C4 – Provocation
“Xue, forgive me for making this decision without consulting you.”
As Jiaang Lin gazed upon the person he had longed for in his thoughts both day and night, he couldn’t contain the excitement welling up inside him. He stepped forward and wrapped Jiaang Xue in a tight embrace, fearing that if he let go, she might slip away from him once more.
In his past life, it was this very girl who had stood by his side for over a decade, growing up alongside him. While he endured the relentless bullying, scorn, and beatings from the Qiao family’s disciples, becoming an outcast in everyone’s eyes, she was the only one who steadfastly protected him in silence, sheltering him from all harm. She never once looked down on him.
Indeed, Jiaang Xue held a special place in Jiaang Lin’s heart; she was more than a sworn sister—she was his confidant, someone he would cherish for a lifetime.
Now, as the past seemed to repeat itself with the Qiao family’s third marriage proposal, Qiao Junhan sought Jiaang Xue’s hand in marriage.
How could Jiaang Lin possibly consent?
This time around, he was determined to protect her at all costs, ensuring she wouldn’t suffer the slightest harm.
Jiaang Xue was the one he cherished most in life, irreplaceable to him. How could he stand by and watch Qiao Junhan take her away, the one he held dearest?
“It’s alright, Mr. Jiaang Lin. I understand you’re just looking out for me.”
Jiaang Xue remained in Jiaang Lin’s firm embrace, her exquisite face beaming with a blissful and sweet smile.
“Rest assured, I won’t let Qiao Junhan take you away. In one month, I will surely best him!” Jiaang Lin declared with unwavering determination and newfound confidence.
”I believe in you, Mr. Jiaang Lin!”
Jiaang Xue’s smile grew even brighter upon hearing his words, her heart brimming with warmth and sweetness, filled with an indescribable joy.
In that moment, she realized that her Mr. Jiaang Lin had indeed changed.
She had never before heard Jiaang Lin, who was typically self-deprecating, timid, and reticent, speak to her with such conviction. The self-assurance in his words enveloped Jiaang Xue in a sense of security she had never known. Despite the fact that Jiaang Lin was still considered a cripple, unable to cultivate due to his blocked meridians, Jiaang Xue’s belief in him was unwavering. Her faith was rooted not in his abilities, but in the bond they shared; he was her sworn brother and her lifelong companion, occupying an irreplaceable place in her heart.
“That’s wonderful!” she exclaimed.
At her words, Jiaang Lin’s smile blossomed, radiant and childlike. His grin was a beacon of joy. The girl before him, just as in his past life, unwaveringly chose to believe in him, no matter the circumstances.
“Cough, cough…”
In the hall, Jiaang Zhengzu cleared his throat subtly. Jiaang Lin and Jiaang Xue, startled, sprang apart as if struck by a jolt of electricity. Jiaang Lin, however, remained composed, as if holding Jiaang Xue was the most natural thing in the world. In his heart, she was unequivocally his woman.
Jiaang Xue, meanwhile, blushed fiercely, her heart racing. She cast her gaze downward, too shy to meet Jiaang Zhengzu’s eyes, wishing she could vanish into thin air.
“Aren’t you supposed to be training? Why aren’t you seizing every moment? How will you defeat Qiao Junhan in a month? How will you protect Xue?” Jiaang Zhengzu’s gaze was stern and direct.
He then produced a bottle of Marrow Cleansing Liquid and tossed it to Jiaang Lin. “Here, try this Marrow Cleansing Liquid and see if it can clear your meridians.”
“Father, I’m afraid the Marrow Cleansing Liquid might be of no use to me,” Jiaang Lin replied with a smile, handing the bottle back to Jiaang Zhengzu.
Jiaang Zhengzu remained silent, fully aware of the peculiar condition afflicting his son, Jiaang Lin. His meridians were severely blocked, and the Marrow Cleansing Liquid alone was insufficient to clear them.
Otherwise, Jiaang Lin wouldn’t have suffered from blocked meridians for over a decade, becoming viewed as worthless by the Jiaang family people.
“Your situation is quite serious. It’s a pity that everyone in the family feels helpless about it,” Jiaang Zhengzu finally said, his face etched with concern.
”Leave it to me. I’ll figure something out,” Jiaang Lin replied with a smile.
”Hmm? Are you sure you can handle it?” Jiaang Zhengzu asked, a mix of surprise and skepticism in his voice.
”Father, I am your son. Don’t you trust me?” Jiaang Lin said, still smiling.
”Well, it’s your call. If you need anything, just tell Xue. She’ll help you find a solution,” Jiaang Zhengzu said with a resigned chuckle before turning to leave the hall.
”Xue, I’m heading to the Family Medicine Pavilion first.”
“I’ll come with you,” Jiaang Xue offered with a smile.
Jiaang Lin gave a gentle nod, took Jiaang Xue’s hand, and they made their way directly to the Jiaang family’s Medicine Pavilion.
“Look, it’s that loser, Jiaang Lin!”
As they walked toward the Medicine Pavilion, Jiaang family disciples spotted them.
“And there’s Jiaang Xue!”
“That despicable loser, daring to hold Jiaang Xue’s hand!” one of them fumed.
To all the Jiaang family disciples, Jiaang Xue was akin to a goddess.
Her Martial Dao Talent was exceptional, her beauty unmatched, and her demeanor extraordinary.
