Chapter 49: The Miser
No sooner had the words been spoken than Chen Shouyi, still seated in the pavilion, moved like the wind. Before the young man could react, Chen Shouyi's left foot lashed out like a spring, landing a heavy kick squarely on his stomach. The force sent him flying through the air for two to three meters before he crumpled to the ground.
He rolled several times, his face ashen, his body curled up like a lobster. Beads of cold sweat dotted his forehead from the pain, as though his intestines had been kicked to shreds.
There were differences even among Martial Artist Apprentices. Some, like Chen Xingyue, were fresh and green, having just passed their evaluations. Others, like Wang Ruyue, were seasoned veterans on the verge of becoming full-fledged Martial Artists.
But now, even Wang Ruyue would likely fare no better than this young man if she faced Chen Shouyi, whose body had undergone yet another round of strengthening. His reflexes and speed alone were enough to overwhelm.
The girl in the distance, who had initially intended to rush over and dissuade her boyfriend from fighting, froze in shock at the sight, her hands flying to cover her mouth.
Chen Shouyi glanced at her, then strode coldly toward the young man. He grabbed him by the hair and lightly patted his cheek.
Humiliated, the young man’s veins bulged in his neck as he glared furiously. "You mother—!"
"Martial Artist Apprentice? Hmph. Come talk to me about ‘giving you face’ after you’ve actually become a Martial Artist. Maybe then I’ll consider it."
The young man’s pupils constricted sharply. He had been about to spit out a few threats to salvage his pride, but those words now stuck in his throat, unspoken.
Chen Shouyi released him and walked away. As he passed the girl, he turned his head slightly and said coldly, "This spot’s all yours now."
The girl stood frozen, her face deathly pale. Only after he had walked more than ten meters away did she snap out of her daze and rush to her boyfriend’s side.
---
Walking along the mountain path, the stone steps beneath his feet, Chen Shouyi gazed at the lush trees on either side. The agitation in his heart gradually settled.
Reflecting on his actions just now, he realized that after the two recent bouts of killing, his inner ferocity seemed to have grown more pronounced. For a brief moment earlier, he had even felt a flicker of murderous intent.
Fortunately, at the last second, he had held back some of his strength and redirected his kick from the chest to the stomach. Otherwise, with the sheer brutality of his current power, even a Martial Artist Apprentice might have been killed on the spot.
He inwardly reminded himself—he could never let his temper flare like this again. If possible, he should avoid fighting altogether. If he accidentally took a life and was discovered, he’d have no choice but to become a fugitive.
---
Day Four of the blackout.
After dinner, the candle on the desk burned quietly, occasionally flickering and spitting out tiny sparks. He pressed the power button on his phone, but no startup screen appeared—the last remnants of its battery had finally drained away.
The only good news on the streets today was that the gridlocked traffic had finally been cleared by the afternoon.
The process had been chaotic. In Dongning City, countless stalled vehicles had been mercilessly crushed into scrap metal by steamrollers. The enraged crowds had nearly erupted into riots.
It wasn’t until a large contingent of Military Police was deployed that the situation was finally brought under control.
However, this also stirred unrest in many people's hearts. Not far from his home, in a nearby residential area, a young couple was brutally murdered by masked intruders in the evening. It wasn’t until blood seeped out under their door that the crime was discovered.
...
At that moment, a knock came from the door.
"Brother, brother, open up! I need to talk to you."
Chen Shouyi swiftly tucked Shell Woman, who had been idly playing with two glass beads, into his briefcase and zipped it shut.
Only after finishing did he go to open the door. "What is it?"
"Why so slow? What were you doing? Don’t tell me you were doing something disgusting?" Chen Xingyue eyed him suspiciously, glancing around as if searching for evidence—she had clearly heard the sound of a zipper.
"Don’t project your filthy thoughts onto me. Spit it out if you have something to say," Chen Shouyi said impatiently.
Unable to find any incriminating evidence, Chen Xingyue finally got to the point:
"Old Man Wang and his wife just came by."
"Old Man Wang?"
"Wang Debiao, the eldest son of Old Man Wang," she quickly clarified.
"What did they want? Didn’t they just finish the funeral?" Chen Shouyi asked, puzzled.
"It’s not over yet. They were supposed to go for cremation this evening after the roads were cleared, but the highway is still blocked, so they had to turn back. And yesterday, Old Man Wang’s corpse caused trouble again. Luckily, the police spotted it and fired a few shots before they carried it back," Chen Xingyue said cautiously.
"That family really has the worst luck. But what does this have to do with you? You’re not even related. What are you getting at?" Chen Shouyi was completely lost.
Chen Xingyue quickly found herself at a disadvantage under her brother’s sharp tone. After being away for a while, she wasn’t used to how much more assertive he had become.
"Well, since I’m a Martial Artist Apprentice, everyone around here knows about it. So they want me to go and suppress the evil aura. Mom and Dad told me to decide for myself."
"Why bother? Our parents are just too polite to refuse outright—they’ve been neighbors for decades. But you? What face do you need to save?"
"Yeah, that’s what I thought too!" Faced with her brother’s blunt criticism, Chen Xingyue forced a dry laugh, hesitating before continuing.
His mind sharp, Chen Shouyi read her expression instantly. "You agreed, didn’t you? How much are they paying you?"
"I mainly just want to toughen myself up."
She still tried to downplay it.
"How much?"
"Five thousand!" Chen Xingyue laughed awkwardly.
Oh, my dear sister, who knew you were such a money-grubber? Sold for just five thousand.
Chen Shouyi gloated, "Well, since you agreed, go ahead. Old Man Wang got shot a few times last night—he probably won’t be causing any more trouble today!"
After observing the situation the previous night, he knew that while "Old Man Wang" looked terrifying, he wasn’t actually dangerous. His slow movements couldn’t even catch up to a three- or four-year-old child.
"You don’t expect me to go with you, do you?"
Chen Xingyue immediately nodded vigorously.
"Dream on." Chen Shouyi crushed her hopes. "I’d rather sleep than waste my time on this."
"A thousand—I’ll give you a thousand!"
"You're really generous, taking four thousand for yourself and leaving just one thousand for your brother," Chen Shouyi said, giving Chen Xingyue a sidelong glance.
"Two thousand!"
He sneered, unmoved.
"Fine, three thousand at most, and you take the lion's share, okay?" Chen Xingyue huffed angrily.
"Deal! You said it yourself!" Chen Shouyi immediately agreed.
Though the money meant little to him now, he couldn't shake his unease about letting his sister go alone. Besides, he was curious to see up close what kind of abilities this supernatural entity possessed.
"When are we going?" Chen Shouyi asked.
"Right now!" Chen Xingyue snapped resentfully.
She was reluctant, but having already spoken, she couldn't take it back. Still, she secretly sighed in relief—she truly didn’t dare go alone.
"Then wait for me a moment. I need to change clothes."
After Chen Xingyue left, Chen Shouyi immediately closed the door.
He put on an extra jacket.
Who knew if this eerie thing carried corpse poison like the legendary zombies?
If he accidentally got scratched, the fabric would at least provide some protection.
Of course, with his reflexes, the chance of being hit was slim, but it never hurt to be cautious.
Next, he dug out an old down jacket he no longer wore and spread it under the bed.
Then, he took Shell Woman out of his briefcase.
After a brief negotiation, Chen Shouyi paid the price of one mung bean-sized glass bead in exchange for Shell Woman's freedom for the night.
Delighted, she clutched the glass bead as Chen Shouyi tied her up with a thin rope, sealed her mouth with tape, and tucked her onto the down jacket beneath the bed.
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