Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

Seeing nothing amiss, Master Li could only sigh and cup his hands in greeting, saying, "In that case, I'll have to trouble you officers. I hope you'll take good care of the follow-up matters."

"It's my duty, my duty," the constable replied with a smile.

Li Jiwu stepped forward at the opportune moment, took out a few silver ingots from his sleeve, and quietly stuffed them into the hand of the leading constable, saying gently, "Gentlemen, you've worked hard. This is just a small token for you brothers to have some tea."

The constable weighed the silver in his hand, his smile brightening considerably. He said repeatedly, "Young Master, you're too kind! Rest assured, we will take care of Steward Li's matter properly. We'll first send it to the mortuary for the coroner to go through the motions, and then return the body to the Li family in a couple of days so that Steward Li can be laid to rest as soon as possible."

After saying this, the constables worked together to lift Steward Li's body onto a wooden cart and slowly pushed it toward the mortuary.

Li Chengwen stood there, watching the cart drive away, tears streaming down his face.

Li Jiwu stood behind him, his face still showing deep sorrow, but a hint of barely perceptible pleasure flashed in his eyes.

......

The news of Steward Li's death spread throughout the Li family. Shen Chu overheard it while eating in the cafeteria, but simply shook her head, sighed at the impermanence of life, and didn't think about it any further.

He didn't have a deep relationship with Manager Li. Although the other party had spoken up for him, that goodwill was more out of consideration for interests than a deep friendship.

After finishing work in the evening, he returned to his small hut as usual, settled into a horse stance in the yard, and began practicing the Stone-Crushing Fist.

With each punch, a gust of wind rose, and the internal energy within his body slowly circulated.

He practiced for about an hour, and just as he was getting into the swing of things, the surrounding air suddenly turned cold without warning.

The chill wasn't the cool breeze of a late night, but a sinister, eerie cold. The candlelight beside them flickered a few times and then went out with a whoosh.

Shen Chu's pupils suddenly contracted, and she instinctively dodged to the side!

A jet-black claw swept across the spot where he had just stood, leaving a twisted black trail in the air!

Shen Chu turned over and stood up, then looked closely.

A semi-transparent black shadow hovered in the courtyard, its outline indistinct, vaguely resembling a human shape, yet its face was ferocious.

Its eyes were blood-red, its body was shrouded in thick black mist, and it emitted a low, guttural roar.

The sound seemed to come from an extremely distant place, or as if it exploded directly in my mind.

What the hell!

Although she knew that there were demons and monsters in this world, seeing the real thing still made Shen Chu's heart skip a beat!

Strangely, he didn't feel much fear. Instead, a surge of hot blood rose from his dantian and spread throughout his body!

Shen Chu was unaware that this was the [Blood Courage] that came with becoming a martial artist.

It will automatically activate when facing evil spirits, making the holder's mind stable and courageous!

The dark shadow let out a sharp shriek and pounced on him again, moving so fast that it left afterimages as its claws went straight for his throat!

Seeing this, Shen Chu did not retreat but advanced.

He reached his right hand to his waist, where he found a low-grade short sword that he had recently meticulously forged.

Shen Chu originally intended to protect himself from people, but unexpectedly, he now has to slay ghosts.

He gripped the short sword tightly in his hand, and the [Blood Courage] within Shen Chu's body poured into the blade, causing a faint crimson light to emanate from its edge!

Shen Chu immediately dodged the ghost's claws by sidestepping, and at the same time, he flicked his wrist, sending the short knife slashing upwards at an angle.

The blade sliced ​​through the air, producing a clear, resonant hum.

A cold glint suddenly appeared!

With a "whoosh" sound!

The ghost's figure suddenly froze in mid-air, a crimson knife mark running diagonally from its left shoulder to its right rib, with sizzling white smoke rising from the wound, like a red-hot iron falling into cold water.

The ghost then let out an extremely shrill scream, its entire body twisting violently before exploding into countless black fragments that dissipated in the night wind.

The chilly atmosphere in the courtyard dissipated.

Shen Chu stood holding the knife, his breathing slightly rapid, but he was extremely excited.

Having been in this world for so long, this was the first time he had ever taken action.

The other party is a ghost!

Amidst his excitement, a deep sense of unease also arose in his heart.

I never leave my house, so when did I get involved with something like this?

Shen Chu frowned, looking at the spot where the ghost had disappeared, and suddenly noticed that thin gray lines had appeared on her body without her noticing.

The thin thread was so faint that it would be difficult to notice unless one was paying close attention. One end was wrapped around his waist, while the other end extended into the darkness in the distance.

What is this thing?

Shen Chu glanced down at the gray thread around his waist, pondered for a moment, and then made a decision.

He then gripped the dagger tightly and leaped after it, following the direction of the gray line.

The gray line meanders through the streets and alleys, moving forward all the way.

Shen Chu moved swiftly, her figure nimbly weaving through the night. After chasing for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the gray line finally stopped in front of a dilapidated mud house.

Shen Chu tiptoed and peered through the crack in the door.

A gaunt, disheveled man sat cross-legged on the ground, with a small straw figure in front of him.

A gray thread was wrapped around the straw man, which was the source of the gray aura connecting to him.

The man was muttering incantations, seemingly activating some kind of magic.

Although the man was so thin he was unrecognizable, Shen Chu recognized him at a glance.

It was Han Tieshan!

Han Tieshan was chanting a spell at this moment.

Suddenly, with a "bang,"

The scarecrow in front of me suddenly exploded, scattering bits of straw all over the ground.

Han Tieshan was struck as if by a heavy blow; he fell backward violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"H-How could this be...?"

Han Tieshan clutched his chest, his face filled with disbelief.

His spell clearly succeeded, and he didn't mispronounce the incantation, so why did it backfire?!

He was both shocked and furious, trembling with rage. He roared at the empty room, "Shen Chu! You son of a bitch! I'll haunt you even as a ghost! You wait! I'll tear you to pieces!"

"Have you said enough?"

A cold voice came from the doorway, interrupting Han Tieshan's roar.

Han Tieshan suddenly looked up and saw a figure standing at the door.

Moonlight streamed in through the open wooden door, outlining the person's figure.

It was Shen Chu.

He stood there expressionless, holding a short knife that still gleamed with a faint red light, his eyes calm.

Han Tieshan's pupils suddenly contracted. In terror, he instinctively reached for the straw doll fragments on the ground, wanting to activate the spell again.

A flash of cold light appeared!

With a single slash, Han Tieshan's right hand was severed at the wrist, and blood gushed out immediately!

With the second strike, his left hand also flew off!