Min Hong's father was a border protector. He was currently fending off a nomadic tribe that was looking to invade their territory.
With him absent, he and his mother have had to suffer many condescending gazes from everyone in the tribe over the past few years.
Desert Flame Tribe was currently in a golden age of martial arts. Basically, everyone practiced martial arts. But as it had turned out, Min Hong's awful bodily constitution meant that he was incapable of practicing martial arts, making him someone that everybody sneered at.
A stark contrast to Min Hong was his father, Min Tian. He was the strongest of his generation and with him guarding the tribe border, even if the nomadic tribes were to savagely attack, they still won't be able to even step half a foot into the Desert Flame Tribe.
Min Tian was the Desert Flame Tribe's military god of this generation, whereas Min Hong had been was their trash god who couldn't even absorb the energy of heaven and earth. It was impossible to prevent people from feeling that this tiger father had ended up with a dog as a son.
Countless people would jeer at him, but Min Hong wouldn't care on bit. However, that day, the West Grand Family's Heir; Shen Li, had ridiculed Min Hong, calling him the son of a thousand fathers.
Min Hong had instantly blew his fuse as the flames of his fury soared to the heavens.
Shen Li had obviously been insinuating his mother to be unfaithful! This had caused Min Hong to lose his rationality and recklessly challenge the foul-mouthed kid to a duel.
However, with his opponent being at the 7 Star Skin Refining Stage while he was yet to even sense or absorb Qi, Min Hong had basically ended up digging and striding into his own grave.
At the end of it all, he was beaten beyond recognition and even to the point of losing consciousness and almost dying. He was sent home and the news only turned him into more of an object of ridicule for quite a while within the Desert Flame Tribe.
Leaving his estate, Min Hong went directly to the towns Desert Herb Market. This was a place where all kinds of precious medicinal herbs were sold. Right now what he wanted to do was to get an understanding of the medicinal herbs' market situation.
Along the road, quite a few people could be seen roaming the street that fed into the market, and when they noticed Min Hong, they couldn't help but to point, jeer and sneer at him behind his back; however, Min Hong was already used to this.
Nevertheless, it also made him a little bitter on the inside, thus he could only lament his situation with a bitter smile.
His own father had defended the entire border, which was an amazing, meritorious deed that protected the entire tribe. However, what had he obtained for that?
He and his mother have been left to suffer from bullying and humiliating stares at almost every turn within the town, and he had almost lost his life in a duel his opponent wouldn't have dared to accept if his father was around.
Was this what they all considered as repayment?
A group of people that were protected by his father giving his son condescending gazes. This was their gratitude?
Min Hong heaved a helpless sigh and quickened his footsteps.
Though he wasn't afraid of these kinds of stares, they always left him feeling a bit gloomy. However, at this moment, his path was suddenly intercepted and blocked off by a group of people.
"Aiyaa, if it isn't the famous Min Hong? I thought there was word around town that you were beaten to the point where you couldn't even recognize your own mother, so how is it that you are as active as a chicken who lost its head, today?"
Min Hong stared at the fifteen-year-old donning gaudy clothes and sneering at him alongside both his guards.
This person was also born as a heir to a Grand Family and was called Mu Cheng. However, his position within his Family was not as high and nowhere as comparable to Min Hong's. After all, in the entire Desert Flame Tribe, status was only secondary to strength which was the most important thing.
Mu Cheng stood between both of his guards, right in the middle of the road; if Long Chen wanted to go through, he would basically need to pass through him.
If it was the previous Min Hong, he would have turned around and walked away, but today's Min Hong was having none of that.
he looked at Mu Cheng, shook his head, and sighed; "Wise men claim that even a well-trained dog knows enough to not obstruct the road. Looks like you have half the brain of a dog."
"Min Hong! It seems like you've had your head hit so hard, you forgot the lesson I gave you last time!
If you want to be beaten within an inch of your life once again, then let's head over to the martial arena." Mu Cheng's expression took a mischievous change as he taunted Min Hong for the umpteenth time.
"That's why I said you have half the brain of a dog. You can just scuffle off to wherever your master Shen Li is and lap up whatever shit he feels like shoving down your throat today." Min Hong shook his head helplessly.
He wished he did not have to waste his time or breath on such a fellow. He had his own matter that needed his urgent attention, so he started to walk around the group instead.
"Min Hong, you are asking for it!" Mu Cheng suddenly blew his fuse.
He was already having a bad day after having been rejected by a girl he had been eyeing for some time now, and now that he had seen his usual outlet for venting his feelings, things weren't going his way once again.
He had never expected that the sickly and cowardly Min Hong he was used to having his way with would suddenly grow a pair and actually act in such an unyielding manner.
