Chapter 36: Vengeance Without Delay

Qinghe County Government Office.

"Rest now, sir. Constable Zhang and his men cannot travel through the night; they will surely not bring the young lady back until tomorrow!" Chen Dao stood beside Magistrate Chen Fan and whispered comfortingly.

"Hmm!" Chen Fan let out a soft groan. Thinking of Chen Feng, how could he possibly sleep?

Wolong Mountain.

Zhang Long paced back and forth, worriedly asking, "Is there still no news of Zhou Chen?"

"Boss, Brother Chen might have just gone down the mountain along the way. Besides, it’s late at night; he wouldn't have time to return and surely would have found a place to stay nearby," Zhao Hu consoled him.

"I hope so!" Zhang Long felt anxious. While pursuing Tie Xiong, he had been ambushed and nearly lost his life. Specifically, Tie Xiong was not at the second level of Body Tempering as he had assumed, but the third. Fortunately, his swordsmanship was skillful, and Tie Xiong did not want to risk his life, or he might not have returned at all. Tie Xiong, naturally, had escaped.

He worried that Zhou Chen might have encountered the same situation. Since Tie Xiong had been hiding his strength, could the second-in-command, Lu Xiao—who had always kept a low profile—also possess hidden, formidable power? However, Tie Xiong was truly at the third level of Body Tempering, and as the second-in-command, even if Lu Xiao had hidden his strength, he was likely at most at the second level. There was hope for Zhou Chen yet. Moreover, for a sharp-shooting hunter like Zhou Chen, who had spent years roaming the mountains and forests, jungle tracking was a distinct advantage.

"How is Miss Chen?" Zhang Long asked again.

"Still refusing to eat or drink, and she won't speak," Zhao Hu replied. The mountain stronghold was full of young girls kidnapped by the bandits; they had let these girls bathe and look after Chen Feng, but the latter was in a poor state. He had no other choice but to escort her back to the county office by horse first thing in the morning.

"It’s hellish luck. We thought it would be a simple capture, but to be discovered by two scouts and alert the enemy... it’s truly shameful!" Two third-level Body Tempering warriors from the Salt Gang and Fishery Gang branch were still frustrated by the day's events. They had bungled the task. "I clearly saw that those two scouts hadn't spotted us; I don't know how they found us! Fortunately, Miss Chen wasn't harmed because we were discovered, otherwise, forget about a reward—we'd likely face punishment."

The night passed silently.

Early the next morning, Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, and the others, along with the two experts from the Salt and Fishery Gangs, set off at a gallop with Chen Feng to return to Qinghe City.

After a night of rest and the comfort of his beloved, Zhou Chen felt fully revitalized. He looked at Qin Hongyu, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, and kissed her forehead lightly. After lingering for a moment, Zhou Chen did not indulge in the warm nest; through sheer discipline and willpower, he pulled himself up and out of bed.

"Mm!" Qin Hongyu’s brows furrowed slightly as she let out a subconscious murmur. Zhou Chen glanced at her and gave a bitter smile. He had hurt her. It seemed he needed to find a suitable cultivation technique for her as soon as possible. After tucking her in, Zhou Chen took out a human-skin mask and put it on. This mask had been found in the storage bag of the first cultivator he killed, Qi You. Its material was unique—thin as a cicada's wing—and once on the face, it felt like nothing at all.

Zhou Chen changed into black clothes and put on a hat, tucking all his hair inside. His entire appearance changed. His face was now that of a sallow, ordinary middle-aged man; even if he stood before Qin Hongyu now, she would certainly not recognize him.

"Very good! From now on, this identity shall be Han Feiyu!" Looking at himself in the mirror, Zhou Chen was very satisfied.

He quietly left his home and arrived at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, where a young maid enthusiastically welcomed him to the archery section. After comprehending his arrow intent and a killing technique last night, he needed a good bow to unleash their full power.

"I'll try this one!" Zhou Chen looked at the bow he had craved last time but had not purchased—the Jinghong.

"Sir has a sharp eye. This Jinghong is a graded bow..." the maid introduced enthusiastically, handing him the bow to test.

*Boom!*

Zhou Chen pulled it casually, the bow forming a full moon. A terrifying momentum surged forth. Even without an arrow, everyone felt a prickling sensation on their backs.

"So strong!" The maid was stunned. She had guessed that Zhou Chen was not weak, but she hadn't expected him to be so effortless. This was a fifty-stone bow, requiring ten thousand pounds of force. A warrior who had just completed the flesh-tempering stage and entered the third level of Body Tempering—like Zhang Long—would have roughly ten thousand pounds of force, but he could not draw a ten-thousand-pound bow. For Zhou Chen to draw it into a full moon so easily, his strength must be at least thirty or forty thousand pounds—at least at the fourth level of Body Tempering, or he was born with divine strength!

