Chapter 3

Lin Nianzi, with her thick waist and short legs, resembled a meaty stool. However, her legs possessed explosive power.

In one leap, she was already in front of Gao Zhengyang.

She had been dodged by Gao Zhengyang just now, so this time she used all her strength from the start.

She had practiced martial arts for many years and had received guidance from Gao Xiang. Although she was still far from being a first-rank martial artist, her strength was far superior to that of ordinary people.

She had been a butcher for many years, ruthless and cruel. A simple move like Black Tiger Descending the Mountain was performed with great vigor, truly displaying the might of a tiger.

Gao Zhengyang's eyes narrowed; this was the situation he least wanted to see.

However, the woman opposite him was temperamental and domineering. If Gao Zhengyang wanted to break free from her control, conflict was inevitable.

Having lived two lives, Gao Zhengyang was not just a fist fighter. However, the titanium alloy would soon undergo deep fusion, and he did not have much time to make plans.

Gao Zhengyang had wanted to have a good talk with Lin He. Unfortunately, his uncle paid no attention to him. Seeing his wife attack, he showed no intention of stopping her.

At this point, only by displaying sufficient strength would he have the qualifications to negotiate.

In fact, Gao Zhengyang was most skilled and enjoyed combat the most.

Lin Nianzi's initiative to attack also excited Gao Zhengyang. The change in his divine will was reflected in his eyes.

As Lin Nianzi pounced, she saw a flash of sharp light in Gao Zhengyang's eyes. That light was like a sharp blade, making her heart involuntarily tighten.

Her originally powerful attack, due to the subtle change in her mind, instinctively adjusted, losing the ferocity and might it had before.

For Lin Nianzi, she was accustomed to brutal and direct combat. She did not have a clear understanding of such subtle changes.

She only felt that Gao Zhengyang was somewhat strange and should not be taken lightly.

What surprised Lin Nianzi even more was that Gao Zhengyang, who usually had nimble and quick footwork, did not dodge this time but charged towards her.

The series of unexpected events made Lin Nianzi somewhat disoriented. She was not an expert, and this disorientation manifested as stiffness in her body and deformed movements.

When Gao Zhengyang rushed to Lin Nianzi, he suddenly curled his body and rolled half a circle, ending up behind her.

In combat, such a mid-air roll was purely a show. Gao Zhengyang's series of movements were light, swift, and smooth, making the show pleasing to the eye.

Lin Nianzi, being tricked by a fool, was so angry that the fat on her face trembled. She swung a punch back in anger, but unfortunately, hit nothing.

When Lin Nianzi turned around, she saw Gao Zhengyang standing steadily with his hands behind his back, his withered yellow face full of a hateful smile.

Lin Nianzi became even angrier. She reached back to draw her knife, but her hand found nothing, and her heart sank.

"Are you looking for this...?" Gao Zhengyang took out his right hand from behind his back, holding her butcher's knife.

Lin Nianzi stared at the butcher's knife, not knowing when Gao Zhengyang had stolen it.

The father and son beside her were also stunned, never imagining that the supposedly mentally challenged Gao Zhengyang had such skills.

"Brat, give me back my knife!" This knife had been with her for over ten years and was second only to her son in her heart. Realizing this, Lin Nianzi roared and lunged forward to grab the knife.

But as soon as she took a step, she felt her waistband loosen and quickly grabbed her pants to prevent them from falling.

She looked down and saw that the hemp rope holding her pants had broken. When she had tucked the knife into her waist, Gao Zhengyang must have cut the rope.

The Tie Lin tribe was extremely poor, and having pants was already a luxury; no one wore underwear. If the pants fell, she would be naked.

Although Lin Nianzi was fierce, she was still a woman. Thinking of almost being embarrassed, her face turned purple with anger.

But holding her pants with both hands, she lost all her momentum and looked even more awkward.

Gao Zhengyang chuckled, "Right, let's talk things out calmly, don't always be so violent."

Lin He, who had a rather gloomy personality, also changed his expression. Gao Zhengyang had not only regained his senses but had also become difficult and cunning.

"Zhengyang, you're not a child anymore. Treating your aunt this way is disrespectful, and in the worst case, it's filial impiety. If you're really handed over to the sacrificial hall, you'll be beaten to death."

Lin He, speaking first, took the moral high ground, labeling Gao Zhengyang as disrespectful and filial. He lacked his wife's strength but was much more cunning.

The sacrificial hall was where the human race worshipped their ancestors and deities. Wherever there were humans, there was a sacrificial hall.

For the human race, the sacrificial hall was the most sacred place, representing order, etiquette, culture, and education.

If Gao Zhengyang were an ordinary child, he might have been scared by Lin He's words.

But Gao Zhengyang had experienced too many verbal battles in his previous life and was not afraid of this.

"Going to the sacrificial hall is fine. My father's armor and other properties are registered there. I'm already fifteen, and according to the rules, I should inherit the family estate."

Lin He sneered. He knew people in the sacrificial hall. If Gao Zhengyang really wanted to split the family, he wouldn't get any advantage.

Gao Zhengyang, seeing Lin He's expression, guessed his intentions. Any rule, when implemented, would change. This was human nature, the same in any world.

Gao Zhengyang had anticipated this. He said calmly, "If I can't get my father's things, I'll donate them to the sacrificial hall. I'm sure the high priest will be very happy."

