Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 77: Chapter 73: Senior Sister Jiang’s Ruthless Resolve

South District.

A chaotic mix of good and bad!

The entire Poyang County’s wealthy reside in the east of the city, which is the most orderly place in the county town, while the opposite, the South District, is home to a chaotic mix of good and bad, and is an area dominated by gangs.

Led by Lin Xiuyong, the group entered the South District, passed through a few streets, and finally arrived at the entrance of an alley.

A few young men stood at the alley entrance, all of them burly. Lin Chen glanced at them and could tell that these people had probably trained in martial arts at the Martial Hall, with one or two of the leaders likely having developed Essence Qi, while the rest just had some brute strength.

”What do you want?”

Even facing Lin Xiuyong dressed in constable attire, the man guarding the alley entrance didn’t show much fear, while the other men’s eyes lingered on Jiang Qing.

A lowly government office black constable, nothing of significance.

”Here to see Third Master Zhou, this is Young Master Lin, a Martial Hall student, who has already opened six acupoints.”

Lin Xiuyong naturally knew he had no reputation with these people, so he directly revealed Lin Chen’s identity.

Upon hearing this, the man’s expression instantly changed, showing respect on his face, and the other men’s expressions behind him also became tense; opening six acupoints was a monumental achievement to them.

Moreover, he was so young, which meant they definitely couldn’t afford to offend him.

”Young Master Lin, please!”

The man hastily made an inviting gesture, led the way, and dared not inquire further about the nature of their visit to Third Master. However, he had already signaled one of his subordinates to run into the courtyard to notify Third Master.

Seeing the other party’s attitude, Lin Xiuyong lowered his voice and said, ”Young Master Lin, I think Third Master Zhou might give you some face.”

Lin Chen hadn’t replied yet when the village head Zhao Canghe immediately chimed in, ”Chen, let’s not make things more complicated. Just giving some money will do. Right now, you should prioritize your studies at the Martial Hall. Those who can establish themselves in this east city district are not simple characters.”

Zhao Canghe feared Lin Chen’s youthful impulsiveness. Third Master Zhou himself wasn’t intimidating, but the fact that he could stand firm in the South District and not be captured by the government office suggested he had connections and backing.

”Village head, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

...

...

The leading man stood at a distance of one zhang from Lin Chen’s group, at the gate of a residence, and as Lin Chen and Jiang Qing approached the courtyard gate, a disheveled woman burst out from the inner room.

”You shameless woman, if you dare to run today, your daughter will be sold to the brothel tomorrow.”

The booming voice from inside the house caused the woman to halt in her tracks. From Lin Chen’s angle, he could just see the woman’s face filled with anguish.

It was a face full of despair.

At the same time, Lin Chen sensed Aunt Zhou beside him trembling.

”Third Master, you’ve got guests.”

The leading man’s expression remained unchanged as he called into the courtyard, and when Lin Chen and his group stepped inside, a middle-aged man appeared from the room, shirtless.

His eyes were fierce, quickly scanning Lin Chen’s group, focusing on Lin Chen and Jiang Qing, and then he smiled, ”So it’s junior brother and junior sister from the Martial Hall. Serve tea.”

A servant went to make tea. Third Master Zhou saw Jiang Qing’s cold expression, glanced at the woman standing dazedly, and explained with a smile, ”This woman’s daughter is missing. She knows I, Third Master Zhou, have extensive connections and wants me to help find her daughter. I have no problem with it, but my brothers can’t work for free. It’s either cash, or... she must appease my brothers. Junior brother, don’t you think that’s fair?”

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes. This Third Master Zhou was arrogant and audacious.

What help to find someone? Clearly, her daughter was lost, likely abducted by Third Master’s men, seeking help from Third Master Zhou, only for him to lustfully exploit the situation.

This slippery character was not a fool. From his subordinates’ advance report, he should already guess the purpose of the visit, which was to demand the girl back.

Knowing their purpose and still being so brazen right in front of them, was he emboldened by something?

On the way here, Lin Chen had already learned from Lin Xiuyong that Third Master Zhou had been a Nine Acupoints Martial Artist five years ago, but judging from his complexion, he was clearly past forty, and his real combat power had likely dropped to Six or Seven Acupoints.

So, did someone significant stand behind Third Master Zhou, allowing him to be so emboldened?

”I have heard of Third Master Zhou’s extensive connections. I’m here hoping to leverage those connections to help find a missing little girl from my village.”

Lin Chen did not plan to beat around the bush with Third Master, directly stating his purpose.

”Finding someone is easy.”

Third Master Zhou agreed very readily, ”But as you can see, my brothers here are also going to help this woman find her daughter, so they might not have the spare time.”

”To ensure Third Master’s men don’t work in vain, we will pay.”

Zhao Canghe spoke up, pulling out a silver ticket worth ten taels from his coat, ”This is a little something for Third Master’s men for their trouble.”

Lin Chen didn’t expect the village head would produce money, but the village head’s look implied for him to understand.

Bear with it for now, first get Qianqian back.

