Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System-Chapter 110: Crippled

Although Chu Lingguang had defeated Lin Longde, he couldn’t bring himself to be happy.

Lin Longde was just from a local noble family in South City, yet his Life-taking Linked Spear was so powerful that even Chu Lingguang’s Perfect Techniques in his Basic Spear Skill struggled to defend against it.

He had thought that after the first three events, placing first in each would put the top rank of the Daoist Examination within easy reach. Now, it seemed that might not be the case.

After all, Chu Lingguang held no advantage in the upcoming events. He had only scraped by with a narrow victory in Spear Technique, his best Kung Fu. Getting first place in the next three events—Fist Technique, Archery, and free combat—would not be so easy.

「The Spear Technique competition ended.」

Master Yan led Hei Hu and Chu Lingguang back to the alley of the Central Courtyard.

Guo Wei, however, left the examination grounds alone.

「Inside Xiaoyue Building.」

Tie Zhennan’s face was grim. It was one thing for Liu Quan to be unable to defeat Chu Lingguang, but he had actually sneak-attacked him during the Lance event. Not only had Chu Lingguang sent him flying and injured him, but he had also received a mere Grade B+ Upper Grade score.

Furthermore, the wound was long and deep. Although it had been stitched up promptly and treated with the best Golden Wound Medicine, in Liu Quan’s current condition, it would be difficult for him to achieve A Class scores in the next three events. His chances of passing were now slim.

Tie Zhennan was filled with regret. He shouldn’t have snatched Liu Quan from Guo Wei. Now, not only had he failed to gain any face, but he was also being gossiped about by the other masters because of Liu Quan.

He left Xiaoyue Building, intending to find some better Healing Medicine for Liu Quan. No matter what, if Liu Quan could manage to pass the exams, his own reputation wouldn’t be completely shattered.

From several shops away, Guo Wei watched Tie Zhennan emerge from Xiaoyue Building. After Tie Zhennan had walked some distance, he headed straight for the building himself.

Posing as a fellow Martial Arts Hall master here to visit Liu Quan, he got the room number from a waiter.

He went up to the third floor.

After spotting the room number, he kicked the door open.

"Who is it?!"

Jin Shan was looking after Liu Quan, and the sound of the door being kicked in startled them both.

"M-Master Guo, my master isn’t here."

When he realized it was Guo Wei, Jin Shan became even more incoherent. Liu Quan grabbed the corner of Jin Shan’s shirt, trying to hide behind him.

Guo Wei remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared at Jin Shan.

Terrified by Guo Wei’s gaze, Jin Shan’s legs went weak. He flattened himself against the wall, sidled to the doorway, and then abandoned Liu Quan, sprinting out to find Tie Zhennan.

Guo Wei did not stop him.

"Shan!" Liu Quan cried out.

Jin Shan just kept running downstairs.

BANG!

Guo Wei kicked the door shut and walked toward Liu Quan, who was getting up from the bed.

"M-M-M... Master Guo, I’m injured. Don’t do anything reckless."

Liu Quan backed into a corner, not even daring to meet Guo Wei’s eyes.

CRACK!

Guo Wei kicked Liu Quan in the knee.

With the sickening sound of shattering bone, Liu Quan’s body pitched forward, and he fell to one knee on the ground, letting out a piercing howl.

"AHHH!"

"My leg! What are you doing? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the officials for malicious injury and ruining my future prospects?" Liu Quan cried out in pain.

CRACK!

Guo Wei didn’t say a word. Seeing that Liu Quan’s right knee was still intact, he kicked out again, pouring Power into the blow and shattering it on the spot.

"AHHH! I’m an examination candidate! How dare you cripple me! I’ll report you to the Court!"

Liu Quan lay sprawled on the floor, screaming as if he wished he were dead.

The excruciating pain contorted his features. His writhing tore open his freshly stitched wound, and a patch of blood stained his chest once more.

