Eternal Saber-Chapter 258 - 43: Kindred Spirits

These villagers, no matter how arrogant, had never seen such methods as Chen Tang’s. They were all stunned and didn’t dare step forward.

The few who shouted the loudest in the crowd just now were now silent as chickens, hanging their heads low, afraid to meet Chen Tang’s gaze.

Hong Qinhu, having witnessed Chen Tang’s methods, was momentarily stunned, then a bright light appeared in his eyes.

His grandfather had long told him about the martial arts in the Jianghu, with characters who could soar high and possess immense power. Today, truly witnessing it, he realized the awe-inspiring strength and couldn’t help but yearn for it.

"Ah!"

At that moment, a piercing howl came from outside the door.

"The witch is here!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The crowd scattered, and not far away, an old woman with a face full of wrinkles slowly rose from beside the corpses of the three Wang brothers, holding a cane, walking towards them, glaring viciously at Chen Tang.

"Devil!"

The witch pointed at Chen Tang, her face full of malice, gritting her teeth as she said, "This person is possessed by a devil and will surely suffer the wrath of the Divine Dragon!"

"There’s no such thing as divine punishment."

Chen Tang stepped out of the house, looking around.

The villagers scattered in all directions, fearing Chen Tang might go on a violent spree.

Chen Tang said, "Outside this village, there are alchemists from the Profound Celestial Sect guarding this place. If anyone tries to leave, they will be killed. What’s said to be divine punishment is nothing but a fabrication to scare people."

"Nonsense!"

A flash of panic crossed the witch’s eyes as she shouted, "Devil, spreading deceitful words to confuse people!"

Chen Tang sneered inwardly.

Judging from the witch’s eyes, she was obviously aware of this all along.

The talk of divine punishment was nothing more than a ruse concocted by the witch and the alchemists from the Profound Celestial Sect to deceive the villagers.

Chen Tang continued, "Moreover, there is no Divine Dragon here, only an Evil Dragon causing floods and havoc! The great flood in Qingzhou is all the doing of this Evil Dragon!"

"Nonsense!"

"How dare you slander the Divine Dragon that protects our Longyin Village!"

"Three feet above your head is the divine. Young man, do you not fear the wrath of the Divine Dragon for your blasphemous words?"

The witch sneered.

If Chen Tang had spoken of anything else, he might have made the villagers half-believe.

But mentioning the Divine Dragon crossed the taboo of Longyin Village!

In Longyin Village, the Divine Dragon of Qingzhou is their protector deity, not to be desecrated!

The witch shouted loudly, "Everywhere in Qingzhou there are floods, but our Longyin Village remains unscathed because of the Divine Dragon’s protection. This person harbors ill intentions and blasphemes the Divine Dragon, which is an unforgivable crime!"

"Old witch, you’re worse than the alchemists of the Profound Celestial Sect, using the pretense of divine punishment to deceive people!"

Chen Tang stepped right up to the witch, coldly saying, "Today, I shall not let you live!"

Swish!

Eternal Unsheathed, blood splattered five steps, the witch was decapitated!

The villagers scattered in terror, hiding afar, looking at Chen Tang in horror.

"Longyin Village is no sanctuary. I advise you all to leave as soon as possible."

Chen Tang said, his voice booming, reaching every corner of the village.

"Believe in his nonsense."

"I’ve heard that there’s severe flooding outside, countless people dead, while our village remains peaceful, no danger at all."

"The witch was right, this person is likely possessed by a devil."

"Let him leave; if he exits Longyin Village, he will surely face divine punishment!"

Some villagers whispered from afar.

Chen Tang ignored them, turning back into the house, looking at the elder and Hong Qinhu, he said, "Old man, young brother, what are your plans?"

"Big brother, I will take my grandfather and leave Longyin Village!"

Hong Qinhu thought for a moment, then made his decision.

Chen Tang’s eyes flashed with admiration.

This youngster, just over ten years old, already able to make such a decision, was indeed remarkable.

