The big man's eyes flashed with a trace of viciousness as he raised the knife in his hand.
Before Li Muchen could move, a fishing line suddenly shot out from the reed marsh, flying dozens of meters and piercing straight into the big man's wrist.
The big man let out a miserable scream, and the sharp knife fell to the ground.
The fishing line did not slow down; its tip made a sudden turn in midair and pierced through the wrists of the remaining four people in succession. Just like the big man, they all cried out in pain.
Then, the five of them were pulled into the air like kites and heavily slammed back onto the ground.
The fishing line was so fine it was almost invisible; they didn't understand what had happened, and could only look at Li Muchen in terror, as if they were seeing a monster.
They could not see it clearly, but they could not escape Li Muchen's eyes. The thin fishing line glistened white under the sunlight, accurately threading through the gap between the radius and ulna bones in the wrists of all five people from dozens of meters away. This external release of inner force was a mastery of martial arts essence.
Li Muchen knew it was the old man fishing by the lakeside who had acted, but he felt no need for gratitude, so he didn't even glance over, instead walking straight toward the big man lying on the ground screaming.
When the big man saw Li Muchen approaching, he looked at him as if seeing a murderous god, eyes full of fear.
"You… what are you going to do?"
"Speak. Who sent you?"
"N-no one."
"No one?"
Li Muchen squatted down, grabbed his wrist — the fishing line was still embedded in the flesh — and gave it a light tug, sending a heart-piercing pain through him.
The big man wasn't seriously injured; it was mostly fright. He didn't dare resist, only begging desperately for mercy.
"I-it was Master Luo."
"Which Master Luo?"
"Luo Mingsha, the Lin family's steward."
So it really was Steward Luo! A flash of killing intent appeared in Li Muchen's eyes.
He had no grievances with this Luo, so why such a vicious move? It seemed it was Lady Lin's order.
So unwilling to have me as your son-in-law? You'd rather take my life?
Just now at his grandfather's grave, Li Muchen had promised to repay Old Master Lin's kindness. Now, with this incident, the kindness and grievance were balanced — no debts on either side.
He recalled the dark clouds above the Lin family villa. He had intended to warn them and even help them break the technique, but now there was no need — let them live or die on their own.
The big man also felt the killing intent radiating from Li Muchen and became even more terrified, begging repeatedly.
"Young man, spare them if you can." The old man fishing by the lake walked out from the reeds. "Their hands are already crippled — they'll never hold a knife again. Just let them go."
Li Muchen didn't wish to kill in front of his grandfather's grave, but simply crippling one hand felt too light a punishment — letting them go would only harm more people.
So, without showing any change of expression, he made a hidden strike on each of them. Within seven days, they would fall gravely ill. If they could repent during the illness, cleanse their hearts, and do good deeds, they could recover. But if they persisted in evil and the malice in their hearts remained, even if they survived, they would be useless for life.
"Get lost!"
He watched them crawl away from the desolate shore before cupping his hands toward the old man. "Thank you for lending a hand."
The old man looked him up and down. "You could tell it was me? You're not simple."
Li Muchen smiled faintly, saying nothing.
"Young man, do you know why I helped you?" The old man glanced toward the earthen grave mound. "In these times, there aren't many who are truly filial, especially to grandparents. You didn't cry just now, but I could hear from your voice that your grief came from the heart. Your grandfather, having a grandson like you, can rest in peace."
Li Muchen sighed lightly. "It's I who am unfilial. Back then I couldn't even afford a cemetery plot, so I had to bury my grandfather here."
The old man was surprised. "You didn't choose this site deliberately?"
Li Muchen shook his head. "To tell you the truth, when I was young I depended on my grandfather for survival, living off picking up scraps. When he passed away, I was only seven. Forget buying a plot — I couldn't even pay for cremation. I could only bury him secretly here on the wasteland."
The old man suddenly laughed. "You've chosen a feng shui treasure! This place gathers the spiritual energy of ten miles around. In the whole of Hecheng, it would be hard to find another spot like this that hasn't already been taken. This is the blessing you and your grandfather earned from good deeds."
Li Muchen smiled faintly. Of course he now knew this was a feng shui treasure, but at the time of the burial, he truly hadn't known.
