C6 Fighting Against Everyone(2)

Clang!

A bell tolled from a mountaintop within the Lin family estate.

Upon hearing the bell, Lin Ruo's face registered a slight change. Casting aside all pretense of ladylike grace, she grabbed Lin Feng's hand and dashed outside, urging as they ran, "Hurry, Little Lin! If we don't leave now, we'll be late."

Lin Feng was at a loss for words. He wanted to mention that he was confined by Lin Yuanshan and couldn't leave the courtyard.

Yet, as Lin Ruo pulled him all the way to the gate, the enforcement team made no move to stop them.

"What's happening? Wasn't I grounded by my father?" Lin Feng asked, puzzled.

"It was your father who agreed to let you out today," Lin Ruo informed him.

"He must be furious with me right now. Why would he let me out?"

Lin Ruo gave Lin Feng a bewildered look, her eyes wide with incredulity. "Don't you know? Today is the strength assessment before the clan ceremony."

It dawned on Lin Feng that today was indeed the strength assessment before the family ceremony!

Slapping his forehead, he let out a wry chuckle, "I can't believe I forgot about that!"

Sharing a rueful smile, Lin Ruo accompanied Lin Feng as they made their way to the Lin family's training field.

As they walked through the Lin family's grounds, numerous young men and women bustled about.

Some of them paid no mind to Lin Feng, brushing past him without a second glance, while others pointed and sneered at him in derision.

Lin Feng was unfazed by the mockery. He simply shook his head and chose not to engage.

"Hey, look at that! The good-for-nothing is strutting down the Lin family's stone path!"

"Tsk tsk, it must be because little sister Ruo'er is back that he's got the nerve to show his face. Without her, would he even dare to appear?"

"This loser only knows how to cower behind a woman. He's a total disgrace to the Lin family!"

The young men's voices rang out, loud and clear, behind Lin Feng.

Standing before these youths was a young man clad in a purple robe, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he watched Lin Feng with a mocking air.

This was Lin Cheng, one of the Great Elder Lin Yuandong's grandsons. His cultivation was at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, making him the least advanced among his cousins. Bullying Lin Feng was his idea of fun.

Lin Feng was well aware of the curses hurled at him from behind but simply shook his head, dismissing them without a second thought. His priority was to keep pace with the strength forecast; he couldn't afford to squander time on such trivialities.

Lin Cheng's face twisted with fury as he watched Lin Feng walk away without so much as a backward glance. "Playing it cool today, aren't we, Second Young Master?" he sneered.

Unfazed, Lin Feng pressed on. A lion does not turn at the bark of a dog.

Lin Cheng's rage boiled over as Lin Feng continued to ignore him. He hurried to intercept Lin Feng, blocking his path. "Hey, trash, I'm talking to you. Are you deaf?"

"Who are you calling trash?" Lin Feng's brow furrowed in annoyance.

"You piece of—" Lin Cheng began, his voice rising in anger. But he caught himself mid-taunt, his words trailing off as he glared at Lin Feng, seething.

"Little runt, you must have a death wish, daring to insult me!" Lin Cheng's fists tightened, his reason slipping away.

"Lin Cheng, hold back! He may be weak, but he's still the patriarch's son. He's off-limits to us," cautioned a young man at the second layer of Foundation Establishment, rushing forward to intervene.

"Out of my way!" Lin Cheng's palm struck out, sending the young man flying three meters back with a stifled grunt.

"Second Young Master, seems like no one's been keeping you in check lately. Your temper's gotten quite the edge," Lin Cheng said with a bitter laugh, advancing on Lin Feng step by step.

"Look at this fool, picking a fight with Lin Cheng. We're in for a treat now."

"Once trash, always trash. Just there to take a beating. After all these years, he thinks he can rise up?"

"The weak should get used to living under the strong's thumb!"

The other youths gathered around, chattering and speculating with glee.

Though Lin Feng had grown accustomed to their scorn, today's barbs cut deeper than usual. His expression turned icy, and a chilling murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he swept his gaze across the Lin family disciples. Those who met his stare felt a sudden coldness in their hearts and quickly averted their eyes, unable to hold his gaze.

Even in front of Lin Feng, Lin Cheng felt as though he had plunged into an icy abyss, a bone-chilling coldness seeping into his very marrow. Yet, hot on its heels came a wave of humiliation. Was he, a cultivator at the fourth stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, actually intimidated by a nobody?

A kid without even the strength of the first Layer?

As realization dawned, Lin Cheng's face twisted into a sneer. "Look who's grown a spine," he taunted. "You've got some nerve glaring at us now, don't you, trash?"

The youths flanking Lin Cheng joined in, their faces contorted with scorn. With the Great Elder's backing and a strength far surpassing Lin Feng's, Lin Cheng knew that disciplining Lin Feng would bring him little to no repercussions.

"Some people just beg to be knocked down a peg," Lin Feng sighed, giving Lin Cheng a look usually reserved for the foolish. "I haven't thrown a punch since arriving in this world. Might as well use this fool for some practice."

"Trash, today I'm going to give you the lesson you deserve, courtesy of our clan leader," Lin Cheng sneered, cracking his knuckles as he advanced on Lin Feng with a malicious grin.

Step by step, Lin Cheng closed in on Lin Feng. When he was just two meters away, his legs coiled and sprang forward, launching him at Lin Feng like a missile. His fist rocketed towards Lin Feng's shoulder!

Lin Cheng's punch was lightning-fast, reaching Lin Feng in a blink, yet Lin Feng remained unmoved. A hit from that fist would surely shatter bones.

Lin Ruo moved to intervene, but to her astonishment, Lin Feng's arm was already positioned protectively in front of her.

"This idiot's frozen stiff with fear!" the young disciples jeered, their mockery intensifying.

Then, a sudden scream pierced the air...