Unloved by my grandmother, ignored by my uncle

“Huang Tianci, I swear this guy’s been lacking calcium since childhood and lacking love as he grew up—no one cares for him, not his grandmother, not his uncle. His left cheek deserves a slap, his right cheek a kick. Even donkeys would kick him and pigs would trample him! He must have been born under the sign of the cucumber—just asking for a beating! And raised like a walnut—just begging to be smashed! Feeling scared now? If you’ve got the guts, come challenge me to a duel right here on this bridge, let’s settle it once and for all!” Xie Wuji shouted at the top of his lungs, leaving Song Xiaoyu utterly astonished.

Xiaoyu thought to herself that her Wuji brother always seemed so refined, but when he started talking, his words came like a volley of arrows—whoever he scolded was left dumbstruck, and whoever he berated practically felt pregnant! She had never, since childhood, heard such sharp and artful insults.

Even as an onlooker, Xiaoyu was stunned, let alone Huang Tianci. Accustomed to a life of privilege, he had never been subjected to such a tirade, and his head felt like it was about to explode.

“I’ll kill you, Xie Wanli! Aargh!” With that, Huang Tianci charged at Xie Wuji with reckless abandon.

The other two henchmen followed behind Huang Tianci, but none of them realized that the single-plank bridge was so narrow that only one person could cross at a time. The three of them lined up on the bridge as if waiting their turn, making it impossible to attack together—they would have to face Xie Wuji one by one.

This suited Xie Wuji perfectly. Below the bridge rushed a turbulent river; if anyone fell in, they wouldn’t drown, but they certainly wouldn’t be getting out any time soon!

Enraged, Huang Tianci was bent on killing Xie Wuji. He thought to himself that, aside from his own father’s sternness, everyone else treated him with deference. Even his several stepmothers flattered him, knowing he was heir to the Qingyun Sect. How could he suffer such humiliation now?

Huang Tianci wished he could skin Xie Wuji alive. Glancing behind Wuji and seeing Song Xiaoyu—a beauty renowned in Wildman Village, someone even Master Ma yearned for daily—his eyes gleamed with a sudden idea. Without any care for right or wrong, he shouted to those nearby, “Look, Xie Wanli’s crimes are inexcusable! He’s even abducted an innocent maiden. Look at her terrified face—she must have been forced to come with him. Brothers, if we rescue her, perhaps she’ll reward us with her hand in marriage!”

Spurred on by Huang Tianci’s words, the two flunkies behind him stared, eyes gleaming with greed, like wolves who hadn’t eaten in three days spotting a helpless lamb.

Song Xiaoyu was infuriated by what she heard. “Reward you with my hand? Have you been listening to too many stories under the bridge? With your behavior, you’re not even worth my time!”

“Don’t be afraid, miss, let the three of us save you!” Huang Tianci declared, brandishing his spear and lunging at Xie Wuji.

The bridge was round and slippery, rocking side to side with every step. Xie Wuji was already used to it, but this was Huang Tianci’s first time on it. With a bellow, he thrust his spear straight at Xie Wuji’s throat, the tip gleaming coldly as it darted forward.

Xie Wuji, though lacking much battle experience, had been rigorously trained by the Song family’s two masters over the past days, and had a solid grasp of martial arts now. As for Huang Tianci, despite being a Qingyun Sect disciple, this was his first time training outside the sect—he was even less experienced in real combat than Xie Wuji.

Within the sect, as the sect master’s son, disciples and elders alike flattered Huang Tianci, fearing his complaints to his father. So even if his skills were poor, everyone praised him as a genius of the younger generation!

Thus, Huang Tianci was certain that Xie Wuji was no match for him. He thrust his spear at a steady pace, but Xie Wuji was alert—just as the spear came, he lunged forward with both hands and seized the tip.

Crack!

To Huang Tianci’s shock, the spearhead, crafted by a master smith at his father’s commission, was crushed in Xie Wuji’s grip as if it were made of wax.

