Chapter Two: Mu Bingling.
That's right. The youth in white was none other than Luofeng City's most famous cripple: Mu Chen of the Mu Family. Missing his right arm since childhood, his Dantian was also severely damaged, rendering him completely unable to sense the Heaven and Earth Primordial Power. This doomed him, making it impossible to become a Martial Artist and cultivate Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. But misfortunes never come singly. Already considered a waste, Mu Chen's crippled body also meant that every change in the weather brought agonizing pain. He couldn't even meet the standards of a basic Martial Disciple.
Mu Chen raised his only left arm, clenched it into a fist, and struck Mu Hu's chest with all his might. But Mu Hu didn't budge. The muscles on his chest didn't even yield in the slightest.
"Haha! Fourth Young Master, are you trying to tickle me? Don't hold back. Come at me with everything you've got."
Mu Hu roared with laughter, a surge of satisfaction washing over him.
Only Mu Chen knew the bitterness in his heart. He wasn't left-handed, and his already frail body possessed very little strength. He struggled just to walk, so even a punch with all his might was only enough to tickle someone.
Apparently having lost all hope, Mu Chen gave a bitter laugh. His eyes were lifeless as he said, "I surrender..."
...
A dead silence fell.
"What? You... you just said you surrender?" Mu Hu cried out, hardly believing his ears. This Fourth Young Master might have been a waste, but his stubbornness was as famous as his reputation. In the past, no amount of threats, bribes, or even physical abuse could make him utter those two words. Yet today, he had surrendered so quickly. It wasn't just Mu Hu; even Mu Rongxuan stared at his useless fourth brother in astonishment.
Mu Chen remained silent. But where no one could see, he clenched his only left hand so tightly that his knuckles turned white, completely oblivious to his nails digging into his palm. His fair hand trembled violently, but finally, as if drained of all strength, it slowly relaxed. Drop by drop, fresh blood trickled from his fingertips, splattering onto the white flowers by the path and dyeing their pure petals crimson...
"Yes, I surrender." Mu Chen unclenched his jaw and exhaled deeply. He had surrendered. At that moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief. For ten years, ever since he could remember, he had endured endless scorn and ridicule, both to his face and behind his back. He always told himself, 'Be strong. Be strong. Never surrender.' It was this conviction that had sustained him for twelve years. Even through all the mental and physical torment, he had never uttered a single word of submission.
But after admitting defeat today, he suddenly felt much lighter. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. 'What have all my years of perseverance gotten me?' He was lost, more lost than ever before. 'Maybe... I shouldn't exist in this world at all.'
"Alright then, but you still have to honor the terms of our bet," Mu Hu said, waving his hand dismissively. However, when he saw the light fade from Mu Chen's eyes, he shuddered involuntarily. A gray aura was gradually appearing on Mu Chen's face. It was... Death Qi.
Mu Chen walked toward Mu Rongxuan, step by step, like a walking corpse. He shuffled forward instinctively until he stood before him. The crowd of lackeys had already cleared a path. Mu Rongxuan stood in the center, a smirk playing on his lips as he spread his legs wide. A surge of unprecedented pleasure coursed through him.
Just as Mu Chen's knees bent and he was about to kneel, a breeze stirred, and a stunning figure appeared before him. Two fair, slender hands gently took hold of his left arm, lifting him up.
Mu Chen lifted his despairing gaze. Before him stood a young girl in a white dress. She had bright eyes, pearly teeth, and flawless, pale skin. A hint of indignation touched her stunning face. The faint warmth from her delicate fingers seeped into him, slowly thawing his frozen heart.
"Why are you bullying Mu Chen? Don't you know how frail he is?" The stunning girl's voice was as clear and pleasant as silver bells. All the Mu Family disciples present were stunned for a moment, then fixed their ardent gazes on the beautiful figure before them. This was the goddess of the Mu Family disciples' hearts—Mu Bingling. She was also Mu Chen's older sister. Though only about twelve, it was easy to see she would one day grow into a peerless beauty.
