Hostility

Building a stove was technical work, but in his previous life he had come from the countryside, and when he had nothing better to do, he had just so happened to study the craft himself.

"With a stove, I'll still need to buy a few porcelain bowls."

Thoughts flickered through Li Chengfeng's mind. He got up and washed, ran through a set of Taiji Fist to get his blood and qi moving, and only returned to the room to eat when he felt hungry.

After the meal, he left the radiant, delighted Liu Yuniang at home by herself, took some bits of silver, and went out to the market, where he bought three porcelain bowls and some basic materials for building a stove.

After he came back, he set to work himself, using blue bricks and mud, and in half a morning he had built a stove.

However, a freshly built stove still could not be used. It had to be left to dry in the shade for a few days. Li Chengfeng was not in a hurry either; continuing to prop up the pot with stones to cook worked just the same.

And with a stove there, even if it still could not be used, Liu Yuniang became a little happier. She circled the new stove in delight, and the expression between her brows grew even more relaxed.

Only when she saw her man practicing martial arts in the yard did she settle her mind. Not knowing what else to do, she simply practiced the Eight Brocades Li Chengfeng had taught her in the yard as well, moving her body.

"Whoosh~"

"Liu Hong has been dead for two days now. I wonder if that Liu Yong has found the time yet?"

Power surged. Li Chengfeng circulated his Whole-Body Power and practiced Taiji Fist one more time. After finishing, while drinking water and resting, he thought of that old matter he had not dealt with, and his heart stirred slightly.

But if Liu Hong did not come looking for him on his own initiative, he would not go looking for him out of boredom either.

Even if he was going to look for him, he would have to wait another couple of days...

"Counting it out, there are still five days until the end of the month. When there are two days left before month's end, I'll go find him and push off Sister-in-law's matter."

Li Chengfeng thought to himself, then raised his head and looked into the yard. Under the sunlight, Liu Yuniang had fair skin, a tall figure, and delicate, pretty features. A smile appeared on his face before he knew it. Then he drank a mouthful of water, went to the toilet, and after coming out, continued practicing martial arts.

[Taiji Fist proficiency +1]

"..."

He had meat and money. Although his living conditions were still not particularly good, and Sister-in-law's matter had not been resolved yet, Li Chengfeng was very capable of keeping calm.

He settled his heart and practiced martial arts at home for three days straight, putting all his energy into practicing Taiji Fist.

When there was only one day left before the end of the fifth month, Li Chengfeng, worried that Master Zheng would directly send someone to take Sister-in-law away, had no choice but to stop first.

[Skill: Taiji Fist]

[Level: Beginner (71/800)]

[Effect: Whole-Body Power]

"Although my stamina is constantly increasing, after gaining Whole-Body Power, the consumption from using Whole-Body Power each time I practice has also risen sharply. In a day, I can only practice around twenty times."

Li Chengfeng looked at the skill progress and shook his head, restraining the delusion of quickly grinding the skill to full.

After gaining Whole-Body Power, if he did not use Whole-Body Power to practice with all his strength, the skill's proficiency would not increase.

Only by focusing all his attention and all his mind into practicing every single time could he make the skill progress keep increasing.

And because of this, although his stamina and strength had greatly increased, his proficiency did not grow quickly. It still maintained a steady pace.

"Phew. I can go settle Sister-in-law's matter first."

Li Chengfeng clenched his powerful fist, looked at his arms, which were already two sizes thicker, and his body, which had clearly become stronger, his gaze resolute.

"Yuniang, I'm going out to handle something. Stay at home and don't go out."

Li Chengfeng turned his head and gave instructions to Liu Yuniang, who was scrubbing the pot. As he spoke, his expression carried a trace of emotion.

Because he knew Sister-in-law had been targeted by Master Zheng, Li Chengfeng had kept Liu Yuniang at home these past few days and had not let her go out, which was rather hard on her.

"Okay!"

Her man was going out to handle business, and Liu Yuniang did not ask questions. She nodded in agreement, stood with her fair, tender figure, and saw Li Chengfeng out. Afterward, she locked the courtyard gate from the inside and hid in the house.

Li Chengfeng watched Sister-in-law lock the courtyard gate properly before turning and leaving. After thinking it over in his heart, he headed straight toward Master Zheng's house.

At this time, the sky had just brightened. That Liu Yong was a long-term hired hand of Master Zheng's household, so he definitely had to go to his home to work.

Forget his younger brother dying—even if his father died, he still had to go.

According to this time, the other party should not have arrived yet.

