Chapter Four: Wounded Left Shoulder, Severed Right Arm

At this moment, Qin Feng noticed a group of people walking toward him. He had chosen this hour to come to the training field precisely to avoid unnecessary trouble, but caught up in his own excitement, he had lost track of time—and now, trouble had found him instead.

He overheard their conversation as they approached.

A frown creased his brow, and for a brief instant, his eyes were shot through with blood-red lines. Anyone seeing his gaze in that moment would have felt a chill run down their spine.

Suppressing the violent urge to kill that surged within him, Qin Feng finally opened his eyes.

This time, he did not choose to flee. Instead, he strode forward to meet the group head-on.

As he drew near, he recognized three people blocking his path: Qin Yuer, Qin Yuanji, and Qin Yuanbao.

The three were about his age, but their statuses were not the same. Qin Yuer was a direct descendant and acknowledged as the most beautiful woman in the family—a tall figure, graceful curves, delicate oval face, long lashes, fair skin, and a charming elegance, adorned in a yellow dress that complemented her well. Yet the perpetual arrogance curling her lips robbed her of some of her appeal. The two beside her, Qin Yuanji and Qin Yuanbao, followed her with fawning eagerness, constantly seeking her favor, which only further inflated her pride.

Within the Qin family, there were direct and collateral lines. The descendants of Old Master Qin Tianzheng were the direct line; all others were collateral.

Qin Yuanji and Qin Yuanbao were brothers from a collateral branch. All three were at the sixth stage of the Mortal Strength Realm, though the two brothers had reached this level earlier, while Qin Yuer had only just advanced two days prior.

Among them, it was Qin Yuer who made the most noise.

She was the granddaughter of the second elder, making her Qin Feng’s cousin. Among the many disciples of the Qin family, her talent was mediocre at best, and due to her spoiled and playful childhood, she was nearly eighteen and had only just broken through to the sixth stage. According to family rules, any disciple who had not reached the sixth stage by age eighteen would be expelled from the main household. Thus, she had always carried an undercurrent of anxiety, much like Qin Feng himself.

But as with most beautiful women, she was fond of comparison, and Qin Yuer was no exception. Under normal circumstances, with her temperament and ability, such a sudden breakthrough would have been impossible. Most likely, her uncle had provided her with precious medicinal herbs or forcibly aided her advancement through his own cultivation.

Though the leap from fifth to sixth stage did not mean a significant increase in power, it was enough to secure her place in the family.

Advancing with outside help was nothing to boast about, but Qin Yuer was no ordinary girl. Beautiful and willful, she had spent the past few days mocking and humiliating those who had yet to reach the sixth stage—a despicable tactic, but her strength and gender left these juniors unable to retaliate; they simply avoided her from afar.

Qin Feng had long been stuck at the third stage, his advancement only occurring the previous night. The others still believed him to be at the third stage, and the family’s ironclad rule was clear: anyone below the fourth stage was forbidden from entering the training field, and anyone could expel them by force.

Qin Yuer would not let such an opportunity slip away, especially with her two eager sycophants in tow, emboldening her even further.

She arched her brows in disdain, but rather than sully her image by scolding in public, she shot a glance at Qin Yuanji.

Catching her cue, the thick-browed Qin Yuanji gladly stepped forward and sneered, “Well, well, who’s here training so early? Turns out it’s you, Qin Feng. You’ve got some nerve—after being knocked out of the arena by Qin Ba yesterday, you still dare show your face? Do you really think you can cultivate? After this year’s Awakening, you’d better obediently leave the family estate and go mind the family business—ha!”

As more people gathered in the training ground, Qin Yuanji glanced at Qin Yuer, seeking her approval, and raised his voice so all could hear, clearly relishing the attention, especially in front of her.

To him, Qin Feng was less than an ant.

By now, daylight was spreading. Many came to the training field at dawn for a good spot to practice. Seeing the commotion, most drifted over out of curiosity.

As the crowd closed in, Qin Feng’s expression remained unchanged, a trace of mockery playing at his lips. He had already seen through Qin Yuanji’s petty intentions—they wanted to humiliate him, the weakest of the direct line, to boost their own standing and win Qin Yuer’s favor, treating him as a soft target, a stepping stone to amuse a woman.

How laughable.

In the past, Qin Feng would have endured it, but not today—last night, he had broken through. There was no need to tolerate further humiliation.

All the more so, for the bloodthirsty desire suppressed within him had only grown stronger under long-term oppression. It was time to release a little pressure.

Having made up his mind, Qin Feng ignored Qin Yuanji, fixing his gaze coldly on Qin Yuer. “Qin Yuer, take your two lapdogs and get lost. Don’t block my way—get out of my sight!”

With one sentence, he insulted all three at once.

The crowd’s faces changed instantly, while Qin Yuer, Qin Yuanji, and Qin Yuanbao went pale with anger.

