Moments later, the carriage was ready.
Shen Zhaoxue, accompanied by her maid Shuang'er, followed the Lin family servant toward the Lin estate.
They hadn't gone far from the Shen residence when a bright, melodic voice called out from the side of the street.
"Zhaoxue!"
Shen Zhaoxue lifted the curtain and saw a lively girl in a moon-white dress waving at her with a smile.
"Luoluo? What are you doing here?"
Zhaoxue's face lit up with surprise and joy.
The girl was Jiang Luo, the county magistrate's only daughter—and Zhaoxue's closest friend, as dear as a sister.
"I was just on my way to visit you," Jiang Luo chirped, walking over. "Didn't expect to run into you here."
"I'm heading to the Lin estate," Shen Zhaoxue replied, her cheeks tinged pink. "Lin Feng invited me to discuss details of our upcoming wedding."
"Then I'm coming with you!" Jiang Luo's eyes sparkled. "You've been talking my ears off about how handsome and charming this Lin Feng is. I've been dying to see him for myself."
Jiang Luo rarely interacted with the Lin family and had never met Lin Feng.
Zhaoxue smiled, delighted. "Sure, hop in."
Once seated in the carriage, Jiang Luo said, "The Lin family's one of the three great clans of Qingshan County. Lin Feng's the heir apparent—when you marry him, you'll be the future mistress of the Lin household."
Zhaoxue gave a demure smile. "What matters is that Lin Feng and I truly care for each other. I'm not marrying him for status."
"Oh, listen to you—so romantic and selfless!" Jiang Luo teased with a laugh. "My sweet Zhaoxue, the lovestruck fool."
Then her tone softened. "Speaking of the Lin family… I wonder how that eldest young master, Lin Yi, is doing now? He was once the brightest talent in Qingshan's younger generation. I still can't believe he ended up crippled—it's such a pity."
Zhaoxue's smile froze.
"Why bring up that useless trash?" she snapped, her voice edged with irritation.
Jiang Luo blinked, realizing she had touched a nerve. She quickly raised her hands. "Ah, my mistake—forget I said anything."
A short while later, the carriage rolled into the Lin family estate.
A servant led the three of them through several courtyards before stopping outside a secluded garden.
"Miss Shen, Young Master Lin Feng is waiting inside," the servant said politely.
Zhaoxue nodded, smiling softly as she stepped forward, her every movement elegant and refined. Shuang'er followed closely behind, and Jiang Luo—curious as ever—trailed along.
As they entered the courtyard, they saw a young man seated by a stone table.
He wore a simple white robe, his long black hair tied high, a few loose strands brushing against his forehead in the breeze. His features were clear and graceful—like a refined scholar from the southern rivers.
The sight made Shen Zhaoxue freeze.
That face—
Lin Yi!
Why was he here?
Where was Lin Feng?
Her thoughts tumbled over each other in disbelief.
Even Shuang'er stood rooted in place, eyes wide.
Only Jiang Luo was unaffected, her gaze bright with astonishment.
She tugged lightly at Zhaoxue's sleeve and whispered, "Zhaoxue, is this your fiancé? He's even more handsome than you said—elegant, composed… even I feel a little tempted."
Zhaoxue's expression darkened.
This man wasn't Lin Feng—he was Lin Yi, the so-called crippled eldest son!
At that moment, the young man at the stone table rose to his feet and said calmly, "Shen Zhaoxue, we meet again."
Zhaoxue's brows furrowed sharply. "Lin Yi, you worthless cripple! What are you doing here? Where's Lin Feng?"
Jiang Luo blinked, stunned. This striking young man was the Lin family's fallen prodigy? What was going on?
Lin Yi took a slow step forward, his tone light and casual.
"Lin Feng? He's dead. I killed him."
Zhaoxue's body trembled. "Nonsense! You—someone weaker than a commoner—couldn't possibly kill Lin Feng!"
Lin Yi's smile widened, faint but chilling.
"Believe it or don't. It doesn't matter to me. I called you here today for one reason—"
His figure blurred, vanishing like smoke.
