Fighting Over Land, Wan Songbai of Mountain-Calming Martial Hall

"Senior Sister, sometimes a merciful heart can harm people."

After all, there was still the faintest glimmer of hope.

That was why Su Yu remained fairly courteous when speaking to Lin Ruoxue.

"Stop arguing."

Chen Wang interrupted the two of them and sighed. "The most important thing before us is slaying demons!"

"Everyone has their own fate; it cannot be forced. Both of you have a point."

"Let your master think it over carefully."

Chen Wang spoke with earnest gravity.

Why were martial halls like theirs willing to be used as guns by the yamen? Why did they risk their lives capturing and killing demons?

It was not merely because of pressure from the county yamen, but also because they sought the protection of the Demon Suppression Office!

Once they became dependents, everyone in the martial hall would finally have true security in this age where demons ran rampant.

Only by killing more demons would they have even a sliver of a chance to catch the Demon Suppression Office's eye.

Hearing this, Su Yu and Lin Ruoxue said no more.

Three days later, at an open stretch of land five li east of Qinshan Village.

Of the dozen or so villages within ten li, this was the closest point when measured by travel distance.

Therefore, this was the most suitable place for a market.

At that moment, a simple wooden fighting platform had been erected in the center of the clearing.

Beneath the platform, the villagers of Green Mountain Village wore looks of indignation, while the people from Fang Family Village opposite them stood tall and proud.

"Old Liu, has Green Mountain Village run out of people?"

"That Liu Yunfei from your village already had his ribs broken by me. He can barely even stand now."

"If you still don't send someone up for this platform wager—"

"We'll take the deed to this market land."

On the platform, a burly man with a face full of fleshy scars grinned wildly.

This man was called Wan Songbai. He was an instructor from the town's Mountain-Calming Martial Hall, a tough First-Rank Upper Realm fighter, and an enemy of Withered Wood Fist Hall.

In order to seize the market, Fang Family Village had spent a hefty sum to hire him as their backing.

Wan Songbai truly was arrogant.

Yet the villagers of Green Mountain Village only dared to rage in silence.

In this world, strength and connections were everything.

Previously, Green Mountain Village had even offended people from the Garrison Office.

Naturally, no other villages would speak up for Green Mountain Village.

Now, Liu Yunfei, the only person in the village who could be called an expert, had fallen as well.

The people of Green Mountain Village no longer dared to entertain any hopes for that market.

"Since Green Mountain Village has no one left, don't set foot in this market area again from now on."

Fang Zhongzheng, the village chief of Fang Family Village, spoke with a beaming smile.

The two villages were neighbors, and there had always been no shortage of friction between them.

Now that Fang Family Village had gained the upper hand, they were determined to crush Green Mountain Village to death.

"Chief Fang, by all rights, this land belongs to our Green Mountain Village."

"You forcibly arranged this platform match. We admit defeat if we lost."

"But saying that our villagers can never step into this area again is going too far, isn't it?"

Liu Tieshan was furious beyond measure.

If they could not come to the market, they would be shut out of the trading circle shared by the villages across these ten li.

Green Mountain Village's decline would then be plain for all to see.

Fang Family Village was bullying them far too viciously.

"Cut the crap and get lost. If you don't know what's good for you, I'll loosen your bones for you."

Fang Zhongzheng held not only public grievances against Liu Tieshan, but private ones as well.

Back then, the cold weapons forged by Green Mountain Village's blacksmiths had stolen a great deal of business from Fang Family Village.

Though it was because the cold weapons forged by Fang Family Village's blacksmiths had been poor in quality to begin with.

Fang Zhongzheng had nevertheless put that debt on Liu Tieshan and all of Green Mountain Village.

"Old Fang, why waste words with him? Since this old bastard won't get lost—"

"Then I'll send you on your way."

Wan Songbai gave a savage grin and leaped down from the platform. His fist, as large as a sand bowl, carried howling wind as it smashed straight at Liu Tieshan's face.

If that punch landed solidly, Liu Tieshan would be crippled even if he did not die.

"Grandpa!"

Lu Qing cried out in terror.

"Father!"

Liu Ying lunged forward.

She wanted to protect Liu Tieshan.

"Mother, Grandpa!"

Lu An and Xu Shengnan both burst into frightened tears.

At that critical moment, when a thousand pounds hung by a single thread—

Bang!!!

A black shadow shot over from nearby like an arrow released from the string.

To everyone's eyes, it moved so fast that afterimages were about to appear.

Lu Yuan unleashed Carefree Steps with all his strength.

His body was like a ghost.

Everyone's vision blurred.

Lu Yuan was already standing before his grandfather and mother.

Boom!!!

Lu Yuan did not draw his blade.

Instead, he threw a punch at Wan Songbai's fist.

At the same time, the fully mastered Wild Bull Force erupted.

In that moment of urgency—

Lu Yuan's qi and blood surged, and under the impact in his dantian—

That thin membrane shattered in an instant.

At this moment, Lu Yuan had also become a First-Rank Lower Martial Artist.

Creak!!!

As their fists collided—

A teeth-grinding sound rang out.

Thud, thud, thud!!!

Wan Songbai stumbled back more than ten feet, leaving several inch-deep footprints in the ground.

"You!"

Wan Songbai's pupils contracted sharply.

As a First-Rank Upper Martial Artist, he had unleashed six hundred jin of force.

That punch, powerful enough to split stone tablets and crack boulders—

Had actually been blocked by this brat before him.

"Kid, who are you?"

After sensing him carefully, Wan Songbai calmed down.

This brat before him seemed to be a martial artist as well, but his qi and blood appeared to be only at the First-Rank Lower Martial Artist level.

How had he blocked that strike?

Could he be some prodigy from a great aristocratic family, a major sect, or some branch of the imperial court?

"You attacked my grandfather. Who do you think I am?"

Lu Yuan shielded his grandfather and mother behind him.

His expression was calm.

But killing intent had appeared in his eyes.

"Oh! So you're a little brat from Green Mountain Village."

"Then there's nothing more to say. Your grandfather doesn't know what's good for him, so why don't you talk some sense into him?"

Once Lu Yuan revealed his identity—

Wan Songbai immediately burst into uninhibited laughter.

Since he had no background—

A First-Rank Lower Martial Artist would be far too easy to manipulate.

"So you know what's good for you by being someone else's dog?"

Lu Yuan shot back.

Those words instantly turned Wan Songbai's gaze cold and sinister.

In a furious rage, he launched Iron Mountain Fist.

He wanted to kill this brat before him.

Naturally, Lu Yuan would not foolishly stand waiting. Wild Bull Force erupted with a roar.

His right hand twisted sharply, changing from palm to fist as it struck out in a continuous stream, like withered wood meeting spring.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

That endlessly flowing fist force stacked upon itself, forming the essence of Withered Wood Fist.

Three punches came in succession, each heavier than the last.

All three fists struck Wan Songbai in the chest.

In an instant, Wan Songbai was as if struck by lightning, sent flying several zhang away.

He crashed heavily into a wooden pillar of the platform and spat blood wildly.

His screams rose one after another.

Everyone from Fang Family Village was dumbfounded, while the villagers of Green Mountain Village erupted in waves of cheers.

"Xiaoyuan, it's Xiaoyuan."

"I heard he went to town to learn martial arts. I never expected him to become this formidable."

"If he weren't formidable, could he work at the yamen?"

Wan Songbai struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with venomous resentment.

Yet he was completely unconvinced. A poisoned dagger suddenly slid from his sleeve, and he roared as he stabbed at Lu Yuan's back. "You little beast, I'll butcher you."