Lying in bed, Lin Yue listened to Sun Yong and Zhang Dong’s conversation, and every word felt like a needle piercing his heart.

Jealousy, resentment, bitterness... A torrent of negative emotions surged in his chest, almost drowning him.

He clenched his jaw tightly. His chest suddenly constricted, and a metallic sweetness rose in his throat. With a SPURT, he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, which splattered across the snow-white bedding—a shocking sight.

Immediately after, his vision went black, his body went limp, and, overcome by a fit of rage, he fainted again.

"Yue’Er!"

"Hm?"

Sun Yong and Zhang Dong, deep in conversation, both cried out in alarm and rushed to the bedside.

Looking at the unconscious Lin Yue, Sun Yong’s expression changed drastically. "What happened?" he asked urgently. "Have his old injuries flared up?"

Zhang Dong also furrowed his brow. Reaching out to feel for Lin Yue’s pulse, he said in confusion, "This shouldn’t be happening. When I checked him yesterday, his condition had stabilized, and the internal bleeding had stopped. Why would this suddenly...?"

With his fingertips on Lin Yue’s wrist, he concentrated on reading the pulse for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief. "His pulse is chaotic, but his internal injuries haven’t worsened," he told Sun Yong. "It was caused by extreme emotional turmoil, making his qi and blood flow in reverse. He needs to recuperate in peace. He absolutely must not be agitated again."

Sun Yong’s expression darkened, and he sighed. "I fear the Li Family’s vicious methods have left too much resentment festering inside him. That’s why he lost control the moment he was provoked."

At the mention of the Li Family, a flash of anger crossed Sun Yong’s eyes as well.

Li Mengchao had been so ruthless, clearly showing no respect for a Huajin master like him.

But the rules of the tournament grounds stated that "fists and feet have no eyes, and life and death are left to fate." Vicious as his opponent was, he hadn’t actually dealt a fatal blow. Even if Sun Yong wanted to demand an explanation, he had no legitimate grounds and could only swallow his anger.

"Hall Master Zhang, I’ll head back for now. I’ll come see him again in a couple of days."

Reassured that Lin Yue’s injuries hadn’t worsened, Sun Yong composed himself and said to Zhang Dong, "I’ll have to trouble you to look after him for the next few days. Any silver coins or precious medicines required, just take them from the Martial Arts Hall’s accounts. The most important thing is that he recovers fully."

Zhang Dong nodded. "Rest assured, Hall Master Sun. I know this disciple of yours is exceptionally talented, and I will do my utmost to treat him. Once he’s completely healed in a few months, I guarantee I’ll return a talented disciple to you, back in fighting shape."

Sun Yong offered a cupped-fist salute, glanced one last time at the unconscious Lin Yue on the bed, and then turned to leave.

Zhang Dong walked him to the entrance of the medical hall. He watched Sun Yong’s figure disappear at the end of the alley, then slowly shook his head, a look of knowing realization in his eyes.

’Sun Yong is too close to the situation; he can’t see the forest for the trees.’

’After interacting with him for the past few days, I’ve already seen Lin Yue’s true nature. He’s narrow-minded, selfish, arrogant, and extremely impulsive.’

’Such talent is rare, but if he doesn’t change his disposition, I’m afraid he’ll never achieve anything great.’

’That mouthful of blood just now... how could that have been a relapse of an old injury? It was obvious. He heard that his fellow disciple, Yang Jing, had made the ranking list, and he was so consumed by jealousy, shame, and indignation that he fainted from a fit of rage.’

’If he truly had the Martial Arts Hall’s best interests at heart, he would have been happy to hear a fellow disciple made the list. How could he lose his composure like that?’

Zhang Dong turned and went back into the medical hall. Gazing in the direction of the patient’s room, he sighed softly.

These two disciples of Sun’s Martial Arts Hall... one was exceptionally talented but mentally unstable, while the other was quiet but possessed extraordinary potential. He truly didn’t know if this was a blessing or a curse.

...

「On the dirt road outside the city, heading toward Wazi Town.」

An ox-cart rumbled along the dusty road.

Yang the Third sat on the cart’s shaft, his ox-whip cracking loudly. His forehead was covered in flying beads of sweat.

Normally, he drove the cart at a leisurely pace, reluctant to give the ox even a single extra lash of the whip. Today, however, he was like a changed man, wishing the old beast would sprout wings and fly them to Yang Family Village.

"Hya! Hya!"

Yang the Third yelled, the whip falling once more to strike the ox on its rump.

The old ox bellowed in pain and picked up its pace.

He had just arrived in the county town this morning and hadn’t even had time to stock up at his usual general stores when he heard the martial exam rankings had been posted. He immediately dropped his goods and ran for the city gate.

He squeezed into the crowd, stood on his tiptoes, and looked. The two words "Yang Jing" were right there on the list—in fourth place!

He was so overjoyed he almost leaped into the air. ’Stocking up on goods? Making money? What could be more important than this news?’

He turned right around, hitched his ox to the cart, and rushed back, his mind consumed with being the first to bring this incredible news to the village.

"Dad! Faster! Go faster!"

Inside the cart, his seventeen-year-old son, Yang Wei, gripped the railing, his face flushed red and even more anxious than his father’s. "So Great-Uncle and Great-Aunt can find out sooner! Everyone needs to know that Brother Jing passed the martial exam!"

"I know, I know!"

Yang the Third grinned, revealing two rows of yellow teeth, and swung his whip even more frequently. "This is an honor for our ancestors! Our Yang Family Village has never produced someone like this since the day it was founded. Your Brother Jing is incredible. If you had even half his ability someday, that would be the greatest blessing our family could ever hope for!"

He had another private reason to be cheerful, too.

He’d made a bet with Yang Ji from the village.

Yang Ji was the type who loved to take petty advantages. Last year, he’d secretly encroached on a plot of Uncle Shouzhuo’s land, making things very tense with Uncle Shouzhuo’s family.

He couldn’t stand the sight of the man, so he’d bet that Yang Jing would pass the martial exam and get his name on the list.

He wagered a small plot of his family’s land against Yang Ji’s wife’s hairpin.

Later, Yang Ji had even gone around the village mocking him, calling him a fool and saying that if Yang Jing managed to pass the martial exam, he could twist his head off and kick it like a ball.

Well, look what happened now. Yang Jing didn’t just make the list—he was ranked fourth!

He didn’t want the bastard’s head, but that shiny hairpin was as good as his!

Just imagining the look on Yang Ji’s face when he heard the news made Yang the Third grin. His whip fell again, urging the old ox to move even faster.