Chapter 8 Humiliation

After staying in the house for more than ten days, Qin Mufeng realized that he was living in a small courtyard. The courtyard was filled with short trees with twisted branches, and various sizes of potted plants were placed under the trees. The ancient and winding paths, covered in moss, were squeezed narrow and secluded, giving people a sense of desolation.

At this moment, after being isolated from the world for more than ten days, Qin Mufeng felt that his body was about to rust. In the warm sun outside, Qin Mufeng took a deep breath, but suddenly, his whole body shivered. Holding the hand of the little girl, Xiaoya, Qin Mufeng hurriedly ran out of the courtyard.

Once outside the courtyard, Qin Mufeng didn't know where to go. The midday sun was still shining straight down, making his eyes sore. The smell of sleep dissipated in the sunshine. Looking at Xiaoya, who didn't know what to do behind him, Qin Mufeng said in a deep voice, "Hurry up, if we delay any longer, what if something happens to my mother?"

Feeling a bit dizzy, Xiaoya, upon hearing Qin Mufeng's scolding, instinctively ran towards a gate. Watching Xiaoya's purple long hair fluttering as she ran, Qin Mufeng's mouth curled into a smile. Stretching his short legs, he quickly caught up.

On the way, Qin Mufeng silently memorized the path Xiaoya ran through, so as not to embarrass himself when he came out alone in the future. Along the way, Qin Mufeng encountered several people dressed strangely. They looked at Qin Mufeng with strange expressions. Although Qin Mufeng was puzzled, he didn't have time to pay attention.

Passing through the gate, Xiaoya stopped running, and Qin Mufeng didn't know the way, so he naturally also stopped. Looking at Xiaoya's flushed face and her small chest that was beginning to take shape, Qin Mufeng pretended to be imposing and said, "Xiaoya, why are you not moving? If we delay any longer, what if something happens to my mother?"

"Master, let's go back. We are not allowed to come here casually," Xiaoya said pitifully, pointing in front, "Master, it's martial arts practice time now. If the steward sees us, I will be in trouble!"

Qin Mufeng followed Xiaoya's finger and saw a thousand men standing in perfect formation at a distance of one hundred zhang. Each of them held a stone pedestal of varying sizes, their postures unwavering. On the earthen martial arts field, there was no sound.

Seeing the men holding pedestals of different sizes, Qin Mufeng was amazed. In the group of young men who looked no older than eighteen or nineteen, the stone pedestals that some of them held were at least over a thousand jin in weight. It would require great strength to hold such heavy pedestals for a long time without moving.

But what shocked Qin Mufeng even more was the boy at the center of the martial arts field. He was about the same age as Qin Mufeng, but he had golden hair like gold, with a pedestal weighing about a thousand jin resting on his hand, unmoving. On his chiseled face, a pair of sapphire-like blue eyes sparkled.

This boy must be trouble! Qin Mufeng immediately concluded upon seeing the boy. If he was so handsome when he was young, wouldn't he become a heartthrob when he grew up? While Qin Mufeng stared at the boy, the boy, who was supporting the pedestal, seemed to sense someone watching him. He turned his head and noticed Qin Mufeng, his ocean-blue eyes filled with disdain.

Who is this guy? Why is he so arrogant? While Qin Mufeng pondered unhappily, Xiaoya, who had been frightened to the point of being stunned, suddenly felt a chill in her eyes, freezing her gaze in place. Then, Qin Mufeng felt Xiaoya gently touch his hand, trembling as she said, "Master, let's go. This is bad. I didn't expect to run into the Second Young Master as soon as we left!" As she spoke, she pulled Qin Mufeng and ran swiftly towards the main hall across the martial arts field.

"Worthless! You're only fit to hide behind a woman's skirt. I wonder if you're still a man of the Qin family!" Even though the boy's words carried a hint of childishness, there was mockery, disdain, a touch of schadenfreude, and a face full of contempt. Qin Mufeng's heart burned like fire, his whole body felt like it was on fire, his mouth dried up, and his throat burned!

