"That drunkard Lu Zhanpeng finished the wine so quickly?"

"He knows there’s no wine to be found in such a desolate place, yet he drinks so fast."

"Haha, if you don’t let him drink, you might as well kill him!"

"Well, now the wine is gone, and he’s pestering these country folks to get more. These poor souls can’t even afford food, let alone brew wine?"

Their voices were unrestrained, and their unscrupulous laughter caused a strained expression on the surrounding villagers’ faces, yet none dared to show the slightest anger.

Bang!

A loud bang came from inside Gouhuo Tavern, followed by a drunken voice.

"Hurry up! Fill my gourd with wine and bring it to me!! Otherwise—hiccup—otherwise I’ll smash your lousy shop!!"

Liu Jun’s voice responded:

"Dear guest, we don’t sell wine here."

"No wine? How dare you call this place a tavern?! Are you trying to fool me? Do you look down on me?!!"

Zheng Weimin furrowed his brow deeply, turned to look at Su Lin, and said solemnly:

"It’s a bit of a problem, a drunkard. Can you handle it?"

"Not sure, let’s go in and take a look." Su Lin’s words were calm, despite the seriousness on his face, "Uncle Min, if I need to act later, I can handle it on my own."

He unlocked the Bone Lock, entered the First Transformation, and with Divine Speed and Lightning Qi and Blood, plus two golden words’ protection, he felt confident.

Even if he couldn’t win, he could at least hold his ground against the opponent.

He pushed the door open, stepping over the threshold with long strides.

Liu Jun looked over immediately, and upon seeing Su Lin, his eyes showed a momentary surprise, followed by delight.

"Lin the Kid, you’ve... completed your retreat?"

Su Lin nodded with a calm smile.

Another person in the tavern, slumped over the table, turned his head upon hearing the door open.

Su Lin got a good look at the man.

The man was young, about twenty-five or twenty-six, with fairly handsome features but a face flushed red from drunkenness.

The sunlight behind Su Lin made the man squint, then he started to laugh drunkenly, clapping his hands and joyfully saying:

"The wine, wine delivery is here? I just knew the tavern had wine for sale! That old cheat lied to me, saying there’s no wine? Hahaha, luckily I’m smart. How can a tavern not sell wine!"

After speaking, he propped himself up on the table, shakily rising to his feet and staggering towards Su Lin.

Liu Jun’s expression slightly changed, hurriedly giving Su Lin a meaningful look.

After all, the opponent was a Martial Artist from the town, and Su Lin had just broken through; how could he be a match? But Liu Jun also knew that Su Lin was always clever and should know what to do.

So, after giving the signal, Liu Jun relaxed slightly, folding his hands and standing aside to let Su Lin handle the situation.

This drunkard was a First-Transformed Martial Artist and familiar with the basics of Qi and Blood. His aura wasn’t something an ordinary person could withstand, and Liu Jun was gritting his teeth while talking to him.

This First-Transformed Martial Artist was equivalent to a reincarnated new human, possessing an almost species-level difference from Martial Artists below the First Transformation.

Behind the bar, Xiao Lu timidly shrank most of his body into the kitchen, peeking out with a round head and small eyes, pathetically glancing over.

The drunkard Lu Zhanpeng approached Su Lin, reaching for him, muttering:

"Where’s the wine? Give me wine! So ignorant."

As he got closer, Su Lin caught a strong, nauseating stench, unconsciously frowning and taking a few steps back.

Seeing his movement, Lu Zhanpeng stared wide-eyed as if provoked:

"You’re disgusted by me?!"

Su Lin said, "Honored guest, I have no wine on me."

"No! You just stepped back! Seriously? You’re disgusted by me!?" Lu Zhanpeng’s eyes widened almost beyond the limits of a human face, somewhat manically.

"Give me wine! Immediately! Right now!" he demanded again.

Liu Jun clenched his fists in tension.

He could see it now; this person’s mind had been damaged by alcohol!

They couldn’t outright refuse; they had to stall for time!

Su Lin shook his head:

"Sorry, I don’t have wine, and there’s no wine in the village either."

"Lin the Kid!" Liu Jun exclaimed.

Before those words faded, the drunkard Lu Zhanpeng suddenly curled his fingers and threw a fist towards Su Lin’s face!

Rip!

The protruding knuckles of the fist pierced the air, producing a heart-wrenching screech.

Liu Jun and Zheng Weimin, both Tendon Lock Martial Artists, hadn’t even reacted before this sudden, lightning-fast fist was at Su Lin’s face.

