble into some ditch and break every bone in your body!"

His threat was utterly undisguised.

Lin Qing stepped back, disgust in his eyes.

"Your breath stinks. Stay away from me."

Veins bulged on Pan Yun's forehead, and his face turned ashen.

He gave a cold snort and turned to leave.

Lin Qing watched him go.

He knew that his conflict with Security Hall had now come into the open.

It was no exaggeration to say they were sworn enemies.

When the crowd saw that there was no more excitement to watch, they gradually dispersed.

But the looks they gave Lin Qing held more sympathy and respect, along with unspoken speculation.

The dawn completely chased away the night.

Warm sunlight fell over Yongning Street.

It illuminated Lin Qing's figure.

He lowered his head and looked at the bloodstains on the contracts.

Before his eyes, Fan Kui's tragic smile seemed to appear, along with the sight of Old Fan's wife hanging herself in despair.

The family of three had once lived in poverty, but they had kept to themselves and lived honest lives.

With Old Fan's carpentry and his wife's tofu stall, they had struggled to make ends meet on Yongning Street.

But because Old Fan's leg had been crippled and he'd lost his livelihood, he couldn't pay that damned incense money.

And because Fan Kui had offended Lord Leopard's son, the White Horse Gang had bullied and oppressed them like dogs and pigs, until the family was shattered and every last one of them was dead.

"Fuck this rotten world!"

An indescribable savagery rose in Lin Qing's heart.

He clenched his teeth so hard that he managed to keep the roar from bursting out of his throat.

He had not merely accepted the two contracts Fan Kui had bought with his life.

He had also accepted Fan Kui's final request.

The blood of Old Fan's family could not be shed in vain.

Lin Qing drew a deep breath of air tinged with the smell of burning.

He forcibly suppressed the roiling emotions, and his eyes turned cold once more.

He carefully folded the two contracts and tucked them against his body. Then he turned and walked steadily into Benevolent World Hall.

His shadow stretched long in the dawn light.

The road ahead was long, but there was not a single thing he could afford to leave undone.