12: Unexpected collision

The morning task of carrying water remained as monotonous and arduous as ever.

The carrying pole pressed deep into his shoulders, and the wooden buckets filled with clear mountain spring water swayed up and down with his steps, splashing winding water marks onto the rugged mountain path. For Outer Sect Disciples, this daily labor was a dual wear and tear on both body and will.

However, today, Lin Ye felt somewhat different.

After that earth-shattering palm strike at the testing ground, he quickly adjusted his mindset and quietly caught up with the main group carrying water. He still walked at the end of the line, still with his head down and silent, but only he knew that subtle and profound changes were occurring within his body.

The Minor Achievement Realm of Iron Sand Palm brought more than just a surge in the strength of his palms. That refined Coiling Force seemed to have begun to subtly nourish his limbs and bones.

He could clearly feel that his lower body had become much more stable than before. Every step he took on the uneven mountain path was like an old tree with deep roots, firmly grasping the ground. The trembling in his legs and the swaying of his body that he used to feel when carrying heavy loads had disappeared.

His breathing also became longer and deeper. Between his waist and abdomen, there seemed to be an indescribable “integrated force” that allowed him to better coordinate the strength of his entire body to bear the heavy weight on his shoulders.

Therefore, this round trip felt easier than any other time. When others were already panting and sweating profusely, he still retained a considerable amount of physical strength.

“Strength… this is the feeling of strength…”

Lin Ye silently experienced this change, gaining an even deeper understanding of the System's marvel and the importance of strength.

Dong—!

The noon bell finally rang, signaling the end of the morning’s labor.

Everyone felt as if they had received a great pardon, putting down their work and dragging their tired bodies to converge into a stream of people, heading towards their only goal for replenishment—the Dining Hall.

Lin Ye also mingled in the crowd, deliberately making himself appear as tired as those around him, with a slightly hunched back and feigned unsteady steps. His handsome face bore a perfectly appropriate look of weariness, so no one could tell that beneath this ordinary facade, hidden power capable of shattering stone and splitting tablets resided.

The dirt road leading to the Dining Hall was at its busiest time of day. Hundreds of Outer Sect Disciples gathered from various task locations, in groups of three or five, chattering loudly, the air thick with the smell of sweat mixed with dust.

Lin Ye walked forward with his head down, not looking left or right, only wanting to quickly get his meal and then find a quiet corner to replenish his energy. In the afternoon, he still had to deal with Zhao Tian's “demands.”

However, trouble is often something you can't avoid, no matter how much you try.

Just as he was about to reach the open area in front of the Dining Hall, an arrogant yet familiar voice, full of malice, came from his front-left.

“Oh, everyone, come and see, who is this? Isn't this our Junior Brother Lin Ye, the most ‘discerning’ Disciple in the Outer Sect?”

Lin Ye's steps paused slightly, and the corner of his eye darted over.

He saw Zhao Tian, surrounded by several followers, swaggering over from the side, directly blocking his path. Zhao Tian’s scar-faced countenance bore undisguised mockery and derision, clearly indicating he had been waiting for him here.

“Hahaha, Senior Brother Zhao is right, Junior Brother Lin certainly taught us all a lesson yesterday on what it means to ‘bend and stretch’!”

“Isn’t that the truth? Those knees, they knelt just like that, tsk tsk, we can’t compare to that kind of ‘cultivation’!”

Zhao Tian’s followers immediately understood and began to jeer. Their voices were neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for dozens of passing Disciples to hear clearly.

Immediately, dozens of gazes simultaneously shot over, some curious, some disdainful, some gloating, like invisible needles pricking at him.

Lin Ye's heart was cold, but the expression on his face grew more panicked and uneasy. He subconsciously took half a step back, lowered his head, and nervously twisted the corner of his clothes with his hands, perfectly portraying the image of a coward whose wounds had been exposed in public, filled with shame and indignation, yet daring not to resist.

His reaction only fueled Zhao Tian and his group’s arrogance.

Zhao Tian thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of toying with someone in the palm of his hand, wantonly trampling their dignity. This was the effect he wanted; he wanted everyone to know that Lin Ye was his, Zhao Tian’s, dog!