"—to take your life."
When he reappeared, he stood right before her, his hand snapping out to seize her pale, delicate arm.
Zhaoxue's eyes widened in horror.
This man… wasn't he crippled by me?How could he possibly move this fast?
Shen Zhaoxue barely had time to react before his hand clamped down on her arm. She struggled desperately, trying to wrench free—but to her horror, she couldn't.Even with her cultivation at the Body Forging Realm, his strength was overwhelming.
Then—
"Rip—!"
A wet, tearing sound split the air.
Her pale, flawless arm was ripped clean from her shoulder.
Blood burst forth in a crimson fountain, splattering across the courtyard stones.
"AAAHHH!"
Her scream pierced the air. She clutched her bleeding stump, face contorted in agony, sweat pouring down her brow.
What's happening?How can he be this strong?
Terror and disbelief filled her eyes.
Beside her, Shuang'er's legs buckled beneath her. The maid stared at Lin Yi as though she were looking at a monster.
How could the crippled young master be this powerful?
Even Jiang Luo stood frozen, her hand covering her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
The entire county believed Lin Yi's cultivation had been destroyed—that he was a useless, broken man.Yet now, he'd torn apart a cultivator like Shen Zhaoxue as if she were made of paper.
He looked nothing like a cripple—he looked like a demon.
Shen Zhaoxue staggered backward, her voice trembling with terror.
"Lin Yi! You can't kill me! I'm the daughter of the Shen family—if you kill me, my clan will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"
Jiang Luo finally snapped out of her shock, her voice shaking.
"Lin Yi, please, calm down! Zhaoxue might've broken off the engagement after you were crippled, but she never truly hurt you—don't kill her!"
Lin Yi's tone was cold as winter steel.
"She crippled me. You call that not hurting me?"
He pulled back his arm—then drove a fist forward.
Boom!
The impact sent Shen Zhaoxue flying, her body crashing hard against the courtyard wall. Blood spilled from her mouth in a crimson spray.
But it wasn't enough.Nowhere near enough.
In an instant, Lin Yi appeared before her again.
He slammed her face against the wall, his voice low and trembling with fury.
"One for the poison you used to destroy my dantian and shatter my meridians!"Bang!
"One for the slop you told the servants to feed me—food not even dogs would eat!"Bang!
"And one for grinding me into the dirt—again and again!"Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Shen Zhaoxue—YOU DESERVE TO DIE!"
His fists crashed into her body like a relentless storm. Bones cracked. Flesh split. Blood splattered across the courtyard stones.
"AAAHHH!"
Her screams echoed, high and desperate, before turning into choking sobs.
"Lin Yi… please… I was wrong… I was wrong!"
"Then confess to the King of Hell."
His voice was flat, lifeless.
He didn't stop. He didn't hesitate.
Punch after punch fell until her body was nothing but mangled ruin.
Only then did Lin Yi lower his fist.
[Target: Shen Zhaoxue — Brutality to Death. Violence Points +200]
The courtyard was silent save for the dripping of blood.
Jiang Luo's face went white as snow, her stomach twisting violently. She nearly vomited on the spot.
She could never have imagined that coming here with her friend today would end like this.
Shuang'er had already collapsed, trembling uncontrollably.
He had killed her mistress.
A demon—he was a demon!
Lin Yi bent down, picked up Shen Zhaoxue's severed head, and tossed it at Shuang'er's feet.
"Take this to your master," he said coldly. "Tell the head of the Shen family that I killed Shen Zhaoxue."
Without another glance, he turned and walked back toward the inner courtyard, flicking the blood from his hands.
Shuang'er let out a strangled cry, scrambling to her feet before fleeing in blind terror.
She had to tell the master.Only he could avenge her mistress.
Jiang Luo didn't dare stay either. She turned and ran, her heart pounding.
Shen Zhaoxue is dead… The Shen family will never let this go…
"Qingshan County is about to drown in chaos," she whispered to herself, pale as a ghost.
Back in his courtyard, Lin Yi opened his system panel.
[Violence Points: 210]