After speaking, the old man turned back toward his fishing spot, saying as he walked, "Young man, let me remind you: with the major development of Lingshan Lake, this wasteland won't be here much longer. You'd best move your grandfather's grave soon."
Li Muchen was taken aback — that was something he hadn't considered.
"Thank you for the reminder, elder."
Li Muchen didn't like owing favors. Though the old man had no obligation to save him earlier, it was a kind act. Now, with this warning, it was another favor to repay.
"Elder, you have been burned by fierce fire, and your Yin Linking Vessel is damaged. If not treated in time, the delay could harm your foundation."
The old man paused, then turned back in surprise. "You know medicine?"
Li Muchen nodded. "A little."
"You can heal me?"
"I can try."
Hope flashed in the old man's eyes. "To see my injury at a glance — your medical skills must be extraordinary. How will you treat it?"
Li Muchen took out a Small Recovery Pill. "Swallow this, then circulate your true qi for two cycles. Once complete, I'll use golden needles to open the acupoints."
The Small Recovery Pill was something he had brought from Tiandu Peak — priceless to ordinary people, but not much to him. The ingredients could be found in the mortal world; the difficulty lay in the refining method.
The old man hesitated slightly. His status was distinguished, and many wanted his life. If this young man were an enemy's pawn…
But soon he set aside his hesitation and laughed heartily. "Alright, let's try."
He swallowed the pill, sat cross-legged on the spot, and began circulating his true qi.
Li Muchen couldn't help admiring the old man's openness and was happy to make friends with such a person.
Before long, white steam rose from the old man's head, billowing like boiling vapor.
Just then, the reeds suddenly rustled, and a figure shot out, moving extremely fast.
Swish, swish, swish — several cold lights flew straight toward three major acupoints on the old man's chest.
Li Muchen had already sensed someone hidden in the reeds, their presence extremely well concealed. But since it had nothing to do with him, he hadn't bothered.
Now he knew the target was the old man, lying in ambush for a sneak attack.
Judging from the strike, the attacker was at most at the peak of dark energy, not even as strong as the fishing old man — though his concealment was skilled.
The old man also noticed the intruder, exhaling sharply and slapping three palms, knocking the hidden weapons aside.
The weapons spun in midair before returning to the hands of the black-clad man.
"Hmph! Another devil from the Eastern Isles!" The old man stood up. "Young man, leave quickly. This is a Japanese ninja — his martial skill may be shallow, but his tricks are strange. He's here for me. I'm injured and can't fight long, so I can't protect you."
Li Muchen understood — ninja arts explained the extreme concealment of his aura.
But a mere ninja was nothing in his eyes.
"Elder, focus on circulating your qi. Don't waste the medicine's power. Leave this one to me."
He stepped forward, blocking in front of the old man.
The old man was startled and worried. "Young man, I know you have strange skills, but this is life-and-death combat. These island wanderers are killing machines."
"No problem."
Two simple words, filled with power and confidence.
"Alright, be careful."
The old man chose to trust him and resumed meditating.
The black-clad ninja, having missed his strike, didn't attack rashly. Against the old man, he was weaker, so he had stayed hidden until the old man took medicine to heal.
"Youngster, my business with that old dog Qian Kun has nothing to do with you. Step aside, and I'll spare your life." His Mandarin was stiff and awkward.
Li Muchen stood unmoving. "Then let me see how far Japanese ninjutsu has progressed."
The ninja frowned. He feared Qian Kun, but this youth? He hadn't even considered him. Seeing Qian Kun already like a meditating monk, he charged.
"You're seeking death!"
Ninjutsu excelled in ghostly footwork — with one leap, he was in front of Li Muchen, his shuriken drawing a dazzling white arc. In his mind, he already pictured the youth's head flying, blood spurting from his neck.
But then he saw the youth lift his foot. The movement didn't seem fast — his eyes could clearly follow the whole process without even an afterimage. Yet somehow, the foot was faster than his blade. Just before the sword light reached the youth's neck, the youth's foot struck his stomach.
He felt a tightening in his abdomen as his body flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground.
He tried to stand, but at his first movement, his bones crackled — his ribs and spine were shattered.
He didn't even have a chance to use ninjutsu to escape. Helpless, he lay on the ground, his eyes full of hatred, despair, regret, and fear. Looking at the young man before him, blood at the corner of his mouth, he moved his lips to speak his final words:
"You… are… who?"