"Pfft!"

Inside the room, on top of the bed, Wang Teng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Teng, are you awake?” A beautiful woman who was probably in her thirties asked, with concern.

“Mom, how long have I been unconscious?" Wang Teng's mouth moved slightly as he asked weakly.

"It's been a month..." Lin Mengyi replied.

Wang Teng propped himself up with both hands, trying to sit up. But a sense of weakness came over him, causing him to lose his balance and fall back onto the bed.

His face turned pale, "My…‘Dantian’ is shattered… Mom, how did this happen?”

Lin Mengyi choked up, "Don’t you remember what happened?"

"I remember practicing in the forest, entered a cave and fought with a ferocious ape... but that ape was too powerful for me... Is it... that it did this to me?" Wang Teng's gaze was unfocused as he recalled the events.

Lin Mengyi nodded, "Yes, Teng, don’t worry, 'Dream Yao' is back from Tianfeng Academy, and mom has asked her to treat you."

"No, I’d rather be a cripple than have her save me!" Mentioning this woman, Wang Teng replied resolutely.

"Nonsense!" Lin Mengyi reprimanded before gently touching Wang Teng's face, "Mom understands that you have a grudge against Dream Yao, but only she can save you in the entire Southern Sky City. If you miss this opportunity out of pride, then you can only remain bedridden forever…"

Wang Teng gave a complicated smile.

"Teng, stop thinking about it, Dream Yao is just outside the door, mom will get her, you rest." Lin Mengyi stepped out of the room.

After a short while…

"Creak!"

The door to the room was once again opened, letting the sunlight filter in.

Wang Teng squinted his eyes. He saw an enchanting figure, bathed in the dim light, walking towards him with grace and elegance.

As their eyes met, the room fell into sudden silence...

Neither of them said a word.

Chu Mengyao slowly walked over and began placing silver needles at various acupoints on Wang Teng's body.

After a while, she finally stopped, saying, "With some time, your meridian can recover..."

Wang Teng's brow furrowed, "What about my dantian?"

"Unless a miracle happens, it's hard for a damaged dantian to recover," replied Chu Mengyao.

"So, does this mean I can never practice martial arts anymore?" Wang Teng felt a chill in his heart.

"Yes," said Chu Mengyao.

Wang Teng's heart sank further. He laughed coldly: "I suppose you'd be happy to see this happen to me, wouldn't you?"

"Why would you think that?" Chu Mengyao asked.

"Why don't you tell me," retorted Wang Teng, his voice icy.

Chu Mengyao looked at him, "When I left you, I did feel somewhat guilty. So, I travelled miles from the academy to treat your illness. Wouldn't you say I've done my duty?"

"Just healing ailments? Compared to the humiliation you've given me over the years, this is nothing," Wang Teng sneers.

Chu Mengyao coldly says, "This is the reality. Since the day I was confirmed to have the 'Holy Body,' everything had been predetermined. Don't you understand?"

She goes on, "I know you always want to catch up with me, but you have no idea how big the gap between us is. Now that your dantian is shattered, it's good for you to avoid risking your life on childish trials!"

Wang Teng seriously says, "Chu Mengyao, stop pretending to be superior in front of me. If it weren't for your 'Holy Body,' you would be nothing compared to me. Mark my words, as long as I, Wang Teng, am still alive, I will definitely defeat you one day!"

"Defeat me?" Chu Mengyao stands up, scoffs, "Alright, I'll be waiting for you at 'Heaven Wind Academy'. If you have the courage, then come."

With those words, Chu Mengyao gives Wang Teng a cold glance, then slams the door and exits.

"Bang!"

The door is tightly closed!

Silence!

Wang Teng keeps replaying Chu Mengyao's words in his mind. After a while, he mutters, "Heaven Wind Academy, I, Wang Teng, will definitely go!"

He grits his palm, slapping it on the bed, as if hitting a hard object!

Inside the clothes scattered on the bed, he pulls out a "stone plate".

He couldn't help but curse, "If I hadn't found you in that cave, I wouldn't have had to fight that fierce ape and end up in this state!"

"Hum!"

Just as he was about to fiercely smash the stone plate, it buzzes and emits dazzling rays of light, encasing him within.

