Julia Grant's hand was still frozen in mid-air.
Her confident posture had crumbled, and now her expression twisted into one of humiliation and fury.
Growing up, the one criticism that haunted Julia most was that she couldn't cultivate martial arts. In a world that revered power, strength, and cultivation above all else, this shortcoming made her feel like an imposter in her own family. While others her age were mastering internal energy techniques, swordplay, or hand-to-hand combat, she had been confined to the sidelines—destined to manage a pharmaceutical company instead of inheriting the family's martial arts empire.
And yet... that didn't mean anyone had the right to mock her!
Leo's words had pierced her like a blade. The arrogance in his voice, the dismissiveness of his gaze—it dug up scars she had tried so hard to hide.
Julia's eyes reddened, her hands clenched into trembling fists, and her lips trembled with rage.
"You bastard! You're looking for death!!" she spat, barely able to hold herself back.
"Bastard?" Leo chuckled darkly as if he'd just heard a bad joke.
"You're calling me names now? My lady only wants this vase. Is that unreasonable, Miss Julia? Or are you simply too used to people giving in to you?"
With a calm and collected tone, he turned to Ryan. "Ryan, swipe the card. Let's wrap this up."
"Yes, Brother Leo!" Ryan responded swiftly, taking the vase from his hands.
He cast a glance at Julia Grant—whose face had flushed red with anger—and then back at Leo, who stood tall and unyielding. Admiration surged in Ryan's chest. No wonder he was Ava Carter's most trusted aide—this kind of authority, this fearlessness—it was the mark of a true powerhouse.
Julia, unable to believe her authority was being challenged so openly, stomped in fury. "You—you!"
She couldn't even form coherent words.
That's when Dr. Victor Hale decided it was time to make his move.
"Wait a minute," he said confidently, stepping forward with deliberate calmness.
His voice, though not loud, immediately caught everyone's attention.
All eyes turned to him.
Victor approached slowly, enjoying the limelight, then stood beside Julia, his arms folded behind his back. "There's no need for you to speak," he said gently to her. "I've got this."
Julia looked at him, uncertain. "Victor… are you sure?"
But he gave her a confident smile—one he thought was charming and reassuring.
For a moment, Julia felt reassured. Victor might be weird, sure—but her father had assured her this man was powerful. Strong enough to protect her, and maybe even cure her constitution.
She nodded and stepped back, trusting him to handle it.
Ryan's face tensed. He leaned in and whispered, "Brother Leo… this guy isn't simple. He's definitely in the Dengtang Realm."
Leo nodded casually and looked over at Victor with interest. So, this was the so-called 'miracle doctor'?
Victor puffed out his chest, completely misreading Leo's calm gaze as fear.
"I am Julia Grant's bodyguard," he began arrogantly. "And your lady wants this vase. But guess what? So does mine."
He smirked, eyes gleaming. "Let's keep it simple—you put the vase down, and I'll just cripple your limbs. For the rest of the boys with you, I'll just paralyze their lower halves."
It was an open threat. One made with full confidence.
After all, Victor Hale wasn't just anyone—he was known in the underworld as the 'King of Hell,' a master of poison and death techniques.
But before Ryan could react, Leo raised a hand and took a step forward.
He stood just ten centimeters from Victor's face, his expression relaxed but cold.
"Just a shabby bodyguard," Leo said slowly, "and you think you're qualified to speak here?"
Then—without warning—
SLAP!!
Leo's hand struck Victor across the face, sending a thunderous sound across the chamber.
Everyone froze.
Victor's head turned violently to the side. His eyes were wide. He didn't move. He couldn't.
He had been slapped.
Not just shouted at, not mocked—physically slapped in front of everyone.
He hadn't dodged. Because… he never imagined Leo would dare lay a hand on him.
After all, everyone else would hesitate before laying a finger on someone known as the "King of Hell." Right?
Apparently not.
Julia gasped. Her face turned pale.
Mr. Harris ducked behind the counter. "Oh no... it's really happening! This lunatic is fighting in my store!"
