42: Cripple

Even so, his leg injury caused Liu Zhi to feel inferior, leading him to avoid Murong Qiuya during this period, afraid she would discover he was lame.

He didn't know if Murong Qiuya would abandon him after finding out he was lame.

He couldn't be sure, because he was afraid of losing her.

However, evasion is always meaningless.

What's meant to come, you can't avoid.

...

In front of the gates of Tianwu Martial Arts Academy were hundreds of white marble steps.

For a Martial Artist, these few hundred steps were nothing at all; they moved swiftly, as if on level ground.

But for Liu Zhi, these few hundred steps turned him into a laughingstock.

Every step he took, he had to lift his leg with his hand, a slow and clumsy movement that was quite comical.

“Hahahahaha… What the hell, our Tianwu Martial Arts Academy actually accepts cripples?”

“I'm dying of laughter, in this state, why isn't he just staying home in bed? Coming out to learn martial arts, isn't this just a joke?”

“I know this kid; I went to the Dimensional Trial Grounds with him a while ago. He was quite brave in there, but unfortunately, a Dimensional Being injured his leg, and he became lame.”

“Dared to go to the Dimensional Trial Grounds? This kid has some courage.”

“Heh heh, what's the use of courage? In his current pathetic state, he can't even climb steps properly. What's the use of entering the Martial Arts Academy?”

“He can't even protect himself, has little strength, yet still dares to seek excitement in the Dimensional Trial Grounds. He completely deserves this!”

“How can the Martial Arts Academy accept such a good-for-nothing? Isn't this lowering the Martial Arts Academy's standards and wasting educational resources?”

“No, no, we need to report this to the school; he must be expelled!”

The crowd surrounded Liu Zhi, taunting him and treating him completely as a joke.

Liu Zhi lowered his head, his eyes filled with shame and resentment.

But facing this reality, Liu Zhi had no confidence to retort.

Finally.

Amidst the crowd's jeers and curses, Liu Zhi completed the last step and arrived at the plaza outside the main hall.

Tents of various academies and different specialties lined both sides of the plaza.

Liu Zhi had applied for the Alchemy Department of the Medical Academy.

Liu Zhi was terrified of poverty, which is why he chose to apply for the Alchemy Department, hoping to become stronger while also improving his Family's living conditions in the future.

It was precisely because of this.

Even after becoming lame, Liu Zhi did not give up on reporting to the Academy.

Because while Martial Dao cannot be separated from the legs.

Alchemy is different.

Alchemy does not require the legs to be nimble; as long as the hands are fine, it is enough.

Therefore, Liu Zhi did not believe the Academy would expel him just because he was lame.

He dragged his lame leg to the Alchemy Department's tent.

Behind the tent sat two men, one old and one young.

The older man was in his fifties, with a full beard, dark skin, and wearing a teacher's uniform.

The younger man was eighteen or nineteen, similar in age to Liu Zhi, and was likely a student.

“Hmm? A cripple?” The male teacher frowned and questioned, “How could a cripple be admitted?”

Liu Zhi smiled bitterly, “I went to the Dimensional Trial Grounds to earn tuition fees, and my leg was injured in there.”

“Did I ask you how you became lame?”

The male teacher said unhappily, “Since your leg is already lame, why don't you voluntarily withdraw and stay home? Why come to report?”

“Don't you know that the Martial Arts Academy's educational resources are limited? How can they be wasted on someone like you?”

Liu Zhi pleaded, “Please don't make me go back. My Family is poor, and getting into the Martial Arts Academy is my only way out.”

“I'm relying on the Alchemy Department; Alchemy mainly relies on hands. My hands are fine, you see, my hands are really fine; it won't delay Alchemy.”

Liu Zhi extended his hand, wanting the male teacher to see.

However, the male student nearby suddenly stood up and pushed Liu Zhi away.

Liu Zhi, with his lame leg, had an unstable lower body, and with that push, he fell directly to the ground.

The male student looked down at him and sneered, “Heh heh, you can't even stand steadily, yet you dare to boast that it won't delay Alchemy?”

“Our Tianwu Martial Arts Academy never lacks students. If I let you enroll, would that be fair to others?”

“As long as they agree to let me take you, I will naturally accept you!”

How could the male student have the power to decide whether to expel someone?

However, he was indeed overbearing, borrowing another's authority.

Liu Zhi quickly looked behind him, only to see that the crowd, watching the spectacle, had already surrounded him.

“Please… please let me enroll, okay? I will definitely remember your kindness, I will definitely repay you…”

Liu Zhi pleaded humbly.

However, what he received in return was a burst of ridicule.

“Hahahaha, repay? What is our status? Do we need a cripple to repay us? Or a poor cripple carrying a urea bag to repay us?”

“I'm dying of laughter; we're already unhappy being in the same school as a poor guy like you, and you're also a cripple. Why should we be classmates with you?”

“The Martial Arts Academy's admissions are strict; countless students are rejected every year due to physical examinations. If even a cripple like you can enroll, how can those rejected students be convinced?”

“Kid, a cripple should know his place. Go back and wear your diapers; don't make a fool of yourself here.”

“…”

The crowd's merciless taunts broke Liu Zhi's heart to the extreme.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he was on the verge of crying.

“Move! Everyone, move aside!”

Just then, Murong Qiuya rushed over, pushing through the crowd, and ran to Liu Zhi's side.

“Isn't that Campus Belle Qiuyue?”

“Murong Qiuya is not only the new student Campus Belle but also the Murong Family's Young Miss. How could she know this cripple?”

While everyone was surprised, Murong Qiuya actually rushed over and hugged Liu Zhi.

She touched Liu Zhi's leg and sobbed, “What… what happened to your leg?”

Liu Zhi's expression was pained, “Xiaoya, don't mind me. You should leave quickly. I don't want to drag you down and be laughed at too.”

Everyone around was already stunned.

A hug?

Xiaoya?

What the hell?

Could it be… this kid is Murong Qiuya's boyfriend!?

In an instant, furious jealousy erupted in the eyes of everyone around.

“Damn it! Where the hell am I worse than this kid? How could Young Miss Murong take a liking to someone like this?”

“Why does a cripple deserve Young Miss Murong's love?”

“Ah!!! Qiuyue is my goddess; the hatred of having one's wife stolen is irreconcilable!”

“A poor boy with a goddess, this is completely mismatched!”

Everyone was discussing animatedly.

As the saying goes, 'newborn calves are not afraid of tigers'; these newly admitted students had no intention of suppressing their inner thoughts.

Liu Zhi's words immediately made Murong Qiuya understand the situation.

She gently touched Liu Zhi's leg and sobbed, “Your leg was injured in the Dimensional Trial Grounds, wasn't it?”

“Don't be afraid, I can find a doctor for you. I can find the best doctor in all of City 39 for you. I will definitely be able to cure your leg! Definitely!”

Liu Zhi shook his head frantically, pushed Murong Qiuya away, and roared, “Go! I told you to go, go!”