Su Zin turned fully toward Zhuo Riyan, his lips parting as if to speak, yet no words came out immediately. His eyes were still filled with disbelief, the scene from moments ago replaying itself in his mind again and again.
When I was talking… he struck with his left arm. That arm wrapped in white cloth. The punch didn't even touch her directly—a condensed qi beam erupted from it and erased her head completely. No blood mist, no scream's, just… gone.
His fingers tightened slightly.
This boy was no longer the crippled trash everyone thought he was.
Zhuo Riyan stood there breathing heavily, sweat sliding down his temples and dripping from his chin. His chest rose and fell as exhaustion gnawed at his bones. Inside, his thoughts were turbulent. Fuck… I didn't want to expose this arm. Not now. But against him, I had no other choice. Fighting Su Zin head-on is fucking suicide.
Beside him, Little Cat sat casually, scratching his neck with his hind leg as if nothing earth-shattering had just happened, his tail flicking lazily.
Zhuo Riyan's gaze slowly shifted.
From Su Zin…
To Su Qingqing.
The moment his eyes landed on her, a chilling pressure spread through the courtyard. His pupils darkened, and a faint murderous intent seeped out like poisonous fog. Even drained, even exhausted, he wanted them to understand one thing clearly.
You don't get to trample my mother and walk away clean.
Su Zin noticed instantly.
His expression tightened. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist and tossed the servant's headless corpse aside like garbage. In the same breath, his figure blurred—vanishing from where he stood and reappearing directly between Zhuo Riyan and Su Qingqing, blocking that deadly line of sight.
The ground cracked slightly beneath his feet from the sudden movement.
"Zhuo Riyan," Su Zin said sternly, his voice low and controlled. "You've done enough. Are you still trying to attack them?"
As he spoke, his spiritual energy surged subtly, his hand already prepared to tear open a void crack and summon his lifebound beast at any second.
Su Qingqing and Su Luejiao, who had been staring helplessly at the roof moments ago, finally realized Su Zin was now standing in front of them.
Relief and fear mixed violently in their expressions.
Relief that Su Zin was here.
Fear—because Zhuo Riyan was still alive, still standing, and still terrifying.
Zhuo Riyan stared at Su Zin for a long moment.
Then, unexpectedly, his gaze cooled.
He turned his body away from them, facing the exit of the Second Pillar Pavilion. His voice came out calm, eerily calm, stripped of rage yet filled with sharp contempt.
"I have no intention of harming them," he said slowly. "This time, Uncle."
He paused, then added flatly, "And I mean only this time. Because a bitch will always be a bitch—someone who snitches, schemes, and reaches for things she never fucking earned."
Su Qingqing's face stiffened, her nails digging into her palms.
Without another glance, Zhuo Riyan walked away.
Little Cat hopped after him, tail swaying, not even bothering to look back.
The courtyard remained silent long after they left.
Su Zin stood there, eyes narrowed, watching Zhuo Riyan's back disappear beyond the pavilion gate—his expression heavy, conflicted, and deeply unsettled.
This manor… is no longer big enough to contain him.
Inside the Rain Appreciating Pavilion, the door creaked softly as Zhuo Riyan stepped in.
He was smiling.
Not the playful kind—this was sharp, satisfied, the kind of smile that came after grinding someone into the dirt and making sure they remembered it. His shoulders finally relaxed, the tension from earlier battles slowly draining away.
But the moment his eyes landed on the room, his smile froze.
His mother, Su Jing, was sitting on the bed. Her posture was straight, but her face was pale, faint exhaustion clinging to her like a shadow. The pavilion itself looked… clean. Too clean. The floor was wiped, the table polished, the air faintly scented with fresh water.
Cleaner than when he had left dragging that fucking servant out.
Zhuo Riyan's heart sank.
He rushed forward without thinking, dropping to his knees in front of her bed and grabbing her hands tightly, his voice cracking with worry.
"Mother, are you all right?" he asked urgently. "Did you clean this? Why would you do that—"
Su Jing only smiled.
It was gentle, warm, the kind of smile that always made his chest ache. She lifted her hand and softly patted his head, fingers running through his hair like she had done since he was a child.
"I'm fine," she said calmly. "Sitting idle makes me dizzy. Moving a little helps."
Zhuo Riyan clenched his teeth, guilt burning in his chest.
At that moment, a small blur dropped from above.
Little Cat leapt down from Zhuo Riyan's shoulder, bounced onto the bed, and without hesitation crawled straight into Su Jing's lap. He curled up comfortably, tail flicking once before settling in like he owned the place.
Su Jing chuckled softly and began stroking his fur.
Zhuo Riyan stared at the scene, then suddenly remembered something crucial.
His father's words echoed in his mind.
Ask the beast. He knows.
He turned sharply toward Little Cat, irritation clear on his face.
"Hey, bastard," he said bluntly. "Do you know what kind of illness my mother has or not?"
Little Cat hadn't even closed his eyes yet.
Before he could respond, Su Jing lightly smacked Zhuo Riyan on the head with the back of her hand.
"Watch your mouth," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "He is your lifebound beast. Show some respect."
Zhuo Riyan winced and rubbed his head, but said nothing.
Little Cat opened one eye, glaring at Zhuo Riyan with annoyance.
"Of course I fucking know," he said irritably. "I knew the first time I sat on Mother's lap."
Zhuo Riyan's eyes widened.
"You know?" His voice sharpened with hope. "Then you know how to cure it?"
Little Cat adjusted himself comfortably, snuggling deeper into Su Jing's lap as she continued petting him.
"I'll say it once," he said lazily. "So burn it into that thick skull of yours."
Zhuo Riyan straightened instantly, his expression serious, all jokes gone.
"I'm listening," he said firmly.