Hatred Sky-High

"Why haven't you two left yet!"

Han Tieshan roared at the two of them.

"Master, what kind of people do you take us for!"

A-Fu looked incredulous, slapping his chest with a loud thud. "Don't worry, Master! A-Lu and I will never betray you!"

A-Lu nodded repeatedly. "That's right! We'll go wherever you go, Master! The three of us are master and disciples; where can't we carve out a new life for ourselves?"

Looking at his two disciples, Han Tieshan felt his eyes grow hot, and tears welled up. He pulled them both into an embrace, choking out, "Good! Good! With you two by my side, I will surely lead you to success!"

The three of them huddled together, weeping in a pile.

That night, the master and his two disciples used alcohol to drown their sorrows, drinking until they were dead drunk.

Before long, Han Tieshan and A-Fu collapsed onto the table one after the other, their snoring filling the room.

However, A-Lu, who was slumped against the edge of the table, slowly opened his eyes at this moment.

He tentatively called out twice, "Master? A-Fu?"

Seeing that neither responded, a cold sneer curled his lips. He crept up on tiptoe and began rummaging through the room.

He had long been eyeing the money Han Tieshan had saved over the years, and he had stayed by his side only to wait for this very opportunity.

Just as he touched the heavy money bag and a look of joy appeared on his face, a ghostly voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Brother, it's not very honorable to eat alone."

A-Lu spun around sharply, only to see that A-Fu was already standing behind him.

A-Fu's eyes were clear—where was there any sign of drunkenness?

The two stared at each other for a moment before suddenly laughing in unison.

"Damn it, you brat were faking it too?" A-Lu laughed and cursed.

"Likewise."

A-Fu shrugged and walked over, looking at the money bag in A-Lu's hand.

"Since we have the same goal, let's skip the nonsense. We split it, then go our separate ways. How about it?"

"Deal!"

The two quickly divided all of Han Tieshan's wealth, packed their bags, and vanished into the night like a wisp of smoke.

The next morning,

Han Tieshan woke from his hangover, his head feeling as if it were splitting apart.

He rubbed his eyes and habitually called out, "A-Fu, pour me a cup of water."

No one answered.

"A-Lu?"

Still, there was no reply.

Han Tieshan's heart skipped a beat. He rolled over and sat up abruptly, looking around.

The room was a mess; cabinet doors were wide open, trunks were overturned, and every valuable item had vanished without a trace!

He stumbled to the place where he hid his money and reached out to touch it.

Empty!

Han Tieshan stood frozen in place for a long time before letting out a heart-wrenching howl:

"Those two beasts!!!"

Shen Chu's life was becoming increasingly routine.

During the day, he and Sun Ping were busy in the Sword-Forging Courtyard, while in private, he practiced the Stone-Shattering Fist incessantly.

Yet, no matter how hard he worked, his progress bar remained stuck at the introductory stage. He figured he needed some sort of breakthrough to push the Stone-Shattering Fist into the minor achievement stage, and that would require his own slow exploration.

As he thought this, he coordinated with Sun Ping to hammer the iron.

Ever since Sun Ping had been promoted to a low-grade weapon smith, his entire demeanor had been refreshed, and he was exceptionally diligent in teaching Shen Chu. Although Shen Chu possessed the Thousand Hammer Refinement skill, Sun Ping's years of experience helped Shen Chu avoid many detours.

Just then, a clamor of shouting erupted outside the courtyard gate, mixed with angry roars and scolding.

Shen Chu put down his hammer, and he and Sun Ping exchanged a glance.

Both frowned and walked to the courtyard gate to peek outside.

Outside the gates of the Li Residence, a ragged, disheveled man was screaming at the top of his lungs. It was none other than Han Tieshan.

His face was covered in filth, his eye sockets deeply sunken, and he looked at least ten years older than before.

Li Jiwu arrived upon hearing the news, his face livid. "Han Tieshan! Didn't I give you money and tell you to leave? What are you causing a scene for now?!"

Han Tieshan dropped to his knees with a thud, wailing, "Second Young Master! That money was stolen by those two heaven-damned bastards! I don't have a single cent left! Please, reward me with a little more; I can't even afford to eat!"

Li Jiwu's brows locked tight. "I gave you a chance, but you couldn't hold onto it. I have no obligation to keep supporting you! Leave, and stop making a spectacle of yourself here!"

Seeing that Li Jiwu would not budge, Han Tieshan grew desperate, his voice rising. "Second Young Master! You can't just ignore me! It was you who told me to..."

He stopped mid-sentence as his peripheral vision caught sight of Shen Chu, who had come to watch the commotion.

A sky-high hatred surged in his heart. He raised a finger toward Shen Chu, his mouth opening to shout:

"It was the Second Young Master who ordered me to cause trouble on purpose, just to make the First Young Master lose face!"

Li Jiwu also saw Shen Chu, and his expression changed instantly.

Before Han Tieshan could shout those words, he barked a cold command: "Someone! Beat this mad dog out of here!"

Several burly guards lunged forward at the command, raining punches and kicks down on Han Tieshan.

Han Tieshan screamed repeatedly, curling up on the ground with his head in his hands, completely unable to fight back.

Li Jiwu stood on the steps, watching it all with a blank expression.

He then cast a fierce look at one of the guards.

The guard immediately understood. Taking advantage of the chaos, he grabbed Han Tieshan's right hand and twisted it backward!

Accompanied by a crisp sound of bone breaking, Han Tieshan let out a shrill, piercing scream!

"Throw him out!"

The guards dragged the wailing Han Tieshan away like a dead dog and tossed him onto the street outside the residence, drawing the side-eyes of passersby.

Shen Chu stood at the courtyard gate, having seen the entire scene clearly.

He had watched as Han Tieshan opened his mouth to speak, seen Li Jiwu's face turn instantly dark, and witnessed the guards deliver such a ruthless blow under his signal—directly crippling Han Tieshan's hand, his livelihood.

Shen Chu couldn't help but click his tongue in secret.

This Second Young Master usually appeared refined and graceful, greeting everyone with a smile, but once he turned, he was faster than flipping a book, and his actions were utterly merciless. Such a person was far more dangerous than those who wore their baleful intent on their sleeves!

He would have to be much more careful around him in the future.

Shen Chu withdrew his gaze, no longer interested in the spectacle, and turned back into the courtyard to pick up his forging hammer again.

He had no interest in getting involved in other people's grudges; honestly grinding his own progress bar was the right path.

After being beaten, Han Tieshan didn't dare to cause any more trouble. He struggled to his feet and shuffled back to his room, one step at a time.

The moment he pushed the door open, the devastation met his eyes.

Han Tieshan slumped dejectedly into the corner of the wall, looking down at his limp, dangling right hand, his tears unable to stop flowing once more.

He felt hatred!

He hated the Li Family, hated Li Jiwu for his heartlessness, hated those two ungrateful disciples, hated Sun Ping for stealing his spotlight, and hated everyone.

But what he hated most of all were Steward Li and Shen Chu!