Chapter 003: Fists Decide Everything

A roar resounded from the woods beside the official road, loud and clear enough for all present to hear. Yet the brawny man, eager to win merit, did not pause; instead, he quickened his pace, charged up to Mu Tianxue, and swung his hand in a slap.

A crisp smack rang out. Mu Tianxue's delicate frame was knocked to the ground, blood oozing from her lips, her cheek instantly swelling and flushed. Yet she made no cry of pain, her eyes fixed on the forest.

The Yang family watched with some displeasure, but took no action. Marrying Mu Tianxue was for the sake of carrying on the family line, and since she had not yet crossed the threshold, it was not their place to intervene. Moreover, now that Mu Tianyou had awakened the bloodline of a martial general, it would be unwise to offend him. Thus, the Yang family became mere spectators, save for the fool Yang Shen, who made a ruckus, insisting his wife not be struck.

But in this situation, no one cared about the protests of a fool.

Suddenly, a figure dashed out from the woods, landing before Mu Tianxue. He reached out to help her up, gently wiping the blood from her lips, his voice thick with pain.

"Xue'er, forgive me. I came too late."

It was none other than Mu Tianhen, the youth who, having been left for dead with his throat slit and his body cast off a cliff, had miraculously survived and inherited the legacy of the Azure Lotus Emperor.

At the sight of Mu Tianhen's return, many were stunned on the spot—especially those privy to the secret, like Mu Zihao. How could a useless wretch, whose throat had been cut and who had been kicked from a cliff, appear alive before them? For a moment, they stood rooted in place like wooden posts.

Mu Tianhen wiped the blood from his sister's lips and asked gently, "Xue'er, does it hurt much?"

Mu Tianxue nodded, "It hurt just now, but now that I've seen you, the pain is gone. Brother, these past days you..."

"Xue'er, wait over there for a moment," Mu Tianhen interrupted softly. "Let your brother avenge you. He will pay the price he owes!"

Mu Tianxue nodded vigorously, obediently retreating two steps. Though she knew her brother's dantian had been destroyed and he no longer possessed martial strength, she could not help but trust in him.

With a swift motion, Mu Tianhen spun around, a cold light flashing in his eyes as he fixed it upon the brawny man. Killing intent surged from within as he strode closer, step by step.

"You… you… weren't you already…" The brawny man stammered, feeling the chill and murderous aura emanating from Mu Tianhen, and began to retreat involuntarily.

Mu Tianhen's voice was icy. "Am I not supposed to be dead? Heaven has eyes, and your plot failed. Ordinarily, I would not stoop to deal with an ant like you, but you dared lay hands on my sister."

"Today, you will not die a peaceful death!"

With each word, he advanced, his murderous intent intensifying.

The brawny man took a deep breath, finally regaining his composure. He convinced himself that Mu Tianhen was merely relying on his former reputation, creating a false impression—after all, with his dantian destroyed, how could he possibly regain his martial prowess?

So the man stopped retreating and shouted, "Mu Tianhen! You stole from the Grand Elder and murdered the maid Xiaoli! By clan law, you must die!"

"Mu Tianxue disrespected the Grand Elder and ignored her elders. By clan law, she should—"

"Clan law?" Mu Tianhen interrupted coldly. "You have no right to speak of clan law before me! Who gave you the authority to strike my sister?"

"The young lord!" the brawny man replied at once. "Tianyou, the young lord! Now, I will punish you worthless siblings for him!"

With that, he raised his fist and lunged at Mu Tianhen, intent on showing everyone that this cripple, even if he had survived, was still just a waste.

By now, the onlookers had recovered from their shock. Like the brawny man, they believed everything Mu Tianhen displayed was a sham.

Thus, when the brawny man swung his fist, all were certain Mu Tianhen would be battered to the ground.

But Mu Tianhen did not wait for the attack—he struck first, flashing forward and launching his own punch.

In the blink of an eye, the two fists collided.

A thud, then a crack—the sounds of impact and bone breaking almost overlapped. One figure was sent flying, crashing down more than twenty feet away.

A pig-like scream pierced the air, shrill and desperate.

Impossible!

When everyone saw it was the brawny man, not Mu Tianhen, who had been sent flying, these words echoed in their hearts.

Eyes went wide, jaws dropped, faces filled with disbelief, as if they were dreaming.

Yet it was no dream—it was reality.

The brawny man lay on the ground, wailing, his right shoulder’s clothing torn, bloodied bone protruding over half a foot. It was clear his arm was utterly ruined.

With one punch—just one—he had shattered the bones of a Martial Vein Ninth Level fighter, sending the fragments through the flesh. What did this mean?

Could it be that Mu Tianhen’s dantian had been restored, that he could practice martial arts once more? Had he already returned to his former peak?

Was the greatest genius of Tianxie City truly back?

"Mu Tianhen, you have some nerve, daring to lay such a vicious hand on my man!" Mu Tianyou now spoke, glaring at Mu Tianhen, killing intent rising in his gaze.

"And what of your man?" Mu Tianhen said coldly. "Anyone who dares strike my sister must pay the price!"

With that, Mu Tianhen moved again, raising his foot and stomping on the brawny man's chest.

Another brittle snap of bone.

A fresh scream, shrill as a slaughtered pig. The man instinctively clutched at Mu Tianhen’s foot, trying to struggle, but could not move an inch. Blood welled ceaselessly from his lips.

At this, many watching shivered; the faint-hearted even retreated several steps.

All knew Mu Tianhen’s actions had two purposes: first, to punish the man who dared lay hands on his sister and make him pay dearly; second, to deliver a hard slap in the face to Mu Tianyou and his father.

Mu Tianyou’s cheeks burned with humiliation, killing intent surging ever stronger, his fists clenched until his knuckles cracked, eyes blazing at Mu Tianhen.

But this did not make Mu Tianhen withdraw his foot. Instead, he shifted its position, stamping down on the brawny man’s head, grinding it an inch into the earth. The man’s face collapsed, blood gushing forth.

Now, the brawny man had not even the strength to scream, his body convulsing uncontrollably—he was clearly close to death.

"I said, anyone who dares lay a hand on my sister will not escape unscathed!"

With these icy words, Mu Tianhen pressed down again, grinding the man’s head further into the ground. The skull cracked and splintered under the pressure, brain matter bursting out and mixing with blood upon the earth, his eyes forced from their sockets, rolling into the crimson pool.

Thus ended a brief and wretched life.

"Mu Tianhen!" Suddenly, Mu Tianyou roared, his voice thunderous. "How dare you treat my man so—this is an unforgivable crime!"

"Young lord?" Mu Tianhen sneered. "When did you become the young lord, Mu Tianyou? What right do you have to claim that title? Or is it that you have named yourself thus?"

"Insolence!" With a thunderous shout, Mu Zihao strode forward, a surge of power pressing down upon Mu Tianhen.

PS: I have just received notice of my contract signing. If you find this story worth reading, please support me and invest in it. But invest with caution; as a newcomer, I can only guarantee four key milestones—I dare not promise more. Please forgive my inexperience.