Did the guy eat a dragon's gut this morning or what?
Unwilling to suffer back-to-back loss of face, Mu Cheng suddenly stuck out his arms to bar Min Hong's path.
Frowning slightly, Min Hong stared at the arm before tracing his gaze back to its owner. However, just as he was about to say more, someone suddenly walked over and cursed Mu Cheng.
"Mu Cheng! You flat-faced onion head, you're the one asking for it!
You got some massive balls to dare saunter down my street and threaten my brother, are you looking to become the tribe's first eunuch?!"
A figure to tall for his age strode towards the group. He seemed eighteen but was standing at a little over seven feet in height. He was taller than any of them by more than a head, but that didn't seem to bother his expert-looking gait at all.
"Long Feng, this is none of your business! It'd be best if you didn't meddle around."
Mu Cheng's face lost all its color upon seeing Long Feng; he was one of the top three most talented genius of their generation, so his ability was nothing to scoff at.
However, he was unwilling to suffer back-to-back to back loss of face, but also unwilling to have his face ruined, thus he could only act tough in the face of his oppositions.
Long Feng was also from a Grand Family with an equal status to his, but he had also Reached the 8 Star Skin Refining Stage while he was only at 3 Stars.
In addition, Long Feng also had a Spirit Bone which gave him a tyrannical innate strength and the gait of an expert.
Amongst those of the same rank as him in the entire Desert Flame Tribe, there was basically no match for him. Thus, even if Mu Cheng had twice the ball and twice the guts, he wouldn't dare challenge Long Feng.
"Brother Hong, I heard that clown Shen Li beat you up. How about we go vent some frustrations... and maybe break a few bones along the way.... starting with this fool? " Long Feng looked at Min Hong and his expression became indignant.
Min Hong stared at the imposing giant in front of him, and his heart felt a bit of warmth. Long Feng was the only one in the Desert Flame Tribe who would consider him as his brother.
"Thanks a lot, but no; I like to collect what I'm owed myself, so my enmities are something I will pay back myself. Just don't worry about it." Min Hong faintly laughed, patting Long Feng on the shoulder.
When Long Feng heard Min Hong say this, he thought the latter might be worried about his image and as such didn't raise the issue again.
"Walk with me; I'm headed to the herb market." Min Hong added with a smile as he prepared to leave the scene with Long Feng in tow.
Realizing that the duo in front of him now thought him to be invisible, Mu Cheng couldn't help but curse angrily; "Min Hong, you son of a million fathers; if you have guts, you'll fight me in a duel!"
Min Hong had just taken a couple of steps when Mu Cheng's words reached his ears, causing him to halt his next step mid-air.
By the time his foot returned to the ground, he was already trembling in rage. A barely controllable, vicious and deep-seethed fury bubbled within him.
Slowly turning around, he glared in Mu Cheng's direction, and instantly, a puff of killing intent seeped out of his body.
"Do you dare have a duel with me?" Mu Cheng seemed to have found Min Hong's weak spot, and thus, added in a cold voice.
Each of his words were like ice shards that kept piercing through the open wound he just ripped into Min Hong. It was to an extent that even the passersby couldn't help but frown at his foul mouth.
However, when he felt Min Hong's gaze land on him, Mu Cheng's skin could help but shrink in fright.
For some reason, his instincts were screaming danger at him, despite his logic telling him it was nothing but a false alarm.
Anyways, but his big words had already been spoken, so at this time saying any defusing words would be an act of cowardice, and that might make him a laughingstock to the entire Desert Flame Tribe.
Furthermore, he was so used to bullying Min Hong over and over again, so with those experiences, he swallowed a gulp of saliva and doused the flame of fear kindling within his heart.
"Not bad, you dare to accept the duel?" He mocked in a loud voice.
"Not a problem, however, I want to add some stakes," Min Hong added after a moment's thought.
"Adding stakes? Haha, your Min family is almost unable to feed even your pets, what are you going to take out as stakes? The deeds of your family's estate? Or are you thinking of having your mother become my slave?" Mu Cheng mocked further.
Hearing this, Min Hong's fury finally seethed past its limits, however, instead of lashing out, an eerie calm washed over him instead and a callous smile carrying some hidden intentions bloomed on his face.
"Brother Long, can you lend me your martial sword?" Min Hong placed his hand on Long Feng's shoulder as he asked.
"Sure brother, you can have it."
Though Long Feng really hated being away from his sword as it was almost as dear to him as a cultivation partner, he still handed his sword over to Min Hong anyway.
Min Hong quietly recorded the act of brotherhood in his heart with a nod. Then with a sharp sigh, he suddenly turned towards Mu Cheng with a seething dagger-like gaze.