Chapter 10 — The Most Despised Son Who Shocked the World

In the days after the accident, Vo Ky spent most of his free time at his younger brother's hospital bed. Nhat Pham gradually woke up after three days of coma, but his legs completely lost feeling and no matter how hard he tried, he could no longer move.

"Brother, can my leg... get better?" Nhat Pham asked, his voice trembling, his innocent eyes still not fully understanding the severity of the injury.

Vo Ky held his hand tightly, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible even though his heart was broken. "I will find every way to cure you. You can rest assured that you are recovering."

But those words of reassurance could not stop the bad-mouthed people in the family from spreading malicious rumors. Some people said that Nhat Pham was too weak, straying from the group on his own, that's why he got into trouble, placing all the responsibility on the innocent child. Some people even quipped that "the whole family of abandoned children is truly plagued with bad luck, from the older child to the disabled child".

Those rumors reached Ha Thu Nhan's ears, making her more depressed every day, but when they reached Vo Ky's ears, they only made his eyes colder and more determined. He did not respond to any insults, just silently remembered each name that had said harsh words, placing them in a corner of his mind, waiting for the day of judgment.

One evening, when Vo Ky brought porridge to his younger brother, he saw two young servants standing whispering right outside the hospital room door, thinking he hadn't arrived yet. "I heard that boy is now just lying around. From now on, no one will dare to marry a daughter to that family anymore." One person spoke, his voice filled with contempt. Vo Ky stood silently behind the corner of the wall, clutching the bowl of porridge in his hand so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but he still entered the room with a calm face as if nothing had happened, not wanting his younger brother to see his pain.

Every night he went to Tuyet Cot Nhai to practice, but the intensity was now far beyond what his three seniors had expected. Vo Ky voluntarily endured heavier beatings and harsher exercises, as if wanting to use the physical pain to overwhelm the mental pain tormenting him.

"Slow down, Wuji." Dry Bone Old Man had to repeatedly speak out to stop him when he saw him intentionally letting the blows exceed the usual safety threshold. "Excessive training will not help you get stronger quickly, but will only cause unnecessary damage to your body."

"I'm okay." Vo Ky replied, breathing heavily, sweat drenching the back of his shirt. "I need to be stronger, faster. I can't let something like that happen again."

Vong Ky Dao Truong looked at him, his eyes full of understanding and sadness. "I understand your pain and anger, but you must remember, true strength does not come from punishing yourself. Turn anger into motivation, not into shackles that bind yourself."

That advice made Vo Ky slow down a bit, but the fire of determination in his heart did not cool down, only transformed into an absolute concentration. He began to progress at an astonishing rate, completing the Hard Core stage faster than his three seniors had originally expected.

Along with training, Vo Ky also began to quietly learn about his younger brother's accident. He did not have the authority or status to investigate publicly, but as a handyman, he had an advantage that other noble disciples did not have: the ability to sneak into every corner of Tuong Phu Thanh without anyone noticing.

He began to pay attention to the assistant guide on that day's hunt - an outer sect disciple named Diem, who disappeared just as the Demon Bird attacked and then returned with a look of fake panic on his face. Vo Ky silently followed his movements for many days, remembering the times he secretly met with one of Khinh Vu's close subordinates in a hidden corner behind the food warehouse.

"Have you discovered any clues?" Senior Thiet Dien asked during a practice session, when he saw Vo Ky looking more thoughtful than usual.

"I suspect an outer sect disciple named Diem is directly involved, and he often meets with young master Khinh Vu's people." Wuji replied. "But I don't have any concrete evidence yet, just observations and speculations."

"Then you need someone who can investigate further without attracting attention." Senior Thiet Dien nodded, his eyes showing approval at his student's caution. "Don't rush to act without real evidence, otherwise you'll fall into Khinh Vu's own trap."

"I also asked people to investigate that disciple Diem." Dry Bone Old Man added, his voice lowered. "He comes from a poor family in the family, and must have been bribed with money or promises of status. This type of person is usually not absolutely loyal. If there is enough pressure or great enough interest, he will probably tell the truth."

"But we don't have the right to arrest or interrogate him." Vo Ky said, his voice a bit helpless. "With your current position, you don't even have the right to question an ordinary outer sect disciple."

Vo Ky nodded in agreement, even though his heart was still filled with an uncontrollable impatience. He knew clearly that if he wanted to publicly confront and hold Khinh Vu responsible, he needed more than personal suspicions — he needed irrefutable evidence, and he needed someone with enough status and reputation for that evidence to be listened to seriously.

That person, even though he didn't dare admit it to himself, was Duong Tuyet Y.

A few days later, when Tuyet Y visited and learned about Nhat Pham, she was silent for a long time before speaking, her voice full of indignation.

"This is clearly not a random accident." She said, her hands clenched into fists. "I will help you investigate this matter. My Duong Gia has its own information network, not dependent on Tuong Gia's system, and can find out the truth without fear of being discovered by Khinh Vu."

"I don't want to drag you into this dangerous matter." Vo Ky said, his eyes showing sincere concern.

"You didn't drag me in, I volunteered." Tuyet Y replied, her voice was determined and unshakable. "Your younger brother was innocent, cruelly harmed just because he was your younger brother. If I sit idly by and watch justice being trampled like that without doing anything, I will no longer be worthy of the title of Duong Family disciple."

Her determination made Vo Ky feel both warm and worried. He understands that, from this moment, Tuyet Y is no longer just a silent companion, but has officially become a part of the fight to regain justice for his family - a decision that will put her in no less danger than himself.

"Thank you." He spoke, his voice choked with emotion, his eyes following her steadfast face in the moonlight. "I will never forget this favor."

"You don't need to thank me." Tuyet Y smiled slightly, although her eyes still contained sadness because she felt sorry for Nhat Pham's situation. "Just promise me one thing: when the time comes, you won't bear it all alone. We will face Khinh Vu together."

Vo Ky looked into her steadfast eyes, nodded slightly, his heart filled with an unprecedented confidence. "I promise."

That night, when returning to Tuyet Cot Nhai, Vo Ky told the three seniors about Tuyet Y's decision. The three of them exchanged glances, each realizing in their hearts that the chess game was gradually entering a new stage, where it was not just Vo Ky alone confronting the forces of Tuong Khinh Vu, but the combination of Ma Cot's hidden power and the sharp intelligence of a swordsmanship genius from an allied family.

"That girl from the Duong family has a good heart and a sharp mind." Vong Ky Dao Truong commented, nodding with satisfaction. "But you also need to remember, once she gets involved in this, she will also become Khinh Vu's target if he finds out. You have to protect her no less than protecting your mother and younger brother."

"I understand." Vo Ky replied, his eyes determined. "I will not let anyone suffer any more harm because of me."

Senior Thiet Dien pondered for a moment, then spoke, his voice carrying a strategic calculation. "From now on, we will divide the work: the three of us continue to train your strength, and as for the evidence investigation, let Miss Duong family be in charge through her private network. The two things will be carried out in parallel, when both are ready, that will be the time for us to act."