Early morning mist still clung to the outer disciple courtyard as Ye Tian stood outside his modest hut, gazing at the rising sun with cold eyes.
"Hmph~," he scoffed, clenching his fists tightly. "That bitch Elder Lan… one day, I'll make her pay. Just wait."
Suddenly—
Boom!
A loud sound echoed as the door behind him slammed shut. Without sparing a glance back, Ye Tian walked out confidently, his robes fluttering in the breeze.
But he didn't get far.
A group of outer sect disciples blocked his path, surrounding him with mocking smirks. One of them stepped forward and said arrogantly, "Yesterday you acted too cocky. Apologize now, or else!"
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, his voice cold and disdainful. "Hmph~ Arrogant?"
Crack!
In a flash, his palm landed on the speaker's face, sending him flying several meters. One by one, Ye Tian moved like a phantom, each of his strikes brutally efficient.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Twelve disciples fell injured, groaning in pain.
From a distance, seated calmly under a shaded pavilion, Lin Xuan sipped his tea with a serene smile, observing the chaos unfold. His eyes sparkled mischievously.
"The Son of Destiny has begun showing his colors…" he thought.
Ye Tian stood tall amidst the injured disciples, his eyes filled with disdain. "If anyone dares challenge me in the future, I'll crush them again. Remember that."
Just then, Zhao Ming, the current number one outer disciple, stepped onto the scene.
"What's going on here?" he barked. "I heard a commotion."
A few disciples immediately clutched their wounds and pointed at Ye Tian. "Senior Brother Zhao, this new disciple bullied us!"
Ye Tian glared at them with murderous intent, and the disciples quickly began acting even more pitiful, groaning louder for effect.
But before things could escalate—
"Enough."
A calm yet commanding voice rang out. Lin Xuan had arrived, flanked by two law enforcement disciples.
Ye Tian's expression shifted slightly. "Lin Xuan…?"
Lin Xuan walked up, smiling gently, then turned to Zhao Ming. "What happened here, Junior Brother Zhao?"
Zhao Ming pointed at the injured disciples. "This newcomer attacked them without reason."
Lin Xuan looked around, then spoke sorrowfully, "How could you all fight among yourselves? We're part of the same sect… Look at you, so injured… this is heartbreaking."
Tears welled in his eyes.
"I can't bear to see fellow disciples in pain. I'll compensate all of you for your injuries."
He waved his hand, and 1,000 low-grade spiritual stones poured out of his storage ring, distributed equally among the onlookers.
"Senior Brother Lin Xuan is so kind!"
"What a saint! He's giving us resources just for being here!"
Gasps of admiration spread throughout the courtyard.
Then, in an even more shocking move, Lin Xuan held out 100 spiritual stones to Ye Tian.
"Junior Brother, don't be angry. Please accept this. We're family now."
Ye Tian slapped them away without hesitation. "Hmph! I don't need your pity or your resources."
Lin Xuan smiled inwardly but maintained a sorrowful tone. "Junior Brother… please don't let anger cloud your judgment."
Then, turning to the injured disciples, he said, "You should also apologize. It seems you were the ones who provoked him first."
The disciples hesitated, but under Lin Xuan's soft yet authoritative gaze, they reluctantly apologized to Ye Tian.
Lin Xuan then turned to Ye Tian. "Now you too should apologize. You injured twelve disciples. That's excessive."
Ye Tian's face darkened. "I won't. They provoked me first. I was stronger, so I won. Why should I apologize?"
"You beat them too harshly. We have rules here. Be the bigger person," Lin Xuan said gently.
"I don't bow. I don't kneel. I don't apologize," Ye Tian growled.
The watching disciples began murmuring angrily. "He's too arrogant!" "Senior Brother Lin Xuan is helping him, yet he shows no gratitude!"
Suddenly, the two law enforcement disciples stepped forward. "You've broken sect rules! You're under arrest!"
Ye Tian snorted and—
Bam! Bam!
—knocked both of them down with ease.
From the crowd, Lin Xuan chuckled softly in his mind. "That's the true Son of Destiny… he can't kneel, he can't bow, he can't bend. How useful."
Just then, a powerful aura descended as a Law Elder appeared.
"Enough! Ye Tian, for injuring fellow disciples and attacking law enforcers, you are hereby detained in the punishment hall for seven days!"
Ye Tian's eyes flared with anger, but he didn't resist this time.
Ding! Host ruined the Son of Destiny's reputation. Reward: 100 Villain Points.
Ding! Law Elder got bad impression of the Son of Destiny. Reward: 100 Villain Points.
Ding! Ye Tian was humiliated. Reward: 100 Villain Points.
Ding! Outer disciples see host as a Saint. Reward: 200 Villain Points.
Lin Xuan's eyes sparkled. "Kekeke… Very easy deal."
He turned to the crowd, eyes teary again. "Please don't hate him. He's just… a bit prideful. I'll offer additional compensation."
Another 1,000 spiritual stones flew out from his ring, distributed among the injured and spectators.
"Senior Brother Lin Xuan is amazing!"
"Such a kind heart!"
"Even when someone arrogant comes, he still tries to help!"
Zhao Ming stepped forward, cupping his fists. "Senior Brother, your heart is vast like the ocean. I will forever stand beside you. If anyone dares attack you, I will be your shield."
Lin Xuan patted his shoulder. "Thank you, Junior Brother."
The crowd erupted in emotion. "Senior Brother Lin Xuan truly is our guardian!"
From afar, as Ye Tian was taken away, his eyes burned with humiliation.
But Lin Xuan?
He was already the new legend of the outer sect.