Chapter 13: Brothers and a Devoted Beauty
"Brother Feng!"
Amidst the mocking and sympathetic gazes directed at Mu Feng, the reactions of the Mu family were varied—some showed pity, others anger, but many indulged in derision.
"Hmph! Truly disgraceful. Even with exceptional talent and a Divine Bone, what use is it for someone who's become a cripple?" Mu Qing sneered dismissively.
"Look at that—he's humiliating himself. His Yuan meridians are shattered, yet he comes here seeking attention. All he's doing is slapping himself in the face," Shangguan Qianzhi mocked from the crowd, his voice loud and filled with disdain.
"Haha, exactly! Our young master is right—Mu Feng is an embarrassment to the once-glorious Mu family."
"He's a waste of space. If it were me, I'd never have dared show up here!"
The ridicule from Shangguan's group echoed loudly, their scorn unchecked.
"Feng…"
Among the Yun family, only Yun Qingwan's gaze reflected concern and heartache. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with worry as she looked at Mu Feng, now standing alone amidst a sea of judgment.
Mu Feng remained calm despite the taunts. The world around him—the judgmental faces, the coldness—was a stark reminder of life's fickleness.
"Today, they mock me," Mu Feng thought, clenching his fists. "But who will laugh last?"
He locked eyes with Elder Zhao Heng, whose smug expression showed no sign of backing down. Mu Feng smiled faintly and spoke, his voice resolute:
"Elder Zhao, my Yuan meridians and Zifu may indeed be broken. But life is long, and the future is uncertain. Remember your words today. One day, I'll make you retract every ounce of contempt you've shown me. Do not look down on the youth of today; we have blood, and we have dreams."
Mu Feng's declaration echoed across the square, leaving many onlookers in awe of his unwavering determination.
He turned to leave.
"Stop right there!"
Zhao Heng's cold voice froze him mid-step.
"What now?" Mu Feng asked without looking back.
"Heh, you speak of dreams, Mu Feng. Let's see how your dreams fare against reality. How about a wager?" Zhao Heng sneered.
"Oh? What wager?"
"If you can defeat Shangguan Qianzhi two years from now, I will publicly apologize and admit my error. But if you fail, you will kneel before me and apologize for your insolence. Do you dare?" Zhao Heng's mocking tone was filled with disdain as he gestured toward Shangguan Qianzhi.
The crowd buzzed with murmurs. Many felt Zhao Heng's actions were excessive, stooping so low as to challenge a mere boy.
"Haha! I'd be delighted to fight Mu Feng in two years," Shangguan Qianzhi laughed. "By then, I'll be leagues beyond him."
"Do you dare?" Zhao Heng taunted, his words dripping with venom.
"I object!" Yun Qingwan's crisp voice cut through the crowd.
She stepped forward, her determined gaze meeting Zhao Heng's. "I disagree with this wager. If Mu Feng cannot fight, I will take his place in two years!"
Her words shocked the onlookers. Many stared at her with envy—how could she remain so loyal to a man who had lost everything?
"Mu Feng, are you truly hiding behind a woman?" Shangguan Qianzhi sneered.
Mu Feng inhaled deeply, his eyes meeting Yun Qingwan's. He smiled and shook his head.
Then, his gaze hardened as he turned to Zhao Heng. "I accept your wager. But if I win, you will publicly apologize, and…" His voice grew icy. "You will gouge out one of your eyes for having misjudged me."
Zhao Heng laughed derisively. "Very well! Let's see how you accomplish such a feat."
"Brother Feng, you're being reckless!" Yun Qingwan scolded, her face flushed with frustration.
Mu Feng smiled at her gently. With unwavering confidence, he whispered, "Trust me."
At that moment, Mu Kuang, Mu Feng's closest friend, stepped forward.
"Royal Academy? Ha! Who needs it? Brother Feng, I'll stand with you. I'm withdrawing from this year's selection!"
Mu Feng was deeply moved. No matter how cruel the world was, he still had a brother who stood by him.
"Good brother!" Mu Feng clasped Mu Kuang's shoulder firmly.
"Kuang! Have you lost your mind?!" a burly man shouted from the crowd—it was Mu Kuang's father.
"Father, I'm not crazy. If anyone here is disgraceful, it's the people mocking Brother Feng! Brother Feng joined the army at nine, earned a hundred kills, and brought glory to the Mu family. What have they done? They call themselves his brothers yet ridicule him now. They're the real cowards and parasites!"
Mu Kuang pointed at the other Mu family youths, his words sharp and unyielding.
"Brother Feng's scars are a testament to his sacrifices for this country. Can any of you claim such honor? If not, you have no right to call him a failure!"
His fiery speech left the Mu family youths speechless, their faces burning with shame.
"I'm withdrawing too."
Yun Qingwan's voice rang out again as she stepped beside Mu Feng.
Her bold decision sent another wave of shock through the crowd.
"Qingwan, you…" Mu Feng started.
But Yun Qingwan placed her hands on his face, smiling warmly. "You are the wind, and I am the leaf. Wherever the wind blows, the leaf will follow."
Her words were like a soothing balm to Mu Feng's battered spirit. His eyes reddened, overwhelmed by her unwavering devotion.
In that moment, Mu Feng knew he was blessed with a rare and precious love.
The tense atmosphere was shattered by the stern voice of Yun Hai as he emerged from the crowd.
"Enough nonsense, Qingwan! If you don't enroll in the Royal Academy, you are no daughter of mine!"
Ignoring her protests, Yun Hai struck her unconscious with a sharp blow and cradled her in his arms.
"Mu Feng, remember our agreement," he warned coldly before departing with his daughter.
Mu Feng clenched his fists as he watched Yun Qingwan being taken away.
"Qingwan, I will not let you down. Never."
Mu Feng and Mu Kuang left the platform, their bond as brothers stronger than ever.
The crowd, meanwhile, buzzed with speculation about the wager between Mu Feng and Shangguan Qianzhi.
Though most assumed the outcome was already certain—a humiliating loss for Mu Feng—the boy's fierce determination left some quietly wondering if he might prove them all wrong.