When the Tide Rages, a Hero's True Colors Are Revealed!

Cao Mengyun, Spirit Hall!

One man, one institution—like two towering mountains, they weighed heavily upon Yang Ming and the other two, so heavily that they could barely breathe!

Old Jack's expression changed several times. Although Yang Ming was adopted rather than his biological grandson, he had always treated Yang Ming as his own. Especially when Yang Ming awakened his Martial Soul and possessed Innate Full Soul Power, Old Jack had already regarded him as the hope of the entire village!

Ever since the village had produced a Soul Saint many, many years ago, Holy Soul Village had remained silent for far too long. As village chief, Old Jack had always hoped to nurture another Soul Saint for the village.

Therefore, from the time Yang Ming was young, Old Jack had set an unusually harsh training regimen for him. Though it was mostly basic training, it was highly effective and laid a solid foundation for Yang Ming, all so that one day in the future, he could become a Soul Saint.

But now, he could only watch as that hope was about to shatter!

Nothing was more heartbreaking than falling from hope into despair!

Years of persistence and effort were about to go down the drain.

For a moment, Old Jack's emotions were a tangled mess, as though a bottle of every flavor had been overturned inside him.

Tears streamed from the corners of Old Jack's eyes. He staggered forward and tightly grabbed Cao Mengyun's arm like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline. Tears ran down his aged face as he choked out in a hoarse, low voice:

"Grandmaster Cao Mengyun, please be magnanimous. Yang Ming is still young. Please forgive him for offending you, all right?"

Yang Ming had never seen his grandfather humble himself like this.

Even when bandits had previously threatened to force him to kneel, his grandfather's back had remained straight, because he was a man with backbone!

But now, for Yang Ming, for Yang Ming's future, this proud man was lowering himself before an enemy, all in the hope that the enemy might show mercy!

There was a saying in sports: being weak was the original sin!

Because Cao Mengyun was strong, and because Spirit Hall was a colossal power that dominated Douluo Continent, even if Cao Mengyun had been unreasonable first, no matter how aggressively he pressed them, he was still in the right!

Conversely, because Old Jack was merely the chief of a remote village, and Yang Ming was only a Soul Scholar who had just awakened his Martial Soul, a six-year-old child, even if they had done nothing wrong, even if reason was on their side, they were still wrong!

Justice did not lie in people's hearts; right and wrong depended only on the times!

Was it fair?

Of course not!

But fairness had always stood only on the side of the strong!

To the weak, fairness was like a magnificent luxury—visible, but forever out of reach!

Seeing Cao Mengyun's cold face, Old Jack refused to give up even the slightest possibility. Tears and snot ran down his face as he pleaded:

"Grandmaster Cao Mengyun, I beg you, please show mercy. Yang Ming is only a child. He shouldn't have to bear such punishment. I'll apologize to you in his place, I'll make amends for him. Please, for my sake, spare him!"

Cao Mengyun grew tired of listening, as though a fly were endlessly buzzing beside his ear.

With a sudden swing of his arm, Cao Mengyun flung Old Jack away and sent him crashing to the ground. A clear crack of breaking bone rang out. It was obvious that Old Jack had injured his lower back.

"Grandpa!"

Yang Ming's pupils contracted as he hurried over.

Yang Ming checked Old Jack over and discovered that his grandfather had merely twisted his lumbar vertebrae and had not injured any internal organs. Some medicinal wine and time would be enough for him to recover. Only then did Yang Ming finally let out a breath of relief.

"Heng!"

Watching Yang Ming and Tang San help Old Jack up from either side, Cao Mengyun wore an impatient, coldly arrogant expression. He said disdainfully:

"Who do you think I am? You think someone like you can stop me? What a joke!"

Old Jack dared not speak in anger.

Even though Cao Mengyun had injured his back.

Tang San and Yang Ming exchanged a glance, both filled with rage. Tang San shouted:

"Spirit Hall is so unjust. Then I might as well throw away this Spirit Hall certificate in my hand!"

"Third Brother!" Yang Ming pressed down Tang San's hand and said urgently, "Don't do anything foolish!"

"Foolish? This isn't foolish!"

Tang San stared seriously at Yang Ming, a solemn expression appearing on his small face.

"Yang Ming, you said that although we aren't brothers by blood, we're as close as brothers! How can I stand aside when my brother is in trouble? If you can't attend school today, then I won't attend either! I refuse to believe that without the Junior Soul Master Academy, we can't accomplish something great!"

Only when the tide receded did one learn who had been swimming naked.

Yang Ming was deeply moved—moved to have a grandfather who cared for him so much, and moved to have a brother willing to stand with him through thick and thin.

Yang Ming extended his right hand and clasped Tang San's tightly. They spoke in unison:

"Into the wind we go, into the fire we burn!"

Seeing the brotherly bond between Yang Ming and Tang San, united in purpose and strong enough to cut through gold, Old Jack wiped the tears from his eyes and felt heartfelt comfort.

Even the other people from Spirit Hall were touched by their bond, and they all felt that Cao Mengyun had gone too far.

Not only was he bullying children with his strength, he was even bullying an old man. He was utterly inhuman!

However, the people from Spirit Hall had already accepted Cao Mengyun's benefits and could not openly oppose him. Still, their expressions showed a little more rejection toward Cao Mengyun.

Grandmaster stood behind the three of them without saying a word, acting as little more than background scenery.

Grandmaster was not running a charity. Bringing Yang Ming to Spirit Hall for testing had already been an act of great kindness.

He had no reason to make enemies of Spirit Hall and Cao Mengyun for a stranger like Yang Ming.

Unless Yang Ming displayed incomparable value—value great enough for Grandmaster to risk Spirit Hall's hostility!

"Third Brother, take care of Grandpa."

Yang Ming entrusted Old Jack to Tang San and stood up.

"Yang Ming, you..."

Tang San opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But seeing the confidence shining on Yang Ming's face, he wisely chose to remain silent.

He believed Yang Ming was someone with his own ideas. Since he was doing this, he must have his own reasons.

Yang Ming stood ramrod straight, like a sturdy spear planted firmly in the ground. A chilling coldness shone in his starry eyes. Even Cao Mengyun could not help feeling a shiver in his heart, as though what stood before him was not a person, but a Fierce Beast wearing human skin.

Yang Ming grinned, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth, and said:

"Cao Mengyun, do you know something? I never intended to offend anyone or cause trouble. I only wanted to live a peaceful life. I'm grateful for your appearance. You made me understand one truth: this world has always been a world where people devour one another. If you don't devour others, others will devour you!"

When the tide rages, a hero's true colors are revealed.

Yang Ming stepped forward, clasped his hands behind his back, raised his head, and recited:

"Cao Mengyun, do you think victory is already in your grasp? But I suppose you've never heard a certain saying..."

That saying was...

(Thanks to L for the 200 book coin reward, Si for the 1,000 book coin reward, Wu for the 100 book coin reward, and Void for the 100 book coin reward.)