In their eyes, Jiaang Xue was someone to be admired from a distance, not to be sullied.
Yet today, Jiaang Lin, whom they considered a nobody, had the audacity to publicly hold the hand of their goddess.
This was more than they could stand.
A group of Jiaang family disciples, faces dark with anger, marched toward Jiaang Lin and stretched out their hands to block his way.
“Stop right there, you piece of trash!”
A strapping young man, about seventeen, positioned himself in front of Jiaang Lin.
Despite his youth, he was built like a tank.
His muscles rippled with explosive power.
This was Jiaang Feng, who had trained at the Jiaang family’s Martial Club for three years and had awakened his Battle Soul. With strength at Body Refining Level One, he could easily take on four or five average adults.
“Are you referring to me?”
Jiaang Lin watched Jiaang Feng with an easygoing smile playing on his lips.
Jiaang Xue, ready to step in on Jiaang Lin’s behalf, was gently held back by him.
“Who else in the Jiaang family would dare to call themselves trash, if not you, Jiaang Lin?”
Jiaang Feng looked down on Jiaang Lin with disdain. His martial arts training and naturally robust build made him half a head taller and significantly broader than Jiaang Lin.
“How dare a nobody like you get so close to Jiaang Xue? What right do you have, Jiaang Lin?
If you have any sense, you’ll stay away from Jiaang Xue! Otherwise, I’ll beat you so badly you’ll be picking up your teeth off the ground!”
Jiaang Feng ended with a chilling threat.
“You think you’re up to it?”
Jiaang Lin’s smile turned icy.
Even without having unlocked his meridians or awakened his Battle Soul, Jiaang Lin knew a thousand ways to make life unbearable for someone like Jiaang Feng, who was merely at Body Refining Level One.
In his view, Jiaang Feng’s public challenge was nothing short of masochism.
Upon hearing Jiaang Lin’s retort, Jiaang Feng’s eyes narrowed, a cold light flickering within them, and rage boiled in his chest.
He couldn’t believe that such a ‘nobody’ would dare to speak to him with such insolence!
If I don’t teach him a proper lesson today, where will my dignity stand?
I fear that otherwise, I’ll become the laughingstock of others in the future!
“That Jiaang Lin is really audacious! He actually dares to talk back to Jiaang Feng like that!”
“Indeed, Jiaang Feng has awakened his Battle Soul, and his strength is at Body Refining Level One. He can take on four or five grown men without breaking a sweat.”
“And here’s Jiaang Lin, a good-for-nothing with blocked meridians, daring to publicly provoke him. He’s really asking for trouble!”
The Jiaang family disciples watching the scene couldn’t help but sneer and jeer at Jiaang Lin’s boldness in standing up to Jiaang Feng.
“This is going to be quite the spectacle. I’m curious to see how Jiaang Lin will handle Jiaang Feng’s wrath.”
“He’s probably only acting tough because Jiaang Xue is here. Otherwise, with his usual timid nature, would he ever dare to confront Jiaang Feng openly?”
After some time, the Jiaang family disciples heatedly resumed their discussion.
They were unanimously convinced that Jiaang Lin’s defiance was solely due to Jiaang Xue’s presence; without her, his naturally meek character would never allow for such boldness.
“You’ve become quite bold, haven’t you? It’s been a while, and look at that temper. If I don’t put you in your place today, you’ll think you can just walk all over me, won’t you?” Jiaang Feng said, his face darkening with anger.
He was resolute in his decision to punish Jiaang Lin, regardless of whether Jiaang Xue was watching, to quell the rage burning within him.
With this thought, Jiaang Feng raised his fist and launched a powerful blow towards Jiaang Lin.
The force of his punch whistled through the air, exuding sheer dominance.
The fierce wind from the punch sent Jiaang Lin’s hair flying backward.
Ahh!
Suddenly, a scream pierced the air as Jiaang Feng clutched his arm in agony, his face contorted with pain, his body shivering uncontrollably.
Bang!
Seizing the moment Jiaang Feng’s combat ability faltered, Jiaang Lin quickly stepped in and delivered a sharp kick to Jiaang Feng’s groin.
Jiaang Feng hit the ground with a thud, his body curling into a shrimp-like shape as a sheen of cold sweat covered him from head to toe.
The surrounding Jiaang family disciples were left agape at the sight.
Jiaang Feng, taken down by Jiaang Lin in just a few moves? Impossible!
Surely, this couldn’t be real.
Jiaang Lin was known to be incapable of cultivating martial arts, a complete waste. How on earth could he have bested Jiaang Feng, who had attained Body Refining Level One?
They had to be dreaming. This had to be a dream!
But why did this dream feel so vivid?
At that moment, it wasn’t just the Jiaang family disciples who were in shock; Jiaang Xue was also staring in utter disbelief, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment.
“Tsk, Body Refining Level One? And yet you can’t even defeat a ‘waste’ like me, whose meridians are blocked and who can’t cultivate martial arts. What a waste of all those years training at our Jiaang family’s Martial Club!” Jiaang Lin sneered condescendingly, his voice dripping with mockery as he towered over Jiaang Feng.
Upon hearing Jiaang Lin’s taunts, Jiaang Feng’s face contorted with humiliation and rage. But the searing pain shooting through his arms and groin left him speechless and powerless.
The pain was unbearable!