"Could it be... could these symbols be..." I muttered to myself, my eyes filled with disbelief. "If this is really the case, then I..."
Before I could dwell on it, a wave of intense weakness washed over me. Darkness swallowed my vision, and I passed out.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying in a humble wooden cabin. A kind-faced elder in coarse linen clothes was brewing medicine nearby.
"You're awake?" The elder smiled warmly upon seeing me open my eyes. "How do you feel?"
I struggled to sit up, but the movement aggravated my wounds, making me wince in pain. Seeing this, the elder hurried over to support me. "Don't move around recklessly. Your injuries haven't healed yet."
"Elder, thank you for saving me. Where is this?" I asked weakly.
"This is Qingfeng Ridge. We are all rogue cultivators, unconnected to any major sects, just looking out for one another." The elder paused, then continued, "I saw you severely injured and all alone in the mountains. Did you make some enemies?"
I hesitated, but ultimately decided to tell the elder my story. I was once the young master of the Lu Family, but I had been framed by treacherous villains, destroying my family and taking everything from me. I barely escaped with my family's heirloom treasure, but I was hunted down all the way, sustained heavy injuries, and finally collapsed in the mountains, only to be saved by the elder.
"So that's how it is." Hearing my story, the elder sighed. "Child, you've suffered."
Looking at the elder, a warm sensation welled up in my heart. Ever since my family's demise, I hadn't felt this kind of care in a long time.
"Elder, I heard that joining a Rogue Cultivator Organization can help one acquire cultivation resources. Am I qualified to join?" I asked.
"You want to join a Rogue Cultivator Organization?" The elder looked at me in surprise.
"Yes, I want to become stronger!" I said with determination. "I want revenge, and even more, I want to protect myself so I'll never be at the mercy of others again!"
The elder was silent for a moment before nodding. "Very well, since you have this resolve, I will make an exception and let you join the Rogue Cultivator Organization."
With the elder's help, I joined the Rogue Cultivator Organization and was assigned to study under a Qi Condensation peak cultivator named Wang Qiang. Wang Qiang looked to be in his early thirties, with a robust build and a somewhat sinister gaze.
"You're Lu Chen?" Wang Qiang looked me up and down with a hint of disdain. "A good-for-nothing with zero cultivation wants to join our Rogue Cultivator Organization?"
I clenched my fists, holding back my anger, and lowered my head. "Senior Brother Wang, although I currently have no cultivation, I will definitely work hard at it and never hold everyone back."
"I hope you live up to your words." Wang Qiang sneered. "Follow me, I'll take you to your quarters."
I followed Wang Qiang through a few winding paths until we reached a remote corner.
"You'll live here from now on," Wang Qiang said, pointing to a dilapidated wooden cabin before us.
I looked at the dark, damp, and dusty wooden cabin. A pungent, musty odor wafted over, making me want to vomit. The thatched roof had several holes in it, through which feeble sunlight filtered down, illuminating the dancing dust motes inside.
"What, think it's too shabby?" Wang Qiang crossed his arms with a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth. "For a good-for-nothing without any cultivation, having a place to stay at all is already a luxury. Are you still going to be picky?"
I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger burning in my chest. I knew Wang Qiang was deliberately making things difficult for me, but since I was a newcomer unfamiliar with the place, I had no choice but to swallow my pride.
"No, I just want to clean it up," I replied flatly, stepping into the wooden cabin.
Inside, there was only a dilapidated wooden bed and a rickety table. A pile of broken sundries in the corner emitted an unpleasant smell. I sighed and resigned myself to cleaning the place up.
Over the next few days, I went on missions alongside Wang Qiang and a few other rogue cultivators. The Rogue Cultivator Organization issued basic tasks, such as gathering herbs and hunting fierce beasts. Upon completion, one would receive corresponding contribution points, which could be exchanged for cultivation resources.
As expected, Wang Qiang always assigned the most grueling tasks to me—such as gathering spiritual herbs growing on sheer cliffs or hunting ferocious Tier 2 fierce beasts—while he and the others took on easy chores like patrolling the foot of the mountain or fishing by the river.
