Chapter 7

"Us poor folks can never afford to buy a horse. By stealing a horse from a powerful family, you not only endanger yourself but also put the entire village at risk. The village chief, considering your youth and ignorance, only wanted you to return the horse, break your hands as a minor punishment, and then lead you to apologize at their door. He hoped they would forgive you for your mistake and spare your life.

But you, not only did you fail to appreciate the chief’s kindness, but you also dared to insult him. Do you want to put the entire village at risk of death?"

From behind Yang Dexian, a middle-aged man in a blue robe stepped forward and shouted loudly. Shi Feng recognized him; he was one of the few literate people in Xiuling Village.

If what he said were true, if Shi Feng were still the old Shi Feng and had accidentally obtained a horse, he would have lost his hands. Losing his hands would mean losing his ability to live. His mother was bedridden with a serious illness, and his younger sister was still a child. The consequences were unimaginable. He and his family might starve to death because of these people's baseless speculations.

Thinking of this, Shi Feng's face grew increasingly grim. With a "bang," the low fence was knocked down by six burly men, who then rushed into the courtyard and continued toward him.

"Six idiots!" Shi Feng did not retreat but stepped forward.

"Our Xiuling Village has always been known for its simple and honest people. We have never had a thief like Shi Feng. This must be punished severely. Beat him half to death first," Yang Dexian coldly shouted from behind. In his eyes, Shi Feng was already half-dead. No one in the village had ever dared to defy him like this. If he didn’t beat Shi Feng half to death, he couldn’t vent his anger.

"Ahh!" The cries of pain sounded soothing to Yang Dexian’s ears, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled up with the cries.

Suddenly, Yang Dexian realized something was wrong.

"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!" The cries of pain continued, and Yang Dexian saw six burly figures flying backward toward him.

"Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!" Six dull thuds, like sandbags hitting the ground, and Yang Dexian saw the six burly men who had rushed over now lying at his feet.

"Ahh! My hand, my hand is broken!"

"Ahh! My hand is broken too!"

...

The six men lay on the ground, moaning in pain, their cries blending into a continuous wail.

But Shi Feng, standing before them, was completely unharmed, showing no signs of a fight. He was now walking step by step toward them.

"How... how can this be..." The result was far beyond Yang Dexian’s expectations. He was stunned, unable to react.

"Ahh! No!" Yang Dexian suddenly came to his senses, realizing Shi Feng was getting closer. In just a few more steps, he would be right in front of him.

Looking at the young, handsome face, it was Shi Feng’s turn to smirk, his expression full of amusement.

Yang Dexian, terrified, stepped back and shouted at the people behind him, "Quick, grab him! If you don’t catch him and apologize, it will doom our entire village!"

The villagers behind Yang Dexian were also stunned by what had just happened. These were six burly men who worked the fields every day, and they had been taken down by Shi Feng in just a few breaths. Who would dare to step forward now? Even if all twenty of them rushed together, they might not fare any better. Even if they could win, who would be the first to step forward?

And Shi Feng was ruthless, breaking the hands of those who dared to attack him. They were the main breadwinners of their families. Without hands, how would they farm? How would they tend to their fields? How would they take care of their families?

Seeing no one step forward, Yang Dexian roared at them, "What? You’re not listening to me now? Do you still consider me the village chief?"

Yang Dexian’s words were cut short as he suddenly felt a tight grip on his throat. He turned his head in horror and saw a strong hand choking him, and following the arm, he saw the young, mocking face of Shi Feng.

"You... let me go... I am the village chief of Xiuling Village, you cannot be disrespectful to me!" Yang Dexian shouted at Shi Feng.

"Ha, is that so?" Shi Feng grinned, lifting his right hand and hoisting Yang Dexian off the ground.

"Ahh! Ugh! Ugh!" Yang Dexian’s face turned red, looking extremely pained and uncomfortable. His feet kicked wildly in the air, and his hands tightly gripped Shi Feng’s wrist, trying to pry Shi Feng’s hand off his neck. But Shi Feng’s hand was like a large iron clamp, and the more he struggled, the tighter it squeezed.

"Ugh! Ugh!" Yang Dexian’s mouth emitted continuous groans of pain and discomfort, as if he were about to suffocate.

Although Yang Dexian looked pitiful, Shi Feng had no sympathy for the old man. He stared coldly at Yang Dexian and said, "When you planned to break my hands and beat me half to death, you should have been prepared to face the same."

With that, Shi Feng swung his right hand down, slamming Yang Dexian to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

"Cough... cough... cough..." Yang Dexian lay on the ground, dirty and disheveled, coughing violently. He thought the nightmare was over, but as he tried to get up, a sudden pain struck his back, as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer. "Ahh! Ugh!" Yang Dexian let out a piercing scream, a mouthful of fresh blood spewing out uncontrollably, and he fell back to the ground.

Shi Feng stepped on Yang Dexian’s back and said with a cold laugh, "I haven’t beaten you half to death yet, and I haven’t broken your hands. Do you think this is over?"

"Hisss!"

"Hisss!"

A series of gasps echoed from the front. The twenty or so uninjured villagers looked at each other, all feeling relieved that they hadn’t rushed forward impulsively.

No one would have thought that this seemingly weak and quiet young man from the Shi family, who usually kept to himself, would be so fierce and ruthless.

"Crack!" A sharp sound echoed in the silent night, and everyone’s hearts skipped a beat. "Ahh!" Then, Yang Dexian’s pig-like screams echoed again.

Just then, everyone saw Shi Feng lift his foot and step on Yang Dexian’s right arm. The sharp sound was the sound of Yang Dexian’s bone breaking.

The night wind blew, and people felt a chill run down their spines, their hair standing on end.

"Crack!"

"Ahh!"

The same sound echoed again in the night, and many people covered their ears, unable to bear to listen any longer.