If this punch landed, Su Lin’s face might cave in completely!

But Su Lin’s left hand instantly appeared in front of his face, his entire body gathered with invisible Qi and Blood.

Thud—

A dull thud.

His palm firmly caught Lu Zhanpeng’s fist.

"!"

Only then did Liu Jun and Zheng Weimin register what happened, breaking out in a cold sweat down their backs.

This brute really attacked without a word?!

Have they not already made a name for themselves in Zhoushan Town!

"Huh?"

Liu Jun squinted drunkenly as he saw his punch being blocked.

"Huh?"

Outside the tavern, the spectators from the town let out surprised sounds.

"Liu the Drunk’s punch was blocked?"

"Who is that guy? Did he come down from Zhoushan Town?"

"I don’t recognize him."

At this moment, the people from Wuyin Village realized what had happened and started to cheer:

"Good job, Young Master Su!"

"It’s said that Young Master Su was in seclusion to unlock his Bone Lock? Has he already made a breakthrough?!"

"Has Young Master Su undergone the First Transformation?! Our village has another First-Transformed Martial Artist?!"

"Young Master Su is mighty!"

The villagers’ cheers made the town-level visitors frown, feeling displeased.

"Country bumpkins?"

"Liu the Drunk hasn’t drunk himself to ruin, has he? Can’t even kill a freshly transformed bumpkin with one punch?"

Hearing these voices, Liu Jun’s face instantly turned ugly, his flushed face reddening even more with anger, eyes bursting with fury, as he shouted:

"You all look down on me?!"

He forcefully pushed Su Lin away with his fist against Su Lin’s palm, then, like a raging bull, stared at Su Lin with bloodshot eyes, clearly ready to attack again!

"Watch out!"

This time, Liu Jun reacted, shocked.

"Don’t come over!"

Su Lin hastily shouted to stop him.

Liu Jun’s spine swayed like a weird mast on a cargo ship, his drunken steps becoming even more elusive, taking three steps for each one, yet as swift as a gale, his hands transforming into umpteen afterimages, like a thousand-handed Guanyin, with air crackling in explosions, throwing out several punches!

This time, he used "Yun", with his fists wrapped in surging Qi and blood!

The wind from his punches howled, causing the tavern to erupt with wild winds.

Su Lin squinted his eyes; the opponent had already unlocked his Kidney Lock.

But this was just right!

At this moment, he faced the enemy alone, triggering the "I Level Up Alone" entry, and his strength surged by 50% in all aspects!

Without activating Divine Speed, relying solely on "Tap Dance".

Having just entered the First Transformation, he wasn’t stupid enough to fight a Kidney Lock-breaking expert head-on.

The storm-like fists came at him, and he vanished from the spot instantly.

Bang, bang, bang—!

The fists missed, and the wind from the punches shattered the wooden wall.

Sawdust flew, while Liu Jun’s eyes widened.

"Where is he?!"

Not only him, but even the town-level spectators outside were extremely shocked.

In the next moment, Su Lin’s figure strangely appeared beside Liu Jun, raising his palms like long sabers, slashing, hacking, stabbing, and sweeping, his attacks pouring down like torrential rain, with sharp sounds piercing the air!

Liu Jun was alarmed, quickly activating "Jia" to defend, his steps as elusive as illusions, his technique equally bizarre, dodging several of Su Lin’s strikes in no time.

Su Lin observed, raising an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by his strange footwork, but his hands moved even faster!

If, before the First Transformation, his Qi and blood were like a stream, now, after the First Transformation, his vigorous Qi and blood were like the world’s largest lake—Caspian Sea!

The abundant Qi and blood concentrated in his palms could easily cut through granite.

Before the First Transformation, even without Jia, Su Lin could slay a First-Transformed Martial Artist.

After the First Transformation metamorphosis,

Without fully activating Tap Dance,

Without Divine Speed,

Without weapons,

His hands flashed with thunder and lightning.

With a 50% boost from leveling up alone, he seemed possessed by the God of Thunder!

"Amazing Flash of a Surprise!"

Su Lin, wrapped in lightning, shouted silently in his heart.

The killing move he had long mastered was unleashed once in this world!

Crackle—Rumble—!!

Arcs of electricity, thunder rumbled.

Blinding lightning suddenly exploded from the tavern’s doors and windows, shaking the earth, as dust rose.

The crowd outside was left dumbfounded by the shocking scene, momentarily speechless.