Chapter Seven: Awe (Please keep reading!)

“Su Ye, you damned little bastard, how dare you—!” Madame Hua’s voice was shrill as a banshee’s wail; the moment she saw him emerge from Rong’an Hall, she immediately unleashed her rage.

In her youth, her looks could only be described as plain, but now, entering middle age and worn down by years of frustration and bitterness, her once modest features had become sharp and mean.

Su Ye’s gaze swept lightly over Madame Hua. The original mother of this body had died quickly, largely because of Madame Hua’s handiwork. Now Su Ren’s family had seized the Lin family’s assets, imprisoning the true heir in a dilapidated courtyard, while Madame Hua still acted as if she were the aggrieved party—utterly revolting.

A cold smile appeared on Su Ye’s face. The original body had inherited all the advantages of Su Ren and Lady Lin; when timid, those features had not stood out, but now, under Su Ye’s control, his striking beauty was revealed in full.

He laughed coolly, and in his hand, the long whip flicked up like a spirit snake. As his laughter faded, the whip cracked through the air with a resounding snap.

The whip’s shadow, swift as a serpent, lashed fiercely toward Madame Hua’s face.

“Are you all dead? Why aren’t you stopping him?” Madame Hua shouted furiously, her face twisted in a grotesque smile, showing no fear at all.

Suddenly, two thin, middle-aged men appeared behind her, like shadows. One blocked the whip’s strike for her, while the other drew a transparent, flexible sword and lunged at Su Ye.

These two men were martial artists specially hired by Su Ming to protect Madame Hua. For Su Ming to value them, their skills were certainly exceptional, and they surpassed Su Ming in hand-to-hand combat.

Su Ye was not using his own body now; the original one had never been trained. Though relying on experience from his previous life, he could only contend with the two men for a short while before inevitably being defeated.

“All of you, attack together! Capture this rebellious child—dead or alive!” Su Ren shouted, his face bloated with rage. Instead of stopping Madame Hua, he ordered his own guards to join the assault.

Su Ren’s guards were also expert martial artists, no weaker than Madame Hua’s men, and they numbered many.

Once they moved, Su Ye was instantly surrounded by both groups, their attacks vicious and merciless.

With Su Ren’s orders to disregard life or death, they struck without restraint, aiming for Su Ye’s vital points, eager to kill him and earn favor in front of Su Ren and Madame Hua.

---

“Su Ye, you wretched brat, today you will surely die!” Su Jiao, watching Su Ye beset by guards, was full of excitement, her eyes gleaming.

Her face was wrapped in thick bandages, giving her a ludicrous appearance.

Many Lin household maids and servants were gathered nearby, gazing with pitiful eyes at Su Ye trapped at the center. Many knew his story.

Aside from those who sought to curry favor with the family heads, most felt deep sympathy for Su Ye.

Su Ye sighed softly, discarded the whip, and began to channel the Yin-Yang Five Thunder method. Spiritual energy rushed to his fingertips, and using his finger as a pen, he quickly drew a rune.

Energy intertwined into crimson sigils—a low-grade Thunderfire Talisman.

The talisman swiftly condensed, and with a flick of his palm, it shot toward the guards like lightning.

With a thunderous boom, the talisman exploded, unleashing a torrent of thunderfire, like serpents of flame burrowing into the guards’ bodies.

The force was not overwhelming, but its quality was extraordinary.

These guards were mere mortal experts; faced with the power of thunderfire—an immortal’s art—they had no means to resist.

Those struck staggered back, terror in their eyes as they looked at Su Ye, unable to muster the will to fight.

“Spare us, Immortal! We didn’t recognize your presence; please don’t blame us!”

...

The guards withdrew, staring at the youth who stood there, exuding an icy aura, like an immortal descending from the cold moon.

Recalling the explosion of red fire, they could no longer view Su Ye as an ordinary boy.

All were from the martial world, and knew how terrifying an immortal’s art could be. They were mere mortals, utterly outmatched.

---

“Are you all mad? What immortal? He’s just a bastard! Kill him, now!” Madame Hua screamed, furious and frightened at the sight of the crimson explosion.

She couldn’t fathom how Su Ye, who had never left that courtyard, could possess such power. Her son had said Su Ye was doomed, yet here he was unharmed.

So many questions plagued her mind, but she had to ensure the guards killed Su Ye. With their history, he would never spare her otherwise.

“Rise, all of you!”

Su Ye’s gaze landed on the clamoring Madame Hua. He spoke softly, “Bind Su Ren and the other two for me.”

“You ungrateful child, how dare you treat me this way!” Su Ren shouted, glaring in fury.

But Su Ye spared him not a glance, watching the guards for their response.

He had only used the Thunderfire Talisman to intimidate them—their skills were formidable. If they fought him to the end, he might not prevail.

The guards exchanged uncertain glances. They could hold back from attacking Su Ye, but to turn against Su Ren and the others—that gave them pause.

If only Su Ren and the other two were involved, perhaps it would be easier, but the Su family also had Su Ming, a cultivator. Though Su Ming was steeped in sinister energy and seemed more a demonic practitioner, he was still far beyond what ordinary mortals could handle.

Su Ye sighed, “I won’t make things difficult for you. Just keep Su Ren and the others under watch for now.”

He understood their concerns; sparing Su Ren and his companions was also to await Su Ming’s return, so he could deal with master and disciple together.

The guards did not object to this order, and soon had Su Ren and the other two confined in Rong’an Hall.

“Still too weak…” Su Ye murmured to himself. After dealing with the three, he returned alone to the courtyard where he had resided.