3: Chapter 3: Zhao Zilong's house was surrounded by Cao Yun and his men!

The power of Zhao Zilong's kick left the remaining three thugs stunned on the spot, and the arrogance on Qian Kun's face froze as well, his squinted small eyes filled with disbelief.

"What are you staring for? All of you, go at once! He's just one person, kill him!" Qian Kun snapped back to his senses and barked urgently.

He didn't believe that a useless coward he had controlled for years could suddenly turn the tables.

The three subordinates glanced at each other, rolled up their sleeves, and closed in from three directions.

They were all tough characters accustomed to the streets; they were always the ones beating people up, so when was it ever someone else's turn to hit them?

Especially not a useless coward like Zhao Zilong.

If word got out, they would lose face completely.

Inside the woodshed, watching Zhao Zilong being surrounded by Qian Kun's men through a crack in the door, Jin Rong's eyes were filled with coldness.

"Zhao Zilong, you've provoked Qian Kun. You're dead."

Zhao Xiaotian was worried about Zhao Zilong, his small body trembling with tension, his face pale.

Watching Qian Kun's three subordinates close in, Zhao Zilong didn't feel nervous; instead, he felt a surge of excitement.

"Just the right time to test the Shaolin Staff Technique I learned in the dream."

Thinking this, Zhao Zilong took the broken staff from Zhao Xiaotian's hand, pulled the boy behind him, and said in a deep voice, "Stand still and don't move."

Just as he finished speaking, the fist of the thug on the left came crashing down toward his head, accompanied by a gust of wind; it had to be said that Qian Kun's men had some ruthlessness in them.

However, in Zhao Zilong's eyes, the opponent's movements were now very slow.

While tilting his head to dodge, Zhao Zilong didn't overthink; acting on pure instinct, he thrust the broken staff into the opponent's armpit.

The force was immense; with just one strike, the man screamed in agony, unable to lift his arm at all.

Zhao Zilong didn't care much; he raised the broken staff and slammed it down hard on the man's head.

Bang!

The full force of the broken staff landed on the man's head; instantly, his head was split open and bleeding. Feeling dizzy, he collapsed.

This series of movements was as smooth as flowing water, completely defying everyone's expectations.

Zhao Xiaotian's eyes widened, his small face filled with shock and admiration.

"When did Father become so powerful?"

"Go! Get him!"

Although Qian Kun was shocked by how Zhao Zilong had suddenly become somewhat powerful, he wasn't willing to let Zhao Zilong go just like that. How could a useless coward turn the world upside down?

He barked an order, and his last two subordinates attacked.

They swung their fists and smashed them toward Zhao Zilong.

Seeing this, Zhao Zilong narrowed his eyes at the two of them.

The monk's staff techniques from the mural instinctively flashed through his mind. Before the fists of Qian Kun's two subordinates could reach him, Zhao Zilong thrust the broken staff forward violently, and a scream immediately rang out.

The person in the lead was struck hard in the chest by Zhao Zilong's staff. He felt his sternum break, and the sheer force sent him flying backward.

Clang!

Instead of retreating, Zhao Zilong advanced. Closing the distance, he dodged the last subordinate's fist while raising the broken staff and slamming it heavily onto the man's head.

The man's scream rang out alongside the crack of the staff breaking once more.

The man fell to the ground, clutching his head and screaming in pain.

In just a short while, the four subordinates—who were fierce and skilled enough under his command—had been dealt with by Zhao Zilong, each more pitiful than the last. Qian Kun couldn't believe his eyes.

He panicked. Seeing Zhao Zilong walking toward him, Qian Kun kept backing away.

As a result, after only a few steps, he tripped and fell onto his buttocks.

Zhao Zilong, holding the broken staff that was now less than ten inches long, walked up to Qian Kun.

"Zhao Lao Si, what are you doing? It's only natural to pay back what you owe. There's nothing wrong with me coming to ask for my money, right?"

Qian Kun was very flustered now. For some reason, he could feel a cold and sharp aura emanating from Zhao Zilong.

To put it more clearly, he felt that Zhao Zilong actually dared to kill.

"You're right, it's only natural to pay back what you owe, but the time isn't up yet; you shouldn't have come. And you certainly shouldn't have let your men attack me and my son. Qian Kun, even among thieves there is honor; what you've done is quite dishonorable."

