Chapter 101: Masters of the Martial World

“So you intend to protect him?”

Qin Zhen had never expected that such a strange and inexplicable person would suddenly appear to save Third Master Chen’s life.

But Qin Zhen was not one to give up easily.

He had always lived by one principle: either don’t do it at all, or do it thoroughly.

If he did not kill Third Master Chen today, the consequences would be endless!

With this thought, his eyes sharpened.

“Please step aside, or I will kill you too.”

“Do you even know what you’re saying?” Liu Zun sneered contemptuously, as if hearing something utterly ridiculous. “Considering you have your reasons, I’m already showing mercy by letting you walk away unscathed! If you keep resisting, do you understand the consequences of crossing Baiyang Tower?”

Qin Zhen had no idea what Baiyang Tower was.

All he knew was that if he didn’t kill Third Master Chen today, once that old Bi Deng recovered, he would use every resource to deal with him and the fishing village. By then, forget about the shopping festival; whether he would even make it back alive was uncertain.

When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one.

This Third Master Chen—he must die today!

With this in mind, Qin Zhen no longer hesitated and growled low.

“Attack!”

The village guards immediately drew their blades and charged.

Qin Zhen also swung his sword directly toward Third Master Chen.

“Arrogant!”

Liu Zun had initially intended to spare Qin Zhen’s life, but never expected him to be so presumptuous and reckless! Since that was the case, he would show no mercy.

He extended two fingers, drawing a flexible sword from his sleeve, and thrust it straight at Qin Zhen’s face.

The strike was swift and cunning, catching Qin Zhen off guard. By the time he reacted to block, the sword’s tip was but a hand’s breadth away.

Clang!

A short dagger flashed horizontally, narrowly blocking the strike.

“Oh?” Liu Zun exclaimed in surprise.

Chen Shu grabbed Qin Zhen, pulling him behind her, while gripping the short dagger tightly, advancing step by step along the flexible sword’s path, thrusting continuously.

The two clashed and darted for over ten meters, evenly matched.

Seizing the opportunity, Qin Zhen charged at Third Master Chen, swinging his sword to strike.

Suddenly, a sharp whooshing sound cut through the air!

A flexible sword sliced through the sky, cutting a bleeding gash on Qin Zhen’s hand, knocking his wakizashi aside and driving it hard into a wooden pillar.

Liu Zun immediately delivered a direct kick to Chen Shu’s chest. The latter emitted a muffled grunt from the heavy blow and staggered back over ten steps before barely stopping.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Then Liu Zun’s indifferent voice came.

“Your fighting technique is ferocious but lacks sharpness. However, your use of that short dagger is quite good. I’ve heard that under the command of the Marquis of Zhen Guo, the Flying Fish Battalion has a scout squad called the Dagger Team, skilled with short blades, infiltrating anywhere. Your swordsmanship is somewhat similar.”

Chen Shu’s expression tightened.

Being read so easily stung bitterly.

The outcome of their earlier fight made it clear—he was no match for Liu Zun.

At this moment, Third Master Chen rushed behind Liu Zun again, his ugly face contorted as he furiously pointed at Qin Zhen and shouted.

“Mr. Liu, kill them! I’ll pay you, a lot of money!”

Liu Zun cast a disdainful glance at Third Master Chen but ignored him, instead addressing Qin Zhen.

“Since you are heroes of the Flying Fish Battalion, I’ll give you face today. Leave now.”

“How can you let them go?! Didn’t you see how that brat just slashed me? If you let them go, what do I do?” Third Master Chen was shocked and furious, scolding madly, “They must die! Liu Zun, I order you to kill them!”

Liu Zun turned back calmly, his icy gaze piercing Third Master Chen’s heart and awakening him.

“Boss Chen, I’m not your servant but an official of Baiyang Tower. If there’s a next time, I’ll cut off your head!”

Those few words silenced the usually domineering Third Master Chen, his legs weakening, speechless.

He could only glare venomously at Qin Zhen, releasing his fury through that gaze.

Qin Zhen was deeply conflicted.

He truly wanted to kill Third Master Chen, but he was no match for Liu Zun.

Liu Zun and Baiyang Tower clearly had formidable backgrounds; continuing the conflict would be disastrous.

Yet letting Third Master Chen go so easily left Qin Zhen unwilling!

Just then, Chen Kuai rushed in hastily.

Seeing Third Master Chen alive, Chen Kuai breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when he heard Third Master Chen roaring wildly.

“Chen Kuai, you came just in time! These people want to kill me! Quickly arrest them all and execute them on the spot!”

Chen Kuai paused, glanced at Third Master Chen but paid no heed. Instead, he walked over to Qin Zhen and whispered.

“Zhen’er, Hanzi has woken up!”

Hearing this, Qin Zhen eagerly grabbed Chen Kuai’s hand.

“Really?”

“Would I lie to you? The physician said Hanzi is fine, just some flesh wounds, no bone damage. He just needs to rest and recuperate for a year or so,” Chen Kuai said, his tone almost soothing. “You should leave for now. I promise I’ll give you a proper explanation for all this!”

Looking at Chen Kuai’s earnest and solemn face, Qin Zhen finally nodded.

As Qin Zhen led his group away, Third Master Chen refused to accept defeat.

He dragged his fat, ugly body hurriedly to Chen Kuai’s side and slapped him hard in front of everyone.

“Chen Kuai, who the hell feeds and clothes you? You ungrateful dog! Helping outsiders against me?! Without me, could you even hold your official position? Quickly capture Qin Zhen and kill him! Or else, I’ll kick you out of the Chen family!”

Faced with the torrent of abuse, Chen Kuai spat blood onto the ground first.

Then, with a swift motion, he slapped Third Master Chen hard across the face.

The sudden slap knocked several teeth loose, leaving Third Master Chen dazed. He clutched his face, staring at Chen Kuai in disbelief, shock and rage filling his expression.

“My position was won by Qin Zhen’s life risk and the county magistrate’s favor. What does that have to do with you? If not for the county magistrate’s kindness back then, I’d have starved outside long ago. Where would the Chen family have been then?”

He narrowed his eyes, speaking deliberately.

“Third Master Chen, I respect you as an elder and call you so out of courtesy. But don’t ever use that respect to ride roughshod over me.”

You show me respect, and I call you Third Master Chen; if not, I’ll put you six feet under!

“Rebellious!”

Third Master Chen could not accept that a younger member of the Chen family dared to defy him.

But Chen Kuai was clearly not in the mood to argue over meaningless nonsense.

He stepped back, raising his voice.

“Third Master Chen! The city lord requests your presence!”

Elsewhere—

Rushing back to the inn, Qin Zhen burst into the room.

He saw Li Han lying on the bed, barely breathing.

An old physician was bandaging him; the blood had soaked through the herbs, layer upon layer.

“Master has returned!” Little Daiyu brightened and called out quickly.

Qin Zhen asked, “How is Hanzi?”

“You must be Young Master Qin Zhen,” the old physician said slowly as he applied medicine to Li Han. “Rest assured, this boy is fine—just some flesh wounds, no bone injury. He’ll just need to lie down for a year or so to slowly recover his vitality.”