Zhang Xiaofan, standing to the side, grew anxious upon hearing this.
He knew all too well that Zhang Yuan was a blind man; even if he could cultivate, how high could his attainments possibly reach? He couldn't even retract the Soul-Devouring Staff on his back into his own body—he was a complete novice in cultivation. It was all just for show. Because he was a person of deep sentiment, he could not bear to watch Lin Jingyu bully his big brother, Zhang Yuan.
"Jingyu," Zhang Xiaofan said. "Zhang Yuan is no match for you. Why not spar with me instead?"
Lin Jingyu shook his head. "I am sparring with Zhang Yuan first; I will spar with you later."
Lin Jingyu’s voice was overbearing, carrying an air of arrogance, as if the victory were already in his grasp. No, it wasn't just that he felt sure of victory; he intended to take them both on. That blind man, Zhang Yuan—unloved by his seniors and ignored by his sect—was rumored to have been in the Jade Essence Sect for three years without Master Shuiyue even once coming to see him. Yet, he had stumbled upon such a formidable immortal weapon by sheer dumb luck. It was a complete waste.
Lin Jingyu was certain that even if he snatched the Soul-Devouring Staff away, the man would be forced to swallow his pride and suffer in silence. After all, he himself was deeply favored by Daoist Cangsong. Cangsong was the most powerful person in the sect, save for the Sect Leader himself. Master Shuiyue would never offend Daoist Cangsong for the sake of a useless waste.
"Enough talk. Let’s begin!"
Zhang Yuan stepped forward. Although his eyes remained cloudy, a strange aura emanated from him. His entire presence shifted. Since Lin Jingyu had been the one to act uncharitably first, he could not blame him for responding in kind.
"Please, enlighten me."
Lin Jingyu nodded. With a stride of his right foot, he lunged at Zhang Yuan like a flash of lightning, his speed as swift and fierce as a hawk. He was determined to win. However, knowing that Zhang Yuan was blind and likely lacked any real cultivation, he used only a tenth of his power and kept his inner breath restrained. In this way, even if Zhang Yuan took the blow, it would be a minor injury, nothing too severe.
But just as his fist was about to reach Zhang Yuan’s chest, Lin Jingyu suddenly felt that something was wrong. Zhang Yuan was not dodging or evading; instead, he was smiling. That smile—how to describe it? It was like the grin of a corpse; it was bone-chilling.
Lin Jingyu was startled. He felt that something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. *Dodge, you idiot! You can’t be that pathetic, can you? You can't even take a single punch?* Lin Jingyu was bewildered by Zhang Yuan’s behavior. *Wait! Zhang Yuan is blind and can't see.* Could it be that he really was just a fraud?
As this thought crossed his mind, Lin Jingyu’s fist lost its force, and he prepared to pull back. He would simply use a gentle technique to subdue Zhang Yuan and be done with it. That way, he wouldn’t injure a fellow disciple, and he would face less pressure himself.
However, just as he tried to withdraw his fist, he saw that chilling smile on Zhang Yuan’s face again, and those cloudy eyes were locked onto his own. He felt a sense of foreboding.
*Damn it! Is he pretending to be blind?*
As soon as this thought flickered in his mind, he felt his fist gripped by two large hands. A curse escaped his heart as he realized something was wrong. Just as he tried to yank his fist away, a massive, irresistible force surged from Zhang Yuan’s hands, like a flood bursting through a dam. Even with all his might, Lin Jingyu could not stop it.
*Bang!*
A crisp, muffled thud echoed. His fist was forced into Zhang Yuan’s chest. Zhang Yuan’s chilling smile turned into one of triumph. The next second, like a kite with a broken string, he flew backward—directly toward the direction of the Shoujing Hall.
Lin Jingyu watched, dumbstruck and in disbelief. *I pulled my punch! Why did you drag my fist into you? What kind of trick is this? And I didn't even use any force! Why are you spitting blood in mid-air?*
"..."
Lin Jingyu’s face darkened. Even if he were a fool, he understood now. Zhang Yuan had done this on purpose. This was a setup—an attempt to frame him. Lin Jingyu’s heart sank, and he wished he could do something to remedy the situation, but Zhang Yuan was already like a giant boulder crashing into the wall of the Shoujing Hall. It was too late to do anything.
The wall of the Shoujing Hall was smashed open, leaving a gaping, human-shaped hole amidst a cloud of swirling dust. Inside, Tian Buyi was speaking with Su Ru, while Qi Hao was chatting with Tian Ling'er. The conversation had been lively and warm.
Suddenly, a thunderous crash erupted. A figure burst through the wall and tumbled into the hall, rolling across the floor with undiminished momentum. As the figure rolled, he coughed up blood—a horrifying sight. When the group looked closely, they realized it was Zhang Yuan who had been thrown inside.
The members of Dazhu Peak and Lu Xueqi were aghast, their expressions turning grim. Who would be so ruthless as to severely injure a blind man to this extent? Lu Xueqi, who held her junior brother Zhang Yuan closest to her heart, bristled with rage. *Do you have any idea how I’ve spent these last three years?* She and Zhang Yuan had grown very close. If they were bullying Zhang Yuan, they were bullying her.
Lu Xueqi’s expression was icy. With a *swish*, she flew over and lifted Zhang Yuan up. A nameless fury surged within her, growing hotter by the second. Tian Ling'er, who also felt affection for Zhang Yuan—his savior—was not a moment slower. She followed Lu Xueqi, moved to Zhang Yuan’s other side, and concernedly took his arm.
"Zhang Yuan, what happened? Who bullied you? Senior Sister will stand up for you."
However, Zhang Yuan, fully committed to his performance, spat out another mouthful of blood. With a feigned dizzy spell, he leaned his head against Lu Xueqi’s chest.
*Yes! Not only against her chest, but burying his head deep.*
*She is my Senior Sister. There’s no need to let outsiders reap the benefits. I’ll take this advantage for myself.*
At that moment, Zhang Xiaofan walked in from outside, his heart aching as he saw his big brother collapsed on the floor. He hadn't disliked Lin Jingyu much before, but now, a sudden wave of resentment washed over him. He was actually bullying the weak, picking on his big brother, Zhang Yuan!
"It was Lin Jingyu who hit him," Zhang Xiaofan said. "Zhang Yuan said he didn't want to spar, but he forced him into it."
...
*Lin Jingyu bullied my blind brother?*
Hearing this, Lu Xueqi and Tian Ling'er were incensed, their rage reaching a boiling point. Lu Xueqi summoned the Tianya Sword, and Tian Ling'er unleashed the Amber Pearl.
"How dare you bully someone from Xiaozhu Peak? Do you think we have no one to defend us?" Lu Xueqi bellowed.
Qi Hao stepped forward, anxious that Lin Jingyu might get hurt, and shouted to stop the two women: "Stop!"
Tian Buyi and Su Ru watched Zhang Yuan, who was still spitting blood on the ground. Their faces were livid, and they remained silent, though Tian Buyi’s grip on his chair’s armrest was so tight it nearly shattered. Dazhu Peak and Xiaozhu Peak were like branches of the same tree. Zhang Yuan, being a member of Xiaozhu Peak, was practically one of their own. For him to be bullied on Dazhu Peak was an insult to his own house. He felt he owed Master Shuiyue an apology. Letting Lu Xueqi and Tian Ling'er teach Lin Jingyu a lesson might not be a bad thing after all.