Bizarre Cultivation: Starting from Being Beaten Up by Reality

Chapter 104 Arima, Get Out!

There were shadowy figures moving about in the reeds. Lin Fan took out a ghost mask and put it on his face.

I don't know where these people come from, but they're definitely after me.

Several spears pierced through the reeds. Lin Fan ducked and disappeared into the reeds. In an instant, several screams came from somewhere.

These spears were made with sharpened bamboo as spearheads. Lin Fan recognized these people immediately; they were the county's militia.

"How did these militiamen get here so quickly?"

These militiamen were also wearing bamboo armor, clearly coming fully armed. Some even carried small wooden bows, but thankfully the reeds concealed their weapons, preventing them from being used effectively.

County Magistrate Lin, mounted on his horse, watched the figures darting through the reeds in the distance, his eyes slightly narrowed. In his hand he held an incense burner; he had just rescued Lin Fugui's body from the fire and placed a drop of his blood in the burner to burn.

As long as it doesn't exceed twelve hours, this treasure can emit green smoke to track down the murderer who killed that person.

"This furnace is commonly known as the 'Death-Sending Furnace,' supposedly because its previous owners all died because of it. I think it's a useful treasure, though. Tracking down the murderer is inevitably dangerous, so this is probably just sensationalism."

Lin, the county magistrate, finally saw the figure in the reeds, wearing the same ghost-face mask as the one on the wanted poster. His heart skipped a beat, and his hand on the reins trembled.

"Don't overthink it. No matter how powerful this person is, he's still just one person. He should be fine."

County Magistrate Lin was originally a martial arts graduate and had served in the army in his early years, cultivating himself to the third level of martial arts. However, he had not fought anyone for many years, and now, due to old age, his energy and blood had weakened considerably.

He drew his iron mace and held it in his hand, shouting loudly, "You scoundrel Liu Feng, surrender now!"

Lin Fan stepped on a fallen militiaman, his head popping out of the reeds as he glanced at the middle-aged man on horseback in the distance. Who was this man? He looked to be of high status, but Lin Fan didn't recognize him at all.

County Lieutenant Lin continued, “At the age of twenty-eight, I passed the military examination and achieved the third rank in bravery and strength. I served under Lieutenant Jiang on the frontier for ten years. After returning home, I served as the County Lieutenant of Baishi County, personally managing all affairs, dividing and judging various departments, cutting off the pursuit of taxes, collecting and leading the collection of taxes, inspecting the archers, and prohibiting treachery and violence. For more than ten years, the four borders were at peace. Today, I fought bravely against the bandit leader Liu Feng, captured him and brought him to justice, so as to put the people’s hearts at ease!”

County Magistrate Lin wasn't speaking to Lin Fan directly, but rather hoping that once this matter was resolved and he had apprehended the wanted criminal, he and these words would be remembered in history. Of course, he hoped the historians would embellish them for him.

From County Magistrate Lin's perspective, Liu Feng was indeed formidable, continuously reaping heads even when surrounded by numerous militiamen. In reality, Lin Fan himself was far less powerful than his mechanical beast, Xiao Yi.

The dark brown mechanical ant was completely at home; no one could detect its presence. It bit a person's calf and yanked, causing the person to collapse in pain. Xiao Yi then pounced and severed the person's throat.

While everyone's attention was focused on Lin Fan, Xiao Yi had already taken down several people behind his back, which allowed Lin Fan to inexplicably break through the encirclement.

Lin Fan gritted his teeth. He wasn't even in the mood to retort to County Commandant Lin. "Why didn't you do anything about the evil deeds of the Feng and Ma families? Why didn't you do anything about the bandits robbing people along the way? Why didn't you do anything about Lin Fugui turning so many living people into mechanical puppets?"

Now is not the time for empty talk; his situation is indeed very dangerous, and he needs to find a way to break out. Lin Fan has already taken two strength pills, and judging from his senses, he is much stronger than before, but he can only withstand the effects of three strength pills at the same time.

