Displaying Strength, Beating Lin Hong

"Lin Shan, don't you think you're going too far!"

"How is this going too far? We discovered this Red Sun Herb a few days ago; we just left it there because it wasn't fully mature yet. You're the one who picked our property, and now you're accusing us of going too far? Isn't this just the thief crying 'stop thief'?"

"You're lying!"

"I'm certainly not lying."

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

"I don't, but don't you also lack proof that we didn't see it first? Qing Tan, stop stalling. Give me the Red Sun Herb, and I'll let you go."

"In your dreams!"

"Heh. Fine, keep it then. Anyway, I saw that brat Lin Changqiang run off just now. He must have gone to find Lin Dong, right? Good. I didn't get enough of a beating in last time."

"You jerk!"

At this moment, what was unfolding before Lin Yan's eyes was the exact scene from the original story where Qing Tan clashed with Lin Shan over a Red Sun Herb.

This allowed Lin Yan to further clarify the current timeline.

Previously, the only reference point he had was the Clan Gathering, but since that was still several months away, he couldn't deduce many specifics.

But now, Lin Yan knew.

Lin Dong must have obtained the Stone Talisman just one step ahead of him, and his current strength should be around the fourth layer of Body Tempering.

With Lin Dong's current strength, he could handle Lin Shan, but he was no match for Lin Hong. In the original story, Lin Dong suffered a significant loss here and only escaped disaster thanks to Lin Xia's intervention.

"Little friend, are you interested in meddling in this?"

Yao Lao, unaware of Lin Yan's thoughts, asked curiously as he noticed him suddenly come to a halt.

"This matter?"

"Meddling in it wouldn't be a loss."

Lin Yan replied after a moment of contemplation.

In his view, intervening in this situation was actually a viable option.

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

However, Lin Dong was indeed someone worth befriending. He was righteous and devoted to his brothers and friends.

With Lin Shan bullying Qing Tan right now, he could take this opportunity to help her, which would naturally lead to an acquaintance with Lin Dong.

Furthermore, he didn't need to pay any price. As long as he didn't go too far, the elders wouldn't bother with the affairs of the juniors. And as long as the elders stayed out of it, none of these juniors could do anything to Lin Yan.

So for Lin Yan, this was merely a small favor that could earn him the goodwill of both Lin Dong and Qing Tan—a deal that was guaranteed to be profitable.

Thinking this, Lin Yan walked forward.

On the other side, Qing Tan was on the verge of breaking down under the pressure from Lin Shan and his group.

She didn't want to hand over the Red Sun Herb, but she was afraid Lin Dong would get beaten, so after much internal struggle, she prepared to surrender it.

"Tsk tsk tsk, so many of you bullying a little girl—have you no shame?"

Just then, Lin Yan stepped forward and unleashed a wave of mockery at Lin Shan and his cohorts.

Hearing this, Lin Shan and the others were incensed, and they all turned their gazes toward him.

"Lin Yan, are you tired of living? Trying to play the hero and save the damsel?"

Seeing that it was only Lin Yan—a nobody—who had spoken up, Lin Shan and his group were even more annoyed, feeling insulted by his bold words.

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

Lin Shan narrowed his eyes as he spoke to Lin Yan.

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

"If you don't want to, then go lie in bed for a few months!" Lin Shan could no longer contain himself. He had always looked down on Lin Yan for being an orphan, and now that Lin Yan had repeatedly defied him, he was furious. He decided right then and there to give him a brutal beating to vent his rage.

Lin Shan let out a cold snort.

As the sound faded, he lunged toward Lin Yan and threw a swift punch.

"Falling Rock Fist!"

"Brother Lin Yan, watch out!"

Seeing this, Qing Tan quickly warned him. Even though she and Lin Yan were only acquaintances and had barely spoken before, she was on his side now that he was trying to help her. Thus, she cried out in deep concern as Lin Shan launched his attack.

"Don't worry, he can't do anything to me."

Lin Yan replied to Qing Tan with a faint smile.

Then, facing Lin Shan's attack, Lin Yan didn't even bother using a martial art. He simply threw a punch, his formidable strength pouring directly forward.

Lin Shan was knocked down by Lin Yan's punch on the spot, rolling across the ground in a pathetic state. Seeing this, Lin Yan showed no mercy and continued to mock him.

"Is that it?"

Lin Shan was howling in pain, but hearing Lin Yan's taunt made him even more furious. He glared at his lackeys behind him and shouted, "What are you looking at? Get him!"

The group of lackeys had no choice but to grit their teeth and charge forward.

However, their strength was inferior even to Lin Shan's, as most were only at the third layer of Body Tempering. Consequently, once they faced Lin Yan, they were quickly beaten until they couldn't fight back, left sprawling on the ground in disarray.

"Brother Lin Yan is so strong."

Qing Tan swallowed hard as she watched.

She had originally thought Lin Yan would be at a disadvantage due to being outnumbered, but she hadn't expected him to thrash Lin Shan and the others as if he were disciplining children. The sight left her dumbfounded, her expression filled with admiration.

"Stop!"

But at that moment, an older youth sprinted toward Lin Yan. While he shouted for him to stop, he simultaneously struck out with a palm aimed directly at Lin Yan.

"Oh no, it's Lin Hong!"

"Brother Lin Yan, be careful!"

Qing Tan's face turned pale at the sight; clearly frightened, she hurriedly warned Lin Yan.

"Lin Hong, is it? It seems he's also at the sixth layer of Body Tempering?"

Good. I'll use you to test my skills.

Lin Yan, however, showed no fear; in fact, his eyes held a hint of excitement.

The previous opponents, Lin Shan and the others, were too weak. Lin Yan had deliberately held back his strength while dealing with them, fearing he might accidentally kill someone.

But now that Lin Hong, who was also at the sixth layer of Body Tempering, had arrived, it was different. Lin Yan could finally use him to practice.

"Back-Through Fist!"

He threw a punch with sudden force, and immediately, a series of "pop-pop-pop" sounds rang out. The sound repeated ten times before stopping, and Lin Yan's fist collided directly with Lin Hong's palm.

Bang!

A violent sound erupted once more.

Yet, to everyone's surprise, the moment Lin Yan's fist met Lin Hong's palm, the latter proved completely unable to withstand the force of the blow and was sent stumbling backward.

Lin Yan became instantly disappointed. "Is this it? This is supposed to be the sixth layer of Body Tempering?"

"So weak."

As for Qing Tan, Lin Shan, and the others on the sidelines, they were left completely stunned after witnessing the scene, as shocked as if they had seen a ghost.