Unleashing a Killing Spree

"Such a large sum of silver... could it be reduced a little?"

"Young man, far too many people want to join the gang. After joining, you can learn martial arts and receive monthly pay. This is already a fair price."

"Mm... let me gather enough silver first."

Lu Shaolin said with a bitter smile.

"Very well. Once you have gathered enough silver, come find me. I am usually here," the pimp said, his smile unchanged.

"Mm!" Lu Shaolin nodded and turned to leave.

There was no need to visit the other brothels. They were probably all the same.

As for gathering twenty taels of silver, Lu Shaolin smiled bitterly again. He could only try relying on hunting.

This pimp looked untrustworthy at a glance, but he had no other options.

If he could join the gang, he would give him twenty taels. If the man took the silver but failed to make it happen, then he could pay with his life!

A fierce glint flashed through Lu Shaolin's eyes. He gripped his spear tightly and headed out of Spring Blossom Street.

When he returned to the inn, only four or five tables of guests remained in the hall, drinking and making merry.

"You're back, sir!" the innkeeper greeted Lu Shaolin upon seeing him.

"Mm. Innkeeper, have a waiter bring hot water upstairs later. I want to bathe," Lu Shaolin said with a smile, nodding.

"Of course. I'll have it sent up shortly."

"Many thanks!"

Lu Shaolin cupped his hands and climbed the stairs.

Entering his room, he leaned his spear against the bedside as before, then lay down on the bed to rest.

Before long, there came a knock at the door.

The waiter brought in the hot water.

After taking a satisfying bath, Lu Shaolin, refreshed from head to toe, drifted into sleep.

Early the next morning, Lu Shaolin returned to Panshan Village.

He steamed a pot of rice in the kitchen and stewed a basin of wolf meat.

After eating until his belly was full, he picked up his spear and was just about to head into the mountains to hunt when, with a bang, someone kicked the courtyard gate open.

A burly man over 1.7 meters tall, dressed in black and carrying a saber, barged in with Wu Cheng and Li Sanbao.

Wu Cheng and Li Sanbao each had a dagger tucked into their waists as well.

"You're Lu Shaolin, that brat from the Lu family whose father died and who himself won't live past three months?" the burly man asked Lu Shaolin disdainfully.

"Mm? You're Li Jian?" Lu Shaolin thought back and remembered who he was—the village head's son, Li Jian.

"Is Li Jian a name you're allowed to call?" Li Jian's expression instantly darkened as he spoke coldly to Lu Shaolin.

"Kid, you're too disrespectful. You should call my cousin Master Li!" Wu Cheng shouted from the side.

With a thud, Li Jian threw a piece of broken silver at Lu Shaolin's feet.

"This is two taels of silver. We're fellow villagers, so don't say I'm bullying you."

"I won't even hold your earlier words against you. Pack your things and get out of this house immediately. You only have a few months left anyway. Once you vacate it, it will be perfect for my cousin's wedding banquet," Li Jian said loftily, as though bestowing charity.

"Heh." Lu Shaolin sneered. "I was wondering why you two scoundrels were lurking around my door last time. So you had your eyes on my house."

"Kid, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! If you don't leave, I'll cripple you myself!" Li Jian glared fiercely.

"You won't be walking out of this courtyard today!" Murder flashed in Lu Shaolin's eyes, and his voice turned icy.

"A frog at the bottom of a well! I'll cripple you!" Li Jian roared in rage, drawing his saber and hacking toward Lu Shaolin's chest.

With a clang, Lu Shaolin raised his spear to block, but the force sent him stumbling back three steps!

What tremendous strength! Lu Shaolin frowned. Li Jian was at least a hundred catties stronger than an ordinary man.

"I thought you had three heads and six arms. With this little strength, you dare act so arrogantly?" Li Jian laughed loudly and slashed again!

Lu Shaolin leaped backward and dodged.

Li Jian refused to let up, slashing repeatedly, but Lu Shaolin evaded every strike.

