He had thought Lin Taichu was a pushover before. Now, it seemed his earlier thoughts were nothing but a joke.
Another half an incense stick's duration passed. Lin Taichu had now held the stone lock for longer than Tang Hu had held it for an incense stick's duration. The surrounding disciples held their breath, and no one dared speak again.
Tang Hu looked at Lin Taichu, the pride in his heart utterly shattered. He knew he had lost, and lost completely.
At that moment, Lin Taichu slowly lowered the stone lock. It hit the ground with the same dull thud, yet Lin Taichu's expression remained unchanged as he merely flexed his wrist.
"I held it longer than you did, right?" Lin Taichu looked at Tang Hu, his tone calm.
Tang Hu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, only to find that he could not say a word. The surrounding disciples all lowered their heads as well, no one daring to look at Lin Taichu again. Thinking back on their earlier mockery made them blush with shame.
Lin Taichu swept his gaze across the crowd and said coldly, "Whether I got here through connections or used them to receive special treatment isn't for you to decide."
"Whether I can keep up with training isn't for you to judge either. From now on, stop defining others by your prejudice. Just mind your own business."
With that, Lin Taichu ignored them and walked straight through the crowd toward his quarters. Only after his figure disappeared did the surrounding disciples dare lift their heads and exchange looks.
Tang Hu stood where he was, his face shifting between green and white. He had lost not only the contest, but also all his momentum.
He had always believed Lin Taichu was a weakling who had