The three stood frozen in place, staring at Qian Ye in shock.
He had actually struck Hu Liena — and then kicked Yan.
Hu Liena covered her burning cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief. For a moment she was speechless, then suddenly lifted her head, trembling with rage."You… you dare hit me?"
Qian Ye's gaze remained calm, detached. "Why wouldn't I dare?"
Hu Liena's eyes flared. "Do you even know who I am?"
Qian Ye's lips curved into a faint, icy smile. "Do you know who I am?"
He stepped closer, voice low and cutting."I am the adopted son of the Grand Elder. That makes me, by right, the younger brother of your master. Which means…" His crimson-tinged eyes narrowed. "I am your elder. Your uncle, to be precise. So tell me, when have you ever shown me the slightest respect?"
Hu Liena froze.
Qian Ye's tone grew colder, his words sharp as blades."Since your teacher refuses to discipline you, then I, as her elder, will do it for her."
A chill ran down their spines. Even the air seemed to darken.
"I don't know what game you're playing," Qian Ye continued, his gaze sweeping over Hu Liena and Yan, "but if you truly think you can bully me… then you're the ones mistaken."
For the first time, both Hu Liena and Yan felt something unexpected — fear.The child before them radiated a presence far beyond his years, calm yet suffocating.
Hu Liena clenched her fists, her face twisting with fury. "You… Qian Ye, how dare you—"
Smack!
Before she could finish, his hand flashed again.
A second slap, faster than the first, cracked through the air.
Hu Liena hadn't even seen him move.
Now, both her cheeks burned crimson, marked with clear handprints.
Qian Ye looked down at her coldly. "Still addressing me by name? This slap is for your disrespect."
That calm voice — soft but merciless — made even Yan hesitate.
At that moment, Xie Yue stepped forward, his fan snapping open as he moved to block Hu Liena."Enough. What exactly do you intend to do?"
Qian Ye's gaze flicked toward him. "What, do you want to make a move?"
He took a step closer, every word laced with steel."If you plan to strike, you'd better consider your place carefully. I may be adopted, but I am still the son of the Grand Elder — the brother of the Pope herself. If you dare lift a hand against me, are you prepared for the consequences?"
His voice dropped lower, colder."Or do you think the Grand Elder has no right to discipline a few insolent disciples of Spirit Hall?"
The weight of his words sank in like lead.
Xie Yue felt his heart tighten.It was true — Qian Ye's position eclipsed their own. If they attacked him, Qian Daoliu's wrath alone could crush their families, their futures… perhaps even Bibi Dong's protection would not be enough to save them.
He turned to Hu Liena and Yan, voice firm. "He's right. We can't touch him."
Hu Liena's face was streaked with tears of rage. "Brother, he hit me! You're just going to let him go?"
Yan's aura flared. "He hit Na'er — I'll kill him!"
But Xie Yue's tone turned sharp. "Enough! Do you both want to die? He's under the Grand Elder's protection. Use your heads!"
They fell silent, though their eyes still burned with anger.
Xie Yue turned back to Qian Ye, lowering his fan slightly. "I apologize for the offense. I hope we can let this matter end here."
He began to turn away — but Qian Ye's voice stopped him cold."Wait."
Xie Yue froze. "Is there… something else?"
Qian Ye looked at him, his expression unreadable."They showed no respect to their elder. Are you the same?"
A tense pause.
Then, with a strained smile, Xie Yue bowed slightly. "Uncle, we'll take our leave."
Satisfied, Qian Ye gave a faint nod and turned away.
Once they had gone, Hu Liena's fury erupted."Brother, why did you stop me? He's just a bastard — what gives him the right to act so arrogant?"
Yan snarled, "Exactly! That little brat— I could beat ten of him! And he wants me to call him 'uncle'? He's not worthy!"
Hu Liena's voice trembled with humiliation. "He slapped me in front of everyone! Are we just going to let this go?"
Xie Yue's face darkened. His usual calm was gone, replaced by cold resolve."We were careless," he said quietly. "That boy isn't ordinary. He's… too calm. Too composed for his age."
He glanced at them both. "If we'd struck first, the Grand Elder would've crushed us before we could even explain. But this isn't over. We'll find another way."
Yan frowned. "When?"
A faint smile curved Xie Yue's lips. "The Spirit Hall holds its Spirit Master Assessment every year. If Qian Ye has truly become a Spirit Master, he'll have to participate."
Hu Liena's eyes gleamed. "And then?"
"Then," Xie Yue said slowly, "we'll face him there. During the assessment, everything will appear… fair. If he's injured, or crippled, the High Priest can't interfere — and our teacher will defend us. Even he won't be able to do anything."
Hu Liena touched her swollen cheek, a cold smile spreading across her face."Good. Qian Ye, you'll pay for this. Tenfold."
Qian Ye, meanwhile, had returned to his residence.He neither knew nor cared what petty schemes they plotted.
Even if he did, he wouldn't have bothered.
Children playing at vengeance…
His goal was far greater, and far darker.
The Clear Sky Sect had slaughtered his village, his family, his past.
One day, he would make them suffer the same — to bury their proud lineage under fire and shadow, until not a single soul remained to bear the Tang name.
When I'm finished, Qian Ye thought coldly, the Clear Sky Sect will no longer exist.
As he stepped into his courtyard, he froze.
A man in blue stood waiting — tall, serene, hands clasped behind his back. Power radiated from him like a silent storm.
Qian Ye's eyes narrowed.
"Who…" he began, his tone steady. "…are you?"