He quickly pressed a panic button beneath the counter.
Then, in Leo's mind, the system voice rang out:
> [Congratulations! Mission Complete: You have humiliated the Destined Son "Victor Hale."]
[Rewards: Taixuan Thirteen Needles + Xuan Iron Silver Needle Set received.]
Taixuan Thirteen Needles – legendary acupuncture technique capable of reversing death and healing to the bone.
Xuan Iron Silver Needles – rare weapons forged to enhance the Thirteen Needles' full potential.
Back in the present—
Victor slowly touched his cheek, the burning pain pulling him out of his shock.
And then—rage. Pure killing intent erupted from him.
"You… dare… hit me?" he growled, trembling with fury.
But the moment he raised his hand to strike—
SLAP!!
Leo struck his other cheek.
Victor stumbled again. Blood stained his lip.
Leo scoffed. "So what if I hit you? What are you going to do about it, you loser?"
Victor's breathing accelerated.
This was too much.
He shouted and lunged at Leo, swinging his fist toward him.
"Brother Leo!" Ryan shouted, but it was too late.
The entire room braced for a clash.
But—
"PUFF!"
Victor coughed up blood before the punch could land.
His fist stopped just inches from Leo's face.
His body suddenly went weak.
"What's wrong, trash?" Leo asked coolly. "Feel your true energy stuttering? Can't circulate anymore?"
Leo casually pushed the man's frozen arm away. "Blocked meridians. The Taixuan Thirteen Needles are already at work."
Then—SLAP!
Victor's face whipped sideways again.
"Keep yelling," Leo said mockingly.
SLAP!
"You…"
SLAP!
"You dare—"
SLAP!
"…!"
Blood dripped from Victor's mouth—splattering across Julia's cheek.
"AHH!!" she shrieked, recoiling in horror. "Gross! Get it off! GET IT OFF!"
She rubbed furiously but the blood had already stained her skin. She snapped.
"Victor, you useless fraud! You said you could protect me! You're nothing but garbage!"
Victor's mind was in chaos.
His meridians were blocked. His body refused to obey. His reputation—shattered.
And Julia?
She was just screaming from the sidelines like a clueless idiot.
Leo turned back toward the counter to pack up the vase, ready to leave.
But then—
"Everyone, please stop," came a composed voice from the entrance.
A tall, refined man entered the shop with an elegant smile.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"President!" Mr. Harris exclaimed, rushing forward.
"This is Mr. Damian Langford, founder of the Antique City Club," Ryan explained. "Rumor says he's connected to the Langford family in Westcrest. Even our family patriarch greets him respectfully."
Julia's eyes sparkled with hope. "Brother Damian!"
She looked at Leo and sneered. "You're done for now."
Damian Langford stood between Leo and Victor, who was coughing up blood.
"Little brother," he said with a graceful smile, "I'm friends with Victor. Would you mind kneeling, apologizing, and then taking the vase? That way, we can all move on peacefully."
Julia interjected with a gleam of vengeance: "No! I want his dantian destroyed! So he can never cultivate again!"
Damian chuckled. "Now, now. Be reasonable, Julia. Apologizing is enough. We don't need to cripple someone."
He turned back to Leo. "So, what do you say? For my sake?"
Though his smile stayed, his tone grew hard and commanding.
Even Mr. Harris whispered smugly, "Well, let's see how arrogant this guy is now…"
Ryan whispered, "Brother Leo… should I kneel for you?"
But—
Leo didn't waver.
He stared at Damian Langford with absolute disdain.
Then he said slowly:
"A failed dog cast out by his clan thinks he deserves 'face'? Face? What is face?"
"Why should my lady, Ava Carter, give face to you? Who are you?"
SLAP!!
A thunderous slap echoed.
Everyone stood frozen.
Damian Langford's head turned sideways, his cheek reddening with the mark.
His mind went blank.
> [You have humiliated key supporting character Damian Langford. Attribute +1.]
--