"Ah! Little Gray, run! I don't want to be pricked with the needle!"
Having left the Herbal Hut, Little Jiu Niang, who had been very eager to see the silver needle, let out a startled wail the moment she heard Lin Ning say he wanted to administer acupuncture to her, and desperately shouted for Big Dog to run.
But even as she shouted, her hands gripped tightly onto the reins looped around the dog's mouth, leaving Little Gray's eyes filled with confusion...
However, once she saw Lin Ning truly take out a silver needle and approach, she was truly frightened. She let go of the reins, kicked her two little feet, and shrieked, "Giddy up! Little Gray, run! Brother-in-law's coming with a needle to prick me! Oh no! Oh no!"
The bit in Little Gray's mouth loosened, and feeling the commotion on his hind legs, he immediately perked up and bolted forward with a bark.
However, he had indeed been trained exceptionally well. Even now, he didn't just run wild for the fun of it—he controlled his speed well, fast yet careful enough to guarantee that even if Little Jiu Niang fell off, she wouldn't get hurt. He was remarkably clever.
The six-year-old girl loved playing pretend games the most. Jiu Niang was clever and cute, with a real talent for mischief.
Both her voice and expression were excellent—not only did she scream with convincing panic, but even her facial expressions were vivid, as if she were truly terrified.
Had this been in Lin Ning's previous life, she'd have made a proper little child star!
Lin Ning's mentality nowadays had grown much younger as well, and he played along with a fierce expression to tease Jiu Niang.
Seeing him play along so well, Jiu Niang enjoyed herself even more, turning her laughter into shrieks, growing louder and louder.
She never expected that her act would end up causing a misunderstanding among the group of people approaching from ahead...
"Stop!"
"Lin Xiaoning, you've gone too far!"
Fang Zhi and Zhou Nini shouted sternly, while Hu Xiaoshan used one hand to halt Little Gray's charge and the other to lift the "terrified, fleeing for her life" Little Jiu Niang down.
Even when Little Jiu Niang punched and kicked at him, he simply took it as her being too frightened...
Zhou Shi, known for his violent temper, took a bounding step forward and pointed at the smiling Lin Ning's nose, shouting furiously, "You simply refuse to learn your lesson! You're courting death!"
After speaking, he raised his hand and swung it toward Lin Ning's face.
Following behind him was a tiger-headed young man who also glared at Lin Ning with considerable hostility—this was Zeng Niu, the one who had previously beaten Lin Xiaoning to death.
That day, it was also he who had discovered Lin Xiaoning's actions, and so he would never agree with what Aunt Chun had been saying around—Lin Xiaoning had absolutely not just been playing around with Jiu Niang that day!
Lin Ning raised his hand and blocked Zhou Shi's slap. After all, he was no longer truly a youth, so he chose to take a step back and explain clearly: "I was just playing around with Xiao Jiu..."
"Bullshit!"
Before he could even finish speaking, Zhou Shi cut him off with a furious curse, roaring, "Do you think we're that blind, conscienceless woman? We won't believe you again!"
Hearing this, the smile on Lin Ning's face gradually faded.
Since crossing over into this world, if there was one person he respected most, one person he cared about most, it had to be Aunt Chun.
Unlike the stunning beauties the transmigrators before him always seemed to encounter, she was simply an ordinary-looking woman, yet she had given him the most selfless love.
Lin Ning perhaps couldn't fully set aside his mental age to enjoy it the way a child would, but he cherished it deeply.
So Zhou Shi's words stirred anger in him.
"You will apologize for what you just said."
Lin Ning's gaze turned sharp as he stared into Zhou Shi's eyes. The mental cultivation accumulated over his previous life, combined with the confidence brought by the system, let him face down anyone who spoke disrespectfully of Aunt Chun with an utterly overwhelming presence.
However, that very look was what completely set Zhou Shi's reason ablaze...
As one of the finest among the younger generation of Qingyun Village, he might not match Fang Zhi in being skilled in both literary and martial arts, nor match Hu Xiaoshan's boundless strength, but he believed he wasn't far behind either of them.
Aside from those two, who else was there for him to hold in any regard?
And yet, for a long time now, that good-for-nothing living in the finest courtyard in Qingyun Village had looked down on him—looked down on all of them.
