Killing Lin Hu

That morning, after Lin Qing finished the day's group stance training, Wang Yuan sidled over while he was having lunch in the martial arts school cafeteria.

"Lin Qing, have you heard? Xiao the Centurion of the Martial Suppression Office was injured on Azure Sun Mountain. He's still unconscious."

"I haven't heard. What's wrong? Is he related to you?"

Wang Yuan rolled his eyes.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Xiao the Centurion is already the strongest martial artist in the county. He went to deal with the savage beast incident on Azure Sun Mountain, yet not only did he fail to resolve it, he came back injured. With no other choice, the Martial Suppression Office sent a request for aid to the commandery city. The news wasn't kept under wraps, and now it's spread everywhere."

Lin Qing replied indifferently,

"What does that have to do with us? Didn't they ask for reinforcements? The commandery will send people to deal with it."

Wang Yuan wore the expression of someone eager to watch a show.

"What do you know! Xiao the Centurion is at the Third-Tier Peak. The savage beast that could leave him gravely wounded and unconscious must at least be at the Third-Tier Peak as well—perhaps it has even reached the Fourth Tier. That's a Fourth-Tier Savage Beast! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say its entire body is treasure. Now that the news is out, even the experts of the martial world can't sit still. Azure Sun County is going to get lively for a while."

After chatting for a few more moments, they finished lunch, and Lin Qing returned to his small courtyard to continue cultivating the Life-Nourishing Art.

Just as Wang Yuan had said, within only a few days, the streets of Azure Sun County, which had never been particularly quiet to begin with, became even livelier.

Most of the passersby hurried along with sabers or swords at their waists, their gazes sharp as eagles', their bodies emanating either steady or fierce auras.

The inns and taverns were crammed full early on. Even the crude, dilapidated temples at the edge of the county seat had become temporary shelters for many Rogue Cultivator martial artists.

The temptation of a Fourth-Tier Savage Beast was enough to drive the entire martial world mad. The Qi and Blood Realm power contained in its flesh and blood could allow a Third-Tier Peak martial artist to take that final step across the threshold. Its tendons and bones could be forged into supreme weapons, while its hide and fur could be made into treasured armor.

With such a priceless treasure before them, not only the Rogue Cultivators of the martial world, but even sects and prominent clans from several neighboring commanderies secretly dispatched their elite disciples to Azure Sun County, hoping to get a share of the spoils.

The atmosphere within the Martial Suppression Office also grew increasingly grim. After receiving the plea for aid, the commandery had swiftly dispatched Fourth-Tier Martial Artists as reinforcements. But as the news spread, the threat facing the Martial Suppression Office was no longer merely the savage beast.

Azure Sun County was now a mingling of dragons and snakes, with every faction harboring its own schemes. Naturally, the Martial Suppression Office had to guard against those high-tier martial artists from outside, lest they cause trouble in the county seat.

Yet Azure Sun County was only a county seat to begin with. The Martial Suppression Office had originally possessed only one Third-Tier Peak expert, Xiao the Centurion, while the chief banner officers and banner officers beneath him were merely First- and Second-Tier martial artists. The commandery could not possibly send too many reinforcements at once, so it had sent only an elite squad led by a Thousand Commander, numbering just over ten men.

Under normal circumstances, the Martial Suppression Office could naturally suppress the entire county seat through force. Even if a dragon crossed the river now and then, it could not stir up much trouble in the county.

But this time, the allure of the Fourth-Tier Savage Beast was simply too great. Who among those who dared come for a share was not a ruthless figure? Even with a Fourth-Tier Thousand Commander from the commandery holding the fort, the Martial Suppression Office of Azure Sun County was already struggling to keep the situation under control. Martial artists nearly came to blows in the city every day.

The once tranquil little county was completely swept up in this sudden storm. Restlessness and undercurrents filled the air, and a conflict centered on the Fourth-Tier Savage Beast had silently drawn back its curtain. At the slightest stir of wind or rustle of grass, a fierce slaughter would erupt.

These matters did not affect Lin Qing much. He stayed home every day grinding proficiency, and his residence was secluded and rarely visited. Even so, someone set his sights on him.

When savage beasts attacked Lin Family Village, Lin Hu's family had been among the unlucky victims. Lin Hu could not outrun the savage beasts, but he could outrun his parents.

That day, after Lin Qing finished his morning training at the martial arts school, he headed toward his small courtyard along the street. He still wore the plain training uniform of the martial arts school. After more than ten days of cultivation, he stood tall and straight, his complexion ruddy and spirited, his entire bearing calm and restrained. Compared with those martial artists in the county who had trained for years, his presence was no less impressive.

