Su Manor was divided into eight pavilions, each reflecting status, bloodline, and authority.
At the center stood the Grand Pavilion, the largest and most imposing structure in the manor. It belonged exclusively to the Su Manor Leader, Su Hangan, and his second brother. No one else was permitted to reside there.
Second only to it was the Rain Appreciating Pavilion. It had once belonged to Su Hangan's wife, but after her passing, she had personally handed it over to Su Jing. Though Su Jing was weak and sickly, that pavilion remained a symbol of legitimacy and protection granted by the former matriarch herself.
Next came the Four Pillar Pavilions, arranged like sentinels around the inner grounds. These were reserved for the sons of Su Hangan and his second brother.
The First Pillar Pavilion housed Su Hangan's eldest son, Su Fenjen, along with his wife Su Xi and their daughter Su Mie.
The Second Pillar Pavilion belonged to Su Hangan's second son, Su Luoling, his wife Su Qingqing, and their son Su Luejiao.
The Third and Fourth Pillar Pavilions were occupied by the sons of Su Hangan's second brother and their respective wives.
The remaining two pavilions were designated for servants and guards.
The Seventh Pavilion, known as the Force Pavilion, housed the manor's guards as well as the cultivators who formed the main military strength of the Su Manor. These individuals were responsible for defense, enforcement, and responding to external threats.
The Eighth Pavilion was called the Servant Pavilion. All servants who attended to the daily operations of the Su Manor resided there, handling chores, maintenance, and personal service for the manor's residents.
At this moment, outside the Second Pillar Pavilion, Zhuo Riyan stood before a half-open wooden door, little cat perched quietly on his shoulder.
His expression was calm, almost relaxed, but the servant in his grip was anything but. Her hair was clenched tightly in his fist as he dragged her forward. Her nails scraped uselessly against the stone path as she cried out in pain.
Zhuo Riyan stepped inside the pavilion grounds, crossing the courtyard without slowing. Each step echoed with deliberate intent. After a few more steps, he stopped directly in front of the main house.
With a sharp movement, he lifted the servant higher by her hair.
"Ahhhh—!" she screamed, her face twisted in agony. "You brat, let me go or you're fucking dead!"
Zhuo Riyan ignored her completely. His gaze was fixed on the house entrance, a chill smile spreading across his face as he waited.
The screams finally drew attention.
The door burst open, and Su Qingqing rushed out, her face pale with shock and fury. Almost at the same time, Su Luejiao emerged from the back courtyard, sweat still clinging to him from his training, his eyes widening at the scene before him.
Su Qingqing froze when she saw her servant battered and hanging helplessly by her hair in Zhuo Riyan's grasp.
"You bastard!" she screamed, rage flooding her voice. "How dare you injure my servant!"
Zhuo Riyan finally shifted his gaze to her. He said nothing, only smiled faintly.
The servant, seeing her mistress, struggled harder, sobbing and cursing as pain wracked her body.
Then, without warning, Zhuo Riyan released his grip.
The servant crashed onto the ground on her back, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs.
Before anyone could react, Zhuo Riyan stepped forward and drove his foot hard into her stomach.
She let out a broken scream, her body curling in agony.
Zhuo Riyan turned his head slightly, looking back at Su Qingqing with a cold, composed expression, his tone almost respectful.
"Aunt," he said calmly, "I'm here to ask something. If a servant tries to bite her own master, what the fuck are we supposed to do with trash like that?"
The courtyard fell into stunned silence, broken only by the servant's choking sobs and the faint rustle of wind through the pavilion trees.
Su Qingqing finally exploded.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" she shouted, her face twisted with rage. "Who gave you the right to punish my servant? Let her go right now, or you'll see what I can do!"
Outwardly, she was furious. Inwardly, her thoughts were far darker.
I can't let him kill that bitch. If she dies, someone will investigate why she was cleaning the Rain Appreciating Pavilion. She wasn't assigned there. Then everything will trace back to me. I was the one overseeing the servants. Fuck… this brat is dangerous.
Before Zhuo Riyan could respond, Little Cat suddenly meowed, his voice sharp and merciless.
"So who the fuck are you to worry about a servant? Or is it that this servant is part of your little plan?"
The words struck like a blade.
Su Qingqing's mouth froze mid-breath. Her pupils shrank. For a brief moment, she forgot how to speak. All she could do was grit her teeth, her nails digging into her palms.
A talking beast. How?
Just then, footsteps rushed in from the outer corridor.
Two guards in blue robes bearing the Su Manor emblem entered the Second Pillar Pavilion courtyard. Their expressions were annoyed, clearly dragged here by the disturbance.
One of them, a guard with a sword hanging from his waist, scanned the scene and barked impatiently, "Hey, hey, what the fuck is going on here?"
Su Qingqing's eyes lit up instantly.
She switched faces faster than a blade draw.
Tears welled up as she staggered forward, wiping her eyes dramatically. "Huuu… guards, thank heavens you're here. He came here causing trouble, accusing me of planning to hurt sister-in-law, and he even injured my servant."
Her voice trembled perfectly, every sob practiced.
Beside her, Su Luejiao stepped forward, pointing at Zhuo Riyan with righteous fury. "Mother's right. Guards, capture him!"
At that exact moment, Zhuo Riyan and Little Cat slowly turned their heads.
Their gazes locked onto the guards.
Crimson-black qi leaked from their eyes like smoke from a demon's furnace, heavy and oppressive. The air itself seemed to thicken.
Both guards stiffened.
What the fuck… one of them thought. Didn't this kid get crippled?
The other guard felt his scalp prickle. Fourth Level Beast Vein Stage… but this aura… this pressure… it's fucking wrong.
Impossible. This kind of presence shouldn't exist at that level.
Still, they forced themselves to stay calm. Pride and duty wouldn't let them retreat.
The bare-handed guard stepped forward, his voice harsh as he pointed at Zhuo Riyan. "Hey, bastard, release that servant right now!"