These scars and bloodstains were naturally left from the battle with the Flowerback Spider. I hadn't had time to treat them, and upon returning to Umei Town, I was preoccupied with finding a doctor for that little boy. Naturally, it got delayed, and I fell asleep soon after.
I slept until this morning, and when I awoke, the boy had also woken up. Relieved, I hurried back to the sect, only to see a crowd gathered around my wooden house from afar, some even holding torches. It seemed they intended to burn my house down. How could I allow that? Of course, I approached to inquire and found out that Su Mu was looking for trouble with me.
When the instigator appeared, Su Mu, who failed to set the fire, felt no shame but rather seemed more excited. Pointing at me, he said, "Yang Kai, don't say I didn't give you a chance. As long as you can..."
"Hold on," I interrupted, raising my hand and then leisurely walked into the house.
"Hey..." Su Mu's words were cut off midway, making him feel like he'd swallowed a fly—one that had just flown off a fresh pile of dung, no less.
"Young Master Su, this person is too disrespectful," one of his followers voiced indignation on his behalf.
"Humph!" Su Mu sneered, "In a moment, make sure to beat him up hard for me. I've heard this kid never admits defeat, so don't hold back. Today, I want him to know the consequences of crossing me."
"Yes, sir."
I entered the house and took off the small pouch from my shoulder. This pouch of herbs was my harvest from the past three days. Without setting it down first, I couldn't feel at ease.
After putting the pouch away, I stepped back outside, looking earnestly at Su Mu, "What were you saying just now?"
Su Mu glared at me with deep resentment, feeling as if he might cough up blood. He had prepared a speech for quite a while, yet I interrupted it before he could finish. Now, seeing me prompt him again, he hurriedly and imposingly shouted, "Yang Kai, don't say I didn't give you a chance. If you kneel down before all the senior and junior brothers here, kowtow a few times, and call me grandpa, I'll spare your life! Otherwise... humph humph humph..."
Those humphs were laden with threat, emanating a menacing aura.
Having said his piece, Su Mu wore an expression of vindictive satisfaction, as if he'd truly done something to me.
I slowly shook my head, looking at Su Mu with a pained expression.
"What?" Su Mu felt uneasy. Yang Kai's calm demeanor unsettled him, reminding him of the loss he suffered at Yang Kai's hands in Umei Town, leaving a psychological shadow.
"Filial piety," I sighed.
The onlookers were perplexed, Su Mu was perplexed. How was this about filial piety?
"What do you mean?" Su Mu asked, his face contorted with anger.
"Don't understand? Let me teach you!" I said kindly, as if offering guidance. "Let me ask you, do you have elders in Lingxiao Pavilion?"
"At least you have some insight!" Su Mu's pride nearly lifted him off the ground.
I smiled, thinking, of course, he had backing; otherwise, he wouldn't dare to act so brazenly, even attempting to burn my house.
"That elder holds a significant position in the sect, right?" I continued.
"An elder!" Su Mu boasted, "And I have a sister who is a core disciple! She could crush you with a mere finger!"
I feigned enlightenment, now understanding Su Mu's background, and patted his shoulder. "Exactly, so unfilial!"
"What's right or wrong?" Su Mu roared, frustrated by my circuitous words.
"Can't figure out such a simple thing? How do you even have a brain?" I said, frowning at him with feigned pity. "Your sister is my senior sister in terms of rank. If I really called you 'grandpa,' what would your sister call you? And that elder? Such lack of filial piety, such grave disrespect! If I were that elder, I'd lock you up in the Dragon Confining Gorge forever!"
Su Mu's body trembled, his face turned pale. The Dragon Confining Gorge was the most dreaded place in Lingxiao Pavilion. For centuries, disciples who committed heinous crimes after leaving the sect were captured, stripped of their cultivation, and thrown into that gorge, a death sentence in all but name.
The name of Dragon Confining Gorge was notorious within a thousand-mile radius.
Su Mu wasn't necessarily afraid of me, but the mere mention of those three words instilled a primal fear in him.
Sensing Su Mu's unease, one of his followers quickly stepped forward, "Young Master Su, this kid has a sharp tongue. Don't waste words with him. We're here to avenge you."
"Yes." Su Mu regained his composure, his humiliation turning to anger. "Yang Kai, enough with the nonsense. If you don't kneel and apologize today, I'll make you regret being born."
A cold glint flashed in my eyes as I clenched my fists, "Is Junior Brother Su looking to spar with me?"
Su Mu scoffed, "I might want to, but you're not worthy. You don't have the qualifications yet! I'm at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm!"
His words made me realize that the sect's rules forbade challenges between disciples whose strengths differed by more than three levels. Su Mu couldn't challenge me directly; our disparity was too great.
This explained why he brought so many people. They weren't just there for show.
Su Mu looked at me with disdain, a mocking smile on his lips. "Everyone, I've heard that Brother Yang has reached the third level of the Body Tempering Realm. Which of you would like to experience his skills?"
"The third level of the Body Tempering Realm, such a lofty level!" The crowd erupted in laughter. Every one of them had joined the sect later than I had but had surpassed me in cultivation.
"Let me, Young Master Su. Among us, I'm the weakest, only at the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm. I should be able to play with Brother Yang for a while!" One of them stepped forward, looking at me with disdain.
I looked back at him, smiling, knowing their intelligence was outdated.
Five days ago, I was indeed at the third level, but things were different now.
However, I wouldn't publicize this. Advancing two levels in five days was suspiciously fast.
Su Mu's chosen person spoke, "Brother Yang, my name is Zhao Hu. Remember who beat you today!"
"I'll remember," I said earnestly.
Zhao Hu seemed intent on boosting Su Mu's ego. He arrogantly gestured with his pinky, "Brother Yang, don't say I didn't give you face. I'll let you have three moves. If you can make me move, you win. If not, don't blame me for being ruthless."
His arrogant taunt and blatant disdain made Su Mu feel euphoric, silently praising Zhao Hu for knowing how to humiliate someone. This was quite satisfying.
Although the third and fifth levels of the Body Tempering Realm were only two levels apart, it was a significant gap, like a watershed, with vastly different capabilities.