Ch. 21Never Let Enemies Go
Chapter Summary: "Never Let Enemies Go"
Key Plot Points & Events
- Two Black Tiger Gang thugs attempt to rob Feng Chen in a Green Mountain Town alley, demanding he hand over his medicinal herbs
- After they attack him with sabers, Feng Chen—a Body Tempering First Heaven Martial Artist—easily kills both
- He loots the corpses: ~3 taels of silver, copper coins, and two bundles of low-grade Blood-Qi Medicinal Herbs worth ~20 taels
- One dying thug threatens him with Black Tiger Gang retaliation; Feng Chen kills him anyway, stating his only mistake was being too weak
- Feng Chen flees town immediately to avoid gang reprisal, using his perfected Basic Movement Technique
- He returns home to Green Mountain Village, finding Lin Qing'er out working (gathering vegetables or in the fields)
- He stores his ten portions of High-Grade Blood-Qi Medicinal Herbs, then reads all four newly purchased manuals
- The system records all four manuals: Giant Strength Art (cultivation art, complete through Body Tempering Third Heaven), Baji Fist, Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Saber, and
Meteor Step
- The chapter ends with him preparing for another round of intensive training
Character Developments
- Feng Chen's core philosophy is revealed: "Sparing enemies was merely cruelty toward himself"—he is decisive, ruthless, and refuses to leave threats alive
- He embodies pragmatism: he kills without hesitation, loots efficiently, and immediately plans his escape
- He is self-aware of his current limits—he knows he cannot fight the Black Tiger Gang (led by veteran Body Tempering Martial Artists) and wisely retreats
- He shows appreciation and tenderness toward Lin Qing'er, noting her diligence and feeling moved
Significant Themes
- Survival of the fittest: The strong prey on the weak; Feng Chen refuses to be prey
- Mercy as weakness: The title "Never Let Enemies Go" reflects Feng Chen's belief that showing mercy is self-harm
- Preparation through acquisition: The system rewards him for studying, emphasizing that knowledge and resources translate directly into power
- Resourcefulness: Even in crisis, Feng Chen gains profit (loot, herbs, new techniques)
Character Interactions
- Feng Chen vs. the two thugs: They underestimate him as a simple hunter; he kills both with two precise strikes. Their final exchange—the thug's threats and pleading met with Feng Chen's cold dismissal—establishes his unyielding nature
- Lin Qing'er (off-screen): She is absent, working hard; Feng Chen reflects on her work ethic with quiet appreciation