Chapter 19: Revenge

When Mrs. Li and Li Yunyao heard that Li Pin would receive a reward of one hundred thousand yuan and an apartment, their eyes lit up.

The housing prices in this world had always been outrageous.

While the housing prices in the county were at the low end compared to the city, the cost of a house in Liuchuan County, where the average salary was less than a thousand yuan, was still at least three hundred thousand yuan.

Li Yunyao knew of the Sunshine District. It was one of Liuchuan County's high-end districts. Even the smallest residential properties there, with a size of ninety-nine square meters, would have prices of at least half a million.

Li Pin did not decline the offer. "Thank you."

He was keenly aware of why the county was giving him money and an apartment. On Blue Planet, this would be considered the importing of high-end talents.

Besides, Li Pin had put his life on the line to kill the demonic cat, so these compensations weren't considered much.

Meng Shan smiled. "If it weren't for your stunning act yesterday, Master Li, I wouldn't have known that we had a young expert like yourself in Liuchuan County. Have you considered joining the martial society?"

"I plan to prepare myself for the Jiang Province Martial Competition. I'll determine my course of action after the competition."

"Right, right, right. The martial competition takes priority."

As Meng Shan spoke, he sized up Li Pin's young face.

Meng Shan didn't believe that Li Pin would be able to do particularly well in the competition, but that only held true right now. In the future, maybe in the 17th or 18th Jiang Province Martial Competition, he'd be able to snag a spot in the top ten!

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"This is the Dragontiger Pill. It's quite effective in nourishing the qi and blood. You struck out with Core Force despite having yet to form a Core. I hope that this box of medicinal pills will be of some help to you, Master Li," Meng Shan said, taking out an exquisite box.

Glancing at the box, Zhang Youping felt a little shocked.

Dragontiger Pill!

That was a special item that circulated only within the martial society. Even if a martial artist had money, it was still difficult to buy this pill!

He too wanted to befriend Li Pin, but he really couldn't bear to part with his aged wild ginseng. This box of Dragontiger Pills didn't fall short in terms of value when compared to his aged wild ginseng, yet Meng Shan had taken it out just like that! Zhang Youping was shocked!

Li Pin glanced at it and quickly figured out what was going on, but he didn't refuse the Dragontiger Pills.

"Thanks," Li Pin said. "I will put down Liuchuan County as where I do my martial arts training when I register for the Jiang Province Martial Competition."

Meng Shan immediately revealed a smile. "Good, good, good. When you stand out at the Jiang Province Martial Competition, I will also be able to bask in your light, Master Li."

Li Pin had taken his martial artist license in Zanglong City. If he didn't fill it out specifically, he would be a Zanglong City martial artist by default. That meant if he excelled at the Jiang Province Martial Competition, the credit would go to the head of the Zanglong City Martial Society.

The Zanglong City Martial Society might not care for a level-two martial artist, but if it was a twenty-two-year-old martial artist who could produce Core Force... it was a completely different story. The Zanglong City Martial Society would not remain indifferent if they knew about this.

Meng Shan used a box of Dragontiger Pills to obtain the right to that credit. He thought it was a good deal.

The pleasantries continued on for more than an hour before the mayor’s group left.

Li Pin didn't invite them to stay for dinner. There were ten or more people, and he didn't want to tire Mrs. Li.

Once their guests were all gone, Mrs. Li sized up Li Pin for a while. She suddenly smiled and remarked with great relief, "My son has grown up."

Li Yunyao jumped out. "Isn't that right? My brother is the best."

"I reckon we'll still have more to deal with tomorrow. If there are any matters to handle, leave them to me," Li Pin said as he glanced at the door.

There were quite a few villagers lingering around Li Pin’s home, inquiring about the situation.

It wouldn't take long before the rest of Sanshun Town caught wind of the news that big shots from the county had paid Li Pin a visit because he had slayed a demonic cat.

Thinking about it, Li Pin told Mrs. Li, "I remember that Sunshine District is not far from Yaoyao's school. Yaoyao will be making the last dash for her final year at school. Why don't you move there to accompany her?"