“How could you crush my treasured spear? My father had it forged by a master!” Huang Tianci cried, stunned.

“Ask your father! What’s that got to do with me?” Xie Wuji retorted, grabbing the shaft and yanking hard, pulling Huang Tianci toward him.

But Xie Wuji had no intention of letting him succeed—his arms were reserved for people like Xiaoyu, not scum like Huang Tianci. As Huang Tianci tumbled forward, Xie Wuji drove his knee viciously into his stomach.

Huang Tianci’s eyes bulged, and bile spewed from his mouth. Xie Wuji then swung his fist, landing a solid blow to Huang Tianci’s face.

Smack!

Huang Tianci reeled, his nose knocked askew. Dazed, he lost his balance and tumbled into the river below.

Xie Wuji decided there was no need to take Huang Tianci’s life and intended to let it go at that.

But Huang Tianci, struggling in the water, lifted himself up and shouted curses at Xie Wuji: “Just wait! When I get back, I’ll tell my father! When he brings the Qingyun Sect disciples here, not only you, but your family too—we’ll make sure none of you escape!”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just live your life?” Xie Wuji spat back.

“Ha! Scared now, aren’t you? If you’re afraid, kneel and call me grandfather, and maybe I’ll spare you. Hand over the girl behind you, and I won’t trouble you further!”

“Scoundrel!” Song Xiaoyu would not tolerate such an insult. Suddenly, she drew a jeweled dagger from her bosom and leaped at Huang Tianci.

Xie Wuji was taken aback by her ferocity—she drove the dagger straight into Huang Tianci’s chest.

The two Qingyun Sect disciples nearby, stunned by the scene, tried to flee, but the nearly dead Scorpion-Tailed Tiger lunged at them, knocking both to the ground.

The two men’s faces were filled with terror as the Scorpion-Tailed Tiger seized the tiger cub from the bald disciple’s back. But the beast, spent and out of strength, collapsed in a pool of blood, its massive body pinning the disciples beneath it.

Xie Wuji and Song Xiaoyu approached and saw the tiger cub crying out, licking its mother’s nose, but the Scorpion-Tailed Tiger was too weak to stand.

“It can’t be saved, it’s lost too much blood,” Song Xiaoyu said.

“Then… it’s doomed?” Xie Wuji was pained, but deeply impressed by Song Xiaoyu’s decisive action—her martial arts might not match his, but her resolve surpassed his own.

He knew that if they let those men escape, Huang Tianci would surely seek revenge. Even without a prominent identity, it was better to be safe than sorry.

Since the Qingyun Sect expected their disciples to face dangers while training, their deaths here would not cause repercussions for others. Song Xiaoyu’s action was justified.

The Scorpion-Tailed Tiger lay dying, and its cub, perhaps seeing Xie Wuji and Song Xiaoyu as threats, suddenly turned and snarled at them.

“Come, let me help you take it into the forest…” Song Xiaoyu said, reaching out to pick up the cub.

Xie Wuji sighed and said nothing. The Scorpion-Tailed Tiger’s eyes shone with gratitude—it was a supreme beast of the human rank, and clearly possessed intelligence, seeming to understand that the two meant it no harm.

But as Song Xiaoyu lifted the cub, she suddenly collapsed to the ground, her lips turning black.

“Xiaoyu!” Xie Wuji rushed over, just in time to catch her as the cub leapt from her arms. It turned out that as she had held the cub, the Scorpion-Tailed Tiger’s venomous tail had jabbed her abdomen!

Xie Wuji caught her as the cub howled beside them, still trying to protect its mother, regarding both Wuji and Xiaoyu as enemies.

“This is bad… I’ve been poisoned,” Song Xiaoyu said weakly, her face pale. “The Scorpion-Tailed Tiger’s tail is deadly. How could I have forgotten… damn…”

“Where were you stung?” Xie Wuji asked anxiously.

“Don’t worry about me… I don’t think I’ll make it. Wuji, please… tell my father his daughter has failed him…” Song Xiaoyu murmured, too weak now even to sit up.