C50 The Tragic Gong Ming.

Min Zhenkang was abruptly awakened by a pile of clothes and a token landing on his face. Brushing them off, he examined the threadbare garment in his hands and was at a loss for words.

The Fang Sect's treatment of their servant disciples was abysmally low, practically equating them to mere servants.

Indeed, within the Fang Sect, servant disciples were considered nothing more than servants, devoid of any real standing.

The token he held was just a simple iron slab, inscribed with the character for "servant," signifying his lowly status.

Min Zhenkang stowed the items in his Bag of Heaven and Earth and returned to his room.

Upon opening the door, he found it furnished with nothing more than a bed—no table in sight. The lack of regard for servant disciples was appalling.

Confronted with this reality, Min Zhenkang was at a loss for words. Despite his indifference to material possessions, he hadn't anticipated such dismal living conditions.

Resigned to his situation and knowing his stay would be brief, he decided to make do.

He gave the room a cursory clean, using his Profound Qi to whisk away the dust from the bed and floor, leaving it somewhat more presentable.

After tidying up, Min Zhenkang stepped outside, realizing he still didn't know where the outer sect disciples resided. He needed to ask around.

He remembered meeting Gong Ming earlier and decided to seek him out for information. But he'd forgotten to ask where Gong Ming's room was, so he stopped another passerby for directions.

This time, dressed in the garb of a servant disciple with his token visibly displayed, he avoided the earlier embarrassment.

"Senior Brother, could you tell me where Senior Brother Gong Ming's room is?" he inquired.

"Just follow this path straight for about four or five hundred meters. You'll see a small, dilapidated tile-roofed house—that's Gong Ming's room," the man directed, pointing ahead.

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Min Zhenkang expressed his gratitude.

"You're new here, aren't you, Junior Brother?" the man asked.

"Yes, I am. Is there something I should know, Senior Brother?" Min Zhenkang replied, curious.

"I'd advise you not to head over there right now. And if you do, definitely don't mention you're looking for Gong Ming. Better to wait until things have settled down before seeking him out."

"What do you mean by that, Senior Brother?" Min Zhenkang asked, puzzled.

"Look, I've given you a heads-up. If you're really curious, go check it out for yourself. Just remember what I've told you."

With those words, the person departed.

Min Zhenkang felt a sense of foreboding upon hearing this and hurriedly made his way to Gong Ming's room.

"Kid, you think you're tough? This afternoon, you had the nerve to stand up to me, and now Elder Yin has punished me by withholding my dinner!"

"Yeah, you little troublemaker, picking fights without seeing who you're up against."

"We're not letting you off until you learn who really runs this place!"

A crowd had gathered outside Gong Ming's room.

The door was in splinters, and a figure lay on the ground by the entrance, while several others stood around, intermittently delivering punches and kicks to the person at the center.

The one on the ground was Gong Ming, who had stood up for Min Zhenkang earlier that day. The assailants were the same ones who had mistaken Min Zhenkang for a spy and their cronies.

The onlookers jeered and laughed at the spectacle, all too familiar with such scenes.

Gong Ming was known for his blunt honesty in the servant disciple area, always speaking his mind regardless of who he was dealing with. This trait had earned him many enemies among his peers.

Gong Ming's room, once decent, was now on the brink of ruin due to his forthright nature.

The bystanders merely watched, none stepping forward to aid Gong Ming as the group continued their assault.

Gong Ming lay there, curled up, enduring the blows without yielding an inch.

Min Zhenkang arrived swiftly, and the scene before him chilled his heart.

The sect had never truly regarded the servant disciples as their own, and within their ranks, there was little to no solidarity.

Surveying the scene before him, it was clear that these people had grown accustomed to such spectacles.

"Stop!" Min Zhenkang's voice boomed from the edge of the crowd.

At the sound of his command, everyone whirled around to identify the bold individual who dared to interrupt. The assailants, who had been pummeling Gong Ming, ceased their blows and turned to locate the source of the outcry.

"Is that the new guy?"

"Who is he, anyway? I don't recall seeing him around before."

Some recognized Min Zhenkang with just a glance, but to most, he was a stranger.

"Do you even know why Gong Ming got a beating today?"

"Isn't it obvious? He crossed Qi Guoqiang!"

"You moron, but do you know exactly how Gong Ming managed to offend Qi Guoqiang?"

"Uh, well... no. How did it happen?" the man hastily inquired, a nervous smile on his face.

"See that newcomer?" The man teased, playing on the curiosity of those around him.

"I'm not blind, am I? Just spit it out already. What happened?"

"Something got into Qi Guoqiang. This afternoon, he mistook that guy for a spy and reported him to Elder Yin. When Elder Yin was about to arrest the newcomer, Gong Ming stepped up and vouched for his innocence. As a result, Elder Yin forbade Qi Guoqiang from having dinner!"

The man, noticing his companion's growing impatience, decided it was time to spill the beans.

"Oh, so that's the story. And who is this newcomer? He looks pretty impressive, managing to make Qi Guoqiang back down!"

"Well, that's anyone's guess. Maybe he's banking on his connection with Senior Brother Murong, trying to strut around here like he owns the place. But whether he's got the chops to back it up, that's the question."