Qin Mufeng wanted to stop, but the boy holding the thousand-jin pedestal made him dismiss the idea. A hero never suffers a loss in front of his eyes, and those who understand the situation are wise. Although he was not very familiar with this body, having been its owner for more than ten days, he felt that he himself still didn't have the strength to lift the thousand-jin pedestal. It was like being seriously ill, like a tree being suddenly attacked by a heavy snowfall, leaving only a few withered branches and leaves. His spirit was not as strong as before. He felt deep sorrow, as reality was so cruel, cruel to the point he couldn't face it. He felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

Running and tightly biting his lip, Qin Mufeng made a firm decision. He swore to himself that he would retaliate for this humiliation, but he needed to observe their words and actions and plan for the long term.

Just as Qin Mufeng was determined, he felt his internal organs expand, and his facial features gradually swelled. It felt as if someone was desperately blowing air into his body. Before Qin Mufeng could react, he fell onto the hard yellow soil with a "thud."

"The conference hall is not a place for you to enter randomly. Second Young Master, please go back." While Qin Mufeng was in unbearable pain, the cold words came from beside him. Qin Mufeng, struggling to lift his head, stared at the two sturdy figures standing at the entrance of the hall with anger.

They did it on purpose! Although Qin Mufeng was clueless about martial arts and the like, just from the faint smile on the faces of these two men, he knew that they intentionally made him look ridiculous! Slowly standing up from the ground, feeling pain all over, as if his bones were being cut by a knife from the inside out, Qin Mufeng still stood tall with his small stature.

I can't let these people laugh at me, absolutely not! Qin Mufeng tightly clenched his fist, stared coldly at the two men, and approached them with an obvious provocation. A strand of hair slipped from his forehead as he took a step forward. Qin Mufeng's body collided with the arm blocking his way in front!

A hand blocked Qin Mufeng's path, and on the sturdy arm, an aura of strength was transmitted. In this aura, Qin Mufeng felt a fiery heat, making it impossible for his body to move even half a step forward!

"Second Young Master, I've already told you, you cannot enter the conference hall. It is the clan's rule. Only the elders and warriors of the Qin family are allowed to enter for discussions. Others are strictly prohibited. If you insist on breaking in, Second Young Master, don't blame us for being impolite!" vehemently declared the man on the left, his face filled with smiles that resembled a plump cockscomb flower, but beneath that smile, there was a chilling presence.

The utterly shocked Xiaoya could only watch, motionless, as Qin Mufeng faced off against the two men. Qin Mufeng looked at the man with a false smile and sneered, "If I want to go in, what can you do?" Qin Mufeng took firm steps forward, exuding a clear challenge. A strand of hair fell from his forehead as he spoke and he prepared to march forcefully inside.

A hand was placed in front of Qin Mufeng, and a surge of strength emanated from the muscular arm. In that strength, Qin Mufeng felt a heat like flames, making it impossible for him to move forward!

"Second Young Master, as I said, you cannot enter the conference hall. It is a rule of the clan. If the head of the family sees you causing trouble here, it wouldn't be good," said the man on the right, despite the smile still on his face. Although his face was full of smile, like a plump plum blossom, inside that smile was a chilling presence.

As Xiaoya watched helplessly, Qin Mufeng's eyes turned cold. These people did it on purpose! Although Qin Mufeng knew little about martial arts, the almost invisible smiles on the faces of these two men made him realize that they intentionally humiliated him! Slowly getting up from the ground, his body aching as if his bones were being carved, Qin Mufeng stood tall, his small body still erect.

I can't let these people laugh at me, absolutely not! Qin Mufeng tightly clenched his fist, stared coldly at the two men, and approached them with an obvious provocation. A strand of hair slipped from his forehead as he took a step forward. Qin Mufeng's body collided with the arm blocking his way in front!