Chapter 7: Trouble Arises!

"Damn, it really hurts like hell! I can't possibly die from this pain, can I?"

The young man mustered his strength: "No way! I'm a man, after all. Reborn in this world where the strong rule and the weak are like ants, if I can't even endure this pain, what kind of life would I have?"

Pain, endure it!

Suffering, swallow it!

I won't believe I can't get through this!

The pain lasted only about ten minutes. But for Chen Shen, it felt like he had endured several long centuries!

He lay on the floor of the tavern's guest room, drenched in sweat, weakly gasping for air.

"Beep! System notification: The host has absorbed the essence of the flower-carved white snake, greatly improving his constitution: the strength of his skin, flesh, bones, organs, and tendons has increased tenfold from their original levels!"

Hearing this pleasant notification, Chen Shen smiled with relief!

The pain, like being gnawed by ten thousand insects and pierced by ten thousand needles, was not in vain!

"Tenfold physical strength. Even if it doesn't make me invulnerable to steel and fire, at least I'll be much more resilient than before, right? Hehe... To learn how to fight, one must first learn how to take a beating. I guess I'm starting to get the hang of it." The young man thought happily.

Tenfold, tenfold!

Not only his strength and skin, but even the strength of his internal organs, which ordinary cultivation techniques couldn't enhance, had been strengthened tenfold.

For those at the Xuan realm and above, physical strength might not be highly valued.

But for those at the Xuan Disciple level, the enhancement provided by Xuan Qi is limited. Therefore, the stronger one's physical strength and constitution, the greater the advantage in battles of the same level, which is undeniable.

After resting for a while, once the pain had mostly subsided, Chen Shen paid for the room and returned home with high spirits.

Meanwhile, Miao Ling and Old Shun, who had returned home earlier, were now in big trouble…

At the entrance of the Chen family courtyard, a crowd of people had gathered, forming a circle as if watching a spectacle.

Inside the circle, Miao Ling's delicate body was bound with thick hemp ropes, and her mouth was stuffed with a piece of cloth torn from her skirt!

Old Shun's situation was no better. He was being forcefully held down by two men with large wooden clubs, kneeling on the ground, his face covered in dirt…

"Damn, beat this old thing to death on the spot!"

A young man in brocade clothing, with a sallow complexion, issued orders arrogantly.

His name was Xue Liao, a distant relative of the Xue family. In the Xue family, he was just a marginalized young master with no real power.

But compared to Chen Shen, a destitute outsider, he was much stronger.

In terms of age, he was half a year younger than Chen Shen, but in cultivation, Xue Liao had already reached the Fourth Rank Xuan Disciple. Relying on his connection to the Xue family, he had often bullied the former Chen Shen, who was honest and a bit slow-witted.

Not long ago, when he found out that Chen Shen hadn't come to school, he inquired around the neighborhood and learned that the little unfortunate had suddenly fallen ill in the middle of the night and died. His coffin had been carried out of the city in the morning.

Xue Liao was overjoyed!

When Chen Shen first arrived in Nine Dragon City, the old patriarch had given him a generous allowance, and he had immediately bought this spacious courtyard in the western part of the city. In the civilian area, it was definitely considered a mansion.

Xue Liao had long coveted this mansion.

He had also lusted after Chen Shen's young servant, Miao Ling, for a long time.

However, at that time, Chen Shen was a Third Rank Xuan Disciple. Although his cultivation was low, he was still a genuine cultivator.

According to the empire's laws, attacking a cultivator within the city without cause could result in imprisonment or even death.

Xue Liao, being just a distant young master of the Xue family, could bully the poor civilians in the civilian area, but he didn't have the courage to harm a cultivator and violate the empire's laws.

But now that Chen Shen was dead, Xue Liao could openly seize his property and take his servant!

Poor Miao Ling and Old Shun, being ordinary civilians with no cultivation, and having lost their master, would be considered to have died in vain if they were killed, and the laws of the Xia Kingdom would not pursue it…

Behind Xue Liao, a few young servants echoed their master: "Right! Break this old dog's legs! Teach him a lesson!"

"Who do you think you are? Your former master didn't dare to defy our young master, let alone you!"

"Exactly! Now that Chen Shen, that waste of space, is dead, our young master is being generous by offering one gold coin for your mansion. You old dog, you're just asking for trouble!"

…

Old Shun, hunched over on the ground, though beaten and bruised, still maintained his pride and integrity!

He struggled to lift his head and shouted angrily: "Nonsense! You think one gold coin can buy the Chen family's mansion? What's the difference between that and robbery? Besides, my young master isn't dead!"

"You old dog is the one talking nonsense! I've checked, and you just held a funeral an hour ago. Now you're saying Chen Shen isn't dead, just to try to seize your former master's inheritance, right?" One of Xue Liao's servants immediately shouted back.

"Every word I say is true! The young master will return soon, and the truth will be revealed!"

"Trying to buy time? Dream on, we don't have time to waste on you!"

"Scoundrels, you scoundrels! When has a cultivator's residence ever been seized like this? Xue Liao, do you have any respect for the law?" Old Shun made his final struggle.

"Law? Hahaha! You old dog, you dare to talk about the law with me? You don't deserve it!"

Xue Liao laughed maniacally: "Let me tell you, the weak have no right to mention the law!"

With that, he grabbed Miao Ling, who was bound and gagged, and said arrogantly: "Today, I'm not just going to kill and rob, but also take this little girl back to my mansion to play with her day and night. When I'm tired of her, I'll sell her to a brothel, where she'll be ridden by a thousand men. With her looks, she's worth at least a hundred gold coins, hahaha…"

"You! You beast!" Old Shun's eyes were bloodshot with rage!

"Damn, this old dog's mouth stinks. Beat out every tooth with a club, so he can't bark anymore!"

At Xue Liao's command, a servant immediately picked up a thick wooden club and swung it at Old Shun's face!

"No!" Miao Ling's tears streamed down her face!

She closed her eyes tightly!

She couldn't bear to watch…

She couldn't bear to see…

Just as the club was about to strike Old Shun's cheek, a large hand suddenly scooped him up from the ground!

At the last moment, Old Shun avoided the heavy blow.

The club smashed into the stone ground instead…