A Sky-Filling Hatred

"Why haven't you two left yet?!"

Han Tieshan roared at them.

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

A-Lu looked utterly incredulous. He pounded his chest, making it thump loudly. "Don't worry, Master! A-Fu and I will never betray you!"

A-Fu nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! Wherever you go, Master, we'll go too! With the three of us together, can't we make a name for ourselves anywhere?"

Han Tieshan looked at his two apprentices, his eyes growing hot as tears spilled over. He put an arm around each of them and choked out, "Good! Good! With you two by my side, Master will make sure we rise to prominence!"

The three embraced and wept together.

That night, the master and his two apprentices drank away their sorrows until they were dead drunk.

Before long, Han Tieshan and A-Fu had both slumped over the table, snoring loudly.

But A-Lu, who was slumped against the table's edge, slowly opened his eyes.

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

When neither of them reacted, a cold smile tugged at his lips. He crept to his feet and began rummaging through the room.

He had long had his eye on the money Han Tieshan had saved over the years. He'd stayed by Han Tieshan's side until now only to wait for this chance.

Just as he laid hands on the heavy money pouch and beamed with delight, a ghostly voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Senior Brother, keeping it all to yourself isn't very sporting."

A-Lu spun around. At some point, A-Fu had appeared behind him.

A-Fu's gaze was clear. He didn't look drunk in the slightest.

The two stared at each other for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Damn it, you were faking being drunk too?" A-Lu chided with a laugh.

"Likewise."

A-Fu shrugged and stepped forward, looking at the money pouch in A-Lu's hand.

"Since we're after the same thing, let's skip the nonsense. We split it, then go our separate ways. How's that?"

"Deal!"

The two quickly divided up all of Han Tieshan's money, packed their belongings, and vanished into the night.

The next morning,

Han Tieshan woke from his drunken stupor with a splitting headache.

He rubbed his eyes and habitually called out, "A-Fu, bring me some water."

No one answered.

"A-Lu?"

Still no reply.

Han Tieshan's heart lurched. He sat bolt upright and looked around.

The room was a complete mess. Cabinet doors hung open, and chests had been overturned.

Every valuable thing was gone!

He stumbled to where he'd hidden his money and reached out to check.

Empty!

Han Tieshan stood frozen in place. A long while later, a scream of anguish tore from his throat:

"You two beasts!!!"

Shen Chu's life grew more and more routine.

He spent his days working with Sun Ping in the Sword-Forging Courtyard, and his spare time tirelessly practicing the Stone-Shattering Fist.

But no matter how hard he worked, his progress bar remained stuck at the entry level.

It seemed he'd need some kind of breakthrough to grind the Stone-Shattering Fist into the minor mastery stage. He'd have to figure that out on his own, little by little.

As he thought it over, he hammered the metal alongside Sun Ping.

Ever since Sun Ping had advanced to become a low-grade weaponsmith, his whole bearing had taken on a fresh vigor, and he'd been especially diligent in teaching Shen Chu.

Though Shen Chu had the Thousand Hammer Refinement skill, Sun Ping's years of experience had still helped him avoid many wrong turns.

Just then, a burst of clamorous shouting came from beyond the courtyard gate, mixed with several angry roars and scoldings.

Shen Chu set down his hammer and exchanged a glance with Sun Ping.

Both frowned and went together to peer out through the courtyard gate.

Outside the Li Residence's main gate, a man in ragged clothes, with disheveled hair and a filthy face, was shouting at the top of his lungs.

It was none other than Han Tieshan.

His face was caked with grime, his eyes were sunken, and he looked at least ten years older than before.

Li Jiwu hurried over at the commotion, his face dark with anger. "Han Tieshan! Didn't I give you money to leave? Why have you come back to cause trouble?!"

Han Tieshan dropped to his knees with a thud and wailed, "Second Young Master! Those two damned bastards stole my money! I haven't got a single coin left! Please, give me a little more! I can't even afford a meal!"

Li Jiwu's brows drew together. "I gave you your chance. You were the one who failed to hold on to it. I'm under no obligation to keep supporting you! Get out. Don't make a spectacle of yourself here!"

Seeing that Li Jiwu wouldn't give in, Han Tieshan grew frantic, raising his voice. "Second Young Master! You can't just abandon me! You were the one who told me to..."

He'd only made it halfway through his sentence when the corner of his eye caught Shen Chu, who had come out to watch.

A sky-filling hatred surged in his heart. He raised a hand and pointed at Shen Chu, opening his mouth to shout the words:

"It was the Second Young Master who ordered me to cause trouble on purpose, all so the Eldest Young Master would lose face!"

Li Jiwu had spotted Shen Chu too, and his expression changed instantly.

Before Han Tieshan could shout the words, Li Jiwu barked, "Guards! Beat this mad dog out of here!"

At once, several burly guards lunged at Han Tieshan and rained blows and kicks down on him.

Han Tieshan screamed again and again, curling up on the ground with his arms around his head, utterly unable to fight back.

Li Jiwu stood on the steps and watched it all with an expressionless face.

Then he shot one of the guards a vicious look.

The guard understood at once. In the chaos, he grabbed Han Tieshan's right hand and twisted it the wrong way!

With a crisp crack of breaking bone, Han Tieshan let out a bloodcurdling scream!

"Throw him out!"

The guards dragged the howling Han Tieshan away like a dead dog and dumped him in the street outside the residence, drawing sidelong glances from passersby.

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

He'd seen Han Tieshan open his mouth as if to say something, and Li Jiwu's face darken in an instant.

Then, at Li Jiwu's signal, the guards had laid into Han Tieshan with such brutality—

they'd crippled the very hand he used to earn his living!

Shen Chu couldn't help clicking his tongue inwardly.

The Second Young Master usually seemed refined and graceful, greeting everyone with a smile. But when he turned hostile, he did it faster than a page turning, and he showed no mercy at all.

People like him were far more dangerous than those who looked vicious on the surface!

He'd better be extra careful around him from now on.

Shen Chu looked away and stopped watching the spectacle. He turned back into the courtyard and picked up his forging hammer again.

He had no interest in getting involved in other people's grudges. The right thing to do was to buckle down and fill his own progress bar.

After taking a beating, Han Tieshan didn't dare cause trouble again. He struggled to his feet and made his way back to his own room, one faltering step at a time.

The instant he opened the door, devastation filled his view.

Han Tieshan slumped against the wall in a corner and looked down at his right hand, which hung limp and useless. Tears welled up again and streamed down his face.

He hated!

He hated the Li Family, hated Li Jiwu for turning on him without a second thought, hated those two ungrateful apprentices, hated Sun Ping for stealing his thunder, hated everyone.

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