He hadn't originally been thinking about having Mrs. Li move to a new place. On one hand, he was afraid that Mrs. Li wouldn't be used to it. On the other, he planned to prioritize his cultivation by directing all his cash flow toward improving it.

Most importantly, the mindset he had developed living on Blue Planet instilled in him a sense that things would be very safe in towns. However, the encounter they had been through yesterday suggested otherwise.

In the end, there was a rationale behind the elevated housing prices and increased expenses in both county cities and cities. It was much safer in those places than in villages and towns.

"What about the poultry and crops we have at home...?"

"We can move after the Astral Advent Festival. For the fields, we can just get someone to help to tend to the crops. For the poultry, we can just eat them ourselves. If we can't finish them, we can send them to Eldest Uncle."

Mrs. Li nodded. "Okay."

In reality, when it came to safety, counties couldn't compare to cities, and cities couldn't compare to the province's capital cities.

Third Uncle Li Mingxin had developed his business in the capital city, and his elder sister Li Yunyan had also settled there after her marriage. Li Pin's best option would be to purchase a house in the capital city. However, housing in the capital city was expensive—an apartment would cost two to three million yuan.

There was no way Li Pin could afford a place there before he was done with the Jiang Province Martial Competition. The good thing was that it was only half a year away, and he was not in a hurry.

***

In a high-end villa district in Zanglong City.

Jing Gufeng, Hanyang University's director, gazed at Jing Yunshan.

Jing Yunshan's face was red and swollen, and he wasn't even able to open his left eye.... He looked a little ridiculous.

However, this was a serious meeting.

Jing Gufeng frowned. "How did you end up like this?"

"Li Pin! Li Pin!" Jing Yunshan's eyes were red as if flames were burning inside them. "I want him to aye! I want him to aye!"

"Aye... What aye?"

Jing Gufeng paused for a moment, not quite catching what Jing Yunshan was trying to say. He only realized what Jing Yunshan was saying a few moments later.

He was saying: "I want him to die."

Jing Yunshan had had a few teeth knocked out, and his gums were red and swollen, impeding his speech. That was why Jing Gufeng couldn't understand him at first.

"Dad, see how badly Yunshan was beaten? Li Pin needs to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, everyone will think that we, members of the Jing Family, are easy targets," said Jing Yunshan's father, Jing Zhengqi.

"How do you plan on taking care of this?" Jing Gufeng asked.

"We should start by dismissing him, then seize an opportunity to... recruit a stronger martial artist to ensure he pays double or even ten times the price!" Jing Zhengqi said fiercely.

"Don’t be stupid!" Jing Gufeng reprimanded. "Do you want the whole world to know we're seeking revenge? Are you worried my enemies don't have enough things on me to come after me?"

"But Yunshan is your grandson. We can't simply stand by when he's been assaulted by Li Pin...."

"Using our authority to expel him is the dumbest way for revenge! Do you think that with his current status as a level-two martial artist, he would still care about a mere university degree? Moreover, even if you can find martial artists to deal with him, don't you think that he would have allies to back him up as well? Changfeng Martial Hall's Fang Lingjue isn't to be trifled with!"

"Then... then what do we do? The Jing Family holds considerable fame and prestige in Zanglong City. Your grandson can't have possibly endured this beating for nothing, can he?"

"Martial artists are different from us. While they enjoy privileges, they also easily attract supervision." Jing Gufeng glanced at Jing Yunshan. "I will want you to apologize to Li Pin and seek a reconciliation with him. Moreover, you should take the initiative to provide compensation!"

When Jing Yunshan heard that, his blood pressure shot through the roof and his face turned beet red. "I won't go! I won't go even if I aye..."

"We are good, law-abiding citizens. Naturally, we must act according to the law! Not only do I want you to compensate him, but I also want the compensation to be a huge amount! We'll leave the amount up to him! It doesn't matter if it's three hundred thousand or five hundred thousand! It has to be above one hundred thousand! Then...." Jing Gufeng smirked. "Sue him for extortion!"