C29 He Had Returned

Upon hearing Chu Lin's inquiry, Wang Zhan fell silent for a moment before responding, "For the sake of morality and justice."

Chu Lin couldn't help but gain a newfound respect for Wang Zhan. In a world where martial prowess was held in the highest regard, and everyone sought power at any cost, it was rare to hear someone speak of morality and justice.

Even more extraordinary was that this young man valued these principles more than his own life.

In pursuit of a Starfruit, a band of mercenaries had forsaken morality and justice, intent on claiming it for themselves. Yet, Wang Zhan was prepared to defend these virtues to his last breath, refusing to yield.

"Here, I'll give this Starfruit back to you," said Chu Lin with a smile, handing the Starfruit to Wang Zhan.

Wang Zhan was puzzled; even those in the Spiritual Martial Realm coveted a Starfruit, but Chu Lin seemed unaffected by its allure.

"I hold my own sense of morality," Chu Lin stated earnestly as he gazed at Wang Zhan.

Seeing the sincerity in Chu Lin's expression, Wang Zhan relaxed his hand, which had been poised to return the Starfruit.

For two such unencumbered souls, the value of a Starfruit diminished significantly.

Suddenly, a voice emerged from the woods, "Don't you think you're overstepping your bounds?"

The outer court disciples who had previously fled were back, accompanied by several new faces.

Chu Lin looked up and scoffed, recognizing the attire of the newcomers.

They were members of Heaven's Edge.

Perhaps Chu Lin and Yang Hu's disheveled appearance was to blame, for the Heaven's Edge members did not immediately recognize them.

"Wang Zhan, that Starfruit was a collective find, and yet you've claimed it as your own and even given it away. That's outrageous. Had we known, we wouldn't have bothered calling on our Senior Brothers from Heaven's Edge to rescue you!" The youth who had fled first, Wang Qiang, pointed at Wang Zhan and rebuked him with fervent indignation.

Wang Qiang was a scion of the Wang family from a certain city and an outer court disciple at the Martial Academy. He was the same Wang Qiang previously mentioned by the other outer court disciples.

Wang Qiang had been fleeing at breakneck speed, simultaneously grateful to Wang Zhan for fending off an attack and joining a few others in berating him.

Later, they stumbled upon a small squad from Heaven's Edge.

The squad was led by a disciple at the seventh level of Body Tempering. Eager to curry favor with Heaven's Edge, Wang Qiang divulged the location of the Starfruit.

The members of Heaven's Edge, elated by the news of the Starfruit, immediately had Wang Qiang lead them to its location.

"Wang Zhan, hand over the Starfruit to Brother Lu Liang of Heaven's Edge," Wang Qiang commanded, dismissively overlooking Chu Lin and Yang Hu.

The Heaven's Edge members fixated on the Starfruit in Wang Zhan's grasp, contemplating whether its refinement would catapult them into the Spiritual Martial Realm and usher in a promising future.

At that moment, Yang Hu sarcastically called out Wang Qiang, "So the first to flee from the mercenaries and the most cowardly returns? It's one thing to covet Wang Zhan's Starfruit, but to demand he offer it to another? Your lack of shame is astounding."

"You dare accuse me of cowardice?" Wang Qiang retorted furiously to Yang Hu.

With a cold smile and narrowed eyes, Yang Hu replied, "I never said you were a coward, because frankly, you don't even qualify as a person."

Enraged yet laughing, Wang Qiang shot Yang Hu a venomous look before turning back to Wang Zhan, "Remember, if my family hadn't taken you in, you'd be dead. And now, you side with an outsider over the Starfruit, challenging me. Is this your so-called morality and justice?"

Wang Qiang appeared to be the epitome of integrity, painting Wang Zhan as the epitome of ingratitude.

Meanwhile, Chu Lin approached Wang Qiang with a steady gait and asked icily, "Are you Wang Qiang?"

Feeling the overwhelming presence emanating from Chu Lin, Wang Qiang instinctively stepped back. However, the presence of his senior brother from Heaven's Edge bolstered his confidence, and he responded, "Yes. What are you planning to do?"

Chu Lin charged at Wang Qiang with such speed that even the members of Heaven's Edge could barely catch a glimpse of his fleeting shadow.

Chu Lin then delivered two powerful slaps to Wang Qiang's face, sending teeth flying and blood streaming.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson in humanity," Chu Lin stated icily.

He then placed his foot firmly on Wang Qiang's face, exuding an intimidating aura.

At that moment, someone from Heaven's Edge cried out, "It's Chu Lin!"

Previously, Heaven's Edge had circulated a wanted poster featuring Chu Lin. Now, his eyes matched the icy coldness of the image on the poster, instilling fear in those who saw him.

Throughout the hunting season, the name Chu Lin struck fear into the hearts of Heaven's Edge members.

Moreover, most of the outer court disciples involved in the hunt knew of him, as word had spread about the servant disciple who was friends with the Fat and Thin Duo. He had a feud with Yu Qing and had incapacitated a Heaven's Edge member, who was at the seventh level of Body Tempering, with a single slap. This incident led Heaven's Edge to offer a reward of five beast cores.

Upon recognizing Chu Lin, the leader of the Heaven's Edge group made a decisive call, "We need to retreat!" He was the strongest in the squad, yet only at the seventh level of Body Tempering. The one Chu Lin had previously defeated was even stronger.

The leader thought to himself, "Chu Lin has acquired the Starfruit. Since the higher-ups are after him, there's no need for me to engage in a life-or-death battle now. They'll surely place great importance on such a valuable item."

"You've come all this way; don't think you can leave so easily," Chu Lin said with a cold smirk. He knocked Wang Qiang out with a firm stomp and pursued the fleeing members of Heaven's Edge.

"Heaven's Edge, here I come!" Yang Hu shouted with gusto, joining the chase.

Before long, Chu Lin and Yang Hu returned, each holding a bag. Yang Hu grumbled to himself, "They only had six beast cores? And the quality of these cores is so subpar!"