“Lin Ye, you haven’t forgotten what I told you yesterday, have you?” Zhao Tian walked up to Lin Ye, looking down at him as if he were an ant that could be crushed at will. “After dinner, the usual place, you know what to do, right?”

“I… I know, Senior Brother Zhao.” Lin Ye’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, filled with fear.

“Hmph, I wouldn’t expect you to forget!”

Zhao Tian nodded in satisfaction, but it seemed he felt this wasn't enough. How could public humiliation only be verbal? There had to be a more impactful display to thoroughly engrave his prestige in everyone's hearts.

A malevolent glint flashed in his eyes.

He glanced at Lin Ye's slender frame, then at the increasing number of onlookers, and a brilliant “idea” came to mind.

He decided to “pass by” Lin Ye like a wild ox!

He would, in front of everyone, violently knock this eyesore of a waste to the ground, making him fall face-first and lie at his feet like a dead dog!

This thought excited him.

So, he impatiently waved his hand as if shooing away a fly: “Get lost, don’t be an eyesore here!”

Saying this, he took a step, seemingly intending to walk past Lin Ye, but just as the two were about to brush shoulders, his tall and robust body suddenly sank, his right shoulder exerting force, carrying a malicious gust of wind, and fiercely, mercilessly, crashed into Lin Ye's shoulder!

With this collision, he used almost all of his strength!

He had even already envisioned in his mind the humiliating scene of Lin Ye being sent flying off the ground, screaming as he fell several meters away, then writhing in pain on the ground.

The surrounding Disciples also instinctively held their breath, some timid ones even closing their eyes, unable to bear watching the impending “tragedy.”

However, the scene that unfolded next made everyone’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets!

“Bang!!!”

A dull, bell-like thud clearly rang out in the noisy crowd!

The anticipated scene of Lin Ye being sent flying did not occur at all!

Instead, under Zhao Tian's violent impact, Lin Ye's slender body merely swayed slightly, then stood as firm as an ancient pine tree rooted deep in the earth, completely unmoving!

His feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, not retreating a single step!

Conversely, the aggressive Zhao Tian—

The moment he collided with Lin Ye’s shoulder, he felt as if he hadn’t hit a person’s flesh and blood, but rather had slammed hard into a red-hot, indestructible iron plate!

A huge, unimaginable Reaction force, accompanied by a piercing, numbing, and painful sensation, suddenly came from his right shoulder, instantly sweeping through half of his body!

“Thump! Thump! Thump!”

Zhao Tian’s tall and robust body was actually shaken by this recoil force, uncontrollably stumbling back three steps, and finally, he staggered, nearly falling onto his backside!

The entire scene was dead silent!

Everyone was dumbfounded, as if they had seen a ghost, looking with a ghostly expression at the bewildered Lin Ye, then at the disheveled Zhao Tian.

What… what happened?

It seems the script was reversed?

Zhao Tian himself was completely stunned. He steadied himself, only feeling that his right shoulder was about to split open, burning with pain, and his entire arm felt somewhat unable to lift. He shook his head, looking incredulously at Lin Ye, who still wore a “panicked” and “innocent” expression.

How was that possible?!

With his Qi Refinement Stage third-layer cultivation, a full-force collision, let alone a waste like Lin Ye, even a small calf would be knocked over!

But why did he remain completely still?

Instead, he himself almost fell face-first?

Lin Ye’s “performance” reached its Peak at this moment.

At the moment of impact, he did feel a tremendous force, but he merely subconsciously sank his feet, activating the Minor Achievement Realm Iron Sand Palm Coiling Force to protect his body. The impact was easily resolved by him and channeled into the earth through his feet.

But on his face, he appropriately displayed a perfect amount of “bewilderment” and “fear.” He seemed to have been scared silly by this sudden turn of events, standing blankly in place, watching the stumbling Zhao Tian. After several breaths, he seemed to finally react, also letting out an “Ah,” and cooperatively jumped back a step, his voice trembling with a hint of a sob, asking:

“Senior… Senior Brother Zhao, are… are you alright? I… I didn’t do it on purpose…”