C5 I will Teach You a Lesson

The bridge of Freckle's nose crumbled beneath Ling Xiao's devastating palm strike, sending him into a torrent of excruciating screams as blood spurted from his nostrils.

As Freckle collapsed, Ling Xiao wasted no time, delivering a vicious kick to his already mangled nose, prompting a fresh wave of pitiful cries.

"You... you dare to hit someone? Don't you fear Young Master Rui?" Dog Nose was stunned to see Freckle defeated by the one deemed the biggest failure in Meteor City, and with merely two strikes at that. In a frantic bid to deter Ling Xiao, he dropped the name of his influential master.

"Hmph, I'll have my reckoning with Ling Rui soon enough. But first, I'll teach you two myopic lackeys a lesson," Ling Xiao snorted, his feet whipping up a gust as he closed in on the dazed Dog Nose. He then unleashed a fierce kick directly into Dog Nose's groin.

"Argh!" Dog Nose howled, doubling over and hopping in place, wracked with pain.

Ling Xiao had no qualms about fighting dirty, and within moments, he had incapacitated both men, ready to administer their punishment.

"Cough up the gold coins, you despicable servant!" Ling Xiao demanded, seizing Dog Nose by the collar and hammering two punches into his eyes. Dog Nose's face ballooned, taking on the appearance of a panda.

"I, I..." Dog Nose began, his words faltering.

But Ling Xiao showed no mercy. Grabbing his shoulders, he thrust his knee upwards with brutal force into Dog Nose's tender groin.

Dog Nose collapsed, the pain overwhelming him into unconsciousness, his 'eggs' likely crushed.

Ling Xiao then turned his wrathful stare to Freckle.

Trembling with dread, Freckle implored, "Mercy, Young Master Xiao, please, no more! I'll give you twenty gold coins immediately."

"Drop dead!" Ling Xiao cursed, stomping his foot down onto Freckle's face.

Freckle's nose, now repeatedly smashed, was beyond repair. His blood-streaked face was etched with panic, a stark contrast to his earlier defiance.

Both Freckle and Dog Nose lay unconscious. Ling Xiao stooped to search them, pulling out two coin purses from each. Without bothering to count the contents, he strode back to the front door.

At the doorway, Meng Xiyun stood agape, witnessing her son's impressive show of force. It was hard for her to grasp that her son had effortlessly knocked out two fourth-level Martial Disciples in mere moments.

"Mother, let's go back inside. Don't let the sight of these two dogs offend your eyes," Ling Xiao coaxed Meng Xiyun toward the entrance, then turned to lock the door firmly behind them.

He gave one of the coin purses to Meng Xiyun, keeping the other for himself, and then headed straight to his room.

Meng Xiyun, still in a daze, clutched the purse tightly in her hands as she watched her son's delicate silhouette disappear into the house.

Inside, Ling Xiao carelessly threw the purse aside, shaking his hands out and muttering, "A couple of punches and my hands are already sore. I'm too fragile. It's a good thing I struck first; otherwise, I might not have been able to handle those two mongrels."

Ling Xiao's assault was strategic. Having opened only one meridian and possessing just a trace of normal human strength, he smartly struck first, aiming for the most susceptible areas of his adversaries.

The nose is always a tender spot, and even martial artists find a light punch there unbearable. That's why Freckle was unable to fight back after Ling Xiao's hits. Dog Nose had it worse; the groin is every man's critical weakness, and Ling Xiao ruthlessly disabled his to intimidate Freckle. Though Freckle was injured, he could have posed a real threat to Ling Xiao in a desperate fight. Fortunately, Freckle was too frightened to strike back, and Ling Xiao's aggressive approach left him subdued, enabling Ling Xiao to quickly overpower both men.

Following his morning exercise and the altercation with the servants, Ling Xiao was soaked in sweat. He promptly fetched a bucket of water to bathe.

Post-bath, Ling Xiao settled back into meditation in his room, intent on opening his second meridian as swiftly as possible. He had just dealt with two of Ling Rui's henchmen, and he was certain their master wouldn't let it slide. Every second counted. Once he unlocked all twelve main meridians and consolidated his inner force, he'd be ready for any confrontation.

Becoming stronger was now his primary goal.

In his simple abode, Ling Xiao sat with his palms open and placed before his abdomen, eyes tightly closed, exuding intense focus. His jet-black hair emitted faint trails of white smoke, as though he were in the midst of a steam bath, creating an exceptionally peculiar spectacle.

An hour later, the young man slowly opened his eyes. With a smooth motion, he brought his hands together and hopped out of bed.

From outside came a persistent knocking.

It was Ling Xiao's father, Ling Zhan, who entered, clutching his ever-present wine pot. His expression was tinged with excitement as he looked at his son.

"I heard from your mother that you took care of a couple of Ling Rui's lackeys?" Ling Zhan asked as he found a chair and sat down.

"Yes, Dad," Ling Xiao replied with a nod.

A flicker of excitement crossed Ling Zhan's face. "Does this mean you can start cultivating profound strength again?"

Ling Xiao shook his head. "Not quite yet, but it won't be long. I'll definitely be able to cultivate profound strength soon." If this continent calls inner energy profound strength, then that's what I'll call it from now on.

"Really?" Ling Zhan stood up, his voice filled with hope, which quickly faded into a wry smile. "With the meridians destroyed, only a miracle pill of the Fifth Rank or higher might offer a glimmer of hope for restoration. Otherwise... Ah, Xiao, we're just deluding ourselves." He finished with a heavy sigh and took a swig from his pot, seeking solace in the fiery liquid.

Ling Xiao clenched his fists as he watched his father, then slowly relaxed them. "Don't give up hope, Dad. As the saying goes, 'After the darkest night comes a bright dawn.' If we keep striving, we can certainly take back control of our destiny."

Ling Zhan looked up at his son, sighed softly, and walked out of the house, leaving behind a lonely silhouette for Ling Xiao.

"Don't worry, dear old Dad Ping Yi, your son has come a long way from his past self."

At the Fifth Elder's grand estate.

In front of the west wing's courtyard, an 18-year-old in a green robe was fluidly executing sword techniques.

"Emerald Rainbow Piercing the Sky!" he shouted, soaring like an eagle, his sword swirling in a radiant sweep, then lunging forward, unleashing a half-meter streak of sword light that radiated a fierce aura.

He landed with poise, his swordplay complete, and a smile graced his face. His single-eyelid eyes, however, betrayed a less than generous spirit.

He was Ling Rui, the Fifth Elder's direct grandson and the second son of Ling Chong, the financial Deacon.