Chapter 3: Frustrated Schemes, Catharsis

Chapter 3: Frustrated Schemes, Catharsis

Li Mo waved his hand dismissively. "Junior Brother, though I’ve helped you this time, these gangs won’t back down easily. Be cautious. If possible, consider moving near the Martial Arts Institute. Even if they’re reckless, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble there."

Su Chen nodded. If he had the money, he’d already be gone.

"It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave now."

As Li Mo spoke, he pulled out a silver tael from his robe and placed it into Su Chen’s stunned hands.

"Earlier, I didn’t know why you were in such a rush for funds, so I took it temporarily. Now, keep this money for yourself."

"Senior Brother…"

Before Su Chen could protest, Li Mo cut him off. "Take it. I’m not so destitute that I need your silver."

Placing the coin in Su Chen’s palm, Li Mo turned and left.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Watching Li Mo’s retreating figure, Su Chen murmured softly, his voice thick with sincerity.

Only after Li Mo vanished into the night did Su Chen exhale slowly and return indoors.

The moment he entered his room, his expression darkened.

The house looked ransacked—cupboards overturned, pots and pans shattered across the floor, clothes and quilts strewn everywhere. Not a single spot remained untouched.

"Damn it!"

Su Chen cursed under his breath. He didn’t need to guess twice to know Chen Erdog’s handiwork.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he quickly tidied the room. After washing up, he returned to his quarters, his consciousness diving into the Progress Panel.

"How should I use this?"

Staring at the interface, Su Chen pondered.

Suddenly, he felt the silver tael in his hand vanish.

The Progress Panel flickered:

[Easy Mode: Iron Thread Fist (1 use – 5 silver taels/attempt)]

"Use?" Su Chen tested.

[Easy Mode Activated: Shadowbox for ten minutes to achieve Minor Mastery of Iron Thread Fist.]

"Huh?"

That simple?

Su Chen blinked, doubting the system’s claim.

He threw a punch into empty air. The progress bar jumped to 3%.

"This… this is too easy!"

His expression froze, disbelief etched across his face.

"Again."

+1%

+1%

Ten minutes later, Su Chen had mastered the Iron Thread Fist’s basics. The slack muscles on his arms tightened, radiating newfound strength. Every movement carried weight, and the 36 techniques flowed instinctively, as if ingrained into his very being.

The Progress Panel refreshed:

[Name: Su Chen]

[Martial Arts: Iron Thread Fist (Minor Mastery – 1%)]

[Easy Mode: Iron Thread Fist (0 uses remaining – 5 silver taels/attempt)]

"Next time I activate Easy Mode, it’ll cost 5 silver taels!"

"As long as I have money, I can grind Iron Thread Fist to perfection!"

Clutching his fists, Su Chen’s face hardened with determination.

Rustle… rustle…

"Someone’s outside!"

A faint sound snapped Su Chen’s attention to the window. Peering through the moonlight, he recognized the shadows approaching—Chen Erdog and his men, returning.

They’d guessed Li Mo wouldn’t stay the night. Now, they aimed to finish Su Chen off.

A shrewd plan…

But tonight, they’d miscalculated.

Su Chen’s eyes sharpened, cold resolve flashing within them.

Old grudges and new hatreds would end here.

He grabbed a chopping axe, fading into the darkness.

Outside, Chen Erdog’s subordinate whispered, "Big Brother, the brat’s still here!"

Spotting the dim light from Su Chen’s window, Chen Erdog sneered. "Where else would he go? This is his only home."

"But Big Brother, what if the Hong Martial Arts Hall interferes?" another thug hesitated.

"Interfere? That brat probably stepped in dog shit to luck into their favor. Kill him tonight, and even if they retaliate, we’ll vanish for a while. You think the Hong Hall cares about one nobody?"

Chen Erdog’s voice dripped with contempt. As they crept closer, their steps grew lighter.

"Stay sharp. Don’t let him escape. This time, he dies!"

The trio split up—Chen Erdog at the door, his men at the windows.

With a forceful kick, Chen Erdog slammed the door open, nearly stumbling from overexertion.

The room stood empty.

"Where is he?!"

A scream erupted from the window.

"Trying to flee?" Chen Erdog smirked. His men had anticipated this.

But as he turned, a gleaming axe met his chest, piercing through flesh and bone.

"You… you dare?!"

Chen Erdog gaped at Su Chen, disbelief in his eyes.

Su Chen’s face twisted with ferocity. The suppressed rage from his reincarnation erupted in that moment of slaughter.

Another scream jolted him back—only one thug remained.

"He mustn’t escape!"

If this one fled, the Black Water Gang would hunt him relentlessly. He wasn’t ready to face them yet.

Yanking the axe free, Su Chen lunged. Blood splattered across his face as he hurled the weapon.

Thud!

The fleeing thug collapsed, axe buried in his back.

Breathing heavily, Su Chen surveyed the carnage. Sweat soaked his clothes, but the neighbors—evacuated earlier—hadn’t noticed the commotion.

He rifled through the corpses, collecting a meager half-tael of silver.

"Not even enough for one more Easy Mode session!"

He’d fallen in love with the system. How he craved its effortless power!

But the dead wouldn’t stay hidden forever. The Black Water Gang would retaliate.

Staring at the ruined room, a sinister glint sparked in Su Chen’s eyes.

Plans formed.

But for now, sleep came first.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end