C1 Waste of Martial Arts!

"Thud!"

The boy was viciously tossed to the ground as sneers erupted nearby.

"Chiang Jin, just quit already. A loser should know their place and not dream too big!"

A towering man, iron sword in hand, planted his foot on Chiang Jin's face, his demeanor haughty, his eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction.

"Just like old man Chiang, you're nothing but trash fit only for cleaning toilets. The mere thought of you stepping into the Martial Arts Hall disgusts me!"

Others around him chimed in with their agreement.

"That Chiang geezer was useless, and the orphan he picked up is no better. It's a shame the House Lord even allowed you to learn martial arts—it was a total waste of our Wave Submitting Sword House's resources!"

"Brother Xu, what resources could this waste, who's been training for ten years without a hint of inner strength, possibly squander? We're giving him too much credit."

In this world, martial arts thrived, and practitioners had to first cultivate inner strength to be considered true martial artists. Chiang Jin had trained for a decade without success, his talent abysmally lacking.

"You're wrong there. Do you think his meals for all these years were free? If the Wave Submitting Sword House were raising a dog, at least it could guard the place. But him? He's less useful than a dog!"

A burly man with a brutish face spat disdainfully at Chiang Jin.

Insulting Chiang Jin was one thing, but they dared to curse his deceased grandfather, igniting a fiery rage within him.

"I'll take you all on!"

Chiang Jin's fists clenched as he struggled to fight back.

"Thud!"

Another stomp sent Chiang Jin's head crashing to the ground, blood oozing out.

"Hah? Did I just hear this piece of trash wants to fight back?" Lin Fengyu laughed as if it were the world's greatest joke.

"You're less than a dog. What makes you think you can fight to the death?"

Laughter followed from the crowd.

Chiang Jin's fists were so tight that his nails dug into his palms, the pain sharp. He was about to explode in anger when a cool female voice cut through the noise from the entrance of the Martial Hall.

"What's going on here?"

Lin Fengyu and the fat man turned to see a poised woman with a ponytail striding in.

"Uh, Junior Sister Baizhi, what brings you here?"

Even the loose white martial arts uniform couldn't hide Qin Baizhi's graceful figure.

Lin Fengyu, catching a glimpse of her silhouette, swallowed hard and, forgetting Chiang Jin, rushed over to ingratiate himself. "Junior Sister Qin, did you come here to train as well?"

"What are you doing?" she repeated, her gaze sharp and piercing, as if ready to dissect him.

"Uh... I was just giving Chiang Jin some pointers on his strenuous training. Look at him, half-dead; he wouldn't get anywhere even in a hundred years. As his senior brother, it's my duty to lend a hand," Lin Fengyu claimed with feigned integrity.

The fat man beside him nodded vigorously, "Exactly, Senior Brother Lin is just helping Chiang Jin out. Isn't that right, everyone?"

"Absolutely, Senior Brother Lin is always looking out for his fellow disciples. We all know that!"

"Indeed, we'd love to have Senior Brother Lin's guidance, but Chiang Jin is the lucky one who gets it."

Upon seeing Qin Baizhi, Chiang Jin silently rose, retrieved his fallen sword, and watched the crowd twist the truth without a word.

He didn't want Qin Baizhi to witness his humiliation.

Taking a deep breath, Chiang Jin struggled to his feet, intent on leaving.

But as he sought to defuse the situation, the others weren't ready to let him off so easily.

The fat man, seeing Chiang Jin attempting to leave, yanked him back and pushed his head down, saying cheerily, "Chiang Jin, Senior Brother Lin just showed you some swordplay. Aren't you going to thank him before you leave? That would be quite rude!"

"Exactly, you should say thank you!"

"Come on, thank Senior Brother Lin!"

The crowd eagerly echoed the sentiment.

"You beat me, and now you want thanks?" Chiang Jin's grip on the sword tightened, his neck stiffening, resisting the fat man's push.

Seeing Chiang Jin stand his ground in silence, with Qin Baizhi watching, Lin Fengyu felt his face flush with embarrassment. His tone turned dark, "What? I offer you guidance, and you can't even muster a simple thank you?"

His eyes were fierce, the threat in his gaze unmistakable.

Chiang Jin stared at Lin Fengyu, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt, feeling a sudden, overwhelming impulse to strike him down.

Even if he couldn't win, even if Lin Fengyu killed him right there, it would be preferable to enduring their daily torment!

"Clang!"

But before he could draw his own sword, Qin Baizhi's blade was already free from its sheath.

The sword's smooth surface gleamed like a chilling spring, its icy aura enveloping the space, and in a flash, it was poised before Lin Fengyu.

Qin Baizhi spoke with cool detachment, "Lin Fengyu, since you're so keen on offering advice, perhaps you'd like to critique my technique as well? Rest assured, I'll be sure to express my gratitude."

Lin Fengyu's face fell, and he hastily retreated several steps, forcing a smile. "Junior Sister Baizhi, what's this about? Why resort to violence?"

It wasn't just that Qin Baizhi was the daughter of the Wave Submitting Sword House's House Lord; her exceptional swordsmanship alone was something Lin Fengyu wasn't sure he could handle.

"Not up for a fight? Then get lost," Qin Baizhi said, sparing him no dignity.

Lin Fengyu's face twitched, and with a seething look at Chiang Jin, he led his men away.

Once the Martial Arts Hall had emptied, Qin Baizhi turned to Chiang Jin.

He managed a weak smile, about to express his thanks, but Qin Baizhi's icy tone cut him off, "Stay away from the Martial Arts Hall unless it's necessary. You're making a fool of yourself."

A sharp pain jabbed at Chiang Jin's heart. He looked up at Qin Baizhi, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Her piercing gaze was too intense to meet. "There are many paths in life. If the way of the martial artist isn't for you, have the wisdom to recognize it. Stubbornness is just stupidity by another name."

"So, you think I'm not cut out for this either?" Chiang Jin's voice was rough with emotion as he hung his head.

"Are you hard of hearing, or did I not make myself clear?" Qin Baizhi's eyebrow arched. "If it weren't for the memory of your late grandfather, I would have personally thrown you out of the sword house by now. If you have any sense, you'll leave on your own."

Her words stung like needles in Chiang Jin's heart.

Her dismissal cut deeper than Lin Fengyu's earlier scorn. He wanted to defend himself, to argue, to prove himself to Qin Baizhi.

But in the end, he realized he was powerless.

He had done everything he could in this world, put forth all his effort, yet nothing had changed.

"I understand."

With those words, Chiang Jin left the Martial Arts Hall in a subdued silence.

Qin Baizhi watched his retreating figure, standing with her hands clasped behind her.

The night sky was a canvas of clarity, the moon bright, the clouds sparse, and the stars twinkling.

Alone, Chiang Jin sat on the cliff behind the Wave Submitting Sword House, gazing into the night, the iron sword that had been his companion for years lying beside him. He sat there, deep in thought, lost in the vastness of the world above.