Chapter 13: Repelling a Tier 3 Fire Deity

"Don't revere me, just become my true believers," Zeng Shen muttered as he poured a generous amount of cat food into the bowls before the wild cats, then turned to leave the divine realm.

He planned to buy some cat beds for them to stay comfortably at the forest's edge.

Focusing his consciousness, he opened the gate of the divine realm and returned to the center of the abandoned hospital hall.

After exiting, he concentrated and whispered "close," causing the gate to vanish from sight.

"So that's how to open and close the gate to the divine realm."

Having grasped the method, Zeng Shen climbed over the hospital's iron gate and headed towards the commercial street via the park square.

[Warning! You are approaching a group of enslaved humans, stripped of their divinity and serving as cheap labor for a Tier 3 Fire Deity. Your presence may provoke hostility and risk enslavement.]

As he reached the park square, Zeng Shen paused, intrigued by the system's warning, and looked towards a group of elderly people.

They were following an elder in gray tai chi attire, mimicking his movements.

The elder appeared kind and gentle, yet his tai chi punches were swift and precise, exuding a sense of mastery.

"I wonder which of them is the future Tier 3 Fire Deity?"

Zeng Shen mused silently, passing by the elderly group.

But soon, a familiar voice rang out behind him:

"Master Ma, that's him! He insulted your Tai Chi, saying it's trash compared to his jogging routine. I confronted him, and he sucker-punched me."

[Warning! You've drawn the attention of a Tier 3 Fire Deity. In their presence, your divine energy will be seized, and you'll become a slave! Flee immediately.]

The urgent system warning halted Zeng Shen.

Noticed, huh? What now?

Would he be blackmailed?

Turning, he saw the young streamer he had slapped at the hospital, pointing at him while speaking to the tai chi master.

"So this old man is the Tier 3 Fire Deity."

"Never judge by appearances."

"He seemed so decent, teaching tai chi daily, yet after the apocalypse, he enslaved these elderly people."

Zeng Shen shook his head slightly but soon felt a sense of resignation.

In many disaster movies, even mild-mannered individuals might turn twisted and perverse under extreme survival pressures.

Reality was no different.

As Zeng Shen pondered, Master Ma and his entourage of elderly followers approached, seemingly to stand up for the young man.

"So you're the one who called my Tai Chi trash?" Master Ma asked with a frown.

"I never said that," Zeng Shen replied calmly.

"But you did hit my young apprentice, didn't you?" Master Ma pressed.

"Do you know why he deserved it?"

"Even if he was wrong, you shouldn't have beaten him like that," Master Ma said sternly.

"What do you propose?" Zeng Shen asked, furrowing his brow.

"Simple, if you think my Tai Chi is trash, let's spar so I can show you its power," Master Ma said, stepping into a martial stance.

"Huh? Spar?"

Zeng Shen realized Master Ma wanted to showcase his skills.

"No thanks, if I accidentally touch you, you'll lay on the ground demanding money."

Master Ma's anger flared.

"You think I'd blackmail you? If anything happens, I won't blame you."

"Still, I won't spar."

Zeng Shen turned to leave.

"Stop."

An elderly woman, a devoted fan of Master Ma, blocked his path, saying, "Young man, are you looking down on Master Ma? If you walk away, I'll sit on the ground and sue you for everything."

"Ma'am, I'm really worried about hurting Master Ma."

Ignoring his words, the elderly woman sat down, crying, "Help, I'm being attacked!"

Zeng Shen sighed, "Fine, let's spar."

"But remember, I don't hold back. If I hurt you, don't blame me."

He directed the last comment at Master Ma.

"Ridiculous, I've run a martial arts school for years. Even Tyson couldn't beat me. You think a kid like you can hurt me?" Master Ma laughed, assuming a fighting stance.

"Master Ma even fought Tyson?"

The elderly murmured in awe.

"Indeed, I heard Tyson wanted to learn from Master Ma, offering a billion in tuition, which he refused."

"Master Ma is truly a sage, his Tai Chi unparalleled. This youngster thinks he can hurt him?"

"Right, young people need a lesson sometimes."

"Exactly, they need to learn respect."

Hearing this, Zeng Shen's expression grew serious.

He didn't want to get beaten.

So, he immediately used 20 faith points to activate Agility Boost, increasing his agility fivefold.

With blinding speed, he dashed towards Master Ma and kicked him from behind.

Thud!

Master Ma crashed into the young streamer, using him as a cushion, both tumbling a meter away.

"Master Ma, are you alright?"

"Quick, help him up."

"I'm fine, don't pinch me, just help me up."

In the chaos, Master Ma was helped up by the elderly.

He was bewildered.

That speed was insane!

Without the young streamer cushioning him, he'd have fainted.

An elderly woman asked, "Master Ma, are you really okay?"

"I'm fine, it was just an accident. He started before we were ready—no martial ethics," Master Ma said.

"Indeed, no ethics, attacking before we're ready," the woman added.

She turned to Zeng Shen, "Young man, you lack martial ethics, attacking before we started."

Zeng Shen hesitated, "Shall we go again?"

"Yes, we must," the woman insisted.

Hearing this, Master Ma suddenly pushed through the crowd, looked skyward, and said, "Ah, I just remembered, I have something at the school. Young man, let's spar another day."

With that, Master Ma turned and hurried towards the park gate, ignoring the calls from the elderly.