In Baojia Village, Ping'an Town, De'an County.
Liang Song had stepped down from the excavator and stood before his house, looking as sturdy and imposing as a pine tree.
County Magistrate Sun Da and Town Mayor Liu Qiang, having grown impatient, shoved aside Old Bai, the village head who was still chattering away, and roared directly at Zhang Chong.
"Did I bring you here to watch a show? Don't you want your money?"
"Get to work!"
Zhang Chong gnashed his teeth in secret, glared at Liang Song, and threatened, "This is your last chance. Get out of the way!"
Liang Song didn't budge. Standing beside him were Grandma Liang and Mother Liang, both stricken with grief yet resolute.
"This is our home. Don't you even think about forceful demolition!"
Zhang Chong’s eyes flickered with a sinister light, then he walked over to Liu Qiang and Sun Da.
"I've tried both soft and hard tactics. This family is completely stubborn; they refuse to move."
Sun Da lifted his eyes, glanced at Liang Song’s defiant expression, and sneered while fiddling with his fingers.
"Why are you asking me? If they want to die, just send them on their way."
Zhang Chong wasn't afraid of causing a death, but he was afraid of legal repercussions later. "Is that really okay?"
Sun Da sensed the uneasy gazes of the people around them and straightened his posture. "What are you afraid of?"
"Even if the sky falls, I'm here to hold it up."
"Here in De'an County, I am the sky!"
Liu Qiang stood by, fawning over Sun Da, "Exactly, exactly! A bunch of old, weak, sick, and disabled people—getting rid of them just saves food."
"With our County Magistrate here, what else is there to worry about!"
Old Bai the village head shook his head incessantly upon hearing this, but he was merely a small-town official with absolutely no say in the matter.
The villagers were filled with righteous indignation, but they dared not act. They knew that Sun Da was a local despot, a tyrant; even if he truly killed someone, nothing would happen to him. To save their own lives, they all had to endure it.
Except for Liang Song’s family.
"Do it! If they’re looking for death, grant their wish!"
Receiving the order, the malice in Zhang Chong’s eyes was fully exposed.
"Boys, get your limbs moving! To work!"
The excavator started up again. All of Zhang Chong’s henchmen formed a circle, glaring at Liang Song and the others like starving tigers.
Grandma Liang raised her cane, and Mother Liang picked up a rolling pin. Both were prepared to risk their lives.
Seeing this, Liang Song pressed their hands down.
"Grandma, Mom, I’ve called Uncle Zhao. He’ll be back soon."
"I have already lost my father; I cannot lose you both."
"If you fight, you’ll only distract me."
Liang Song gripped their hands, his gaze earnest. "Please, trust me. I won't let them hurt me. I will buy us time until Uncle Zhao sends help."
"Before that, just stay here obediently, okay?"
Grandma Liang’s eyes welled with tears, and Mother Liang couldn't bear the sight. But they both knew Liang Song was right—they couldn't hold him back.
Liang Song held their loosening hands, settled them to the side, then picked up a tree branch from the ground and walked slowly out of the house.
"You will all pay the price for what you've done!"
Zhang Chong lunged forward swinging a shovel. "Price, my ass! Die!"
Liang Song dodged with quick reflexes and struck back fiercely with the branch, hitting Zhang Chong squarely in the back of the knee. Zhang Chong lost control and crashed face-first into the dirt.
Seeing this, the henchmen hesitated and began to whisper among themselves.
"He was going to enlist in the military, right? Does he have some training?"
"Looking at him, he seems a bit dangerous."
These henchmen were all local loafers; they were good at stealing small items or harassing village girls, but when it came to a real fight, they only knew how to use brute force with no technique at all.
Zhang Chong spat out blood, looked at these cowards, and cursed, "He's just one man! All of you, get him together!"
Still, they hesitated. Zhang Chong barked, "If you don't move now, I’ll kill you myself later!"
The henchmen lived in constant fear of Zhang Chong’s intimidation. Hearing his threat, they gritted their teeth and swung their clubs.
"Ah!"
Liang Song kept his focus sharp. His movements were swift, and his strikes were relentless. Anyone he knocked down groaned for a long time before they could even crawl back up.
Seeing this, Zhang Chong threw his shovel aside, grabbed a sickle from a nearby pile of straw, and prepared to strike from behind.
Although his henchmen were just low-level thugs, there were many of them. Liang Song was gradually running out of stamina. At that moment, Zhang Chong saw his chance and launched a sneak attack from the rear.
"Song'er! Watch out!"
Although Mother Liang warned him in time, she was no match for Zhang Chong’s speed. Liang Song could only dodge by instinct. The sickle slashed down his arm, shredding his brand-new military uniform.
Bright red blood dripped onto the yellow sand, forming a pool in the blink of an eye.
Liang Song looked at the gash on his arm; it was so deep he could almost see the bone. He gritted his teeth, telling himself he had to hold on.
Suddenly, a "ding" sounded in his mind.
"Host has chosen to protect family. Obtained physical enhancement; rapid wound healing!"
Liang Song didn't understand what was happening, but he clearly felt the strength that had been draining from his body returning to its peak, perhaps even stronger. Even the pain in his arm had dulled significantly.
Zhang Chong and his men were surrounding him again.
Liang Song tore off a strip of fabric from his ruined uniform and quickly wrapped it around his wound. Then, he picked up a charred log from the ground and faced his enemies once more!
Zhang Chong watched Liang Song’s surging aura and felt a sense of bewilderment. However, he had a bad premonition, so he backed away and issued an order:
"Boys! Charge!"
The emboldened henchmen rushed forward. Every move they made was aimed at Liang Song, but not a single one landed on him.
It was as if Liang Song had divine help; he countered every move with ease, seemingly possessing an inexhaustible supply of strength. The men didn't notice anything strange at first, but soon, they couldn't even touch him, and one kick from Liang Song made them howl in agony.
Gradually, no one dared to move forward again.
Watching Liang Song grow more valiant with every strike, Zhang Chong cursed, "Is this kid on stimulants? He’s injured and still this fierce? He’s like a wild animal!"
Liang Song stood holding the charred log, looking like a god of war descended to earth.
His gaze swept over each of them like a torch. No one dared to meet his eyes, and no one had the courage to crawl up again.
In the end, only Zhang Chong remained standing.
Liang Song remembered how Zhang Chong had stomped on the nameplate earlier, his face twisted in cruelty.
He took a step, slowly approaching Zhang Chong.
Zhang Chong knew he was no match for Liang Song; he was terrified, yet refused to admit defeat.
"What are you doing? Just because you’re a soldier, you think you can beat people up and bully ordinary folks?!"
Liang Song looked at his shameless expression and slowly raised the charred log...