Nine Nether Heavenly Emperor

"Like us poor villagers, no matter what, we could never afford to buy a horse.

You stole a horse from a powerful family, and it's not only jeopardizing yourself but it also implicates everyone in our village.

The village chief, considering your youth and ignorance, merely wanted you to return the horse and as a minor punishment, to have your hands broken, then take you to apologize in person, hoping that if the other party sees that you understand your mistake, they might forgive you and spare your life.

But no, instead of appreciating the village chief's kindness, you dared to insult him. Your own death isn't imminent enough for you, or do you want to doom the entire village?"

From the crowd behind Yangg Dexian, another middle-aged man in blue robes shouted loudly.

Shi Feng had some memory of this man; he was one of the very few in Xiuling Village who could read and write.

If it were like what he said, if he were still the old Shi Feng, who had accidentally obtained a horse, he would have to lose his hands.

With no hands, it would mean losing the ability to live; with a seriously ill mother who couldn't rise from her bed at home, and a young sister, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Possibly, just because of these people's baseless speculations, he and his mother and sister might be starved to death.

Thinking of this, Shi Feng's expression grew darker and darker.

With a "snap," the low hedge was knocked over by six brawny men, who then rushed into the yard, continuing towards Shi Feng.

"Six idiots!" Shi Feng didn't back down but stepped forward instead.

"The customs of our Xiuling Village villagers have always been simple; we've never had a thief like Shi Feng before. This matter must be dealt with severely, beat him half to death first," Yangg Dexian coldly ordered from behind, in his eyes Shi Feng was as good as half-dead already!

This was the first lowlife in the village who didn't take himself seriously. Without beating him half to death, he couldn't quell the rage in his heart.

"Ah!" A scream rang out, which to Yangg Dexian's ears sounded especially soothing. His mouth slowly curved into a smile with each cry of pain.

Then, Yangg Dexian suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" The screams were relentless. Yangg Dexian saw six towering figures being thrown backwards, flying towards him.

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!" The six thuds sounded like sandbags hitting the ground, and Yangg Dexian saw that the six sturdy men who had rushed over were now all lying in front of him.

"Ah! My hand, my hand is broken!"

"Ah! My hand is broken too, ah!"

...

The six men lay on the ground, wailing as if in great pain, their cries merging into a chorus.

And looking ahead at Shi Feng, not a single part of his body seemed harmed, showing no signs of having been in a fight.

At that moment, he was taking steps forward, one after another.

"This... how could this be..." The outcome was far beyond Yangg Dexian's expectations, and he stood dumbfounded, still not having come to grips with the situation.

"Ah! Not good!" Yangg Dexian suddenly woke up to the danger; he realized that Shi Feng was getting closer with each step, only a few more and he would reach him.

Looking at the young and tender face before him, a smirk now played at the corners of Shi Feng's mouth, his expression full of mockery.

Yang Dexian stepped backward in terror, turning his head to shout to those behind him, "Quick, someone grab him! If we don't capture him and make him apologize, he will doom the entire village!"

The villagers behind Yang Dexian were stunned by the scene that had just unfolded. These were six robust men accustomed to hard labor, yet in a matter of breaths, they had been taken down by the young Shi Family member.

Yang Dexian's bellowing brought them back from their shock, but at that moment, who would dare to step forward? Six strong men had been knocked down in just a few breaths, and their remaining twenty-odd villagers might suffer the same fate if they charged together—and even if they could win, who would dare to be the first to rush in?

What was ruthless about Shi Feng was that he had the audacity to break the hands of those who confronted him. They were all farmers, the pillars of their families. Without their hands, what would become of their crops? Their fields? Their aging parents, wives, and children at home?

Seeing no one step forward, Yang Dexian roared at them, "What? You won't even listen to me now? Do you still recognize me as this village's—"

Yang Dexian's words were cut off midway as he suddenly felt a tight grip around his throat; a strong hand was choking him.

Turning his head in fear and tracing the arm, he once again saw that young face, full of scorn.

"You... let go of me... I am the village chief of Xiuling Village, you cannot be disrespectful to me!" Yang Dexian shouted at Shi Feng.

"Heh, is that so?" Shi Feng chuckled, his lips curling into a smile as he lifted Yang Dexian off the ground with his right hand.

"Ah! Uh! Erh!" Yang Dexian's face turned crimson with pain and discomfort as he kicked wildly in mid-air. His hands desperately gripped Shi Feng's wrist, trying to pry the latter's hand from his neck, but Shi Feng's grip was like a iron vice, tightening further with every tug.

"Erh! Erh! Erh!" Yang Dexian emitted continuous painful groans from his mouth as if he were on the verge of asphyxiation.

Despite his pitiful state, Shi Feng had no sympathy for the old man, staring coldly at Yang Dexian as he said, "When you wanted to break my hands, to beat me senseless, you should have prepared yourself to be beaten half to death."

Having said that, Shi Feng threw his hand down, smashing Yang Dexian into the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

"Cough cough... cough cough..." Yang Dexian lay on the ground, face soiled and in disarray, coughing violently. He had thought his nightmare had ended, but just as he managed to half-lift himself off the ground, he felt a sudden, agonizing pain in his back as if being struck by a heavy hammer.

"Ah! Ow!" A sharp cry echoed as Yang Dexian choked, a stream of bright red liquid uncontrollably sprayed from his mouth, and he collapsed back down.

Shi Feng stood on Yang Dexian's back with a cold sneer, "I haven't beaten you half to death yet, and I haven't broken your hands. Did you think it was over?"

"Hiss!"

"Hiss!"

The sound of sharp intakes of breath came from the front, as more than twenty uninjured villagers exchanged glances, each seeing relief in the other's eyes. Fortunately, they had restrained themselves from rushing forward earlier.

No one would have thought that this seemingly frail and reticent young man from the Shi Family, who seemed rather honest, could be so fierce, so ruthless.

"Crack!" The silent night was pierced by a crisp sound, making everyone's heart lurch with a violent jerk, "Ah!" Followed by another agonized squeal from Yang Dexian, as if someone slaughtered a pig.

Just then, the onlookers saw Shi Feng lift his foot and step down on Yang Dexian's right arm. The last crisp sound they had heard was the sound of Yang Dexian's bones breaking.

A chill ran through the night air, sending shivers up everyone's spine.

"Crack!"

"Ah!"

The same sound echoed in the night, and numerous people covered their ears with their hands, unable to bear listening any longer.