The Best Strategy Is to Leave

Zhang Yuan turned around and saw a boy of about fourteen or fifteen standing not far away.

He recognized him at once—the Chen Family's eldest young master!

Zhang Yuan still remembered this fellow quite clearly: his face full of arrogance, his nostrils pointed at the sky, acting as though he stood above everyone else.

At the young master's side stood martial arts instructor Zhang Xiong, along with two servants.

What a persistent ghost!

Of everyone in Chen Family Village, Zhang Yuan was undoubtedly most wary of this martial arts instructor.

Zhang Xiong wore a half-smile, a hint of mockery on his face.

When Chen Young Master saw that Zhang Yuan had not answered him respectfully, his expression suddenly darkened. "This young master asked you a question. What, did you go mute?"

Zhang Yuan gave him a cold glance, said nothing, and turned to leave.

The Chen Family was powerful now, and with a martial arts instructor at their side, provoking a direct conflict was hardly a wise choice.

Nor could Zhang Yuan possibly bow and scrape before them.

So leaving was the best strategy.

"Outrageous!"

Ignored again, Chen Young Master flew into a rage and immediately shouted, "Men! Hurry and seize him—"

For some reason, the very first time Chen Young Master had seen Zhang Yuan, the latter had rubbed him the wrong way.

It felt like having a thorn lodged in his eye.

It had to be pulled out!

That was why Chen Young Master had repeatedly tried to make Zhang Yuan his servant through the adviser and Hunter Gao.

Once that happened, he would have a thousand ways to slowly toy Zhang Yuan to death.

Yet Zhang Yuan had refused to take the bait.

Since soft methods would not work, he would use hard ones instead!

Chen Young Master refused to believe that a mere mud-legged peasant could escape his grasp!

"Wait!"

Zhang Xiong suddenly stopped him. "Young Master Mingjie, a character like him is not worth making such a fuss over. After some time, I'll take him down and hand him over to you to deal with as you please."

Chen Mingjie, Chen Young Master, was stunned for a moment. "Master Zhang, he's just a country bumpkin. Why would you need to act personally?"

"Young Master Mingjie, you underestimate this man too much."

Zhang Xiong said sinisterly, "He may be young, but he is already an Entry-Level Martial Artist!"

"What?"

Chen Mingjie could scarcely believe his ears. "You're not joking, are you?"

"Zhang never jokes!"

Zhang Xiong replied proudly, "And I do not misjudge people."

He had carefully observed Zhang Yuan twice before confirming that the latter had already cultivated inner force and stepped into the level of an Entry-Level Martial Artist.

"Damn it!"

Chen Mingjie was shocked, jealous, and furious. The flames in his heart blazed fiercely, nearly burning his reason to ashes!

He had begun practicing martial arts at the age of seven, and nearly eight years had passed by now.

Yet he had never managed to break through the barrier and gain inner force, becoming a true martial artist!

It was not that Chen Mingjie himself had failed to work hard, nor that his family had withheld support. In fact, the Chen Family had invested considerable resources in him and hired several martial arts instructors for him alone.

The root of the problem was that Chen Mingjie lacked talent and had poor natural aptitude.

Though Chen Mingjie could eventually gain inner force if he persisted, his martial path would go no further than that!

Chen Mingjie knew this perfectly well.

That was precisely why he was so intensely jealous of Zhang Yuan, who was around his age yet had already become an Entry-Level Martial Artist.

Why?

A mere mud-legged country bumpkin.

And yet he was stronger than him!

Zhang Xiong saw Chen Mingjie's expression clearly and secretly sneered.

This young master truly had ambitions higher than the sky but a fate as thin as paper. His heart was especially narrow besides, and he could not bear to see others enjoy even the slightest good fortune.

But such a person was the easiest to control!

He hypocritically consoled him, "Young Master Mingjie, don't forget Yuanwai Chen's instructions. Right now, the most urgent matter is repairing the road into the mountains. Everything else can be put aside for the moment."

"So bear with it for now. Zhang Yuan makes his living in the village. He definitely can't run away."

Zhang Xiong's persuasion was effective, and Chen Mingjie really did swallow his anger.

He also knew how important the road-building matter was to the Chen Family. If his recklessness affected his father's grand plan, the consequences would be terrifying.

An eldest young master who had failed to gain inner force for years was truly not all that important to the Chen Family.

Not to mention, Chen Mingjie had two younger brothers beneath him!

Watching Zhang Yuan's receding figure, he spat fiercely onto the ground.

Zhang Xiong was watching Zhang Yuan as well.

He narrowed his eyes, and an inscrutable gleam flickered within them.

Zhang Xiong was very interested in Zhang Yuan.

He felt that Zhang Yuan was hiding secrets, and he even suspected that Gao Ze's death was connected to him!

But Zhang Yuan still had value to exploit for now, so Zhang Xiong was in no hurry to make a move. After all, the monk could run, but the temple could not.

Licking his lips, he savored the memory of roasted Rock Sheep meat.

It really was delicious!

However, Zhang Yuan's wariness toward this martial arts instructor had already risen to the utmost extreme.

He left Chen Family Village and headed straight for the County Town, not returning over the next several days.

Yet Zhang Yuan continued to keep watch on the Chen Family's movements.

He knew the surroundings of Chen Family Village like the back of his hand. Without entering the village, he could observe it from nearby high ground.

Each day, he would first enter the mountains to hunt and gather herbs, while also searching for new hosts.

When the time was about right, Zhang Yuan would take a small path over to secretly keep watch for a while, then return to the County Town.

He went to such lengths for two reasons.

On the one hand, he served as a scout for the Crow Spirit. Should anything happen, he could warn it in advance.

On the other hand, Zhang Yuan suspected that the Chen Family's road construction was related to the hidden treasure in Thousand Peak Mountain.

He was quite interested in that treasure as well.

As time passed, rows upon rows of wooden huts and thatched houses quickly sprang up on the wasteland at the eastern end of the village.

Soon afterward, hundreds of outsiders arrived in Chen Family Village.

They were all able-bodied men hired by the Chen Family, turning the once peaceful mountain village suddenly noisy and clamorous.

There were also far more disputes!

The Chen Family transported in large quantities of grain from outside, then launched a mighty campaign to cut through the mountains and build a road!

Crack! Crack!

Tree after tree was felled and dragged away. The grass and vines on the ground were swiftly cleared, while four or five hundred able-bodied men, under the supervision of Chen Family Guards and servants, vigorously swung axes, sickles, and hoes.

Little by little, they pushed deeper into the mountains!

The sight made Zhang Yuan, watching from afar, secretly alarmed.

The Chen Family's actions could not exactly be called unprecedented, but they truly did not look like the grand undertaking a branch family should be capable of mounting.

He also noticed that on an altar near the road-building crew stood a five-foot-tall divine statue receiving offerings.

It was the Linhe City God Statue the Chen Family had invited over!

More precisely, it was a subsidiary statue.

With this City God Statue holding the fort,

the able-bodied laborers, including the villagers of Chen Family Village, all worked with blazing enthusiasm.

And the City God Statue seemed to truly be effective.

They built onward all the way, yet the strange horrors that made people flee at the mere mention of them never appeared.

Zhang Yuan observed for seven consecutive days, watching the newly built mountain road continually stretch forward, and his heart could not help sinking.

The worst-case scenario had appeared.

The direction this road led toward was precisely the Crow Spirit's territory!

He had warned the Crow Spirit many times before, yet it had remained unmoved throughout.

After thinking it over, Zhang Yuan decided to go persuade it one last time.