Lin Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the murderous intent in his heart.

Third Master Zhou deserved to die, but there was no need to rush.

With his current progress on the Martial Path, within two years, he would be able to enter the Refining the Viscera stage. By then, if he killed Third Master Zhou, the significant figure behind him would not turn against a Viscera-Refining Martial Artist for a Qi Blood-depleted Third Master Zhou.

Just as Lin Chen was about to speak, he suddenly felt a gust of wind beside him, and Senior Sister Jiang, who had been standing by his side, vanished.

Bang!

When he saw Senior Sister Jiang again, she was already standing where Zhou San had been, while Zhou San was sent flying, crashing through the doors and windows of the house and falling to the ground.

In the courtyard, including at the gate, many of Zhou San’s men were about to rush over when Jiang Qing merely cast a glance, causing them to freeze in place, unable to move.

”I’ll give you the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. If you don’t hand over the person within that time, you won’t need to live anymore. Not only you, but your family and children, all must die.”

Jiang Qing’s voice was icy, emanating an endless chill. Lin Chen’s pupils contracted slightly; it was the first time he had seen this side of Senior Sister Jiang.

As for the village elder and others standing behind Lin Chen, their mouths were slightly agape, struck speechless by the scene before them.

”Who...who are you?”

Zhou San crawled off the shattered window frame, his face covered in blood, but before he could finish his question, a cold light responded.

A dagger sliced through the air, piercing Zhou San’s abdomen like a sharp sword.

Jiang Qing launched the dagger and, without paying any mind to Zhou San, turned to Lin Chen: ”Junior Brother Lin, Senior Sister is going to teach you a principle today: in the Martial Path, strength is supreme. Killing someone like him, no one would stand up for him. Even if you killed everyone in this courtyard, the Martial Hall would back you up.”

In the courtyard, Zhou San’s men showed faces of fear upon hearing Jiang Qing’s words, not expecting such ruthless words from this beautiful woman.

What did they take us for?

Lin Chen mused, understanding Senior Sister Jiang’s intention.

Senior Sister Jiang attacked Zhou San first, then used these words to break the psychological defense of Zhou San’s subordinates.

Zhou San trafficked children, and these subordinates of his must know where the children were hidden.

”Thank you, Senior Sister, for the lesson. I understand now,”

Lin Chen nodded in agreement, his gaze turning to Zhou San’s men.

”Please... don’t kill me. I know where Third Master hid the trafficked children.”

”I...I know too.”

”Zhou San hid those children in the residence opposite, which also belongs to him.”

”Village Chief, go find Qianqian first.”

Lin Chen gave the village chief a look and led him and the others out of the courtyard; with Senior Sister present, these people wouldn’t dare cause trouble.

At the opposite residence.

The main door was kicked open by Lin Chen, and the strong men drinking at the stone table were stunned; however, before they could react, Lin Chen had already made his move.

With the Flying Swallow Technique combined with the Clear Wind Palm at great success, in just a few breaths, the men were lying on the ground like a bunch of mud.

The reason for such ruthlessness was that Lin Chen saw several children against the left courtyard wall, stripped naked, with bruises all over their bodies.

”Brother, Gu Fei, find them.”

Just as Lin Chen finished speaking, Aunt Zhou was the first to rush into the inner room, and soon a sound of crying was heard.

It was the cry of joy from a reunion after loss.

”Chen, will this... will this incident bring you trouble?”

Zhao Canghe looked at the abused children, his face extremely grim, but he was thinking more, with a trace of worry in his eyes.

”Don’t worry, Village Chief. Killing these scum won’t affect me. If you don’t believe me, ask Brother Lin.”

Lin Xiuyong smiled wryly on the side; he didn’t know how to handle a situation like this, but since Young Master Lin looked over, he could only brace himself and say, ”Don’t worry, Old Village Chief, Young Master Lin is a student at the Martial Hall. Even our government office can’t directly arrest Young Master Lin. Besides, Zhou San and his group committed numerous crimes and deserved their end, and Young Master Lin is also acting for the people’s good.”

”That’s good then.”

Zhao Canghe was relieved and walked over to the fallen strong men, glancing at the long saber on the table, then picked it up and stabbed the men on the ground repeatedly.

Lin Chen was confused by the village chief’s action.

”Lord Lin, you saw it; Chen just injured these people, and in the end, it was me who, unable to bear it, killed them with the saber.”

Zhao Canghe was still worried; he was already old, and if this matter escalated, he would take the blame at any cost, as in his heart nobody else should be troubled except Lin Chen.

”Village Chief.”

Lin Chen shook his head helplessly; although the village chief’s actions were somewhat like burying his head in the sand, he felt a warmth in his heart, sensing the village chief’s protection.

”Chen, go check on your Senior Sister; we’ll handle things here with your brother.”

”Alright.”

When Lin Chen hurried back to Zhou San’s courtyard, seeing the fallen corpses everywhere and Jiang Senior Sister standing in the middle spotless, he was stunned.

Senior Sister Jiang meant what she said, she really killed them all.

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