PBSE 03

Chapter 3 – The Choice

Author: Wei Yi Yong Heng 

He secretly glanced at the people around him and found that everyone from the Hammerstone Tribe in the great hall looked rather grim. On one hand, it was about the tribe’s honor and disgrace; on the other, about the generous compensation being offered. Which should they choose?

No matter which choice they made, it didn’t seem like it was up to him to decide. Though he had only been here for two months, he had more or less come to understand the rules of this world — the strong were respected above all.

As the young chieftain, he couldn’t act like the good-for-nothing playboys from his previous world. Unless he had enough strength, he had to be careful — this matter concerned the tribe’s reputation. The only one who could decide was his “cheap” old man, Qin Lin.

“Your reason,” Qin Lin said expressionlessly, as if none of this mattered to him.

This made Qin Mo, standing to the side, break into a cold sweat. Reason? What reason is needed? Your son is a useless cripple, while she’s a prodigy favored by the heavens. How could she possibly marry him?

Of course, those words could only stay buried in his heart; his face remained calm.

No one else spoke. Lin Yue swept her gaze across the room before letting it rest on Qin Mo. She looked at him deeply, then bowed slightly to Qin Lin and said coldly,
“Forgive my bluntness, but he is a worthless waste. He is not worthy of me.”

A buzzing silence followed — the entire great hall erupted with shock and anger. Everyone from the Hammerstone Tribe glared at Lin Yue with fury. Sure, Qin Mo was indeed a cripple, but did she really have to humiliate him so openly?

Yet, they could do nothing but watch her. Such was this world — the strong dominated the weak. Even the tribe itself would not willingly let a genius girl marry a useless man.

In the end, all that anger and frustration was directed toward Qin Mo.

This was deliberate. Qin Mo was sure of it — his “cheap old man” had done this on purpose. He couldn’t believe Qin Lin would ask such a stupid question just to set him up for embarrassment.

If someone wanted to refuse, they could just say no. Asking for a “reason” was practically inviting a slap to the face.

But Qin Mo couldn’t figure out why his old man would do this intentionally. Still, Lin Yue’s words struck a chord in his heart.

Ever since discovering he couldn’t cultivate, Qin Mo had kept a calm face, but deep inside he had been depressed. The only reason he could still stand here without breaking down was that he viewed this world as an outsider — detached and uninvolved.

If it doesn’t concern me, why should I care?

But Lin Yue’s words lit the fuse of his frustration. Combined with his father’s deliberate provocation, his anger burned hotter.

Just when everyone was waiting for the chieftain to speak, Qin Lin merely said, “Oh.”

Then he turned slowly toward Qin Mo and asked,
“What do you think?”

“Me?” Qin Mo froze, stunned. He hadn’t expected the question to be directed at him.

He even turned around, wondering if his father was speaking to the elder behind him. When he saw everyone’s equally puzzled faces, he pointed at himself and asked again,
“You mean… me?”

“Whose business is it, if not yours?” Qin Lin said flatly.

But within those calm words lay a deeper meaning. The elders who had been about to speak fell silent. Even Lin Yue and the representatives from the Skyhawk Tribe felt a wave of pressure — powerful and domineering.

Qin Mo understood the hidden message: If you don’t agree, then the Hammerstone Tribe won’t agree either.

It was so simple and so direct that Qin Mo almost felt guilty for thinking ill of his father earlier — though something still felt off.

As everyone’s eyes turned toward him, Qin Mo fell silent. He suddenly realized his father was being ruthless.

This decision shouldn’t have been his to make — not for someone already labeled a cripple. But now, Qin Lin had forced the choice upon him. Whatever he said would represent the entire tribe.

Whether he refused or accepted, both paths led to danger.

Refuse the Skyhawk Tribe’s withdrawal, and the tribe would preserve its dignity — but it would enrage the Skyhawk Tribe and destroy any chance of ever cultivating again. That was as good as a death sentence.

Accept the annulment, however, and he would bring eternal shame to the tribe, becoming a disgrace even as the young chieftain. He might even be expelled, left to die in this world ruled by beasts and the strong.

Qin Mo looked up at Qin Lin, whose face remained emotionless. But Qin Mo could no longer stay calm; fear crept into his heart.

In his previous life, he had been a spoiled rich kid — not wealthy, but comfortable. No worries about food or shelter, and when trouble came, there were always kind parents to cover for him.

But in this world, though he was called “young chieftain,” he was nothing but a cripple. And the “sky” above him — his father — didn’t seem all that reliable.

In his anger and humiliation, Qin Mo did not cry or plead like an ordinary playboy might. Instead, he raised his head and suddenly smiled.

The two groups of people in the hall were both confused.

“Between heaven and earth, order and morality must be preserved…” Qin Mo spoke a long line of meaningless formalities, then took a deep breath and declared resolutely,
“I refuse!”

Those three simple words seemed to drain all the strength from his body. But he refused to bow his head. If rejecting meant death, and accepting meant death too — then better to die standing tall.

So what if you’re a heavenly prodigy? So what if your compensation is tempting? I, Qin Mo, refuse your annulment — what can you do about it?

According to the marriage oath of this world, as long as he lived, she could not marry another. If she dared, she would be condemned by heaven itself.

Those three words brought complete silence to the hall. Everyone stared at Qin Mo in disbelief. They all knew how much courage it took for him to say them, knowing full well that the Skyhawk Tribe might now stop at nothing to kill him.

Qin Yu looked at Qin Mo, and for the first time, a flicker of respect arose in his heart. Though Qin Mo was a cripple, he had fulfilled his duty as young chieftain — refusing to let the tribe be shamed.

But that respect went no further. In Qin Yu’s eyes, Qin Mo was still a useless man. After all, as young chieftain, this was what he should do.

“Brother Qin Mo, that was awesome!” came a childish voice — the chubby little boy, the only one bold enough to cheer.

In truth, most people thought as Qin Yu did: Qin Mo had only done what was expected. Had he chosen otherwise, he would have been spat upon.

The human race can be slain but never humiliated; honor is our life.
This was the creed of the Hammerstone Tribe — and of all humankind.

“You… you… how dare you refuse me?” Lin Yue’s beautiful face twisted with fury, for the first time losing its composure.

The pride and arrogance on her face turned into naked rage.

“Hmph! Ignorant fool!” roared Ma Wenfeng, the Skyhawk Tribe’s Grand Elder, as he slammed the table and stood up. A wave of powerful aura exploded from him.

Qin Mo instantly felt as though a mountain had been dropped onto him — his chest tight, almost spitting blood.

“Presumptuous.”

Qin Lin’s calm but chilling voice followed. A majestic force enveloped Qin Mo, shielding him from the crushing pressure.

Ma Wenfeng’s face changed immediately. He gasped several times to dispel the backlash before glaring at Qin Lin in shock.
“Peak of the Second Stage of Head-Infusion Realm!”