Kill!

Two nights later, Chen Jing wrapped his head in cloth, leaving only his eyes exposed, and changed into a set of tattered clothes. Even if Chen Sanwu were to see him now, he wouldn't recognize this as Chen Jing.

Over the past two days, Chen Jing had been busy gathering information on Brother Tiger, even secretly tailing him to confirm that he lived in a gloomy shack in the dilapidated alleyways on the west side of the city.

At this moment, Brother Tiger and his two lackeys, Pockmarked Qiang and Scarhead, were inside the house, eating meat and drinking alcohol while counting the newly collected coins piled on the table.

"Brother Tiger, the protection fee from that Su family was short by three copper coins this time."

Pockmarked Qiang muttered as he counted the coins.

"Yeah, the Xun family on my end was short by five copper coins, too!"

Scarhead, sitting to the side, immediately chimed in.

Brother Tiger snorted at this, his jowls trembling: "Tsk, it seems these lowly commoners really won't shed tears until they see their own coffins!"

"I'll deal with them one by one tomorrow; they actually dare to try and swindle me!"

Just then, Brother Tiger suddenly remembered something and asked with narrowed eyes: "Right, what's the situation with that Chen family? Have they gone to borrow money yet?"

Pockmarked Qiang scrambled to answer: "I asked his neighbors; they said he's already borrowing money. He's just waiting for us to come collect, he can't run!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Hearing Pockmarked Qiang's reply, Brother Tiger burst into loud laughter, his jowls shaking incessantly: "I told you, that kid is a spineless waste! So what if he practices martial arts? He still doesn't dare to lay a hand on me!"

He then raised his wine bowl, took a large gulp, and continued: "I was actually looking forward to seeing what this so-called River-Breaking Fist was all about!"

"Haha, with that guy's thin arms and skinny legs, Brother Tiger, one punch from you and who knows how many liters of blood he'd cough up!"

Scarhead, hearing this, hurriedly began to flatter him, fearing that Pockmarked Qiang would steal all the spotlight.

The two continued to fawn over Brother Tiger, terrified that the other might become the more favored subordinate.

The three drank for a while longer until Pockmarked Qiang suddenly leaned in, lowering his voice to ask Brother Tiger: "By the way, Brother Tiger, if we really end up fighting the Canal Gang, should we run away in advance?"

"After all, those guys from the Canal Gang don't value their lives when they fight."

Brother Tiger waved his hand impatiently: "Nonsense, of course we'd run. Why else do you think I'm collecting this protection fee early?"

"If it weren't for the fact that you two have followed me for so long, do you think I'd even tell you?"

Seeing this, Scarhead immediately began to flatter him again: "No wonder you're the boss, Brother Tiger; you really are full of wit and strategy!"

Pockmarked Qiang, not to be outdone, added: "Stupid, it's 'full of brains and strategy'!"

At this, Brother Tiger glanced at the half-jar of wine left on the table and urged them: "Alright, it's getting late. Get lost, get lost!"

"We're going, we're going."

Seeing Brother Tiger start to shoo them away, Pockmarked Qiang and Scarhead cast lingering glances at the unfinished wine before being forced out of the house by Brother Tiger's glare.

Once the two had left, the room fell silent again, leaving Brother Tiger alone to eat his meat and drink his wine.

As the night deepened and the alcohol took its toll, Brother Tiger's head began to spin, his body swayed, and he let out frequent hiccups.

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, a sudden knocking sounded at the door.

Hearing the noise, Brother Tiger furrowed his brows and cursed impatiently: "Who is it! Coming to bother me this late, are you looking to die?"

Cursing and swearing, Brother Tiger swayed toward the door and pulled it open.

Whoosh!

A handful of fine white powder was flung directly into his face.

"Ah!!!"

The moment the lime hit his eyes, Brother Tiger's dizzy head cleared instantly, followed by a piercing scream as if he had been set on fire. He flailed his arms wildly, trying to strike at his enemy while defending against the incoming attack.

In the midst of Brother Tiger's blind thrashing, Chen Jing stepped back to create distance, then, seizing the moment his chest was exposed, delivered a kick that sent him flying.

Bang!

Brother Tiger was kicked like a sack of rags, crashing into the floorboards with a heavy, dull thud.

"My friend..."

"My friend, let's talk this out!"

Feeling the agonizing pain of his chest caving in, Brother Tiger realized he had run into a formidable opponent.

Desperate to save his own life, he dared not act tough and hurriedly begged for mercy: "I have money here, please spare my life..."

Ignoring the pleas, Chen Jing pulled a bamboo tube from his waist, uncapped it, and splashed the water inside directly onto Brother Tiger's face.

Sizzle!

The water reacted violently with the lime, releasing a cloud of steam. Scalding paste coated Brother Tiger's face, and he began to shriek: "Aaaaaaaah!"

His heart-wrenching screams echoed through the shack. Feeling the intense agony on his face, Brother Tiger rolled on the ground, clawing frantically in an attempt to scrape the lime off.

The moment Brother Tiger rolled over, Chen Jing's eyes turned cold. He reached out, grabbed a nearby wooden chair, and slammed it down without hesitation!

Crack! Crack! Thwack!

Two loud bangs rang out; the chair shattered into pieces on the second strike, and on the third, the jagged wooden leg drove deep into Brother Tiger's neck with the remaining force!

Blood sprayed out like a punctured sack, rapidly spreading across the floor into a dark red stream.

"You..."

Brother Tiger's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with terror and resentment, but after uttering only a single word, he collapsed stiffly and fell silent.

Chen Jing was in no rush; he took a deep breath and waited for a moment. Only after seeing that Brother Tiger did not move again did he step forward and stomp his foot hard onto Brother Tiger's neck.

CRACK!

The crisp sound of a fracture exploded through the room.

Following this, Chen Jing picked up the dagger that had fallen to the ground, leaned over, and stabbed Brother Tiger's heart three times. Each strike was steady, accurate, and ruthless, leaving no room for any chance of survival.

Only after confirming that this scoundrel was dead beyond a doubt did Chen Jing stand up, wipe the dagger clean, sweep all the silver from the table into his pockets, and turn to leave the room with practiced efficiency.

Stepping outside, the night wind blew against his face. Chen Jing did not stop; he continued walking forward while lost in thought.

Brother Tiger is a notorious mad dog within the Blue Scarf Gang, known for his wickedness and bullying, so no one dares to live nearby. Even though the walls here are thin, the sounds of my struggle shouldn't have carried far; no one should have heard.

Besides, I smashed him three times, kicked his neck, and stabbed his heart three times—he must be thoroughly dead!

In this era, human life is as cheap as grass; death is a common occurrence. While pulling carts, Chen Jing had seen many corpses lying in alleys and had witnessed many martial artists kill at the slightest provocation.

Furthermore, this Brother Tiger had repeatedly extorted "security fees," inciting public outrage, and he had even planned to sell my eldest and second sisters to a brothel!

If he doesn't die, I cannot rest easy!

I only ever wanted to practice martial arts in peace; he forced my hand! He forced me with his own life!

I am ridding the people of a scourge; I am protecting my family!

I am in the right!

Thinking this, Chen Jing felt a weight lift from his chest, and his breathing became noticeably lighter.

In this world, if you don't want to die, you have no choice but to send others to their deaths!

In the darkness, Chen Jing's pace did not falter in the slightest; next, it would be the turn of Pockmarked Qiang and Scarhead.

Chen Jing followed the dilapidated alley, moving silently toward Pockmarked Qiang's residence.