"Sir has extraordinary arm strength!" The manager, Xiao Heng, walked over, clapping and looking amazed.

"This bow is fine, but I feel it is still too light!" Zhou Chen slowly released the bowstring and handed it back to the maid.

"Sir has divine strength. It just so happens that our Four Seas Chamber of Commerce has received a new arrival—a second-tier treasure bow. I believe it will not disappoint you!" Xiao Heng smiled and led Zhou Chen to the back, taking down a long bow that was pitch-black.

"This bow is called Soul Chaser. It is forged from deep-sea cold iron essence, and the bowstring is made from the tendon of a demon python. If a master archer holds it, he can chase souls across a thousand miles; it strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear of it!" The "thousand miles" was an exaggeration, but the bow was indeed extraordinary.

Zhou Chen reached out and grasped it. An indescribable feeling surged in his heart—like the difference between playing with street girls and suddenly holding a celestial goddess. He felt an excitement and fondness that was hard to put into words.

"Good bow!"

"Of course, it is a good bow!" Zhou Chen, delighted by the find, touched it carefully and pulled with effort. His body sank. "So stiff!"

Zhou Chen’s strength had previously broken through fifty thousand pounds, and after adding over two thousand "Wind and Moon" points last night, his strength had grown significantly, reaching roughly seventy thousand pounds. Especially since he practiced the Yi Archery technique, his seventy thousand pounds of force could compare to another person's one hundred thousand! Once he completed his Body Tempering and his physical body transformed into a Postnatal Arrow Spirit Body, he would be even more compatible with the bow, unleashing even greater power.

*Hum!*

An astonishing aura surged. Xiao Heng’s eyes widened; he never expected Zhou Chen to fully draw the Soul Chaser bow. He had heard that it could not be fully drawn without one hundred thousand pounds of force.

*Who is this man? There shouldn't be such an expert in Qinghe City...* Xiao Heng’s mind raced. With such strength, was he at the seventh level of Body Tempering? Of course, that excluded those who practiced strength-based techniques or were born with divine power.

"Not bad!" Zhou Chen retracted the bow and looked at Xiao Heng. "How much for this Soul Chaser?"

"Sir should know that first-tier weapons start at one hundred taels, and second-tier weapons start at one thousand. Bows are the most expensive among all weapons. As the saying goes, treasure blades are for heroes. It is rare for the Soul Chaser to meet a connoisseur like you. One price: two thousand taels!"

"Deal!" Zhou Chen knew the price was inflated, but this was likely the only place in Qinghe City with a bow suitable for him. If it was expensive, so be it. He had just come into two fortunes. Although the cultivator Lu Xiao didn't have a single spirit stone, he had plenty of gold, jewelry, and bank notes. The bow came with ten refined steel-feathered arrows, and Zhou Chen spent another twenty taels to buy one hundred more.

"Sir is straightforward!" Xiao Heng smiled radiantly; this was a sale, and his commission would be substantial.

"I also want a blade."

"Rest assured, sir, our Four Seas Chamber of Commerce has plenty of treasure blades!" Under Xiao Heng's guidance, Zhou Chen spent another twelve hundred taels to buy a second-tier Cold Moon blade.

"Farewell, Mr. Han!" Watching Zhou Chen’s retreating figure, Xiao Heng pondered about any archers named Han who also used blades, but he could think of no one who fit the description. He dared not send anyone to follow him; the other party was too strong, and archers were exceptionally sharp-eyed and perceptive. He saw no reason to invite trouble; he was merely a manager selling goods.

Zhou Chen left the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, confirmed he wasn't being followed, and went to an empty corner. He stored the bow, arrows, and blade into the Wind and Moon Mirror. Then, he removed all his disguises, tossed them into the mirror, and returned to his original appearance.

Zhou Chen quietly exited the alley, blended into the street, and went to a noodle shop in front of Yang Dingtian's store to order three large bowls of beef noodles. Yang Dingtian's shop was already open, and customers were coming and going. Zhang Long and Zhao Hu arrived, travel-worn. Seeing Zhou Chen, they hurried over.

"Brother Chen, I heard you encountered something eerie yesterday. Are you alright?" Zhang Long asked with concern.

"Don't worry, Brother Long. My luck was good; it was a close call, but I'm completely unscathed!" Zhou Chen smiled slightly and asked, "Brother Long, did you catch that Tie Xiong?"

