From a chaotic world of folk customs to becoming a god through extreme methods.

The night wind blew from the Jianghuai River, rustling through the reeds and carrying away the stench of blood.

Lin Yuan sheathed his sword and wiped the bloodstains off Zheng Laosan's clothes.

Return to its sheath.

He crouched down and searched Zheng Laosan's body.

The bundle contained some changes of clothes, some loose silver, and a money pouch at his waist with several silver notes inside.

Lin Yuan accepted them all and put them in his pocket.

They then quickly cleaned up the battle scene.

Finally, they dragged Zheng Laosan's entire body, along with his bundle and clothes, towards the riverbank.

Then use a huge rock to tie it to the corpse.

Under the moonlight, the river surface was as black as ink, with ripples spreading across its surface.

Lin Yuan took one last look at the corpse.

"In your next life, don't be so blind."

After saying that, he released his grip, and the body slid into the water along with the boulder, gradually sinking.

A few ripples spread across the water's surface before settling down.

Lin Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, then looked down at his hands.

Incredibly steady, incredibly powerful.

He thought his hands would tremble when he killed someone for the first time, but they didn't.

At this moment, all that remained in his heart was a sense of calm, and... emptiness.

Lin Yuan never expected that Zheng Laosan was so weak.

The opponent was clearly a martial artist undergoing body tempering for the first time, practicing the Cloud-Dispelling Palm technique, and usually worked as a thug at the docks, possessing incredibly rich combat experience.

It should be extremely difficult.

But even if he had lime to use as a trap, surely he wouldn't be able to withstand even ten moves from his own sword?

Lin Yuan shook his head.

The game panel must be powerful; the effect of two first-time body temperings is far greater than the strength gained from a single first-time body tempering.

If this continues...

With his two current cultivation techniques, "Ripples" and "Tidal Waves," both having completed their second body tempering, he will be able to cultivate the third level, "Surging Waves."

Will there be a second tempering process, which will be conducted three times?

With three times the efficacy, what will be the actual effect in combat?

This filled Lin Yuan with immense anticipation.

After dealing with Zheng Laosan, he also rushed back along the official road overnight.

He gained a lot that night.

My understanding and appreciation of swordsmanship have reached a new level.

As dawn broke, Lin Yuan finally made it back to Chahe Town, where people were already scattered about on the streets.

He walked home quietly, returning to his own courtyard.

……

In the days that followed, Lin Yuan acted as if nothing had happened.

Every morning after getting up, he would practice swordsmanship in the backyard, and he would practice for the whole day.

Twelve styles of gentle ripples, nine styles of gentle waves.

They practiced two sets of sword techniques alternately, refining each move repeatedly and constantly improving.

When Uncle Fu passed by and saw the second young master practicing so diligently, he felt both gratified and heartbroken.

They assumed that he was working so hard because the eldest son was injured and there was no one to manage the household.

Lin Yuan offered no explanation.

He knew in his heart that Zheng Laosan was just a pretext; the real problem was the He family behind him.

There could be another Zheng Laosan at any time who would harm his family.

Therefore, he must stay at home at all times as a precaution.

During breaks from sword practice, he would go to his elder brother's room to sit, inquire about his injuries, and also look at the accounts to learn how to manage the business.

He would also occasionally talk to Wan'er and comfort her so she wouldn't be afraid.

He no longer goes out, socializes, or associates with anyone in town.

He just stayed at home, practicing swordsmanship relentlessly.

The sense of urgency in his heart grew stronger and stronger, considering the giant turtle, the He family, and a bunch of other forces like the He family, including the village head.

My parents haven't been responding to my messages, and there are more and more problems at home.

He only hated that his sword was not fast enough, nor strong enough.

……

East of Chahe Town, the He Family Mansion.

Inside the study, He Chongwen sat in a grand chair, his face ashen.

"It's been three days already."

He spoke slowly, his voice filled with anger.

The butler, He Deshun, standing in front of him kept his head down and dared not utter a sound.

"Where's Zheng Laosan? Why haven't we heard from him yet?"

"I told him to leave town overnight, lay low for a while, and come back when things calm down."

