Chapter 39 Having Your Word Is Enough

"Crack!"

Another resounding slap landed on Young Master Zhang's face, instantly swelling it up.

"Beat... beat him to death!" Young Master Zhang finally recovered his wits, clutching his swollen cheek as he shouted at the top of his lungs.

Several of his subordinates hollered and rushed toward that person.

The man was none other as Lin Feng. He had never expected to encounter someone so arrogant in a small mountain village, harassing an innocent young woman and assaulting others. Even he, back in Chudu, would at most tease a young widow; this fellow was simply more arrogant than he was.

How could he possibly tolerate this?

So, he immediately stepped forward.

Before it could even be said, faster than thought, a man had already rushed up to Lin Feng, throwing a punch straight at his face. Lin Feng sidestepped, raised his right leg, and delivered a heavy knee strike squarely into the attacker's chest. The man let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground.

Another man lunged forward with a heavy fist. Lin Feng grabbed his arm and sharply twisted it upward. "Snap!" With a miserable shriek, the man's arm was nearly broken by Lin Feng, who then delivered a powerful blow straight to his forehead, rendering the fellow instantly unconscious.

With two out of four men down, the encirclement was broken. The remaining two saw how ferocious Lin Feng was and were gripped by fear. Their movements faltered, and Lin Feng seized the opportunity to grab them by their topknots, smashing their heads violently together. Blood splattered from their scalps, and with their eyes rolling back, they slumped limply to the ground.

Young Master Zhang trembled all over, terrified out of his wits, and turned to run. Lin Feng took a stride forward and kicked him squarely in the backside!

"Mother in heaven!" he screamed in agony, sent flying straight into the river by Lin Feng's kick.

"Help... help me..." He flailed his arms frantically in the water, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Didn't you want to drink? I'll let you drink to your heart's content!" Lin Feng laughed.

"Save... save me..." Young Master Zhang was on the verge of sinking beneath the surface.

The four subordinates scrambled to their feet, ignoring their aches and pains, but seeing Lin Feng standing there, none dared to go down and rescue him.

Sensing it was about enough, Lin Feng commanded, "Fish him out and get lost!"

The four men jumped into the river, pulled Young Master Zhang out with all their might, and—not daring to linger a moment longer—carried him away in desperate flight.

The onlookers burst into applause and cheers for Lin Feng.

Lin Feng cupped his fists in salute. "Just a minor interlude, please pardon the spectacle, everyone."

Seeing the excitement was over, the crowd dispersed. A few, having witnessed Lin Feng's heroism, decided to come in and bowl a dish of noodles to express their admiration.

Li He and Li Shang helped Lin Feng and Tian Xier put the scattered tables and chairs back in place.

Tian Xier stayed close to Lin Feng, looking him up and down with deep concern in her eyes. "Brother Lin, are you hurt?"

Standing nearby, Li He was suddenly overcome with jealousy. The one who got hurt was me! I was the one who got kicked! And right now, my heart is hurting too.

"I'm fine."

Tian Xier's pretty face flushed, and she suddenly added in a soft, timid voice, "Brother Lin, you said just now that I'm your person..."

"You're my disciple, so of course you're my person."

"Oh..." A flash of disappointment crossed Tian Xier's eyes.

Hearing this, Li He's face lit up with a hint of joy. "So Brother Lin is Sister Xier's master! Brother Lin, I want to become your disciple too; I want to learn martial arts from you."

"I want to learn too!" Li Shang hurried over upon hearing this.

Lin Feng looked at Li He. "You handled yourself well when Xier was being bullied just now. Even knowing you couldn't beat them, you still threw yourself into the fray—commendable courage. However, your build is too frail; you're not really suited for martial arts."

Lin Feng then looked at Li Shang. "You're even worse than Li He. Though Li He has a physique somewhat like a woman, his character is quite manly. As for you, at the crucial moment you hid away like a woman, not daring to utter a peep. Truly spineless; girls don't like that kind of guy!"

Li Shang protested, "Actually, I really wanted to fight them just then, but this Young Master Zhang is the son of Squire Zhang, and even my father doesn't dare to cross him..."

"Your father is also a village headman, yet he's afraid of this Squire Zhang?" Lin Feng couldn't help asking, "Who exactly is Squire Zhang?"

"He's the most famous gentryman in the surrounding villages, with hundreds of acres of fertile land. His ancestors held official posts, and he's a scholar himself. I heard even the township magistrate gives him some face."

So he was just an atrocious local landlord and tyrant!

"Hesitating and looking backward at every turn! If you marry a wife in the future and others bully her, will you just stand to the side pondering whether to fight back or not?"

"Well... of course not... Brother Lin, if I learn martial arts from you, I won't be afraid of them anymore. Then I'll be able to protect Sister Xier!"

"Me too!" Li He chimed in, refusing to be outdone.

Tian Xier frowned slightly, thinking to herself: *Who needs you guys to protect me?*

"My martial arts aren't taught to just anyone."

Lin Feng didn't have that kind of spare time. "How about this? I can teach you a few practical moves, enough to at least protect yourselves in a critical moment."

"Thank you, Brother Lin."

Li Shang puffed out his chest. "Brother Lin, from now on I'll come every day to help you with the chores!"

"Me too!"

As the two spoke, their eyes drifted toward Tian Xier.

These two rascals had ulterior motives! Learning martial arts? Helping with chores? They just wanted a legitimate excuse to come see Tian Xier in the future.

What clever little devils.

Still, it wasn't a bad thing. Who knew? Tian Xier might actually fancy one of them eventually, and then she wouldn't have to follow him to Jiangzhou. Her parents would surely approve as well. Leaving Li He aside for a moment, Li Shang's father was Village Headman Li, so his family background should be decent enough.

"Brother Lin, give us our chores right now then."

"Do either of you know how to cook?"

Both shook their heads.

It seemed the two of them were only good for eating.

"Alright, from now on, you two will be responsible for catching fish and shrimp. Just what I need for cooking."

"I'm going home to get my fishing net."

"I'm getting my fishing rod."

The two hurriedly dashed off to fetch their gear.

Lin Feng glanced at Tian Xier, who was busy working. "Li He is a good lad. He was able to step up at the crucial moment."

"Mm-hmm," Tian Xier said. "I know. We're good friends."

"Really not considering it..." Lin Feng teased with a smile.

Tian Xier suddenly raised her head, her eyes locking onto Lin Feng. "Does Brother Lin not want to take me away with him?"

Lin Feng was slightly taken aback. "Of course not. It's been half a month, and your parents still haven't agreed..."

Lin Feng figured there was probably no hope.

"Brother Lin, what if Mom and Dad *do* agree?"

"Then of course I'd want you to come with me. By then, I'd find you a good husband in Jiangcheng..."

Tian Xier suddenly cut him off. "Having those words from you is enough."

With that, she lowered her head and resumed her work.

What was that supposed to mean?

At that moment, Liuxi and Xiaodie returned after finishing their errands. Xiaodie chimed in happily, "Big brother, everything is sold out!"

Lin Feng nodded. "Must be hungry, right?"

Liuxi said, "I want to eat beef noodles."

"You only ever think about eating! Didn't you buy and eat two steamed buns in town earlier?" Xiaodie shot him a sideways glance.

"Those two buns barely hold off hunger!"

Tian Xier smiled. "I'll cook a bowl of beef noodles for both of you."

"Thank you, Sister Xier," Liuxi said. "I want a large bowl."

"Alright."

"Sister Xier, let me make them; you take a rest." Xiaodie volunteered eagerly.