The morning sun rose gently over Lai's farm. Dew sparkled on the cabbage leaves, chickens clucked lazily near the coop, and the scent of freshly tilled soil filled the air.
Lai sat cross-legged on the porch, sipping warm tea. Garfield stood nearby in his human form, stretching his limbs, while Long Fei hauled buckets of water across the field, sweat dripping from his brow.
It was the picture of peace.
Until the sky split open.
A violent aura tore through the heavens as a robed figure descended, landing at the edge of the farm with a crash that shook the earth. Dust billowed, and birds scattered in fear.
The Chen family's elder had arrived.
His eyes burned with rage as he pointed at Lai. "Farmer! You dared kill my disciples in the open streets of Fallen Town. Today, you will pay with your life!"
Lai glanced up from his tea. "Mm. You're loud. Don't step on the cabbages."
The elder sneered. "Cabbages? I'll grind your entire farm into dust!"
He raised his hand, qi swirling violently. Flames ignited around his palm, condensing into a spear of fire. With a roar, he hurled it toward Lai's chest.
The air screamed as the weapon tore through the sky—only for it to freeze mid-flight, trembling inches from Lai's face.
Lai set down his teacup and spoke softly.
"Paralyzed."
The elder's body locked instantly. His eyes bulged in horror as his limbs refused to move.
Lai rose slowly, stretching like a man preparing for fieldwork. He strolled across the farm, hoe in hand, until he stood before the frozen elder.
"Mm," Lai said calmly. "Didn't I warn you? Don't step on my cabbages."
With a swing of his hoe, the elder's right arm severed cleanly, falling to the soil with a wet thud. Blood sprayed across the field, soaking into the earth.
The elder's mouth opened in a silent scream.
Lai tilted his head. "Still too noisy."
Another swing—his left arm fell. Then a leg. Then the other.
One by one, his limbs littered the field like discarded weeds.
Garfield watched with a faint smirk, golden eyes gleaming. Long Fei stood frozen, pale and trembling, buckets forgotten in the dirt.
Finally, Lai crouched in front of the mutilated elder, who trembled violently in his paralysis. His voice was calm, almost bored.
"You Chen dogs think power means stepping on mortals. You think you're kings. But to me? You're less than insects."
The elder's eyes filled with pure terror.
Lai leaned close, whispering one final word.
"Die."
The elder's body convulsed. His flesh collapsed inward, his bones turned to ash, and his soul was erased from existence. Nothing remained but silence and blood-soaked soil.
Lai dusted his hands. "Good. The cabbages are safe."
Without another glance, he walked back to his porch, picked up his tea, and drank as if nothing had happened.
The Tiger's Training
Later that afternoon, Lai tossed a jade slip at Garfield.
"This is a body cultivation technique. I call it Gold Skin."
Garfield caught it, frowning. "Gold Skin? That sounds weak."
"Mm. It's short for Immortal Golden Body Dharma. Train well, and even Saint Realm cultivators won't pierce your skin. To me, it's a minor art. To you, it's survival."
Garfield's lips twitched. "…You really just renamed a divine art to sound simple?"
"Simple is good," Lai said, yawning. "Now train."
Golden light flickered faintly across Garfield's skin as he sat down cross-legged, already beginning the breathing cycle.
The Boy's Hell
Meanwhile, Long Fei stood nervously in the fields, watching wooden figures sprout from the soil at Lai's command. Dozens of them, faceless and tall, their wooden fists thick as clubs.
Lai pointed at him. "Your training is to survive."
The boy paled. "S-survive?"
The first golem moved. Its fist slammed into his chest, sending him sprawling into the dirt, coughing blood.
"Master!" he cried, panicked. "I'll die!"
"Mm. Then you're weak," Lai replied calmly. "Stand up."
Another blow came, breaking his ribs. Long Fei's vision blurred as pain consumed him—only for warmth to flood his veins. His wounds closed, his bones mended, his body healed instantly.
He gasped, alive again.
And then the next fist struck, crushing him once more.
Over and over it repeated—bones breaking, blood spraying, organs collapsing—only to be restored in an instant. The pain never lessened.
Hours passed. Long Fei's screams grew hoarse. His eyes filled with despair as he begged, sobbed, and cursed, only for the cycle to continue.
"Please…" he whispered weakly as another blow shattered his body. "Someone… save me…"
Garfield raised a brow. "Master, this is too much. You're torturing him."
"Mm," Lai said, planting a seed in the soil. "If he survives, he'll be strong. If he breaks, he'll be useful fertilizer."
Garfield's jaw dropped. "…Fertilizer?"
"Mm," Lai replied, eyes closing for a nap.
The wooden golems' fists fell again. Long Fei's broken cries echoed across the fields until nightfall.
Cliffhanger – The Chen Family Strikes Back
In Fallen Town, news of the elder's death reached the Chen mansion. Servants trembled as they delivered the report.
The Chen Patriarch sat in silence for a long time, his aura cold enough to freeze the hall. Finally, he rose, his expression dark.
"An elder… slaughtered like a dog on his own farm?" His voice dripped venom.
He turned to his gathered advisors.
"Prepare the family. Summon allies. If we cannot kill this farmer alone… then we will drown him in blood."
End of Chapter 4
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