Lin He's face changed drastically, and he quickly said, "Zhengyang, don't be impulsive. These are all your father's things."

Gao Zhengyang's father's armor and weapons were of very high quality, extremely rare in the Tie Lin tribe.

If donated to the sacrificial hall, the high priest would not be polite. Lin He's connections would be useless.

Seeing Gao Zhengyang's determined expression, Lin He hesitated and said, "Everything can be negotiated."

"My demands are simple: give me the saber, and the black pig is mine. From then on, I have no ties with your Lin family."

Gao Zhengyang formally stated his demands again.

Before Lin He could speak, Lin Nianzi was already angry. She said firmly, "The black pig is ours. Don't even think about it."

Lin Ye also glared at Gao Zhengyang, furious that he dared to ask for their black pig, which was their winter delicacy.

He thought for a moment and said excitedly, "How about leaving the saber and giving you the black pig?"

The full iron helmet and longbow left by Gao Xiang were worth more than a hundred pigs. This family was still not satisfied!

Gao Zhengyang frowned slightly. The greed of the other party was making him lose patience.

But he was still too young and known as a fool. If they really had a falling out, the Lin family would lose, but he would also not benefit.

After some thought, Gao Zhengyang said, "If you give me the black pig, I can help Lin Ye join the Iron Blood Army."

The warriors of the Tie Lin tribe had excellent benefits, and joining the army could avoid many troubles.

Moreover, a major battle with the Wolf Clan was imminent. No one in the tribe could stay out of it. Joining early would allow him to get a head start and prepare.

Since he had to join anyway, he might as well use this condition to get a pig.

"That's what you owe us!" Lin Nianzi said confidently.

Gao Zhengyang, though patient, was greatly annoyed by the woman's unreasonable behavior. He looked at Lin He and said, "This is my condition. If you don't agree, Uncle, it's fine."

Gao Zhengyang turned to leave, not just for show. Continuing to argue would waste too much time. It was better to part ways cleanly.

Seeing Gao Zhengyang's determination, Lin He became anxious and shouted, "Alright, it's settled."

Gao Zhengyang stopped and turned, "Uncle, words are not enough. We should go to the sacrificial hall for a witness."

Lin Nianzi was unhappy, "Do you think we would cheat a little brat?"

Lin He held Lin Nianzi's hand to stop her from continuing. Going to the sacrificial hall for a witness was better to avoid future problems and leave no room for others to talk.

Leaving the Lin family's courtyard, Gao Zhengyang seriously observed the entire tribe for the first time.

The Tie Lin tribe was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with steep cliffs serving as the best barrier.

The only exit was guarded by a high and thick stone wall, with people patrolling day and night.

The vast valley was like a natural city, with a large blue pond at the center.

From a high vantage point, one could see that the buildings were arranged in concentric circles around the pond.

The closer to the pond, the more solid and grand the buildings. The grandest was the sacrificial hall, dedicated to the ancestors and deities.

On the outer slopes, terraced fields had been developed, and many families lived there, including the Lin family.

To Gao Zhengyang, most of the buildings were made of wood and yellow mud, looking dilapidated and low, not much different from grass huts.

Even the grandest sacrificial hall was built of green stone, with a roof of black stone tiles, cleaner and more orderly than the other grass huts.

This showed the importance of the sacrificial hall to the village.

Lin Ye, with a sullen face, drove the black pig with a wooden stick. His mother, Lin Nianzi, held a long black-sheathed saber.

Lin He and Lin Nianzi walked side by side, whispering to each other from time to time.

Gao Zhengyang followed the family, maintaining a certain distance.

People they met on the way mostly greeted Lin He and Lin Nianzi.

The livestock was one thing, but butchering demons required special skills.

Lin Nianzi's skinning and bone-removal skills were well-known in the Tie Lin tribe.

Lin He, responsible for teaching children to read and count, also had some status in the tribe.

Of course, no one would pay attention to a fool. Gao Zhengyang was completely ignored.

Gao Zhengyang observed everything, finding it all very interesting.

Although he had inherited the original memories of this body, his experience and wisdom made his perspective on everything different from that of a mentally challenged youth.

Most people here were thin and dressed simply, with crude speech and a look of distress on their faces. A few had a strong aura of hostility. They stared at the black pig with the greedy and fierce eyes of hungry wolves.

Being besieged by the Wolf Clan made everyone feel oppressed. The shortage of food made the entire tribe restless.

Gao Zhengyang estimated that if the Tie Lin tribe did not quickly launch a counterattack against the Wolf Clan, internal strife was likely to occur.

His gaze wandered, and he thought, "This place is too isolated. If the city walls are breached, there's nowhere to run."

He had no affection for the Tie Lin tribe, and even the original memories in his body did not like it here.

His uncle's family was mean and vicious, and his father was gone. The Tie Lin tribe had nothing worth missing.

Thinking of this, Gao Zhengyang suddenly thought of Yue Qingsnow, feeling a deep sense of reluctance.

"You're quite sentimental!" Gao Zhengyang found it amusing. This emotion was clearly left by the original fool.

Gao Zhengyang had integrated all the fool's memories and accepted all his emotions. In some ways, he was no different from the fool.

For Yue Qingsnow, Gao Zhengyang had a particularly deep impression. After all, she was the first person he saw after his rebirth and the one who treated him the best.

As he was thinking, he saw Yue Qingsnow.