Zhao Zilong pressed one end of the broken staff against Qian Kun's throat.

The jagged, splintered end pricked Qian Kun's throat, causing a sharp pain.

Qian Kun panicked even more.

Qian Kun couldn't help but swallow hard and asked, "Zhao Zilong, what do you want to do?"

"Qian Kun, it's true I owe you silver, but you came for it before the deadline and even tried to hurt us. That's your mistake. Don't you think you should give me some compensation?"

Zhao Zilong stared intently at Qian Kun.

Qian Kun suddenly became much more alert. "You want to extort me?"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

With a stern face, Zhao Zilong thrust the broken staff forward. Instantly, the sharp point pierced the skin of Qian Kun's throat, and blood trickled out.

Qian Kun's body shuddered instantly. He looked up at Zhao Zilong in disbelief.

"Zhao Zilong, do you have any idea that what you're doing right now is seeking death?"

Qian Kun said, putting on a brave front despite his inner fear.

Zhao Zilong was getting impatient. "Qian Kun, my patience is limited. You'd better not force my hand. Now, give me the Property Deed and compensate me with a hundred taels of silver, and I'll let this matter of you trespassing and hurting people slide. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind killing you."

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you something. I am a Martial Artist."

"You... you say you're a Martial... Artist!"

For a moment, Qian Kun couldn't believe it. How could a useless coward like Zhao Zilong have become a Martial Artist?

If Zhao Zilong really was a Martial Artist, he truly couldn't afford to offend him.

Not only would the man's status and position rise, but his sheer strength was something Qian Kun couldn't easily deal with.

Although he was shocked, the skill Zhao Zilong had just displayed was indeed formidable; he was likely a Martial Artist without a doubt.

"I can give you the Property Deed, but I won't pay the silver."

Qian Kun said with a serious expression.

Zhao Zilong said, "How about this: give me the Property Deed, and then our debt will be cleared entirely."

"That's impossible."

Qian Kun was afraid of Zhao Zilong, but if he agreed, he would suffer a huge loss.

Zhao Zilong's gaze turned sharp. "Qian Kun, think carefully. I am now a Martial Artist. If I take you to the Fuzheng Division, what do you think your end will be?"

"I..."

Qian Kun panicked.

"Fine, I agree. I'll give you the Property Deed, and our debt is cleared."

Qian Kun knew all too well what kind of place the Fuzheng Division was. No one who was taken there ever came out in one piece; even if they didn't die, they'd lose several layers of skin.

Now that Zhao Zilong had become a Martial Artist, he had some say in the Fuzheng Division. Qian Kun truly couldn't afford to offend him.

This time, he could only accept his fate.

Qian Kun obediently took out the Property Deed. Zhao Zilong confirmed it was correct and lightly patted Qian Kun's face with the broken staff. "Remember, don't think about taking revenge on me, and certainly don't think about touching my son. If any harm comes to my son, I'll blame it on you, and I will make your life a living hell."

"I won't, I won't."

Qian Kun had indeed intended to retaliate against Zhao Zilong, but after hearing those words, he abandoned the idea.

"It's over. You and your men can get lost."

Zhao Zilong snorted.

Qian Kun gave Zhao Zilong a deep look and then called his four subordinates to leave.

After Qian Kun and his men left, the courtyard became quiet again. Only then did Zhao Xiaotian dare to run to Zhao Zilong's side, looking up with his small face and saying, "Father, you're amazing! You chased all those bad guys away!"

Zhao Zilong patted his head, tucked the Property Deed into his robe, and said softly, "From now on, Father is here; no one can bully you. Come, let's go back inside and eat the beef. It won't taste good once it's cold."

In the woodshed, Jin Rong saw everything clearly through the crack in the door, the hatred in her eyes almost overflowing.

She hadn't expected that not only would Zhao Zilong not be dealt with by Qian Kun, but he had also become very powerful, even scaring Qian Kun away.

"No, I can't be kept locked up like this." Jin Rong gritted her teeth and began to twist her body, trying to break free from the ropes.

As long as she could untie the ropes, run away from here, and contact Cao Yun, she would definitely make Zhao Zilong pay a heavy price.

