Internal strife among the Lingxiao Pavilion disciples often resulted in deaths each year, but Zhou Dingjun, observing his senior brother's unwavering courage and refusal to back down, couldn't help but feel a slight stir of emotion.
Putting himself in Yang Kai's shoes, Zhou Dingjun knew he couldn't have acted that way; he'd likely surrender as soon as he realized he was outmatched.
"Where there's life, there's hope"—that's the way of the world. "Never give up until you hit a wall"—that's perseverance!
Seeing Yang Kai's disheveled state, yet his fighting spirit growing stronger, Zhou Dingjun knew that unless he knocked him unconscious, this matter wouldn't be over.
With this thought in mind, Zhou Dingjun swung his hand, striking Yang Kai's neck with a palm strike. Yang Kai's fierce aura instantly dissipated, his eyes glazed over, and he collapsed limply to the ground.
Upon seeing this, a person standing in the canopy of a large tree several dozen feet away pulled out a small booklet, casually flipped to a page, and read: Trial disciple Yang Kai versus ordinary disciple Zhou Dingjun; Zhou Dingjun wins.
The person standing in the treetop had a graceful figure, clearly a woman, though a black veil obscured her face. However, her delicate features suggested she was young, and a leaf-shaped armband on her arm revealed her identity: a disciple of the Dark Hall of Lingxiao Pavilion!
The Dark Hall of Lingxiao Pavilion was a special organization, under the jurisdiction of the sect's three elders. Its disciples were responsible for recording all sect affairs, including the outcomes of duels between disciples.
Therefore, challenging others within Lingxiao Pavilion didn't require worrying about not receiving contribution points even if you won; the hidden Dark Hall disciples would record the results and compile a monthly summary.
After recording the outcome of this battle, the woman in the dark hall took out another, smaller booklet from her waist, opened it, and glanced at it. It read: "The seventh day of the fifth month of the fourteenth year of Jihe, Yang Kai's 147th battle, defeat!"
Aside from this newly added line, the booklet was densely filled with records of all of Yang Kai's battles, all listed as the date and number of each match, with the same word: defeat!
One hundred and forty-seven consecutive defeats without a single victory—this was practically an unprecedented feat since the founding of the Lingxiao Pavilion. This record was enough to astound heaven and earth, unparalleled in history, and the creator of this record lay quietly on the ground, his fate unknown.
Yang Kai had never challenged anyone; all one hundred and forty-seven of these battles were challenges he had faced. In other words, he had been challenged every five days, a pattern that had continued for over two years.
Looking at Yang Kai below, Xia Ningchang frowned slightly. She couldn't understand why Yang Kai would persist to this extent. He had already been demoted to a trial disciple of Lingxiao Pavilion, struggling even for basic necessities. Why did he still stay? His life would surely be much better if he left. What kind of unwavering determination did this frail young man possess that allowed him to remain undeterred despite 147 consecutive defeats?
Perhaps, this was simply male folly? Noticing Yang Kai was a chance occurrence. As a disciple of the Dark Hall, Xia Ningchang was assigned to monitor this area. She witnessed every challenge and every time Yang Kai was knocked unconscious. Once or twice wasn't a big deal, but after repeated occurrences, Xia Ningchang began to take notice of this young man who was only at the third level of Body Tempering.
She wanted to know how long he would persist before leaving Lingxiao Pavilion, given his perseverance. Such talent and such a slow cultivation speed were simply unsuitable for this martial world; the world of ordinary people was his true home.
The crowd had dispersed, leaving only Yang Kai lying unconscious on the ground. People came and went, time flowed on.
Xia Ningchang's figure flickered and disappeared into the treetops.
When Yang Kai awoke again, it was already high in the sky. His entire body ached. He staggered to his feet and looked around, discovering he was no longer where he had fainted, but under the shade of a large tree nearby.
This was truly strange. Had one of his fellow disciples taken pity on him and carried him here? This had never happened before. Yang Kai frowned and scratched his head, vaguely remembering a blurry figure moving around in his hazy consciousness. But the memory was too faint to recall clearly.
However, between where he was now and where he had fainted, there was a very obvious drag mark, clearly made by dragging someone across the ground.
Feeling his back again, a burning pain shot through him.
Yang Kai was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage! Any remaining goodwill he felt towards this anonymous benefactor vanished instantly. This person must have dragged him there directly; otherwise, his back wouldn't be chafed raw.
They might as well have just left him there unattended! Yang Kai thought.
Just as he was feeling annoyed, Yang Kai suddenly realized he was clutching something in his right hand. Looking down in confusion, he saw a finely crafted small porcelain bottle in his hand.
What was this? This porcelain bottle definitely wasn't his. Yang Kai had nothing of value except his clothes and a broom; where would he have this?
There was a label on the small porcelain bottle with words on it. Yang Kai looked closely and muttered, "Blood-clotting and Stasis-removing Ointment!"
Yang Kai knew what Blood-clotting and Stasis-removing Ointment was.
This is a plaster used by Lingxiao Pavilion to treat external injuries. While not a miracle cure, it's remarkably effective for external wounds, and most disciples carry a bottle with them in case of emergency. However, even such a bottle of plaster is quite expensive at Lingxiao Pavilion's logistics department.
Ten sect contribution points for one bottle!
How many contribution points does Yang Kai get from sweeping the floor for a month? A mere ten points. That means this bottle of plaster is worth the same as a month's worth of sweeping for Yang Kai!
Who was it? At this moment, a surge of intense emotion welled up in Yang Kai's heart, and the pain in his back suddenly lessened considerably. He had been at Lingxiao Pavilion for three years. In those three years, Yang Kai had witnessed the coldness and indifference among the sect's disciples, the fickleness of human nature. But today, someone had actually left him a bottle of blood-clotting and bruise-removing plaster after his injury. This act deeply moved Yang Kai.
It turns out, not all the disciples of this sect are heartless.
Perhaps such a bottle of ointment for external injuries meant little to that person, but to Yang Kai, it was exactly what he needed right now.
There's a saying: "A drop of water in need is unforgettable; one's future success will be repaid with a spring of water!"
Yang Kai, moved, tried hard to recall that figure, but it grew increasingly blurry. Instead, a faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in his mind.
"This medicine smells good?" Yang Kai was suddenly amazed.
Calming himself down, he straightened his clothes, carefully tucked the bottle of blood-clotting and bruise-removing ointment into his pocket, picked up his broom, and continued sweeping.
He swept inside and out, working until noon before finally finishing his work for the day. Dragging his tired and hungry body, Yang Kai returned to his hut.
His injuries from the fight that morning hadn't been treated yet. Although hungry, Yang Kai had to endure it and treat his injuries first.
Removing his blue robe, Yang Kai brought a basin of water to wash himself. Anyone witnessing his physical condition would be astonished.
Yang Kai was frail and thin, his ribs clearly visible. He seemed to have almost no flesh on his body, yet his malnourished frame was covered in bruises and wounds; almost no part of him was unscathed.
He was challenged every five days, each time losing and being knocked unconscious. Old wounds hadn't healed before new ones appeared. Anyone else would likely be unable to endure such pain, but Yang Kai endured it. Not only did he endure it, but he also continued his daily cultivation and sweeping, completely unaffected by his injuries.
...