Chapter Three: Call Me Big Brother Fatty

The two men behind the scar-faced brute watched in shock as their leader was struck in the face and blood burst from his nose. Rolling up their sleeves, they prepared to rush forward.

But just then, a shadowy figure sprang out from behind, wielding a hefty club.

Without warning, the newcomer brought the club down hard on the back of the two thugs’ heads.

Thud! Thud!

Two muffled crashes sounded. Before the scar-faced man's companions could even plant their feet, they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Lin Cheng rolled his neck and slung the club over his shoulder. Chewing on the stalk of wild grass in his mouth, he strode over and jabbed the two toppled men with his foot, muttering to himself, “I only used thirty percent of my strength…”

The scar-faced man, clutching his bleeding nose, looked from Lin Hu to Lin Cheng, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. The thought that he was actually afraid of two greenhorns made him bristle with shame. Shaking his head, he sneered at them, voice venomous:

“So, you want to stick your nose in other people’s business? Don’t blame me for gutting you right here…”

As he spoke, he drew a gleaming dagger from his animal-hide belt. The blade shimmered coldly in the evening light.

Seeing this, Lin Cheng and Lin Hu felt a chill. They knew the scar-faced man meant to kill.

They decided to strike first.

Lin Cheng charged forward, club raised high. He swung it fiercely at the man’s brow—the length of the club granting him an advantage over the dagger.

The scar-faced man sidestepped right, barely dodging the blow, and stabbed forward with his right hand. Lin Cheng retreated, evading the dagger and sweeping the club in a wide arc. The two began a tense exchange, blow for blow.

Watching Lin Cheng narrowly avoid several stabs, Lin Hu’s anxiety spiked. Unsure how to help, he glanced around, snatched up a stone from the ground, and hurled it at the attacker.

Stone after stone flew at the scar-faced man. Despite his dodging, one finally found its mark.

Clang! Clang!

A series of sharp cracks rang out. The scar-faced man, locked in combat with Lin Cheng, suddenly clutched his head and leapt away in pain.

“Damn you, playing dirty! Have you no shame?”

Lin Cheng seized the opportunity, rushing forward and bringing the club down hard on the man’s arm.

The man cried out in pain, dropping the dagger.

Without hesitation, Lin Cheng struck again and again, the final blow smashing into the man's face, leaving it a bloody ruin.

Dazed, the scar-faced man toppled backward, sending up a cloud of dust.

Lin Hu shouted, running over to deliver a few extra kicks for good measure.

“Impressive, lunatic…”

“Those last few swings were almost too much to watch. I’m amazed this guy’s skull didn’t crack open…”

Dusting off his hands, Lin Hu walked over to the girl in green, grinning sheepishly.

“You’re safe now.”

The girl, still shaken, had clearly never witnessed such violence before. At Lin Hu’s words, she lifted her head slightly, casting a shy glance at the plump, grinning boy before her—a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

“Th-thank you… If not for you two today, I… I really don’t know what would’ve happened…” The memory made her shiver.

“It was nothing. Let me introduce you to my brother…” Lin Hu said, leading her toward Lin Cheng.

Lin Cheng, having caught his breath, managed a small smile. Though the fight had ended without harm, facing a knife-wielding brute for the first time left him unsettled—after all, they were still just boys.

“Is everyone alright?” Lin Cheng asked.

“With a madman like you in front, how could anything happen to us…” Lin Hu replied, then turned to the girl, “This is my brother Lin Cheng, my best friend since we were toddlers…”

“By the way, miss, may I ask your name?”

The girl in green dipped her head to Lin Cheng with a sweet smile. “I’m Xiaocui, from Xishan Town. I came out with my elders to see the sights… I heard Qingyang Town is bustling and full of delicious food…”

“I sneaked out when my elders weren’t looking, planning to visit for a day and return. Who knew I’d run into trouble on the way… I’m truly grateful to both of you!” She bowed again.

“What’s your name?” Xiaocui asked Lin Hu shyly.

Being asked his name by such a pretty girl, Lin Hu grew flustered. “I—I’m Lin Hu, double wood Lin, tiger as in the animal. You… you can call me Fat Brother, like before. I kinda like it, heh…”

Xiaocui couldn’t help but laugh at his foolishness, her guard melting away.

“What should we do with these three?” Lin Cheng glanced at the unconscious thugs.

“Just bury them alive… Bastards daring to commit such deeds in broad daylight deserve to die…” Lin Hu fumed.

Lin Cheng thought for a moment. “They deserve it, but still… Let’s turn them over to the authorities. Tie them up first…”

The two boys set about removing the men’s belts, using them to bind their captives.

When they’d finished, Lin Hu cheerfully trotted over to Xiaocui. “Xiaocui, let me escort you home. What if more trouble shows up on the road…”

“And I’ll report these three to the officials on the way.”

——

After this unexpected encounter, by the time the two returned to the village, the sky was already studded with stars.

Strolling along the village path, surrounded by the chirping of insects and the glitter of the night sky, Lin Cheng felt a rare tranquility.

Unbidden, memories of the day’s events on the testing platform flooded his mind, leaving him dazed.

“We’re home, Fatty. See you tomorrow…”

Seeing Lin Hu’s lovestruck, silly expression, Lin Cheng knew his friend was already thinking of the green-clad girl named Xiaocui.

Back home, Lin Cheng noticed his parents’ light was already out. He slipped quietly into his own room.

Resting his hands behind his head, he lay on the wooden bed, staring vacantly at the ceiling.

He replayed everything that had happened—the Metal Spirit Root, Qingyang Sect, the gentle girl named Xu Xin’er… and then…

A sudden thought made him sit up, a hint of anxiety in his eyes as he looked at his right palm.

“Strange, why isn’t it there…” Lin Cheng muttered.

He distinctly remembered seeing a sword-shaped sigil appear in the center of his palm earlier that day.

He recalled that vast expanse of starry sky, and the primordial, chaotic world within the mirror—it had all felt so real.

Maybe, he thought, there was a way to reactivate the sword mark.

He didn’t know exactly what the sword sigil or those visions meant, but he had an intuition: this might be a stroke of destiny.

After sorting his thoughts, he decided to follow the method the Qingyang Sect elder had taught him for testing his spiritual root.

Calming his breath, he focused his mind, seeking to sense the energy flow within his body.

But he had yet to open his dantian, still standing outside the true path of cultivation. Without the elder’s guidance, it was difficult to sense any inner energy.

After half a stick of incense, sweat beaded on Lin Cheng’s forehead.

Still, he felt nothing.

Just as he was about to give up…

A surge of golden light burst forth within him, so brilliant it seemed ready to pierce through his skin.

His awakened Metal Spirit Root surged through his body like a golden dragon.

Moments later, a green sword sigil began to appear, floating above his right palm.

Sensing the change, Lin Cheng opened his eyes, staring in astonishment at the mark.

Suddenly, his mind trembled—he was once again transported into that boundless, star-lit sky.

Above him, the chaotic mirror-world still hung in the void.

The sight left him awestruck, as it had before.

As he stood in wonder, a voice drifted down from somewhere in the starry expanse.

“Hmm?”