Showing His Strength, Beating Lin Hong to a Pulp

"Lin Shan, don't go too far!"

"How am I going too far? We found this Red Sun Herb a few days ago. It wasn't fully mature then, so we left it there instead of picking it. Now you've picked what belongs to us, and you're accusing us of going too far? That's the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it?"

"You're lying!"

"I'm not."

"Then do you have proof that you saw this Red Sun Herb first?"

"No, but you don't have proof that we didn't see it first, either. Qing Tan, stop arguing and give me the Red Sun Herb. Then I'll let you go."

"Don't even think about it!"

"Heh. Fine, keep it, then. Anyway, I saw that kid Lin Changqiang run off just now. I bet he's gone to find Lin Dong, right? Good. I still haven't had my fill of beating him up."

"You bastard!"

What was unfolding before Lin Yan's eyes was exactly the scene from the original story in which Qing Tan clashed with Lin Shan over a Red Sun Herb.

It also helped Lin Yan get a clearer picture of the current timeline.

After all, the only point of reference he'd had before was the Clan Competition, but that was still several months away, so there was a lot he couldn't infer with any certainty.

But now Lin Yan knew.

Lin Dong had probably obtained the Stone Talisman just one step ahead of him, and his strength was likely around the Fourth Layer of Body Tempering.

With Lin Dong's strength, he could deal with Lin Shan in front of them, but not Lin Hong. That was why Lin Dong had suffered a serious setback here in the original story. He'd only escaped thanks to Lin Xia's help later on.

"Little friend, interested in getting involved?"

Yao Lao had no idea what Lin Yan was thinking. Seeing him suddenly stop, he asked with some curiosity.

"This matter..."

"Getting involved won't hurt me."

Lin Yan thought for a moment before replying.

He figured that stepping in here would be worthwhile.

After all, he wasn't close to Lin Dong.

But Lin Dong was certainly someone worth befriending. He was loyal and always went all out for his brothers and friends.

Lin Shan was bullying Qing Tan right now, so Lin Yan could use this chance to help her out and naturally get to know Lin Dong.

And it wouldn't cost him anything. As long as he didn't go too far, the elders wouldn't interfere in the younger generation's affairs. And if the elders stayed out of it, there was no one among the youngsters who could do anything to Lin Yan.

So to Lin Yan, it was a small favor that would earn him the goodwill of Lin Dong and Qing Tan—a deal with nothing to lose.

With that in mind, Lin Yan walked straight over.

Meanwhile, under the pressure from Lin Shan and the others, Qing Tan was on the verge of breaking down.

She didn't want to hand over the Red Sun Herb, but she was afraid Lin Dong would get beaten up. After agonizing over it again and again, she'd decided to give it up.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So many people picking on one little girl. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"

But just then, Lin Yan strode forward and mocked Lin Shan and the others.

His taunt enraged the group, and they all turned their eyes toward him.

"Lin Yan, tired of living? Trying to play the hero and rescue the damsel?"

Lin Shan and the others grew even more irritated when they saw Lin Yan. The newcomer was nothing but a nobody, yet he'd dared to talk big, and it infuriated them.

"If you apologize to me now, I might let you off."

Lin Shan narrowed his eyes at Lin Yan.

"And what if I don't want to?" Lin Yan asked with a grin.

"Then you can lie in bed for a few months!" Lin Shan could no longer hold back. He'd always looked down on Lin Yan because he was an orphan, and Lin Yan's repeated defiance had only made him angrier. Lin Shan had already resolved to beat him to a pulp and vent his frustration.

Lin Shan let out a cold snort.

As the sound faded, he charged at Lin Yan and quickly swung a punch.

"Falling Rock Fist!"

"Lin Yan-ge, watch out!"

Seeing this, Qing Tan hurriedly warned Lin Yan. She'd only just met him and had hardly spoken to him before, but since he'd come to help her, she was on his side. So when Lin Shan attacked, she anxiously called out to Lin Yan.

"Don't worry. He can't do a thing to me."

Lin Yan only smiled at Qing Tan.

Then, facing Lin Shan's attack, Lin Yan couldn't even be bothered to use a martial art. He simply threw a punch, unleashing his formidable strength straight ahead.

Lin Shan was knocked down on the spot, rolling across the ground in a thoroughly miserable heap. Lin Yan didn't hold back, taunting him again and again.

"That all you've got?"

Lin Shan howled in pain, but Lin Yan's taunt only enraged him further. He turned furiously toward the underlings behind him. "What are you staring at? Get him!"

The underlings had no choice but to charge forward, steeling themselves.

But they were even weaker than Lin Shan. Most were only at the Third Layer of Body Tempering, and once they faced Lin Yan, they were quickly beaten until they couldn't fight back, sprawled all over the ground.

"Lin Yan-ge, you're so strong."

Qing Tan swallowed hard.

She'd thought that being outnumbered put Lin Yan at a disadvantage. But once they actually started fighting, Lin Yan had beaten Lin Shan and the others like a father thrashing his sons. Qing Tan stared at him, dumbfounded, her face full of admiration.

"Stop!"

Just then, a slightly older youth came sprinting toward Lin Yan. He shouted for him to stop, but at the same time, he struck at Lin Yan with his palm.

"Oh no, it's Lin Hong!"

"Lin Yan-ge, be careful!"

Qing Tan's face went pale at the sight. Clearly terrified, she hurriedly warned Lin Yan.

"Lin Hong? He's at the Sixth Layer of Body Tempering too, isn't he?"

"Good. I'll use you to test myself."

Lin Yan, however, wasn't afraid in the slightest. If anything, there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.

Lin Shan and the others had been too weak. Lin Yan had deliberately held back while fighting them, afraid he might accidentally kill someone.

But Lin Hong was also at the Sixth Layer of Body Tempering, so he was just the right person for Lin Yan to use for practice.

"Back-Through Fist!"

He threw a punch, and a rapid series of cracking sounds rang out. Ten sharp cracks sounded before they finally stopped. Lin Yan's fist collided directly with Lin Hong's palm.

Bang!

Another deafening impact rang out.

But what no one expected was that when Lin Yan's fist met Lin Hong's palm,

Lin Hong couldn't withstand the force at all and was knocked backward several steps.

Lin Yan immediately looked disappointed. "That's it? And you call yourself a Sixth Layer Body Tempering fighter?"

"So weak."

As for Qing Tan, Lin Shan, and the others,

they were all left gaping at what they'd just seen, stunned as if they'd witnessed a ghost.