In front of the Su Manor's massive, permanently opened entrance gate, Zhuo Riyan stepped inside without slowing down.
The two guards stationed at the gate barely reacted. They had already heard rumors about what happened earlier in the Second Pillar Pavilion, and neither of them was stupid enough to provoke him now. Zhuo Riyan passed between them calmly, his posture relaxed, eyes lowered as he casually flipped through the technique manuals he had just bought.
Thunder Fury Palm… Qi Sword…
His lips curved slightly. Not bad. At least now I won't look like a fucking beggar in a fight.
He continued walking along the stone path leading deeper into the manor, heading toward the Rain Appreciating Pavilion, when footsteps suddenly approached from both sides.
Two figures stepped into his path.
Zhuo Riyan stopped.
Several meters ahead stood two young men, blocking the road with deliberate arrogance.
The one on the left wore spotless white robes. A refined hand fan rested casually in his palm, opening and closing with a soft snap. His smile was elegant, but his eyes carried obvious contempt.
"Well, well," the man said lightly, fanning himself. "Looks like we have someone here who caused quite a bit of trouble in Aunt Qingqing's pavilion."
Zhuo Riyan slowly raised his head.
The moment he saw their faces, recognition flashed through his eyes.
Oh. So the fucking dogs finally showed up.
The man holding the fan was Su Kim, the eldest son of Su Wen—the eldest son of Su Hangan's second brother. Beside him stood his younger brother, Su Man, arms folded across his chest, expression cold and expectant.
Zhuo Riyan's gaze moved from one to the other, calm but sharp.
"If you both have nothing important to say," Zhuo Riyan replied flatly, "then I'm leaving."
He stepped forward, intending to walk past Su Kim.
Snap.
The hand fan flicked open and stopped directly in front of Zhuo Riyan's chest, blocking his path.
Su Kim's smile widened.
"My father told me to ask you something," he said smoothly. "Why did you cause trouble when Uncle Luoling wasn't even here?"
Su Man remained silent, watching closely, his eyes fixed on Zhuo Riyan as if waiting to see him lower his head.
Zhuo Riyan stopped completely.
He lifted his eyes and met Su Kim's gaze.
The air around him subtly shifted.
"Then tell your father this," Zhuo Riyan said coldly. "Even if Uncle Luoling was there, they still couldn't stop me."
In the next instant, a wave of spiritual pressure exploded outward from Zhuo Riyan's body.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't flashy.
It was heavy.
Su Kim's smile froze.
Su Man's expression twisted instantly.
Their bodies felt as if invisible mountains had slammed down on their shoulders. Their legs trembled violently before both of them were forced down onto one knee, stone cracking faintly beneath their feet.
Their faces paled.
What the fuck—?!
Eighth Level of Beast Veins Stage… and yet—
Zhuo Riyan didn't even spare them another glance.
He stepped past the frozen hand fan, walked straight between them, and continued toward the Rain Appreciating Pavilion as if nothing had happened.
Behind him, Su Kim and Su Man remained kneeling, teeth clenched, sweat dripping down their temples, humiliation burning in their chests.
Zhuo Riyan's thoughts were calm, almost dismissive.
The competition is tomorrow.
How the fuck are they planning to win against me when they're this weak?
Only Eighth Level of Beast Veins Stage… pathetic.
Outside the Grand Pavilion, Su Zin stood silently for a long moment.
The heavy wooden doors in front of him were carved with ancient cloud patterns, symbols of authority that had ruled the Su Manor for generations. His expression was conflicted, brows faintly furrowed, as fragments of what had happened in the Second Pillar Pavilion replayed in his mind.
That punch… that fucking arm…
That wasn't something a crippled Beast Veins cultivator should possess.
Su Zin exhaled slowly, forcibly shaking off the unnecessary thoughts. No matter how strange it was, facts had to be reported as facts. Nothing more, nothing less.
He stepped forward and knocked on the door.
A calm but authoritative voice sounded from inside. "Come in."
Su Zin pushed the door open and entered the leader's office.
The room was spacious and solemn. Incense burned faintly in the corners, and sunlight streamed in through the tall windows. Su Hangan sat behind a large wooden desk, his hands resting on the armrests of his chair, his posture straight and imposing.
Su Zin walked forward, stopped in front of the table, and bowed respectfully.
"Master, I settled everything. But…"
Su Hangan's eyes narrowed slightly. He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping once against the armrest.
"But what?" he asked, his tone steady yet sharp. "Some guards reported that they sensed violent qi near the Second Pillar Pavilion. They also saw Riyan'er there. What happened?"
Su Zin hesitated for half a breath, then spoke truthfully.
"Master… Zhuo Riyan has already recovered his cultivation."
Su Hangan's fingers stopped tapping.
For the first time, clear surprise flashed across his face.
"Recovered?" he repeated. "How?"
"I don't know," Su Zin replied, sweat forming faintly on his forehead. "But he also has a new lifebound beast. I suspect he performed a Soul Contract with that beast after his cultivation recovered."
Su Hangan stared at him for a long moment, then asked slowly,
"Did you find out how he recovered his cultivation?"
Su Zin shook his head.
"No, Master. Not yet. But I will investigate—"
"No." Su Hangan interrupted immediately.
Su Zin froze.
Su Hangan leaned back, his gaze drifting briefly toward the ceiling, deep in thought.
"Do not investigate him," he said calmly. "If he recovered on his own, then prying into it will only create unnecessary conflict."
He paused, then continued,
"The guards also reported sensing extremely violent qi fluctuations. Explain."
Su Zin nodded and began recounting everything in detail, his voice steady and precise.
"Master, Zhuo Riyan accused Miss Qingqing of attempting to harm his mother by ordering a servant to clean the Rain Appreciating Pavilion. That servant verbally insulted Madam Su Jing and was later killed by Zhuo Riyan."
Su Hangan's eyes darkened slightly but he said nothing.
Su Zin continued,
"I stopped further escalation. After everything was settled, I personally checked the records."
He took a breath.
"The servant who was present in the Rain Appreciating Pavilion… was never assigned to that pavilion in the first place."
Su Hangan's eyes sharpened.
"So," Su Zin concluded carefully, "it is highly likely that Zhuo Riyan was telling the truth."
Silence filled the room.
Su Hangan slowly closed his eyes, fingers interlocking in front of him. His expression remained calm, but a dangerous depth brewed beneath it.
"So Qingqing finally made her move," he said quietly.
Su Zin did not respond.
After a long moment, Su Hangan opened his eyes again, his gaze cold and decisive.
"Do nothing further," he said. "Let this matter end here."
Su Zin bowed deeply.
"Yes, Master."
As he turned to leave, Su Hangan added in a low voice,
"And keep an eye on Riyan'er… not to restrain him, but to understand him."
Su Zin paused for a fraction of a second, then nodded.
"Yes, Master."
The doors of the Grand Pavilion closed softly behind him, leaving Su Hangan alone with his thoughts.