Old Li Courting Death!

This old bastard really had it in for me. Chen Huai'an had noticed a little tail secretly following him the moment he left after his meal.

Old Li did not even try to follow discreetly; calling it openly brazen would not be an exaggeration.

There were no servant disciples fetching water nearby. Taking care of trash like Chen Huai'an would be effortless.

"Huh? Why did this guy stop? Did he discover me?" Old Li found it strange when Chen Huai'an suddenly stopped ahead of him.

But this was perfect. He would not need to find a shortcut to cut the other man off.

There was no one around right now, the perfect chance to deal with this brat.

"Chen Huai'an, you piece of trash. Never thought you'd fall into my hands today, did you?"

Chen Huai'an looked at the tardy Old Li and said with a smile, "Old bastard, what took you so long?"

Old Li's eyes widened as he stared at Chen Huai'an in disbelief. Was this still that meek, submissive trash with mixed spiritual roots he knew?

They were no longer in the dining hall's back courtyard. There were no water-fetching servants here, nor was Steward Wu around. What gave him the right to be so arrogant?

"Brat, do you really think I won't dare do anything to you just because Steward Wu and the others are backing you?" Old Li was truly enraged.

"If you want to fight, then fight. I'd like to see just how useless you are after cultivating for nearly sixty years before finally reaching the late Body Tempering Realm." Chen Huai'an smiled faintly.

This man was indeed in the late Body Tempering Realm, but his vitality and blood had already declined. Without some heaven-defying opportunity, he would never break through to the Qi Refining Realm in this lifetime.

After spending so long on Servant Peak, he was no longer the clueless newcomer who had just entered the sect.

Old servant disciples like Old Li could only bully newcomers. As for those with real strength, they did not dare provoke them at all.

Especially the geniuses on the Spirit Elegance Ranking—they did not dare offend a single one.

If Old Li had been a top hundred—no, even a top five hundred—genius on the Spirit Elegance Ranking, Chen Huai'an would never have spoken to him this way. Before reaching the late Body Tempering Realm himself, he would have tucked his tail between his legs whenever he saw such a person.

"You're courting death!" Old Li's face flushed red. To be looked down upon by a junior like Chen Huai'an—if word got out, how could he continue getting by in the dining hall? He might as well apply to go home and retire.

Seeing Old Li fly into a rage, Chen Huai'an did not make the first move. Instead, he watched the other man with a guarded expression.

He could not kill Old Li yet. Defeating him and teaching him a lesson would be enough.

At the same time, he would reclaim all the humiliation Old Li had inflicted upon him when he had first arrived at the dining hall.

Old Li did not waste words. He stomped off the ground, then hurled a massive fist at Chen Huai'an's face.

With his seventh level late Body Tempering Realm strength, would dealing with trash like Chen Huai'an, at the third level of the early Body Tempering Realm, not be effortless? Today, he would beat him until even his parents could not recognize him, then take this month's stipend as well.

Bang!

The instant Old Li moved, Chen Huai'an moved too. He threw out a punch of his own, meeting the other man's fist head-on. With a bang, Old Li's body could not withstand the explosive force behind Chen Huai'an's fist, and he was sent flying backward.

Pfft!

The moment Old Li hit the ground, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura instantly withered.

In their first exchange, Chen Huai'an had severely wounded Old Li with a single strike.

"You're in the late Body Tempering Realm? Impossible! Impossible! You can't possibly have late Body Tempering Realm strength!" Old Li seemed to have gone mad, endlessly shouting that it was impossible.

The instant Old Li lost focus, Chen Huai'an moved. He kicked again, knocking the old man to the ground. Before the other man could get up, Chen Huai'an planted his foot on his face.

With just a little force, Chen Huai'an could crush this old bastard's head.

Only then did Old Li realize that he had lost—lost utterly and completely. He had actually lost to a junior who had entered the sect barely over a month ago.

Rumor had it that this brat possessed five-element mixed spiritual roots, the very dregs of the cultivation world. How could he possess such terrifying cultivation speed and strength?

All these years, he had truly cultivated for nothing.

"Old bastard, have you figured out how you want to die?" Chen Huai'an stared coldly at Old Li, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Feeling Chen Huai'an's killing intent, Old Li knew he had truly kicked an iron plate today. He had not lived long enough; he did not want to die.

But Chen Huai'an was stronger than him. He could not escape even if he wanted to. Already injured and now restrained by Chen Huai'an, Old Li knew that killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant.

At that moment, Old Li was truly afraid. Countless thoughts flooded his mind, along with endless regret. Why had he provoked a monster like Chen Huai'an?

"You can't kill me! You can't kill me!"

Old Li's voice was hoarse and filled with boundless panic and terror. He truly did not want to die.

"Oh? You say I can't kill you. Why can't I? Give me a reason not to kill you." Chen Huai'an's face was full of mockery.

"I..." Old Li opened his mouth, stammering. He wanted to say something, but did not know where to begin. He could not think of any reason Chen Huai'an should spare him.

"I can fetch water for you and complete your servant duties. From now on, I'll be your most loyal dog. Please don't kill me. I have elders above me and children below me. I can't die! The Li Family cannot die out!"

The more Old Li spoke, the less convincing his words sounded even to himself. But under the threat of death, all he wanted was to survive.

He truly did not dare gamble on whether Chen Huai'an would kill him, nor could he afford to. At his age, he was truly afraid of death.

"Letting you go isn't impossible." Chen Huai'an pondered briefly, then made his decision. He was not a bloodthirsty person. Old Li was merely a poor nobody; killing him would not earn Chen Huai'an much, and would only bring him trouble.

But things were different now. If he spared the man, he could have him handle the water-fetching duties in the dining hall's back courtyard, leaving Chen Huai'an with plenty of time to cultivate.

Then, even if he failed to achieve a good ranking in the challenge tournament, he would not lose out.

Getting free labor for nothing—why not?

"Young Master Chen, as long as you don't kill me, I, Li Fugui, will be your most loyal dog." Old Li hurriedly declared his loyalty. As long as he kept his life, everything else could be discussed.

He simply could not understand how Chen Huai'an, at such a young age, could be this strong. Now, he had to become the other man's slave and serve him like an ox or horse.

The wheel of fortune truly turned. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never look down on a poor youth.

"Remember what you said. I'm leaving the water in my two vats to you. If you dare try any tricks, I'll kill you." Chen Huai'an said coldly.

"Young Master Chen, rest assured. From now on, this old man will handle your water-fetching servant duties." Li Fugui nodded frantically. As long as he could live, he was willing to do anything.

"It's fine for you to fetch water for me, but I don't want the other servant disciples to know about it." Chen Huai'an thought for a moment before speaking.

He could not openly order Old Li to fetch water for him. He did not want to encourage such bad practices. Old Li had brought this upon himself.

"Young Master Chen, rest assured. This old man understands. I won't let anyone else find out," Old Li quickly promised.

Chen Huai'an nodded, then turned and left.

With Old Li's matter settled, he no longer needed to worry about anyone causing him trouble while fetching water in the dining hall's back courtyard. He could focus on cultivating.