Li Chengfeng estimated the timing and waited in advance on the road Liu Yong had to take to reach Master Zheng's house.

Working as a long-term hired hand for Master Zheng's household, though he did not have to sleep at his house every day, he still had to come early in the day to work.

Li Chengfeng did not wait long. When the sun had only half risen, he saw from afar a man with a big belly and round waist, a blue birthmark at the junction of his left shoulder and neck, walking over with a sunken face.

His brows lifted. With one glance, he recognized him. This was the Zheng family's hired hand who had egged the original body on to sell Sister-in-law—Liu Yong!

"Liu Yong."

The moment Li Chengfeng saw this fellow, disgust rose in his heart. Now that he also had Whole-Body Power, he was not afraid of this man in the slightest. So when he saw him walking over, he went straight up and shouted at him head-on.

Liu Yong, who had been walking with a sunken face, lost in whatever he was thinking, was startled by Li Chengfeng's shout. He looked up and saw it was him, and immediately frowned. "Li Chengfeng, what is it?"

"I'm not selling Sister-in-law anymore. That matter we talked about before is off. Sister-in-law and I have already become husband and wife. I'm not selling her to Master Zheng as a concubine."

Li Chengfeng looked at Liu Yong and spoke bluntly. "From now on, I'm going to live properly with my sister-in-law. Her marriage and my marriage don't need you people worrying over them."

Li Chengfeng's blunt words made Liu Yong freeze. Then his face darkened.

"You think you can just say you won't do what you promised Master Zheng?"

Liu Yong frowned and spoke threateningly. "Master Zheng is a martial artist. If you offend him, aren't you afraid he'll pluck off your head and kick it around like a ball?"

"You were the one who agreed to Master Zheng, not me. I only said one sentence to you, not to Master Zheng. Besides, there's no proof and no evidence in this matter. On what grounds do you say I agreed to you?"

When Li Chengfeng heard Liu Yong's words, he raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on his face as his eyes stared straight at him. "Even if I did agree to you, so what if I go back on it now? The one who should be worried about Master Zheng plucking off his head and kicking it like a ball is you, right?"

"You!"

Hearing Li Chengfeng's blunt, merciless words, then thinking of how respectful he had once been to him, Liu Yong's anger shot straight to his skull. He gave an angry snort. Then, seeing the way Li Chengfeng was staring unflinchingly straight into his eyes, he immediately narrowed his eyes and sneered.

"I heard you've been hauling in quite a bit from the mountains lately. So now you've got money to spend, and your spine's stiffened, has it? But I'm warning you, anything can happen in the mountains. Be careful you don't lose your way in there and never come back!"

A dangerous light flickered in Liu Yong's eyes as he stared straight into Li Chengfeng's eyes, every bit of him filled with warning and threat.

"Lose my way? I've got a good memory. I know the paths. No need for you to worry."

As Li Chengfeng spoke, his eyes stared fixedly into Liu Yong's. Suddenly, he took a step forward, his face expressionless. "What? Why don't you come into the mountains with me and lead the way, so I don't get lost?"

"You!"

Liu Yong looked at Li Chengfeng, his expression furious. But in the next instant, from the corner of his eye, he caught the dazzling gleam in Li Chengfeng's hand. His heart shrank, his gaze changed, and he quickly changed his tune. "If you go against Master Zheng's wishes, be careful he never lets you work at his house again!"

"What are you? Can you represent Master Zheng?"

Li Chengfeng gave a scoff and glanced at him indifferently. He put away the Pulling Knife in his hand, his expression calm. "I'll only say the nice words once. This matter ends here. Treat it as if it never happened. Don't let me see you getting ideas about my sister-in-law again, or don't blame me for risking my life against you."

As Li Chengfeng spoke, he shot him a threatening look.

Liu Yong gritted his teeth. On account of the Pulling Knife in Li Chengfeng's hand, he did not make a sound, but watched with a cold smile as Li Chengfeng left.

Only after Li Chengfeng had walked far away did he grit his teeth, eyes spitting fire, and speak. "Daring to bare your thorns at me? You've turned against the heavens!"

"You know the paths? The mountains are that dangerous. Plenty of people have died in there. One more of you won't be too many!"

Liu Yong glared fiercely at Li Chengfeng's departing back, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes. "If you die in the mountains, then bringing your sister-in-law over would be simple. I wouldn't have to spend a single copper or do a single thing."

A ferocious glint narrowed through Liu Yong's eyes. Then, seeing there were passersby around, he hid the murderous light in his eyes, lowered his head, and set off toward Master Zheng's house.

Only the viciousness in his eyes never faded.

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