…
"What sister? Your sister? Fuck your sister."
Qin Yuan kicked Su Qing again, hard, and didn't even bother hiding his disgust.
This guy seriously had no brain. He wasn't the same Qin Yuan anymore. He didn't care about Su Mengyao. And yet, here Su Qing was, still playing the same old card like it was going to save him.
He deserved every beating.
Su Qing groaned, curled up on the ground. His face was already a mess. Blood, dirt, swollen cheeks—he didn't even look human anymore.
"Damn…" someone muttered from the crowd. "He's getting wrecked."
"Good," another replied. "Bout time someone shut that guy up."
"The Holy Son's finally acting like one."
…
Qin Yuan glanced at the law enforcement elder still standing off to the side.
"Why are you just standing there? Take him."
The elder blinked, like he just woke up.
"Ah—yes, Lord Holy Son."
But deep down, the elder hesitated.
Qin Yuan had always been soft with the Su family. In the past, he treated Su Qing more like a young master than a pest. The way things used to be… punishing Su Qing would've been suicide.
He'd honestly thought Qin Yuan was bluffing earlier.
But now? Now the tone in his voice, the way he didn't even look twice—it was real.
The Su family wasn't safe anymore.
Not under him.
And that realization? It scared the hell out of him.
Still, orders were orders. The law enforcement disciples moved forward.
"Su Qing's done for," someone whispered.
"He's not coming back from the Black Demon Cave. You know what they say about that place."
"Coming back? He'll be lucky to survive a week."
…
"No! I'm not going there!"
Su Qing started thrashing the moment they reached for him. His body was weak, but fear gave him energy.
He turned to Qin Yuan with wild eyes, spitting out whatever came to mind
But before he could say anything too reckless—
Slap!
Qin Yuan raised a hand and hit him with a wave of spiritual pressure. Not enough to kill him—just enough to shut him up.
The entire Law Enforcement Hall paused.
Qin Yuan looked at them like a teacher scolding rowdy kids. "He's just noisy. Hit him again if he talks."
"…Yes, sir."
They nodded quickly.
The lead elder swallowed nervously. He had a feeling this was the first time he was meeting the real Qin Yuan.
…
Then, just as things started to calm down, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"What's going on here?"
A group entered the courtyard, and at the front was a woman with a cold, clear voice and an even colder expression.
Tall. Beautiful. Untouchable.
Su Mengyao.
Right behind her was a man in black robes—quiet, sharp-eyed, with that self-righteous look that made people want to slap him on sight.
Lin Yun.
The so-called "hero" of this story.
And following them? Disciples from the Holy Land… and a few from the Su family.
Su Mengyao's eyes scanned the crowd. When she spotted the figure lying on the ground looking completely bruised and beatdown, her face slightly changed.
"Qin Yuan," she said sharply. "What are you doing? Where's my brother?"
Everyone in the crowd went quiet.
Some started whispering.
"Su Mengyao… damn, she came in with the heat."
"She really just called out the Holy Son like that?"
"Well, she's always been bold. Ice-cold beauty and all."
"Yeah, yeah. Cold as jade, pure as snow. And somehow still dumb as bricks."
One disciple tried to hide his laughter.
No one said it aloud, but plenty of people were thinking the same thing.
Su Mengyao had always acted like she was untouchable. Like everyone had to orbit around her. And thanks to the old Qin Yuan… she'd gotten away with it.
Not anymore.
"Qing'er…?" she finally recognized the bloody figure.
Su Qing looked up weakly. "Sister… it's me…"
She froze. That was definitely his voice. Even with a face like that.
Her anger came instantly. "Qin Yuan! What the hell did you do?!"
"Who beat him like this?!"
She glared at him, acting like she was the sect master here.
The Su family disciples jumped in behind her.
"Why aren't you saying anything?! Fairy Su is speaking to you!"
"Just because you're the Holy Son doesn't mean you can act like a tyrant!"
Same energy as Su Qing earlier. All bark, no sense.
Qin Yuan didn't even blink.
He locked onto the loudest one. "Say that again."
The guy hesitated.
Then, like an idiot, he said it anyway. "I said—"
Slap.
Qin Yuan grabbed him by the collar and slapped the daylights out of him. Not once. Not twice. Just enough to make him rethink everything.
Then tossed him aside.
Another guy tried to say something—
Boom.
Qin Yuan beat him down too. No hesitation.
The courtyard went dead quiet.
Even Su Mengyao's face went pale.
The Qin Yuan in front of her wasn't the lovesick puppy she remembered.
He looked calm, composed, and dangerous. Like someone who didn't care who you were, only whether you stepped out of line.
The rest of the Su family shut up fast. No more shouting. Just wide eyes and clenched jaws.
Qin Yuan dusted off his sleeves.
"Alright. That's better."
He dragged a chair into the center of the courtyard, sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and stared at Su Mengyao.
"I like polite people," he said simply. "You should try it."
She opened her mouth. Closed it.
Then she snapped.
"Are you insane, Qin Yuan?! You think this is going to make me give in? This little performance? It won't work!"
"You can't give me what I want!"
The crowd exchanged glances.
"Wait… does she think this is about her?"
"Oh my god, she really does."
"Haha she thinks Qin Yuan just slapped her entire family to win her over. I can't—"
Qin Yuan stood up.
Still calm. Still silent.
He was used to this by now. In the original timeline, Su Mengyao was always like this—convinced the world revolved around her. She wasn't smart. Just entitled
"Qin Yuan!" she barked. "Answer me!"
People around the courtyard held their breath.
Back then, whenever Su Mengyao shouted at him, Qin Yuan would instantly fall back into simp mode.
Would he do it again?
Even Su Mengyao seemed to expect it. She stood tall, waiting for him to crack. Waiting for him to grovel, apologize, maybe beg her to forgive him.
But all she got was a raised hand.
Smack.
Qin Yuan slapped her clean across the face.
She stumbled back, eyes wide, completely stunned.
For a second, the whole world went quiet.
Su Mengyao touched her cheek. Her fingers trembled.
He hit me?
Her pupils shrank. She looked at Qin Yuan like she was seeing him for the first time.
He looked back at her cold and expressionless.
His black robes drifted slightly in the wind. His eyes, once soft, were now sharp and distant.
At this moment Su Mingyao really felt she didn't know who this man infront of her was.
He's nothing like the Qin Yuan who always flattered her and said nice things about her.
Is he the same?
…