“Is Qin Feng insane? Daring to speak that way?”

“Yeah, wasn’t yesterday’s beating enough for him? Is he looking for death?”

The Qin family disciples whispered among themselves.

Here, while men held a higher status than women and the direct line was above the collateral, true status was measured by strength alone—might makes right. Qin Ba, for instance, was the strongest of the younger generation, and even the direct descendants were polite to him.

Qin Feng, as a direct descendant, could have pride, but it ought to match his strength. Most present were collateral branch members, expecting Qin Feng to behave as always—timid and self-effacing. Yet this time, his defiance shocked everyone.

Comparing collateral disciples to dogs was to offend them all.

A few direct descendants looked surprised. While they did not care about Qin Feng being insulted by Qin Yuer, being shamed by two collateral brothers stung their pride. Qin Ba’s existence was already a slap in the face; to have a fellow direct descendant bullied only rubbed salt in the wound.

Qin Feng’s display, though unexpected, lost its luster when they saw his thin frame and recalled his strange illness. They thought to themselves, “Looks like he’s in for another beating.”

Some well-meaning direct descendants shot him warning glances, urging him not to be rash. Swallowing pride was better than a severe beating, especially with his health.

Yet blood ties still made their hearts side with Qin Feng, even if they held little hope for him.

Qin Yuer’s pretty face flushed bright red, unable to utter a word in response. Qin Yuanji was even more furious—being called a dog in front of everyone was unbearable. The crowd seemed to support him, so his arrogance swelled. After Qin Ba’s display yesterday, he was eager for his own moment of glory, his face flushing with excitement and shame.

“Damn you, Qin Feng! Today, I’ll enforce the family law and drive you out of the training field!”

Qin Feng glanced around, noting the mix of pity and indifference in the crowd, with a few direct descendants looking disheartened.

He smiled.

“Enough talk. If you want to fight, come at me!”

“Come, let’s battle!”

Facing Qin Yuanji’s wrath, Qin Feng remained calm, his fighting spirit rising. The aura he exuded, cold and bloodthirsty, made Qin Yuanji’s confidence falter—he subconsciously took two steps back.

To be cowed by Qin Feng’s presence in front of everyone was mortifying, especially when he saw the disappointment in Qin Yuer’s eyes. Anger surged afresh.

“He’s bluffing! He must be!”

Remembering all that had happened to Qin Feng—especially being knocked out by Qin Ba yesterday—Qin Yuanji regained his confidence.

“Take this—Mountain-Crushing Fist!”

Fueled by hatred and mania, Qin Yuanji unleashed a full-force punch, his fist blazing with energy. Mountain-Crushing Fist was a low-tier combat technique, on par with Dragon Force Fist.

“Hmph!”

Seeing the attack coming, Qin Feng’s blood began to boil. This was his first real combat since arriving in this world, and he felt no fear—he stood straight, watching as Qin Yuanji’s fist grew larger in his vision.

Truly, he was born for battle. The bloodlust thrilled him.

“Is he frozen with fear? Just standing there, grinning like an idiot!”

“Must be. He’s only at the third stage, right? Facing a sixth-stage opponent, he doesn’t stand a chance. What’s gotten into him today?”

“He’s lost his mind. He’ll get himself killed with one punch!”

Just as everyone expected Qin Feng to be flattened and coughing blood as he had before, he moved.

He neither dodged nor flinched, but raised his own fist, green energy flashing, and struck directly at Qin Yuanji’s attack.

“He’s meeting force with force!”

As shock froze the spectators’ faces—

A deafening boom sounded.

A sharp crack rang out.

A figure was sent flying, stumbling back over a dozen steps, colliding into several people before crashing to the ground, eyes wide with horror.

But to everyone’s amazement, it was not Qin Feng who was thrown back—it was Qin Yuanji!

Qin Feng, though unsteady, regained his footing after just two steps, far less battered than his opponent.

For a moment, the entire arena fell silent.

Everyone stared as though they’d seen a ghost—Qin Feng seemed a demon incarnate, Qin Yuanji as fragile as paper.

“What the hell happened?”

“Did I see that right? Qin Feng overpowered Qin Yuanji in a head-on clash!”

The silence lasted only an instant—then the arena erupted.

Qin Yuanji was utterly stunned, lying on the ground, staring at his broken right arm, his whole body trembling.

Qin Feng, meanwhile, gazed at his own fist, lost in thought.

“As I guessed—Qin Yuanji is only at the early sixth stage, his strength barely at the threshold, about fifteen units of force. That punch was his full power. But my strongest attack exceeds twenty units—mid-sixth stage. Though I used a bit of local hardening, the outcome was clear.”

“Yuanji!”

“Qin Feng, you’ll pay for this!”