"But it's been three days already, and the person is still missing."

He Deshun cautiously began to guess.

"Master, could it be that he... took the money and ran away?"

"Ran away?" He Chongwen sneered.

"His whole family lives in town, where could he possibly run to?"

He Deshun was speechless.

He Chongwen remained silent for a moment, a shadow flashing in his eyes.

"Something must have happened."

"Something happened?" He Deshun was taken aback. "But Zheng Laosan is a martial artist undergoing his first body tempering. He fled to the countryside overnight. Who could possibly find him and harm him?"

He Chongwen did not answer; this was also the question he was thinking about.

Zheng Laosan was a martial artist undergoing body tempering for the first time. He practiced the Cloud-Dispelling Palm and had worked for him at the dock for many years, so he had rich practical experience.

He was meticulous in his actions, and after injuring Young Master Lin that night, he fled immediately.

There are many people who can kill him, but not many people with whom you have a grudge can kill him, let alone someone with a grudge who can kill him and still find him.

That's going to be hard to find.

Could it be the Lin family?

"What's been happening with the Lin family these past few days?" He Chongwen asked.

He Deshun replied, "Young Master Lin is still in bed, but Second Young Master Lin is quite well-behaved, practicing swordsmanship at home every day and not even leaving the house."

"Practicing swordsmanship?"

He Chongwen frowned slightly.

"Yes, I heard they practice quite diligently."

He Chongwen pondered for a moment, then waved his hand.

"Send someone to keep an eye on the Lin family. If anything happens, tell me immediately."

"Yes."

He Deshun acknowledged and withdrew.

He Chongwen sat back down in his armchair, picked up the teacup beside him, and gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, lost in thought.

Where did Zheng Laosan go?

It couldn't be the Lin family. The Lin family only has their second young master left, and He Chongwen knows very well what kind of person he is.

He's just a good-for-nothing, and I've heard that his aptitude for martial arts is too low, so he has little chance of succeeding in the martial arts path.

Zhou Hu, the strongest guard in the Lin family, has also left, leaving only a few empty shells, who are no match for Zheng Laosan.

Could it be another family?

Who else dares to oppose him?

His gaze gradually turned cold. Anyone who dared to touch him would pay the price.

But now is not the time to tear off all pretenses.

The matter of the giant turtle is of utmost importance.

……

The Lin family home, study.

Lin Che sat on the edge of the bed, holding a letter in his hand, his brows furrowed.

The letter was sent by my father, Lin Yuanshan, from the prefectural city.

However, the handwriting on this letter was different from the previous steady handwriting; it appeared extremely messy, clearly written hastily in a hurry.

Lin Yuan sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his elder brother's expression, and asked.

"Big brother, what did Father and Mother say?"

Lin Che sighed and handed him the letter.

"The master of Qingyuan Temple said that the giant turtle is no ordinary monster, and they need to prepare for some time before they can go down the mountain to exorcise it."

"My parents will have to wait a while longer."

Lin Yuan looked at the letter; the contents were similar to what his elder brother had said.

However, the parents added a sentence at the end.

"Please take care of things at home, Che'er. If things get really difficult, you can seek help from the Chen family. Just don't confront those people head-on."

Lin Yuan put the letter down, his heart sinking.

Another round of waiting.

Since my parents went to the prefectural city, every letter they've sent has been delayed.

But given their current situation, can they really wait until the day they return?

"Brother, how much longer can the family hold on?" Lin Yuan asked.

Lin Che remained silent for a moment.

"The money can last a little longer, but business is about to come to a standstill."

"Two more batches of goods at the dock were seized, all the old employers have run away, and our other businesses have also been targeted and have been shut down completely."

He looked at Lin Yuan, his eyes filled with guilt.

"Little brother, it's because your older brother is useless."

Lin Yuan shook his head.

"It's not your fault, brother."

He got up and poured a cup of tea for his older brother, Lin Che.

"My parents will come back. Until then, I'll stay here and take care of the home."

Everything will be alright.

Lin Che watched his younger brother's figure, his lips moved, but in the end he said nothing.