"Hey, still putting on that genius act with me? Let me tell you, you’re nothing but trash now. You’d better stay away from Grace Turner, or else, even if Grace Turner tries to protect you, I’ll still break both your legs."

"Just you?" William Carter smiled calmly. "If I remember correctly, someone was pestering little Xue’er a few days ago and accidentally got a few ribs broken. You sure recovered fast…"

"Shut up!" Samuel Carter had wanted to disgust William Carter, but was instead outmaneuvered, making him feel annoyed. "You’re a useless loser without your martial soul! Not just a loser, but a coward who only knows how to hide behind women!"

William Carter, thinking about his training and not wanting to waste words with Samuel Carter, simply flashed a smug grin in return. "Heh, you’re right. I am a coward, and I just love having little Wanxue protect me. If you’ve got what it takes, why don’t you try standing behind her too?"

Samuel Carter looked at William Carter’s face, wearing that provocative ‘come hit me if you dare’ smile, and clenched his fists, ready to make a move. "Without your martial soul, all you’ve got left is your mouth. Deep down, you’re already scared to death, aren’t you? Stop pretending to be tough in front of me!"

"Scared?" William Carter rolled his eyes at Samuel Carter, a rebellious glint in his gaze. "Why would I be scared of an idiot like you? Even with just my mouth, I can make you so mad you lose your temper. You’re not even as good as trash!"

"Looking for death!" Samuel Carter gritted his teeth, and in that instant, his fist showed signs of swinging at William Carter.

But just then, a light yet angry voice suddenly called out from not far away: "Who are you saying is looking for death? Are you itching for a beating again?"

Next, a girl dressed in white, as ethereal as a fairy, appeared where the voice had come from.

Grace Turner! She was a girl so beautiful she could take your breath away. Wherever she appeared, she instantly drew everyone’s attention.

The pride on Samuel Carter’s face instantly turned to fear. Watching the girl walk over, he cursed inwardly, "Not good," as the spot where she’d beaten him last time started to ache again.

"William Carter! If you’ve got guts, just let a woman protect you every day." Samuel Carter threw out this line and quickly left with his people.

William Carter grinned at Samuel Carter. "I’m just afraid if I do that, you’ll die of jealousy…"

Hearing this, Samuel Carter stumbled as he walked, nearly falling to the ground.

Grace Turner walked up to William Carter, looking at his soaked clothes, covered in mud from his fall, and felt a pang of sadness.

With his talent, if his martial soul hadn’t been taken, entering the Xuanming Sect and becoming an inner disciple would have been a certainty.

But fate was so cruel, letting someone born into a branch of the The Carter Family! Overnight, he fell from genius to what others now saw as trash.

William Carter saw the tears welling up in Grace Turner’s eyes and gave a wry smile. He’d actually fallen to the point of being pitied by this little girl.

"Who bullied you? Look at your red eyes." William Carter reached out and tapped Grace Turner’s nose. "I’ll go get revenge for you."

Grace Turner scrunched her nose, pouted adorably, and said, "Who dares bully me? If I don’t bully others, they should count themselves lucky! I came to see you, otherwise, if you got washed away by the waterfall, where would I find such a good big brother?"

Her face was full of happiness.

Four years ago, she was still a snot-nosed little girl.

The older boys not only didn’t like her, they all bullied her.

Only William Carter, ignoring the others’ ridicule, became her best friend.

From genius to trash, William Carter never said anything, but she knew he must be suffering inside.

William Carter smoothed her hair. "Little girl, I can handle a little waterfall like this. Let’s go back!"

"Mm!"

Grace Turner knew William Carter was proud by nature. If she showed too much of a protective attitude, it would only hurt his self-esteem, so she quickly nodded and walked home with him.

After the two parted, Grace Turner didn’t leave. Instead, she clenched her fists at William Carter’s back. "William Carter gege, I will definitely help you get your martial soul back!"

"Little girl, with your current ability, you can’t help him get his martial soul back."

An elderly man with white hair appeared silently behind Grace Turner and said kindly, "Have you thought it over? Only by accepting my proposal do you have a chance to help him…"

"I… I…" Grace Turner hesitated, her eyes full of uncertainty. "Uncle Foster, can you give me a little more time to think?"

"Sigh! Alright!" George Foster said with a sigh. "Coming with me is your best choice. If that boy really has what it takes, he’ll have great prospects in the future and can still come find you…"

William Carter walked into the courtyard, curiously looking at the people gathered there. Why had all the family members suddenly assembled in the main courtyard square? Had something big happened?

The family head, Charles Carter, who rarely showed himself, was pointing at a painting spread out beside him, saying something to everyone.