Chapter 003: Troubles Unceasing

Shen Duo watched the crowd with a cold gaze, her sharp eyes sweeping to the few who had just followed behind Shen Yan. The meaning was clear: who else wants to try?

The onlookers held their breath as they watched this uneven confrontation. They were eager to see Shen Duo's true strength, and their curiosity about her had only grown. Yet they couldn't act themselves, so they pinned their hopes on the remaining few, glancing expectantly in their direction.

Those few looked uneasy under the collective gaze. They had lived on this street long enough to know what was what. Among them, Shen Yan was the strongest, yet even he had been defeated by this so-called weakling—how could they stand a chance? But if it wasn't a one-on-one duel, if they all went together, perhaps the outcome would be different.

The same cunning idea flashed through their minds. Exchanging a quick look, they began to shout angrily at Shen Duo, “You worthless wretch, how dare you hurt our boss!”

“That’s right! We were going to let you off, but now we won’t hold back. Brothers, let’s go! Beat this trash to a pulp!”

Their threatening words belied the nervousness in their eyes as they fixed their stares on Shen Duo, charging as one at the slender figure standing in the center of the open ground.

Some in the crowd frowned, clearly disapproving of the boys’ shameless tactics, yet none made a move to intervene.

Shen Duo smiled coldly. The rules of this world were indeed brutal—without strength, no one would speak up for you. They would even watch you fall into a trap and do nothing. If it were still the old Shen Duo standing here, wouldn’t she be doomed to suffer and die in misery once more? But she was no longer the girl who allowed herself to be bullied.

The four youths attacked her from different directions. Shen Duo’s sharp gaze swept over them; her left foot drew a circle on the ground, right knee bent slightly as she half-crouched, her hands tracing a Taiji diagram before her. The softness of this posture was a stark contrast to the hard, forceful fists she had used a moment ago.

The boys laughed at her, mocking the gentle, yielding movements. Did she really think such a limp technique could withstand their hard punches? Dream on! Yet without experiencing it for themselves, they would never understand: these seemingly soft, flowing movements could leave them utterly humiliated.

Taiji prized agility and fluidity, relaxed and even strength, orderly opening and closing, the harmony of softness and hardness—it could disperse when moving and unite when still. The boys were at best three or four-star phantasists, their strength nothing compared to Shen Yan’s. In just a few moves, they were thrown to the ground, faces bruised and bloodied, crying out in pain.

She withdrew, coldly gazing at the battered boys curled at her feet. Her voice was icy yet commanding: “Get lost! Don’t let me see you again!” Though she was once a female armed police officer in China, and still held on to humanitarian ideals—even though they had beaten her mercilessly and cared nothing for her life—she could not bring herself to lose all sense of humanity as they had.

The crowd fell silent as death. Only when the boys slunk away, dragging the snarling Shen Yan through the throng, did the murmurs swell. People stared at Shen Duo as if she were a monster, whispering quietly, stealing glances at her, and then—almost in unison—scattering as if to escape a plague.

Though puzzled, Shen Duo paid little heed. Only when she returned to the ramshackle hut and peace settled once more did she finally have a moment to quietly survey this new world.

It was a typical western town: rows of wooden houses lined up neatly, a large windmill turning slowly in the distance, and a tall tower rising some dozens of paces ahead. It was winter, and even under the bright sun, the cold was bone-deep.

As she turned to re-enter the hut, Wang Feng suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grabbed her arm, and pushed her inside, quickly bolting the door behind them.

Wang Feng’s nose was sprinkled with a few freckles, making his smile seem all the more simple and honest, but now his face was clouded with worry, as if disaster were imminent.

Shen Duo was puzzled by his reaction, thinking he was concerned she might have been hurt during the fight. “Wang Feng, I’ve already scared them off, and I’m perfectly fine. You don’t have to worry.”

Her voice was calm, her expression steady, but Wang Feng was too anxious to notice the change in her demeanor. He pulled her to sit on the hard bed. “Shen Duo, you have to pack your things and leave Locheng at once!”

What? Shen Duo could not understand his reasoning. She had defeated them—why should she be forced to leave? It made no sense.

Wang Feng shook his head helplessly. In over a year in Locheng, Shen Duo had rarely left this tiny, dilapidated hut. If not for the meager supplies from her clan, she would have perished long ago. For a direct descendant to have fallen so far—what a tragedy. She almost never interacted with others and so knew little of the town’s tangled relationships.

Shen Yan, just eighteen and already extorting protection money in the streets, was clearly backed by someone.

Seeing the confusion on her face, Wang Feng sighed and explained, “Shen Yan is the cousin of Shen Aofan, and Shen Aofan is the youngest son of Shen Qing, the Lord of Locheng. Now that you’ve injured Shen Yan, and given how close he is to his cousin, Shen Aofan will definitely come for you. Just a few days ago, I heard Shen Aofan was newly promoted to a seven-star phantasist, and his father is looking for a suitable phantasmal beast for him.”

Seven-star phantasists were no joke. Before reaching this level, one could not use a phantasmal beast, but upon becoming a seven-star, you could bond with your own. In battle, with a beast’s assistance, your strength would leap dramatically. Before, a seven-star was merely a martial artist; after, they became a true phantasist.

Shen Duo realized the gravity of the situation, her delicate brows knitting together. Even if she defeated Shen Aofan, there was still Shen Qing, the Lord of Locheng. With his son humiliated, would he not seek vengeance? She remembered hearing about Shen Qing before she came to Locheng—a nine-star grand phantasist with a six-star spirit beast, the Silver Wolf. He was known for his cunning, pettiness, and vindictiveness, never letting a slight go unpunished, fiercely protective of his own. With such a despicable character, few dared provoke him unless they had absolute power.

Wang Feng, seeing that Shen Duo understood, patted her shoulder. “Shen Duo, take care of yourself. I’ve done all I can. Here’s an ointment—my grandmother sent it for you. You’re still injured, so look after yourself! And…” He looked her up and down before continuing. “With your current strength, you could consider returning to the main city. After all, you’re a direct descendant of the Shen family. With a good mentor, I believe you could become someone everyone respects in the future!”

Shen Duo stiffened at the boy’s words. She had thought this world cold and merciless—never expecting to encounter someone who genuinely cared for her. A lovely curve appeared at her lips as she took the ointment. “Thank you, Wang Feng. Even if I leave Locheng, I’ll never forget you. You’ll always be my good friend.”

Wang Feng smiled shyly, glanced at her, and quietly left.

After he was gone, Shen Duo gripped the ointment tightly, gathering all the strength left in her battered body. She raised her right palm—there was still not a trace of phantasmal energy. Her body slumped. As she expected, though she retained her fighting skills, her body was still unable to absorb phantasmal energy. Return to the Shen clan’s main city? Absurd. Even with a new soul, she was still a useless failure, unable to sense phantasmal energy. Even if she had to return someday, it would not be now. She could not forget the scornful words and disdainful looks from the main city. Only when she became a true, unrivaled powerhouse would she return to the Shen family’s stronghold!

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