After just a few exchanges, George Harris was completely overwhelmed, forced to stumble backward by the three of them, looking like a drunkard. He was shocked and pointed at Steven Reed, saying, “How can your strength possibly be greater than mine?”

This little punk had at most four or five hundred jin of strength, but now the power he was displaying was even more terrifying than his own—this was definitely not normal.

“Heh heh,” Steven Reed raised his right hand and shook it. On his wrist was a string of beads, and one of the beads was actually glowing.

“A treasure artifact!” George Harris blurted out.

Chapter 7: The Fool Becomes a Master

Henry Clark was also slightly surprised. Treasure artifacts were mysterious items that could greatly enhance a martial artist’s combat power. Generally, they boosted strength, which was the most fundamental attribute for a martial artist.

But treasure artifacts were incredibly precious—how could one possibly end up in Steven Reed’s hands?

“Good eye.” Steven Reed laughed triumphantly. “My brother just got this from an ancient tomb not long ago. It can boost a Minor Attainment martial artist’s strength by 1,500 jin. Unfortunately, ever since it was unearthed, it’s been decaying, and it won’t last more than a few days.”

1,500 jin of strength.

George Harris only had about 900 jin of strength. If he went head-to-head with Steven Reed, who now had an extra 1,500 jin, of course he’d be at a disadvantage. No wonder he was beaten so badly after just a few moves—there was nothing he could do about it.

“Beat him up for me.” Steven Reed pointed with his hand. This guy actually dared to meddle in his business—how could he not teach him a lesson?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Although George Harris wasn’t weak, he was no match for the “cheat mode” Steven Reed, and with the numbers advantage, he was quickly treated like a punching bag by the three, letting out miserable cries.

“With this little strength, you dare to meddle in other people’s business? Pathetic.” Steven Reed was full of disdain.

“Ming-ge, this guy hangs out with Peter Scott. Isn’t that enough?” Andrew Thompson asked hesitantly.

Peter Scott was ranked ninth among the Eastern Courtyard’s experts, with over 4,000 jin of strength, almost at the threshold of the Middle Attainment stage and about to enter the Heavenly Courtyard.

“Pah, the ninth-ranked expert in the Courtyard is nothing.” Steven Reed spat. “My brother is in the Heavenly Courtyard! Anyone from the Heavenly Courtyard could crush the top expert in the Courtyard. Keep beating him! He dares to meddle in my business—he needs to remember this lesson well.”

Andrew Thompson and Franklin Ward thought so too. Didn’t everyone in the Heavenly Courtyard have over 5,000 jin of strength? Weren’t they all at the Middle Attainment stage?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

They were quite excited. In their eyes, George Harris was a bona fide expert, and now they could treat an expert’s face like a seat cushion—what a sense of accomplishment!

“Heh heh heh, fool, are you scared now?” Steven Reed stopped and turned his attention to Henry Clark.

Henry Clark smiled slightly and said, “How much silver have you taken from me in total? And how many times have you beaten me?”

“What, you want us to pay you back? Or beat us up in return?” Steven Reed laughed loudly. A fool was a fool—the things he said were just laughable.

Henry Clark nodded and said, “Not only do I want it back, I want interest too.”

“How bold.” Steven Reed sneered. “Even when your father was alive, we weren’t afraid, let alone now. Fool, hand over your money, or you’ll get beaten just like him.”

He pointed at George Harris, who was already lying on the ground, powerless to fight back, while Andrew Thompson and Franklin Ward kept kicking him.

Henry Clark shook his head. The old Henry Clark had been too weak-willed, which was why he’d been toyed with by Grace Miller, and even bullied by these three punks without daring to tell his father, because they threatened to beat him up every time if he snitched.

But now, he was the master of this body.

“I don’t like people owing me debts. Today, I’ll collect some interest first. You guys don’t look like you have much money anyway,” Henry Clark said.

“A fool is a fool, always talking nonsense. Looks like it’s been too long since we beat you—you’ve forgotten what pain feels like.” Steven Reed leapt forward, swinging his fist at Henry Clark’s chest.

But this time, he didn’t use the treasure artifact, because Henry Clark was too weak. What if he killed him? Even if he didn’t, crippling him would be a huge problem.

Whoosh—he threw a punch.

Full of openings.

Henry Clark thought to himself, his eyes tracking the attack route, his brain quickly deducing the opponent’s next move. He knew exactly where the punch would land, what the trajectory was, and how much damage it would cause.

Too easy.

Henry Clark reached out and grabbed Steven Reed’s wrist. In the other’s disbelieving gaze, he smoothly slid off the string of beads.

The opponent had underestimated him so much that all the tactics he’d prepared were unnecessary—without the treasure artifact, what was Steven Reed?

Bang! He kicked out, and Steven Reed staggered back several steps before steadying himself. But Henry Clark’s kick was vicious, landing right between his legs, making his face go pale.

Henry Clark played with the string of beads, curious about how such a small thing could give an ordinary person a boost of 1,500 jin of strength. If something like this appeared on Earth, it would be enough to shatter world records in weightlifting, javelin, shot put, and more.