"Sigh, don't mention it. That old dog hides too deep. He's a third-level Body Tempering expert. I nearly capsized in the gutter and let him run!" Zhang Long shook his head and sighed, then added, "I heard you took down the second-in-command, Lu Xiao. Beautifully done!"

"That guy was just a stuffed shirt, not worth mentioning. He was the military advisor on Wolong Mountain, but his martial arts were poor. I shot him down with one arrow!" Zhou Chen waved his hand; he didn't want to stand out. Besides, he had burned Lu Xiao's body; his word alone couldn't prove he had killed him.

"That's still impressive!" Zhang Long didn't doubt him; after all, there weren't *that* many master schemers. "The Magistrate gave me three days off. Come to my place later and have a drink to calm your nerves!" Zhang Long patted Zhou Chen on the shoulder.

"This..."

"What 'this'? It's settled!"

After breakfast, Zhou Chen bought some meat buns and soy milk to take back to Qin Hongyu. Passing by the Hundred Herbs Hall, he went in to buy a box of ointment for swelling and pain.

Back home, Qin Hongyu was still asleep. Zhou Chen applied some medicine for her. The cool, refreshing sensation made Qin Hongyu wake slowly. Her cheeks flushed, and she whispered shyly, "Brother Chen, what are you doing?"

"Don't move, I'm applying medicine."

"It's not needed, I'll be fine after a little rest..."

"Be good, listen to me."

After applying the medicine, Zhou Chen washed his hands and brought the breakfast to her. "Brother Long invited me to his place for a drink. You don't need to wait for me at home."

"Mm."

After Qin Hongyu finished breakfast, Zhou Chen stroked her head. "Continue resting, I'm off!" To be honest, he still missed the milky scent of Red Sleeve.

He spent the day at Zhang Long's house, and Zhou Chen felt refreshed, the previous gloom swept away. At ten in the evening, he finally returned home. Seeing the two thousand additional Wind and Moon points, he was very satisfied. Just as money provided a man with his foundation, these points were his own.

When he returned, Qin Hongyu was already asleep. Zhou Chen lifted the quilt and slipped in.

"Ah!" Qin Hongyu cried out in pain. Zhou Chen frowned and immediately lit the oil lamp.

"Brother Chen, you're back." Qin Hongyu hugged him happily.

"What happened to your arm?" Zhou Chen pulled up her sleeve and saw several bruises on her elbow and shoulder. Anger surged within him. "Who did this?"

"Brother Chen, I accidentally fell myself..."

"Hongyu, look into my eyes. What really happened?"

"Brother Chen, it's nothing. I went out to buy groceries today, and someone was riding a horse at full speed through the street. I fell while trying to dodge..." Qin Hongyu lowered her voice, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Was the rider powerful? Who was it?"

"I heard it was the young master of the Salt Gang branch." Qin Hongyu grabbed his arm and said hurriedly, "Brother Chen, I'm fine. It's better to avoid trouble. I know you have skills, but I've heard the Salt Gang is very powerful. Even the Magistrate has to give the branch leader some face..."

"Shi Baoyu, the young master of the Salt Gang branch?" Zhou Chen had heard of him—twenty-five years old, second level of Body Tempering, notorious for bullying men and women, arrogant and domineering. But because of his powerful background, the authorities turned a blind eye to him.

"Brother Chen, let’s not provoke him, okay? I’m fine. Let’s rest. Don't you want to... do that with me?" Qin Hongyu shook his arm. She was from the countryside; even though Zhou Chen had made a name for himself, the other party was no ordinary person. She didn't want to cause trouble.

"Fine, I'll listen to you!" Zhou Chen smiled and held Qin Hongyu as they rested, but in his heart, he had already sentenced Shi Baoyu to death. Today, Qin Hongyu was lucky to have dodged; what if she hadn't? She would have been killed! He didn't want to cause trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either.

Besides, what kind of trash was Shi Baoyu? Forget him—even his father, Shi Lei, could be shot dead by Zhou Chen with one arrow.

Patience might bring peace for a moment, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. If it were a truly top-tier figure, he might endure it and deal with them later when he was stronger. But a spoiled brat from a tiny Salt Gang branch? What kind of thing was that!

Tonight, he would act on behalf of heaven to remove a pest for the people—a virtuous deed! Moreover, Zhou Chen was no saint. If someone offended him, whether they were a good person or a bad one, they had to die!

"The sky is dry, watch for fire!"

At the third watch, the night watchman's voice echoed from afar. Zhou Chen looked at Qin Hongyu, who was exhausted and sleeping soundly in his arms. He kissed her forehead, quietly slipped away, put on his mask, donned his black clothes, and wore his bamboo hat. He merged into the night.

It was a fine night for killing!