Her crimson lips parted, revealing neat, white teeth. Her fair, aloof face was filled with anger as her beautiful blue eyes glared fiercely at the crowd.
Mu Rongxuan coughed dryly and discreetly pulled his feet back, though the fire in his eyes didn't diminish in the slightest. In a gentle voice, he said, "Ah, it's Little Sister Bingling. It's not what you think. I just haven't seen our fourth brother all winter and missed him, so we were just playing a little game. Nothing serious. Isn't that right, everyone?"
As he spoke, Mu Rongxuan swept his cold gaze over his lackeys and flashed a "radiant" smile.
Mu Hu shuddered and hurriedly agreed, "Yes, yes! The Second Young Master was just playing a game with the Fourth Young Master. It's not what you think, Miss Bingling."
"Right, right! It's not what you think, Miss Bingling," the other lackeys chimed in hastily.
Their respect for the girl was not just out of admiration; it was because her Cultivation Talent was in no way inferior to Mu Rongxuan's. At only twelve years old, she had already reached the level of a Fifth-Ring Martial Disciple. Give her another year, and she might even reach the Seventh Ring, just like the current Mu Rongxuan, becoming another genius of the Mu Family.
Mu Rongxuan, now acting like a perfect gentleman, smiled. "Spring has just arrived, and the flowers are in full bloom. It's a scene of vibrant life. I wonder if Little Sister Bingling has time to enjoy the sights with me?"
Mu Bingling didn't even spare Mu Rongxuan a glance. "Sorry, I'm busy," she said coldly. "You'll have to forgive me, but I can't accompany you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mu Bingling turned to Mu Chen, her eyes filled with concern. "Mu Chen," she said gently, "let's go."
Mu Chen didn't dare to look directly at his sister, the one hailed as the next genius of the Mu Family. He subconsciously nodded. It seemed that only by her side could he let down his facade.
Hearing Mu Bingling's blunt rejection, rage flared in Mu Rongxuan's heart. Others might not have known, but as the Second Young Master, he was well aware that Mu Bingling wasn't Mu Chen's biological sister at all—just an orphan Mu Chen's parents had found and taken in. Seeing the goddess of his heart supporting his family's greatest disgrace, a vicious glint flashed in Mu Rongxuan's eyes. In a low voice, he said, "Mu Chen, as a man, don't always hide behind a woman."
Walking ahead, Mu Chen shuddered violently, his face turning deathly pale. Mu Bingling noticed the sudden change and shot a cold glare at Mu Rongxuan before quickly turning back. "Mu Chen, what's wrong?" she asked anxiously.
"Leave me alone!" With what little strength he had, Mu Chen shook off Mu Bingling's hand, turned, and ran quickly toward the rear courtyard.
Mu Bingling stared blankly after Mu Chen. It was the first time he had ever shaken her hand away. A pang of pain went through her heart. Mu Chen had so little strength; it would have been easy for her to resist. But she had been afraid that she would hurt him if she held on too tightly.
Seeing Mu Chen shake off Mu Bingling's hand, Mu Rongxuan was delighted. A wide smile spread across his face as he watched Mu Chen's retreating figure. But at that moment, he felt an icy gaze lock onto him. He turned and saw that it belonged to Mu Bingling, who was standing a short distance away.
Mu Rongxuan froze, not understanding. Then he heard Mu Bingling speak in a voice cold enough to freeze blood. "Mu Rongxuan, out of respect for your father, I've overlooked you bullying my brother in the past. But if anything happens to my brother Mu Chen because of this, I swear I will make you, the so-called genius of the Mu Family, regret everything you've done today."
With that, she shot forward, her graceful figure quickly vanishing from sight. But in the instant she leaped, Mu Rongxuan's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. 'A Sixth-Ring Martial Disciple.'
...