As the light entered his body, it felt akin to a holy baptism, causing every pore on his body to relax and spread, bringing about an overall feeling of serenity.

The dantian within his body also started to heal and regenerate at a pleasing pace.

"How could this be?" Wang Teng excitedly exclaimed, "This stone disk... it can actually repair my dantian?"

A loud, piercing voice came from outside.

"Lady Lin, young Master Wang Teng is already disabled. Our Wang family doesn't keep the disabled. By the command of the Madam, you and your son should move into the firewood room immediately."

...

Outside the door, Lin Mengyi pleaded, "Manager Liu, my son is weak now. If he stays in the firewood room, his illness will only worsen. Could you please appeal to the 'Madam' for her mercy and let us stay for a few more days..."

"Humph, I'm just following orders. The Madam has given a strict command, now move aside!"

Manager Liu waved his palm, pushing Lin Mengyi to the ground.

"My medicine!" Lin Mengyi cried out.

"Clear off, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Manager Liu shouted.

Choking back her tears, Lin Mengyi knew the medicine was vital for Wang Teng's survival, and she didn't have the extra money to buy another dose.

Manager Liu screamed, "Ungrateful! I respected you enough to call you the Ninth Lady, now in your current situation, you're nothing more than a servant. How dare you obstruct my work, audacious!"

His face twisted cruelly and he raised his hand, aiming for Lin Mengyi's face.

"Stop it!"

Just as he was about to strike Lin Mengyi, the front door was violently burst open!

Wang Teng came out!

Steward Liu was both surprised and outraged: "You little bastard, aren't you useless now?"

"Mom, are you alright..." Wang Teng stepped forward to help Lin Mengyi up.

"Teng... Teng'er, quickly go back to bed, you are weak now, you can't just get out of bed and move around!" Lin Mengyi, in the beginning, was a bit stunned, immediately pushed Wang Teng away.

"Don't worry, I'm fine now."

Wang Teng's face remained pale, but his internal injuries had already healed by half.

The stone plate was indeed incredibly miraculous.

Looking at Steward Liu, Wang Teng gritted his teeth: "What a dog slave, you even dare to disrespect my mother, I think you have lived enough."

Steward Liu sneered: "You're already a wreck, still playing the hero? Hurry up and go to the firewood room with your mother. So I don't have to act."

Wang Teng coldly said: "Act? You might want to give it a try."

Steward Liu coldly said: "Looking for trouble, I'll oblige you."

With that, he slapped towards Wang Teng!

Wang Teng grasped his palm, his move was as fast as lightning, he griped his wrist and with a sudden jerk, a sound of bone breaking echoed.

Ah!

Steward Liu instantly wailed, sweat was dripping down his forehead.

"How is this possible?" He found it hard to believe.

"Touch my mother, and you are gonna lose this arm today!" Said Wang Teng in a cold tone.

"Young Master, spare me, I'm wrong, I won't dare to do it again." Steward Liu finally woke up and pleaded for mercy.

Wang Teng remained indifferent. His years of harsh experience in the mountains had hardened his heart, making it firm as a rock, without an ounce of leniency.

"Crack!" Steward Liu's other arm also drooped down, crawling on the ground like a dead dog.

Wang Teng coldly snorted, "I spare your life, go back and tell madam, if she dares to stir up trouble again, it won't be so simple next time!"

"Wang Teng, this time making you and ninth lady degraded to servants, isn't just madam's idea, master also approves it. If you two don't do it, I'm afraid you will not be able to set foot in Wang's family."

"Besides, madam is at her maiden's home now, she will return in ten days. By then, you'd better fend for yourselves!"

Steward Liu, with a face full of resentment, tottered off.

"Father agreed to this too!" Wang Teng narrowed his eyes.

"Teng, are you really okay?"

Lin Mengyi asked in surprise.

"Rest assured, mother, I will recover soon. In order to avoid trouble during this period, we have to move to the purple room. When my strength recovers, I will take back everything we have lost. It's our only choice right now, mother."

Wang Teng responded with a faint smile, knowing that the stone disc can restore his Dantian, his confidence was boosted.

"Silly boy, your mother was originally a maid. I can live in the firewood room, it doesn't matter as long as you can get used to it." Hearing Wang Teng's confidence in recovery, Lin Mengyi was also very happy and gave a gentle smile.