What right did he have?
Just because this good-for-nothing had been lucky enough to be born into it?
If that were all, they could have simply turned a blind eye to it. But what truly infuriated them—what Zhou Shi in particular could not accept—was that the woman they regarded as untouchably sacred, like the Nine Heavens Profound Lady herself, had been arranged to become that good-for-nothing's wife...
That woman, in whose presence he felt utterly unworthy just standing before her, was to become this good-for-nothing's wife...
Every time he thought of it, Zhou Shi's heart felt as if pierced by needles.
This time, upon returning from the mountains, he had heard news that Lin Ning had been bullying Jiu Niang and had tried to push her off the Cliff of Contemplation.
Everyone had been furious at the time, but since Lin Ning had already been beaten half to death by Zeng Niu, and beaten again after that, they had chosen to let the matter rest for the time being.
Never had they expected that today, after they had gone together to fetch Zeng Niu from the dungeon and heard him describe Jiu Niang's pitiful state at the time, the anger in their hearts had already begun rising again—and no sooner had they walked a short distance than they saw this good-for-nothing bullying Little Jiu Niang once more.
This was simply unbearable!
"Beast, you think you're worthy of my apology?"
Thoroughly enraged by Lin Ning's gaze and tone, Zhou Shi raised his hand again, striking out with seventy percent of his strength.
He resolved that this time, he would show no mercy!
In truth, there was another reason deep in his heart he couldn't let Lin Ning off...
That was, he had heard from his father that the Great Chieftain himself had said that once this good-for-nothing turned sixteen next year, the two of them would be married.
How could he allow that?
So, taking this opportunity, he intended to use ruthless methods!
And as he saw Zhou Shi's hand swing toward his face again, Lin Ning's patience finally ran out.
In truth, had Zhou Shi actually taken him seriously, treated him as a real opponent, then Lin Ning might not have fared so well in this moment.
Although he had achieved minor accomplishment in the Qiankun Strength, with over thirty-six of his life-and-death acupoints opened throughout his body, making him a genuine second-rate master, he had never properly studied martial arts and knew nothing of swordplay or fist techniques.
However, even though Zhou Shi had used seventy percent of his strength, he hadn't spared even one percent of serious regard in his mindset—and this very contempt was what gave Lin Ning his opening...
Raising his left hand once more to block the slap coming from Zhou Shi, Lin Ning suddenly, instead of retreating, surged forward—at a speed none of those present had expected—darting in and slamming himself into Zhou Shi's chest, then, holding nothing back, drove his right fist with all his strength straight into Zhou Shi's abdomen...
"Pfft!"
Severely wounded, Zhou Shi spat out a mix of stomach gas, stomach contents, and blood, curling up like a shrimp, his face full of pain and disbelief, as he slowly collapsed to the ground...
The entire scene fell silent.
The onlookers hadn't even had time to process what had just happened...
As for Zhou Shi making a move, Fang Zhi, Hu Xiaoshan, Zhou Nini, and the others had all silently condoned it—they were furious at Lin Ning for terrifying Little Jiu Niang like that.
But the result before their eyes was something none of them had ever expected.
How could this be...
"Damned beast, you still dare to act violent!"
Zeng Niu, standing closest to Lin Ning and Zhou Shi, was the first to snap back to his senses. Thick-headed as he was, he couldn't understand how Zhou Shi had been struck down by this good-for-nothing from the mountain stronghold. He assumed Lin Ning had resorted to some sly trick again, and in his fury, he too cursed loudly like Zhou Shi had done, then struck out with a roar.
Though Zeng Niu had not yet reached the level of a second-rate master, his Mangniu Fist technique had been honed to an extraordinary degree.
As he unleashed the move "Bull Asks the Way," even before his fist arrived, its fierce force was already so overwhelming that it forced Lin Ning to step back half a pace.
But his speed clearly wasn't fast enough to match his opponent's. He had no choice but to hastily cross both arms in front of his body, barely managing to block the full-force punch Zeng Niu threw with everything he had.
Zeng Niu clearly hadn't anticipated this outcome. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that this thoroughly useless, detestable person could actually withstand his full-strength punch on his own.
But he had forgotten—since he had made the first move, there was no reason Lin Ning wouldn't strike back.