On the surface, Longyin Village seemed much more peaceful than the outside.

But with the Profound Celestial Sect’s alchemists guarding, forbidding villagers from leaving, there was something suspicious going on.

Leaving Longyin Village immediately was the wisest choice.

Furthermore, Chen Tang had helped Hong Qinhu by killing the witch’s family. If they stayed, they would be ostracized and bullied in the village.

Of course, making this decision wasn’t easy.

After all, an old man and a young boy would be abandoning everything, leaving their home.

Leaving Longyin Village, venturing into the flood-ravaged Qingzhou, their future uncertain, survival unknown.

"Dare you leave the village?"

Chen Tang asked.

After all, those who tried to leave Longyin Village before were all cut down by a flash of white light.

Chen Tang claimed it wasn’t divine punishment, but it was just his own words.

"I dare!"

Hong Qinhu nodded vigorously.

After saying that, Hong Qinhu quickly packed up his things.

He went out, tied a long-disused shaft to their ox, crudely made an ox cart, carried his grandfather onto it, and along with Chen Tang headed towards the village’s exit.

Many villagers came out in silence, watching Chen Tang and the others leaving Longyin Village, secretly hoping for the so-called divine punishment of white light to descend.

Even when Chen Tang and the others had gone far, no such divine punishment occurred.

Some villagers began to have doubts.

But they still didn’t leave.

Whether from habit, fear, or unwillingness to abandon everything here...

Chen Tang did not go far from Longyin Village, standing on a hill, gazing back at the direction of the village.

Apart from Hong Qinhu and his grandfather, a few among the hundred households of Longyin Village plucked up courage and chose to follow them out.

Yet the vast majority stayed.

Chen Tang shook his head silently.

The rain falls, but not on rootless grass.

The Dao is wide, but only those with fate cross.

Hong Qinhu suddenly asked, "Big brother, may I and my grandfather follow you in the future? Treat me as a servant, giving me any dirty or tiring work, I can endure hardship, I have strength!"

Chen Tang shook his head, "I’m going to a dangerous place, you’d better head west."

A hint of disappointment crossed Hong Qinhu’s face.

He thought for a while, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope, and tentatively asked, "Big brother, could you teach me some martial arts?"

Chen Tang looked at Hong Qinhu, the words ’those with fate’ lingering in his mind.

Without some self-defense skills, for this boy and an injured elder, surviving in the outside world would indeed be challenging.

This boy had good character and physique.

But he lacked a master to teach him martial arts.

Chen Tang didn’t have much time, could only offer brief guidance.

Staying too long would risk entanglement when the experts from the Capital City and Qingzhou arrived.

Chen Tang asked, "Your name is Qinhu. I have a set of Tiger Subduing Fist; do you wish to learn it?"

"Tiger Subduing Fist?"

Hong Qinhu was slightly startled.

He knew how to perform a few moves of this technique.

But without much thought, he nodded, "I will learn!"

"Good!"

Chen Tang demonstrated the Tiger Subduing Fist from start to finish.

Hong Qinhu had excellent memory, remembering most of it after just one demonstration.

Chen Tang demonstrated again, correcting Hong Qinhu’s stances, guiding him to feel the force techniques embedded in each move, training every muscle.

Once the boy memorized it, Chen Tang also taught him the breathing and concentration methods that accompanied the Tiger Subduing Fist.

How skilled Hong Qinhu would become in the future depended on his own fortune.

If he could master the Tiger Subduing Technique fully, he could at least reach the Eighth Grade, more than enough for self-defense.

An hour later, Chen Tang departed gracefully, heading east.

"Master, master, what is your name?"

Hong Qinhu was immersed in practicing the fists, lost in it, and only reacted after several reminders from his grandfather. He sprinted and shouted after Chen Tang.

"My name is Chen Tang, a Blade Master."

A voice slowly came from the horizon.

By the time the boy looked again, Chen Tang’s figure was no longer in sight.