At that moment, Lin Hu was having lunch in a restaurant by the street. Ever since his family had encountered the savage beast attack, he had brought their belongings and fled to the county seat.

By chance, Lin Hu looked up and caught sight of Lin Qing walking past the window. Seeing Lin Qing's neat clothes, rosy face, and unhurried stride, Lin Hu froze for a moment before a thought immediately rose in his heart.

Back in Lin Family Village, he had coveted Lin Qing's money and gone to his door that very night. Unfortunately, Lin Qing had been as slippery as an eel and had slipped away beforehand. Lin Hu had remained unwilling to accept it then, and now, seeing Lin Qing living so smoothly in the county, the malicious thoughts in his heart began to grow wildly again.

The more Lin Hu looked at Lin Qing's flourishing appearance, the more his heart itched. He hurriedly paid for his meal, fixed his eyes on Lin Qing's back, and quietly followed him.

He did not dare make a move in broad daylight. He merely noted the location of Lin Qing's small courtyard before quietly leaving.

In the blink of an eye, deep night arrived. The clamor of the county seat gradually faded, and the streets fell silent. Only the occasional calls of the night watchman, striking his clapper, sounded especially clear in the darkness.

It was already mid-June. The night sky was crystal clear, and a bright full moon hung high overhead, its cool radiance spilling over the earth.

Lin Hu moved with great caution, afraid of being seen as he made his way to the outside of Lin Qing's small courtyard. He looked around, confirmed there was no one nearby, then lightly climbed over the low courtyard wall, deliberately softening his steps when he landed.

Though Lin Hu had a strong physique, he was ultimately only an ordinary man. After entering the courtyard, he inevitably made a slight noise.

Lin Qing abruptly opened his eyes in bed. He was no longer the thin youth from the village; his senses had long since become keener than those of ordinary people. Living alone while unrest had begun to rise in Azure Sun County, he had already maintained a high degree of vigilance. That tiny, almost negligible sound still woke him.

Lin Qing immediately held his breath, rose without making a sound, and quietly moved to the window. Through the gap in the window, he observed the courtyard.

Under the moonlight, a burly figure was hunched over, carefully inching toward the bedroom. With the aid of the bright moonlight, Lin Qing clearly saw the man's features. It was actually Lin Hu!

The instant he recognized the intruder, the vigilance in Lin Qing's eyes transformed into blazing fury.

That bastard Lin Hu had tried to harm him back in the village. It was one thing that he had failed, but he had actually dared to follow him into the county. Now he had appeared sneakily in his courtyard—what he wanted was too obvious to need saying.

Anger rose from his heart, and evil sprang to his courage. Lin Qing's gaze turned incomparably cold. Soundlessly, he walked to the door, casually picked up a sturdy wooden stool, gripped it tightly in his hands, and waited quietly for Lin Hu to enter.

Outside, Lin Hu had no idea that danger had already arrived. Feeling his way forward, he pushed open the half-closed bedroom door and headed straight toward the bed after entering.

Now!

A fierce gleam flashed in Lin Qing's eyes. Seizing the moment when Lin Hu had his back to him and was utterly defenseless, he raised the stool high and smashed it mercilessly toward the back of Lin Hu's head!

Bang!

A dull impact echoed through the silent bedroom. Lin Hu had no time to react. He only felt a sharp pain explode at the back of his head, followed by dizziness sweeping through his entire body. His burly frame staggered several steps forward, and his vision went black.

Lin Qing did not hesitate in the slightest. The instant his blow landed, he stepped forward, drove his knee into Lin Hu's back, wrapped an arm tightly around Lin Hu's neck, and clenched down with every ounce of strength in his body.

Though Lin Qing's physique still could not compare to Lin Hu's, he was far stronger than he had been more than ten days ago. And with rage surging through his heart, he unleashed twelve parts of strength.

Lin Hu could not breathe. His face instantly turned bluish purple as his hands flailed wildly and his feet kicked about in a desperate attempt to break free.

But he was ultimately only an ordinary man with a somewhat stronger physique. Having lost the initiative, no matter how he struggled now, it was all in vain.

Before long, Lin Hu's struggles grew weaker and weaker. His hands fell limply, his body went completely slack, and at last, he no longer drew breath.

Lin Qing slowly released his arm. Looking at the motionless Lin Hu on the ground, a trace of lingering fear flashed through his eyes. But he knew that from the moment Lin Hu stepped into this courtyard, there had only ever been one ending between them: one lived, the other died.

The moonlight outside remained cold and clear, spilling into the bedroom. It illuminated the mess on the floor, and it illuminated Lin Qing's calm yet increasingly resolute face.