Even though Lin Ning's original body only knew some flashy but shallow moves, boosted by the internal energy of a second-rate master, he leapt into mid-air with a "Swallow Spreading Its Wings," his feet landing squarely on the still-dazed Zeng Niu's face...
"Smack, smack!"
After the two kicks, Zeng Niu fell backward with his head tilted up.
The entire scene fell silent once more.
"I'll kill you, you beast!"
Just then, Zhou Shi finally struggled up from the ground. Shame and fury turned his eyes bloodshot, and having lost all reason in his rage, he let out a roar and charged forward once again.
Though he found this whole battle of pride tedious, Lin Ning had no intention of holding back.
Even though today's incident had come about for a reason, Lin Ning was going to be living in Qingyun Village for a long time to come, and he couldn't afford to be trampled underfoot forever—so he wouldn't accept today's humiliation.
In this mountain bandit world that worshipped strength, nothing established one's authority better than a decisive, ruthless victory.
Especially now, given that he already held the upper hand...
Lin Ning didn't believe that the full-force blow he'd landed just now had failed to injure Zhou Shi.
That Zhou Shi would still lose all reason and attack while already injured gave Lin Ning no reason to think he might lose—if he could just stall for a while, Zhou Shi's injuries would only worsen...
Only...
"Ah! Don't kill Brother-in-law!"
Little Jiu Niang, who had originally been struggling desperately, had already stopped once she saw Lin Ning gaining the upper hand. But now, seeing Zhou Shi acting possessed and trying to kill, she burst into frightened tears and cried out loudly.
The commotion had already alerted the entire mountain stronghold.
Seeing Zhou Cheng chasing after Lin Ning like a madman, shouting to fight and kill, quite a few people spoke up to try to persuade him.
But Zhou Shi was the son of Zhou Cheng, the current Fifth Boss of the stronghold, so ordinary members of the stronghold naturally didn't dare step in to stop him.
However, just as Lin Ning noticed Zhou Shi's expression shifting from furious red to deathly pale and was about to turn and strike again, he saw a figure in blue descend from the sky. With a casual sweep of a sleeve, Lin Ning felt as though a great wind surged toward him, pushing him back several steps. On the other side, Zhou Shi was likewise pushed backward.
Only, perhaps that great force had aggravated his injuries, for he let out a pained cry and stumbled to the ground...
Moments later, several more figures arrived, and upon seeing the scene, one after another, they furrowed their brows.
"What are you all causing trouble over this time?!"
Fang Lin, the Second Boss, was clearly furious over this disturbance. Standing firm, he fixed his son Fang Zhi with a sharp gaze.
Fang Zhi felt his scalp tingling, and though he opened his mouth, he had no idea what to say.
Because Jiu Niang and Cui'er had already explained the situation clearly—they really had just been playing around...
"This beast, he was bullying Little Jiu again! He came at her with a needle to prick her, and she cried and ran for her life in terror..."
Zhou Shi, leaning against the ground, his face grieved and indignant, sternly made his accusation.
Hearing this, all the leaders' gazes fell together onto Lin Ning's face, then shifted to look at Little Jiu Niang.
Little Jiu Niang was, after all, still a child. Seeing this, she grew a little timid, and having earlier been frightened to tears watching Lin Ning being chased and beaten, her expression right now actually did match the "truth" of being scared and miserable...
But just as everyone's expressions were growing grimmer and grimmer, Little Jiu Niang finally mustered her courage and said, "Brother-in-law and I were just playing. After we left the Herbal Hut, I pretended Brother-in-law was going to prick me with a needle, so I rode Little Gray and ran ahead, and Brother-in-law played along and chased after me..." Seeing that no one believed her at all, she quickly added, "Cui'er knows too, she was there!"
Hm?
Cui'er was there too?
Tian Wuniang and the others turned to look at Cui'er, and Fang Zhi and the rest all turned to look at her as well. Cui'er's big face was filled with embarrassment as she nodded and said, "The young lady's not wrong, this time we really were just playing..."
The moment these words were spoken, the expressions on Fang Zhi and the others' faces instantly turned quite something to behold.
As for Zhou Shi and Zeng Niu, their faces turned utterly ashen...
……
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