Inside the house, Zhao Zilong watched Zhao Xiaotian devouring the food and pushed most of the beef toward him. "Eat more; you're at the age where you're still growing. From now on, keep your wages from the pharmacy for yourself; you don't need to give them all to me."

With his mouth full of beef, Zhao Xiaotian said indistinctly, "Father, I have money to spend; the pharmacy provides meals. You should keep this money; you need to pay back the debt..."

"The debt has already been cleared." Zhao Zilong interrupted him, pulling out a few taels of silver from his robe and handing them to Zhao Xiaotian. "Take it, buy some new clothes and food. Father will make sure you live a good life from now on."

Looking at the silver in his hand, Zhao Xiaotian's eyes suddenly turned red. He nodded vigorously but then pushed the silver back. "Father, I don't need it; you keep it. Now that you're powerful, does that mean you don't have to be a Petty Official anymore?"

"Silly boy." Zhao Zilong smiled. "Petty Officials are also ranked. Father is now a First-Grade Martial Artist. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Fuzheng Division to report it. When my rank is promoted, my monthly salary will also increase."

Zhao Zilong's gaze darkened as he thought of Cao Yun.

He knew that after beating Cao Yun today, the man would never let it go. Cao Yun was the son of the County Lord and held power within the Fuzheng Division; he would certainly use his connections to retaliate.

"The priority now is to increase my strength as quickly as possible and consolidate my position in the Fuzheng Division," Zhao Zilong thought to himself. "I need to enter the Mural Space again tonight to continue practicing and strive to break through to a Second-Grade Martial Artist soon."

That night, once Zhao Xiaotian was fast asleep, Zhao Zilong sat cross-legged on the bed, closing his eyes to concentrate. Soon, the familiar Mural Space appeared before him. Watching the phantom of the monk practicing with the staff, Zhao Zilong felt as if an invisible long staff was in his hands, and he began to follow the phantom's movements, move by move.

Staff shadows flew about as the sense of qi circulated within his body. Each swing of the staff deepened his understanding of the technique.

Before he knew it, when he finished his practice, the sense of qi in his dantian had grown significantly stronger. He was getting closer and closer to becoming a Second-Grade Martial Artist.

Early the next morning, Zhao Zilong had just opened his eyes and was preparing to wash up and have breakfast before heading to the Fuzheng Division for duty when he heard the sound of horse hooves and a commotion outside the courtyard gate.

"Father, there are a lot of people outside."

Zhao Xiaotian, who was making breakfast, ran into the room with a panicked expression.

"It's fine, Father will go take a look."

After becoming a Martial Artist, Zhao Zilong's state of mind was much more stable than before; he no longer panicked when things happened.

He stood up and walked to the door, only to see Cao Yun leading over a dozen men from the Fuzheng Division. They were holding Official Blades and standing aggressively outside the gate. Cao Yun's face still bore unhealed bruises.

"Zhao Lao Si, you assaulted a superior officer; that's equivalent to rebellion! Come, seize him!" Cao Yun shouted at the top of his lungs, his eyes filled with malice.

Zhao Zilong knew Cao Yun wouldn't let it go, but the fact that Cao Yun had framed him with the crime of rebellion was somewhat unexpected.

Fortunately, he was now a Martial Artist; otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to escape this charge.

"Banner Master Cao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want." Zhao Zilong sneered. "Banner Master Cao, you had an affair with a subordinate's wife, violating moral principles. What's wrong with me hitting you for that? Do I just let you take my wife? Even if this matter reaches the County Lord or the Director, the fault lies with you, not me."

"Zhao Zilong, it's useless to say all that. Today, this young master is here to capture you. Come, seize him!" Cao Yun's eyes glinted with coldness; he couldn't possibly let Zhao Zilong go. "If he dares to resist, kill him on the spot!"

"Yes!"

Over a dozen colleagues from the Fuzheng Division immediately surrounded him. Zhao Zilong knew all of them; they had bullied him quite a bit in the past.

Zhao Zilong felt a burning hatred in his heart, but in the past, he lacked the strength to retaliate and could only endure it.

"Are we settling both new and old scores today? That's actually quite good."

Zhao Zilong's heart was filled with ruthlessness.

Once the fight really started, he wouldn't show any mercy.

Even if he didn't kill them, he would make sure these guys stayed in bed for at least ten days to a month; otherwise, it would be hard to vent the anger in his heart.