Lin Fan looked at the reeds around him and made up his mind. Like Ze Zhishan, they were all wooden weapons anyway. He took out his red sickle and clashed with the black blade.

The sickle deflected several bamboo spears that were thrust at him, and one militiaman inexplicably screamed and fell to the ground. Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Fan used his black knife to slit the throat of another.

To those not far away, Lin Fan seemed incredibly brave, as if he had three heads and six arms, always managing to escape danger.

With no distractions around him, Lin Fan resumed hammering the two knives back and forth until sparks flew. The blisters on his hands had all burst, leaving them a bloody mess, but he was completely oblivious to the pain at that moment.

"I am about to perform a ritual to summon the Kitchen God to descend to earth and assist me. If you do not wish to have your life taken, leave immediately!"

Many militiamen were considering retreating. They had been somewhat intimidated by Lin Fan's previous attacks and felt that he was like a ghost or a god. It seemed quite normal that he could actually summon gods.

Seeing the militiamen stop, County Magistrate Lin shouted from behind, "Don't believe this man's nonsense! The imperial court has ordered us to protect the territory and its people; even ghosts and gods dare not disobey the emperor's orders. Anyone who disobeys will be executed, and their family will suffer the consequences!"

Lin Fan was covered in sweat, and the veins on his head were bulging. "Fine, County Commandant, if Heaven doesn't favor you, then I'll offer your head as a sacrifice to the heavens."

Keng!

As soon as he uttered those words, a large ball of flame erupted between the two swords clashing.

Lin Fan himself almost thought he had really summoned the Kitchen God. However, apart from the unusually large flame, there were no other strange phenomena.

The reeds were set ablaze, and the militiamen nearby immediately retreated a considerable distance. How insignificant humanity is before the power of nature.

County Magistrate Lin's face was ashen, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Lin Fan rolled around in the mud a few times, his whole body covered in wet mud, before bursting out of the reeds. Xiao Yi followed suit, covered in mud as well. His target was County Lieutenant Lin; once this leader was dead, his men wouldn't fight him to the death. To be honest, County Lieutenant Lin and he had no real connection; this life-or-death struggle was merely for self-preservation.

Seeing Lin Fan about to rush forward, County Lieutenant Lin didn't choose to flee. He, a dignified county lieutenant, would lose all face if he ran away because of a wanted criminal. He roared at the militiamen beside him, drawing his iron mace and brandishing it at them, "Charge! Don't listen to this charlatan's lies! Go and capture him! Fight to the death, or else! Anyone thinking of deserting, think of your families!"

Despite the county constable's long-standing authority, the militiamen still took up their weapons to resist Lin Fan.

As the fire spread, the bamboo spears and armor were heated up, greatly reducing the militia's strength.

Lin Fan himself was also suffering. The sweltering heat made it hard for him to breathe, and the knife in his hand felt like a branding iron. His hands were sizzling with black smoke.

Xiao Yi had already run far away, and its wooden body could hardly withstand the high temperature. It was so anxious that it kept spinning in circles, and its inability to go up and help Lin Fan made it even more anxious.

"Come on, you're going to risk your life for this corrupt official, huh?"

County Commandant Lin sneered, "Liu Feng, you still want to sow discord? My brothers aren't ordinary people who can be fooled by a few words from you. They've benefited a lot from following me."

Lin Fan knew this was a tough nut to crack, and that the situation couldn't be changed with just a few words.

After swallowing the third power pill he had been holding in his hand, Lin Fan's body began to change again. In the sweltering heat, his face turned purplish-red. His muscles bulged all over his body, and he grew to the size of a small giant.

Lin Fan swung his twin swords, sweeping away several militiamen whose gun barrels were already charred, leaving them with several knife wounds.

County Magistrate Lin, hoping to use his horse's advantage to defeat Lin Fan, was about to spur his horse forward when it neighed and collapsed to the ground. At that crucial moment, Xiao Yi had bitten off one of its legs.

"The version needs an update, Arima's dead!"