By now, Lu Shaolin had seen through him. Li Jian was merely strong; his saber techniques were crude and had not even reached minor mastery. As long as Lu Shaolin did not meet him head-on, he would be fine.

With that thought, Lu Shaolin switched from defense to offense. His arms surged with force, and with a whoosh, he unleashed Skybreak, thrusting like lightning toward Li Jian's chest.

Li Jian hurriedly knocked the spear aside with his saber. With a light clang, the spear was deflected, and he hastily retreated.

Lu Shaolin quickly followed, launching another Skybreak!

An inch longer, an inch stronger!

He would use the spear's reach to keep Li Jian completely suppressed!

Li Jian was clearly flustered. He had not expected Lu Shaolin's spear technique to be so good, and he once again used his saber to knock the spear aside.

But clearly, his saber was not as fast as Lu Shaolin's spear!

Lu Shaolin pressed forward step by step and thrust out another Skybreak. This time, however, he did not target Li Jian's chest, but his thigh.

With a pfft, the spear pierced through Li Jian's thigh before being pulled free!

This time, he had failed to block it—and could not have blocked it!

"Ah! Fuck... you two, hurry up and help..." Li Jian fell to the ground, blood pouring from his thigh as he screamed at the two men behind him.

In the blink of an eye, the situation had reversed!

Wu Cheng and Li Sanbao stared at the killing-intent-filled Lu Shaolin, their faces drained of color and their legs trembling.

The two usually only bullied villagers, waving daggers around. They had never fought for their lives with real blades and real weapons.

"I said it! You won't be walking out of this courtyard today!" Lu Shaolin's face was filled with Baleful Intent.

"Lu... Lu family brat, aren't you afraid of... the law?" Cold sweat streamed down Wu Cheng's forehead as he trembled.

"The law? Great Xia Law: Anyone who enters a homeowner's residence armed without permission may be struck down by the homeowner, without guilt!" Lu Shaolin said coldly. Fortunately, his former self had attended a private school, and the late teacher had explained this law in particular detail.

Upon hearing Lu Shaolin's words, Wu Cheng was scared out of his wits and turned to flee.

Lu Shaolin took a stride forward and thrust out with a whoosh. The bloodied spearhead emerged from Wu Cheng's left chest.

With a pfft, Lu Shaolin pulled out the spear. Ignoring Wu Cheng as he collapsed limply to the ground, barely drawing breath, Lu Shaolin turned and brought the spear down in a jumping chop upon Li Sanbao, who was also trying to flee!

With a bang, he smashed Li Sanbao to the ground.

Li Sanbao's skull caved in, his face covered in blood. He clearly would not survive!

Li Jian clutched his thigh and watched Lu Shaolin kill without blinking, his strikes ruthless. Terror filled his eyes.

He did not want to die!

Lu Shaolin turned around, his eyes reddened. With his spear angled downward, he stared at Li Jian and slowly advanced.

"Lu... Brother Lu... no... no... Master Lu, Master Lu, spare... spare my life. I'm with the Blackwater Gang. If you kill me, the gang won't let this go, Master Lu..." Li Jian begged as he desperately pushed himself backward with his legs, his voice carrying a hint of sobbing.

"Mm?" Lu Shaolin paused slightly. He had intended to join a gang, yet he had wounded a gang member first.

The fallen Li Jian caught Lu Shaolin's hesitation, and a flash of resentment passed through his eyes. Once he survived this ordeal, he would surely ask an expert from the gang to kill this Lu brat!

"You think I'll spare you? I still understand the saying: cut the grass without removing the roots, and when the spring breeze blows, it grows again."

Lu Shaolin shook his head, stepped forward swiftly, and thrust his spear through Li Jian's throat!

"Urk... urk... you... urk..." Blood spilled from Li Jian's mouth as he stared at Lu Shaolin. Before he could finish speaking, his head lolled to one side. He died with his eyes still open!