Now Qin Yuanbao, Qin Yuer’s other escort and Qin Yuanji’s brother, exploded with rage. The two brothers both fancied Qin Yuer, but blood was thicker than water.

Qin Yuer, meanwhile, was ashen with shock.

Neither she nor the brothers had expected Qin Yuanji to lose so quickly.

“Useless fool!” Qin Yuer, recovering her composure, covered her embarrassment with a cold snort.

“Yuer, I… I…” Seeing her turn away, Qin Yuanji could only beg his brother, “Brother, avenge me!”

He looked miserable, his strength at least halved.

To be beaten so thoroughly in public, when he’d set out to humiliate Qin Feng, was unbearable.

“No, he must have used one of the family’s forbidden arts—some secret technique to unlock his potential!” That was the only explanation Qin Yuanji could accept, for these secret arts could forcibly raise one’s strength at the cost of harming the body, and were forbidden except in mortal peril.

Yes, that must be it!

With this excuse, Qin Yuanji felt a measure of comfort.

Pointing at Qin Feng, he shouted, “Brother, he used a forbidden art! Otherwise, he couldn’t have become so strong!”

“A forbidden art?”

Qin Feng paused in surprise.

Many onlookers suddenly wore expressions of realization, though a few remained doubtful.

“No wonder his strength soared—he must have used a secret technique. But using forbidden arts in sparring is a serious breach, even if he wins—he’ll be punished for breaking family rules.”

With that in mind, many once more looked at Qin Feng as if he were a fool.

Imagine—just to win a bout, he risked permanent damage to himself and severe punishment. Wasn’t that sheer idiocy?

“Hahaha!”

Hearing the murmurs, Qin Feng suddenly laughed—a sound full of scorn.

“Qin Yuanji, if you think it’s a forbidden art, why don’t all three of you come at me and see for yourselves?”

“Do you dare?”

Everyone knew that after using a forbidden art, one could unleash a single burst of strength before quickly weakening. But Qin Feng showed no sign of exhaustion—on the contrary, he seemed more vigorous than ever.

Qin Yuanji’s confidence began to falter, a nagging sense of foreboding growing within him. Beside him, Qin Yuanbao also wore a look of doubt.

Qin Yuer, however, remained haughty, instructing Qin Yuanbao, “Go, teach him a lesson! Break his legs and throw him out of here!”

With so many watching, Qin Yuanbao could not back down. Even if he felt uneasy, he had to put on a brave face.

“Fine, I’m not afraid!”

Qin Yuanji hesitated, but Qin Yuanbao displayed the Qin family’s martial spirit—though mostly due to Qin Yuer’s encouragement. The two brothers were quite besotted with her.

“Very well, take this!”

Again, Dragon Force Fist—but this time, Qin Feng attacked first. With a sudden kick, he shot forward, his fist swelling in Qin Yuanbao’s vision.

Attack and defense changed in an instant; this time Qin Feng was the aggressor, his speed and aura stunning the crowd.

Qin Yuanbao’s expression grew grave.

He dared not receive Qin Feng’s punch head-on. Though more muscular than his brother, some things could not be compensated for with sheer size.

Was this really Qin Feng, the so-called good-for-nothing of the Qin family? In that moment, Qin Yuanbao’s mind wavered.

He could dodge, but that would admit fear. Even if he lost, he must save face.

So, he bent his body into an odd arc, using his waist and legs to propel himself back, his fist glowing white as he aimed at Qin Feng’s left chest.

“Collapse Fist—Mount Tai Shatters!”

A move combining attack and evasion. But Qin Feng would not let him succeed.

“Dragon Force Fist—Great Dragon’s Tail!”

Qin Feng’s fist grazed Qin Yuanbao’s cheek; twisting his waist, he dodged the return strike and used his body’s power to whip his right leg at Qin Yuanbao.

Caught off guard, Qin Yuanbao could only shield his vital points with his left arm.

There was a thunderous crash and a sharp crack.

Another figure flew through the air, crashing to the ground with such force that the crowd stepped back.

Blood spurted from Qin Yuanbao’s mouth as he lost consciousness.

A punch had broken Qin Yuanji’s right arm; a kick had shattered Qin Yuanbao’s left.

The brothers met the same fate!

Qin Feng steadied himself and with a single bound landed before Qin Yuer. Their gazes met, barely a foot apart, and she could feel the killing intent radiating from his eyes.

“Ah, Qin Feng—no, Cousin Qin Feng, please, don’t!”

Terrified, she collapsed to the ground, weeping as she begged for mercy—her arrogance vanished.

“From now on, don’t let me see you again. Not even the Second Elder can save you.”

With a cold snort, Qin Feng turned and strode away.

The crowd stood stunned.

Qin Yuer watched his departing figure, suddenly filled with regret.

Not just her—the entire younger generation of the Qin family began to reevaluate the “good-for-nothing” Qin Feng. If he was a waste, what did that make them?

…