That's right. This youth in white was none other than Luofeng City's most famous cripple: Mu Chen of the Mu Family. Born without a right arm, his Dantian had also been severely damaged, making it impossible for him to form any connection with the Heaven and Earth Primordial Power. This sealed his fate, ensuring he could never become a Martial Artist who could absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. But misfortunes never come singly. Already deemed useless, Mu Chen's disability also caused his body to ache with pain whenever the weather changed. He couldn't even reach the most basic rank of a Martial Disciple.
Mu Chen raised his only arm, his left, and clenched it into a tight fist. He struck Mu Hu's chest with all his might, but Mu Hu didn't budge an inch. His chest muscles didn't even sink in the slightest.
"Haha, Fourth Young Master, were 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 sadistic pleasure rising in his heart.
Only Mu Chen knew the bitterness in his own heart. He wasn't left-handed, and his already frail body possessed little strength. For someone who struggled just to walk, a punch thrown with all his might was truly no better than a tickle.
As if he had finally lost all hope, Mu Chen gave a bitter laugh and said with lifeless eyes, "I give up..."
Silence.
"What? You... did you just say you give up?" Mu Hu exclaimed, hardly able to believe his own ears. This Fourth Young Master might have been useless, but his stubbornness was just as famous as his reputation. In the past, no amount of threats, bribes, or even physical abuse could get him to say those three words. Yet today, he had conceded 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 hand into a fist, so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He was oblivious to his nails digging into his flesh. His pale hand trembled violently, but in the end, as if all strength had drained from it, it slowly relaxed. Droplets of fresh blood trickled down his fingertips, splattering onto the white flowers by the path and staining their pure petals red...
"Yes. I give up." Mu Chen unclenched his jaw and let out a long breath. He had given up. In that moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief. For twelve years, for as long as he could remember, he had endured the scorn and ridicule of others, both to his face and behind his back. He had always told himself, 'Be strong. Be strong. I will never give up.' It was this belief that had sustained him for twelve years. Despite 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 so important anymore. 'What have all my years of persistence earned me?' He was lost, more lost than ever before. 'Perhaps... I shouldn't even exist in this world.'
"Alright then. But you still have to honor our bet, you know," Mu Hu said, waving his hand. However, when he saw the light fade from Mu Chen's eyes, he couldn't help but shiver. 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, his feet moving unconsciously. By the time he reached him, the group of lackeys had already cleared a path. Mu Rongxuan stood in the middle with a smirk, his legs spread apart, as an unprecedented surge of pleasure coursed through him.
Just as Mu Chen's knees bent and he was about to collapse to the ground in a kneel, a gust of wind blew past. A beautiful figure appeared before him, and two fair, slender, jade-like hands gently lifted his left arm.
Mu Chen looked up with his despairing eyes. He saw a young girl with bright eyes and pearly teeth, dressed in a white silk dress. Her skin was as smooth as fine cream, and her stunningly beautiful face was etched with indignation. The faint warmth spreading from her slender, jade-like fingers slowly thawed some of the ice around Mu Chen's heart.
"Why are you bullying Mu Chen? Don't you know how weak he is? Aren't you afraid of being punished by the family rules?" the beautiful girl's voice rang out, as crisp and pleasant as silver bells. All the Mu Family disciples present were stunned for a moment, then their gazes fixed ardently upon the beautiful figure before them. This was Mu Bingling, the goddess in the hearts of all the young Mu Family disciples. She was also Mu Chen's older sister. Though only around twelve years old, it was clear she would one day grow into a peerless beauty capable of toppling nations.
Her small, crimson lips parted to reveal neat, white teeth. Her fair and coolly beautiful face was filled with anger, and her stunning blue eyes glared fiercely at the crowd.
Mu Rongxuan gave a dry cough and discreetly brought his feet back together. The ardor in his eyes, however, did not diminish in the slightest. He spoke in a gentle voice, "Ah, it's Little Sister Bingling. It's not what you think. Your Second Brother just hadn't seen our Fourth Brother all winter and missed him terribly. We were just having a bit of fun, not being serious. Isn't that right, everyone?"
As he spoke, Mu Rongxuan shot a cold glare at his surrounding lackeys and flashed a "radiant" smile.
Mu Hu shuddered and quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes! The Second Young Master was just having a bit of fun with the Fourth Young Master. It's not what you think, Miss Bingling."
"That's right, that's right! It's not what Miss Bingling thinks," the other lackeys hurriedly chorused.
They treated the young girl with such respect not merely out of adoration, but also because her Cultivation Talent was in no way inferior to Mu Rongxuan's. At just twelve years old, she had already reached the level of a Fifth-Ring Martial Disciple. Given another year, she might even reach the Seventh Ring like Mu Rongxuan, becoming another genius of the Mu Family.
Mu Rongxuan, playing the part of a perfect gentleman, smiled. "Spring has just arrived, and the flowers are in full bloom. Everything is bursting with life. I wonder, would Little Sister Bingling have some time to appreciate the view with her Second Brother?"
Mu Bingling didn't even spare Mu Rongxuan a glance. "I'm sorry, I'm busy," she said coldly. "Please forgive me, but I won't be able to accompany you."
The moment she finished speaking, Mu Bingling turned to Mu Chen, her eyes filled with concern. "Mu Chen, are you okay?" she asked softly.
Mu Chen didn't dare to look directly at his sister, hailed as the one most likely to become the next genius of the Mu Family. He subconsciously shook his head. It seemed only when he was by her side could he ever let down his facade.
Hearing Mu Bingling's blunt refusal, a flame of anger ignited in Mu Rongxuan's heart. 'Others might not know, but as the Second Young Master, of course I know Mu Bingling isn't even his real sister. She's just an orphan his parents found and took in.' Seeing the goddess of his heart helping the most shameful waste of his family, a vicious glint appeared in Mu Rongxuan's eyes. He said in a voice just loud enough to be heard, "Mu Chen, as a man, you shouldn't always be hiding behind a woman."
Walking ahead, Mu Chen shuddered violently, his face turning deathly pale. Noticing his sudden change, Mu Bingling shot an icy glare at Mu Rongxuan before quickly turning back to ask, "Mu Chen, what's wrong?"
"It's none of your business!" With what little strength he possessed, Mu Chen flung Mu Bingling's hand away, turned, and ran quickly toward the rear courtyard.
Mu Bingling stared blankly after him. It was the first time he had ever shaken her hand off. A pang of pain shot through the young girl's heart. Mu Chen had so little strength; it would have been simple for her to hold on, but she had been afraid that resisting might hurt him.
Seeing Mu Chen shake off Mu Bingling's hand, Mu Rongxuan was delighted. He watched Mu Chen's retreating figure with a broad smile. Just then, he felt an icy gaze lock onto him. Turning to look, he found its source was none other than Mu Bingling.
Mu Rongxuan froze, confused. Then he heard Mu Bingling's voice, a tone so cold it could freeze blood. "Mu Rongxuan, out of respect for you as Second Uncle's son, I have overlooked you bullying my brother on normal days. However, if anything happens to my brother, Mu Chen, because of this, I swear I will make you, the great 'genius' of the Mu Family, regret your actions today."
With that, Mu Bingling shot forward, her graceful figure vanishing from sight in a few quick leaps. But in the instant she moved, Mu Rongxuan's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. 'A Sixth-Ring Martial Disciple.'