"Qingyun, you're back. It's good that you're back..."
"I'm fine, just a little sick. I'll be better in a few days."
Seeing Chu Qingyun, Chu Xuan's pale face flushed slightly with excitement.
However, he wouldn't admit he had been beaten, insisting he had just fallen ill.
Chu Qingyun didn't believe a word of it. The house had been wrecked, and combined with what Chu Lie and the other three had said outside the village, he was certain something terrible had happened at home!
"Xuan, I've brought today's medicine. I'll brew it for you in a bit..."
Another familiar voice came from outside the door, and soon, Chu Qingyun's mother, Liu Lanfang, walked in.
Upon seeing Chu Qingyun, she was so startled that her hand trembled, and she dropped the wrapped medicine on the ground.
"Mother, who did all this to our home? Who injured Father?"
Chu Qingyun stood up and asked Liu Lanfang.
Liu Lanfang stammered, looking at Chu Qingyun, then back at Chu Xuan, not wanting to tell him.
"Father, Mother, even if you don't tell me, I can find out from Chu Lie and Chu Gang. Don't worry, your son is different now. I won't be rash."
Chu Qingyun said, a hint of urgency in his voice.
Chu Xuan sighed and said, "Not two days after you left for Qingshan City, news spread from the Zhao Family Castle. Their Fortress Lord, Zhao Zhiyi, broke through and became a Martial Artist."
"None of the nearby villages, big or small, have a Martial Artist. The Zhao Family Castle has subtly become the strongest village in the area."
"After that, Zhao Zhiyi's son, Zhao Yishui, brought his men to the Chu Family Village, acting aggressively."
"They couldn't find you, so they trashed our courtyard and house to vent their anger."
Chu Xuan recounted the events, his voice low.
Liu Lanfang also wiped her tears and said, "Yes, your father only tried to talk them down a bit, and that Zhao Yishui kicked him and severely injured him. If it weren't for the village chief's medicine, I'm afraid…"
"What nonsense are you talking about! Hurry up and brew the medicine!"
Chu Xuan shot her a glare, cutting her off. He then broke into another fit of heavy coughing.
"Zhao Yishui… Zhao Zhiyi!"
Chu Qingyun gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.
He never would have imagined that the Zhao Family Castle would still come looking for trouble for him after he left.
In the world of Martial Artists, there has always been an unwritten rule: you don't bring harm to family.
Chu Qingyun's parents were just ordinary people. Even if Zhao Yishui and his men wanted revenge, they shouldn't have targeted them.
But with the Zhao Family Castle now having a Martial Artist, they were clearly acting without fear, completely unrestrained!
"Father, Mother, I'm stepping out for a bit."
Chu Qingyun took a deep breath and was about to leave.
"Qingyun, don't be rash!"
"Qingyun, come back! We can't afford to provoke them, but can't we at least hide from them?"
Chu Xuan and Liu Lanfang both shouted anxiously.
Chu Qingyun paused, turned his head, and said with a smile, "It's fine. I'm just going to see the village chief about something."
Hearing that he was going to see the village chief, Chu Xuan and his wife finally relaxed a little.
In their eyes, the village chief was an invincible figure who could surely stop Chu Qingyun.
Chu Qingyun left the house and ran right into Chu Lie and his three companions.
"Qingyun, you know everything?"
Chu Lie and the others followed him, asking.
Chu Qingyun nodded, his face contorted with anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Zhao Yishui dared to hit my father. I want him dead!"
"That's right, he deserves to die!"
"And there's more! Besides that time with Zhao Yishui, the Zhao Family Castle often sends people to barge into our village. With the village chief's medicine, Xuan was almost better, but then he got punched by Zhao Feilong, and it got even worse."
"It's the same with the Yuan Stone Ore Vein. The people from Zhao Family Castle are practically robbing us in broad daylight now, killing without any hesitation!"
Learning that Chu Qingyun had become a first-level Martial Artist, Chu Lie and the others felt as if they had found a backer. Like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, they told Chu Qingyun everything.
Hearing all this, Chu Qingyun's eyes grew even more ferocious. A murderous intent surged endlessly in his heart.
Hearing that Chu Qingyun had returned, the village chief gathered some key personnel. Just as they were about to head out, Chu Qingyun and his four companions burst in.
"Qingyun, you shouldn't have come back. Hurry back to Qingshan City."
"Qingyun, don't be rash. The situation is very complicated right now. We must exercise forbearance."
"Chu Lie, Chu Gang, what are you standing around for? Go get a fast horse and send Qingyun back to Qingshan City!"
Upon seeing Chu Qingyun, the village chief and the others didn't waste a word, immediately trying to persuade him to return to Qingshan City.
Zhao Zhiyi had already broken through to become a Martial Artist. Chu Qingyun was the Chu Family Village's only hope.
They couldn't let anything happen to Chu Qingyun!
"Village Chief, Hua, and all you uncles, I am now a first-level Martial Artist."
As Chu Qingyun spoke, a formidable aura erupted from him, instantly enveloping the village chief's entire courtyard.
In that instant, everyone except for the village chief, who was a ninth-level Martial Artist, was suppressed by the tyrannical aura, unable to move.
The aura came and went quickly. After letting them feel it, Chu Qingyun retracted his presence.
"Haha, hahaha…"
"Hahahaha…"
After a moment of stunned silence, peals of long laughter erupted from the village chief's courtyard, leaving half the village startled and bewildered.
The laughter in the courtyard only began to subside after a full five minutes.
They had been holding it in for far too long these past few days!
The Chu Family Village was powerful. Before this, they were the only ones among the nearby villages who could contend with the Zhao Family Castle.
That's why when Zhao Zhiyi broke through, the Zhao Family Castle's first target was the Chu Family Village!
These past few days, not only was Chu Qingyun's house smashed to pieces, but even they, the village's upper echelons, were frequently humiliated and ridiculed.
Even the younger generation of the Zhao Family Castle looked down on them.
"Ah, Qingyun, about what happened to your father before… sigh, the village had its own difficulties…"
The village chief said, looking at Chu Qingyun with some apology in his eyes.
Chu Qingyun nodded and said, "It's alright, Village Chief. I understand. But now that I'm back, the Zhao Family Castle's good days are over!"
When Zhao Yishui and his men came to cause trouble before, the village chief and the others hadn't done their utmost to stop them.
Chu Qingyun could understand this. If they had harmed Zhao Yishui, it would have likely meant all-out war with the Zhao Family Castle, and the entire Chu Family Village would have faced annihilation.
Besides, if it weren't for the village chief's medicine, Chu Xuan probably wouldn't have lasted this long.
"By the way, Qingyun, how does your strength compare among first-level Martial Artists? Can you beat that Zhao Zhiyi?"
Chu Hua asked excitedly.
Chu Qingyun pondered for a moment, then said, "Among first-level Martial Artists, I should have no rival. As for a second-level Martial Artist, that's hard to say."
In truth, Chu Qingyun was being somewhat conservative.
With a Qi Sea ten thousand meters in radius, plus the Sword Drawing Technique, the Profound Celestial Divine Pattern, and his comprehension of Sword Momentum, Chu Qingyun probably wouldn't even be at a disadvantage against an ordinary second-level Martial Artist.