"Lu Chen, why are you so slow? You've only gathered this few spiritual herbs?" Wang Qiang looked at the few meager herbs I had toiled to collect, his face full of mockery. "This little bit isn't even enough between the teeth!"
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and explained, "Senior Brother Wang, the spiritual herbs on the cliff are too difficult to harvest, and there are many fierce beasts guarding them..."
"Cut the crap!" Wang Qiang impatiently interrupted me. "If you don't finish the task, don't even think about eating!"
Though anger raged within me, I could only grit my teeth and endure. I knew Wang Qiang was deliberately suppressing me, leaving me no chance to turn things around.
On this day, Wang Qiang assigned me an extremely difficult task: hunting an Armored Bear, a Tier 3 fierce beast. The Armored Bear had thick skin, immense strength, and astonishing defense; ordinary cultivators in the Qi Condensation stage were no match for it at all.
"Senior Brother Wang, this mission is too dangerous, I..." Before I could finish, Wang Qiang crudely interrupted me.
"What? Scared? If you're scared, get lost right now! Don't make a fool of yourself here!" Wang Qiang said viciously.
I clenched my fists, my eyes resolute. "I'll go!"
Clutching the battered longsword Wang Qiang had tossed to me, I resolutely strode into the deep mountains and old forests...
"This punk really doesn't know how to value his life..." Watching my retreating figure, a sinister smile played on Wang Qiang's lips as he cast a glance at the two men beside him. "You two, go help him..."
The two men exchanged a knowing, cunning smile, turned around, and followed me...
I tracked the Armored Bear's trail all the way. Dense branches scratched against my cheeks, leaving streaks of blood. The broken sword Wang Qiang gave me was practically useless, nearly slipping from my grip after a few chops.
It took me an entire day to finally spot the Armored Bear in a valley. It was dozing beside a massive boulder, its heavy, snorting breath echoing through the valley. I held my breath, gripped the broken sword tightly, and crept forward with extreme caution.
Just as I was about to launch an attack, a rustling sound suddenly came from behind. Startled, I looked back and saw the two men sent by Wang Qiang hiding behind the bushes, making faces at me.
"What are you doing?!" I roared in a low voice.
"Hehe, Junior Brother Lu, we're here to help you!" one of them said with a weird, mocking inflection, instantly making an intentional commotion that startled the Armored Bear.
The Armored Bear jerked awake, let out a deafening roar, and charged straight at me. Cursing inwardly, I had no choice but to brace myself and fight.
The ensuing battle was exceptionally grueling. Far from helping, those two interfered with me from time to time, keeping me frantically on the defensive. The Armored Bear had thick skin and flesh; my attacks couldn't inflict any substantial damage on it at all. Instead, it batted me away with a single paw, sending me crashing heavily to the ground as I spat a mouthful of blood.
Struggling to my back up, my heart was filled with fury and despair. I knew Wang Qiang was determined to drive me to a dead end.
Dragging my exhausted body back to my quarters, I immediately reported Wang Qiang's malicious behavior to the higher-ups of the Rogue Cultivator Organization. However, the response I received chilled me to the bone.
"Lu Chen, you've disappointed me greatly!" The elder in charge of managing the rogue cultivators—a stern-faced old man—looked at me with eyes full of suspicion and dissatisfaction. "Wang Qiang said your ability is lacking, that you couldn't complete your tasks and tried to shirk responsibility. In my view, you simply don't have the heart to become a strong person!"
I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but the elder impatiently cut me off. "Alright, I don't want to hear another word about this. Go back and reflect properly. If I hear of such a thing happening again, you won't need to stay in the Rogue Cultivator Organization anymore!"
I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug deep into my flesh, but I had no choice but to swallow my overwhelming anger and grievance. I knew that in this Cultivation World of the law of the jungle, without strength, no one would believe a word you said.
To stay in the Rogue Cultivator Organization, and to one day exact my revenge, I had no choice but to endure!
"Lu Chen, come here for a moment." Wang Qiang's voice drifted from outside the door, carrying a trace of smugness and mockery.
I took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and stepped outside. I knew this was only the beginning of his endless torment...