Ascend Fierce Wolf, Control Four Directions Street

Bai Feng sat silently before the table, staring fixedly at the sticky, severed head.

The look of terror frozen on Tian Jingyuan's twisted face seemed to be mocking his earlier assessment of Lin Shu as a "nursing pup."

Judging by that sudden, explosive, and clean-cut display of lethal force, the boy was more of a Fierce Wolf than anyone else present!

Bai Feng suddenly realized that his judgment had been severely flawed.

The technique the boy used was still some form of claw art.

When he had examined Liu San's corpse at the Firewood Courtyard earlier, he had determined it to be no higher than the seventh rank.

But now, it seemed that was only because Lin Shu had lacked internal energy at the time, leaving him without enough spiritual power to support this immortal technique.

Even Bai Feng felt a hint of trepidation toward the chill contained within the black mist that had just surged forth.

It was clearly a genuine fifth-rank immortal technique!

It was the kind of thing that would make even many mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators green with envy.

"You knew all along, didn't you?"

Bai Feng turned his head sullenly, staring straight at the woman beside him, and hissed through gritted teeth, "You've been waiting to watch me make a fool of myself!"

No wonder she had been protecting that kid from the very beginning.

Was she guarding against him trying to snatch the boy away?

Damn her, she looked so quiet and reserved, yet she was so calculating!

Yan Jin couldn't be bothered to respond, casting her gaze instead toward the young man not far away.

She had indeed seen this claw technique before.

But she had never imagined Lin Shu could win.

Compared to his fight against Zhang Zhongping, the young man's cultivation and the immortal technique itself had both improved significantly!

Thirty wisps of spiritual power—he had reached the limit of the early Qi Refining stage.

This was not a level that an eighth-rank internal technique could reach.

Although she had been deceived, Yan Jin was not overly displeased.

In a place like Blackwater City, hiding a few extra cards up one's sleeve meant a higher chance of survival.

It was only natural.

Creeeak—

Lin Shu pulled over another chair and placed it in the spot where Tian Jingyuan had been sitting.

In the current atmosphere, his every movement drew the eyes of everyone present.

Almost all the hall members, Master Mo included, felt a sense of trepidation and unease in their hearts.

The immortal technique the young man had displayed wasn't enough to truly terrify them.

After all, Blackwater City lacked many things, but it never lacked stories of people who had gained enlightenment from immortal relics, mastered high-rank techniques, and turned their fortunes around.

Among those present, anyone who had been a Fierce Wolf for a few years had a few secrets of their own.

What truly kept them silent was Lin Shu's ruthless, vengeful nature.

If someone dared to sell his life, he dared to cut that person's head off right in front of the entire hall without a second thought.

"Why is everyone staring at me?"

Lin Shu leaned back in his chair, adjusting his breathing while flashing a clean smile at the people around the table.

It was so clean it looked harmless.

As if the blood splattered across the table and the head that had yet to close its eyes had nothing to do with him.

"According to that fat man's words, is his street mine now?"

Lin Shu pointed casually at the table, his expression remaining unchanged even as he was stared at with ill intent by so many.

Many truths in this world were the same.

If this group of hall members wasn't willing to speak up for a "nursing pup," they were unlikely to stand up for a dead wolf, either.

Besides, he had specifically waited a moment to let Tian Jingyuan swing his blade first.

"You... you dare to strike your own brother!"

Yin Ling stood up abruptly, his breathing trembling, yet he still slammed his hand against the table.

He had intended to start a movement, but unfortunately, after waiting a few seconds, the silence around him remained unbroken.

He looked around in confusion.

He saw that everyone was looking at him with strange expressions.

"Why don't we have the Hall Master investigate?"

The hall members rolled their eyes.

If they were going to bring up their own brothers now, then what was the point of Tian Jingyuan admitting he sold the life of this wolf cub outside earlier?

If they wanted to talk about rules, then everyone should be treated equally; lay the facts out and investigate them slowly, leaving the final judgment of right and wrong to those above.

If they wanted to use force to suppress others, then everyone would rely on their own abilities.

There was no logic in trying to have it both ways.

Did they really think they could split the silver from Good Fortune Martial Hall between the two of them, while having the brothers help clean up the mess?

"Gulp."

Yin Ling swallowed hard, waved his hands, and sat back down in his seat with an awkward expression.

With the crude methods Tian Jingyuan used—the kind that made him want to let everyone know—it would be a miracle if he could withstand an investigation.

"..."

Master Mo took in the expressions of everyone around him, rubbed his temples, and dismissed the thought of reprimanding Lin Shu.

It was fortunate that little Yin had jumped out; otherwise, he would have nearly lost face.

The old man cleared his throat: "Since the two of you have already reached an agreement, we naturally have no objections. Four Directions Street belongs to you now. As for the wolf's name, we shall discuss it once the Hall Master is informed."

"Fine."

Lin Shu nodded slightly and added, "Are we still eating?"

As the words fell, the corners of many people's eyes twitched.

Although they held the reputation of Fierce Wolf, they hadn't reached the point of feasting around a foul-smelling severed head.

"Let's end it here. Everyone, disperse."

Master Mo waved his hand helplessly. The older he got, the deeper his sense of crisis grew when looking at this group of children filled with Sha Qi.

"..."

Lin Shu felt a bit disappointed. Ever since he transmigrated, he hadn't tasted a proper meal.

Oh well, there would always be another chance.

Compared to eating, there were more important matters at hand.

He turned his head, his gaze glancing casually toward the void.

[Kill, burn, and loot to earn a golden belt; build bridges and pave roads to end up with no corpse. Killed one lowly life, rewarded with forty-seven Evil Coins.]

The clinking sound of coins falling into his sleeve was truly pleasant to the ears.

"Master Mo, we shall take our leave."

The Fierce Wolves stood up one by one and walked toward the door, carrying the wolf cubs with them.

But before they could even step out, they caught a glimpse of the scene across the table from the corner of their eyes, and their faces twitched again.

Lin Shu wasn't even trying to hide it.

The man was openly rummaging through Tian Jingyuan's headless corpse.

Not only did he take away a few pieces of broken silver, but he also snatched the pouch used for storing pills from the fat man's waist, and even hesitated while eyeing the blood-stained silk clothing.

"Whew."

Yan Jin silently looked away.

Thinking of how everyone saw that she was the one who brought Lin Shu in, she pursed her lips and quickened her pace toward the door.

At dusk.

On the long street at the entrance of the dilapidated Firewood Courtyard.

Lin Shu leisurely toyed with the pouch in his hand.

Tian Jingyuan had wanted to swallow the Qi-Replenishing Pills inside at the very end; fortunately, he had been quick-eyed and nimble-handed, earning himself another hundred taels.

A full sixteen Qi-Replenishing Pills, worth one thousand six hundred taels of silver!

Just a few days ago, the man surnamed Tian was still at Magpie Nest, bickering with him over a few dozen taels of silver.

Relying solely on those brothel girls, it would have taken him two or three years to earn this much money.

Clearly, he had suddenly come into a windfall.

As for the source, it was nothing more than selling his own life for a high price.

"It's all my hard-earned money."

Lin Shu felt much better. He looked up and suddenly caught sight of the Black Charcoal constable under a tree by the street.

He kept his expression neutral and casually tucked the cloth bag away.

One shouldn't casually show off wealth to poor people wearing Purple Flood Dragon uniforms; it was easy to provoke their hatred of the rich.