"You, kid!" Qi Guoqiang's eyes lit up with delight upon seeing Min Zhenkang.

He had been disciplined largely because of this young upstart. Qi Guoqiang hadn't even started looking for him, and here he was, delivered right to his doorstep, saving him the hassle of a search.

"Brothers, this punk is the reason Elder Yin punished me. Grab him for me—I want him to learn our rules the hard way."

"You got it, Boss."

"Boss, leave it to me. I'll have him groveling at your feet, licking your boots in no time!"

The gang charged at Min Zhenkang with a bloodthirsty fervor, as if they were on a rabid hunt.

The crowd, spotting Qi Guoqiang's goons barreling toward Min Zhenkang, quickly made way.

There stood Min Zhenkang, alone on one side, facing the oncoming horde.

He took measured steps toward Gong Ming.

"Kid, prepare to meet your end!"

"Your life is forfeit!"

They each unleashed what they believed to be their most powerful martial arts, eager for the kill.

Gong Ming, meanwhile, had lifted his head and caught sight of Min Zhenkang. But upon seeing Qi Guoqiang's men charging, he called out a warning.

"Junior Brother Min, watch out!"

Onlookers retreated several steps, widening the space for the impending clash.

No one expected Min Zhenkang to stand a chance against these thugs. The extra room was just to give him a fighting chance, or so they thought.

But Min Zhenkang barely spared them a glance. As they closed in, he dispatched them with swift punches, sending them soaring through the air. They hit the ground gasping for air, writhing in agony.

To Min Zhenkang, these fifth and sixth-level Martial Cultivators were no more formidable than ants.

The onlookers' jaws hit the floor at the sight. Could this newcomer really be this formidable?

They stared at Min Zhenkang in sheer disbelief. The outcome was nothing like they had anticipated; Qi Guoqiang's men couldn't last a single round against him.

Moments before, they had all imagined Min Zhenkang's defeat. Now, they witnessed his adversaries being flung aside like ragdolls.

Qi Guoqiang's once-smug expression solidified into a mask of dread.

As Min Zhenkang steadily approached, panic flickered in Qi Guoqiang's eyes.

"You... stay back, or... or I swear I'll kill him right now!" In a desperate move, Qi Guoqiang seized Gong Ming, using him as leverage against the formidable Min Zhenkang.

Min Zhenkang seemed oblivious to the warnings and kept walking towards the pair.

"Don't... Don't move, or I... I'll be forced to act!" Qi Guoqiang blurted out as he saw Min Zhenkang still approaching.

It was only then that Min Zhenkang halted his advance.

Qi Guoqiang, seeing Min Zhenkang stop, thought his threat had worked and a smug smile spread across his face.

"Cut off your own limbs now, or I'll kill him!" Qi Guoqiang threatened again.

"Go ahead and kill him," Min Zhenkang replied, his voice steady.

With that, Min Zhenkang resumed his approach toward Qi Guoqiang.

The onlookers were stunned by Min Zhenkang's response, their minds racing. What was happening here?

"Isn't this newcomer here to rescue Gong Ming? Then why is he allowing Qi Guoqiang to kill Gong Ming?"

"You just don't get it. Gong Ming and Min Zhenkang barely know each other; they only exchanged a few words this afternoon. Now, Qi Guoqiang is demanding Min Zhenkang mutilate himself. What would you do in his shoes?"

"Exactly. No one would maim themselves for an acquaintance. It's just not reasonable."

The crowd reasoned this was the only explanation for Min Zhenkang's behavior.

Gong Ming's hope faded upon hearing Min Zhenkang's words. He hadn't expected Min Zhenkang to save him, but to think Min Zhenkang would let Qi Guoqiang proceed with the threat...

"Gong Ming, oh Gong Ming, will you ever meddle again after this?" Gong Ming chided himself silently.

"You..." Qi Guoqiang was flustered by Min Zhenkang's response.

His threat to kill Gong Ming was just that—a threat to sway Min Zhenkang. He didn't have the courage to actually do it.

In the Fang Sect, disciples could spar privately without interference, as long as no one died. Otherwise, the sect would deal with the matter severely.

There were only two sanctioned ways to take a life within the Fang Sect: one could kill an opponent in the Challenger League or on the Platform of Life and Death.

If someone were to commit murder elsewhere, whether by accident or design, they would face the sect's harsh retribution.

Min Zhenkang's steady approach sent Qi Guoqiang into a panic. Releasing Gong Ming, he bolted.

Min Zhenkang quickly steadied Gong Ming, preventing his fall. Upon realizing the injuries were only skin-deep, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Qi Guoqiang, in full flight, felt a surge of relief realizing Min Zhenkang wasn't in pursuit.

"Damn it, I've been humiliated today, but just wait until I report back to my boss. Once he arrives with backup, it'll spell the end for you, kid!" Qi Guoqiang fumed internally as he fled.

After ensuring Gong Ming was unharmed, Min Zhenkang looked up to see Qi Guoqiang making his escape.

Feeling Min Zhenkang's eyes on him, Qi Guoqiang's fear kicked in, spurring him to run faster.

And as Qi Guoqiang was nearly out of sight, Min Zhenkang made his move.

"Whoosh!"