Chapter 6

Over the years, the green ox had seen countless so-called geniuses, each with extraordinary talents and divine luck, but few of them ultimately achieved anything significant. Instead, it was the many originally obscure and mediocre individuals who rose to fame and reached the pinnacle of cultivation.

These past years, it had deliberately observed with a cold eye, allowing Li Qingshan to endure hardships and trials, only intervening at critical moments, much like a master craftsman slowly refining his material to forge a world-class weapon.

Ordinary people cared about innate talent and opportunities, but what the ox valued was a person's willpower. If you were a person of strong will, even if I bestowed you with the greatest opportunity, could you bear the responsibility?

Thus, with one willing to teach and the other willing to learn, progress was swift. In less than an hour, Li Qingshan had a general understanding of the *Ox Demon Great Strength Fist*, grasping its essence.

The *Ox Demon Great Strength Fist* was a boxing technique, but it emphasized the strengthening of tendons, bones, and flesh, with the boxing techniques being secondary. There were only three moves: *Ox Demon Horn Thrust*, *Ox Demon Hoof Stomp*, and *Ox Demon Skin Movement*. These were the most basic techniques in boxing, yet they could evolve into countless variations.

Of course, understanding was one thing, and practice was another. To achieve something, it required time and effort. The two most fundamental elements for practicing this technique, which Li Qingshan had already seen, were alcohol and meat.

No divine technique could create something out of nothing, making a person immensely strong or powerful without a process of absorption and transformation. Gathering the essence of the sun and moon, absorbing the earth's spiritual energy, and reaching a high level of cultivation, one could live on the wind and dew, abstaining from food. This meant using the earth's spiritual energy to replace ordinary food.

Li Qingshan was just a mortal, incapable of communicating with the earth's spiritual energy or finding elixirs and medicinal herbs. He could only rely on these common items to continuously replenish and refine his essence.

Even after eating meat for a few days, Li Qingshan's body was still not strong enough. He勉强 performed the three moves, sweating profusely and panting heavily, his stomach rumbling.

By noon, he was as hungry as if he hadn't eaten for three days, devouring the remaining wild boar meat in one go, his appetite even greater than the first time he ate meat.

He couldn't lie down to rest at noon but had to sit in meditation to recover his energy, feeling the non-existent qi. Once his body was mostly recovered, he practiced the boxing technique again, repeating this cycle several times until evening, when Li Qingshan was utterly exhausted, unable to move even a finger.

Three figures sneaked up to Li Qingshan's hut. Hearing the commotion, Li Qingshan stepped out of his room and saw the three ruffians who often followed Liu Laizi around. They must have come to avenge their leader, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. He was exhausted and couldn't possibly fight them, and even on a normal day, he couldn't match three people.

However, to his surprise, the three ruffians, upon seeing him, bowed their heads like rats seeing a cat, pleading, "Spare our lives."

Li Qingshan was taken aback and asked, "Why are you here?"

He didn't know that the three ruffians, upon seeing Liu Laizi's dead body, were terrified, fearing that Li Qingshan would not rest until he avenged Liu Laizi. They had come to explain that they were coerced and that all the blame lay with Liu Laizi and the Liu manager behind him.

Li Qingshan said, "No need to explain, I know everything." That night, he had heard everything clearly but couldn't admit that he was the one who killed Liu Laizi.

The three ruffians trembled, remembering that the fierce deity had been outside the window that night, feeling even more terrified.

Li Qingshan vaguely understood why these three were so afraid. He remembered that in his previous life, his small city had been plagued by a murderer, and rumors spread like wildfire, scaring people from going out at night. He had taken on the aura of a killer.

Evildoers also had levels. The three ruffians were just petty thieves, and facing someone like him, a "great evil," they could only submit. He maintained a calm expression but felt a sense of strangeness. He hadn't yet mastered any divine techniques, but his status in the village had changed dramatically due to a shift in his mindset.

These changes were all caused by the green ox, perhaps turning the mundane into the miraculous!

Li Qingshan ignored them and practiced the *Ox Demon Great Strength Fist* again, this time with the three ruffians present, practicing with extra care. He knew he was just putting on a show, and if his bluff was called, the consequences would be dire.

The three ruffians watched cautiously. They had never heard that Li Qingshan knew any boxing techniques. In the dim light, his movements were strong and powerful, clearly not a bluff. They couldn't help but recall what the shaman had said, wondering if Li Qingshan was really possessed by a demon.

