Chapter 628 - 127: Jia Nanzhu: The Teacher’s Powerlessness and Limited Means
Chapter 628: Chapter 127: Jia Nanzhu: The Teacher’s Powerlessness and Limited Means
A few days later.
Late night.
At the entrance of Linhu Village, several shadows quietly entered the village, without disturbing any villagers.
After entering the village, these figures headed straight towards a certain direction inside the village.
During this time, the young man responsible for night patrol in Linhu Village was completely unaware.
"These are the few families. I want them all dead, not a single survivor."
In the darkness, a woman’s voice echoed, filled with clenched teeth hatred, if it weren’t for Lin Chen that she, Huo Shu, the dignified young mistress of the Huo Family, would never have fallen so low to become Li Zhe’s plaything.
A few days ago, she accidentally learned from Li Zhe that Lin Chen was already dead, which sparked her desire for revenge.
Lin Chen was dead, but Lin Chen’s family was still alive.
She wanted to use Lin Chen’s family to mourn her own deceased relatives.
For the past two years, although she had no dignity in front of Li Zhe, relying on the silver coins accumulated during her time as the Huo Family’s young mistress and her own capability as an Opening the Acupoints martial artist, she managed to recruit a few Opening the Acupoints martial artists as her subordinates.
"Grandfather, Father, Mother, Younger Brother, today I will avenge you. It’s a pity I can’t kill Lin Chen personally, but I’ll make his family pay with their lives."
Huo Shu whispered silently in her heart, then commanded, "Take action!"
However, silence fell around.
Huo Shu froze and repeated, "Take action!"
Still, silence surrounded her, and just as a bad feeling rose in her heart, she felt a tightness in her neck, as if she was lifted up.
"Young girl, at such a young age, your desire to kill is too intense."
Huo Shu couldn’t speak, she just watched the changing night scenery around her, and when her breathing became smooth, she realized she was already by the lakeside of the village.
Under the moonlight, her three subordinates lay on the ground, their fate unknown, while an old man stood ahead of her.
"If you let me go, I am willing to offer ten thousand taels of silver."
Huo Shu immediately begged for mercy, not expecting a Martial Arts Powerhouse to be hidden in Linhu Village. The only reason for a Grade-Entering Martial Artist to reside here must be related to Lin Chen.
Nevertheless, she could only try her luck; ten thousand taels of silver was a significant enticement even for Ninth-Grade Martial Artists or Eighth-Grade Martial Artists.
"Explain your origin. Tell me everything if you want to avoid suffering."
Unfortunately, the old man remained unmoved, his calm tone carried an undeniable authority.
Huo Shu tried to bribe him further, but before she could speak, the old man pointed a finger, sending a surge of energy into her chest. Her expression turned grim, her entire body trembling before collapsing on the ground.
Now, her body felt as if it was being devoured by countless ants, the energy ravaged her meridians.
"I... I’ll talk."
Struggling to say a few words, the energy within her vanished, and Huo Shu was drenched in sweat, gasping for air.
"This is your last chance. Next time, the pain you feel will be multiple times what it is now."
The old man’s icy words sounded like a demon’s whisper in Huo Shu’s ears, prompting her to quickly respond, "I... I am a descendant of the Huo Family. My family was exterminated because of Lin Chen, and I came to seek revenge... If the elder spares me, I promise to never seek revenge again."
"Huo Family from Raozhou Prefecture?"
Jia Nanzhu showed a thoughtful expression. When he chose to teach Lin Chen the Martial Path, he investigated Lin Chen, knowing the Huo Family’s actions against Lin Chen, resulting in their downfall.
But the Huo Family brought this upon themselves, assassinating Martial Arts Academy disciples, especially a prodigy renowned on Martial Arts Mountain, was intolerable for the Imperial Court of Liang.
"Why choose to retaliate now?"
Jia Nanzhu stared at Huo Shu. If it were because Lin Chen wasn’t in Linhu Village, she didn’t have to wait until now; after Lin Chen went to Canglan Martial Arts Academy, his visits to the village were just a matter of days.
Remembering Su Lingchuan’s farewell to him the day before, moving from Poyang County to the battlefield, along with He Ruyun being relocated, and Lin Chen’s life or death being unknown, Jia Nanzhu couldn’t help but speculate further.
Upon hearing his question, lying on the ground, a hint of resentment flashed in Huo Shu’s eyes as she replied, "Because I heard Lin Chen is dead."
Indeed!
Jia Nanzhu’s pupils slightly contracted, "Where did you hear this news?"
The information about Lin Chen’s uncertain fate after entering the sealed Li Fire Path array was not publicly disclosed by the Imperial Court, and few were privy to it.
He knew because Lord Kong had sent him a message.
During the warfare between Liang and the Han Kingdom, news of Lin Chen’s uncertain fate could negatively affect Liang’s morale.
"I heard it from Li Zhe. He seemed to slip it unintentionally, but he deliberately disclosed it to me, knowing my hatred for Lin Chen, trying to instigate me to kill Lin Chen’s family."
Huo Shu realized that her survival was unlikely, and since she couldn’t live, she wanted to drag everyone she resented down with her.
She hated Lin Chen, but equally hated Li Zhe.
Since her family was exterminated, Li Zhe’s attitude towards her had completely changed, her status in the Li Family was even below that of a servant, not only having to fulfill Li Zhe’s beastly demands anytime but also enduring his beatings and scolding.
Recently, in the Li Family, Li Zhe had lost interest in her, rarely visiting her courtyard, which made her slightly relieved, yet a few days ago, Li Zhe suddenly came to her courtyard, his attitude somewhat gentle, mentioning Lin Chen’s death during their conversation.