Guo Wei watched him scream and howl on the ground before speaking slowly and deliberately. "If Lin Guang hadn’t escaped unharmed, this wouldn’t have ended with just your legs being crippled. If he had been harmed in the slightest, it might be both you and your master lying on the floor right now. No one gets to bully a disciple of mine, Guo Wei. Not even a Noble Family Disciple!"

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Guo Wei turned and left.

Liu Quan had sneak-attacked Chu Lingguang during the Lance event, nearly ruining his future. How could such a malicious act be forgiven? Only by crippling him and stripping him of any chance to gain official recognition could the hatred in Guo Wei’s heart be vented.

That was why this justice had to be served today.

Otherwise, if he waited until after Liu Quan completed the Daoist Examination and, by some chance, passed to become a Martial Scholar, crippling someone with an official title would come with all sorts of complications.

As for Liu Quan’s status as a candidate?

Before one earned a title, being a candidate meant nothing. The only person who could stand up for Liu Quan was Tie Zhennan. Even if the examiners found out, Guo Wei had the means to handle it.

The connections he had built over the years, combined with his own strength, meant he would never be brought down just for crippling Liu Quan. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Besides, Liu Quan’s malicious actions had been witnessed by the examiners and all the other masters. As his master, he was simply getting justice for his disciple. Outsiders would have no grounds to object.

’Not convinced?’

’Then let’s fight!’

As Guo Wei came downstairs, Liu Quan’s ghostly wails echoed throughout the entire building. When the patrons saw him, they were filled with fear and hastily backed away.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Guo Wei departed openly, walking back to the alley of the Central Courtyard at an unhurried pace.

「Not long after he left.」

Tie Zhennan and Jin Shan ran back to Xiaoyue Building.

When he saw Liu Quan’s chest wound torn open and both knees shattered, leaving him unable to even stand, Tie Zhennan was consumed by an uncontrollable rage. He paced back and forth in the room a dozen times.

Guo Wei had brazenly come and crippled Liu Quan’s legs. Regardless of the reason, it was a slap to his, Tie Zhennan’s, face. If he didn’t seek justice, how could he ever show his face again?

But where would this justice come from?

Liu Quan had been the one to launch a sneak attack during the Martial Arts Examination, nearly ruining Chu Lingguang’s life. Even he, as Liu Quan’s master, had felt like cursing him out loud. Now Guo Wei had come for revenge. In the world of martial artists, this was a classic, satisfying case of settling a grudge.

If he went to confront Guo Wei now, he would have no ground to stand on verbally. And if it came to blows, no other master would support him, given what his own stupid disciple had done.

Moreover, Guo Wei was acting with impunity, and his disciple Chu Lingguang was a top contender for the championship, widely supported. The more Tie Zhennan thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated he became. Seeing Liu Quan still howling on the floor, he finally couldn’t take it anymore. With a sharp SMACK, he slapped Liu Quan unconscious.

"Master..."

Jin Shan was dumbfounded.

"He’s finished. Find a Physician to watch over him, and in a few days, send him back to Liu Family Gully. Don’t let this disrupt your Mental Realm. Focus on the upcoming events. Master will do everything to help you. No matter what, you must place in the top ten for me."

Tie Zhennan said wearily, only hoping that Jin Shan could salvage some of his reputation.

’As for today’s score, I’ll have to settle it with Guo Wei another day!’

"I will do my absolute best," Jin Shan said, kneeling excitedly.

’Liu Quan is crippled. From now on, Tie Zhennan will pour all his resources into me,’ he thought. ’For me, this seems to be a good thing.’

Guo Wei had deliberately slowed his pace.

He had expected Tie Zhennan to chase after him.

But to his surprise, by the time he reached the alley of the Central Courtyard, no one had come after him.

However, when he returned to his junior brother’s courtyard, he saw someone unexpected.

"Disciple pays his respects to Master."

Wang Chao had ridden Yang Shaorong’s swift steed nonstop from the Governor’s Mansion, finally arriving in South City by nightfall. He knew that Guo Wei always stayed with Master Yan whenever he came to South City, so he had headed straight here.