As the sky grew darker, they were terrified, wanting to leave but unable to speak, fearing that Li Qingshan would suddenly reveal his true form and devour them.

After finishing his practice, Li Qingshan ordered, "Follow me." He walked out of the door, and the three ruffians exchanged glances, following behind.

At this time, many villagers were eating in front of their houses. Those familiar with Li Qingshan cautiously greeted him, while those who weren't familiar quickly retreated inside. Even though they had protected Li Qingshan out of a sense of justice during the day, they all felt a sense of fear facing a killer.

The three ruffians, who usually followed Liu Laizi around, had some face in the village due to Liu Laizi's ferocity. They were usually despised, but now they felt a sense of pride, thinking that following Li Qingshan would be more impressive.

Some elders sighed, thinking that although Liu Laizi was a menace, at least he hadn't killed anyone, and they weren't as afraid of him as they were of Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan walked down the familiar path with a sense of novelty, recognizing that he was no longer the same Li Qingshan. He stopped in front of a hut, thinking of his recent struggles, feeling a mix of emotions.

Inside, Li Da and his wife were trembling, holding a pole and a kitchen knife, respectively. They were as afraid as the ruffians. However, unlike the ruffians, they held the money from selling the land, and if they submitted to Li Qingshan, they would lose it.

So, they didn't go to work that day, spending the whole day discussing what to do. Finally, Li Da decided, "He's just one person; we shouldn't be afraid of him. If he dares to come, I'll get rid of this trouble for the Li family." But before he could finish his tough talk, he saw Li Qingshan with three people, and they quickly hid inside.

Li Qingshan said, "Bring them out."

The three ruffians, intimidated by his presence, dared not disobey. They were experienced in bullying ordinary people and barged into the house. Li Da and his wife immediately surrendered, trembling and pale.

"Second brother, second brother, what are you doing?" Li Da forced a smile, more painful than crying.

Li Qingshan said, "I'm not here for you." He turned to Li Da's wife, "You can insult me, but you dared to insult my parents. I won't let you off today."

Li Da's wife, intimidated, lost her usual arrogance, "Little Second, I was just talking nonsense. I've taken care of you for over ten years; we're family."

Li Qingshan sneered, "Family? I won't bring it up, but if we talk about it, there's a lot to settle. What about those insults yesterday?"

A thin, monkey-like ruffian, flattery in his voice, said, "No need for you to do it, Brother. I know the rules." He rolled up his sleeves and was about to hit Li Da's wife.

Li Qingshan grabbed the ruffian's hand. In the temple yesterday, he had wanted to do this, but seeing their trembling today, he felt a bit of pity, remembering that they were still his brother and sister-in-law. He couldn't let them be humiliated by such a ruffian.

But what needed to be done must be done. He had a sudden idea and said to Li Da, "Didn't she insult your parents? Don't you know how to discipline her?"

Li Da realized, "Yes, yes, yes!" He used all his strength to slap Li Da's wife, her face swelling immediately.

Li Qingshan felt a sense of satisfaction, wondering if Li Da was taking the opportunity to settle old scores. Regardless, his anger was mostly gone. He asked, "Since we're family, where is the money from selling the land?"

Li Da's wife's face, already swollen, turned pale, and Li Da remained silent. The money was their lifeblood, and Li Qingshan was cutting into their flesh. They would rather be beaten than give it up.

Li Da's wife suddenly became hysterical, "Kill me, kill your own sister-in-law, and see if the authorities come for you. I don't know about any money; go ask Liu Manager if you want it!"

Li Qingshan sternly said, "Do you really think I won't?" This was no longer just a show. The killing intent from the night he killed Liu Laizi seemed to return, and the bloodstained, wide-eyed youth in the stream's reflection had become one with him.

The three ruffians felt a chill and took a step back, staring at Li Qingshan in fear.

Li Da and his wife were even more terrified, never having seen such a terrifying person. They couldn't imagine that the person in front of them was the same Li Qingshan they had known for over ten years.

In the end, a bag of silver was handed to Li Qingshan. He weighed it, looked at the pale faces of Li Da and his wife, and sighed. Just for this silver, they had pushed their own brother to such an extent. He turned and left, and the three ruffians quickly followed.

Li Da and his wife were about to cry when the silver bag slid in a curve and landed in front of them with a "thud."

Li Qingshan's voice came from a distance, "You treated me like a servant, belittling and humiliating me, but it's because of you that I survived this long. From now on, we are even, and there will be no more ties."

Li Da and his wife, about to embrace and cry, were left speechless.