Chapter 39 He’s the One Who Killed Them

“There, it’s the owner of that house halfway up the mountain. His name is Li Chen.”

Zhou San pointed upward.

The one-armed man turned to glance at the old man beside him. The old man’s eyes turned fierce. “What are you looking at? Come with me up the mountain and let’s ask him clearly!”

“Little brother, thank you.”

The one-armed man’s face darkened for a moment. He gave Zhou San a nod, then turned his horse and headed up the mountain with the old man.

“Let’s see how arrogant you can be. When the victims’ family comes knocking, you’ll have plenty to suffer.”

Zhou San let out a sinister laugh, folded his arms, and followed behind at a leisurely pace to watch the commotion.

At that moment, Li Chen was using the daylight outside to move some tools into the courtyard, working on certain components.

Hou Xiaobai sat nearby, paying out salt while also crafting something he wanted.

The others were all busy beyond measure.

Just then, the sound of horse hooves echoed outside the courtyard.

A voice followed, “Who is Li Chen?”

Everyone froze. The voice carried unmistakable hostility.

Li Chen frowned slightly and looked up.

He saw two men standing outside the courtyard, holding their horses and staring inside.

The one-armed man was unremarkable. The other, an old man in his fifties, stared at him with a vicious glare.

The one who had just spoken was the old man.

“I am. And you are?”

Li Chen stood up, walked out, and looked at the old man.

“I am the village head of Baisha Village, Ma Wu. This here is the clan elder of the Wu family branch in our village, Wu Changqing!”

The one-armed man quickly stepped forward and introduced them with a forced smile.

Upon hearing they were from Baisha Village, Liu Chenxu’s eyes instantly turned cold as he slowly stood up.

Zhao Dashi, who had been carrying a twenty-five-kilogram bucket of salt toward the house, gently set it down and grabbed a wooden staff as thick as an arm from beside the doorway.

Hou Xiaobai quietly slid his hand under the small table filled with tools and gripped a crossbow he had personally crafted, silently cocking it.

A few days earlier, several ruffians had come, and Brother Chen had chased after them. He had returned swiftly not long after.

Though he said nothing and bore no bloodstains, the killing aura surrounding him had been undeniable.

Not only the three brothers, but everyone in the courtyard had felt it clearly. It was terrifying.

Now, just a few days later, people from Baisha Village had arrived at their door. It was clearly a sign of retaliation.

The three brothers were ready. If the visitors were reasonable, they would talk.

If not, they would fight to the end.

With Brother Chen here, even if the sky collapsed, they were not afraid.

On this side, after listening to Ma Wu’s introduction, Li Chen’s expression did not change in the slightest. He gave a slight nod. “I’ve heard of you.”

“Li Chen, let me ask you this—what have you done to the seven young men of my Wu family?”

Wu Changqing shouted angrily.

“I don’t understand what you’re referring to, elder.”

Li Chen’s expression remained calm as he replied lightly.

At the same time, he extended his hand behind his back and made a subtle gesture toward Liu Chenxu and the others.

They understood immediately and relaxed slightly, returning to their tasks.

Still, they kept a close watch on the two men from Baisha Village.

At the slightest sign of trouble, they would seize weapons and fight.

“Stop pretending! We’ve already asked people in your village. They said you chased after our seven young men with a bow and arrows and took their lives! You little brat, you must have the guts of a bear and leopard. Do you believe the Wu family won’t tear you to pieces?”

Wu Changqing gritted his teeth and cursed.

“Elder, I respect your age, but do not mistake my youth for weakness, and do not falsely accuse me. Whoever said I killed someone, bring him here to confront me face to face.”

Li Chen’s gaze suddenly turned icy.

Wu Changqing was about to curse back when he suddenly felt a chill run through his body.

For a moment, he had the illusion that the figure before him was not a man but a ferocious beast from the ancient wilderness.

In that instant, boundless fear surged from the depths of his heart. His teeth began to chatter, and he unconsciously took a step back.

Li Chen watched him and felt satisfied. Though he had not fully exerted his spiritual force, a single glance was enough to frighten Wu Changqing, just as he had once silenced the salt shopkeeper with a look.

“Did you hear me clearly?”

Li Chen reined in his aura slightly and asked slowly.

“Ma Wu, go down the mountain and bring that boy here. Let him confront him face to face!”

Wu Changqing did not dare meet Li Chen’s eyes. He turned and shouted at Ma Wu.

Ma Wu frowned subtly, clearly not fond of this Wu clan elder.

However, he was obviously wary of Wu Changqing and turned to mount his horse.

But as he turned, he noticed Zhou San standing under a large tree in the distance, arms folded, watching the spectacle. Ma Wu strode over and seized Zhou San with his single arm.

“Little brother, come and serve as a witness.”

Though he had only one arm, his strength was immense. Zhou San could not break free. Terrified, he was dragged by the collar toward them.

“Oh, it’s you.”

Li Chen looked at Zhou San, his gaze calm.

When that gaze swept over him, Zhou San felt as though a blade had passed across his neck. A chilling cold spread through him, filling him with fear.

He trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by terror.

Though Li Chen merely stood there casually, Zhou San felt that if he spoke, Li Chen would twist his neck without hesitation.

He began to regret everything.

Damn it. Why had he followed them to watch the excitement? He should have stayed home and slept.

“Little brother, you said earlier that you saw him chase our seven young men with a bow and arrows. Is that true? Do not be afraid. The Wu family of Baisha Village will protect you. Even if this brat had three heads and six arms, he could do nothing to you!”

Wu Changqing shouted angrily.

Zhou San did not want to answer. He was not a fool. If he testified openly, Li Chen would certainly settle accounts with him afterward, and he would not be able to remain in this village.

But when he lifted his head and saw the people working in the courtyard and the stacks of collected firewood and grass, jealousy flared wildly within him. Thinking of the humiliation he had just suffered, he clenched his teeth and suddenly raised his head, pointing at Li Chen.

“Yes, it was him! I saw him ride out with a bow and arrows! It must have been him who killed your Wu family’s young men! Quickly call the authorities and arrest this murderer!”

Silence fell over the courtyard.

Moments later, the hot-tempered Zhao Dashi rushed out, cursing furiously. “You stinking maggot! How dare you slander Brother Chen like this? I’ll kill you today!”

Liu Chenxu stared at Zhou San, his eyes dark as storm clouds.

In the distance, Hou Xiaobai gripped the handle of his crossbow, loosened it, gripped it again, then loosened it once more.

If he had not forced himself to remain calm, he would have already raised the crossbow and shot that ungrateful dog dead.