Qin Feiyang gritted his teeth, stubbornly forcing himself to stand.
With difficulty, he turned, looked up at the Third Palace Master of Elixir Palace, and said, emphasizing each word, "Third Palace Master, Ma Hongmei is lying. I reached the peak; it was she who kicked me off!"
The Third Palace Master frowned and turned his head toward Ma Hongmei, his gaze questioning.
Surviving all that, he's really tough.
Ma Hongmei sneered inwardly, saying disdainfully, "What a joke. Do you think I, the Steward-Elder of the esteemed Elixir Palace, would stoop to such despicable tactics? Besides, I bear no grudges against you. Why would I kick you?"
Qin Feiyang was enraged to the extreme, on the verge of frenzy. He looked at the Third Palace Master and pleaded, "I'm not lying... please believe me..."
"Don't blame your incompetence on others. If you want the Marrow-cleansing pill, you must rely on your own abilities."
The Third Palace Master glanced indifferently at Qin Feiyang, then turned and walked into the palace, disappearing completely.
"Why?"
"Why won't you believe me?"
Qin Feiyang roared, an overwhelming Evil Qi erupting from him.
"Look at yourself. Who would believe your nonsense? Let me give you a piece of advice: don't stir up trouble with false accusations, or there will be no place for you in Iron Bull Town."
Ma Hongmei's lip curled. Leaving this threatening remark, she too turned and walked into the Elixir Palace, the great doors closing behind her.
BANG!
The palace gates slammed shut.
Qin Feiyang stood motionless on the stone steps, staring fixedly at the Elixir Palace.
"The pain of today, I, Qin Feiyang, will repay it a hundredfold in the future!"
"Today, my blood stains these stone steps. In the future, I will make fresh blood stain this entire Elixir Palace!"
At this moment, his face was contorted, his eyes filled with murderous intent, making him look like a savage beast—exceptionally ferocious! Then, he painfully turned and started down the steps.
However, he had barely taken a few steps before dizziness overwhelmed him, and his body began to sway.
Just as he was about to collapse, he bit his tongue sharply. Blood flowed freely, and his consciousness cleared considerably.
He continued to bite his tongue, nearly severing it.
His dignity would not allow him to collapse on these stone steps.
An unknown amount of time passed before he finally descended.
By then, he had long since reached his limit. The moment his feet touched the ground, he pitched forward, his eyes closing as he fainted.
「Shortly after.」
An elderly man, his hair streaked with white, approached Qin Feiyang.
Looking at Qin Feiyang lying unconscious in a pool of blood, the old man's eyes reddened slightly.
The old man looked up at the Elixir Palace, a cold light flashing in his eyes. Then, carrying Qin Feiyang, he silently hurried along the street, speeding toward the outskirts of the town.
Iron Bull Town was a small town with a population of tens of thousands.
By this time, it was nearing dusk. The sun was setting, and the weather gradually cooled. The town's residents emerged from their homes one after another. Some strolled the streets, purchasing daily necessities. Some gathered in small groups, chatting. Others formed parties and left Iron Bull Town to hunt in the deep mountains beyond.
After all, everyone needed to sustain themselves.
So-called life was little more than food and wealth.
These people all showed sympathy in their eyes when they saw Qin Feiyang and the old man. Clearly, the two were not strangers in the small town.
The town was surrounded by boundless mountain ranges, teeming with wild beasts, making it extremely dangerous; virtually no one dared to hunt there alone.
Yet, the old man, carrying Qin Feiyang, headed directly into the deep forests to the east, expertly navigating and avoiding the beasts along the way.
After rushing for about half a kilometer, the old man arrived at a lake.
The lake was roughly three hundred meters wide, its water clear, its surface rippling. A cool breeze swept by, invigorating the spirit.
Around the lakeshore, willow trees swayed in the wind, exuding youthful vitality.
To the left stood a small, two-story wooden house. It had no華丽外表, simple and朴实, yet it appeared warm, peaceful, and detached from worldly affairs.
This was Qin Feiyang's home.
Carrying him, the old man strode into the small wooden house, went up to the second floor, entered a room, and gently placed Qin Feiyang on the bed.
Then, he hurriedly left the room.
「Soon.」
He returned with an iron basin, sat by the bed, wrung out a towel, and began to wipe the bloodstains from Qin Feiyang's body.
After cleaning him, the old man looked at Qin Feiyang with loving eyes, which misted over, blurring his vision.
"No..."
"Please don't..."
"Why..."
"Why treat me so cruelly..."
"What did I do wrong..."
"Uncle Yuan, don't leave me. You're the only family I have left. Don't let me become an orphan..."
Qin Feiyang, as if caught in a nightmare, suddenly cried out, his face contorted in agony.
The old man quickly grasped Qin Feiyang's hand, gently soothing him, "Feiyang, don't be afraid. Uncle Yuan hasn't left. Uncle Yuan will always be with you, never leave..."
Only then did Qin Feiyang gradually calm down.
However, his tightly furrowed brows did not relax.
Uncle Yuan watched, his heart aching, and old tears streamed from his eyes.
Suddenly, as if he had made a decision, he rose abruptly and hurried downstairs.
Soon, a low rumbling sound came from downstairs; it was unclear what he was doing.
「Not long after.」
He hurried back into the room and sat by the bed, but now he held a jade box and a dagger.
The jade box was about palm-sized, entirely black, ancient, and unadorned.
However, as Uncle Yuan looked at this jade box, a hint of excitement showed on his face.
It's been exactly five years since we left the Imperial Capital.
Feiyang, you've also tempered yourself in Iron Bull Town for five full years.
These past five years, you've suffered countless humiliations, living each day in extreme pain. But because of this, your willpower far exceeds that of your peers.
Your current perseverance... even I feel ashamed by comparison.
I believe, with your current abilities, you are more than capable of standing on your own.
Uncle Yuan murmured to himself. Setting the dagger aside, he opened the jade box. A rich, sweet fragrance instantly filled the room.
Inside the jade box lay several medicinal pills.
One white pill.
Two red pills.
Two brown pills.
These five pills, each only the size of a pellet, were brightly colored and flawless. Their fragrant aroma assailed the nostrils, invigorating the spirit.
Uncle Yuan administered a red pill, then a brown pill, to Qin Feiyang.
CRACK!
A short while later, a series of sharp, bone-grating sounds began to emanate from Qin Feiyang's arms and spine.
This was bone mending!
Furthermore, the wounds on his back and feet were also healing rapidly.
In less than four hours, the wounds on his body began to scab over.
His broken bones had already set and were now just waiting to heal completely.
"Ma Hongmei, I'm going to kill you!"
Suddenly, with a fierce shout, Qin Feiyang bolted upright, the wooden bed creaking under the strain. Two rays of blood-red light shot from his eyes!
"AAAAH..."
This violent movement tore open his newly scabbed wounds, and fresh blood gushed out.
Overwhelmed by intense pain, he couldn't help but scream.
Uncle Yuan, also startled, momentarily set aside his concern for the healing and quickly reassured him, "Feiyang, you're home. Uncle Yuan is here. Don't be afraid."
"Home?"
Qin Feiyang paused. Enduring the pain racking his body, he glanced around the familiar room and finally sighed in relief.
The bloodshot color in his eyes rapidly faded, returning them to normal.
His dark pupils, like ink, were incredibly deep, revealing gleams of wisdom.
Seeing this, Uncle Yuan also sighed in relief.
Qin Feiyang looked at the starry sky outside the window and asked, "Uncle Yuan, how long was I unconscious?"
Uncle Yuan replied, "About four to six hours."
"Good, I still have time," Qin Feiyang murmured. He turned to Uncle Yuan and smiled, "Uncle Yuan, don't worry. I'll definitely find the Marrow-cleansing pill and strive to survive."
"Eh?!"
Uncle Yuan was astonished. Was this boy actually trying to comfort him?
Qin Feiyang suddenly frowned, his expression filled with disbelief as he examined his arms.
He clearly remembered how severe his injuries were, yet now, even his broken bones had mended!
As the saying goes, a sinew and bone injury takes a hundred days to heal.
But only four to six hours have passed. Could Uncle Yuan have given me some miraculous medicine after I fainted?
"Uncle Yuan, what's going on?"
He looked up to ask Uncle Yuan but found him with his head down, frowning, seemingly lost in thought and deeply engrossed.
A trace of doubt crept into his eyes, and he was just about to speak.
"Hush!"
Uncle Yuan suddenly put a finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet.
Then, Uncle Yuan walked to the window, as if admiring the night view.
It was now deep in the night. The round moon hung high, and stars twinkled. The surroundings were utterly still.
Uncle Yuan's keen senses caught faint rustling sounds.
Suddenly, in a patch of grass five hundred meters away, he spotted two dark figures!
A cold glint flashed in his old eyes. Uncle Yuan turned, walked back to Qin Feiyang, and whispered, "Feiyang, someone means us harm."
"Someone?" Qin Feiyang was startled.
Uncle Yuan said, "For the past five years, we've kept a low profile and never made enemies. If I'm not mistaken, Ma Hongmei must have sent them."
Qin Feiyang exclaimed, "She wants to silence us by killing us?"
Uncle Yuan replied, "Exactly. If the matter of her kicking you off the stone steps gets out, even if no one believes it, it will cause her unnecessary trouble. So, she won't let you live through tonight."
Qin Feiyang gritted his teeth. "That woman is truly vicious!"
"The human heart is treacherous," Uncle Yuan cautioned. "In the future, no matter who you encounter, always be vigilant and keep your guard up, just in case."
Qin Feiyang nodded, etching these words deep into his heart.
Uncle Yuan grabbed the jade box, tucked it into his clothes, then picked up the dagger and asked, "Feiyang, do you want to kill them?"
"Yes," Qin Feiyang answered without hesitation.
"Do you dare to kill?" Uncle Yuan asked again.
This time, Qin Feiyang hesitated. He had never killed anyone in his life.
"Think about how you were driven out of the Imperial Capital!"
"Think about how you've struggled through all these years!"
"And think about how Ma Hongmei treated you today!"
Each word Uncle Yuan spoke was like a sharp blade stabbing into Qin Feiyang's heart.
He closed his eyes in pain, his face contorting. Then, he snapped them open and nodded. "Uncle Yuan, I dare!"